I saw this over at PaperFury’s blog (make sure you check it out!), and I thought it would be a fun thing to do – especially since I have not been doing my monthly wrap-ups this year. And what a year it has been! Let’s be honest – this year is a mess with everything happening in the world. To be honest, my reading has not been going well, but here is the wrap-up of my first six months of 2020!

1. How much have you read?

So far I have read 31 books, and I set my goal on Goodreads this year for 50 books (but I’m secretly hoping to get to 75 books).

2. What have you been reading?

I think I’ve mostly been reading fantasy, especially Young Adult since it’s my favourite genre. I’ve also read a few contemporaries, and a couple of non-fiction books.

3. Best book you’ve read so far in 2020?

So far my favourite read was the Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh. It’s absolutely amazing, and I can’t believe I haven’t read it sooner! Also, it was quite different from my usual reads, but I really loved – I read it in one sitting, and I immediately ordered the sequel.

4. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020

Well, the best sequel I’ve read was the sequel to my best book so it was The Rose & the Dagger Renée Ahdieh. There were a few things I’d have changed, but overall I really enjoyed, which is surprising since I don’t usually like sequels in duologies.

5. New release you haven’t read yet but want to

I’m really excited to read Aurora Burning, which is a sequel to Aurora Rising. I liked Aurora Rising, even though it’s science fiction which is not a genre I usually enjoy. The other one I want to read is Seasons of the Storm by Elle Cosimano, which is a Jack Frost retelling.

6. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

I’m waiting for Majesty, which is the sequel to the American Royals written by Katharine McGee. I didn’t love the first book – some characters annoyed me, and some relationships seemed rather simple. However, I’m really curious to see what happens next! I’m also really excited to read Blood & Honey which is a sequel to Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin. I loved the story of Lou and Reid, and I loved how their relationship developed throughout the book. I can’t wait to see what the author comes up within the sequel.

7. Biggest disappointment

I think the biggest disappointment for me this year was The Beholder by Anna Bright. It was the first book I’ve read this year so I don’t remember much. I didn’t like the main character who was such a pushover, and then she randomly had a character development without any development? Also, she had too many love affairs – I know it was the point of the book, but she fell in love so quickly.

8. Biggest surprise

Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold really surprised me – I was expecting a typical retelling with a girl falling in love with a guy who is a wolf. But it was not the case with this book – it talked about consent, rape and women power, and at the same time it was kind of easy to read. The way of writing (the “you” form) took some time to get used to it, but the book was really surprising and I wasn’t expecting to love it so much.

9. New favourite author (debut or new to you)

I have to go with Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin which was a freaking amazing debut. I absolutely loved the dynamic between Lou and Reid, and I really enjoyed the background characters, Ansel and Coco! Everyone is talking about this book, and it deserves all the praise it gets!

10. Underrated gems you’ve discovered recently

I will go with The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams – I don’t think I have seen a lot of people talk about this book, and it was such an adorable read! And it had a lot of interesting twists, and I really enjoyed this book!

11. Rereads this year

So I have reread the entire Grisha trilogy series and Six of Crows duology, both written by Leigh Bardugo. Leigh Bardugo is my absolute favourite author, and I adore all of the characters in her books, so it was really exciting to go back to Grishaverse.

12. A book that made you cry

I might have cried during my reread of Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo for obvious reasons. Basically, my whole reread of Grishaverse was a marathon of crying – it’s just one of my favourite series, and I get emotional OKAY.

13. A book that made you happy

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary was such a fluffy read, and the whole idea of flat-sharing made me happy. I think I was smiling the whole time I was reading this book because Tiffy and Leon are so damn adorable together. Basically, this book is so damn adorable.

14. The most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

I have to go with Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas – it just has the most stunning, shiny cover really. The second place goes to House of Dragons by Jessica Clues.

15. Goals for the rest of the year

I want to read the books that have been on my To Be Read shelf forever. I want to finish the Witcher series, and I want to finally read Throne of Glass series.

Infinity Son (Infinity Cycle #1) by Adam Silvera – January 14^th 2020

This year I’ve read “They Both Die At The End” by Adam Silvera, which left me wanting more of his writing. And this one has magic in it, and two brothers getting caught up in a war, which sounds like a recipe for a heart-breaking disaster.

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34510711-infinity-son

The Upside of Falling by Alex Light – February 18^th 2020

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45891343-the-upside-of-falling

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller – February 25^th 2020

THIS LOOKS LIKE MY KIND OF ROMANCE. Magic, shadows and seduction – what can a girl want more than a disaster mission to make a king of shadow fell in love with a protagonist. Also, Tricia Levenseller is such a great author (so far I’ve only read Daughter of the Pirate King duology, but I’m excited by her other books).

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35702241-the-shadows-between-us

Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold – February 25^th 2020

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43721070-red-hood

House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas – March 3^rd 2020

With my love for A Court of Thorns and Roses series, it is not a big surprise that I cannot wait for Maas’ newest book series. I’m really curious to read about demons and angels from her point of view. After all, I really enjoyed her take on faeries (and her talent for creating swoon-worthy characters).

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44778083-house-of-earth-and-blood

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu – March 3^rd 2020

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34213299-the-kingdom-of-back

If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane – March 24^th 2020

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46650016-if-i-never-met-you

Ruthless Gods (Something Dark and Holy #2) by Emily A. Duncan – April 7^th 2020

The first book in the series, Wicked Saints, has left me absolutely shattered and was one of my favourite reads of 2019. I got a serious Leigh Bardugo vibe (and Bardugo is my favourite author ever), which I really loved. The ending of the first book has left me wanting more, so I really cannot wait for this premiere.

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40126121-ruthless-gods

Aurora Burning (The Aurora Cycle #2) by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman – May 5^th 2020

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40516960-aurora-burning

House of Dragons (House of Dragons #1) by Jessica Cluess – May 12^th 2020

Dragons and a group of disaster characters? Count me right in. This is probably one of my most anticipated releases of 2020, even though I haven’t read any of the author’s books before. But, hey, it has dragons inside so it has to be good, right?

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44603554-house-of-dragons

The Kinder Poison (The Kinder Poison #1) by Natalie Mae – June 16^th 2020

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42893340-the-kinder-poison

Seasons of the Storm (Seasons of the Storm #1) by Elle Cosimano – June 23^rd 2020

Okay, so I got Jack Frost vibes from the synopsis. And Winter and Spring falling in love? That sounds amazing and totally different, so I’m really excited to read that.

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48245147-seasons-of-the-storm

Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross – June 23^rd 2020

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48245040-sisters-of-sword-and-song

Empire of the Vampire (Empire of the Vampire #1) by Jay Kristoff – September 3^rd 2020

In 2019 is the year I finally read Jay Kristoff, and it was amazing. I have no doubts that he is going to write an amazing book about vampires (I mean, vampires are making a comeback, right?)

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43728380-empire-of-the-vampire

Set Fire to the Gods (Set Fire to the Gods #1) by Sara Raasch and Kristen Simmons – August 4^th 2020

Gladiators? Gladiators.

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41954467-set-fire-to-the-gods

The Winds of Winter (A Song of Ice and Fire #6) by George R.R. Martin – no date

I know, I know – there isn’t an official date just yet, but one can hope, right? Though after watching season 8 of the show, I’m a bit wary about reading this final book in the series.

synopsis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12111823-the-winds-of-winter

My favourite 10 books of 2019

1. The Heart of a Changeling by Caitlyn E. Lloyd
2. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (reread)
3. The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson
4. Becoming by Michelle Obama
5. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
6. Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
7. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
8. Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
9. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
10. King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

Series’ I’ve finished in 2019

1. All For The Game series by Nora Sakavic
2. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before series by Jenny Han
3. The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black
4. The Kane Chronicles series by Rick Riordan (reread)
5. A Discovery of the Witches by Deborah Harkness

I loved all the series I’ve read this year, but my absolute favourite read of this year has to be “All For The Game” series by Nora Sakavic. I made the mistake of reading it at the beginning of the year, which kind of determined the standard for the whole year. But I absolutely loved that series, and I 100% recommend it to everyone.

https://www.paperandword.com/

‘Sky in the Deep’ Adrienne Young
★★★★

I actually gave it 4,5 stars, because it was really damn good. We don’t have many books about tribes in Young-Adult, which is a shame. I liked the characters, who were from different tribes, but realise that they are the same despite fighting for centuries – I think it sends a strong message, and additionally, it’s a really good read. I can’t wait for Adrienne’s new book!

‘Onyx and Ivory’ Mindee Arnett
★★★

The beginning was really good – it pulled me right in, the middle of the book was a little boring, but I guess every book has a boring part? The ending was an absolute mess – I honestly have no idea what happened there, and I couldn’t decipher which characters were on the good side? I’m going to read the second book in the series, just to find out what happens next.

‘A Little Book of Hygge’ Meik Wiking
★★★

For those of you who don’t know, hygge is a Danish lifestyle involving a lot of happiness and cosiness. I fell in love with the idea when we discussed it during English class, and I bought this book because I wanted to find out more – sadly, the book was very general. The author wrote about general things, like the fact that hygge involves candles. I expected more details and more information.

‘Wicked Saints’ Emily A. Duncan
★★★★

This book was so damn good. Everything was great – the characters, who were complex and interesting; the plot that was surprising; and I didn’t even mind the dual narration – one was from Nadya point of view, and one was from Malachiasz’s. The only thing that annoyed me throughout the whole book was the similarity to Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo – I could foresee the ending because I’ve read Grishaverse before.

‘Anna and the French Kiss’ Stephanie Perkins
★★★★★

If you like contemporaries, you need to read this book – it stole the first place for my favourite contemporary after the first chapter. Every part of the book was amazing – the main character, Anna, was adorable and relatable; the second character, St. Clair, was a perfect bookish boyfriend; the plot was full of twists which could have been avoided by honesty, but I guess that’s similar to real life.

‘A Curse So Dark and Lonely’ Brigid Kemmerer
★★★

I had such high expectations for this book, but I was really disappointed. The main character annoyed me, the whole story had nothing to do with ‘Beauty and the Beast’, and the plot was really boring and predictive. I just expected more from this book.

‘Hunting Prince Dracula’ Kerri Maniscalco
★★★★

I definitely liked ‘Stalking Jack the Ripper’ more. The beginning of this book was so boring, but the second part was really interesting. What saved my rating of this book, was the characters – the amazing Audrey Rose and the charming Thomas. I just can’t help but love them.

‘Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies’ J.K. Rowling
★★★★★

To be honest with you, I would love anything connected to the magical world of ‘Harry Potter’. It doesn’t matter that this book only had 73 pages – for a couple of minutes I took an amazing trip back to my childhood and back to the magic of Hogwarts. I know, I know – I sound like a such a dork, but I can’t help it!

‘Daisy Jones & the Six’ Taylor Jenkins Reid
★★★★★

An absolute masterpiece. I loved everything about this book – the characters, the storyline and the rock n’ roll. I can’t even articulate how much I loved this book. Taylor Jenkins Reid managed to convince me that the band really exist, and I just wanted to listen to their songs so much.

‘If You’d Just Let Me Finish’ Jeremy Clarkson
★★★

I always like to read about Clarkson’s witty and sarcastic approach to life, which for me is also an inside look into life in England (which fascinates me). This one was much better than the previous book of Clarkson’s I read – he has definitely grown up a bit and managed to make me laugh out loud a few times.

I also read a book in Polish by a Polish author, but it’s not available in English so I didn’t include it in my wrap-up. For any Polish readers, I may have, it’s ‘O pisaniu. Na chłodno.’ Remigiusz Mróz.

‘Vicious’ V.E. Schwab
★★★★

I’m not sure how I feel about this book just yet – the beginning was too dull for me. It took three months to finish it, but when I finally decided to read it, I did it in one day. I definitely did not like the beginning, but the rest was so capturing and intriguing. I couldn’t stop thinking about what was Victor planning. Schwab’s writing was incredible, and her idea for this book was uncanny so I can’t wait to read her other works.

‘The Last Namsara’ Kristen Ciccarelli
★★★

Dragons! Any book about dragons automatically has my attention, and ‘The Last Namsara’ was no different. My favourite part of the book (apart from dragons) was Asha. She was fierce and quite frankly terrible, but she was honest, and she wasn’t idealized. And the plot twists – so many times I thought I knew what was going to happen, but every time I was surprised. Also, did I mention all of the dragons?

‘One Dark Throne’ Kendare Blake
★★

I was really amazed by the first book, ‘Three Dark Crowns’, but it was enough for me to reach for the second part, which really disappointed me. There was barely any action in this book, even fewer plot twists and intrigues – everything was cumulated at the end of the book. I really struggled to finish it – it took me almost three months. I definitely won’t read the third part. A lot of people say that this series gets better and better with each book, but for me, it got worse.

‘On The Come Up’ Angie Thomas
★★

I’m so disappointed with that book. It wasn’t half as good as ‘The Hate U Give’ was, and I didn’t like the main character. And, to be honest, I’m not a big fan of rap so it was difficult for me to get into the book, into the plot, and into Bri’s motives. I really don’t have anything more to say about ‘On the Come Up’ since it was really bland. While reading this book, I felt nothing, which really surprised me since Angie Thomas’ first book was so emotional.

‘The Foxhole Court’ Nora Sakavic
★★★★★

I don’t think I will ever get bored of rereading that book. I mean, my baby boy Neil finally getting a family, and doing what he loves? Count me in! Also, this time I had more appreciation for Andrew, and now I love him even more than before. Basically, I love all of the Foxes, and I just want to protect them. I think it says a lot about this book if I reread it twice in the span of two months. ‘All For the Game’ series is going to steal your heart, break your heart, and then it’s going to patch you up with bandages, so go and read it right now. You are definitely not going to regret that.

‘They Both Die At The End’ Adam Silvera
★★★★

I mean, the title really says it all. But I still was hoping for some twist – I didn’t really expect the author to kill his characters as he said? Anyway, I was prepared for death, and yet I still cried. Mateo and Rufus were so adorable, and mostly I just wanted to give them a hug (or for them to give each other a hug). If you haven’t read this, you definitely need to but get ready for lots of crying.

‘Anne of the Green Gables’ L.M. Montgomery
★★★★★

I have so much fondness for this book since it was the book that got me into reading when I was little. I remember having to read the entire series in one weekend because I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen. Going back to this book, it’s still as amazing as it was when I was twelve. And, quite frankly, every book that manages to make me cry deserves five stars from me.

‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ Jenny Han
★★★★

That book was such a fun read! I love both the book, and the movie – I kind of like how different they are. I like the difference in the details, though after seeing the movie I was a bit disappointed with the ending. Now I can’t wait to read the rest of the series, but it seems that I will have to wait a while for it. Also, now I’m in love with Peter Kavinsky, and that’s a real problem.

‘Anne of Avonlea’ L.M. Montgomery
★★★★

As always, the second book wasn’t as good as the first one. For me, this one was more boring than ‘Anne of the Green Gables’. I think I remembered there being more Gilbert and Anne relationship, but I wasn’t disappointed by how their friendship developed throughout the book.

‘Esme’s Wish’ Elizabeth Foster
★★★

This book is perfect for young kids who are just starting their journey with fantasy – it has a different world, dragons, and magic. For me, it was action-lacking and boring. I think I’m too old for this book – I especially got angry at Esme (who is the main character) at the beginning, when she was just being a problematic kid.

‘Cristiano and Leo: The Race to Become the Greatest Football Player of All Time’ Jimmy Burns
★★★★

The first part of the book bored me – I was really struggling to continue it, but I have read enough biographies to know how difficult it is to write them. The second half of the book captured me completely, hence the four stars. In the Jimmy Burns made me curious what was going to happen next, even though I knew was going to happen. I recommend this book for anyone who loves football.

‘Sea Witch’ Sarah Henning
★★★

I’m torn between giving this book 3 and 4 stars. It didn’t capture my heart, but it was nice to read – a retelling of the little mermaid. It was a decent book, but I was expecting something different – like for example less teenage drama between two princes fighting for a girl. But somehow ‘Sea Witch’ made me want more – I wanted to know what happens next, and that’s really the point of a good book.

‘The King’s Man’ Nora Sakavic
★★★★★

That book honestly broke my heart, like all of the books in ‘All For the Game’ series. The ending made me want to cry because Andrew and Neil definitely didn’t deserve that. As I reread this, I realised that writing is not as good as I thought it was. Nonetheless, it’s a five-star read for me because any book that makes me wanna cry and smile at the same time is an incredible piece of literature.

‘Stalking Jack the Ripper’ Kerri Maniscalo
★★★★

I liked this book a lot, though I didn’t like the slow pace of solving the murder. What I liked the most was the complexity of the characters – Audrey Rose who was both girly and brilliant, Thomas Cresswell who probably the most confusing character I have ever read, and finally Jack the Ripper, but I’m not going to say anything about him because I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone.

‘The Avengers: The Ultimate Guide to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’  Scott Beatty, Alan Cowsill, Alastair Dougall
★★

I had no idea that superheroes could be as boring as they were in this book. There were too many details, too many characters for a reader to keep up with them. I wanted to find out more about the Avengers, but after reading this book I’m just more confused. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are an ultimate fan who has already read the comics.

‘A Discovery of the Witches’ Deborah Harkness
★★★★

Technically, this book deserves 4,5 stars from me. I loved it so much, but in the end, there were parts when I was like ‘What? Why?’. But the writing was really, really good – it was both descriptive, and interesting. I even liked Diana, and Matthew, which is surprising because I almost never like the main character. I recommend both the book and the tv show.

‘Fire and Blood – part 2’ George Martin
★★

In Poland, this book was divided into two, which really annoyed me. In my opinion, the second part of ‘Fire and Blood’ was much more boring than the first part. I thought that the part about Dance of Dragons would be interesting, but it really wasn’t. Overall, I’m really disappointed with both ‘Fire and Blood’ books.

Hello, beautiful people! February is already over (how the time passes by), so it’s time for another wrap-up. This month was an amazing reading month for me, because all of my exams were over, and because at the beginning of the new university semester there isn’t much to do. I managed to read eleven books, and I started another four, which is a really good score for me.

’Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay’ J.K. Rowling
★★★★

I feel a little bit like I’m giving stars for the movie, rather than the screenplay. As much as I love the Harry Potter universe, reading screenplays is just not for me. What made reading it a bit easier, was the fact that I have already seen the movie and I could imagine the scenarios in which the scenes were written. I gave it four stars mostly because it’s ‘Harry Potter’ – it’s like coming home after a long break.

‘Fire and Blood’ George Martin
★★★

In Poland, this book was divided into two, which really annoyed me. ‘Fire and Blood’ is about the history of Targaryen’s – one of the main houses in ‘Game of Thrones’ series. I liked going back to Westeros and learning a bit more about its history. What I didn’t like though was the number of difficult names and details which were unnecessary for the story. I think this book came out too early, definitely too early to be a ‘Similarion’.

‘The Heart of a Changeling’ Caitlyn E. Lloyd
★★★★★

I’m so in love with this book, and I’m not just saying that because it had fae in it. It really is incredible – the plot is remarkable, the characters have an amazing development and are badass, and the world-building is just so good. Nora is such a good heroine, she is sassy and funny. The fae is just breath-taking, and so is the entire book. Just read it. It’s going to take over your life, but it’s totally worth it.

‘Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda’ Becky Albertalli
★★★★

I read that book, and then I saw the movie – the movie is horrible compared to this book. ‘Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda’ is just perfect for a cosy, Saturday afternoon spends in the bed with a book. It is just a cosy read, about friendship and coming out. Simon is a total cinnamon roll, and in general, this book is worth reading. It’s not going to take over your life, but I can guarantee that it’s going to make you smile for an entire afternoon.

‘The Kane Chronicles’ Rick Riordan – ‘The Red Pyramid’, ‘The Throne of Fire’, and ‘The Serpent’s Shadow’
★★★★★

So I might have reread this series in one weekend, but oh well – I have no self-control when it comes to good because about mythology, especially if they were written by Rick Riordan, who is probably the funniest author I have ever read. ‘The Kane Chronicles’ are full of jokes, sibling squabbles and Egyptian gods, so if you are a mythology freak you should totally read it. Or if you are a fan of good books. Either one works.

‘Nocturnal Meetings of the Misplaced’ R.J. Garcia
★★

The beginning of the book dragged on unmercifully – I was really bored for the most part of the book. I was listening to an audiobook, but it felt like some part of the book was missing – like an author skipped an important part of the book, like it was cut out. What I liked the most was the sibling love between Izzy and Tommy, and instant friendship between Finn and Tommy. Also, I liked the small town vibe – it’s a very good background for a murder. Basically, I think I could have liked this book if I was younger if the beginning wasn’t so dull, and if I read it in print.

‘King of Scars’ Leigh Bardugo
★★★★

That book is so good, as is anything written by Leigh Bardugo. I’m so glad I got to read about all of my favourite characters again – Nikolai, Nina, Zoya are just the best characters ever, and they are so confident. The only reason I didn’t give ‘King of Scars’ five stars is a certain situation on a Fold, but I won’t say more since I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone. The book is definitely worth reading, and I loved it.

‘Girls of Paper and Fire’ Natasha Ngan
★★★★

I’m not sure how I feel about this book if I’m being honest. It was definitely something different from what I have read. I wasn’t expecting it to be so brutal, and low-key I was expecting the king to turn out to be a nice guy. It made me think a little bit of ‘Grace and Fury’, but ‘Girls of Paper and Fire’ were much better. I liked the world-building, the characters (Wren is such a badass), and the love story. It’s high time we got a book set in another realm that had such an amazing relationship between two girls. Yet, I don’t feel fully satisfied with this book, but I don’t really know why.

‘I’ll Be There for You’ Kelsey Miller
★★★★

I loved returning to FRIENDS, especially in the book form. The book was full of interesting tidbits, and facts about the cast of the tv show. What I didn’t like was the amount of space the author dedicated to sexism and another social issue that apparently took place in the FRIENDS – I know these are important topics, but I fell that discussing that is like missing the point of what that tv show is. FRIENDS were supposed to be a soft, funny tv show made strictly for entertainment, and that’s also what I wanted that book to be. Sadly, it was something else.

Just a short post, because January was a busy month for me, and so is the beginning of the February. I didn’t read a lot this month, but my definite favourite I discovered this month was ‘All for the Game’ series by Nora Sakavic. I absolutely fell in love with this series, and I have a feeling you are going to hear much more about it from me.

‘The Foxhole Court’ Nora Sakavic
★★★★★

Oh. My. God. This book (this series) broke my heart like no other book before it (maybe ‘Lost Boy’ by Christina Henry can compete, but only maybe). I have been waiting to read a good gang story since ‘Six of Crows’, and I got one. ‘The Foxhole Court’ is incredible – the characters are so amazing, unpredictable, and so twisted that you have no choice but to love them. I think I’m going to do a full review on this series when I have time because I feel like I could talk about it forever.

‘Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Ship of the Dead’ Rick Riordan
★★★

I am so disappointed with this series, and even more with this final book of ‘Magnus Chase’ trilogy. I adore Rick Riordan and his writing, but this one felt a bit too forced when it comes to funniness, and the amount of diversity felt a bit overwhelming. This series just did not click for me, even though I still laughed at the funnier parts. My favourite character was Mangus’ sword, and I think it says a lot about this book.

‘The Wicked King’ Holly Black
★★★★

It did not click for me the way ‘The Cruel Prince’ did. I don’t think I can explain it, but I feel like all the action was packed in the last two chapters. What I loved about this book though, was Cardan, and his character development – he finally became a king – and took the matters into his own hands. Jude was a bit annoying in this one, but I blame it on her family – it must be difficult to rule a country without being able to trust someone. AND THAT ENDING. No spoilers, but holy cow.

‘The King’s Men’ Nora Sakavic
★★★★★

Can I marry this series, please? I swear I will protect all the characters, even though they would probably kill me for even suggesting this. I have so many feelings regarding this series – I adore Andrew Minyard, Neil Josten, Nicky is such a cinnamon roll, and the other Foxes are all incredible. Allison is a freakin’ badass, and Matt is just perfection.

‘The Language of Thorns’ Leigh Bardugo
★★★★

To be honest, I would probably love a book about eating breakfast if it was written by Leigh Bardugo. I loved these short tales, taking place in the Grishaverse universe. I absolutely adore Leigh Bardugo, and the stories were amazing (as I thought they would be).

2018 is coming to an end! So in the tradition of my monthly wrap-ups (when I say tradition, I mean I did like four times, but shh), I’ve decided to do a yearly wrap-up! But instead of listing every book I have read this year (an outstanding number of 67), I have listed 10 of my favourite books I’ve read this year. But I am a cheater, so some books are trilogies. I’m sorry, but there are too many amazing books to choose just ten, but I’m gonna do my best, pinky swear. Also, I’m not counting rereads in this one, because then ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Six of Crows’ would have absolutely dominated.

The order of listing is random, except for the first one, because ‘To Kill a Kingdom’ is a masterpiece.

1) ‘To Kill a Kingdom’ by Alexandra Christo

Number one just had to go to this absolutely amazing debut by Alexandra Christo. I’m so in love with this book I’m honestly considering marriage. It has everything a book needs to have: sassy characters, an amazing relationship dynamic, a good plot and SIRENS. Sirens are a must-have unless there are dragons. Dragons and sirens are a must-have. Also, ‘To Kill a Kingdom’ has pirates so it’s basically winning at life.

2) ‘The Hate U Give’ by Angie Thomas

This is such an important book! And it is also so good? I cried, I laughed, and (if I’m being honest) I struggled with the language since Angie Thomas used more common language than I’ve been taught at school. But that language change worked incredibly with the plot, and it the end it helped me understand the meaning behind the book better.

3) ‘Grisha Trilogy’ by Leigh Bardugo

I’m physically unable to choose just one book written by the queen so I’m putting an entire trilogy here. Honestly, I’m so mad at myself for not reading this earlier? I love ‘Six of Crows’, and I was so scared this trilogy wasn’t going to meet my expectations. But, luckily, I was so wrong. I ADORE THIS SERIES SO MUCH. Also, Nikolai is a cinnamon roll and he needs to be protected (meaning he is my new favourite character).

4) ‘Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook’ by Christina Henry

Do you know those books that you read and they stay with you for weeks? This is one of them. Honestly, it was so brutal and I don’t think I will ever look at captain Hook the same way. I don’t even know how to describe this book other than breathe-taking and thought-provoking. (By the way, my high school English teacher would be so proud of me for using vocabulary from her tests.)

5) ‘Everless’ by Sara Holland

I admit, this was a total cover buy – I couldn’t resist the sprayed edges. But it worked! I bought it for the cover and it turned out to be freakin’ awesome. I mean, using time as a currency? What a great idea. The main character mightybe a bit annoying, but in the end I had a soft spot for Jules. But my favourite part of the whole book was the plot twist that exposed who the villain is. No spoilers, but I was so shocked.

6) ‘Daughter of the Pirate King’ by Tricia Levenseller

Pirates are the best! Female pirates are even better. Alosa became one of my favourite female characters in the first ten pages, because not only is she a badass but she is also cunning. Also, the plot is incredible – most of the times you have no idea who is onto whom, which makes the ending so much sweeter. Just go read it, and then tell me how much you loved it.

7) ‘The Cruel Prince’ by Holly Black

I know, I know – everyone says it was one of their favourite reads of 2018, but this book is pure magic. I love fae, and I liked Holly Black’s portrayal of them. Also, I love a good anti-hero, and Cardan is definitely one. He is not Kaz Bekker level, but I adore him nonetheless.

8) ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ Tomi Adeyemi

I did not know what to expect from the synopsis, and this book was definitely a slow-burn for me. But when I got into it, I loved all of the character. Zelie is a badass, Amari winds relatable character, Tzain wins best brother award and Inan is one of my favourite villains ever. Also, can we appreciate me remembering all of their names? (I usually suck at names, so this book must have been really good). No spoilers, but the ending will break your heart which makes waiting for a sequel a torture.

9) ‘The Belles’ Dhonielle Clayton

To be honest, this book made it to my ‘Top 10’ list only because of the last three chapters. The amount of plot twists in that book was overwhelming. Also, the message was one that filled my heart with joy – I think we need more books showing girls that beauty is not everything, and that it comes in different shapes. ‘The Belles’ also show how obsessed people are with beauty, and how tremendous results that obsession can have.

10) ‘Catwoman: Soulstealer’ Sarah J. Maas

Let’s get one thing straight: I am, and always will be, a Marvel girl. But DC had a really good idea when they have decided to create a series DC Icons. They took my favourite authors and asked them to write about superheroes, and it ended up being amazing. I have only read ‘Catwoman’ so far, but I love Selina’s character, I love Harley and Posion Ivy, and I even love Batwing. So I need more books asap.

If you listen closely, I bet you could hear my wallet screaming in the distance. There are so many amazing books coming out in 2019, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to discover more during the year. But here are the continuations of series’, and some new books by my favourite authors. Let me know which book you are most excited for in 2019!

‘The Wicked King’ Holly Black
release date: January 8th

Number 1 just had to be ‘The Wicked King’ by Holly Black. To be honest, at first I was a bit disappointed by ‘The Cruel Prince’, but I’m not sure what I expected. But the more I think about that book, the more I love it. What I’m most excited for in this sequel, is the chemistry between Cardan and Jude. I saw a few spoilers on Instagram, and I have a feeling their cooperation is going to be full of emotions. I only hope that Cardan is not going to do anything stupid.

‘The King of Scars’ Leigh Bardugo
release date: January 29th, 2019

How can somebody who has read ‘The Grisha Trilogy’ not be anticipating this book?! How? Honestly, tell me your secret, because I feel like I might actually die from wanting to read it! Nikolai is just so dreamy, and cute, and dangerous. Basically, he is many things and I love him so much. I’m so glad he got his own duology and I’m even more glad that Nina Zenik is going to be in it.

‘Evermore’ Sara Holland
release date: December 31st, 2018

I know, technically it’s out in 2018, but I’m going to get my hands on it in 2019 so it counts, okay? Besides, I wanted to mention it, because I freakin’ adore ‘Everless’. I cannot wait to follow Jules in her escape, and I’m curious about what the main villain is going to do next (see, I’m trying to go spoilers free). What is even more exciting, ‘Everless’ is going to be a duology – which means that ‘Evermore’ is going to be full of action.

‘Children of Virtue and Vengeance’ by Tomi Adeyemi
release date: March 5th, 2019

Okay, I might have been skeptical a little bit about ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ until I have read it. I’m totally in love with Zelie’s strong character and her temper (which gets her in trouble so much) and other characters, and the plot. Basically, it was amazing and reading it felt like magic. I cannot wait to see what Tomi Adeyemi has in store for the second part.

‘Ninth House’ by Leigh Bardugo
release date: June 4th, 2019

Let’s be honest, I would read anything by Leigh Bardugo. Not only is this book written by one of my favourite authors ever, but the synopsis is also amazing – a story about a female character with a criminal past who is a freshman at Yale University where she has to observe Yale’s secret societies. Am I the only one with the feeling that I’m gonna love the main character, Alex Stern, as much as I love Kaz and Nikolai?

‘The Tyrant’s Tomb’ by Rick Riordan
release date: 2019

The fourth part of ‘Trials of Apollo’ is coming our way and honestly, I’m so happy – I have loved Rick Riordan’s books for what seems like a forever now. I was so sad when ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ series ended, but luckily Rick Riordan is apparently a book-producing factory so we got a lot of more books from him. ‘Trials of Apollo’ immediately captured my heart, mainly because Apollo is my favorite Greek god, but also because the idea of a god being human in a modern setting is incredible.

‘A Curse So Dark and Lonely’ Brigid Kemmerer
release date: January 29th, 2019

Honestly, I was going through Goodreads and this title caught my attention. Then I read the review and decided that I need to read this book ASAP. I mean, c’mon, a retelling of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ with a modern setting and a magical world? Count me in, please! Also, I’m just so curious about the details of the curse in this book, because it sounds so different from the original story.

‘Broken Throne’ Victoria Aveyard
release date: May 2019

I’m usually not a big fan of short stories, but I got so excited when Victoria Aveyard announced ‘Broken Throne’ on her Instagram. I cannot wait to read more about Mare, Cal, and Kilorn. I do not know for sure when its action is going to be suited in, but I suspect it will be some kind of continuation of ‘War Storm’. Probably, a collection of stories in a new realm. I certainly hope we will get some Mare and Cal romance – it would be such a disappointment if they didn’t end up together.

‘Into the Crooked Place’ Alexandra Christo
release date: October 2019

After reading (and falling madly in love with) ‘To Kill a Kingdom’, I will read anything written by Alexandra Christo. Even if it was a 300-page conversation between Lira and Elian. I’m serious. But I have read the synopsis of ‘Into the Crooked Place’ and I’m getting a ‘Six of Crows’ kinda vibe which, combined with an author behind it, guarantees my endless love for this book.
‘Into the Crooked Place’ is going to be about four young crooks (get it? ‘Into a Crooked Place’!) who go on a mission to take down their leader after they discover his newest plot. The book also involves magic which I fully support.

‘Two Can Keep s Secret’ Karen M. McManus
release date: January 8th, 2019

I adore ‘One of Us is Lying’ and, while browsing Goodreads, I came upon this new book by Karen McManus and apparently it is going to have a Riverdale vibe. I have a weakness for books which action is set in small-towns – they always have the most outrageous stories, and I live for drama. The title of the book makes me think of TV show ‘Pretty Little Liars’, and whether it’s a PLL or Riverdale vibe, I have a feeling I’m going to love this as I love ‘One of  Us is Lying’.
‘Two Can Keep a Secret’ is about Ellery, who has to move to small Echo Ridge to live with her grandmother. The town has a history of a missing girl and a murder during prom night. Now, somebody promises to make it all happen again. Ellery quickly learns that everybody in Echo Ridge has their secrets, and it’s safer to keep them to yourself.