July Wrap-Up

If I were to summon up my reading habits this month the only way I would be able to describe it were: Weird.

Hey guys, how are you? Long-time no see. I am sorry, but my computer had to be repaired and it took longer than I thought it would. But at least I read a lot! Especially during my vacation, but after that things got strange. I fell into a reading slump, but only kind of. I wanted to read, but no book grabbed my attention so I started I think five different ones until I finally committed and finished a book. But since then the only thing I have read this month are graphic novels/comics. Nothing wrong with that, but it I would rather read novels. Anyway, moving on to what I actually read:

City of Lost Souls, by Cassandra Clare          4/5 Stars

Once again a great book by Cassandra Clare, really liked the plot (Review to come)

The Neverland Wars, by Audrey Greathouse           2.5/5 Stars

Got this one as an ARC, this one just kinda fell flat. Pretty forgettable

The Well of Ascension, by Brandon Sanderson       4.5/5 Stars

While not as good as the first book, this was a really great high fantasy book (Review to come)

Confessions of a Shopaholic, by Sophie Kinsella     5/5 Stars

ReadbyZoe on YouTube read these books a while ago so I wanted to pick them up as well. LOVED it. Really fun and fast read with loveable characters

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, by Sophie Kinsella    4/5 Stars

This one repeated lots of things from the first book, so while still enjoyable, it just wasn´t as refreshing and fun

Shopaholic Ties the Knot, by Sophie Kinsella          4.5/5 Stars

The plot goes into a different direction and shopping takes the backseat, once again really great (I think I might review the series as a whole, or maybe in pairs, not sure yet)

My Life Next Door, by Huntley Fitzpatrick            2.5/5 Stars

This was the book that helped me start reading again, but it wasn´t pretty good to be honest. The characters were really cliché and the plot felt unnecessarily stretched out. (Review to come)

Graphic Novels:

Attack on Titan Vol 1, by Hajime Isayama    4/5 Stars

I started watching the anime again, so I knew what was going to happen; While really great, the art style was confusing at times

Attack on Titan Vol 2, by Hajime Isayama    4/5 Stars

I really appreciated the scene that was left out of the anime, it gave me a better understanding of Mikasa; I think I still prefer the anime though because the manga isn´t as suspenseful and emotionally gripping

East of West Vol 3: There Is No Us, by Jonathan Hickman         3.5/5 Stars

I took too much time off this series, so I was quite confused by what was going on, but I got back into it by one point; Finally, the threads are intertwining!

East of West Vol 4: Who Wants War? by Jonathan Hickman      4.5/5 Stars

Loved the information (maps, history etc.) at the beginning. Some of the story arcs are becoming understandable, but there is still lots of mystery around what´s really going on; Can´t wait for Volume 5!

Fables Vol 1: Legends in Exile, by Bill Willingham          5/5 Stars

Great first instalment, I can definitely see myself becoming obsessed with this series

Fables Volume 2: Animal Farm, by Bill Willingham         5/5 Stars

This volume was even better!

Seconds, by Bryan Lee O`Malley        4/5 Stars

A really quirky and cute graphic novel. The art style portrays the characters similar to chibis, which is sweet. The dynamic between Katie and the narrator is unlike anything I have read before. Recommend especially for people who want to get into graphic novels!!!

Sweet Tooth Vol 1: Out of the Deep Woods, by Jeff Lemire        3/5 Stars

Didn´t really like the artstyle, but it does fit the story well

Sweet Tooth Vol 2: In Captivity, by Jeff Lemire      3.5/5 Stars

I liked this one better; Also we got some backstory, which is always nice

Sweet Tooth Vol 3: Animal Armies, by Jeff Lemire          3/5 Stars

Didn´t like it as much as the second volume

Chew Vol 1: Taster´s Choice, by John Layman       3/5 Stars

This was a difficult one, I appreciate the plot and the characters, but I wasn´t a fan of the art and it is just a bit too gross for my taste (pun intented), I´ll probably read Vol 2 and then decide if I really want to continue on, I would still recommend it though, because it is by no means a “bad” comic

Y: The Last Man Vol 2: Cycles, by Brian K. Vaughan      4/5 Stars

Even though I didn´t like it as much as the first Volume, I still really liked it! It wasn´t as humorous and I can´t comprehend Hero´s actions. Also: Not cool Yorrick! What about Beth?

Y: The Last Man Vol 3: One Small Step, by Brian K. Vaughan   4/5 Stars

I think this is my least favourite volume in this series yet, it was great until that part with the theatre. That turned me off a bit, but apart from that: Great Volume, great series!

Y: The Last Man Vol 4: Safeword, by Brian K. Vaughan  4.5/5 Stars

The beginning was strange, but after they leave 711 this volume did everything right again.

As you can see, I was pretty busy this month. Do you want me to review any book/comic in particular? Let me know down below and we can discuss it together!

Read on xx

Lena

July Releases

My top picks that are released in July 

Saga Volume 6, by Brian K. Vaughn & Fiona Staples

If you have been reading my blog you will by now know that Saga is one of my all-time favourite series. Even though I am not completely caught up (cuz let´s face it graphic novels are EXPENSIVE) I am really happy that there is another volume out for me to put on my Christmas wish list.

If you haven´t read Saga yet, first off: Do it! It´s phenomenal! (Except if you are younger because there is LOTS of violence and sexy stuff) But it basically follows this young couple, from different planets as they raise their child, while on the run from their governments. It´s funny, the story is great, the art is phenomenal and you should read it.

Published July 5^th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28862528-saga-volume-6

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Saga-6-Brian-K-Vaughan/dp/163215711X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467128846&sr=1-1&keywords=saga+vol+6

Learning to Swear in America, by Katie Kennedy

As the earth is about to be destroyed by an asteroid, NASA calls onto 17 year old mastermind Yuri to save the day. But Yuri has a hard time getting the older physicists to listen to him. But then he meets Dovie, who shows him what it means to save the world and save a life worth living.

This synopsis sounds so ridiculous that it will be great. I am curious to see in which route they take Yuri´s social capacity though, because I most often see characters who are “teenage geniuses” portrayed in the likes of Sheldon Cooper. What I hope this story will do is provide a greater perspective on the ability of teenagers to induct change/save the world, so we will see. "Learning to Swear in America" is also a debut and I love supporting debut authors so go Katie!

Published July 5^th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23018259-learning-to-swear-in-america

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Swear-America-Katie-Kennedy/dp/1619639092/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467128867&sr=1-1&keywords=learning+to+swear+in+america

An Author´s Odyssey, by Chris Colfer

“The Land of Stories” is hands down one of my favourite Middle Grade series, like ever. It got me started into reading retellings and branch out more into MG in general and just bae. Also Chris Colfer, whom you may know from the TV show “Glee” is the author so there is that. I haven´t read the fourth book yet, but I got it recently, so this is definitely very high up on my TBR. As this is the fifth book in a series there are of course spoilers, but the description on GR literally only says fifth book in the Land of Stories series, so that shouldn´t be a problem. The first book follows two siblings, who fall into their grandmother´s  old story book, where they meet lots of known characters like Little Red Riding Hood (Go Red!) as they try to find a way back into the real world.

Published July 12^th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23611997-an-author-s-odyssey

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Land-Stories-Authors-Odyssey/dp/0316383295/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467128971&sr=1-1&keywords=an+author%27s+odyssey

Arabella of Mars, by David D. Levine

After really enjoying the Steampunk element in “Clockwork Angel” (read my review here) I am excited to read another book set in the same era. “Arabella of Mars” follows. Britain has a new colony on Mars, where our main character Arabella (Well duh), who is everything but a proper young lady, lives. To discipline her, her mother sends her to earth, London to be exact. But after some dramatic change in her family´s circumstance, she needs to go back to Mars. To achieve this she must disguise herself as a boy on a ship serving the Mars Trading Company. It sounds fun, action packed and like a great SciFi Steampunk novel.

Published July 12^th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25615226-arabella-of-mars

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Arabella-Mars-Adventures-Ashby/dp/0765382814/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467128986&sr=1-1&keywords=arabella+of+mars

On the Other Side, by Carrie Hope Fletcher

I would really like to give you guys a summary of what this book is about, but its description confuses me. The only thing I can gather from it is that this book follows Evie Snow after she dies and because of some secret in the past, which she now has to unravel, she can´t go into heaven.  I like Carrie Hope Fletcher´s YouTube channel so I am really excited for this book to come out next month.

Published July 14^th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25744542-on-the-other-side

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Other-Side-Carrie-Hope-Fletcher-ebook/dp/B00ZS51LLO/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467129017&sr=1-2&keywords=on+the+other+side

The Woman in Cabin 10, by Ruth Ware

The most likely time for me to pick up a thriller is on holiday (on which I will go soon eeek!) so if you are the same “The Woman in Cabin 10”, may be a good choice, especially since the story is set on a cruise, which gives me major holiday vibes. The travel journalist Lo Blacklock has been given the chance of a lifetime. She gets to travel on a luxury cruise for seven days in the North Sea. But then a passenger gets thrown overboard.

Published July 19^th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28187230-the-woman-in-cabin-10

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Cabin-10-Ruth-Ware/dp/1501132938/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467129035&sr=1-1&keywords=the+woman+in+cabin+10

A World Without You, by Beth Ravis

We follow this boy, named Bo, who thinks he can travel through time. So his parents send him to a school for troubled youths, where he meets this girl Sophie and they fall in love. But even despite their love Sophie commits suicide due to her depression. Now Bo thinks Sophie is not really dead and he is convinced he is able to go back in time to save her.

Beth Ravis is known for her popular “Across the Universe” trilogy, which I haven´t read, but this book sounds really interesting. I imagine it to take a different approach on mental illness with magical realism sprinkled into it, which I am really intrigued by.

Published July 19^th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27272505-a-world-without-you

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/World-Without-You-Beth-Revis/dp/1595147152/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467129056&sr=1-1&keywords=a+world+without+you

P.S. I Like You, by Kasie West

During Chemistry Lily scribbles down a line from her favourite song. No surprise she is surprised to find a message next to it the next day, Soon enough Lily and her mystery student are exchanging messages, lyrics and even sharing secrets.
I almost missed this book! Thank goodness I didn´t because it sounds so cute and sweet. If you have read all the summery contemporaries you own yet, this sounds like P.S I Like You would be a great one to pick up next.
Published July 26th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25486998-p-s-i-like-you

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/P-S-Like-You-Kasie-West/dp/0545850975

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, by J.K Rowling

This is the “continuation” of the Harry Potter series, which let´s be honest everyone and their mother have read by now. Don´t get me wrong it IS my favourite series of all time and I am reals excited for this book, but I don´t know if I am willing to spend actually quite a lot of money on a manuscript.

Published July 31^st

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29056083-harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Cursed-Child-Production/dp/1338099132/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467129078&sr=1-1&keywords=harry+potter+and+the+cursed+child

So what releases are you most excited about? Hopefully I didn´t miss any! Let me know in the comments down below!

Read on xx

Lena

Top 10 Authors I Want to Read Completely

Hey guys!

So today I am back with another Top 10 post. This one is about my Top 10 authors I want to read completely, so all the novels they have put out so far. In this post I am only talking about authors who have other series in other universes as well, which is why I didn´t mention authors like for example Leigh Bardugo. She only has books out that take part in the Grisha Universe and while I love her books and want to read all of them she doesn´t qualify for this post. I am planning on posting another entry where I only talk about these authors who have only written “one universe” so far soon, so keep your eyes out for that as well!

Gillian Flynn

You may know Gilian Flynn as the author of “Gone Girl”, which I own, but haven´t read yet. What I have read of hers is “Dark Places”, which I liked. It was a very interesting story, with good atmosphere and an excellent resolvement. Many people say though it is not their favourite book of hers, so I am really intrigued what else she has written for me to check out.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2383.Gillian_Flynn

Jesse Andrews

One of the last books I read was “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”. If you have seen my review (read it here) you know that I wasn´t the biggest fan nof either the story or the characters (except for Mr. Gaines, you go Mr. Gaines!), but really liked the humour and formatting of the book. He recently released a new novel called “The Haters” and lots of people, who had similar problems, to the ones I had, say that this one is better than his first book.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5227163.Jesse_Andrews

George R. R. Martin

The “Song of Ice and Fire” series is still a work in progress, but the way Martin crafts his world, so careful and fleshed out, has me wanting to read his other books. I love fantasy, which is what he is best at, so I am curious to get more into other worlds of his e.g. “Dreamsongs”

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/346732.George_R_R_Martin

Jonas Jonasson

Jonas Jonasson is the author of “The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Dissapeared” (woah that´s a mouthful) I read that one, as well as his other book “The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden”. Both of these I really liked and had a great time reading, so I am only waiting until my library gets his newest release “Hitman Anders and the Meaning of It All”.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3222554.Jonas_Jonasson

Morgan Matson

It seems like Morgan Matson has been making at least one entry on each of my lists so far. I still haven´t read any of her books, but I will this summer I promise! I already own “Since You´ve Been Gone” and it is on the top of my Summer TBR (which is another post of mine, you can read here). Still, from all that I have heard so far I just know that I will probably love everything she writes, hence the reason she is on this list.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3351454.Morgan_Matson

Brandon Sanderson

Remember what I said about really liking fantasy? Brandon Sanderson ´s “The Final Empire” may be the only book of his that I´ve read so far, but it is so so great. It has left me wanting to read everything else the man has ever published. And that´s a LOT. This is definitely a long-long term project as most of his books have about 800 pages each and he seems to publish at least two each year. But still, just the idea of the cosmere has me in awe and his stories are great, so why not?

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/38550.Brandon_Sanderson

Rainbow Rowell

I am completely in love with every single one of Rainbow Rowell´s books I have read so far. Granted, I have not started any of her adult books, but since “Fangirl” and “Carry On” are one of my favourite books of all time and I liked “Eleanor and Park” I think I will enjoy her others as well.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4208569.Rainbow_Rowell

Brian K. Vaughan

Most of you probably know Brian K. Vaughan as the writer of the hugely popular comic book series “Saga”. I absolutely love Saga, but recently I have started another series of his called “Y-The Last Man” (which is also on my Summer TBR). As I really like this series as well I now want to read more of his work. I have done some research and I am interested in reading “Ex-Machina” or “Runaways”. He also just released a new tradeback called “Paperback Girls Vol 1”, which sounds really cool as well.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24514.Brian_K_Vaughan

John Green

Who hasn´t heard of John Green? He is the authors of widely popular books like “Looking for Alaska”, “Papertowns” and, of course, “The Fault in our Stars”. I have read those three and to be honest I wasn´t much of a fan, especially of “Looking for Alaska” I just found it boring and pretentious. “The Fault in our Stars” was fine, but I am probably one of the few people that didn´t cry #sorrynotsorry. “Papertowns” I enjoyed but didn´t love, but still I am determined to find a John Green book I love, as his short story in “Let it Snow” was my favourite.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1406384.John_Green

J.K. Rowling

As you may or may not know Harry Potter is my favourite series of all time (and my whole life as well, but let´s not talk about that), so it should come as no surprise that I want to read more of her novels. Rowling is just a master in storytelling and I do like a good thriller/crime story, which is what she writes under her pen name Robert Galbraith, so I hope to pick up her other books very soon.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/383606.Robert_Galbraith

Which authors do you want to read completely? And have you read any of the books mentioned above? 

Read on xx
Lena

My Summer TBR

Summer is now almost upon us, which also means one signifcant thing (apart from ice cream; ice cream is important the whole year round): SCHOOOOL´S OUT

Where I live, school ends at the first of July. Still a couple of weeks away, but not as far as one might believe, since time tends to fly, especially at the end of the schoolyear. But even though the holidays are still more than a month away, all the final tests and such end at the beginning of June. This means I will have lots of free time to spend on reading (and ice cream, once again ice cream is important). So I thought it would be fun to share what my reading plans are for this summer, so that in September I will be able to really see, which of my reading goals I accomplished. All of these books are in no particular order, as I really hope to get to all of them in the next few months.

Before you get into this list, I just wanted to let you know, that in this List there are only books included, which I either already own or want to lend from my local library, as I don´t really have enough money to buy most of my Anticipated BookReleases for this Summer. 
I am going to use #SeriesSummer to participate in the project started by JBookLover13 (Shoutout by the way, your videos are awesome). It is her way of keeping on track with reading all of her unread series and as I have some on my shelves as well I thought it would be a cool idea to participate. The goal of #SeriesSummer is to keep you motivated to read series, with no particular goals, except your personal ones.

City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls, City of Heavenly Fire, and the Infernal Devices Trilogy, all by Cassandra Clare

I finally decided to give The Mortal Instruments another shot, so I reread “City of Bones” and “City of Ashes”. Both of which I liked, but not really loved. But for the first time I continued and read “City of Glass”. And OH.MY.GOD. I get all the hype around these books now. It´s not as good of a series as for example the “Lunar Chronicles” in my opinion, but still really good. I found them to be more of a guilty pleasure series, that you need to be hooked on to love, but once I got into it, I was addicted. So now have to wait until Wednesday, because that´s when my package of the last three books will arrive. I also read that you are supposed to read Cassandra Clare´s books in order of publishing date, so that is exactly what I´m gonna do.

City of Fallen Angels

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6752378-city-of-fallen-angels?from_search=true&search_version=service

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/City-Fallen-Angels-Mortal-Instruments/dp/1481455990/ref=pd_bxgy_14_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0VFX6TYQD53PMYH4E3YQ

City of Lost Souls

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8755776-city-of-lost-souls?from_search=true&search_version=service

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/City-Lost-Souls-Mortal-Instruments/dp/1481456008/ref=pd_bxgy_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1QZ7YM1YM8VCE7G47CNK

City of Heavenly Fire

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8755785-city-of-heavenly-fire?from_search=true&search_version=service

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/City-Heavenly-Fire-Mortal-Instruments/dp/1481444425/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463944013&sr=1-1&keywords=city+of+heavenly+fire

Clockwork Angel:

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7171637-clockwork-angel?ac=1&from_search=true

Clockwork Prince

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10025305-clockwork-prince

Clockwork Princess

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18335634-clockwork-princess

All of the Infernal Devices in a Boxed Set (I would recommend buying them book by book, for some reason it´s cheaper)

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Infernal-Devices-Complete-Collection-Clockwork/dp/1481456601/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463943661&sr=1-1&keywords=the+infernal+devices

Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes

“Me Before You”, seems to have taken over every reader’s bookshelf, as I have seen it supposedly everywhere these last few months. And now that the movie is coming out soon, I decided I should probably finally read it. It is advertised as this great romance book, where Louise takes a job as a caretaker for Will, whom she is the first to treat like a normal person. They fall in love because it´s a Romance Novel and supposedly something sad happens and I am ready. Ready to cry.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15507958-me-before-you?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon (I only found this ugly movie edition sry): http://www.amazon.com/Me-Before-You-Novel-Tie/dp/0143130153/ref=pd_sim_sbs_14_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51u6UWiKnYL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL320_SR182%2C320_&refRID=0BK4VAPA6R0XY5CWJ4VH

The Percy Jackson Series, by Rick Riordan

This is the only reread I have on this list, since I don´t particularly like rereading things, but I figured I should reread at least one book/series. It has been about seven years since I have read the series for the first time, gosh time really flies by, so I don´t remember a lot of details, which is why I chose this series. We follow our main character Percy, who finds out he is a demi god so he goes to this camp over the summer, Camp Halfblood. Camp Halfblood is a camp particularly for the children of other greek gods, like Percy. I remember this series being tons of fun so I am really pumped about reliving all of Percy´s adventures with him once more.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6443349-percy-jackson-and-the-olympians-boxed-set?from_search=true&search_version=service

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jackson-Olympians-Paperback-covers-poster/dp/1484707230/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464261942&sr=1-1&keywords=percy+jackson

Ruin and Rising and Six of Crows, both by Leigh Bardugo

As I have also mentioned in my post about My Top 10 Anticipated Summer Releases, I was surprised by how much I liked the first two books in this series. I was a big fan of the Russian setting and can´t wait to finally know how Bardugo is going to conclude this series. I can´t really talk about the plot, in fear of spoiling something, but just know that the Grisha Trilogy is set in a russsian inspired world, where there are people with magical abilities, called grishas. During the books we follow a girl called Alina, who finds out that she is the first grisha in thousands of years who can summon light. There is also this fold of darkness, and one of the best villains ever, but just know that you should read it.

 I also own “Six of Crows” which is the companion/follow up (?????) series set in the same universe as the Grisha Trilogy, after its events. All of the reviews I have read, were completely raving about how much better, than the Grisha Trilogy it is, so that makes me even more excited. This book basically follows a couple of different characters in pursuing a heist. And heist stories are my favourites so that´s that.

Ruin and Rising

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14061957-ruin-and-rising?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rising-Grisha-Trilogy-Leigh-Bardugo/dp/1250063167/ref=pd_sim_14_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51Hn89MFXPL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL320_SR212%2C320_&refRID=00JGK9F9FJ2BW4GSK957

Six of Crows

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23437156-six-of-crows

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Six-Crows-Leigh-Bardugo/dp/1627792120/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463943750&sr=1-1&keywords=six+of+crows

The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruis Zafón

This is the first book of the month in the Uncovered Book Club, which is hosted by Max from WellDoneBooks and Raeleen from Padfootandprongs07. Both of them are Booktubers, whose content I really enjoy watching and I have had this book on my shelves for quite some time. It also has been recommended to me, so all in all I thought this read along would be to perfect opportunity to finally read this book. It is set in Barcelona during 1945, after the Spanish Civil War. A boy named Daniel finds this books. After reading it he looks for more books by the same author to discover that someone is destroying all of the author´s books.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1232.The_Shadow_of_the_Wind#

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Wind-Carlos-Ruiz-Zaf%C3%B3n/dp/0143034901/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463943034&sr=1-1&keywords=the+shadow+of+the+wind

Since You´ve Been Gone, by Morgan Matson

This will be my first Morgan Matson book, but from what I have gathered all her books are the perfect light, but really fun, summer contemporary read. I can already picture myself laying in our garden, with some ice cream (hehehe) on a nice summer evening, reading this. The main character´s name is Emily and she is more of a wallflower, whose best friend Sloane suddenly disappears. But Sloane leaves her a list of tasks to complete, so Emily checks all of them of, during the course of summer in hope of finding Sloane in doing so. Have I mentioned that they are eating ice cream on the cover?

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18189606-since-you-ve-been-gone?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_6?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=since+you%27ve+been+gone&sprefix=since+%2Cstripbooks%2C356

Y-The Last Man, by Brian K. Vaughn, Pia Guerra and José Marzán Jr.

The first and only graphic novel series on this list. I read the first volume a couple weeks ago and loved it, but haven´t been able to get to my local library since then to get the other volumes. The reason I picked it up, and damn am I happy I did that, is that the writer is the writer who also wrote Saga, which is my second favourite graphic novel series of all time. Even though it is not as great as “Saga”, which is mostly due to the artstyle. And my preference in fantasy, but mostly the art. But sill it is just as funny as “Saga”, if not even more. In “Y-The Last Man” all the man die. Just like *snap* all of them dead, on the floor. Except Yorrick and his pet monkey Ampersand. The story then follows, them finding out why they are still alive, while also fighting for survival.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/156534.Y?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Y-Last-Man-Book-One/dp/140125151X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463943175&sr=1-1&keywords=y+the+last+man

Daughter Of Smoke and Bone Trilogy, by Laini Taylor

I got the box set from my mother for my birthday, and now it just sits on my shelf sits just waiting for summer holidays waiting to be marathoned. It has, as far as I know, only received praise, especially due to Taylor´s writing and is many people´s favourite series. I am not quite sure what it is about except that it is about this art student Karou, who draws monsters and collects teeth, I recall? It is also set in Prague and I have never read anything set there, but I think she will capture its essence just right.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20706293-the-daughter-of-smoke-and-bone-trilogy?ac=1&from_search=truev

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Smoke-Bone-Trilogy-Paperback/dp/0316306428/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463941524&sr=1-3&keywords=daughter+of+smoke+and+bone

The Well of Ascension, by Brandon Sanderson

So far, the first book in the Mistborn Trilogy, is one of my favourite books of this year. It was everything I didn´t know I wanted and so much more. Again I can´t really go into the plot of this book, because spoilers, but I don´t even want to really know what it is about anyway. Just know that “The Final Empire”, the first book, is something every fantasy lover should read. The bad guy has won and has already ruled the land for hundreds of years. There is also this awesome thing were a few people can burn metal to access powers. A small gang of those people, group together to take down the emperor in a nearly suicidal heist. Picture it as an Ocean 11 with magic, which sounds like everything you could need in life, doesn´t it? Believe me it is.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68429.The_Well_of_Ascension?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Well-Ascension-Mistborn-Book/dp/0765356139/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463943194&sr=1-1&keywords=the+well+of+ascension

Rebel Belle, by Rachel Hawkins

I have owned this book for about six months now, which is quite a long time for not reading a book, which I am really excited for. But I am really scared of the sequels. From everything I gathered, most people loved the first book, but found the other two to be mediocre at best. So somehow in my head it seems like a rational decision to not read it, even though I want to!

The story basically follows this southern “Belle”, named Harper, who on her Prom Night becomes a Paladin. Now she has to protect her arch enemy David, whose fate could very well destroy earth. Sounds so ridiculous, but awesome indeed.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8475505-rebel-belle?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rebel-Belle-Rachel-Hawkins/dp/0147514355/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463941209&sr=1-1&keywords=rebel+belle

What did you guys think of my list? Have you read any books on it? And what are you guys reading this summer? Let me know in the comments down below together with what kind of ice cream is your favourite! ;P

Read on xx

Lena