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 Top 10 Anticipated Summer Releases of 2016

2016 has almost already reached ist halfway-point. (Ahhhhh who can believe that? It passed by so fast!) And as now summer is finally upon us, school is out. This means that there will also be more than enough time for friends, ice cream, summer adventures and the most important: lying in the grass on a nice summer day READING. So to get us ready, I decided to make my first real blog post about my Top 10 summer releases, just in case you are still hesitant which books you need to pick up to have the best Summer you could possibly have.

 As a disclaimer I want to add, that I personally define summer as the beginning of May until the end September, so not the “official” definition, but who cares? I also want to claim that, of course, dates can change. I am writing this post on May 22^nd so maybe the date that a certain book is supposed to come out will change.

Number 10:

The Raven King, by Maggie Stiefvater

Yes, this is lower than most people would expect, especially because most of the books I read are YA and this is one HECK of a popular series. I have only read the first two books “The Raven Boys” and “The Dream Thieves” and honestly I just found them to be….Nice. I do want to continue on so I am happy all the books are out now, so I can read the last two books in a row if I desire to do so.

Published April 26^th.

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17378527-the-raven-king?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Raven-King-Cycle-Book/dp/0545424984/ref=pd_sim_14_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51ElpkATO3L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR116%2C160_&refRID=06Z3H3V3BA0B2KBZ3ZQT

Number 9:

Crooked Kingdom, by Leigh Bardugo

Have I read “Six of Crows”? No. Have I finished the Grisha Trilogy? No. Have I at least started the series? Yes! And I absolutely adored the first two books “Shadow and Bone” and “Siege and Storm”. I just ordered the last book “Ruin and Rising” and already own “Six of Crows” and since I am very excited to read those, I found it appropriate to make “Crooked Kingdom” my number nine.

Published September 27th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22299763-crooked-kingdom?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Crooked-Kingdom-Sequel-Six-Crows/dp/1627792139/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51uNAMQOafL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL320_SR214%2C320_&refRID=0ZG54FAFR5NYNWGQ7HGQ

Number 8:

This Savage Song, by Victoria Schwab

I haven´t read something by Victoria Schwab (but I own “Vicious” though!) Still this book intrigues me. With Urban Fantasy, conflicted main characters and all the hype that is around Vicoria Schwab´s writing style this book sounds right up my alley.

I also talked about this book in my June Releases so if you would like to read more about it please click here. (coming Sunday)

Published July 5^th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23299512-this-savage-song?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/This-Savage-Song-Monsters-Verity/dp/0062380850/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463920675&sr=1-1&keywords=this+savage+song+victoria+schwab

Number 7:

Strange the Dreamer, by Laini Taylor

Two confessions: First, as it seems to be a trend, I haven´t read the “Daughter of Smoke and Bones” trilogy yet. Ugh, bad reader I know, but what can you do? Second, I don´t really know what this is about. Just something about a conflict between gods and mankind, alchemy and perhaps love? As I said, I don´t know what this is about, but that doesn´t mellow my excitement on bit.

Published September 27^th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28145767-strange-the-dreamer?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Strange-Dreamer-Laini-Taylor/dp/0316341681/ref=pd_bxgy_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1DPJZE163EHSR7FENGJE

Number 6:

The Crown´s Game, by Evelyn Skye

Remember when I just told you about how much I liked the first two books in the Grisha Trilogy? Believe it or not I was quite hesitant to pick it up. The reviews I had heard were mixed and I wasn´t sure whether or not I would like the Russian inspired setting. At the end the Russian aspects turned out to be my favourite part, hence why I am excited about the crown´s game (and the author studied Russian History in collage, so she probably knows her stuff). The story takes place in 19^th century Russia, where Nikolaj and Vika have to battle each other’s magic to see who will become the emperor’s enchanter. So not only has this book a Russian setting, it also has a love triangle, which I am a huge fan of, when done right, and magic. MAGIC!

Published May 17^th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26156203-the-crown-s-game?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Crowns-Game-Evelyn-Skye/dp/0062422588/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463921633&sr=1-1&keywords=the+crown%27s+game

Number 5:

Summer Day and Summer Nights, edited by Stephanie Perkins

When I think of a perfect summer read, it either is a fun, fast paced fantasy story or a light, cute and fluffy contemporary. And Stephanie Perkins is surely the queen of the latter. The “Anna and the French Kiss” companions introduced me to her fabulous writing and since then I have been hooked and will read whatever the Queen of Contemporary chooses to publish. This is the second anthology she did, the first one set around Christmas, this one now takes place in the summer. There are 12 Love stories in this, including ones from authors like Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Leigh Bardugo (another reason to buy this!) and queen Perkins herself.

Published May 17^th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25063781-summer-days-summer-nights?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Days-Nights-Twelve-Stories/dp/1250079128/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463922635&sr=1-1&keywords=summer+days+and+summer+nights

Number 4:

The Unexpected Everything, by Morgan Matson

But behold Stephanie Perkins! There is another Queen of Contemproray: Morgan Matson. Ok, I haven´t particularly read anything by her yet, but believe me “Since You´ve Been Gone” is one of the top contenders on my Summer TBR this year. “The Unexpected Everything” is about this girl Andie, who has her whole life mapped out. But then stuff happens and all these plans fly out the window and it just sounds like a really fun book, with all the themes Matson is supposedly so good at (family, finding oneself, and a little bit of love in-between)

Published May 5^th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17838528-the-unexpected-everything?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Everything-Morgan-Matson/dp/1481404547/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Number 3:

Three Dark Crowns, by Kendare Blake

I haven´t really heard anything about this book until this week, when everybody came back from BEA.  This is about this island, on which every generation of the royal family there are triplets being born. So to determine, who becomes queen the three siblings have to fight each other. And the best part: They have MAGIC! (as by now it should´ve become clear that I really really like magic :P) It just sounds like a fun action packed YA Book, which is exactly the type of book I enjoy reading in the summertime.

Published September 20^th

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23207027-three-dark-crowns

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Three-Dark-Crowns-Kendare-Blake/dp/0062385437/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463924539&sr=1-1&keywords=three+dark+crowns

Number 2:

A Court Of Mist And Fury, by Sarah J. Maas

This one is the only book on this list, which I have already read (watch out for my review to come). This is the second book in the “A Court Of Thorns and Roses” Trilogy and I was not a big fan of the first book. I had a lot of issues with it, found it very slow moving, except for the last 150 pages or so, and found it just ok. So I was hesitant whether to to continue on with this series or not. But boy am I happy I did! I don´t want to take away too many things from my review, but just know that if you didn´t like ACOTAR, this is a much better book, as this was everything I wanted from the first book and more.

Published May 3^rd

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17927395-a-court-of-mist-and-fury?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Court-Mist-Fury-Thorns-Roses/dp/1619634465/ref=pd_bxgy_14_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0QQ8X5CT891NKZ0ENXSY

Number 1:

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, by J.K.Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany

How can this one not be at the top of anyone´s anticipated releases! It´s Harry Potter! I don´t even really know what this book is about, but do I care? Hell no! Harry Potter is my All-Time-Favourite of every category ever, so of course I am going to devour it as soon as I get my hands on it.

Published July 31^st

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29056083-harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Cursed-Child-Production/dp/1338099132/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463924421&sr=1-1&keywords=harry+potter+and+the+cursed+child

So, that is my list. What about you guys? What summer releases are you excited about? Have you already read any of the books on my list, and if so what did you think of them? Let me know in the comments down below!

Read on

Lena