August was a blur. Towards the end of the month, I was so behind because I had family visiting me, but I managed to stay mostly on track. Playing catch up, I’m trying to read my ARCS for September. And I mostly finished – just with the exception of two books!
Books Read
I read a total of 35 books – some of these were audiobooks. I feel like I always have to say this when I look back on the month. Last month there weren’t any comments to tell you what the books were rated, so I haven’t added that feature in. If you want me to color code the wrap ups with the star ratings, please comment below! But since most of these were ARCS in one form of another, I didn’t code where I received them from either. I’m not sure if it helped people.
My stand out book from the picture above has to be Caster and The Light at the Bottom of the World. I knew I would love Red Skies Falling – so that was no surprise!
I was able to read some really phenomenal sequels and debut fantasy books for this month! Like Red Skies Falling – which I adore to pieces, and Kingdom of Souls. This month seems to be the month of blog tours! Most of my blog tours recently have come with hand lettering. Just by the end of the month did I finally feel like I was getting back into the creative groove.
I was pretty sure I was going to love The Magnolia Sword, but the ones that really stood out for me were The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics and Butterfly Yellow! Totally different books because one is Mulan re-telling, one is a historical fiction sapphic romance, and another is a historical fiction about a Vietnamese refugee.
And to end out the month, we have another sequel I knew I’d love, Steel Tide, along with some books I was really looking forward to like Treason of Thorns and The Grace Year! All in all, it was a really great reading month of books that were hits with me. Not as many five star reads as normally, but very many solidly good 4 star reads. I’m not sure, I just feel like I’m becoming more critical in my reviews, where a 5 star is really for something exceptional.
Favorite Books
Last month I didn’t do one of these! Y’all gotta keep me accountable. It’s always so hard to pick a favorite book, so I’ll break it down as best sequel is Red Skies Falling and best book is The Magnolia Sword. It’s hard, but these immediately come to mind!
Challenges
This month I did rather well – relatively. My current total for 2019 releases is 133 and I’ve read a total of 256 books this year so that’s the majority but not all! I have been reading other books! By the way, for these challenges I am counting the ones with reviews/blog posts, but at the end of the year I’ll include the ones where the reviews aren’t live yet.
I’ve read 72 books from Netgalley and Edelweiss which brings me so close to 75 which is the next level marker before the last one – 100 books. Happily I have read 63 YARC books which I am so proud of so far! It can only get better. The challenges I’m the worst at are the Backlist books and Retelling. I’m hoping I’ll get better on the Backlist books after October when the release schedule lets down a little *crosses fingers*.
What a great reading month! Congrats!
Hmm.. I think my favorite was Spellbound? I love paranormal mysteries and it has gay rep!
OHH Queer rep?! I’m sold!
I’m glad you had a good reading month in terms of quantity AND quality! I’m still trying to catch up with all of my ARCs. I recently came back to blogging after a short hiatus, and now I’m in the blogging frame of mind again I’ve been requesting. Which is silly of me, but I can’t help it 😀
I’m glad you loved Kingdom of Souls (I did too), and I’m dying to read The Light At the Bottom of the World. I have an ARC of that so I might pick it up next!
Ha I can’t talk because I can never talk myself out of requesting. I seriously need someone to control me.
YAY! Please do and DO let me know your thoughts! Such a precious book baby of mine