Review of Nightmares #37 | Fool Moon (The Dresden Files #2) by Jim Butcher

Book info:
Fool Moon (The Dresden Files #2) by Jim Butcher | 401 pages/10.5 hours | Published January 9th 2001 by Roc | Adult, mystery, paranormal, supernatural

Summary:
Harry Dresden--Wizard
Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment.

Business has been slow. Okay, business has been dead. And not even of the undead variety. You would think Chicago would have a little more action for the only professional wizard in the phone book. But lately, Harry Dresden hasn't been able to dredge up any kind of work--magical or mundane.

But just when it looks like he can't afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise.

A brutally mutilated corpse. Strange-looking paw prints. A full moon. Take three guesses--and the first two don't count...

My thoughts:
Read August 7-August 10, 2017 | 4 stars
Set: October 2000

Review of Nightmares #36 | Storm Front (The Dresden Files #1) by Jim Butcher

Book info:
Storm Front (The Dresden Files #1) by Jim Butcher | 322 pages/8.5 hours | Published April 2000 by Penguin ROC | Urban fantasy, adult, mystery, paranormal, magic

Summary:
Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment.

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a—well, whatever. There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks.

So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get interesting.

Magic - it can get a guy killed.
My thoughts:
Read July 30-August 2, 2017 | 4 stars

RDB Review #35 | Ring by Koji Suzuki, translated by Robert B. Rohmer & Glynne Walley

Book info: Ring by Koji Sukuki, translated by Robert B. Rohmer & Glynne Walley | 282 pages | Published April 2004 by Vertical | Adult Horror, Thriller, Suspense, Supernatural

Summary:

A mysterious videotape warns that the viewer will die in one week unless a certain, unspecified act is performed. Exactly one week after watching the tape, four teenagers die one after another of heart failure.

Asakawa, a hardworking journalist, is intrigued by his niece's inexplicable death. His investigation leads him from a metropolitan tokyo teeming with modern society's fears to a rural Japan--a mountain resort, a volcanic island, and a countryside clinic--haunted by the past. His attempt to solve the tape's mystery before it's too late--for everyone--assumes an increasingly deadly urgency. Ring is a chillingly told horror story, a masterfully suspenseful mystery, and post-modern trip.

My thoughts:

Read January 30-February 8, 2017

**Trigger Warning : Rape**

Bring It On, 2017 | Goals and More

2016 was the year of sadness and disasters, honestly. There were celebrity deaths, I lowered my initial reading goal from 100 to 80, I fought with my thyroid and lost, resulting in weird weight gain, and my cholesterol's up. I'm so ready to start fresh. I'm very bad at keeping goals, but I'm a freaking adult and it's time to start acting like it! *game face*

Reading/book goals:

1. Read at least 80 books, if not more. I won't be as overzealous like I was at the beginning of the year where I look at last years 150 and say, "Well, 100 seems good," then fall 12 behind and give up. No changing the goal this time.
2. Post more original content on Tumblr. I'm a victim of constant reblogging, which is great to keep Tumblr moving, but I rarely take my own pictures. 
3. Review weekly, like I intended to do when I opened my blogger as well as extending my review format. I kind of fell out of it in October because I was trying to read as many spooky books as possible and forgot about reviewing them.
4. READ MORE #OWNVOICES. I'm spending more time figuring out if the books I'm reading or want to read are considered #ownvoices. 
5. Read more at home. I do most of my reading at work and do random things when I get home. I rarely ever read at home. I don't know if the atmosphere is wrong or what, but I always find myself drifting off and playing with my phone. 

Books to read:

1. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
2. The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo | Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising
3. The Dark World by S.C. Parris  (love you, bae)
4. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
5. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
6. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
7. Girl Out of Water by Laura Silverman
8. Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
9. The Seafarer's Kiss by Julia Ember
10. If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
11. Star-crossed by Barbara Dee
12. Passenger & Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken
13. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
14. This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab
15. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
16. Tipping the Velvet & Affinity by Sarah Waters
17. The Chemist by Melissa Meyer
18. Midnight Without a Moon by Linda Williams Jackson
19. Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray
20. Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
21. The Devourers by Indra Das
22. The Mermaid Girl: A Story by Erika Swyler
23. Where Am I Now by Mara Wilson
24. The Demonologist: The Extraordinary Careers of Ed and Lorraine Warren by Gerald Brittle
25. Beware the Night (or Deliver Us From Evil) by Ralph Sarchie
26. A History of Glitter and Blood by Hannah Moskowitz
27. The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings
28. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
29. Conversion by Katherine Howe
30. Tattoo Atlas by Tim Forleen
31. The Testing by Koelle Charbonneau
32. The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle
33. The Prestige by Christopher Priest
34. Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy
35. Scythe by Neal Shusterman
36. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
37. The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid
38. Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic
39. The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
40. The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
41. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
42. The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
43. The Other Alice by Michelle Harrison
44. Alice by Christina Henry
45. Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
46. The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koike
47. Security by Gina Wohlsdorf
48. The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy
49. I Crashed into a Unicorn by Kasie Jeon
50. The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
51. Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger
52. The Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs
53. ...okay, I'm done with this list, it's getting out of hand...

Books to reread:

1. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
2. The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
3. Ice Massacre & Ice Crypt by Tiana Warner
4. Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz
5. Secret Society by Tom Dolby
6. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
7. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
8. Thirst by Christopher Pike
9. Beowulf
10. Chocolat by Joanne Harris
11. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Personal/mental goals:

1. Move out. Yes, I'm 26 and still live at home. Whatever. But at this point, I'm waiting for the boyfriend to get his money situation together. I gave him a "at the latest" date for September. 
2. Be more comfortable with my body, or do something about it. I'm gonna try to stop my compulsive snacking and eating out for lunch so much and get back into drinking an excess of water. I'm quite lazy, so working out probably won't happen, but I can easily control what I eat and how much.
3. Set a wedding date/year. I've been engaged for a year, and that's all fine and good, but we've been waiting to move out to decide on a date. So hopefully, after September, we'll make a date for sure.
4. Decide when I'm going back to school for my Masters or, at the very least, take my GRE and get my recommendation letters done. I've been graduated for a year and I really do enjoy being out of school, but if I wanna move up, I gotta start school again. *heavy sigh*
5. Start a bullet journal, including a one-sentence-a-day journal.

I hope I can keep myself  on track this year and actually feel accomplished this time next year. I feel like if I make this public, then I have the internet to hold me accountable if I fall behind. 

If anyone notices any books on my list that are bad rep or problematic, please don't hesitate to tell me! I'm also always down for more recs :D

Happy New Year, my dears!

-Allie

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8 Days Until 2017 | 8 Nights of Books from @booksbeyondimagining

@booksbeyondimagining came up with this idea, go check them out!

8 Books I Read In 2016 That I Would Recommend

1. Ice Massacre / Ice Crypt by Tiana Warner: I spent all year raving about these books! I came across a review on tumblr and had to find it. Though Ice Massacre is 2 years old at this point, I got an e-galley from NetGalley and devoured it. When I found out the sequel was coming in the next month, I was beyond excited! I ended up buying both digital copies and within a month or two, buying physical copies of both. The author is a sweetheart and always replies when I tweet her questions. These are great because there are mainly PoC characters, female leads, interracial relationships, and lwl. My reviews: Ice Massacre / Ice Crypt
2. A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay: I'm on an epic quest to find the best and scariest horror novel. This is close. There are twists and turns and it's filled with psychological spoops. I love it. My friend Aks sent it to me as my secret Santa this year and I was thrilled to own a physical copy!
3. the princess saves herself in this one by Amanda Lovelace: This is one of the only poetry compilations I've read, and I'm so glad I did. There is so much emotion and realness in this collection. Don't give me the "I don't read poetry" thing because this should be required reading. I think it only took me 45 minutes to read and I loved every minute of it. My review: the princess saves herself in this one
4. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater: I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this series. The summary on the back of the book does no justice to what's between the covers. It's magical and dark, a little gay and a lot feminist. My reviews: TRB / TDT / BL,LB / TRK
5. The Martian by Any Weir: Finally, scifi I can get behind. I have difficulty getting into high fantasy and high scifi, but this is so realistic and understandable. It was so funny and terrifying at the same time. It really lived up to the hype. My review: The Martian
6. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: Wow. Just wow. This book is so epic. I admit, it took a little bit to get into, but once it got going, it didn't stop. Oddly enough, I still haven't started Crooked Kindom. Maybe one day... My review: Six of Crows
   
7. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: My friend Lauren recommended this series to me because it's her favorite and I can totally see why. I love the magic and mystery of this book. There are so many cool creatures and the secondary characters are the best. I haven't finished the trilogy yet, but I promise I will!
8. And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich: This was SO SPOOKY! I read it as a part of my October Horror read-athon. I love love love this so much. It's got plot twists and scares and more plot twists. I loved it so much I never wrote a review because I couldn't get my thoughts in order...

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RBD Review #34 | Rebel Angels (Gemma Doyle #2) by Libba Bray

Book info:
Rebel Angels (Gemma Doyle #2) by Libba Bray | 576 pages | Published December 2006 by Ember | YA, fantasy, historical fiction, supernatural

Summary:
Ah, Christmas! Gemma Doyle is looking forward to a holiday from Spence Academy, spending time with her friends in the city, attending ritzy balls, and on a somber note, tending to her ailing father. As she prepares to ring in the New Year, 1896, a handsome young man, Lord Denby, has set his sights on Gemma, or so it seems. Yet amidst the distractions of London, Gemma’s visions intensify–visions of three girls dressed in white, to whom something horrific has happened, something only the realms can explain...
The lure is strong, and before long, Gemma, Felicity, and Ann are turning flowers into butterflies in the enchanted world of the realms that Gemma alone can bring them to. To the girls’ great joy, their beloved Pippa is there as well, eager to complete their circle of friendship.

But all is not well in the realms–or out. The mysterious Kartik has reappeared, telling Gemma she must find the Temple and bind the magic, else great disaster will befall her. Gemma’s willing to do his intrusive bidding, despite the dangers it brings, for it means she will meet up with her mother’s greatest friend–and now her foe, Circe. Until Circe is destroyed, Gemma cannot live out her destiny. But finding Circe proves a most perilous task.

My thoughts: 
Read October 4-December 14, 2016 | 5/5 stars

RBD Review #26 | Ice Crypt (Mermaids of Eriana Kwai #2) by Tiana Warner

Book info:
Ice Crypt (Mermaids of Eriana Kwai #2) by Tiana Warner | 426 pages | Published July 2016 by Rogue Cannon Publishing | Teen fantasy/SciFi, LGBTQA+ > Lesbian

Summary:
Meela has just returned from the Massacre—the annual attempt to wipe out the mermaids threatening her people’s survival. After forming an unlikely connection with Lysi, a mermaid she was trained to kill, Meela is determined to stop the war between humans and merpeople for good. She knows of a legendary weapon that could bring peace if she uses it against King Adaro, ruler of the Pacific Ocean. But her people have plans for future Massacres and refuse to help her uncover it.

While Meela works in secret to unearth the Host of Eriana, Lysi is held captive under Adaro’s tyranny. Sent to the battlefront, Lysi joins forces with a band of rebels that could either bring her freedom—or have her executed for treason.

Separated by the vast Pacific Ocean, Meela and Lysi must find a way to defeat King Adaro and end the war that has been keeping them apart (courtesy of Goodreads).

My thoughts:
Read July 25- August 24, 2016 | 5/5 stars

RBD Review #25 | Ice Massacre (Mermaids of Eriana Kwai #1) by Tiana Warner

**I was given a digital copy of this book by NetGalley in return for an honest review.** I also want to mention that I did purchase this book after the fact, from Amazon for my Kindle as well as a physical copy, because I want to support the author.

Book info:
Ice Massacre (Mermaids of Eriana Kwai #1) by Tiana Warner | 375 pages | Published September 2014 by Rogue Cannon Publishing | YA, Fantasy, LGBTQA+ > Lesbian

Summary:
The Massacre is supposed to bring peace to Eriana Kwai. Every year, the island sends its warriors to battle these hostile sea demons. Every year, the warriors fail to return. Desperate for survival, the island must decide on a new strategy. Now, the fate of Eriana Kwai lies in the hands of twenty battle-trained girls and their resistance to a mermaid’s allure.

Eighteen-year-old Meela has already lost her brother to the Massacre, and she has lived with a secret that’s haunted her since childhood. For any hope of survival, she must overcome the demons of her past and become a ruthless mermaid killer.

For the first time, Eriana Kwai’s Massacre warriors are female, and Meela must fight for her people’s freedom on the Pacific Ocean’s deadliest battleground.

My thoughts:
Original read July 19-21, 2016 | 4.75 stars

October 2016 @spooksandtea Read-a-Thon Wrap Up

So, a week after Halloween, I finally decided to post about what I read in October. I had so much fun trying to find the perfect spooky read last month. Unfortunately, this picture is missing a few books because I lent one out and the others are library books that I've since returned. I did write reviews on most of them, which is pretty impressive for me. I'm also including the ones I read before October, because I was too excited to wait until October started to start reading horror.

@spooksandtea info, if you're curious.

Posession by M. Verano | September 12-14. Letitia loves to sing, but when she starts having horrific dreams and seeing things, her blog and love for singing fall to the wayside. Her mother think's she's possessed, but is she really?
What interested me: I read the first one, A Diary of a Haunting and I really enjoyed that (until the author put himself into the narrative). I didn't write a review for this one. I did enjoy it, but I didn't like it as much as the first book. I think there was a lot of lead up and it lacked climax. I think the ending was quite disappointing as well.
Spoop factor: 3 out of 5 skulls.



I am a Zombie Filled with Love by Isaac Marion | September 15. This is the short story that bore Warm Bodies. A zombie with thoughts? Who knew?
What interested me: I had just purchased The New Hunger and I came across this in adding it to Goodreads. I loved it. Probably because I love Warm Bodies.
Spoop factor: 1 out 5 skulls. This isn't exactly scary, unless existential crises scare you.




House at the End of the Street by Lily Blake | September 15-16. A girl and her mother move into a high-end cul-de-sac neighborhood, but their neighbor is hiding something no one expected.
What interested me: I saw this at BAM one day and it was only a few dollars, so I thought, "Why not?" I actually had not seen the movie when I read this, and I did watch it afterward. My verdict is that it works much better as a movie than a book. But how often do books-from-movies work?
Spoop factor: 3.5 skulls.

Ouija by Katharine Turner | September 16-17. A girl looses her best friend to suicide. But was it really suicide, or were there other forces at hand?
What interested me: I actually really enjoyed the movie when it came out, though it's definitely not the best horror movie I've seen. This was another one I just happened to see at the bookstore and picked up for a few bucks. I think this worked really well as a novel, better that House at the End of the Street for sure. Also, the pre-sequel was coming out soon after I read this, so I thought it was pretty appropriate.
Spoop factor: 3.5 skulls, only because I knew what was going on.

The New Hunger by Isaac Marion | September 16-19. Before R found new life, he woke up lost and confused. Before Julie found R eating her boyfriend's brain, she was a young only child, travelling to find safety. Before Nora becomes Julie's best friend, she struggles to protect her younger brother from the corpses that have decided to come back from the grave.
What interested me: I LOVE LOVE LOVE Warm Bodies. LOVE. It's so different and original. No one thinks to write from the zombie's perspective. The New Hunger is so much darker and more thought provoking than it's predecessor. I thought it was wonderful.
Spoop factor: 2 skulls, only because, again, it's not really scary, per se, just really good.

A Midsummer Night's Scream by R.L. Stine | September 24-26. A film maker's daughter is cast in a remake of a horror film that went horribly wrong. Will history repeat itself?
What interested me: Stine is known for his scary stories, for both children and adults. How could one for YA be bad? Well... I wasn't that impressed. I found the characters to be shallow and frustrating and the story to be unbelievable, even for magic and misfortune. This doesn't mean I've given up on Stine, just on his YA books, I think.
Spoop factor: 3 skulls. Some things were unsettling to read, but the characters got in the way.

The Merciless by Danielle Vega | October 5-10. Mean Girls meets The Exorcist, basically. Sofia moves to a new school and is graciously welcomed into the cool-girls circle. Little does she know that they're not cool at all, just crazy.
What interested me: The cover, to be honest. It's neon pink with a gold pentagram. It's so intimidating. Unfortunately, it fell short for me. I may read the sequel, but I haven't decided yet.
Spoop factor: 3.5 skulls. Though I was very disappointed in the ending, it was really unsettling to read at times.



The Grownup by Gillian Flynn | October 11. A "psychic" takes a house call where the mother thinks her step-son is possessed. Is he? Who freaking knows.
What interested me: It's super short, I actually detest Gone Girl and I have not one clue why I decided to read this. Flynn's writing style is not for me and yet I read it. Thankfully, it didn't take up much of my time. I felt that it was trying to hard to be clever and also tried to cram too much into such a short story. There was a lot that was left unsaid or unexplained, or just added in for shock value. I probably won't be reading another Flynn book. She just frustrates me.
Spoop factor: 2 skulls. Tried too hard to be spooky in such a short time.

The Fever by Megan Abbott | October 11-14. A girl has a violent seizure in class. Soon, other girls are getting sick all over the town. Is it a disease or just hysteria?
What interested me: @ladybookmad/Amanda Lovelace posted about it on twitter or tumblr, I don't remember. But, I trust her judgement and wasn't disappointed. I really enjoyed this and was also recommended Conversion by Katherine Howe, as it's a similar idea.
Spoop factor: 3 skulls. It was very thriller-y, but not necessarily scary.

The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich | October 14-20. Carly lives during the day, Kaitlin, at night. One body, two souls. Can one save the other from evil forces? Probably not.
What interested me: OMG. THIS BOOK. Oh man. It's written as a compilation of found diary entries, case files, interview recordings, and video transcriptions. Every page is different. There are warnings against reading it or reading without a parent's consent. It really sells the scares. I do find things missing in the plot, but Kurtagich is a wizard with horror. She tosses little things in. They could be ignored, but if you think too hard about them, you get chills. Well, at least I did.
Spoop factor: 4 out of 5 skulls.

The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics | October 20-22. A girl and her cousin live in bliss in their manor home when her aunt walks into the woods and doesn't return for months. Then, her cousin begins hearing her mother in the walls, and soon, Lucy hears them too. Who are the women in the walls, and what do they want with Lucy's family?
What interested me: The cover, I suppose. I love disembodied voices, they creep me out. Unfortunately, this book went sideways and I was exhausted. The elitist attitude of the characters was tiring, but I appreciated the incorporation of self harm and working to end it.
Spoop factor: 4 skulls. Though the characters were frustrating, the scares were good.

You by Caroline Kepnes | October 22-29. Joe works at a bookstore. He sees you, Beck. He likes you. He finds your home, steals your phone, reads your emails, dates you. Joe is a good boyfriend. He takes care of bad ex-boyfriends and girlfriends that take you for granted. Soon, he'll take care of you.
What interested me: A book written in both first and second person. It's directed at me?! AWESOME! Until the main character no longer scared me. I give Kepnes credit for the creative writing, but I was thrilled for about 1/3 of the book, then it just got tedious.
Spoop factor: 2.5 skulls. I think if the scary parts weren't glossed over like they didn't matter much, it would've been better.


Honorable mention 

And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich | October 31-November 2. Silla and Nori run away from their abusive father to their aunt's mansion in the woods. Soon, their aunt Cathy begins to act strangely, locking herself away in the attic for years. Then, the forest begins to move closer. Will Silla and Nori survive the creeping woods?
What interested me: Reading The Dead House. I now stalk Kurtagich, waiting for a new book. She writes horror superbly, dropping hints here and there that are meant to unsettle if you're paying attention. This was just *muah*. Oh, I love it so much. I was so invested, everything surprised me.
Spoop factor: 4.5 skulls, definitely. I NEED MORE, DAWN.


And that's it. I did a lot of horror reading the last 2 months, it's unreal. I'm having such a hard time getting back into reading other things, things I have to read. And though I found a few contenders for the Best Horror Book Ever, I'll continue to search FOREVER!

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RBD Review #23 | Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell

Book info:
Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell | 96 pages (actually, the story is like 54, but there’s an excerpt for another book at the end) | Published February 2016 | YA Contemporary, Short Story

Summary:
'Everybody likes everything these days. The whole world is a nerd.'
'Are you mad because other people like Star Wars? Are you mad because people like me like Star Wars?'
'Maybe.'

If you broke Elena's heart, Star Wars would spill out. So when she decides to queue outside her local cinema to see the new movie, she's expecting a celebration with crowds of people who love Han, Luke and Leia just as much as she does. What she's not expecting is to be last in a line of only three people; to have to pee into a collectible Star Wars soda cup behind a dumpster or to meet that unlikely someone who just might truly understand the way she feels. Kindred Spirits is an engaging short story by Rainbow Rowell, author of the bestselling Eleanor & Park, Fangirl and Carry On, and is part of a handful of selected short reads specially produced for World Book Day (courtesy of Goodreads).

My thoughts:
Read June 11, 2016 | 5 Stars

RBD Review #22 | Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

Book info:
Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2) by Maggie Stiefvater | 360 pages/10h 40m | Published July 2010 by Scholastic Press | YA Fantasy

Summary:
Once Grace and Sam have found each other, they know they must fight to stay together. For Sam, this means a reckoning with his werewolf past. For Grace, it means facing a future that is less and less certain.

the loss.

Into their world comes a new wolf named Cole, whose past is full of hurt and danger. He is wrestling with his own demons, embracing the life of a wolf while denying the ties of being a human.

the linger.

For Grace, Sam, and Cole, life a constant struggle between two forces--wolf and human--with love baring its two sides as well. It is harrowing and euphoric, freeing and entrapping, enticing and alarming. As their world falls apart, love is what lingers. But will it be enough?

My thoughts:
Read May 31-June 6, 2016 | 3.5 stars (3 on GR)

RBD Review #21 | The Raven King (The Raven Cycle #4) by Maggie Stiefvater

Book info:
The Raven King (The Raven Cycle #4) by Maggie Stiefvater | 439 pages | Published April 2016 by Scholastic Press | YA Fantasy (external image)

Summary:
For years, Gansey has been on a quest to find a lost king. One by one, he’s drawn others into this quest: Ronan, who steals from dreams; Adam, whose life is no longer his own; Noah, whose life is no longer a lie; and Blue, who loves Gansey… and is certain she is destined to kill him.

Now the endgame has begun. Dreams and nightmares are converging. Love and loss are inseparable. And the quest refuses to be pinned to a path (courtesy of Goodreads).

My thoughts:

Read May 19-27, 2016 | 5-Stars

*NEW* RBD Review #32 | The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics

Book info:
The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics | 288 pages | Published September 2016 by Harlequin Teen | YA Horror, Paranormal, Mystery, Supernatural, Suspense

Summary:
Lucy Acosta's mother died when she was three. Growing up in a Victorian mansion in the middle of the woods with her cold, distant father, she explored the dark hallways of the estate with her cousin, Margaret. They're inseparable—a family.

When her aunt Penelope, the only mother she's ever known, tragically disappears while walking in the woods surrounding their estate, Lucy finds herself devastated and alone. Margaret has been spending a lot of time in the attic. She claims she can hear her dead mother's voice whispering from the walls. Emotionally shut out by her father, Lucy watches helplessly as her cousin's sanity slowly unravels. But when she begins hearing voices herself, Lucy finds herself confronting an ancient and deadly legacy that has marked the women in her family for generations.

My thoughts:
Read October 20-22, 2016 | 3 stars
Trigger Warning: self harm (at the end)

*NEW* RBD Review #33 | You (You #1) by Caroline Kepnes

Book info:
You (You #1) by Caroline Kepnes | 422 pages |  Published September 2014 by Atria/Emily Bestler Books | Adult Mystery, Contemporary, Thriller

Summary:
When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.

There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.
My thoughts:
Read October 22-29, 2016 | 3 stars

*MINOR SPOILERS*

RDB Review #20 | Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

Book info:
Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) by Maggie Stiefvater | 390 pages/10h 45m | Published August 2009 by Scholastic | Teen fantasy, romance (external image)

Summary:
For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

My thoughts:
Read May 24-31, 2016 | 4-stars

RBD Review #13 | The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

Book info:
The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater | 408 pages. Published 2012 | Teen Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal

Summary:

• First and foremost I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE BOOK JACKET SUMMARY. Read the review if you’re interested in knowing why. 

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them--until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.

His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn't believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore (courtesy of Goodreads).

My thoughts:
Read April 07-24, 2016 | 4/5 stars

RBD Review #19 | Believarexic by J.J. Johnson

Book info:
Believarexic by JJ Johnson | 464 pages | Published October 2015 by Peachtree Publishers | Biological novel, YA realistic fiction (external image)

Summary:
Fifteen-year-old Jennifer has to force her family to admit she needs help for her eating disorder. But when her parents sign her into the Samuel Tuke Center, she knows it’s a terrible mistake. The facility’s locked doors, cynical nurses, and punitive rules are a far cry from the peaceful, supportive environment she’d imagined.

In order to be discharged, Jennifer must make her way through the strict treatment program—as well as harrowing accusations, confusing half-truths, and startling insights. She is forced to examine her relationships, both inside and outside the hospital. She must relearn who to trust, and decide for herself what “healthy” really means.

Punctuated by dark humor, gritty realism, and profound moments of self-discovery, Believarexic is a stereotype-defying exploration of belief and human connection (courtesy of Goodreads).

My thoughts:

• I was given a digital copy of Believarexic in exchange for an honest review by Peachtree Publishers. 

*NEW* RBD Review #31 | The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich

Book info:
The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich | 448 pages | Published August 2016 (my edition) by Little Brown Books | YA Horror, Mystery, Paranormal, Thriller

Summary:
Welcome to the Dead House.

Three students: dead.

Carly Johnson: vanished without a trace.

Two decades have passed since an inferno swept through Elmbridge High, claiming the lives of three teenagers and causing one student, Carly Johnson, to disappear. The main suspect: Kaitlyn, "the girl of nowhere."

Kaitlyn's diary, discovered in the ruins of Elmbridge High, reveals the thoughts of a disturbed mind. Its charred pages tell a sinister version of events that took place that tragic night, and the girl of nowhere is caught in the center of it all. But many claim Kaitlyn doesn't exist, and in a way, she doesn't - because she is the alter ego of Carly Johnson.

Carly gets the day. Kaitlyn has the night. It's during the night that a mystery surrounding the Dead House unravels and a dark, twisted magic ruins the lives of each student that dares touch it.

Debut author Dawn Kurtagich masterfully weaves together a thrilling and terrifying story using psychiatric reports, witness testimonials, video footage, and the discovered diary - and as the mystery grows, the horrifying truth about what happened that night unfolds.

My thoughts:
Read October 14-20, 2016 | 4 stars

RBD Review #18 | The Crow by James O'Barr

Book info:
The Crow by James O’Barr | Published 1989 | 240 pages | Adult Graphic Novel, Horror, Supernatural, Paranormal

Summary:
Eric has returned from the dead, driven only by hate and the need to wreak revenge on those who killed him and raped and then killed his beloved Shelly. 

My thoughts:
Read May 17-18, 2016 | 5/5 stars 

RBD Review #17 | Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea! by Ben Clanton

Book info:
Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea! by Ben Clanton | 64 pages | Expected publication, October 2016 by Tundra Books | Children’s graphic novel.

Summary:
Narwhal is a happy-go-lucky narwhal. Jelly is a no-nonsense jellyfish. The two might not have a lot in common, but they do they love waffles, parties and adventures. Join Narwhal and Jelly as they discover the whole wide ocean together.
A wonderfully silly early graphic novel series featuring three stories. In the first, Jelly learns that Narwhal is a really good friend. Then Narwhal and Jelly form their own pod of awesomeness with their ocean friends. And finally, Narwhal and Jelly read the best book ever -- even though it doesn't have any words...or pictures!
Ben Clanton showcases the joys of friendship, the benefits of working together and the power of imagination in the delightful Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea.

My thoughts:
Read May 17, 2016 | 5/5 stars

• I was given a digital copy of Narwhal and Jelly in exchange for an honest review by Penguin Random House Canada.