Category Feature Posts

Apr 29 2015

April 2015 Review Recap!

Review Recap

 This has been one of the busiest months I’ve had in a long while! But at least I can say all of the busyness was of the fun variety. Unfortunately though, that means all of the playtime has severely cut into my reading time, but I still managed to get through some really good titles this month.

Books Read:

While I enjoyed all of these, my favorite has to be Angelfall by Susan Ee – I haven’t been so excited about a dystopian Dan Wells wrote Partials.

Books Reviewed:

The Novice by Taran Matharu
Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott
Salt & Stone by Victoria Scott

The Novice by Taran Matharu – 2/5 stars
Series Review [so far] Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott – 3/5 stars

Invaded by Melissa Landers
Until Midnight by Melissa Landers
A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison

Invaded & Until Midnight by Melissa Landers – 4.5/5 stars
A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison – 5/5 stars

Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Fever by Lauren DeStefano
Sever by Lauren DeStefano

The Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano – 4.5/5 stars!

And my favorite:

Havoc by Ann Aguirre

Havoc by Ann Aguirre

Havoc by Ann Aguirre – 5/5 stars!

I surpassed my normal reviewing quota (yeah right, like I actually stick to that anymore) by reviewing a whopping ten titles this month. Don’t be too impressed – all I did was figure out that I make my own rules for the blog and can review a whole trilogy at once if I want to (it’s liberating).

Waiting on Wednesday Features:

Huh, weird – no YA titles featured this month… Even so, I am absolutely thrilled for all three of these!

Top Ten Tuesday Features:

Top Twelve Authors Who Inspire the Aspiring Author in Me!

I miss being able to do the TTT with enthusiasm, but after participating for over two years, there’s not many lists I haven’t already created in one form or another… Still, when I do make one, I get really excited about it (see link above).

How was your month? Read anything amazing?!

by Niki Hawkes

Apr 14 2015
Image

Top Twelve Authors Who Inspire the Aspiring Author in Me!

top ten tuesday

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Today’s topic supposed to be Top Ten Inspiring Bookish Quotes, or some such, but I am yet again going my own route because, as much as I read, I’ve never been one to collect words of inspiration. In fact, I am far more likely to find inspiration out of the book as a whole and have said many times throughout the last couple years how much I admire certain authors for their ability to do certain things well. This week has ironically inspired me to compile all of those well-crafted books in one place.

Top Ten Twelve Authors Who Inspire the Aspiring Author in Me!

World-Building

The Lascar’s Dagger by Glenda Larke
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
The Legend of Eli Monpress by Rachel Aaron

These three authors are definitely my favorite world-builders! Each story they create has a different setting, magic system, and atmosphere and each time I am in awe at their creativity. Honorable mentions for this category include Julie E. Czerneda and Ann Aguirre.

Character

Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

A lot of others do a good job the characterization, but these three authors stand out to me as exceptional because their characters are so rich and lifelike you feel like you’re reading about real people. They are often flawed and don’t always make the best decisions, which is probably why they always feel so human.

Voice

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
The Name the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Wither by Lauren DeStefano

I will be the first to admit that I don’t read books to specifically appreciate how authors weave words together, but these three authors crafted their tales in such a way that I couldn’t help but pay attention. The language was beautiful and poetic without being pompous or over-the-top. Simply lovely!

Story

Bone Shop by T.A. Pratt
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison

How someone crafts a story together so brilliantly always blows my mind, and these three authors dazzled me with how well their stories were composed. I’m sure you’re all not surprised to see Harry Potter on the list, and I think story is what I’ve always appreciated the most about it.

***

I have plans to go back and reread all of these authors to help me improve my own craft. There are so many examples of  brilliant writing within each one – if I could absorb the skills from each I would be totally set! I would like to point out that many of these books could easily fit in all the categories, I just placed them the one I thought they represented the best.

What books inspire you? Any from my list?

by Niki Hawkes

Apr 2 2015
Image

March 2015 Reading Recap!

 

Review Recap
I am knocking all of my reading goals out of the park this year, and that’s in no small part because of my “Read the best books first” mantra. Are you getting sick of hearing about that yet? I talk about it all the time because it has drastically improved my reading experience. In any case, here’s a look at my fantastic month in reading, reviews, and posts.

Books Read:

See… I told you I had a kickass month in reading. I can’t decide if my favorite was the conclusion to the Chemical Garden trilogy by Lauren DeStefano or Havoc by Ann Aguirre… It’s like comparing apples to oranges – they were both so good! I also loved Legion, Invaded, Abaddon’s Gate… Okay, I’ll stop. This “Read the Best Books First” thing is really working out for me.

Books Reviewed:

The Winner’s Crime Marie Rutkowski
The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons
Skinwalker by Faith Hunter

The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkowski – 0/5 stars (DNF)
The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons – 1.5/5 stars
Skinwalker by Faith Hunter – 3.5/5 stars

The Assassin King by Elizabeth Haydon
Abaddon’s Gate by James S. A. Corey
Legion by Brandon Sanderson

The Assassin King by Elizabeth Haydon – 4/5 stars
Abaddon’s Gate by James S. A. Corey – 4.5/5 stars
Legion by Brandon Sanderson – 5/5 stars!

Overall, I’m quite happy with all of my reviews. I have a tendency to think everything I write is total crap (as most writers do), so the fact that I actually like everything I wrote this month is something to celebrate. :-)

Waiting on Wednesday Features:

Out of this line up, I am probably most excited for Soundless… but they are all going to be amazing, I’m sure. I also featured a bunch of upcoming releases in one of the TTT posts listed below.

Top Ten Tuesday Features:

Top Ten Fall 2015 New Releases I’m Excited About!

Top Ten Books on My Spring TBR!

Other Fun Stuff:

I don’t have much in the way of adventures this month – I missed out on two or three amazing ones because I got sick. But I did have a few days off to soak in some puppy cuteness:
11039197_10203666015440192_3603732129280434817_nyou’re welcome.

How was your month in reading?

by Niki Hawkes

Mar 30 2015
Image

Top Ten Fall 2015 New Releases I’m Most Excited About!

top ten tuesdayHosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Today’s topic was supposed to be Top Ten Books I’ve Recently Added to My TBR. The problem is, I have my to-read pile so dialed that the only books I’m adding at this point are unpublished. And since I love talking about upcoming releases, I give you:

Top Ten Fall 2015 New Releases I’m Most Excited About!

Although Richelle Mead is my favorite author and I’m dying to read her new novel, I think I am actually most excited for Breakout by Ann Aguirre – the book before it (Havoc) is easily one of the best books I’ve read in a while and I can’t wait to see where it goes next! In fact, I could make a case for any one of these amazing authors – they have all made their way into my top ten lists one way or another. All I know is, I am in for some amazing reading this fall!!

What book are you waiting on?

by Niki Hawkes

Mar 17 2015
Image

Top Ten Books on my Spring 2015 TBR!

top ten tuesday

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Most TTTs focus on the best of what you’ve read before. I love these seasonal TBR’s because they allow me to take a moment to get excited about what’s to come! Incidentally, these are the lists that made me realize I spent too much time focused on all of the obligation books and not enough focused on all of the titles I was just dying to read. Well no more!

Top Ten Books on my Spring 2015 TBR!

Although I am excited for all of them, and most eager to read the new Selection book. :)

Have you read any of the titles from my list?

by Niki Hawkes

Mar 2 2015
Image

February 2015 Reading Recap!

Review Recap

I read a little bit more than usual this month, which is saying something considering my average is more than most people read in a year (not including fellow book bloggers who would probably wipe the floor my numbers). I also managed to put together a decent number of blog posts, attend a writing conference, and reorganize my library. I am wildly impressed with myself. Let’s take a look at February 2015’s month in reading:

Books Read:

My favorite book for February is a tie between Dead Heat and Wither.

Books Reviewed:

Guardians of the West by David Eddings
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Guardians of the West by David Eddings – 2/5 stars

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor – 3/5 stars

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas – 3.5/5 stars

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

Tinker by Wen Spencer – 4/5 stars

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong – 4.5/5 stars

Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs – 5/5 stars!

Waiting on Wednesday Features:

I am equally excited for both of these titles, to the point where I will probably read both of them as soon as they come out.

Top Ten Tuesday Features:

Niki’s Top Ten Bookish Problems!

Other Fun Stuff:

10981219_10203404931353253_4121600290854703076_nAfter years of pining, I finally got the chance to meet my all-time favorite author Richelle Mead! It was a surreal experience, and I was so nervous I’m pretty sure I repeated myself three or four times “I love you, your my favorite author… Your my favorite… I love your books…” and so on. It was pretty pathetic. I blame the massive headache I was suffering from at the time.Even so, it was neat, and I got a couple of my favorites signed.

For the past two months I have been competing to become one of Julie Czerneda’s beta readers for her upcoming Clan novel. Aside from my master’s degree, I can’t remember ever working this hard towards anything in my entire life. Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration, but I am seriously putting my heart and soul into this thing. As of this moment, I’ve made it into the top ten, and have submitted my last round of quiz answers. I’ll find out if I’ve been chosen sometime after Wednesday… Wish me luck!

How was your month in reading?

by Niki Hawkes