Bout of Books 14 Daily Progress

It's that time again! This is my ninth Bout of Books and, I'm hoping, my most productive! No specific goals but I do want to make a significant dent in my Jar of Shame. If I can read a book day I will be ecstatic but I'll be happy with five.

Day 1 and the internet went down. Always happens, without fail, every single time I do Bout of Books.

Day 2 was mostly spent either at the hospital having tests done or having the biggest nap ever...

Day 3 and I'm having trouble... I've been picking up books left, right and center but nothing (except Kate Elliott's Court of Fives) is holding my attention. I'm definitely suffering from some sort of Bookish Attention Disorder a.k.a. BAD!

Day 4 was a good day for reading

Day 5 was spent at the hospital having tests and napping. Again... I've also veered away from my Netgalley/Edelweiss books that I was meant to be reading this week for ARC August. My concentration has been bad...

Day 6 was mostly spent watching Netflix or napping!

Daily Challenges

Ooops, day 6 and I've yet to do a single challenge!

Daily Progress

Monday August 17th:

Today's Read(s): Becoming Death - Melissa Brown, Starborn - Lucy Hounsom, Lorali - Laura Dockrill
Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Number of pages I’ve read today: 180
Total number of books read: 0
Total number of pages read:180

Tuesday August 18th:

Today's Read(s): Becoming Death - Melissa Brown, Lorali - Laura Dockrill
Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Number of pages I’ve read today: 190
Total number of books read: 0
Total number of pages read:  370

Wednesday August 19th:

Today's Read(s): Court of Fives - Kate Elliott, Becoming Death - Melissa Brown
Number of books I’ve read today: 190
Number of pages I’ve read today: 0
Total number of books read: 0
Total number of pages read: 560

Thursday August 20th:

Today's Read(s): Neversuch House - Elliot Skell, Mountwood School For Ghosts - Toby Ibbotson, Codex Born - Jim C Hines
Number of books I’ve read today: 2
Number of pages I’ve read today: 584
Total number of books read: 2
Total number of pages read: 1144

Friday August 21st:

Today's Read(s): Codex Born - Jim C Hines
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Number of pages I’ve read today: 260
Total number of books read: 3
Total number of pages read: 1404

Saturday August 22nd:

Today's Read(s): First Class Murder - Robin Stevens
Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Number of pages I’ve read today: 200
Total number of books read: 3
Total number of pages read: 1604

Sunday August 23rd:

 Today's Read(s):
Number of books I’ve read today:
Number of pages I’ve read today:
Total number of books read:
Total number of pages read:

ARC August Update #3

ARC August is hosted by Octavia & Shelly over at Read Sleep Repeat.Well, this week didn't quite go as planned! Rather than making a serious dent in my Netgalley/Edelweiss/review books for Bout of Books I've been reading anything but. Ooops??? For this last week of ARC August I'm going to to my best to get at least 3 ARC's read and hopefully get some reviews written. If I achieve that I'll be happy, sort of...

Still Reading

I'm really enjoying The Unnoticeables but I only seem to be able to read it in small chunks! It's a very descriptive novel and as my concentration is shot at the moment I'm having trouble with the dual time periods. Remembering who's who is an even bigger job!

Finished This Week

 I just discovered Lucy is going to be at BristolCon this year so will have to take my copy along to get signed! Expect a review sometime, we all know how behind I am...

Finished

The Whispers

The Burning Girl

The Three Sisters

Monsters

Magic City: Recent Spells

Read But Not Reviewed

A Court of Thorns and Roses 

Lives of Magic

Cuckoo Song

Peacemaker

The Miniaturist

The Raven's Head

The Geography of You & Me

Landline

Jackaby

Catch Me When I Fall

The After House

Wylding Hall

Grave Mercy

Unborn

The Pocket Wife

The Spider In the Corner of the Room

Because You'll Never Meet Me

Blog Tour & UK Giveaway: Becoming Death - Melissa Brown

Welcome to my stop on the tour for Melissa Brown's Becoming Death! Scroll down for my thoughts and a fantastic UK only giveaway.

Becoming Death - Melissa Brown

ISBN - 9781511797047

Release date - June 12 2015

Find - Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

Ever since her father's demise, Madison Clark knew death had her number. After losing her first job, she is ushered into the cryptic family business. Little does she know her family is hiding a dark secret; they are grim reapers, custodians of souls on their journey to the beyond. Madison expects her historic legacy to have benefits beyond immortality. What she doesn't expect is to still be struggling for cash while reaping souls on the side.

As if being Death's minion wasn't strenuous enough, Madison finds herself back at school with her worst enemy studying the ancient rules, methods and paperwork of her vocation. In a cascade of life changes: her best friend admits he’s in love with her and she starts a new job as a professional mourner, but she can’t help thinking her family might have other secrets.

Just when things are finally starting to feel normal again Death throws her a curveball: her next victim is her best friend. Madison must find a way to overcome the strict guidelines of being a grim reaper in order to save his life.

I love reading stories about Grim Reapers, probably thanks to my love of Death from the Discworld novels, so was intrigued to read Becoming Death by Melissa Brown. It tells the story of Madison, adapting to life after high school, living with her best friend and coping with her somewhat distant family. Growing up without her father and struggling to fit in with her seemingly perfect older sister and mother Madison has always known there's something different about her. After losing her job (thanks to a frozen boss) she finds a strange wooden trunk hidden in her mother's sofa. From then on, nothing is the same as she discovers that she is now the latest in the long family line of Grim Reapers. 

Becoming Death is a short but sweet modern take on the Grim Reaper tale. Madison is trying her best to find her place in the world and to find love, crushing on her best friend's older brother and not realizing that true love might be in the bedroom next door. I loved the modern touches on reaping, using the Dead Head app to get your next victim and going to school to learn the ins & outs of your new profession. The use of touch and imagining the way your victims die was also a unique twist although I'm not sure Madison really got to grips with this given some of the way some of the deaths came about.

One of the best things was the relationship between Madison, her sister Clarissa, her mother and grandmother. Pre-reaping Madison felt like the odd one out, constantly bested by her sister and ignored by her mother but it was great to see them all pulling together eventually and their bonds strengthening. The one thing I wasn't sure about was the relationship between Madison and Aaron as it all felt a little rushed, especially considering how long they've known each other. It was however a sweet romance but thankfully not the main focus of the story.

The story wrapped up nicely by the end of the book but it left me wanting more. I'd love to know more about Madison's adventures in reaping and how her relationship with both her family and Aaron develops over time, maybe a second book is needed? If you're looking for a paranormal read that is light and easy with a side order of gruesome you can't really go wrong with Becoming Death.

About the Author

Melissa Brown is an American author who lives in Norwich, England. She is a teacher in ICT skills, English and creative writing. In 2014, she was shortlisted for the IdeasTap Inspires: Writers' Centre Norwich Writing Competition and longlisted for the Nottingham Writers' Club's inaugural National Short Story Competition. She was also a featured poet at the Norwich: City of Stories launch event, where she did a live reading of her poem 'The Library.'  She enjoys films, books, comics, fangirling and subscription boxes. She blames her love of the written word on her hometown library and fanfiction. She lives with her partner, Kris, and her awesome cat, Hailey.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway

Open to UK residents only

Prizes - 5 necklaces inspired by Becoming Death

             2 copies of Becoming Death

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday 17th August

Serendipity Reviews

Tuesday 18th August

Elena Square Eyes

Wednesday 19th August

An Awful Lot of Reading

The Whispering of the Pages

Thursday 20th August

The Bibliolater

Friday 21st August

Becca’s Book Affair

Saturday 22nd August

Bookish Outsider

A Daydreamer’s Thoughts

Sunday 23rd August

Big Book Little Book

Monday 24th August

Tales of Yesterday

 

Book Haul #114, Or The One Where I Forgot To Stop Requesting Books...

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly event hosted on Tynga's Reviews where we can share what new books we've picked up this past week be they bought, borrowed or downloaded. There are also lots of other 'book haul' memes out there for you to choose from!

I haven't been anywhere but I still don't seem to have gained any free time to catch up on everything. I'm hoping September might be a good month for getting up to date but I'm not holding my breath. I didn't really well over the last fourteen days and only bought one book but this was completely cancelled by my forgetting I'm over halfway through ARC August and deciding to have a quick look on Netgalley. Big mistake!

Bought

Court of Fives

For Review

Weighing Shadows

All Of The above

The Night Clock

Dark Room

Warren the 13th & The All-Seeing Eye

The Edge Series

Waiting On Wednesday #132 - The Dark Days Club

Waiting On Wednesday, where we put the spotlight on upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating, is hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

This week's choice is -

The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen #1) - Alison Goodman 

ISBN - 9780670785476

Publisher - Viking Books For Young Readers

Release date - January 26 2016

Find - Goodreads | Book Depository

New York Times bestseller Alison Goodman’s eagerly awaited new project: a Regency adventure starring a stylish and intrepid demon-hunter!

London, April 1812. On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?

Yes please! I can't wait to get my hands on this as I absolutely loved Eon & Eona! This also sounds very much like another favorite (adult) series by Mary Robinette Kowal set in the Regency period about glamor and magic. Definitely one to look out for, plus it comes out two days after my birthday so I can justify buying it for myself...

Top Ten Tuesday #97 - Auto-Buy Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful gals cover at The Broke & The Bookish. This week's topic is -

Top Ten Of Your Auto-Buy Authors

I managed to stick to ten authors this week as my list turned out to be quite selective, I'm absolutely certain that there are no surprises for any regular Bookish visitors. I'm sure my list of auto-buy authors used to be huge, if I saw they had a book coming out I ordered it. I have obviously learnt how to restrain myself though!

What authors are on your list?

ARC August Update #2

ARC August is hosted by Octavia & Shelly over at Read Sleep Repeat. After a pretty good start I seem to have stalled. I'm still reading Starborn and I've started one other book, that's it... I have also discovered there's quite a few titles on my Netgalley shelves that I've read but not reviewed so I need to start a separate list for that as well! It's Bout of Books this coming week so I'm hoping to get some serious reading done, check back next Sunday for my week three progress.

Currently Reading

Starborn

The Unnoticeables

Finished

The Whispers

The Burning Girl

The Three Sisters

Monsters

Magic City: Recent Spells

Read But Not Reviewed

A Court of Thorns and Roses 

Lives of Magic

Cuckoo Song

Peacemaker

The Miniaturist

The Raven's Head

The Geography of You & Me

Landline

Jackaby

Catch Me When I Fall

The After House

Wylding Hall

Grave Mercy

Unborn

The Pocket Wife

The Spider In the Corner of the Room

Because You'll Never Meet Me

Young Adult Giveaway Hop!

Welcome to the Young Adult Giveaway hosted by Mary @ BookHounds!  One lucky winner can choose one YA book of your choice up to the value of $20 from the Book Depository providing you live in a country that they ship to - find the list of countries here. The hop runs from now through until midnight on April 21 2015 and all you need to do is follow the instructions on the rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the linky list here for more chances to win! Thanks for entering and good luck!

August New Release Giveaway!

Welcome to the August New Release Giveaway Hop, hosted by It Starts At Midnight and Librarian Lavender! The hop runs from today through to midnight on August 31 2015. Up for grabs is any new release this month up to the value of $22 from the Book Depository as long as they deliver to your country - find the list of countries here. 

All you have to do is choose any new release published in August and fill out the rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the linky below for all more blogs taking part, thanks for entering and good luck!

Waiting On Wednesday #131 - Where Futures End

Waiting On Wednesday, where we put the spotlight on upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating, is hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

This week's choice is -

Where Futures End - Parker Peevyhouse

ISBN - 9780803741607

Publisher - Kathy Dawson Books

Release date - February9 2016

Find - Goodreads | Book Depository

Perfect for fans of innovative storytelling, like Marcus Sedgwick's The Ghosts of Heaven and David Mitchell's The Bone Clocks, Where Futures End is a collection of five time-spanning, interconnected novellas that weave a subtly science-fictional web stretching out from the present into the future, presenting eerily plausible possibilities for social media, corporate sponsorship, and humanity, as our world collides with a mysterious alternate universe.

Five teens, five futures. Dylan develops a sixth sense that allows him to glimpse another world. Brixney must escape a debtor colony by finding a way to increase the number of hits on her social media feed so she’ll attract corporate sponsorship. Epony goes “High Concept” and poses as an otherworldly being to recapture her boyfriend’s attention. Reef struggles to survive in a city turned virtual gameboard. And Quinn uncovers the alarming secret that links them all.

These are stories about a world that is destroying  itself, and about the alternate world that might be its savior.  Unless it’s just the opposite.

Uh, yes please! Love Marcus Sedgwick, love David Mitchell ( although I still haven't read Bone Clocks...) so when this cover caught my eye whilst looking up a completely different title I had to add it to my wishlist immediately. Where Futures End actually sounds like one of those rare things, a unique read, and I will definitely be picking up a copy asap!

Top Ten Tuesday #96 - Authors I've Read The Most Books From

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful gals cover at The Broke & The Bookish. This week's topic is -

Top Ten Thirteen Authors I've Read The Most Books From

This could be a strange list as, if I follow the list on Goodreads, it will have authors on that I haven't read for years but because they are so prolific I've read dozens of books by them! However if I skip a few of them there are far more recent authors ie. from the last decade...

Read 40 or more books

Stephen King 

I started reading King's books when I was ten so I'm actually surprised this isn't higher!

Terry Pratchett 

Another author I started reading early and it's high because of the wonderful Discworld books.

Read 30 or more

 

J D Robb 

There's a theme coming. Finding a series and binge reading all of the available books. As is the case with the In Death books!

Read 20 or more

Laurell K Hamilton 

Yes, I read the Anita Blake books. And then I started the Merry Gentry books...

Read 10 or more

Charlaine Harris

 Thanks to Sookie, Lily Bard and Aurora Teagarden!

Raymond E Feist

I read Faerie Tale before I plunged into the Riftwar Saga (and the rest...)

Rachel Caine

Morganville Vampires, need I say more?

Jim Butcher

The Dresden Files, Codex Alera and coming to a bookcase near you soon, the Cinder Spires!

Diana Wynne Jones

Howl, the Chrestomanci series, so many great books...

Neil Gaiman

Because I have read all the books...

Juliet Marillier

Once you've read one Juliet Marillier book you have to read them all!

Charles de Lint

Love, love, love his writing! One day I'll get round to reading everything he's published instead of about half.

Sara Douglass

If you haven't read anything by Sara Douglass then you should, especially if you love epic fantasy. Sadly, she passed away 4 years ago so no more new books.

ARC August Update #1

ARC August is hosted by Octavia & Shelly over at Read Sleep Repeat. I've got off to a good start this year! The Jar of Shame is working fantastically, I feel guilty every time I look at it... I need to read a bit quicker though, the Whispers trilogy is essentially three novellas so in total I've only read four books. I would love it if I could reach 25 by the end of the month but I fear that may be an ARC too far.

Read

The Whispers Trilogy

Magic City: Recent Spells | Monsters

Started

Starborn

Up Next

Whatever the Jar says...

Book Haul #113, Or The One Where I Was Too Busy Reading...

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly event hosted on Tynga's Reviews where we can share what new books we've picked up this past week be they bought, borrowed or downloaded. There are also lots of other 'book haul' memes out there for you to choose from!

As the title says, I've been too busy reading this week to even think about buying books! ARC August is going reasonably well. In my bid to try and empty the jar of shame even just a little bit I've been reading any time I have a spare couple of minutes. It must be working as I've started and/or finished eight books this week! There will be a proper ARC August update on Monday so check back then to see my progress!

Here's my miniscule haul for this week...

Bought

Tides - Betsy Cornwell

For Review

The Daughter's Secret - Eva Holland

Zero World - Jason M Hough

Koko the Mighty - Kieran Shea