Writer, Reviewer, Book Lover
I really debated on whether or not this should happen, but as another month went by and I was not only not creating blog content but also not reading I knew I needed something to change. Somewhere along getting used to the new job, working hard on my art, and all the other bits of... Continue Reading →
March was a wild month for me as I started a new job, began working on a new series of paintings, and tried to figure out how to balance everything. I’m still getting used to my new schedule, and am no closer to having a book fully read, but I’m hoping I can get myself... Continue Reading →
Given how great February was, I am really hoping I can at least do three books this month, and keep up some sort of momentum. I'm still in between things, so my schedule has been a weird business that makes it hard sometimes to focus on setting time for reading and art. I'm just hoping... Continue Reading →
February was a really good month, though slightly off the track I had originally thought I would take. It kind of made me laugh that I happened to pick up Half-Blood randomly (didn't even have the whole series) and got immersed in that. I'm definitely not mad since it meant I actually read, and quit... Continue Reading →
When I first thought of this recommendation idea I really thought I could come up with more than five books/series, but what I've realized is that a lot of the books in this category have a hard time striking a balance. Either we have a priority just to Fantasy, or it's a romance that just... Continue Reading →
One of the genres I haven't really gone into as much is Mystery, which is surprising given I actually enjoy the 'who done it' style stories in general. I like seeing if I can guess who it will be, who's next, or figuring out any clues honestly. Reading wise I'm not the always the quickest... Continue Reading →
Beyond just picking up new releases this year I also have a list of books I've been meaning to read in this new year, or am just behind the masses on reading. A few might be somewhat recent releases, but overall these are books I feel like I need to read in 2022. The Eye... Continue Reading →
January was a bit of an 'oh no!' month in terms of reading, so I'm definitely looking to get lost in some books this month and finally get going for the year. Finnikin of the Rock by Melina MarchettaThe Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie OhKingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco I'm... Continue Reading →
Every time I get back into Kpop it's like an addiction where it feeds into everything I as a consumer get. My art was the first thing hit as a number of the portraits I've been doing were definitely Kpop idols I currently follow, but my reading this time also had some Kpop influencing it... Continue Reading →
It might be a mixture of a lot of things happening in my life, really delving into my art (five pieces!!), and hitting a book that I struggled with, but this was a very disappointing month for reading. I really only read one book, and haven't even finished it. Sad, I know. The Excalibur Curse... Continue Reading →
One way I like to start my year, and also get myself out of reading slumps is by picking up new releases. Sometimes there is hype with these, but the amazing thing about getting new releases is that you get to be a part of the excitement and also form in an opinion before the... Continue Reading →
This series has been one I've followed since finding on Instagram back with book one, and it was amazing to see it slowly gain interest among the bookstagrammers and book tubers . Fantasy series tend to feel pretty unique since they explore worlds other than their own, but Christelle Dabos created one with this series... Continue Reading →
2021 was a bit of a messy year for me in terms of reading and focus. I had some really good moments/memories like going on a road trip with my best friend and getting back into art. Reading though was a real challenge for me mentally and definitely not a struggle I want to continue... Continue Reading →
We are starting off a new year and another month of reading! It's both exciting and daunting at the same time, so as I usually do I start off soft with my reading and goals. -The Excalibur Curse by Kiersten White -Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta -The Curse Workers by Holly Black (Bindup)... Continue Reading →
We are starting a new year, and I'm actually pretty happy about it. 2021 wasn't a very successful year for reading, so I'm hoping/working at reading a lot more this year. That won't necessarily translate into a lot of books, but time spent reading since there are a lot of larger books on my tbr... Continue Reading →
2020 saw us adapting to quarantines and working/learning from home. 2021 definitely brought some good changes, but it also saw me attached to my phone more and reading less. I also picked up art again and began to work it into my already busy schedule, so my reading for sure took a bit of a... Continue Reading →
December was a busy month, just not for reading. Instead I ended up cleaning, cooking, and taking care of my family. So in lieu of a successful end to the year I’m working on the content and setup for the next year. -The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes -The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn... Continue Reading →
On a book buying trip with my friend I finally decided to check out the hype on Elizabeth Lim's books. They aren't nearly talked about as much as the Sarah J Maas, Rowling, or Armentrout books, but they had come up on my social feeds quite a few times, and that seemed like a sign... Continue Reading →
November marked a point where I definitely had to come to terms with not meeting my original reading goal, nor my amended one (which I thought was a pretty good soft one lol). It's not a heart breaking thing to not hit a goal, but it is a little saddening. Given that I know I... Continue Reading →
November was a mix of doing pretty well reading wise, while still not quite hitting the numbers I was really hoping for. Part of it is trying to make up for the low numbers from earlier in the year, but I'm slowly coming to the conclusion/moment where I know I just won't hit anywhere near... Continue Reading →
With October having been a decent month for reading I'm really hoping to continue the momentum this month and improve as well! -When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles -Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore -The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes What books are you planning to read in November? Let me know in... Continue Reading →
October was a decent month for releases and reading as I got some well needed conclusions to series I'd been reading. I'm still working on actually doing the reading, but that's another story. -Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim -The Storm of Echoes by Christelle Dabos -When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles (Currently Reading) Overall... Continue Reading →
During this last year I've mostly read books that were already well on my list for a while, so this series is unique in that I bought it based on the covers and the hype. I know, I really could've set myself up for misery with those as factors. I'll mostly focus on book one... Continue Reading →
I started this year with the hope that I would be better at reading than the last year. I even thought that 45 books was a decent goal to be setting, easily achievable. Unfortunately, things change, especially in the current state of things, so I've already tweaked my reading challenge goal to 30 books for... Continue Reading →
It was pure coincidence I picked this up after Tokyo Ever After, but it somehow was the best choice in the end. I was definitely in the mood for another YA contemporary romance and both of these books were such amazing and immersive stories overall! Synopsis XOXO follows Jenny as she lives in Koreatown Los... Continue Reading →
Spring and Summer always puts me in a contemporary romance mood similar to how I read more fantasy come fall. I've always been a mood reader, but seasons impact that just as much as anything else! I think this book in particular had been one I found when building my anticipated releases of 2021 list,... Continue Reading →
This month is exciting because of all the books I've rounded up and the two books that are finally releasing just this week! -Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim (I'm finally going to sit and read this one) -The Storm of Echoes by Christelle Dabos (New Release) -When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles (New Release)... Continue Reading →
This was a mix of a good month, and yet still a bit slow compared to my past reading. For now I'll take this as a win, but I'm already figuring out how to get myself back to at least a better pace of reading and scheduling out my time better. -The Princess will Save... Continue Reading →
There's nothing like picking up a Fantasy novel/series that just seems to suck you into its story and world, but it's a whole other level when the world feels unique and new to you. Some of this just has to do with diversifying your reading and straying from the stories/characters/worlds that we've grown up with... Continue Reading →
I've been meaning to/working on diversifying my reading more this year. Mainly, I wanted to add more Fantasy titles to my reading lists and explore unique worlds. Bone Shard Daughter had already done its rounds on Instagram and Youtube, but I don't think I was actually influenced by the opinions there, at least not initially.... Continue Reading →
August was a not so good and yet common entry for this year. I'm still expecting things to be pretty busy, so for September I'm setting a soft goal of two or three books and looking forward to a point where I can sit back and fully enjoy my books again. -Six Crimson Cranes by... Continue Reading →
August has been a wild month of lots of work, a harder push to do art, and another bout of bad time management. With so much happening this month, downtime has literally meant downtime. -XOXO by Axie Oh -Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim (Currently Reading) Since things are still a little wild, but maybe... Continue Reading →
We left off the first volume of this collection feeling like the shortage of manga might just be my undoing. The first volume was a sweet mix of friends looking out for one another, and the desperate attempt to be there for a friend who they know died, but was likely a suicide. It's a... Continue Reading →
July was a good month for reading, so August's main goal is to continue that and maybe even improve on that progress as move past the halfway point for the year. XOXO by Axie OhThe Never Tilting World by Rin ChupecoSix Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim I'm hoping this list is just a starting point... Continue Reading →
July was my escape from the real-world if only for a little bit with vacation, and while I didn't read a huge stack of books, I had a great time relaxing and really enjoyed the books I did read! I think the Bone Shard Daughter in particular was a surprisingly captivating read, so I'm really... Continue Reading →
This will be another book that I was behind on since it actually made the rounds on social media a couple of years ago. When I was looking for a book to help kickstart my reading for summer though the blurb and marketing on this one really caught my attention. Inspired by K-dramas and Korean... Continue Reading →
When fan fiction is brought up around authors it's either completely rejected, accepted, or in some cases how some authors actually start out. We've all heard about Twilight, or the Mortal Instruments and their fan fiction roots, but what about fully fan fiction stories published on the market? Mr. Darcy's Refuge is one among a... Continue Reading →
June marked a return to reading in a way that I needed, but July I am all about really upping the ante here! We'll see what we get in the end, but I plan to both read more, and meet one of my big goals for the year; read more Fantasy/Sci-FI! -The Bone Shard Daughter... Continue Reading →
June finally marked the point where I started to get myself back into reading, and actually finishing some books. I still did art, still did everything else in my life, but I read. It felt so good to finally finish a book, and on top of that feel the familiar drive to pick up another... Continue Reading →
This has been a long awaited read, and now a long awaited review as I finally got to read this book, and start putting together my thoughts on it. For those wondering why I say long awaited beyond me just getting to reading it, there was a bit of a longer wait than the typical... Continue Reading →
We are finally hitting the summer months, and with that months that I look forward to when it comes to reading in particular. Given the different personalities even in my own family I know there are some who enjoy just sitting by the pool or on the beach reading, and there are those who have... Continue Reading →
The title on this one is pretty long, but as much as I wanted to write a full series review and be able to talk about it in a more complete sense the current supply just doesn't make that possible. If you've heard about manga in recent months, you've probably already heard about the supply... Continue Reading →
When I finally admitted to creating and following a new plan that would allow me to follow all, if not most of my creative pursuits I knew there would be a learning curve. It isn't that the setup/concept was difficult, just that starting any new habit takes time, especially when they're good ones. I anticipated... Continue Reading →
May was a great month for art, and getting things back on track, but if you noticed a lack of a wrap-up post it wasn't too great for my reading. I'm still kicking my habit of turning to my phone at night, but with new book in hand and a determination to actually read a... Continue Reading →
One could call this post by a lot of different names, and all would likely be accurate. I almost could call it, 'Figuring out my Hobbies', 'Hobby, Life Balance', or 'How I'll Balance all my Creative Pursuits', you get the gist. There are a lot of things I've loved to do over the years, but... Continue Reading →
One thing I've learned by struggling to motivate myself to do even things I typically love is that sometimes strategies and plans have to change. In most cases you come up with a new plan and attack it with some reward at the end, but what if it's something you love, but you're busy or... Continue Reading →
It's been a while since I read this book thanks to my month of meh (I may just refer to it as that from now on), so I guess better late than never?? This book though became a highlight during that period of time, where I struggled to get myself not only to blog, but... Continue Reading →
In my last couple of posts I touched a little on the fact that I had essentially disappeared from the online world for a while. A lot of it had to do with my mental energy just being at a real low point for once, but overall I think I just needed a break and... Continue Reading →
I started to get back to reading at the end of April, so for this month I'm keeping expectations low as I set out to get myself back to reading as I did before. That said, here's the list of books I'm planning to read this month with hopes of even more than this! -The... Continue Reading →
A Writer Can Dream 