Friday Reads November 30, 2018

Hello! Overall, this week was a bit of a slow one in terms of reading as I was busy at work and with family. Also, as you'll see below, the book I was reading is not one that I am a real fan of. But there was one highlight to my week. I finally managed to reach my new goal of 100 books read in 2018! This year officially stands as the most books I have ever read in a year.

Over on the channel I put up my Tag Tuesday video, Thank U, Next. You can watch it here. Also my Friday Reads video is up and you can watch it here. The holiday sweater in that one might just be the coziest thing I own. Overall, still having fun with YouTube and will continue to make videos. On Sunday my review video for Vita Nostra will be up on the channel as well as my written review here! I'm planning on filming individual review videos for a lot of the books I read this month and getting them up throughout the month of December. I also want to find a holiday tag video to put up on this coming Tuesday! And of course since today is the last day of November I will have my November haul video up in the next couple of weeks as well as my wrap up video and post on this blog.

Since tomorrow is the first day of December and I've reached my 100 book goal, I think I want to up my goal to 105 books. If I keep going at my current pace that should be fairly easy! This weekend's selection of books are all a bit shorter than I have been reading lately. Honestly, this is based on my ability to focus on long books right now is just not there. But hopefully one of these gems will be a winner.

Check out the book I am finishing and two that I will be starting this weekend below. Happy reading!

Title: Girls of Paper and Fire
Author: Natasha Ngan
Page Count: 380
Progress: 205
Format: B&N Exclusive Signed Hardcover
Genre: YA Fantasy
Keywords: LGBTQ+, Concubines, Magic
Kid Appropriate: Teens, but trigger warning for sexual assault

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It's the highest honor they could hope for...and the most cruel.

But this year, there's a ninth girl. And instead of paper, she's made of fire.

In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time it's Lei they're after--the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king's interest.

Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king's consort. But Lei isn't content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable--she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.

TW: violence and sexual abuse.

Thoughts so far:

I'm still seeing Zootopia characters everywhere I look in this book! Unfortunately it has not improved much from last week and I am struggling to get into the story. I am not connecting with the characters or their motivations. Everything feels a bit underdeveloped and meh. I'm holding out hope that things get better! Even if they don't this book is gorgeous and I'll be happy to have it on my shelf.

Title: For Better and Worse
Author: Margot Hunt
Page Count: 384
Progress: 22
Format: Book of the Month Hardcover
Genre: Adult Mystery/Thriller
Keywords: Lawyers, Marriage, Murder
Kid Appropriate: No

Synopsis from Goodreads:

On their first date back in law school, Natalie and Will Clarke bonded over drinks, dinner and whether they could get away with murder. Now married, they’ll put the latter to the test when an unchecked danger in their community places their son in jeopardy. Working as a criminal defense attorney, Nat refuses to rely on the broken legal system to keep her family safe. She knows that if you want justice…you have to get it yourself.

Shocked to discover Nat’s taken matters into her own hands, Will has no choice but to dirty his, also. His family is in way too deep to back down now. He’s just not sure he recognizes the woman he married. Nat’s always been fiercely protective, but never this ruthless or calculating. With the police poking holes in their airtight plan, what will be the first to fall apart: their scandalous secret—or their marriage?

Thoughts so far:

When I did my November Book of the Month unboxing video (watch that here) someone commented that this book is a bit of a slow start. So far I'm agreeing. Not much has happened yet, but it is interesting to look at the criminal justice system from the perspective of a criminal defense attorney. Hopefully we get into the story soon.

Title: The Winter Road
Author: Adrian Selby
Page Count: 450
Progress: 1
Format Read: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy
Keywords: War, Mercenaries, Travel
Kid Appropriate: Teens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A gritty and epic adventure to appeal to fans of Mark Lawrence, Andrzej Sapkowski and Joe Abercrombie – The Winter Road is a fantasy novel which remembers that battles leave all kinds of scars.

The greatest empire of them all began with a road.

The Circle – a thousand miles of perilous forests and warring clans. No one has ever tamed such treacherous territory before, but ex-soldier Teyr Amondsen, veteran of a hundred battles, is determined to try.

With a merchant caravan protected by a crew of skilled mercenaries, Amondsen embarks on a dangerous mission to forge a road across the untamed wilderness that was once her home. But a warlord rises in the wilds of the Circle, uniting its clans and terrorising its people. Teyr’s battles may not be over yet . . .

All roads lead back to war.

Thoughts so far:

I'm a bit confused from the synopsis what is supposed to be happening in this book but the first page definitely hooked me. It's bloody and descriptive and definitely not for the squeamish. I'm excited to see what kind of fantasy novel this turns into.