5 Star Book Review: Morning Star (Red Rising, #3)

Author: Pierce Brown

Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Edition: kindle eBook

Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Goodreads

Related Reviews: Red Rising, Red Rising (audiobook), Golden Son

Rating: 5 Stars

SPOILER FREE

In case it wasn't clear, this is one of my absolute favorite series.  And now, it's over.  It was surprisingly satisfying and rather overwhelming.  Which makes it hard to review.

The characters continued to grow and each reached the peak of their characterization- oftentimes in unexpected ways.  There's a particular scene between Sevro and Darrow within the first act of the book that is a prime example of this.  Characters continue to keep their morally ambiguous status for the most part, as well.  However, we get less of an insight into the villains in this one as we have in past books.

The plot was rather straightforward, though there were enough twists to keep me on the edge of my seat.  The deaths in this book, too, had me losing my mind.  There was a point where I actually had to put the book down for a day because every time I picked it up I would cry over the passing of a certain character.  But it was all in good taste and no one died just to die, which is what I worried might happen.

I wish I could talk in depth about the actual events of the book, but then you would just have me going on about how awesome this scene or that scene was and not a proper review.  If you're interested in such a thing, let me know in the comments.  I plan to reread this series at some point this year and afterwards I probably will post an in-depth spoilery discussion of it.  All you need to know about this book, though, was that it was the perfect ending to a fantastic trilogy.

TV Wrap Up

I used to do the Sunday TV, but now, since it's once a month instead, I'm just retitling it TV Wrap Up.  It's the same type of post, though.

Shadowhunters Season One, Episodes 3-7

I'm actually rather enjoying this show.  It's not great (the special effects really kill me and the choreography for fight scenes is very much lacking) but it's not as bad as the movie, in my opinion.  The cast is growing on me and I think they've done a good job adapting the material.  It manages to stay true to the overall arc of the story and the mythology of the series while still having twists and pulling in from every corner of the universe to keep long time fans on their toes.  And, that Clace kiss in episode seven, was worth waiting for.  Plus all the adorable Malec stuff.  I definitely recommend this one to fans.

The Magicians Season One, Episodes 1-4

I read the first book in this series a while ago and just wasn't wowed by it.  It was depressing and I walked away from it feeling pretty bad about myself, actually, which rarely happens with books.  Now, after watching the first four episodes of this show, though, I'm considering going back and reading the whole trilogy.  This show is so captivating!  It has me eager to watch it every chance I get and I love what they've done with the characters.  They're all so morally ambiguous and beautiful, exactly what I want from characters and actors.  My favorite episode, by far, is the fourth.  In fact, it may be one of my favorite episodes of television ever.  Each episode, while a normal length, plays like a movie and I'm always reaching for another once I've finished one.  If you aren't watching this, why not?

Silicon Valley Season One, Episodes 1 and 2

I started watching this on a whim since I've heard some good things.  It's pretty good.  I don't think I'll be able to catch up and keep up for some time (maybe over summer break in a few months) but I did enjoy what I saw.  It's mostly very dry and sarcastic humor, running closer to British humor than American.  It certainly has a niche, but I recommend at least giving it a shot.  The story is rather captivating, too, and is actually something that I could imagine to happen in real life.  You'll know by the end of episode two whether this is a fit for you.

Arrow Season Four, Episode 10

I'm so far behind on this... it was a good episode, and I'm rather pleased with where it's heading.  Little else to say about it, honestly.

Legends of Tomorrow Season One, Episode 1

I like the show so far.  It's a bit too similar to a bunch of other shows I watch (*cough cough* Doctor Who) but, if it continues on the path it's on, I think I'll continue to enjoy it.  Also, what a sad ending!

Wrap Up & I'm Back

Hello everyone!  It's great to finally be back on the blog.  It was only about two weeks off, but just getting this off my plate for a while really helped lower my stress levels, which is what I really needed.  I'm not in perfect condition, but I'm much better than I was two weeks ago when I decided I had to take a break.  At the time, I honestly wasn't sure when I'd come back, or whether I'd come back at all.  But really, how could I have doubted?  I love blogging and talking about books and I missed everyone in this community.

I said I would try to stay up in the community, commenting on blogs, being on twitter and tumblr, and all that, but it just didn't happen.  It was hard to remember to do those things when I wasn't even running the hub (this blog).  But, I did create a bookstagram (tsundoku_sam) and if you have one, please let me know what your username is in the comments so I can follow you!  I've been really enjoying bookstagram and it helped keep me excited for books when I wasn't reading so much.

Hopefully I'll manage to stick around for a while now that I think the worst of things have passed.  Over the last two weeks I've done a lot of things to change around my habits and lifestyle and those changes have really helped make things less hectic.  And, my dad is visiting later today to take me to the largest nearby town where we can get some real food :)

Currently Reading

I'm in the middle of White Night, the ninth book in the Dresden Files and I'm really enjoying it.  It's been several months since I last picked one up and this was a little of the medicine I really needed.  I'm also making headway again on the second book in the Bentwhistle the Dragon series, which I had put down for far to long.  I'm really enjoying the new character, Flash, who was introduced in this one.  Very James Bond-y.  Graphic novel-wise I'm reading the second volume of Hinges.  I read the first volume last year and I loved it.  After I've finished some of these I'll be picking up Tell the Wind and Fire an galley I received a bit ago that I'm dying to take a crack at.

This Week

Sunday-- TV Wrap Up

Monday-- Review of Morning Star

Tuesday-- Review of You Were Here

Wednesday-- Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday-- Discussion

Friday-- Review of Six of Crows

Saturday-- Wrap Up and Haul

So that's really all for me.  Is there anything interesting going on in the bookish community that I've missed?  Let me know in the comments!

... [UPDATED]

So, I just wanted to take a moment while I'm not busy to sorta explain what's been going on and when I think I'll be blogging normally again.

Today a WOW posted, and that was one I've had written for a while, but I doubt you'll see another post for some time.  I'm going to be taking my time getting back into the swing of things.  I'm guessing it'll be about two weeks before I start posting again and I'm really sorry about that.

In a nutshell, with everything pressuring me right now, my mental state hasn't been too great.  I've had depression for about three years now, but for most of this year it hasn't been much of a problem since I've managed to deal with it nicely.  But, over the last few weeks it's been rather terrible.  Then, this weekend, after I thought perhaps I was finally past the rough patches, something happened that's never happened before- I started having panic attacks.  And that's when I decided that I needed to cut out any extra stress and ease myself back into those activities.  Even though I really enjoy blogging, it is somewhat stressful since I feel like I have to work on a deadline, and in order to get better this break is necessary.

I'm planning to stay around the blogosphere (is that term still used?) by visiting and commenting on other blogs (and I'm going to try to catch up on the comments on my blog as well) and spending time on tumblr and twitter since I really do love this community.

Thank you all for understanding and I hope to be back soon!

Waiting on Wednesday: Everfair

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. Click here to join in on the fun.

This week I'm waiting on Everfair by Nisi Shawl

An alternate history / historical fantasy / steampunk novel set in the Belgian Congo, from noted short story writer Nisi Shawl.

Everfair is a wonderful Neo-Victorian alternate history novel that explores the question of what might have come of Belgium's disastrous colonization of the Congo if the native populations had learned about steam technology a bit earlier. Fabian Socialists from Great Britian join forces with African-American missionaries to purchase land from the Belgian Congo's "owner," King Leopold II. This land, named Everfair, is set aside as a safe haven, an imaginary Utopia for native populations of the Congo as well as escaped slaves returning from America and other places where African natives were being mistreated.

Shawl's speculative masterpiece manages to turn one of the worst human rights disasters on record into a marvelous and exciting exploration of the possibilities inherent in a turn of history. Everfair is told from a multiplicity of voices: Africans, Europeans, East Asians, and African Americans in complex relationships with one another, in a compelling range of voices that have historically been silenced. Everfair is not only a beautiful book but an educational and inspiring one that will give the reader new insight into an often ignored period of history.

Why I'm Waiting

DID SOMEONE SAY STEAMPUNK? Well, that's pretty much my reasoning. Steampunk is my favorite genre, and this one sounds really, really good.

Everfair releases September 6th, 2016

...

So, some things have come up, and I need to take an indefinite leave of absence from the blog.  I'm so sorry about this.  I'm going to try to stick around on tumblr and twitter, but right now keeping up on this blog is going to be rather difficult.  I have a few (like, two) posts prewritten and they will post as normal, but beyond that, this will be a blank space for a bit.  I hope to be back as quickly as possible, but right now I don't know when that will be.  Sorry that this is so sudden and thanks for understanding.

Waiting on Wednesday: And I Darken

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.  Click here to join in on the fun.

This week I'm waiting on And I Darken by Kiersten White

NO ONE EXPECTS A PRINCESS TO BE BRUTAL. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.

Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, who’s expected to rule a nation, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.

But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

Why I'm Waiting

Well, I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with this author, and I'm not normally a fan of Historical Fiction, but this sounds as if it leans a little closer to fantasy, if I'm being honest.  Plus, this cover is just so gorgeous.

And I Darken releases on June 28th, 2016.

AGH GLITCHES

Okay, so apparently there has been a glitch on my blog because a couple of comments were deleted (!!!!!!) and also some were doubled (!) and I feel awful about the ones that were deleted.  I am so sorry that this happened!

The two deleted comments were from rach and Richard Brandt on my Weekly Wrap Up Post.  I am so, so sorry!!

If you're comment was deleted, too, and I haven't noticed, please let me know!  Thanks!

5 Star Book Review: Beyond the Shadows (The Night Angel Trilogy, #3)

Author: Brent Weeks

Website, Facebook, Twitter

Edition: Mass Market Paperback

Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Goodreads

Related Reviews: Way of Shadows, Shadow's Edge

Rating: 5 Stars

So, there won't be any spoilers for this book in this review, even though it is the final book in a series.  I'd love to do a spoiler review if people are interested, though, so let me know in the comments if that appeals to you.

First of all, this book has given me massive book hangover.  Thank goodness I'm reading a contemporary to follow up on this or I wouldn't get any reading done.  The same feeling I had after watching the LOTR movies for the first time (I binge watched them and didn't know what I was getting into when I started) has attached itself to me now.  To describe that feeling... well, I feel a little lost.  I dedicated so much time to this series, to this world, to these characters, that now, knowing that I've said goodbye (though perhaps not forever... Brent Weeks has said he will probably write another series in this world, thank God!) has left a huge hole in my heart.

Because of this hole in my heart I'm having a hard time actually reviewing this book.  Yes, it was fantastic! but in a completely different way than book two was.  It's got action, but not so much, and I wasn't nearly as worried about where characters would end up or who would die because it wasn't such a roller coaster in that regard.  I don't want to say that people were "safe" or "in danger" life-wise, but for the most part there was never, at any point of this novel (until the very end, really), the threat of random deaths.  

Halfway through the novel though I did have moment (or two, or three) of just utter CRAZY where I threw little tantrums and actually threw the book away from me.  Like, you can sorta see me document it on twitter, but I had to get up and walk away from the novel or risk hurting my feelz too much.  Besides this feeling of UTTER BETRAYAL (I'm kidding, kinda, they were great twists) it wasn't a crazy novel and everything was very linear.

I realize now, as I'm writing the review, that I could go on forever about this book, so let me finish with one last thought: this book felt very religious to me.  I mean, I'm a practicing Catholic, and I've studied my religion pretty intensely for four years, so at this point I'm sorta trained to pick out religious themes in books, and this one was practically screaming with them.  And, honestly, I really enjoyed it.  I'd noticed it plenty times in the first two, but especially with this ending, it was just very religious feeling.  This is a personal theme, but I really enjoyed it and it added something extra to my own reading of the novel.

In a nutshell: read these damn books already!

College Journey #9: The Winter Stretch & Stress Reduction

College Journey is a monthly post where I either talk about my own personal experience or some tips about college itself.  Last month I talked about when college isn't right for you.  This week I'm talking about the hardest part of the year (at least, that's what people have told me, and I believe them)- the dead of winter.

So, this year has actually been a really mild winter for me (I live in the midwest) and it actually feels a bit like spring lately.  Still, it seems like the days are dragging by and sometimes I'm barely hanging on, I'm so stressed out.  I talked about this a little in my weekly wrap up, but I was so stressed out that my side was actually hurting.  I've come up with some things you can do to help lower your stress:

Music

I, for one, really rely on music to relax.  My music is an expression of who I am, and I'm very picky about it.  I'm also one of those people who likes to listen to the same song(s) on indefinite repeat.  So, Thursday night, I plugged earbuds in, and listened to the Wicked soundtrack on repeat.  It was really nice and let me just zone out.

Coloring

Adult coloring books are all the rage, and man are they nice.  I have the Enchanted Forest coloring book here with me and the Harry Potter coloring book at home (I'm saving it for the summer when I reread the series for the first time since the movies came out).  I love coloring, it's really relaxing, and when you finish, you feel like you've created an original masterpiece.  I just use markers, but anything looks good with these designs.  Plus, they really aren't that expensive for the quality.

Reading and Writing

Well, duh, of course I'm going to recommend this.  They're both really good if you just need to escape the real world for a bit.  I always relax when I'm reading, even if it's a sad or extreme part of the story.  It's nice to live in another world and deal with problems that aren't your own.

Friends

Personally, I'm an introvert, so hanging out with friends actually makes me a bit more stressed.  But, for all you extrovert's out there, this is a great way to just heal and take a breather.

TV

This is another one that doesn't really work for me because, as much as I enjoy tv, it's harder for me to lose focus on the world around me when I'm just staring at the screen.  A close friend of mine, though, uses this as her main way to get rid of stress and it works really good for her.

Take a Break

I was so stressed out I just skipped class (I know, I'm a horrible person!) and didn't let myself think about homework for a whole day.  Do you know what?  It was one of the best days I've had in a while.  I'm one of those people who feels super stressed out when they skipped class, so I actually attended one (of my three) and it helped.  It made it feel less like I wasn't getting anything done and more like I was just giving myself a well-deserved break.

I hope this helps!  It's not just college advice, really, but a way to help reduce stress.  If you have anything that really helps you, let me know in the comments!

Weekly Wrap Up & Book Haul

So, this week absolutely dragged by for me.  I woke up Monday morning with an annoying pain in my side.  I thought I had perhaps pulled a muscle in my sleep but figured it would go away by the next morning.  Well, on Tuesday it was worse and I was rather worried.  It felt like I had a stitch in my side (kinda like how I sometimes feel after running) and I googled what could be wrong.  Of course, the internet's not the most reliable place, but I saw something that said I could just be bloated and have trapped gas and that drinking lots of water would help.  I think the water helped a little, but then on Wednesday night I was in absolute misery and really considering contacting the crappy health services we have at my school (I was afraid to go to them earlier because I didn't want to hear that something serious was wrong).  Wednesday was, honestly, one of the worst nights I've had in a long while.  On Thursday morning, though, I discovered what was actually wrong- Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  And the stitch in my side was just my bodies way of telling me I was way too stressed out.  So, Friday, I skipped two of my three classes, didn't give one thought to homework or deadlines, and just did whatever I felt like, and I feel like an all new person.  My side still hurts, but it's not miserable and I'm in a much better mood.  The moral?  I need to stress less, and I have some precautions in place to help me do so.

Reading and blogging this week was really hard for me.  Every time I picked up a book I couldn't stay focused and that was really bothersome because when I'm depressed or stressed out books are my escape and this time I couldn't escape.  I think that's part of the reason my stress just kept getting worse.  Blogging, too, was kinda hard to stay focused on, which is why I was a bit absent.  Today, though, I woke up, and was excited to blog again and pretty much jumped onto Bloglovin' and just wasted time.  But it was fun and I'm glad to be back.

Currently Reading

Six of Crows is my priority right now, and I'm rather enjoying it, but not as much as I would wish.  I blame this on the fact that I couldn't stay focused thanks to my side.  I'm also still in the middle of the second book in the Bentwhistle the Dragon series.  When I finish Six of Crows, at this pace, I assume I'll have Morning Star in my possession, so that will be my next conquest.

Finished this Week

I finished You Were Here (which I loved, loved, loved!) and will be reviewing it closer to its release date.  I also finished the second volume of Horimiya, which was also fantastic.

Currently Listening To

The Wicked soundtrack because I just felt like buying it the other day and I don't regret it!  I saw a performance several years ago and would love to see it again (and might just have a chance in August).

Currently Writing

I'm taking a break from writing proper to world-build and plan out character arcs.  I've had it laid out in my head for a while but never got it on the page and that's coming to bite me in the butt, so I think it's time to deal with that.

Last Week

Sunday-- Sunday TV, January Wrap Up

Monday-- February TBR, Blogging Tips #5: Organization

Tuesday-- Book Review: A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird, #1)

Wednesday-- Waiting on Wednesday: The Magic Mirror

Thursday-- February Pre-Orders

This Week

Monday-- College Journey #9

Tuesday-- Beyond the Shadows Review

Wednesday-- Waiting on Wednesday

Saturday-- Wrap Up and Book Haul

Haul

I didn't have the time to include pictures of what I received this week, and I only got a few things, so I don't feel so bad.

MOVIES

Cinderella -- I've seen and love this movie so I'm glad to finally own it (the live action version) but several of my friends have not seen it, so on Valentine's day we're all going to watch it together.  Looking forward to it.

KINDLE

A Criminal Magic -- I've heard some really good things about this one, and I'm eager to get to it, though it may not be for a while.

FROM AMAZON

Stars Above & QQ Sweeper Vol. 2 -- I'll be reading both of these next month.

February Pre-Orders

As you may realize by now, I have this thing where I pre-order way to many books.  So, I thought, at the beginning(-ish) of each month I'd talk about which ones I have preordered.

Stars Above

by Marissa Meyer

released February 2nd

This one already arrived and I'm itching to start reading it, but I must restrain myself until I finish Winter later this month.

A Criminal Magic

by Lee Kelly

released February 2nd

This was a digital preorder and I'm so glad to be able to start this soon.  I've heard some really great things.

QQ Sweeper Vol. 2

released February 2nd

This will probably be the next manga I read since it just arrived in the mail.  I'm excited to see where it leads after that cliffhanger at the end of volume one.

Morning Star

by Pierce Brown

releases February 9th

JUST THINKING ABOUT THIS ONE GIVES ME SO MANY FEELS!  Thank goodness I don't have class on Tuesday and Wednesday off.  I will be reading this like crazy and fully expect me to spaz out whenever I talk about it.

Calamity 

by Brandon Sanderson

releases February 16th

So, I still need to read Firefight, but I loved Steelheart, so I decided to pre-order this and support one of my favorite authors.

A Gathering of Shadows

by VE Schwab

releases February 23rd

Another book I'm absolutely dying to get my hands on.  You may have noticed that I don't plan to read this one this month... well, that's because I plan to reread book one next month and this one either next month or the month after that.  I'm very eager to return to this world but I really want to take my time and ease into it.

Noragami Vol. 11

releases February 23rd

Every time I type out Norgami vol (insert number here) I can't believe how long I've been reading this series and how much I still absolutely adore it.  This cover... well, this cover gives me a lot of stress (and I can't say why because spoilers) and it will break my heart completely.  It's also, I believe, going to be the first volume past the story that the anime told, so I have no idea what's in store for me.

Batgirl Vol. 2

releases February 23rd

So, I loved volume one dearly, and I'm assuming this one will live up to it.  Eager to dig into it, honestly.

Have you preordered any books this month?  Are there any you're looking forward to?  Let me know!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Magic Mirror

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.  Click here to join in on the fun.

This week I'm waiting on The Magic Mirror: Concerning a Lonely Princess, a Foundling Girl, a Scheming King, and a Pickpocket Squirrel by Susan Hill Long

From the time she was a crippled baby, left in a church, Maggie's life has never been easy but when she glimpses her destiny in a magic mirror, she goes off on a quest to find her father and, along the way, finds happiness, as well.

Why I'm Waiting

Well, that title, for one, is just absolutely adorable and caught my attention right away.  This sounds like an original fairy tale, so I'm game.

The Magic Mirror comes out May 10th, 2016

Book Review: A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird, #1)

Author: Claudia Gray

Website, Facebook, Twitter

Edition: Hardcover

Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Goodreads Link

Rating: 3 Stars

Let's just take a moment to appreciate how nice this cover looks.  It's not as nice in person, but it's still one of my favorite covers.  And I love how much meaning the cover actually has in the book, something that I feel rarely happens.

A Thousand Pieces of You starts in media res with our main character, Marguerite, in a parallel universe hunting for her father's killer.  The twist?  The man she believed killed her father may also be the person she's in love with.

I feel very conflicted about this book.  On one hand, I really enjoyed it as I was reading it, perhaps because I read it so quickly that I didn't really have time to think about it.  The writing is really good, really mature (in that you can tell Claudia Gray has been writing for a while and has really honed her talent).  Particularly the way she threads her plot points and sets everything up.  Gray is good at setting up small details that pay off in a big way.

My biggest problem lies in how quickly the romantic relationships progressed, and the love triangle itself.  I mean, the love triangle was very weak, there was no doubt at all, and the amount of chemistry between anyone was very bland.  I liked who Marguerite ended up with, but it's not like I felt super strongly towards either half of the love triangle.

I must say, as I was reading, I had one song stuck in my head the whole time, so I thought I would include it here and get it caught in your head as well:

Let me know if you think this song is perfect for this book!

Blogging Tips #5: Organization

Welcome back to another edition of Blogging Tips!  This week I'm talking about organization, and how I organize.  If you're interested in commenting and leaving information about how you stay organized (or email me at tsundokublog(at)gmail(dot)com) then next month I'll do a part two featuring your organization tips!  But for now, here's how I stay organized.

How important is organization?

Well, pretty important.  You don't have to be as anal as me, and just keep a loose structure, but I recommend some sort of organization because it helps you post regularly, and this is what you'll want to do if you want to maintain an interesting and engaging blog.  I know I most enjoy reading blogs that post at least twice a week under normal circumstances.  Yes, everyone deserves a break, but if you're planning to dedicate yourself to blogging, that actually means dedication is necessary.

A calendar.

I actually have two calendar's for planning blogging.  One is for just keeping track of when I want things published, and one is for keeping track of when I'm writing the posts, editing the posts, and doing other "caretaker" things, like answering/responding to comments.  You only really need one, and I recommend just using it to see when things are planned to be publish.

Write ahead of time.

This doesn't always work, but if you can write a post in advance, it will really help you out.  I do this for memes like Waiting on Wednesday and Friday 56, and also, often, with review posts so that I can go back and change them if I wanted to.

"Caretaking"

This is just a term I use for the little things involved in running a blog.  I often have to put these on my calendar to remind me that yes, they do have to be taken care of.  For example, I need to remind myself to contact winner's of giveaways, respond to comments, and go on twitter in general (I don't know why this last one is so hard to just do).  I honestly really recommend doing this because it helps to just keep everything running smoothly.

Don't Plan too Much for Any One Day

I have stressed myself out in the past by trying to do everything in one sitting.  I often can only write one good post a day, so I try not to schedule more than one a day.  I also try not to edit more than one or two posts a day, because I just sort of lose focus as I do them.

February TBR

We're officially a month into 2016!  Wow, that's really crazy to think about.  I haven't had such a hard time writing 2016 instead of 2015 as I thought I would, but I am having trouble getting over the fact that 2006 was SIX YEARS AGO!  I mean, that feels like two years ago, honestly.

Anyway, this month I'm super excited for the books I'll be reading.  One of them is particularly exciting and will absolutely break my heart and put me into a book hangover, I expect nothing less.

1. Six of Crows

So, originally, I was going to finish the Grisha trilogy before reading this one, but you know what? I know that you don't have to read them in that order and I just don't want to put this one off anymore because I every day I wake up and stroke it for a few seconds.  So, yeah, I'm super ready to read this one, and I'll be starting it ASAP.

2. Passenger

I wasn't a huge fan of the Darkest Minds, but I've heard really great things about this one, and also, time travel (my favorite genre).  So, yeah, this is going to be an awesome read and I'm super ecstatic to get to it!

3. Morning Star

This is the book that will leave me absolutely heartbroken and torn to pieces and with such a book hangover that I'm a little afraid to start it, actually.  I thoroughly expect to have to skip classes to get over this one.  We'll see how hard it hits me.  I've already read the free preview which was the first five chapters (I think) and I was a puddle of feelz after page one.

4. Tell the Wind and Fire

I received an ARC of this one from Netgalley and I'm rather excited to read it, since it's one of my most anticipated of the new year!

5. Winter

I'm going to finish this series guys and I don't think I'm ready!  I've heard great things about this conclusion (and I've managed to avoid spoilers!) and I cannot wait to finally take the plunge.

6. Words of Radiance

I've been "currently reading" this one on Goodreads for several months and I really need to finish this.  I love what I've read of it, but the size has just daunted me.  I need to sit down and just finish it at this point.

So what are you guys planning to read this month?  Let me know in the comments!