May and June Wrap Up + Updates

Hello dear readers! It's been ages since a wrap up, which is how I knew it was time to post one. I'm pretty proud of the amount of reading I've been able to accomplish this summer, and also the amount of reviews I've been able to write. It has been slow, but it's also been steady (and you can expect next month to have more posts because I have a bit of a backlog at this point, oops). I know the last wrap up promised a lot, but those promises have to stay on hold for just a little longer. My new job has kept me busier than intended and I'm still adjusting.

Finished

The Eye of the Queen

Tess of the Road

The Humans

All That She Can See

A Midsummer Night's Dream

To Kill a Kingdom

Assassin's Apprentice

The Dressmaker and the Prince

Circles in the Stream

Starlings

Be Prepared

Vicious

The Hunter's Moon

Blood Rose Rebellion

Leviathan Wakes

All Summer Long

Legendary

Upcoming Posts

Reviews for Vicious, Blood Rose Rebellion, Leviathan Wakes, and Legendary are in the works, as well as a combined review of The Dressmaker and the Prince, Be Prepared, and All Summer Long.

I'll also (finally) be posting my spoiler-filled review of Infinity War and another installment in "debut's to be excited for".

Currently Reading

I'm just shy of 100 pages in The Cruel Prince, which I'm enjoying but also not seeing what all the hype was for (yet, at least), and then I'll be reading West, My Lady Jane, and Caliban's War. I'm also hoping to stop at the library and stock up on some spur-of-the-moment books.

Upcoming Reads

I have a bunch of books I really want to get to this summer and while it's still to far away to say for certain when I'll get to them, I thought I'd share.

Letter for the King

Call for the Dead

Bluets

My Plain Jane

Circe

Google It!

Sky in the Deep

 The Wrath and the Dawn

Any books you recommend that I must, must, MUST pick up?

March & April (So Far) Wrap Up + Updates

Hello everyone! Look at me, actually on top of my game recently and posting regularly. Who'd have thought? In my last update I talked about how I've been away from home and how that hasn't resulted in stress, exactly, it has resulted in my time being taken up by different things. Well, that flipped didn't it? I've actually been dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety at the moment, and while that hasn't kept me from posting or reading it has made it harder, which is why I'm doubly proud of myself for posting and interacting as much as I have. Classes are done for me and I've only got one essay left (due early next month so there's plenty of time) and now that I've let myself unwind I am feeling pretty relaxed and overall enjoying the nice weather and free time. (I've also been writing again but there's not much to say on that front... yet.)

Honestly things have been pretty low-key and I have little to report on the personal front except that I'm seriously homesick for my bookshelves. But there are a lot of changes-- or should I say new features?-- coming to the blog and I couldn't be more excited!

An Update

So it's been nearly a month since my last post. I have 7 more days of school and then I get to go home. But I thought I would take advantage of this extended break already and push back my return to the blog until December 1st. I want to stock up on some reviews and other posts for the next time the stress starts to kick in.

As a side note, I also have a side blog now, for my personal life. It'll serve as a place I can talk about studying abroad, once I leave in January. If you're interested I recommend checking out Postcards & Polaroids because I'm pretty proud of it.

ALSO I want to have a giveaway to celebrate my third year blogoversary on December 25th. What would you like to see me giveaway? Let me know!

Sunday Comics & Important UPDATE

Welcome to another edition of Sunday Comics!

This is actually a little bit of a different sort of Sunday Comics.  For one, I didn't actually read any comics in the last two weeks.  For another, I've made a decision about this post series, and it's sister series, Sunday TV: I'm not going to be doing them as often.  In fact, I'll only be posting one of each a month.

There are a few reasons for this.  First and foremost, I haven't been reading very many comics lately, or watching much TV.  And I don't want to force myself to read or watch these things because they generally bring me a lot of joy.  Secondly, I'm working on making better content.  These are two posts that I always seem to rush through and don't care much for.  I want my blog to become more about quality than quantity, which is something I struggle with at the moment.  Finally, the blog will be going through some small changes.  I'm going to be not only taking time with each post, but I'm going to be revamping how it all looks.  I don't know exactly when you'll notice the big change, but I've been playing with different styles and I'm very excited.

I hope you guys don't mind the change!  And hopefully this is just the first step in a positive direction.  You won't see another one of these posts until near the end of December, but hopefully by then I'll have read some comics again.

Update

So my reading has slowed down quite a bit for several reasons.  Mostly, stress has gotten to me and even though reading calms me down, I haven't been motivated enough to pick anything up for long.  Also, the things causing the stress are taking up most of my free time.  And, now that things are starting to look up again, I've been watching a lot of TV.  Hopefully by this time next week I'll be back in reading mode, though.  I just thought I'd let everyone know what reviews are going to be going up in the next week or so, though, so you don't think I've abandoned everyone.

Sunday-- Reaper, Season One, Episodes 9-12, Review

Wednesday-- Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday-- Fire Sermon Review

Friday-- First Impression Friday

Saturday-- Hero of Ages Review

In two weeks:

Sunday-- Constantine Season 1 Review

Monday-- Parks and Recreation Seasons 1 and 2 Review

Yes, you can probably see how much TV I've been watching.  My TV reviews are normally very short and sweet though, so hopefully you don't find them annoying if you just come here for book reviews.

Thanks for everyone for stopping by!

March TBR & Update

So last month wasn't as great as January, but that's to be expected since it was a shorter month.  Either way, I read eight books (though not really the ones I wanted to at the beginning of the month...) and a total of 2,725 words.  This month I plan to read more, and hopefully I'll make it.

My TBR list is tentative; I don't know what order the stuff will be in or whether more or less will be added, but these are the books I'm most excited for.

From Last Month
Finish up Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
Finish up The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig
Poison Study, Magic Study, Fire Study and Shadow Study by Maria V Snyder
Dead Beat by Jim Butcher

New This Month
What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
Alienated by Melissa Landers
The One by Kiera Cass
The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

Comics
Batman and Son

Besides reading I plan to update the blog.  Right now it's pretty generic and I want to make it more personal.  If you have any ideas or recommendations; things you would like to see here, let me know.  Don't forget that you can find me on Twitter now, @TsundokuSam.

Updates (#ReadRising and some general stuff)

For those of you who partook in my #ReadRising marathon, thanks so much!  I have so many bottled up emotions after those two books and it has left me a pile of mush.  But forward, I suppose, I must go, or I won't make it to Morning Star.

Sorry for my lack of posting lately, but I've had a lot of stress.  Which is, hopefully, now all over.  Interesting tidbit, though, apparently I really, really need glasses.  I've always been nearsighted, but it has gotten worse and I need to wear specs constantly now.  That'll be an interesting change.

So here's my posting schedule for the next week or so.  I should be able to keep up on it.  I've also got a giveaway I'm trying to organize coming up.  Stay tuned for that, because I'll be giving away one of my absolute favorite books!  (But not for some time yet, and if it doesn't come in the next couple of weeks, that means I'm just collecting more books to give away, so stay patient...).

Wednesday| WoW- Morning Star
Thursday| Red Rising Review
Friday| First Impression Friday- Seraphina
Saturday| Golden Son Review
Sunday| Smoke and Mirrors Review
Monday| Girl of Fire and Thorns Review
Tuesday| Trees Review
Wednesday| WoW
Thursday| Of Shadow and Stone or Hero of Ages Review

A (late) WoW, FIF, and Readathon

So, I may have been much busier this week than I thought I would be.... Which means I didn't get the chance to post my weekly meme's.  So, I'm doing that now.

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted over at Breaking the Spine and offers readers a chance to showcase the books they're drooling over.  This week I'm waiting on The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker.

This is a bit of a long wait- the book doesn't release until early June- but I think it sounds worth it.  Here's the description from Goodreads:

The magic and suspense of Graceling meet the political intrigue and unrest of Game of Thrones in this riveting fantasy debut.
Elizabeth Grey is one of the king's best witch hunters, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and doling out justice. When she's accused of being a witch herself, Elizabeth is arrested and sentenced to die at the stake. Salvation comes from a man she thought was her enemy. Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful wizard in the kingdom, offers her a deal: he will save her from execution if she can track down the person who laid a deadly curse on him.
As she's thrust into the world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and all-too-handsome healers, Elizabeth is forced to redefine her ideas of right and wrong, of friends and enemies, and of love and hate.

So it sounds like it may be a little hyped, and I have in fact noticed quite a few books this year being compared to Graceling and Game of Thrones.  Regardless, it sounds like a lot of fun.  What books are you waiting on this week?

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First Impression Friday is a meme I've started where I choose a book I've recently gotten hold of or plan to read soon and whatever impression I have without cracking it open.  This week I'm showcasing The 100 by Kass Morgan.  I haven't started the show yet, but I have every intention of it. My goal is to read the first book then watch the first season and compare.  I don't know if there's a correlation or not, but it could be fun.

I have heard lackluster things about the book, and about the first season of the show, but season two is supposed to be phenomenal, and I'm hoping if I can plow through this one, the rest of the series will follow suit.

I have a general idea of what this book's about- juvenile delinquents are sent to earth after a hundred years away to decide whether it can be repopulated.  I think there may be savages on earth, too?  Anyways, lots of hardships and lots of relationships.  Looking forward to it.

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So, as far as the readathon I mention in the title, I'm planning on hosting one!  My friend has been begging me to read Red Rising and Golden Son by Pierce Brown, and since I don't exactly have anyone to spend Valentine's Day with, I thought I'd host one over that weekend.  So, from Friday, February 13th, through Tuesday, February 17th, I'll be binge-reading the two books in the series.  Please join me!  And use the #ReadRising on twitter and tumblr so we can all interact.  Please, please, please read along with me. :)

Update and Release Day!

Masters of Blood and Bone Release Day!

If you haven't heard of this gem, check out it's goodreads page here or check out my review here.  Hint: I gave it five stars.  Really it's perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman (especially if you loved American Gods) or grimdark fantasy.  I think quite a few people will find it enjoyable.  And then, when you're done reading it, come back and we can talk about it because I have so much more to say!

Update

So for the rest of the week you may not see me super active.  I've got a WoW planned for tomorrow and a FIF planned for, surprise, Friday.  You should see a review of The Mime Order up around Thursday or Friday, too.  I've also started watching Attack on Titan, so if I finish anytime soon you can expect a review of that.  Gosh, it's so intense.  Hope all of you dealing with this winter weather are okay- I know my state has been hit pretty hard.  Stay warm, guys.

An Update

So far the blogging has been going VERY WELL and I want to thank everyone who has visited recently and particularly those who come on a regular basis.  The coming weeks should hold even more books and such.

As for this week, you may have noticed that I haven't posted a book review in the last few days.  Most likely, I won't get another one out until Sunday.  This week has just dragged by, I've been so busy with school and work.  I am reading, but I'm reading longer books, which is another holdup.  Also, TV shows are coming back.  I watch a lot of TV and keeping up is often a challenge.  It's never top priority, but I do have to factor that in.

The next reviews you'll see are tentatively scheduled as follows:

• The Vanishing Girl - Saturday/Sunday
• Masters of Blood and Bone - Next Thursday
• The Well of Ascension - Next Sunday

Hopefully I'll be able to get to a few more than that, but we'll see.  As for my TBR so far this month, I think I've done a pretty good job.  I started with a rather large TBR on purpose- I like to give an idea of what's on my mind but still have some space to choose from an array.  Next month will have an even larger TBR, so don't expect me to get to all of them.  ARCs are top priority for the most part, so those won't change much, but the rest are just ideas.

In other news, I've started writing again!  It makes me feel great and I've made pretty fantastic progress.  My goal is to finish the project by the end of April, so I'll keep you guys updated.

If you have any books you think I should read or any posts you want me to do (like a recommend: certain genre) let me know in the comments or through an email (although comments are easier and go straight to my email anyways).  Hope everyone else is having a great month reading wise.  Ta!