I can’t believe it’s almost the end of the year! Ahhh! Where has the time gone… I have to get going with the Rock My TBR challenge but otherwise I had a decent couple reading months.

Flights of Fantasy (5 books)
#flightsoffantasy

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan- 5 stars. Highly original by being completely self-aware and subversive with fantasy tropes. It was also hilarious and shippy and diverse and so much fun!

Fireblood by Elly Blake- 4 stars. A twisty second book with engaging characters, new settings, and enough adventure and romance to hold my interest.

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust- 5 stars. Definitely a new favorite! Complex and emotional- there is magic, and there is plot, but this is 100% a character driven narrative including a very sweet f/f romance.

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas- 4 stars. I liked this book despite and in spite of its obvious faults, much more than I expected to. I think fans of the first couple books would feel the same way. I loved the new setting and characters, learning more about the world, and the actual slow burn trust building relationships.

The Wood by Chelsea Bobulski- 3 stars. Really strong first half that felt mediocre by the end. But I always love evil magical woods and the time travel element was interesting.

Retellings Reading Challenge (1 book)
#RetellingsRC2017

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust- 5 stars. Maybe the best Snow White retelling I’ve ever read. I loved the twists to the traditional fairy tale elements! Mina is not your typical wicked stepmother, which thrilled me, and Lynet is not a breakable bird no matter what her father believes. Each woman has agency and conflicting feelings and character growth and her own romance, and I just adored the complexity and sincerity of their mother-daughter relationship.

Rock My TBR
#RockMyTBR

No books, don’t look at me.

Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge (2 books)
#ContRom2017

Illegal Contact by Santino Hassell- 4.5 stars. I absolutely loved Noah and Gavin and their bantery growing relationship. I read this in one sitting, definitely my kind of NA!

ReReads (1 book)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare- 4 stars. I read this back in 6th grade and didn’t remember a single thing about it, aside from the fact that I enjoyed it. It was even better than I expected! Kit is a winsome, interesting character and I loved Nat, as well as the detailed portrait the author paints of 17th century Puritan Massachusetts.

Other Books (4 books)
Princess Leia #1-5 by Mark Waid- 4 stars. I love that it realistically depicts something that could have happened between the movies. Leia is amazing, so commanding and take charge but never cruel. And there are some neat backstory things too!

Patsy Walker a.k.a. Hellcat #1 by Kate Leth- 3 stars. I liked the humorous tone and definitely want to read more issues.

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee- 4.5 stars. This was awesome! It was so funny and the story & mythology was unique and action packed. I loved Genie.

The Hawkweed Legacy by Irina Brignull- 2.5 stars. Lovely writing but I didn’t care for the story or the direction it went in. There were too many POV characters as well, and a lot of people acting out of character.

How are you doing with your reading challenges? Did we enjoy any of the same books? Two more months and I really need to concentrate on Rock My TBR and Retellings!