TBR | Bout of Books Edition!

Knowing I was going to be taking part in the Bout of Books read-a-thon this month I decided not to do a May Reads post, instead I'm now going to share with you the books I'm hoping to get through next week for the read-a-thon!

Rebel Heart

by Moira Young

It seemed so simple: Defeat the Tonton, rescue her kidnapped brother, Lugh, and then order would be restored to Saba's world. Simplicity, however, has proved to be elusive. Now, Saba and her family travel west, headed for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But the fight for Lugh's freedom has unleashed a new power in the dust lands, and a formidable new enemy is on the rise.

What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants?

May means that the final book in the Dust Lands trilogy, Raging Star, has been released, which means it's finally time for me to marathon the rest of the trilogy. I read Blood Red Road last year and absolutely adored it, so I'm hoping that the rest of the trilogy is just as good. Given how brutal Saba's world is I have no idea if the ultimate ending will be happy, but I hope it is!

I've owned Rebel Heart for a while now, so it's about time I read it.

Raging Star

by Moira Young

Saba is ready to seize her destiny and defeat DeMalo and the Tonton...until she meets him and he confounds all her expectations with his seductive vision of a healed earth, a New Eden. DeMalo wants Saba to join him, in life and work, to create and build a healthy, stable, sustainable world…for the chosen few. The few who can pay.

Jack’s choice is clear: to fight DeMalo and try to stop New Eden. Still uncertain, her connection with DeMalo a secret, Saba commits herself to the fight. Joined by her brother, Lugh, anxious for the land in New Eden, Saba leads an inexperienced guerilla band against the powerfully charismatic DeMalo, in command of his settlers and the Tonton militia. What chance do they have? Saba must act. And be willing to pay the price.

As mentioned above, Raging Star is the final book in Moira Young's Dust Lands trilogy. I can't wait to get back into Saba's head and see how her story ends.

A Great and Terrible Beauty

by Libba Bray

Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order.

I remember always picking this book up in Borders during my teens, back when Borders was still around, and for some reason I never got around to buying myself a copy. Recently I realised it's about time I got around to reading it - I love historical fiction, and I love historical fiction set in the 19th century that features India in some way - so I managed to find a cheap, hardback edition online and now it's in my possession!

I've heard a lot of people praise this trilogy, so I'm looking forward to getting stuck into it during the read-a-thon!

The Blackstone Key

by Rose Melikan

1795, and a young woman called Mary Finch travels in haste from Cambridge to the Suffolk coast. She has been invited to meet her wealthy uncle - and so end a twenty-year estrangement. But before she reaches her destination she discovers a dying man on the road. He is a stranger, and yet he is carrying an oddly familiar watch bearing her uncle's initials. He also seems to know who Mary is, and hints that she is in terrible danger. His whispered warning soon exposes Mary to a ruthless conspiracy that threatens not only her family's reputation, but her very life. Far from home, Mary must learn quickly how to distinguish friend from foe. Can she trust the two men who want to help her? What is their interest in the mysterious Blackstone Key? Does it guard a secret treasure, or might it have a more sinister purpose...?

I found this book in a charity shop last summer. I'd never heard of it or the author, Rose Melikan, before, but as we all know I love my historical fiction, and I love my historical mysteries, too. 

If nothing else this book sounds like it should be a bit of fun!

The Host

by Stephenie Meyer

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.

I have no idea if I'm going to manage to read this book during the read-a-thon or not, but I'm going to try just because I've owned The Host since its release and I still haven't read it. I started reading it when I first got it, but then I think school got in the way and I just ended up never getting back to it because I started to go off the Twilight series.

I've heard a lot of people say good things about this book, however, so I really should read it soon.

So there we have it! I have no idea if I'm going to get through all these books during the read, but if I can through a fair few I'll be pleased.

What are you hoping to read for the read-a-thon?

J.

Read-a-Thon | Bout of Books 10

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team. 

Hello book lovers!

Monday the 12th of May until Sunday the 18th of May will see the 10th Bout of Books read-a-thon, and this time around I can finally participate!

For as long as I've been aware of the read-a-thons they've always come at a time when I've just been too busy to join in, but now that I'm a postgrad I have more time to read for pleasure than I did when I was an undergrad. 

Right now I don't have a specific list of books I'd like to read for the read-a-thon, though I wouldn't mind trying to get through the rest of the Dust Lands trilogy - Rebel Heart and Raging Star - and Anne Brontë's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I'm probably going to post a TBR nearer the time!

If you'd like to take part then follow the link to the Bout of Books blog above! Are any of you participating?

J.

Top Five | Fictional Boyfriends

Don't judge me, okay? It's totally normal to have feelings for fictional characters. I think.

As it's February, and therefore the month of love, it only feels right that I should share with you the five men who each have a special place in my heart. And my closet. They can never leave. -evil laughter-

Sirius Black

from the Harry Potter series

by J. K. Rowling

You never forget your first love. Especially when he's only present and alive for three books of a seven book series. I'm not bitter about that at all.

I like older men. Men are like a fine wine, if you drink them they'll die they get better with age. With that in mind, it was only natural that I found Sirius more attractive than Harry or Ron. Add in the fact that he's a mischievous, misunderstood escaped convict and I'm there. Accused of murder? I like him even more! Don't ask. It's a problem.

Jack Barak

from the Shardlake series

by C. J. Sansom

I started reading C. J. Sansom's Shardlake series back in 2012, and since then it's quickly become one of my favourite series. If you're a lover of Historical and Crime Fiction (especially together!) and you haven't read this series then you certainly need to.

The books are set in Tudor England and follow Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer and hunchback, as he solves mysteries he'd rather not be a part of in the first place. We are introduced to Jack Barak, who eventually becomes Shardlake's assistant, in Dark Fire, the second book in the series, and I loved him immediately. He has a roguish quality to him and a sense of humour that I just can't resist.

What can I say? I'm weak!

Kyo Sohma

from Fruits Basket

by Natsuki Takaya

Now we're onto younger men. In fact Kyo's a high school student, which is pretty creepy given that I'm 22 now, but when I was first introduced to Fruits Basket I was around 14/15 (which is a terrifying thought - I can't believe it's been that long!) so it's acceptable. Or so I tell myself.

I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've mentioned a manga on this blog, and if you're a fan of manga who hasn't checked out Fruits Basket yet or you're someone who wants to read some manga then I highly recommend this series! It's just so good.

It's not for everyone. If you like Death Note or Attack on Titan more than you like Ouran High School Host Club or School Rumble then it might not be your thing, but it's still worth a try all the same! This series has it all; it'll make you laugh, cry and go 'aww' more than you'll ever admit to any of your friends.

I love Kyo and I will always love Kyo. Just read this manga and you'll understand.

Jack

from the Dust Lands trilogy

by Moira Young

Another Jack. Hm. Blood Red Road was one of my favourite reads of last year because of its fantastic, angry heroine and its fun, fast-paced story. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the romance in it, and that it didn't make me feel the feels.

Like the previous Jack, this Jack also has a 'cheeky chappy' feel to him that, evidently, I find hard to resist! Plus he's hot. I'm not particularly shallow but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy people who are just hot.

I love Jack Sparrow, too, so it must just be a 'Jack' thing.

Prince Kai

from The Lunar Chronicles

by Marissa Meyer

Given the previous list of fictional guys on this list you might think that if I was going to pick anyone from The Lunar Chronicles it'd be Wolf or Thorne, but there's something about Kai that's so decent and adorable that I just love him. Not to mention Cinder is my favourite heroine so far, so I guess it only makes sense that I love Kai the most too.

If this series doesn't end with Cinder and Kai happy and together I might just cry.

Well I imagine now you know some things about me that you wish you didn't, but that just makes our bond stronger, doesn't it?

So who have you got hiding in your closet?