That’s A Wrap! Reading, Reviews, and What’s Ahead | January-February

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January was an extremely busy month!


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So, it’s been a few months since I’ve done a wrap-up post. In fact, I’ve been pretty absent on the blogosphere in general lately. Or at least always behind and barely posting. December was busy because of the holidays and then in January school came back with a vengeance. Good news is that things have slowly started to calm down so I should be around a lot more this month. And all of the being busy stuff aside I actually managed to read more than I’ve read in months in January. I only read three books but I would say that’s a big improvement over having only read one in November and one in December.

-Read + Reviewed-

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The Sky Between You and Me by Catherine Alene [REVIEW]

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Corrupt Me by Jillian Quinn [REVIEW]

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Gilded Cage by Vic James [REVIEW]

5STARRATINGBNM(5/5)

-Favorite Read-

Gilded Cage was definitely my favorite read of January. It was so good! I’ve been reading so many contemporaries lately, mainly because I’ve been in a bit of a fantasy slump. So it was great to dive into one and enjoy it. Although, now I have another series that I desperately want the next book for.

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-Haul-

I am officially on a sort of book buying budget, if you can call it that. I’m trying to save money this year so what I’m doing is only buying a book when I’m going to read it or if I’m going to read it soon. So far it’s working out pretty well since I only bought one book last month. We’ll see if it continues to work. 🙈

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How is the first month of 2017 over already? It feels like just yesterday it was New Years. Truthfully it already feels like summer in Texas. I miss winter and I want it back.

Anyway! I’m really excited for this month because not only am I rereading one of my all-time favorite series, The Bone Season, but I’m also reading The Song Rising. I was lucky enough to get approved for an eARC and I’ve had to force myself not to pick it up for months. I wanted to wait until I had time to reread the previous books since it’s been over two years since I read The Mime-Order. So, yeah, my February TBR is The Bone Season!

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However, since I’ve already reviewed all of The Bone Season books aside from The Song Rising that means there will be a lack of reviews on my blog this month. I’m hoping to fill that with some discussions or recommendation posts. I’ve had some ideas jotted down for a while but no time to put them into writing. This month I should have more time to do that. So be on the look out for those. 😁

I hope all of you have a fantastic February full of great reads! 💕


What books did you read this month? What was your favorite?

Did you have a good blogging month or just a good month in general?

What do you plan on reading in February?

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66 thoughts on “That’s A Wrap! Reading, Reviews, and What’s Ahead | January-February

  1. Okayyyy so I didn’t know you only read 1 book in November and another one in December?hahaha so glad that you’re out of your slump! 😛 also glad that things have started to settle down, I hope to see more in the blogosphere hahaha I’m curious about Gilded Cage! It sounds so interesting and I’ve heard a lot of positive things. Buuuut I also heard some negative thoughts from reviewers I trust so I’m kind of torn right now hahaha 😛 OHHH I’m also deep in my contemporary binge hahaha I have been for the last 3 months… too lazy and distracted to read fantasy, but I hope to fix it soon because I’m gonna read Caraval! ❤

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    • Yep! November and December were both so busy and then November was a slumpy month reading wise. But yes I should be reading more and around more now. 😁
      Gilded Cage was so good! It might be one of those reads that could go either way though. It’s a big mixture of dystopia and fantasy with a lot of characters and povs. It’s one that will work really well for some but might not for others depending on the reader. If you do get really curious about it though then I recommend giving it a try. 😊
      Ahhh I can’t wait to see your thoughts on Caraval! I’m hoping to be able to read it soon too but probably not this month.

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  2. The cover for RoseBlood is sooo pretty! I love everything about it. ❤ I'm not sure if I'm going to pick up the actual book – first of all I'm doing "read 5 books before buying 1 new one" soooo I have no idea when I would actually get around to buying it (because I have many other books on my list that are a priority) 😛 Rereading a favourite series is always amazing and I hope you have fun with The Bone Season. I finally plan to read Unravel Me and Ignite Me this month! I started this trilogy ages ago, but haven't continued it for some reason – well that's going to change this month! 😀

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    • RoseBlood definitely has a gorgeous cover 😍. And the inside is as gorgeous as the outside for sure but I get what you mean about having so many other priority reads you want to buy/read. That’s me at the moment with my book buying too. 😂
      Yay! I really hope you enjoy Unravel Me and Ignite Me. I loved both of those books and that whole series so much. 😁

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      • Yeah it’s really hard to prioritise books when you want to buy ALL of them!! But sadly that’s not possible, for both buying and reading. 😂
        I enjoyed Shatter Me, but didn’t exactly love it. BUT I have heard that the trilogy just gets better and so far I’m very much enjoying Unravel Me!

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  3. I think I also read three books in January, which is more than I have read in a month for the last three or four months. I am glad to hear you loved Gilded Cage! I can’t wait to finally read that one! I also wanna read The Bone Season sometime soon. I’ve gotta try to get caught up on my NetGalley titles first though!

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    • Gilded Cage and The Bone Season are both really good. I hope you enjoy them when you do get to them! I completely get what you mean about trying to catch up on NetGalley titles. I’ve been a bit behind on mine but will be caught up after this month. Good luck with your catch up!! 😁

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      • Thanks, Melissa! Good luck catching up on yours too! Do you have any good titles on NetGalley?

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  4. I was thrilled to see that you loved The Gilded Cage 🙂 I was so impressed with how well she managed such complex characters and the narration.

    I think these last few months have been crazy for many of us. There are normally many transitions occurring at the beginning/end of the year. I have to admit I have missed your presence though ❤

    I am looking forward to seeing what discussion posts you might have lined up with. Happy February!

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    • It was such a great book and I was really impressed with all of that too. I was also surprised at how well the multiple POVs worked. Especially given how there was some that only appeared every so often. I can’t wait to see what other POVs she throws in for the next book. 😊
      Yeah, it seems that way. Several have told me it was pretty busy for them too. Awww well I’ve definitely missed being on here regularly. 💕
      Happy February to you too!! 😊

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  5. Great recap for this month Melissa, and I’m glad to see things have slowed down a little enough for you to be able to come back to blogging a little more. Hopefully things will stay that way for a while.
    I think you got through some great books this month. I’ve heard so many amazing things about Jill’s book, and I’ve read and loved Gilded Cage as well. I think if I hadn’t read Caraval and the Half Bad series this month it would be my favourite read as well. As it is it definitely managed to refresh the YA dystopian genre a little bit.
    I got a copy of RoseBlood during my book haul this month. It was actually thanks to your review that I even picked it out! 😀
    Oh I am so jealous of the fact that you have an ARC of The Song Rising, I need that book so badly right now but I have to wait until it’s released unfortunately. Still I’m sure it will be amazing and once I’ve read it we will have to have very lengthy discussions on it! 😀
    I hope you have an amazing February Melissa! 😀 ❤

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    • Thanks so much, Beth!! 💕
      I’m hoping so. Thing’s should stay calm for a while but you never know with life.
      I definitely got through some great books. I was a bit iffy on The Sky Between You and Me but even it wasn’t too bad. Jill’s book was fantastic and I swear if I wouldn’t have read Gilded Cage this month it would have been my favorite read. I completely agree about Gilded Cage refreshing YA dystopian a bit. It really did bring something new to the mix and got me all excited since it used the be my favorite genre.
      Awwww, YAY! I’m glad my review could convince you to get it. I really can’t wait to see what you end up thinking of it whenever you do read it. 😁
      I wish it was possible to share ARCs. Or pass it on to another reader once you finished it. I would so share it with you! I keep checking NetGalley but it seems like the UK publisher isn’t going to put up an eARC 😢. But yes! When you do read it we are so going to have a long discussion about it. I can’t wait!
      I hope you have an amazing February too, Beth!! ♥

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      • That’s all right, and hopefully the rest of this month shouldn’t be as bad as last week was but you never know. It seems for some reason real life just keeps getting in the way more this year than it did last.
        Yeah it’s a shame about The Sky Between You and Me but at least you got through two other amazing books this month that may have made up for the iffy start. Well I haven’t read Jill’s book but Gilded Cage was amazing so that’s high praise indeed! 😀
        I’ll be sure to let you know what I think the second I finish it (I’ll let you know when I start it as well so you know to expect my review/comments soon!)
        I wish that too but until that day I’ll just wait for it to be released in person. It will be a book I start the second I have my hands on it I can tell you that.
        Thanks Melissa! 😀 ❤

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      • It does seem that way, doesn’t it? A lot of people seem busier this year. 2017 is definitely looking like it’s going to be very busy for sure.
        Jill’s book and Gilded Cage definitely made up for the iffy start. Plus, enjoying most of the books I read in a month is always great. 😁
        Yay! I’ll be on the look out for that. I’m rereading The Bone Season at the moment and I have a theory for what could happen at the end of book four that Samantha Shannon says is going to make readers really mad.
        You’re welcome!! 😊💕

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      • This seems to be the year people actually have decided to make changes in their lives. I guess that’s a good thing, Hopefully it won’t become too much for everyone though.
        That’s great to hear, as much as you never enjoy bad books it’s always nice when there are a couple that make up for them so to speak.
        Oh my god you have to let me know your theory. As long as it’s not a spoiler! 😀 I always love hearing theories for series, most of the time it’s GoT but if you have a Bone Season one please let me know! 😀 ❤

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      • Definitely a good thing but I hope it doesn’t either. I know I need to learn to schedule myself this year.
        There are definitely no spoilers since I haven’t read The Song Rising yet but in the first book I kept noticing how Paige’s connection with the aether is hinted at a lot, her being able to choose when she dies and whatnot. So, it’s got me thinking about things that would make me mad as far as endings go lol. There’s already been a big betrayal but there hasn’t been any major character deaths. I could see a death happening and it’s bound to happen sooner or later. But what if in book four the thing that happens is Paige gets backed into a corner and has to choose to abandon her body? And what if she happens to get caught by Jaxon? He’s a binder and all of that so he can bind spirits. And what if it ends that way in a giant cliffhanger. Either that or Nashira gets her. If that happened I know I would be mad, especially if it’s a cliffhanger. 🙈
        I don’t even know if it’s a plausible theory but I had forgotten that Paige can choose when she dies because she’s a dreamwalker until I reread the first book. Apparently I forgot a lot of little things and there is so much foreshadowing to Jaxon’s betrayal in TMO. I’m asking myself how I didn’t catch it. 😂🙈

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      • After the past couple of weeks I’ve had I feel I need to learn to schedule myself as well.
        Ohh, that would be a massive cliffhanger and I think something I would be really mad about as well. If you think about it during The Mime Order during the end battle for control of all the different groups Jaxon did try to bind Paige’s spirit, the only reason he failed was because he didn’t know her full name. So that could be another kind of hint towards it as well. It would certainly be really interesting to see done in this series, and how would Paige come back from it? I agree there’ll be a death some when soon, I almost think that will happen in book three though.
        You do forget the little things don’t you. I plan on re-reading The Bone Season and The Mime Order before starting on The Song Rising as well! 😀

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      • Right? And I actually got to that part in TMO last night and I couldn’t believe I didn’t remember it. But yeah, when Jaxon tries to bind her that does seem like another hint towards it. Even more so since his working with Scion and Nashira now. They have access to Paige’s records and could give him her full name. It really would be. I mean I would hope that she could come back from it if it did happen. If they could get her on life support quickly enough it might be possible but who knows. That’s what I’m thinking about book three. I’m almost afraid to start it because I don’t want anyone to die. 🙈
        You’ll have to let me know how your reread goes! 😁

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      • I only remember it because I think at the time I thought Jaxon would actually get away with it. For me that was a kind of big turning point in TMO. It just kinds of adds more credibility to your theory in a way as well, and I’d definitely be interested in seeing where Samantha Shannon would go with the story if she did go down that path. Jaxon seems kind of like the type of person who would take the “if at first you don’t succeed try try again” mantra to heart so I can certainly see him making another attempt.
        Oh I hope you enjoy book three, don’t tell me anything about it because I really want to be surprised by what happens, even the non-spoilery parts! 😀
        Will do! 😀 ❤

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      • He really does! He also seems like one of those people that adds fuel to their grudges and never lets them go. I don’t think I ever fully realized the fact that Paige was the first to betray him until I reread it. It makes me wonder if it would have gone a different way if she hadn’t. Of course, the syndicate would have been in pieces because Jaxon wasn’t going to do anything fighting back wise against Scion but I wonder if he would have gone to Nashira. I swear he’s become one of my favorites for how complex he is lol.
        I promise I won’t! Although I will be silently freaking out until I can talk to you about it. 😂

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      • I will reply to your comment fully later, when I’m not at work, but I just found out and I had to let you know ASAP. I emailed Bloomsbury and requested a proof of The Song Rising because it wasn’t on NetGalley and why not right, and I received a reply from them just now letting me know a copy is on its way to me! Oh my god I’m so excited! 😍

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      • Really!? 😱😱
        YAY! That’s so awesome, Beth! I’m so excited for you. 😁 Are you gonna start your TBS reread or just dive into The Song Rising when you get it? lol
        Oh and I meant to ask you! Did you read The Pale Dreamer novella? I’m reading it right now because I put it off until I could reread. 🙈

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      • Yep, I got the email today letting me know a proof copy was on its way to me and I was so excited. I knew I just had to let you know!
        I have another book I want to read tomorrow and then I’ll probably have to start my re-read. I wanna get through TBS and TMO before starting TSR but it shouldn’t take me too long to read both. I wanna start TSR next week at the very latest!
        I haven’t read The Pale Dreamer yet, honestly I wasn’t even aware it had been released! 😀

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      • That just proves that it’s definitely worth emailing a publisher to ask! Now you won’t have to wait until March. And we’ll get to freak out over it together sooner 🙈. I actually started it last night and am holding in so much right now lol. I can’t wait until you get to start it! 😁
        Yeah, it was released in December I think. It’s pretty much just a short pre-TBS story about Paige. It was cute and I liked it. 😊

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      • Yes definitely worth asking. My copy arrived yesterday and oh it’s so gorgeous. I don’t think I can even wait until I’ve reread The Bone Season and The Mime Order before picking it up! 😀
        Ohh I’ll let you know as soon as I start it so we can start fangirling right away.
        In that case I’ll see if I can find it on Amazon so I can get started on that one soon! 😀

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      • Yay! I bet it’s gorgeous. I would have just wanted to stare at it 😂. I’m surprised I made it through my reread before jumping into it but the reread was fun. I really can’t wait until you start it though! I’m not even that far in, only around 30%. I’m trying to savor it because I know it’ll be another year until the next book.

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      • Definitely gorgeous, I may just have to go on Wikipedia and get an overview of book one and two that way because I don’t think I can wait to start it! It will be a long wait until book four I agree. I’m hoping to start it in the second half of this week. I have three other books I need to get around to first and then it’s going to be all about TSR! 😀

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      • Either way, you should definitely read The Pale Dreamer first. I keep getting the sense that there’s a connection with it and The Song Rising. Which I won’t say anymore because I promised I wouldn’t but I’m glad I read The Pale Dreamer first so I thought I should tell you that you might want to. 🙈
        It really will be. I wish I had a time machine just so I could fast forward and grab the fourth book now. I’m halfway through TSR.

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      • Jaxon is a really interesting character isn’t it, and actually I’m just really excited to see what he does next though I know it will probably be terrible for Paige.
        Ohh, see now you mentioned that I kind of want to see an alternate version of the story where Jaxon does win the fight, what he’d do as the overall leader and whether he’d still have teamed with Nashira. Basically I just want every nuance of this world explored! 😀

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      • He really is! And I’m betting it will be terrible for Paige. Jaxon is definitely a character whose bad side is one that I wouldn’t want to be on that’s for sure lol.
        Same! I so wish Samantha Shannon was coming to my town on her book tour because I actually really want to ask her that. I do too. There’s so much of it and I have a feeling even after the series is over that I’ll want more. 😊

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      • Definitely terrible for Paige, and right now she is on the worst of Jaxon’s bad side. She’s like public enemy number one for him.
        I’d love to see Samantha Shannon, there is so much I feel I need to talk about this series with her! Personally I’m hoping she comes to YALC this year. 🙂

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      • Right? She probably picked one of the worst people to betray and didn’t even realize it until the end of TMO.
        Same! I would love to just talk to her about the series and tell her my theories even though I know she wouldn’t confirm any of them lol. I have a few new ones so I can’t wait until you start TSR!
        If she does you have to tell me all about it. 😁

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      • I’m going to be very interested in seeing how Paige and Jaxon both move forwards after that betrayal!
        It would be interesting just to be able to talk more about the series with the person who wrote it. I can’t even imagine what she has planned for the rest of the books yet to be released.
        Of course I will! 😀

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      • It really would be! Same and I also can’t wait to see how she spans it into the full seven books. It’s weird when I think about it because most dystopia-esque series are lucky if they get four books. Although, the fourth book for TBS is supposed to end the first arc of the series. And considering how she says we’ll be mad I’m starting to wonder what the second arcs focus will be. I have so many new theories I can’t wait to share with you!! 😂🙈

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      • See on one hand it seems insane that we have seven books in this series but on the other I can’t imagine how she can wrap up the series with only seven books. I can’t wait, besides we’re this excited for book three what will we be like by the time book seven is being released! 🙂
        I’ll be sure to let you know the second I finish TSR so you can share your theories with me! 😀

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      • Right? And it’s weird to think that we’re really only still in the beginning of the series. Oh gosh I can imagine by the time we get to book seven I’m not going to want it to end. I mean of course I want a great ending for these characters but I also never want the books to end. That’s the thing with long series like this, I get too attached to the characters. 😂
        Yay! I only have 20% left of it to read and I’ll probably be finished tonight. I’m not ready to have to wait for the fourth book. 🙈

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      • I know right? At the moment only two books have been released, we’re not even halfway through yet! By the time we do get to book seven I reckon we’ll be insane from needing it so badly to find out what happens but at the same time not wanting the series to end at all.
        The wait for the fourth book will be even worse I imagine. Also no spoilers but what do you think of it so far?

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      • Exactly! I can only imagine. Especially given that with these books I seem to race through until I get towards the ending and then it’s like I want to know what happens but I don’t want it to end. The problems of having to wait for each book in a series that you really love. 😂
        I finished it yesterday and I loved it so much! I seriously can’t wait until you read and finish it because I’m particularly exploding at the seams to talk about it. 🙈
        I’m planning on posting my review for it tomorrow sometime. The terrible thing is I now have no motivation to do anything but reread the series again which isn’t a good sign lol.

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      • I don’t want it to end, and I was the same when I read The Bone Season and The Song Rising I pretty much binge read them and then was left waiting for the third book and it was unbearable.
        Oh that’s great to hear. I’ll be starting it tomorrow because I finished the other book ahead of it on my to-read list today so I can get started on it soon! I’ll let you know once I’m finished so we can talk more about it!
        I’ll have to check out your review after I’ve finished the book but I can’t wait to see what you think of it! 😀

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      • I don’t want it to end either! I feel like the wait is always unbearable but truth be told when the series does end I’ll miss eagerly waiting for the next book.
        Did you start it today? What are you thinking so far? I’m in major book hangover mode. I went back and reread TBS again and so many things I thought of as foreshadowing or odd that I highlighted in my ebook copy make more sense now. I definitely need to shake off this book hangover though because I have two review books calling my name and then ADSOM. 🙈

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      • I’m having that issue with A Conjuring of Light (which I will be starting tomorrow). I’ve been waiting for that book for so long but it’s the end of the series so I’m not sure what I’ll do when it’s actually over.
        I actually finished it today. I have so many thoughts but I’ve seen that you’ve posted your review so I will mention them in the comments there. We really need to talk about this book because I have so many thoughts on it! 😀

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      • Ahhh! I hope you enjoy ACOL. I look forward to going back and reading your review for that one once I read and finish the series. 😁
        It’s always so hard to say goodbye to a series you love.
        YAY! I will be running to check out your comment ASAP. I have a lot of thoughts still too, most I couldn’t put in my review because of spoilers lol. I actually had such a hard time writing the review that I think I won’t take book four on as a review book because I know I’ll want to write a spoiler review. I’ll have too many thoughts. 😂

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      • I’m halfway through ACOL at the moment and so far I am loving it. I have a feeling it’s going to be the best book of the three. I want to speed through the rest of it but at the same time I just never want it to end.
        I wrote a long comment, I just have so many feelings about this book and now we’ve finally read it I can’t hold them in anymore. I’ll admit it took me a long time to write my review as well. 🙂

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  6. I’m so glad to see you back in the blogosphere Melissa! & that you started the year off with a 5 star read in the mix 😃 The Bone Season is one of the series I’ve been dyiiiiiin to get to & even own the first 2 books….really dislike the covers now that I’ve seen the 3rd books cover but that’s beside the point 😂 yea, I def just need to take the plunge & start it. I’m still adhering to my arc spreadsheet & it’s been working to keep me motivated & on time/track with reviews. Can’t wait to read your discussion/recommendations posts 😃💕

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    • It’s good to be back! Even though I let myself get a bit behind this past week. I blame getting distracted by Netflix. 😂
      You should so read The Bone Season! It seems to be a hit or miss with a lot of people but for me it has definitely been a hit. I just really really love the books and hope you end up enjoying them when you do get around to reading them.
      It’s good to hear the ARC spreadsheet is working out for you! I need to start scheduling myself via spreadsheet blogging wise. It might help make me a little more organized. 🙈

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      • Netflix & Hulu are my weakness! I’ma always falling behind on blogging but I try to squeeze in some blogging every day even if it’s very little. I have a feeling I’m gonna love The Bone Season (Bookworm hunch) lol. The spreadsheet is REALLY helpful with keeping me on track with Edelweiss 7 Netgalley, otherwise I’d fall terribly behind 😦

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      • Same! I’m always binge watching one show or the other. I need to start doing that again. I used to do a little blogging every day but have since gotten into a terrible habit of not doing that even when I’m not busy. 😖
        I really hope you do. I can’t wait to see your thoughts on it when you do read it! 😊

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  7. I agree how January just flew by too. Time always seems to disappear when we are having fun haha.. I’m glad your favorite read of January was Gilded Cage. And great that you didn’t spend too much money on books so that it just ended up on the shelf. I will have to make time to read The Bone Season series… I’m glad to know it’s your favorite. Hopefully you are not too busy to read this February!

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    • Right? Or when you’re just extremely busy lol.
      You should so read The Bone Season! I’ve noticed it can be a hit or miss read but I’ve really loved it so far. It’s kind of like a paranormal/fantasy/dystopia mix. 😁
      I’ve actually been getting a lot of reading done. I’m nearly finished with my Bone Season reread. I’ve been so immersed in it though that I’ve been lacking on the blogging. 😂
      I hope you have a great February!! ♥

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      • That bone season book is thick though! You must be a fast reader! Reading second time must be better? I haven’t re-read any books yet, except Harry Potter right now and I really like it because I can pay attention to something else I missed the first time around 😊

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      • Only when I’m rereading books. When I read them the first time around I read so slow 😂. Reading the second time is definitely better. I’m catching so many things that I missed and it’s just been great no pressure reads. I so need to make time to reread Harry Potter, it’s been a few years. That’s why I loved rereading! It always helps catch things you might have missed. 😁

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