June Reading Wrap-Up

I read some really heavy books this month and also added some favorites to my 2018 favorites list! You will also find links to these books at the bottom of the post! 

Favorite of the Month: Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicle #1) by Jay Kristoff

Not at all what I usually read but as I was checking out my local bookstore, I found a signed copy of this book and had trade credit, so I decided to try it. A full-fledged dark fantasy, this book is about a girl named Mia who lives in a world where there are three suns and where it is never night (get it?) Mia seeks vengeance for her father's death and joins a school of assassins in order to get near the men who murdered her father. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Kristoff's writing style throughout this book. He often includes footnotes, further explaining the world in which Mia lives or he uses them as an opportunity to be snarky to the reader (this was my favorite part!) This writing style is like nothing I've ever read before and therefore I really enjoyed it!

Also, this book is super dark and full of blood and gore and some intense sexy scenes, so warning. 

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. 

Second Favorite of the Month: 11/22/63 by Stephen King

This is my first ever Stephen King novel, yes my first! My husband recommended this to me and I decided to give it a listen. The audiobook is nearly 31 hours, so it took me some time to get through but it was worth it. 

Jake Epping is a high-school English teacher in Maine who connects with Al, the owner of a local diner. Al shares a secret with Jake, a secret so powerful that it can actually change the future. Jake travels back in time to try and stop the assassination of JFK but runs into life in the 1950's in the process. A sci-fi novel at it's finest, this book was also like nothing I normally read, but I was entranced from the very beginning. 

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

ANOTHER FAVORITE: Godsgrave (The Nevernight Chronicle #2) by Jay Kristoff

After LOVING the first installment in this fantasy series, I immediately had to read the next book! It took me awhile to get through but it was so good! 

This book picks up with Mia Corvere, our main character, whom has become a Blade (assassin) but the tides have shifted and Mia has learned some new information surrounding her father's execution. Mia concocts a dubious plan to defeat the Church and get her revenge once and for all. 

As previously mentioned, this series is dark and most definitely contains content NOT suitable for younger readers (a hellavualot of murder and sex) so use caution. But I highly recommend this series, especially if you're looking for something different and out of the box. 

I gave this book a 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. 

Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture Edited by Roxane Gaye

I have read another book by Roxane Gay (Hunger) and was drawn to her writing. Her honesty and truth telling is palpable through her words. I picked up this book expecting the same but what I came to realize was this book is actually a collection of first-person essays and narratives written by a variety of people  addressing the issues of rape, assault, and the feelings of "my assault experience was Not That Bad."  

"Roxane Gay collects original and previously published pieces that address what it means to live in a world where women have to measure the harassment, violence, and aggression they face, and where they are “routinely second-guessed, blown off, discredited, denigrated, besmirched, belittled, patronized, mocked, shamed, gaslit, insulted, bullied” for speaking out." --Goodreads

I'm not going to lie, this book is tough to get through. I could not read too much of it at one time and I definitely shed some tears. I would recommend thinking critically about whether or not you want to read this. It can definitely be triggering to those who have experienced sexual assault in any form. 

I gave this book a 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. 

Throne of glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas

Recommended to me by my dear friend Kirsty, this is the second series I'm attempting to read by Sarah J. Maas. When I first started this book, I found it hard to get into. It seemed slow and since I had just finished Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff, I was still in that dark fantasy mindset. As I continued reading, I began to really like this book.

Celaena Sardothien is an assassin, "rescued" from a year's worth of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier. She is taken from the mines and made to serve as the Crown Prince's champion in a competition that could win her her freedom. As the competion is underway, one of the competitors turns up dead, brutally murdered and dismembered. Celaena takes it upon herself to try and solve what is happening in the castle she's currently calling home. 

A fantasy and a murder mystery all wrapped into one. I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to reading more of the series!

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

Ender's Game (Ender's Saga #1) By Orson Scott Card

My husband has been recommending Ender's Game forever. It's one of his favorites (and that's saying something because he is super picky when it comes to books). I finally decided to give it a listen and I'm not going to lie, it was hard at first. I just couldn't get in to it. But I kept with it and it turns out that I really enjoyed this book! Sci-Fi really isn't my thing but I am willing to try all genres and that's just what I did with this book. 

Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is a 6 year old boy genius, born third in his family in a world in constant battle with the enemy "Buggers" (aliens trying to destroy Earth). Ender may just be the military genius that the world needs to save itself for good. 

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. 

Books that I read but just didn't love:

The Dead Will Tell (Kate Burkholder #6) by Linda Castillo

After enjoying the other 5 books in this series, I decided to give this next one a try. Kate Burkholder is called to the scene of a suicide of a local man in Painter's Mill, Ohio. What seems to be a suicide actually turns out to be a homicide that links itself to a crime committed many years before. A second person is also found dead but when a link to the previous murder surfaces, Burkholder believes this is a series of murders. Who will be killed next and does this link itself to the grizzly crime years before? 

I gave this book a 2 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. I just didn't love it and won't be reading future installments. 

What did you read in June? I'd love to know! If any of these books jumped out to you, check out the links I've included below. 

Happy reading,

Emily