10 Bookish Resolutions for 2018

Today I’m joining in on a Top Ten Tuesdays post, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl (which is where TTT moved as of TODAY, having formerly been hosted by the Broke and the Bookish).

Here are some of my bookish resolutions/goals for 2018!

1. Stay on top of reading ARCs and review books

I haven’t decided if this means more or less books for review (since I love them but they are also time-consuming… but I love them…). Regardless, I’d like to stay on track for the ones I have and any future ones I might get.

2. Stay on top of reviews

Related to the above point, I’d like to get the necessary reviews written within a decent amount of time. NaNo and Christmas season wreaked havoc on my reviewing schedule, and I just haven’t gotten around to some of them that I should have. So those are next!

3. Read the books I’ve won

I seem to have accumulated several books which authors were kind enough to give away and which I won… And then said books sit on my dresser or Kindle app waiting for me to read them, while I get distracted with review books and things. So I’d like to read and (hopefully) review the books I’ve won.

4. Read one book at a time (within reason)

I often end up reading a lot of books at the same time, which means I get stuck in several… which ends badly. I’d like to focus on one book at a time. I do say within reason, so I may read more than one at a time under certain circumstances — for instance: an e-book and a physical book, a re-read and a new read, a read-along and a read-aloud, a novel and some short stories and a nonfiction… things like that, where I distinguish between what SORT of book it is, I might allow myself to simultaneously read more than one book. But in general, just. one.

5. Finish beta-reading and take a break

I have a couple of beta-reads to finish, which I’m excited for, but after that I’m taking a break, at least this year. Beta-reading just takes so long, and I don’t know what to say, so I accidentally procrastinate over it for a century, and then feel absolutely terrible. I’m just… really bad at being a beta-reader. XD

6. Do more editing

That may sound like it contradicts the point above, but it doesn’t! Beta-reading is usually a general-feedback kind of deal, which I’m not the best at. What I am better at is proofreading/copyediting, which I LOVE. I’m passionate about fixing typos and punctuation, and generally polishing books to a fine sheen. Someday I will catch ALL the typos in the world! (Okay, not really; but I can dream. ;)) This point is involved with kicking off my new freelance editing service, which you can check out HERE; prices are negotiable, and I don’t bite! 😉

7. Read for fun more often

I know it sounds silly, but any time a book comes “with strings attached,” it becomes something to mark off my to-do list. I do LOVE review books, read-alongs, library books, books I’ve won, books to edit, books by friends, and so on, but anything with an “I should read this” or “I should review this” or a deadline attached to it in my subconscious isn’t just for PURE pleasure… (Please tell me I’m not the only one?) So despite loving those, I would like to kick back and read JUST for fun sometimes, and not worry about having opinions and stuff.

8. Read more Diana Wynne Jones

This is kind of self-explanatory… I’m hoping March Magics and a trip to the library will help with this one. 😉

9. Read more Tolkien

Also self-explanatory. Re-reads. Books by Tolkien I haven’t read. Books by others about him and his writings. The works.

10. Have fun and don’t obsess

This one is hard, and one of the reasons why I often ALMOST don’t start a Goodreads reading goal… (But I usually break down anyway because it’s nice having them all listed.) I don’t like obsessing about how many books I read, because that makes it more like work, but I can hopefully keep track without getting too into it. XD I really need to remind myself that I still read for fun. And if it’s not fun, I shouldn’t be doing it. And if I’m MAKING it not fun, I need to stop! Breathe. Read. Dream of ink and pages and bookshelves. Be a contented bookdragon.

Well, those are my top ten bookish resolutions/goals; we’ll see how quickly I can fail at all of them. XD But it’s all in fun. 🙂 What are yours? And do we share any? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading! 🙂

Dream away in those pages . . .

~ The Page Dreamer / Deborah O’Carroll

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Top Ten(ish…okay 24) Books Releasing 2017!

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) is “Top Ten 2017 Debuts I’m Excited For” which I, in my rebel state, am tweaking to any and all 2017 releases (not just debuts) and am also expanding on the number… (Okay, so it’s 24. I never said I was good with maths.)

Because I’m obsessed thoughtful, I compiled a list of books that are coming out in 2017, or that I think (or hope) or have seen rumored that are coming out that I’m interested in reading.

Behold!

TO RELEASE 2017

• The Bear and the Nightingale – Katherine Arden (Jan 10): Random Russian (I think?) folklore retelling-ish book I ran across on Goodreads and thought was interesting.
  
• Heartstone – Elle Katharine White (Jan 17): High Fantasy Pride and Prejudice retelling with Dragons. I AM SOLD POINT ME IN ITS DIRECTION.
• King’s Blood (Kinsman Chronicles #2) – Jill Williamson (Jan 31): Sequel to King’s Folly, fantasy novel by Jill Williamson = gimme.
  
• The Lost Girl of Astor Street – Stephanie Morrill (Feb 7): Curious about this historical fiction mystery from one of the authors of the Go Teen Writers blog.
  
• A Viscount’s Proposal (Regency Spies of London #2) – Melanie Dickerson (Feb 7): Long-awaited regency romance sequel to A Spy’s Devotion, about the sister of the hero from the first book — very excited!
  
• Gilded Cage – Vic James (Feb 14): Random historical fantasy book I ran across on Goodreads (I’m so shallow and random, I know) that sounded interesting.
  
• Shadow Run – AdriAnne Strickland (Mar 21): Random sci-fi book I ran across on Goodreads and thought sounded interesting because it sounded kinda like Firefly just because.
  
• Beren and Luthien – J.R.R. Tolkien (May 4): I know, a lot of people are tired of these rehashed “books” by Tolkien. But I’m personally pretty excited because although I’ve read much of his various Beren and Luthien drafts, I think it will be cool to see the different versions altogether. Plus, illustrated = win. ALSO: shoutout because it’s Tolkien’s birthday today! Happy birthday!
  
• The Noble Servant (Thornbeck Forest #3) – Melanie Dickerson (May 9): Final book in the trilogy after The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest and The Beautiful Pretender, this historical fiction, Christian romance fairytale retelling of The Goose Girl/The Prince and the Pauper has me pretty excited to read it. It’s about Magdalen from The Beautiful Pretender and I can’t wait.
  

RUMORED: Level #1

(listed on Goodreads, with 2017 release dates)

• The Bone Queen – Alison Croggon (2017 USA release): This fantasy prequel to The Naming, about Cadvan (gimme!), already released in Australia LAST year and I want it now please and thank you.
  
• Exiles (Ilyon Chronicles #4) – Jaye L. Knight: I know, I haven’t gotten this far in this Christian Fantasy series yet. Still, it wanted to be in this post. *shrug*
  
• The Reluctant Godfather – Allison Tebo: Retelling of Cinderella with “a young and cantankerous fairy godfather” — sounds amusing and delightful.
• Untitled (Penderwicks #5) – Jeanne Birdsall: This one’s been listed for 2017 for aaages, so we’ll see if it happens. I NEED ANOTHER PENDERWICK BOOK. Even though I’m terrified too because the kids are like grown up and it’s the last book and eek.
  
• Untitled (Jackaby #4) – William Ritter: Curious about the last Jackaby book, since Ghostly Echoes cliffhangered… Maybe there will be some answers about Jackaby, and he’ll hopefully continue with his awesome banter in another intriguing historical fantasy mystery?
  
• Untitled (Stolen Crowns #1) – Jessica Day George: I’ve been looking forward to this one since… ages ago. Fantasy “sequel” of sorts, following up various fairytales, about their children… I think. Anyway, fairytales by Jessica Day George and I want ’em.
  

RUMORED: Level #2

(I’ve heard thiiings from the authors. Hoping!)

• Songkeeper Chronicles #3 – Gillian Bronte Adams: Fantasy, final book in the trilogy, after Ophan’s Song and Songkeeper — I’m soooo looking forward to seeing how this series wraps up!!!
• Minstrel’s Call (The Minstrel’s Song #4) – Jenelle Leanne Schmidt: Final book in this awesome fantasy series (King’s Warrior, Second Son, and Yorien’s Hand) — can’t wait! Dragons and epic fantasy, preciousss.
  
• Modern Tales of Na Fianna #3 – Hazel B. West: Be still my beating heart. There’s going to be another book after Blood Ties and An Earthly King. CALENDAR, BE KIND TO ME AND MOVE THE YEAR QUICKLY TO THIS DATE, WHENEVER IT MAY BE.
  
• A Different Kind of Purpose (A Different Kind of Courage #2) – Sarah Holman: Another Revolutionary War book, I’m really looking forward to this sequel to A Different Kind of Courage to see William get into (and hopefully out of) his next noodle.
  
• Suit and Suitability – Kelsey Bryant: 1930s retelling of Sense and Sensibility, by a lovely author I know, I’m very much looking forward to this one! I just know it’s going to be lovely.
  
• Emmeline – Sarah Holman: Also a 1930s retelling, of Jane Austen’s Emma, I was privileged to beta-read this last year and ADORED it, so I’m very excited for it to release! (Along with the rest of this Vintage Jane Austen 1930s retellings series by various authors. Methinks they’ll be fun. ^_^)
  

RUMORED: Level #3

(Very loosely rumored; may be wishful thinking)

• Silver Rose – Shantelle Mary Hannu: Don’t know if this Christian Fantasy novel will see publication this year, but if it does I’M GOING TO BE ONE EXCITED FANGIRL. This book is one of my favorites and I can’t wait to see it in print! *flailing*
• The Last Motley – DJ Edwardson: Again, not sure if it’ll be this year or not, but I’m quite excited for DJ’s hopefully-upcoming fantasy novel! I just know it’s going to be amazing. *flails because fantasy*
• Lightporter (IDIA #2) – C.B. Cook: I honestly have no clue if this contemporary superhero tale (sequel to Twinepathy) is in the forecast for this year. But I hope it will be. Because Blaze and Anvil and company are awesome and I’m selfish and want to read about  them ASAP they NEED this sequel because they need more screen page time.

Now all I need is more time/resources to acquire and read these books. XD (Not to mention more bookshelf space. Seriously.) #bookwormproblems

…

How about you? Are you excited about any of these? 😀 What books are coming out this year that you can’t wait to read? (Or… books that you can’t wait to read soon, regardless of when they were published!)

Thanks for reading!

Dream away in those pages . . .

~ The Page Dreamer

25 Bookish Facts About Me

Top Ten Tuesday, a book-list linkup hosted by The Broke & the Bookish

Today’s prompt for Top Ten Tuesday is Ten Facts About Me… which I’m pairing with a tag, 25 Bookish Facts About Me, that Cait @ Paper Fury tagged me with eons ago. Which made my day… and then I procrastinated over it for a century or two. >.> *cough* (In my defense, it was in the middle of last NaNo so I was understandably busy typing my fingers off writing various novels, and was therefore unable to read or think about already-written books.)

But I’m doing them both today because they fit into one post, so hurray! (Don’t worry, I’m combining them, not adding them on top of each other… a.k.a. it will be 25, not 35 facts. XD)

AND THANKS AGAIN EVER SO MUCH FOR TAGGING ME, CAIT! ^_^

Let’s just hope I can come up with that many facts about me, let alone about me and books. *cough*

25 Bookish Facts About Yours Truly

1. I’ve read 50 books this year. Go me! *feels ridiculously accomplished*
2. This is my 44th post here on my book blog. Since starting it on January 1st this year. I feel pretty good about that. 🙂
3. I sometimes randomly read introductions/forewords/prefaces/acknowledgements/author’s notes/author bios/blurbs… when I haven’t read the book yet. I know, this is weird! But starting a book is a commitment, and yet sometimes I like to nose around in a book I haven’t read, to get acquainted with it, without technically starting it, or seeing spoilers… so I read the “extra” stuff. I usually have to read them again when I read the book though so that they’ll actually make sense that time. 😛
4. Big books scare me. …Okay, not really; but if a book is 400+ pages, I’m several times more likely to procrastinate over reading it. They sit on my shelf and stare me down. It’s… kind of daunting. *shivers*
5. I often put off reading series. Because I want to read them ALL AT ONCE AT THE SAME TIME and don’t have that kind of time. *cough* (Also, see above “daunted” point. Times ten.)
6. I’m addicted to reading books in one sitting, or at least in one day. Which doesn’t actually happen as often as I’d like… But whenever I can, I try to. Sometimes it’s not possible, but it’s really hard for me to focus on the rest of my day if there’s a book I’m in the middle of, calling to me . . .
7. I’m terrified of being in a book for a long period of time, or being stuck in several at once. Because then I either (a), start getting tired of the book, or (b) start to dread reading because it feels like a chore. And I hate that. Books are my happy place! I want to enjoy them! I speak from experience here. I used to love reading several books at once, and sometimes I still feel like it, but overall I’m trying to keep it to one or two at a time these days. …Actually, points 4-7 are largely connected, apparently. Which is silly, because I often LOVE said big books/series. I just put off reading them. >.>
8. When I visit somebody, the first thing I want to do is look at the books on their bookshelves. …Which is awkward because it’s probably impolite? I’M AN AWKWARD INTROVERTED BOOK ADDICT WHAT CAN I SAY.
9. I spend large portions of my life just sitting and staring at the books on my bookshelf. Probably more time than I spend reading. Okay, not that long. But really though. THEY’RE SO PRETTY AND LOOKING AT BOOKS MAKES ME HAPPY. A bookcase is better to me than a view out a window.
10. I have an entire bookcase stacked double with books I haven’t read. And then some. …What can I say, I go to a lot of library booksales. >.>
11. I actually stare at my unread books the most. There’s just something about dreaming about what fabulousness lives between the covers…
12. I organize and reorganize all of my books all the time. It’s basically my hobby. Especially when I feel stressed or have a lot of things I need to do that I feel guilty over not doing. (Hey, I never said I make wise life-decisions.) It’s a thing were some family member will wander into my room and pause in horror because there’s stacks of books all over my floor, bed, and chairs, and they’ll go “Oh no, Deborah’s sorting her books again.” I’m notorious. XD
13. I usually organize my read books on two bookcases, alphabetically by author. Unless I happen to feel like organizing them by genre. But that normally doesn’t last long. The cool thing about that, though, is that when I get tired of it, it’s another excuse to reorganize my shelves! *cackles* …Okay, I probably have a problem. >.> I also currently have two-ish shelves dedicated to awesome books I love that I want to reread in the near future.
14. My unread books on said unread-bookcase are organized chaos. The order probably makes no sense to anyone but me. I organize them however I feel like it, which sometimes means by genre, sometimes by most-anticipating-reading, but rarely by author. No idea why. Read books = sort by author. Unread books = sort by most logical, whatever that is at the moment. My brain is weird. 😛
15. My favorite genre is fantasy. (I know, I know, you know this by now… ;)) I don’t even need to elaborate. It’s just the best. ❤
16. But I also go through genre phases of addiction, and tend to get more into other genres the more I read them. For instance, lately I’ve been reading some historical fiction and some contemporaries, and this actually makes me more interested in reading more of those on my TBR. I get into phases of reading similar books in a row, apparently? I guess it reminds me that those can be cool too. *shrug*
17. I have this need to have or know how to get hold of all the books on my TBR. This one’s a weird one… If I add a book to my TBR on Goodreads, I need to know: how will I manage to read this someday? Typically, this means I either own it, or try to acquire it, or I look it up to see if any libraries I go to owns it, or if it’s easily findable on Amazon or somewhere like that. I then add it to the appropriate shelf (own/owned-ebooks, library, find/find-ebooks, etc.). For some reason I’m so OCD about this that I hardly ever mark a book as To-Read unless I know how I can get hold of it. (I’m also way more likely to add it to my TBR if it’s at a local library. XD) Which means I also meticulously keep a list of the unreleased books I want to read, and when they come out… My wishlist is therefore very loooong, but at least it’s fairly complete. XD
18. I keep a list in my purse of library books I want to read. I don’t go to the library very often — usually once a month is “often”, to my mind. So, using my handy Goodreads shelf for reference, I keep a list or sometimes spreadsheet that I print, of all the books I want to get out and which library they’re at. Often organized by which ones I want next.
19. Lists of books are my friends and I love them. I’m ridiculously organized about books, if you haven’t noticed.
20. I try to only check 1-3 books out of the library at once. Because as much as I’m tempted to check out THE ENTIRE LIBRARY AT THE SAME TIME… I’m also finicky about sending a book back unread. I HATE doing that. So I try to be reasonable with how much time I think I have to read.
21. Bookstores and libraries are my happy place. I don’t even always get something from them, I just love to walk up and down the aisles and look at the books… 🙂
22. I sometimes dream about books I’ve read. This is always awesome, except when it’s scary… but either way, I still usually love it.
23. I procrastinate over books I’m “supposed” to read. When I’m “supposed” to read a book because of a recommendation or for review or something, I have this weird mixture of excitement to read it because of said reason, and a weird reluctance to read it due to a feeling of “obligation”. …It’s very bad, I tell you. I WANT to read it… but it also puts pressure on me in some way, and pressure and I do not get along well.
24. In a weird, unexplainable way that directly contradicts the point above, I’m way more likely to want to read a book if a good friend whose book-taste I trust, highly recommends a book to me or shrieks excitedly about it in some review. Sometimes there’s a book I kinda am interested in, but it sometimes takes a high recommendation from someone for me to decide to actually try it out.
25. And, lastly: I enjoy books; I’m a reader, not a critic. Yes, I do sometimes have complaints about aspects of a book I read, and just like anyone, I do occasionally read a 1-or-2-star book, a.k.a. that I didn’t like… But on the whole, I read books not to tear them apart, but to enjoy them. Which means that in general, because I go in with that intent, I DO enjoy them, and thus my reading experiences tend to be more pleasant than (apparently?) much of the rest of the reading community. I’m a pretty flexible reader and tend to enjoy things instead of critiquing them, because that’s my fundamental outlook on books. 🙂

Aaaand now that you know way more about me and my (frankly odd, contradictory, and inexplicable) bookish habits than you ever wanted to know, I will quietly sidle off back to my reading… 😉 And leave you to yours! Meanwhile if you read this whole thing, you deserve a cookie. *holds out tray*

Also, even aside from Top Ten Tuesday, anyone who wants to do this 25 Bookish Facts tag, feel free to snag it! ^_^

Thanks for reading! 🙂

Dream away in those pages . . .

~ The Page Dreamer

Top Ten Tuesday: Books and Songs

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The theme of this week’s Top Ten Tuesday (a weekly book/list linkup at The Broke and The Bookish) is Books and Music. There are various spins on it being done, and I’m going to do a mix of them.

This is going to be a mixed back of song-ish books I’ve read, want to read, and then some songs at the end which should be books.

On that note, I just know there are tons of awesome songs/ballads I’ve heard, mostly Celtic ones, that would make absolutely fabulous books. But I’m having a really hard time thinking of any just now.

The curious things about songs, though, is that they’re usually already perfect in song form.

And as much as it would be awesome to have some of them as books, it’s never going to equal the awesomeness of the song itself and may in fact take away from it in some ways. Songs and books are quite different forms…

Anyways, on with the varied list…

BOOKS I’VE READ

1. The Map: A Jackaby Story by William Ritter

Oh my word, this story. It’s a shortish, novella-type adventure that goes with the Jackaby series (and it’s free on Kindle!) and I absolutely adored it. It’s not exactly based on a song, but it’s based around a song… which was so much fun. The premise basically is that they’re going after the treasure from the song Whiskey in the Jar. So much awesome. (Hopefully I’ll review the series sometime…)

2. Orphan’s Song by Gillian Bronte Adams

This has a large music theme (obviously) and I loved it so so much. *hugs book* I’ve always thought that music could go really well with fantasy settings and magic and that sort of thing, and this author pulls that off brilliantly.

3. Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones

Not only is it based on fairytales that were I believe originally ballads (Tam Lin, Thomas the Rhymer), but it also has a lot of music involved since Tom plays the cello and there’s a whole . . . band . . . thing . . . going on. Anyways it’s awesome (and I reviewed it at length so obviously I love it a lot).

BOOKS I’VE NOT READ

4. Songkeeper by Gillian Bronte Adams

…Speaking of Orphan’s Song… I just heard that the sequel, Songkeeper, has a release date! April 15th! That’s definitely a date going on my calendar. I’ve been dying for this book to come out ever since I finished the last page of Orphan’s Song, and it’s coming sooooon!!! I’m so excited. (It will also be very songish, I’m sure.)

5. The Highwayman’s Footsteps by Nicola Morgan

I… haven’t read this one yet, so I can speak as to its quality or exact plot, but I hear tell that it’s in some way based on The Highwayman, a fabulous/tragic poem by Alfred Noyes, immortalized, for me, by Loreena McKennitt’s brilliant, gorgeous, haunting sung version of it. I’ve always thought it would make a great book so I’m very much looking forward to this novel inspired by it.

SONGS THAT SHOULD BE BOOKS

(These are probably bad examples… I wish I could think of more…)

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6. The Wind That Shakes the Barley

Speaking of Loreena McKennitt… (Listen to parts of the songs I mention in this post, on her website.) She did a great, haunting version of this song. It’s a tragic song, and might better make a tragic backstory for a book than for a book itself? (I’m thinking like… a fantasy book based on it. I know it’s based on historical stuff but it would be funner this way. XD) But it feels like it needs to be involved in a book somehow… even if it would be rather grim.

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7. Raglan Road

Again, Loreena sang a great version of this poem by Patrick Kavanagh. There’s just something intriguing about it. I don’t know how much of a story it could make in book form, but there’s an eerie feel to it and it could make a fabulous mystery/fantasy/romance type book similar to Tam Lin, perhaps?

8. Bold Jamie

This is a song by Cara Dillon (one of my favorite singers!) about a young man wrongfully accused of stealing many things, including a man’s daughter. I just think it could make an interesting book, or any of a hundred other fabulous Celtic ballads involving thieves or… things like that.

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9. Stolen Child

I believe it was by William Butler Yeats but Loreena McKennitt did a fabulous version of it too. (Yes, she turned a LOT of great book-worth poems into songs, and has some great originals of her own as well. So much good material.)

10. The King of the Fairies (melody)

Aaand I’m just going to throw out there that there should be a book named after The King of the Fairies, which is a fabulous tune.

***

Like I said, I’m having a hard time coming up with songs. I KNOW there are a ton of awesome ones! Oh well… that’s a start, anyhow. 🙂 (Basically LET’S HAVE BOOKS BASED ON ALL THE LOREENA MCKENNITT SONGS AND ALL THE AWESOME CELTIC BALLADS. This should be a genre. *nods seriously*)

…And now I have like half a dozen new plot bunnies that want me to write them. Fabulous. -_- Heehee… Writers lead perilous lives: anything can provide inspiration! 😉

Top 12 Books Recently Added to My TBR

The Broke and the Bookish‘s Top Ten Tuesday prompt of the week: Top Ten Books I’ve Recently Added To My TBR (inspired by Jamie’s New To The Queue posts).

It’s usually top ten, but for myself I’m going just a liiiittle over.

I glanced at my latest books added to my To Be Read list on Goodreads, and there are quite a few intriguing morsels I’ve added lately!

They also have almost all been from recommendations or books people mentioned in blogs and such. This is the time of year when everyone’s posting their lists of favorite books of the year before, etc., so I’ve been gathering a lot more books on my forever growing TBR pile…

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

I’ve been wanting to perhaps read some of this famous mystery author, but I never know where to start, so I had once asked someone who mentioned she liked this author which was her favorite. She just got back to me and I promptly added this to my TBR. It sounds like an awesome mystery.

The Floating Admiral by Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, G. K. Chesterton, etc.

Blogger and author Kelsey Bryant mentioned this to me recently: a mystery novel where each chapter is written by a different famous mystery author! How cool is that? Now THIS I have to see.

Blood Ties by Hazel B. West

When the author mentioned on Goodreads that she’s having a blogtour for this soon and I read the description, I couldn’t resist adding this to my list. The description starts with: “In an Ireland that mixes high kings, faeries, and modern warriors who drive fast cars, Ciran, a descendant from the famous warrior Fionn Mac Cool…” and that’s all I need to know. SIGN ME UP.

The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde

I noticed this in a summary of 2015 books post by Deborah Dunlevy, and it sounds like so much fun. Definitely want to try it out.

Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett is another author who I hear good things about and never know where to START. So I asked Sarah and she recommended this one and the following one. They sound humorous. Count me in. I love humor and slightly crazy-sounding whimsical fantasy stories. Yes please.

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

Same story on how I came to add it as above.

The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson

BECAUSE MELANIE DICKERSON! And this one is coming out this November and will be the final Hagenheim book, and is a Little Mermaid retelling set between The Merchant’s Daughter and The Princess Spy. I saw on Goodreads Shantelle add this and went AAAHH IT’S ON GOODREADS! And instantly clicked “want to read”. Yes. (Because Melanie Dickerson.)

The Map Across Time by C. S. Lakin

Again, Kelsey Bryant listed this on her top reads of last year on her blog. It sounds like a delightful fantasy which I’m itching to get my hands on…

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Cait has been after me (and everyone) forever to read some Maggie Stiefvater… So when I finally saw a review by Lisa Pickle in which she mentioned it has Welsh-ish stuff (and then I read the summary on Goodreads)… yep, had to add it.

Black Spring by Alison Croggon

Jenifer Freitag mentioned this in her list of books she read last year, saying it was recommended her by Mirriam Neal and that it’s like Wuthering Heights but better and with fantasy. I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE. (No, I haven’t actually read Wuthering Heights yet. Shush. I just need it on principal because I like the sound of the “feel”. So. Just pretend I make sense.)

Playing With Fire (Skulduggery Pleasant, #2) by Derek Landy

Because I recently read Scepter of the Ancients, the first Skulduggery Pleasant book, and I’m dying to read more. I need more of that humorous witty banter in my life. (Now I just need to FIND more of these books… Why don’t you have them, library mine??)

The Icarus Hunt by Timothy Zahn

Jenelle Schmidt mentioned this in her list of books she’d want on a deserted island. I’ve only read a few of Zahn’s books (Star Wars ones) and loved them… I promptly looked this up on Goodreads, and as soon as I’d read the summary I added it to my TBR so fast I think I got whiplash. It sounds like a Firefly-esque book, by Timothy Zahn, and basically I just need it right now, okay?

What have you recently added to your TBR? And is it as ever-growing as mine? (I fear it’s a booklover thing…)

Dream away in those pages…!

TTT: Book Categories to Read More Of In 2016

I’m linking up with Top Ten Tuesday (from The Broke and the Bookish) because I love lists and I love books and this weekly meme is all about both. So join in if you like!

Today’s prompt is: Top Ten Resolutions We Have For 2015, which I’m putting a slight twist on.

I want to read more of these ten categories, and I’m listing some books in each category that I want to read soon if I can. (Yes, this makes for over 50, and I’m only scratching the surface… What can I say? There are a lot of books I want to read…)

Here they are, in no particular order. (Also, I’m too tired to link to all the books, but they’re all on my Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/DeborahOCarroll)

Steampunk

I discovered Steampunk last year (I’ve read three so far) and I really want to continue with the genre!

The Mark of the Dragonfly // Airborn // The Locket Thief // Larklight // Leviathan

Heists

I also discovered heists/con-artist-y books last year, and they’re fun to read, just for the cleverness of them. I have some I’d like to read that are contemporary, and some medieval fantasy… a bit of everything.

Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident // The Heist // The Thief Lord // The Thief // Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman?

High Fantasy

I really miss medieval/high fantasy. I used to read a lot of it… Most of what I read used to be in this category, but I haven’t in awhile, so I’d like to get back into it.

The Riddle // Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan // In the Hall of the Dragon King // King’s Warrior // Moonblood

Historical Romance

I’m not much of a historical/regency-type romance reader, but I’ve gathered a few that I’d like to get around to. (Especially Georgette Heyer and Melanie Dickerson!)

Northanger Abbey // Wuthering Heights // Mist of Midnight // The Healer’s Apprentice // Devil’s Cub

Mysteries

I do love a good mystery — especially short stories — and don’t read enough of them.

Father Brown (reread) // Double Sin // Sherlock Holmes (reread) // The Red House Mystery (reread) // Lord Peter

Flintlock Fantasy/1700s/Historical Fantasy

This is rather thrown together with a lot of categories, but I love the eighteenth-century setting with muskets and all, and if it has fantasy thrown in, all the better. I’m not real particular about whether it’s set in our world or another, just give me all the muskets and tricorn hats! (Pirates or Highwaymen are, apparently, a plus.)

Thieftaker // Piratica // The Highwayman’s Footsteps // Captain Blood // The Accidental Highwayman

Retellings

I love a good retelling, whether it be of a fairytale, or Robin Hood or Arthurian.

The Ryn {snow white and rose red} // Cruel Beauty {beauty and the beast} // Hood {robin hood} // The Perilous Gard {tam lin} // The Night Dance {arthurian/twelve dancing princesses}

Favorite Authors

Sometimes in a rush for the new, I put off books by authors I already love… even though I’m already fairly certain the books will be fabulous, especially when they’re by authors such as: Diana Wynne Jones, P.G. Wodehouse, Geraldine McCaughrean, Eleanor Cameron.

Julia’s Magic // A Tale of Time City // The Tough Guide to Fantasyland // The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen // The Code of the Woosters

Tolkien (Yes, this is a category in itself.)

As my favorite author, I have several books by or about J.R.R. Tolkien which I’ve not read yet, and I’d like to read some of them soon.

The Maps of Tolkien’s Middle-earth // Sauron Defeated // The Fall of Arthur // The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien // Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Rereads

There are so many good books I’ve read that I miss and want to revisit, or don’t remember. These are just a few…

Westmark {Westmark Trilogy} // The Book of Three {Prydain Chronicles} // The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet {Mushroom Planet series} // The Dark Hills Divide {Land of Elyon} // The Dark is Rising {The Dark is Rising Sequence} // The Gammage Cup // The Chronicles of Narnia // Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter // Mara, Daughter of the Nile // The Lord of the Rings (and the Silmarilion) // By Darkness Hid {Blood of Kings Trilogy}

Bonus

I’d also like to read more non-fiction, more e-books, and a few Star Wars, as well as go to the library more often.

Are there book categories you’d like to read more of?

What are your 2016 bookish resolutions?

~

Dream away in those pages!