Cait’s May Book Haul

By: Cait Marie

April was a crazy month for books! The more I delve into this book community, the more obsessed I become. Recently, I have joined some reading groups and subscribed to some newsletters all leading to a lot of books. I actually bought or received 29 books this month. TWENTY. NINE. Most of which were free due to emails about deals such as Bookbub and Bookperk. I also won a couple giveaways on Facebook and I received my first ARC (Advanced Reader Copy), which was super exciting. But more about that later!

Some extra exciting book-related news: As I will talk about later, the final book in the Red Queen series, War Storm, comes out in a couple weeks. Well, the book tour is coming here!! And by “here” I mean a little over an hour away, but still. Authors I like never come here (except John Green, obviously, but I still haven’t been able to go to his events)! So I registered for the event and I get to go meet Victoria Aveyard!!! I love this series! It’s one of my absolute favorites! I actually like it more than Divergent and The Hunger Games, and I was obsessed with those. Needless to say, I am super super excited. The book comes out a few days before, so I’m going to be able to read it beforehand and then have her sign it! Also, Francesca Zappia, author of Eliza and Her Monsters, will be there and the whole thing is hosted by Epic Reads, which some of you know I love so much that they actually inspired me to start this very website! It’s going to be a great time.

Alright, so let’s start with books I read this month and then I will tell you the books I got and what I plan on reading in May! This month, I read:

• The Traitor Prince by C.J. Redwine – Technically I finished this book this month, but I started it in March. This is a fairy tale retelling of The False Prince, or The Prince and the Pauper. It is the third book in the Ravenspire series, each of which is a different retelling about different characters. I loved this book! I highly recommend this series if you like YA fiction/retellings. Check out my full review here.
• The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee – I actually listened to this via audiobook, and it was the first audiobook I ever finished. It was so fantastic and really kept my attention. I absolutely loved this book! It’s set in the 1700s and is about Monty, who goes on a European tour with his best friend and sister before he has to return and take over the family estate. In short, things don’t go as planned and it turns into an all-out adventure book. A full review is coming soon (tomorrow) so keep an eye out for it!
• Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth – This book had been sitting on my shelf for a year. I started it when it came out, but I was in such a reading slump last year that there were several books I didn’t finish, for no reason. This was one of them. With the sequel, The Fates Divide, being released this month, I needed to finish it. And by finish it, I mean I reread it all. I went back and forth from the book to the audiobook, and ended up loving it. It is a YA science fiction book told from the perspectives of two individuals who live on the same planet, but on opposing sides. There are oracles who tell the future, certain families get “fates,” and it basically brings the two together. It is really good. I am currently reading The Fates Divide, and both reviews will be up soon!
• Areion by Lela Grayce – This is the ARC I received. It is a YA fantasy story about twins who end up being part of this prophecy in a magical world they didn’t know existed. I’m not going to lie, I was nervous to read it. I don’t typically read indie books, and I’m new to fantasy, so I was worried I wouldn’t like the first ARC I ever got. I LOVED IT. It was fantastic! The story was very original and interesting, it was exciting and action-packed, and it had very intriguing characters. You can read my full review here.
• Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli – Oh Leah… Throughout this entire book, I kept saying “me” every other page I felt like. Becky has written another excellent, relatable book that I love. It is the sequel to my favorite, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, and is from Leah’s perspective as the gang gets ready to graduate and tries to make the most of the time they have left together. My full review will be up soon (tomorrow), and you can read my review on Simon here.
• Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare – This was a reread, and I actually listened to the audiobook. I have been wanting to reread this series (The Infernal Devices) for a while now, so when I saw the audiobook was available on Scribd, I decided it was the time. This is a shadowhunter book, set in Victorian England — which basically sounds like the most perfect “Caitlin book” ever. For those who don’t know, the shadowhunter books have been my favorite for about 10 years now, and while I have reread The Mortal Instruments multiple times, I haven’t read this particular series in over seven years. I think I will appreciate it even more now. I will be doing a review of the whole series when done.

The following are the books I am planning to read in May:

• A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas – As I’m typing this, I’m waiting for it to be delivered. This is a novella to link the end of A Court of Wings and Ruin to the new books she plans on releasing in the future. Words cannot describe my excitement! I am obsessed with this series! I will probably finish it in time to post of full review tomorrow with the others. You can read my reviews here for book 1, book 2, and book 3.
• The Fates Divide by Veronica Roth – The sequel to Carve the Mark, which I mentioned earlier. I’m reading this slow because I am terrified that the end is going to destroy me. If you have read the Divergent series by Roth, you understand the fear. Especially if you’ve read Carve the Mark, because certain “fates” are not great. It’s really good though, so I’m having a hard time not reading it.
• Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia – Obviously I have to read this before meeting her in a few weeks. Plus, she’s from Indiana! It also just sounds like a really good YA contemporary book, and I’ve heard a lot of positive things about it.
• War Storm by Victoria Aveyard – Book four of the Red Queen series comes out on May 15 and I get to meet Aveyard on May 19. I love this series – understatement. I am sad that it is the last book, but I am also super excited for it and can’t wait to see how the story plays out!
• Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare – I am planning on finishing my reread of the trilogy. I didn’t realize only the first audiobook was available on Scribd, but these two will be available on May 12! I have the box set of hardbacks too, but I think I’ll have my hands full with physical books this month.
• My new term starts next week and I am taking a literature course, so I will also be reading for it. I have to read The Hunger Games, The Road, and Gone Girl. I actually already owned the first two, and I’ve obviously read The Hunger Games. I tried reading The Road a few years ago, but couldn’t finish it, and Gone Girl has been on my tbr for years. I’m really looking forward to this class!

Before I list all the books I got in April, I want to know what you’re reading! Have you read any of these? Do you have any suggestions? Let me know in the comments before you leave!

Now for the books I bought or received in April:

• It Ends With Her by Brianna Labuskes
• The Atlantis Stone by Nick Thacker
• Cage Of Deceit: Reign Of Secrets by Jennifer Anne Davis
• Milayna by Michelle K. Pickett
• Flight by Alyssa Rose Ivy
• Areion by Lela Grayce
• Eliza And Her Monster by Francesca Zappia
• A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter
• Wraith by Angel Lawson
• The Fates Divide by Veronica Roth
• The Royal Companion by Tanya Bird
• Ignite: Midnight Fire by Meghan Crawford
• Children Of Blood And Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
• Descendant by Eva Truesdale
• Gol: A Legends Of Ansu Fantasy by J.W. Webb
• The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye
• Sorceress Awakening by Lisa Blackwood
• 99 Days by Katie Cotungo
• Her Blackened Heart by Isra Stravnheart
• Crush by Chrissy Peebles
• Lucky Number 6 by T.J. Loveless
• Nefertiti’s Heart by A.W. Exley
• Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
• Fury Frayed by Melissa Haag
• Corsets And Cogs by Bond Collins
• Kiatana’s Journey by Natalie Erin
• Omnibus by Melissa Bell
• To The Falls by Heather Renee
• Remembering Majyk by Valia Lind