April Fools

Duration: 1st April – 30th April 2021
Number of books: 6
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

april-fools

Duration
April 1st – 30th 2021

Rules
Complete at least 2 tasks to get the heart
No minimum page count
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
A different book must be used for each task

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⚜ Read a book with a foolish character – Marry in Scandal by Anne Gracie (Ned)
⚜ Read a book with a trickster or where a character gets tricked – Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
⚜ Read a book that begins with a letter in APRIL – Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam
⚜ Read a book that you’ve foolishly not read yet – Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan & Deborah Biancotti
⚜ Read a book tagged Historical or Fantasy – Archangel’s Consort by Nalini Singh
⚜ Read a book with purple/red/yellow/blue on the cover (any one of the colours) – Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler

Moonlight Serenade – April 2021

Duration: 1st April – 30th April 2021
Number of books: 7
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

description
Moonlight Serenade

Duration: April 1 – 30

Rules
Complete at least two tasks to get the vampire heart
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
No minimum page count

M

1. April is known for it’s beautiful Spring Weather. Listen to a book whose title starts with a letter in SPRING – Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam
2. April is the 4th month of the year. Listen to a book that is #4 in a series or that was published in April. – The Little Breton Bistro by Nina George
3. The Birth Flower for April is the Daisy or the Sweet Pea. Listen to a book with a flower(s) on the cover or a character named Daisy.Marry in Scandal by Anne Gracie
4. The first of April is known as April Fool’s Day. Listen to a book where the MC is fooled or fools someone else. – Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
5. On April 26, 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Plant exploded resulting in an evacuation of 300 miles. Listen to a book where a character is on the run or evacuated OR with an explosion in it. – Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan & Deborah Biancotti
6. George Washington was inaugurated as the 1st President of the United States on April 30, 1789. Listen to a book with a political character or that is #1 in a series. – Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler

Bonus: Those who were born in April have a diamond as their birthstone, which represents innocence. Listen to a book with a mostly white cover or with an “innocent” MC. – Anna: A Teenager on the Run by Anna Podgajecki

Night Spawn Bingo – April 2021

Duration: 1st April – 30th April 2021
Number of books: 9
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

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april-bingo
description

Welcome to Night Spawn BINGO. Each month a new BINGO game will be posted with new tasks to complete. Get three in a row (Horizontal, Vertical, or Diagonal) to receive your Vampire Heart.

Rules:
Complete three tasks to get the vampire heart
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
No minimum page count
One book per task

Read 3 books that have one of the following “Magical” Tasks (Must be in a Horizontal, Vertical, or Diagonal pattern).

Top Row:

Tagged Magic~  Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Form of Magic on the Cover~ Grave Dance by Kalayna Price
 Refers to a Coven

Middle Row:

Witch on the Cover~ 
MC demonstrates Elemental Magic (Fire, Wind, Water, Earth) ~ 
Character uses a Wand / Staff / Amulet / Spell

Bottom Row:

Black Cat on the Cover~ 
MPG – Cozy Mystery ~ 
MC is a Witch/Wizard/Sorcerer/Sorceress

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Funko Vamps – April 2021

Duration: 1st April – 30th April 2021
Number of books: 6
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

description
Funko Vamps
Collect a Funko Vamp each month by completing at least 2 tasks from a set of 6.
A new set of tasks with a new Funko Vamp will be posted each month.

The dolls you collect will be in your Vampire Heart thread. Don’t have a thread? You can still do the challenge if you want 🙂

Rules
Complete at least two tasks to get the vampire heart
All genres welcome
Rereads welcome
No minimum page count
One book per task

description

April
Read a book with a stupid or silly character – First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn (Freddie Oakes)
Read a book published this year – The Switch by Beth O’Leary
Read a book with the letter A in the title – Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Read a book with a love triangle or a break-up – Grave Dance by Kalayna Price
Read a book with a werewolf – Devils and Details by Devon Monk
Read a book with a first-person point-of-view – Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam

Spring is In the Air

Duration: 1st April – 30th April 2021
Number of books: 11
Hosted by: My Vampire Book Obsession

description

Duration:
Starts: April 1st
Ends: April 30th

How It Works:
Ten books each month is a lot, so there will be 5 different levels. Pick which level you want to do and that’s how many items you will need to check off.

Levels:
Transitional – 2 books
Fledgling – 4 books
Vampire – 6 books
Master – 8 books
Vampire King or Queen – 10 books

description

1. April Fool’s Day!
~Read a book with a character that makes you laugh OR
~Read a book tagged humor
First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn

2. April 2nd is Light It Up Blue for Autism Day and the whole month is Autism Awareness Month.
~Read a book with a blue cover OR
~Read a book with a character who battles a disability or overcomes an adversity.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

3. April 4th is Easter this year!
~Read a book with a colorful cover OR
~Read a book with any holiday theme
Oklahoma Christmas Blues by Maggie Shayne

4. April is named for the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite.
~Read a book with a god or goddess in it OR
~ Read a book tagged Mythology.

Archangel’s Consort by Nalini Singh

5. People born in the first part of the month between March 21st and April 19th are said to be born under the sign of Aries the Ram, a Sun sign which is ruled by the planet and the Roman god of War, Mars. Those born from April 20th to May 20th are born under Taurus the Bull, an Earth sign who is ruled by the planet and the Roman goddess of love, Venus.
~Read a book with a battle or war in it OR
~Read with a MPG of Romance
Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler

6. The birthstone for April is the diamond: Diamonds are said to bring all kinds of benefits to their owners, supposedly leading the wearer to experience better relationships and an increase in inner strength. They are supposed to bring balance, clarity, and abundance, and it is symbolic of eternal love and the bringer of wealth to six centuries of the diamond trade.
~Read a book with a Jewel on the cover OR
~Read a book with a physically / mentally strong character
Love Hard by Nalini Singh

7. The birth flowers for the month of April are the sweet pea and the daisy: The daisy symbolizes innocence, loyalty, love, and purity; but it also means “I’ll never tell!”. The sweat pea signifies blissful pleasure, and are used to say goodbye.
~Read a book with a flower on the cover or the name of a flower in the title OR
~Read a book with a second chance romance.
Marry in Scandal by Anne Gracie

8. Adolf Hitler Was Born in April: Adolf Hitler, surely one of the most depraved leaders ever, was born in Austria on April 20th, 1889.
~Read a book with a corrupt leader / government OR
~Read a book tagged Dystopian

Anna: A Teenager on the Run by Anna Podgajecki

9. Leonardo da Vinci Was Born in April: He was a painter and a scientist. He was a Renaissance genius for his and any other time, capable of turning his hand to anything. And he was born in April.
~Read a book with a character who is an artist OR
~Read a book with a character who is a scientist / inventor

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam

10. William Shakespeare Was Born and Died in April: The Elizabethan playwright William Shakespeare was another April genius, born on April 23, 1564, and died on or about his April birthday at the age of 52 in England in 1616.
~Read a book with a pregnant character OR
~Read a book where a secondary character dies.
Harmony’s Way by Lora Leigh

Bonus: I will be celebrating my 45th birthday in April!
~Read a book with a celebration in it OR
~Read a book published in April OR

~Read a book with a 4 and 5 in the page count OR
~ Give yourself a gift and read any book you want!
Angels’ Flight by Nalini Singh (345 pp.)

February 2021

Image result for february

February is the month of my birthday. Thus, it is the best month of the year. It was also pretty good on the reading front. Although, with something on every weekend, lots of study and just the normal shenanigans… I didn’t really read as much as I would have liked (although, really, what’s new about that?)

Series

Standalones – Novels

Standalones – Novellas

Standalones – Short stories

Image source: Dictionary.com

Argos by Joy Williams

Overview
Image result for xo orpheus book cover

Title: Argos
Author: Joy Williams
In: Xo Orpheus (Kate Bernheimer)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Greek mythology, Mythology
Dates read: 28th February 2021
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Penguin Books
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: I was always Argos.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Argos has always been loyal. But that doesn’t necessarily guarantee a happily ever after.

Thoughts

My heart broke a little as I read this story. Probably because it basically features a dog that has been abandoned.

Actually, this whole story is written from the point of view of the dog’s acceptance of his lot in life. I would hate for my puppies to feel that way.

This mostly was a quick, easy and pleasant read. But it did also make me want to read Homer – since Argos is featured in that.

<- Anthropogenesis, Or: How to Make a FamilyThe Sisters ->

Image source: Goodreads

All Smiles by Steve Berman

Overview
Image result for teeth ellen datlow terri windling book cover

Title: All Smiles
Author: Steve Berman
In: Teeth: Vampire Tales (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Vampires
Dates read: 28th February 2021
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Harper
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: A New York State license plate.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

He’s mixed up in something he knows nothing about… but there may be a happily ever after, if he can just find the strength and courage.

Thoughts

I’m not entirely sure what even happened in this story if I’m being honest. Which definitely means that this wasn’t high on my list of stories that I want to reread.

Then again, the ending of this story was kind of brilliant. A good, fun twist at the end. First of all, I thought that the MC was going to be vampire-food. Then he, well… wasn’t.

Overall, a fun and easy story to read. And not a total loss. But one that I wouldn’t necessarily want to read again.

<- Things to Know About Being DeadGap Year ->

Image source: HarperCollins

Hunger: A Confession by Dale Bailey

Overview
Hauntings: Datlow, Ellen: 9781616960889: Amazon.com: Books

Title: Hunger: A Confession
Author: Dale Bailey
In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Horror
Dates read: 28th February 2021
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tachyon
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: That’s when I remembered Mom’s warning that I wasn’t to fool around down here.

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Synopsis

Jeremy has always told the most horrifying stories right before bed time… but this one will make you want to keep the light off.

Thoughts

This was… freaking terrifying. Like. Completely, totally and utterly terrifying. I’m really damn glad that I didn’t read this late at night.

I’m a big sister, and I know that I have done many, many things over the years to torture my little sister. But what was happening in this story… I think she should be glad that I didn’t try and torture and scare her as much as Jeremy did in this. But, the uh…. Comeuppance was waaaaaaay more worse.

This was brilliantly written and completely spine tingling. It is beautiful and wonderful. But yeah… don’t read this late at night. Honestly, it is horrifying.

<- Eenie, Meenie, IpsateenieCargo ->

Image source: Amazon

Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride

Overview
Amazon.com: Necromancing the Stone (Necromancer Series, 2) (9781250034151):  McBride, Lish: Books

Title: Necromancing the Stone
Author: Lish McBride
Series: Necromancer #2
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Humour, Necromancers
Dates read: 21st – 27th February 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: “That god help is hard to find.”

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

“SOMEONE LEFT A KNIFE IN THE DOOR.”

Her voice was nonchalant, trying to mask her fear, trying to make it sounds as if someone had simply left flowers.

With the defeat of the evil necromancer Douglas behind him, Sam LaCroix is getting used to his new life. Okay, so he hadn’t exactly planned to be a powerful necromancer with a seat on the local magical council and a capricious werewolf sort-of-girlfriend, but things are going fine, right?

Well… not really. He’s pretty tired of getting beat up by everyone and their mother, for one thing, and he can’t help but feel that his new house hates him. His best friend is a were-bear, someone is threatening his sister, and while Sam realizes that he himself has a lot of power at his fingertips, he’s not exactly sure how to use it. Which turns out to be kind of a problem when someone close to him turns up dead.

Thoughts

As with all of the other McBride stories that I’ve read so far, this is funny, humorous and brilliantly written. It’s a fantastic ending to this duology. One that I seriously enjoyed and couldn’t put down. After all, Sam is not even remotely what you would expect as a necromancer. And, as you slowly begin to realise, he has a whole heap of other powers at his disposal… ones that I wanted to know more about.

Douglas was one scary SOB in Hold Me Closer, Necromancer. He gets worse in this. Total Voldemort vibes. Although, to be fair, he is much, much less freaky than Voldemort. And so much less devilish. Yet, there is a bit of a redemption arc – one that didn’t necessarily redeem the villain, but did make him a little less despicable. And horrifying.

As much as I loved this story, I didn’t really love the fact that this story ended with Brid and Sam being… unresolved. It was seriously frustrating. To the point that I kept turning the final page back and forth. I just thought I was missing something! Although, it does leave the end open to the interpretation that there was a happily ever after for the two of them… just one that took a little bit more work than there was time for within this story.

I love that Sam seems to jump from the frying pan into the story. Repeatedly. And consistently. Not necessarily a great thing for him and his friends, but a wonderful journey for me. You just kind of feel him blundering from moment to moment, trying to figure out what on earth he is doing. Kind of like how I feel most days of my life if I’m being truly honest here…

I can’t wait to read more McBride books. They’re all sitting on my wishlist, ready and rearing to go. I just have to find a little more funding… and I just hope that I get to have a few appearances from Sam and Brid again. They’re just too damn wonderful and cute. Even if they could both kill me with their hands tied behind their backs…

<- Hold Me Closer, NecromancerMore Lish McBride ->

Image source: Amazon