Bekka's September Book Haul

It has been quite some time since I've done a book haul. I've been so tired and so lazy all summer. If I did a haul of what I've gotten since last time I posted one, we'd be here for centuries. But I did get some amazing books in September that I really wanted to share with you all, so let's get started.

PurchasedThe Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken
I've been reading more middle grade lately. Not a ton, but more than usual, and I thought this would be a great spooky read perfect for this time of year.

Fierce Fairytales by Nikita Gill
Gill is a favorite among my friends so I thought I'd try out this collection of reimagined fairy tales. It was not my favorite lol.

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
New Schwab! And like I said earlier, more middle grade!

A Room Away From the Wolves by Nova Ren Suma

I also got an arc of this but I figured I'd share my finished copy since it's so pretty. Not my favorite Suma ever but I still love her writing so much.

Toil & Trouble edited by Tess Sharpe & Jessica Spotswood

This was amazing! I do not like reading anthologies but this was absolutely perfect, exactly what I wanted. Highly recommend. 

Check Please! by Ngozi Ukazu

Of course I had to buy myself a finished copy of this. I LOVE this series and you should all read it.

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

I love White's books so obviously I was buying this historical horror story. I'm currently reading it right now, in fact.

The Caged Queen by Kristen Ciccarelli 

I loved the first book and I am so excited to get back into this world. And the author's writing style is so uniqe and captivating, especially the folklore. I can't wait to get to this.

The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner

This is going to be incredible, I have no doubt. Russian Jewish magical fantasy and fairy tales? Yesssss.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

One of my best friends will not stop going on about this series so it's time for me to finally catch up. I started it and it's absolutely beautiful.

For ReviewBlanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore

I read this already and it was amazing. A new all-time favorite. I can't wait to get a finished copy when it comes out.

Sisters of the Fire by Kim Wilkins

I read the first book earlier this year and loved it. There's so much to come and I can't wait to see where it goes next.

This Cruel Design by Emily Suvada

I haven't actually read This Mortal Coil yet but I plan to binge these back to back since I've been hearing nothing but amazing things.

Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto

I really don't know anything about this except maybe giant phoenixes? I know the cover's pretty.

The Cold is in Her Bones by Peternelle van Arsdale

This is a Medusa retelling!!! I AM SO PUMPED.

Evermore by Sarah Holland

Another one I haven't read the first book for, but I plan to binge.

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Have you read any of these? Get anything good this month?

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors We'd Love to Meet

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

This week we're talking about authors we'd like to meet

Bekka's Picks

I'm lucky enough to live near a city that has seen a ton of YA author tours. I also used to live right outside of Philadelphia, too. And a train ride from NYC. And I've been to a good number of BEAs. Which means I'm lucky enough to say I've met a ton of my favorite authors. Truth be told, though, I have social anxiety and meeting authors is always a very draining task for me; it always ends with my over-analyzing every word I said that night and then wanting to disappear into the floor forever and never, ever see them again. But anyway, here is a small list of authors I'd really, really like to meet.

1. Amy Lukavics. Not only do I love her books, but she seems like the coolest person? I follow her across social media and she's always posting about horror stuff, her kids, roller derby, and making creepy art. I want to meet her and do all these things lol.

2. JK Rowling. I know she's pretty much awful these days, but getting her to sign my books is baby Bekka's dream. Getting her to sign my first editions will pay for Rosie's education. 

3. Robin LaFevers. Her series, His Fair Assassin, is what inspired me to start writing. I mean, I always wrote fanfiction before, but reading Grave Mercy kind of cracked open my writing world and it was the book that made me think that maybe there was a place for the kinds of characters I like to write. Would I actually say all of this to her? Probably not because I'm the most awkward person on earth, but I'd think it!

4. Louise Rennison. I know that this is impossible now and I find it completely heartbreaking. I basically grew up with Georgia and Rennison's trademark style and sense of humor were seminal to the personality I have today. I talk the way I talk because of Louise Rennison, I am the way I am about a lot of things because of her.

5. Jay Kristoff. This one is silly, but I've met Amie Kaufman twice now when she was touring with Meagan Spooner. This means that my Illuminae series is half-signed. So please, Jay, come to NC and sign my books so I can stop feeling off-kilter about them lol.

Alexia's Picks

Unlike Bekka, I have not been lucky enough to meet any of my favorite authors. Usually I love living in Northern California, but I do fantasize about moving to Southern California mostly because of all the book events. Granted, the cost of living there would be INSANE and I'd be eating ramen noodles 24/7, but sometimes I think it would be worth it.

1. Robin Talley. I think by now, you all know I am such a ginormous fan of hers. I would absolutely love to meet her and talk/gush about all the books she's written and how much I adore all of them. In reality though, I'd probably get massively tongue-tied, and not say anything to her.

2. Suzanne Young. Yet another author whose books I'm obsessed with. Her Program series is still one of my all time favorite series. I would love to just sit with her and talk about it. Well let's be honest, I'd probably ramble on and on about it and then totally embarrass myself in front of her.

3. Stephanie Garber. Now, I've actually had the chance to meet her TWICE, but both times my heart health wasn't the greatest and I lacked any kind of energy to go see her. I would love to meet her and get copies of Caraval & Legendary signed. I'd probably have her sign my Caraval ARC that Bekka sent me as well.

4. Dahlia Adler. Now she is not only one of my favorite authors, but also one of my favorite people. I still really need to read her NA series and I cannot believe that I haven't yet. I read 3 of her books and one of them in particular really helped me. In fact I have a magnet version of that book cover on my refrigerator.

5. Jessica Verdi. I have paperbacks of all of her books, except one of them and that one is an ARC that she signed and sent me about 3 years ago. I've been a diehard fan of hers from the first time I read one of her books. Plus she just seems like the COOLEST person ever.

Do we have any authors in common?

September Wrap-Up and October TBR

Books of the Month

Bekka

Alexia

Books Read

 

Blanca & Roja 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The Wolf Wilder 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A Room Away From the Wolves🌟🌟🌟
Toil & Trouble 🌟🌟🌟🌟

                       A Danger to Herself and Others🌟🌟🌟🌟

After the Fire 🌟🌟🌟🌟

October TBR 

Bekka

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White. I just started this one a couple days ago and though I haven't gotten very far in yet, it's already very unsettling. You can tell Elizabeth is hiding a lot and I'm excited to see the darkness inside her.

The Spy with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke. The only not-so-scary book on this list, though I'm sure it will be terrifying in other ways. I loved the first one and I've been eagerly anticipating this companion. There's nothing like this series out there, it's so unique and so, so good.

Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd. I started this a while back but put it down because I knew it would be better suited for October. I love the world and the magic so far and I'm ready to delve into the mystery.

Nightingale by Amy Lukavics. It's almost Halloween and I'm ready for Amy Lukavics to scare the pants off me yet again.

Not Even Bones by Rebecca Schaffer. I know very little about this except that I expect it to be creepy and a bit gruesome. I'm ready.

Alexia

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco. So many bloggers have raved about this series and I am super stoked to start it and hopefully love it like so many others have. Hugely excited for it.

Nightingale by Amy Lukavics. Super excited for this book and for this author to scare the living crap out of me again.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black. I started reading this book well over a year ago, and I have the itch to pick it back up again. I've heard great things about this book and although it's not typically my thing, I am willing to give it a try.

The Hanging Girl by Eileen Cook. I just recently got Cook's upcoming release for review, so I figured it was probably time to read this one. I actually just reread the synopsis and now I remember why I requested it in the first place. Plus Cook is really good at the mystery stuff.

The Hollow Girl by Hillary Monahan. Again, I just reread the synopsis for this one and am seriously wondering WHY I haven't read it yet. It looks like an Alexia book in a really big way. Given that it's a horror book, I'd say it's PERFECT for October.

Are any of our books on your October TBR?