Top 5 Tuesday || KLMNO

Week three of the alphabet Top 5 Tuesday challenge (hosted by the fantastic Shanah @ Bionic Bookworm Blog) is here! It’s still smooth sailing and reasonable letters, but it’s also LOUD YELLING because oh man. The books here… 💙

K – The King of Crows by Libba Bray

I am UNBELIEVABLY EXCITED for The King of Crows! The Diviners series is one of my favorites (combining the supernatural with that 1920s aesthetic is a great way to get my attention tbh),  and I’m just itching to find out how it all comes to an end after the events of Before the Devil Breaks You (which had some, uh, particularly strong “TWIST THE KNIFE A LITTLE DEEPER” moments and I hang on, I need to go cry a little, don’t look).

Hit me with it, Libba Bray. I’m ready.

 

L – Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell

If you read my review of this last week, you’ll know why this is my #1 for L (and if you didn’t read the review, you can always check it out right here). It’s beautifully illustrated, and deals with a lot of heavy material, particularly regarding toxic relationships and the things people do when trapped inside them. It was heartwrenching in the best ways, and I’m going to have to buy my own copy soon.

 

M – The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen

This has been on the TOP of my anticipated releases for AGES, and I’m still bummed I wasn’t able to get an ARC because it sounds SO GOOD.

Oof, that was a lot of all caps. BUT LISTEN, I’M REALLY FEELING IT.

Everything I’ve heard about The Merciful Crow so far makes it sound sharp and clever and fierce, and to top it all off, the author keeps sharing her art of the characters, and I’M IN LOVE WITH HER STYLE. Basically, everything about TMC has my expectations through the roof and I’m itching for release day to get here!

 

N – Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

One of the first graphic novels I remember reading and really truly adoring, Nimona had to take this slot! It’s odd and quirky and lively, and I love Noelle Stevenson’s style so much (not to mention I’m still so thrilled that she’s the showrunner for She-Ra and the Princesses of Power). Add into that some shark shape-shifting, a little bit of backstory angst, and that flicker of mischief and hope at the very end, and it makes for an A+ graphic novel. Like Laura Dean, I’m going to have to get my hands on a copy of this for my own shelves!

 

O – Other Words for Smoke by Sarah Maria Griffin

I haven’t heard a single bad thing about Other Words for Smoke, and sooner or later, I’m going to need to buy it or check it out from the library. It sounds positively haunting and charming and ominous, and I feel like this is something I could happily curl up under a couple blankets and read.

 

With that, we’ve crossed the halfway mark on this month’s T5T challenge! The next two are tough, too, so I’m really excited to share them with you over the next couple weeks. But hey, while you’re here, what are your top picks for this week’s letters?