It’s not unusual for me to be…a little bit behind.
I tend to be late to the party on a lot of things, including books. Sometimes, I’m lucky and get ahead (bless you, NetGalley ARC gods), but more often than not? I’m clueless until wayyyy after the fact. This is especially true with popular books, too!
Which naturally means that Shanah @ Bionic Bookworm Blog has made today’s T5T capable of exposing me for what I am: a procrastinator who knows the mainstream exists about a year after the fact. Do you know how long it took me to read Children of Blood and Bone? To give Sadie a shot?
Oh well. Why don’t you just give me hell for these late arrivals to my shelf instead? I’m ready for it. Go ahead. Let the roast begin.
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
This one has been on my shelf for wayyyyy too long. Mermaids are one of my favorite things, and since I have a project involving mermaids, I need to know if this is a good comp title… 👀
Not only that, though, but this seems to be a love or hate book. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a “meh” opinion on it, and it’s piqued my curiosity. Why is that, and where am I going to fall on the opinion scale? Basically, it’s time to find out.
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
Another one folks rave about, We Hunt the Flame is high on my TBR as well! I wish I had my own copy, but at this rate, I’m just going to have to hope I can request it from my library as an ebook. Or, if I have some kind of sudden windfall, I’ll just buy it, but I don’t think I’ll hold my breath for that one.
Anyhow, I’ve been intrigued by the concept of WHtF for a while now, and I’ve loved following Hafsah Faizal on Twitter. Plus, her work under Icey Designs is just outstanding. She’s clearly a killer talent, and I want to get to know more of her work!
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Okay, first I have to ask: who put the series title in big letters and the actual book title in little tagline letters? I couldn’t be sure what this book was called for ages because of that. Not a fan.
Anyway, ever since reading the first three Throne of Glass books before being absolutely bored (at best) and appalled (at worst), here’s one of today’s popular books I haven’t read and won’t read. I don’t have time for books that bore the hell out of me, folks. And lots of sex with hot fae dudes is…decidedly the farthest thing from my interests.
Sorry, folks. But this one is a hard pass, now and forever.
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Ensemble heist story set in fantasy Paris? I mean, obviously I’m interested in The Gilded Wolves. But not only have I seen it hyped by bloggers whose opinions I trust, I’ve also seen people complain about it being a Six of Crows rip-off. To me, that translates to worshiping the ground Leigh Bardugo walks on and not acknowledging that she doesn’t own the concept of a heist story. I’ll be reading this one partly out of interest, and partly out of spite. Y’know, as one does.
Literally Anything Anna-Marie McLemore Writes
I don’t know if they’re that popular in the bookish world at large, but I know that on my timeline, Anna-Marie McLemore is royalty. Time and again, I see folks repping their books like it’s no tomorrow, and when I have two of their titles on my shelf, and more on my wishlist, I think that’s a sign I ought to hop to it. But which to start with? Right now, I own Wild Beauty and Blanca & Roja, and it’s difficult to decide!
(You are very welcome to weigh in here, just so you know.)
Now, the question is: which one of these popular books do I prioritize? Not SJM, that’s for sure. Sorry to her fans, but I just…can’t do it. Not again. Never again… 😬
haha I’m usually late on most stuff too.
I bought To Kill A Kingdom when it was just released and I really should read it soon!
Woooo! Welcome to the late to the party party then! 🥳
Ah, To kill a kingdom is still on my tbr too. I wonder how long it will take for me to actually read it. 😅 I have Crescent City on my list as well and won’t ever read it. I heard the mc is pretty insuffrable and a Mary Sue. Apparently some kind of Über-Aelin? I don’t know, I haven’t read ToG either but the comparison seemed funny to me. 😅
(Also, I had to look up Anna-Marie McLemore. Never heard of her or any of her books.) 🤔
I keep seeing it on a lot of the lists today! I guess not as many people have read it as I thought. And oh god, if the mc is uber-Aelin I’m running far, far away.
Anna-Marie McLemore uses they/them, not she/her! They’re very lovely on Twitter and the blogging folks I trust most tend to speak really highly of their books. ❤️
I haven’t read the Glided Wolf as well. I am looking forward to do so tho. Great post!
Btw I too blog @ The Confessions Of A Music And Book Addict and would appreciate some support!
Stay safe,
-Prutha xoxo
It’s supposed to be a good one! Thanks, Prutha!
Uhhh… I have only read To Kill A Kingdom on this list!! But I’m sure there’s about 40 other hyped books that I haven’t started!!
It’s just impossible to keep up with them all! 😩