2016 A Look Back

Another year has come and gone and I still haven't made it to 150 books. I actually came in 3 less than 2015 with 120 books. Once again I will be trying for 150 this year. I figure I have to make it eventually.

First Read

First book I finished was Cold Burn of Magic by Jennifer Estep which I gave 4 stars. I loved the this and the second book and really need to get reading book 3 Bright Blaze of Magic.















Last Read

The last book I finished was also my favorite from 2016. The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I loved the way the author mixed the past and the present in a storyteller fashion. I also really enjoyed how full all the characters were.
This was also the longest book I read at 662 pages.













Other Odd Facts from 2016 Reads
Total Books: 120
Total Pages: 40,059
Average Length: 339
Goodread Facts: Most Read Book; Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children with 618, 156 reads. Least Read Book; 50 Greatest Red Wings at only 4 other reads.

Other Favorites
I started a lot of series this past year that I am still enjoying into 2017.

Lady Emily Series by Tasha Alexander (Goodreads) There were a couple books that I didn't care for but books 6 & 7 have really picked the series back up.

KingFountain series by Jeff Wheeler (Goodreads) There are 3 books out in this series with a 4th coming June 2017. I didn't think Owen and Evie (especially Evie) would become two of my faves last year but they did.








Overall, even though I didn't make my yearly goal, I still consider 2016 a success. A lot of great books and even more that I'm looking forward to reading this year.

Happy Memorial Day

Armchair BEA 2016 ~ Surviving Fictional Worlds

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Today we'll talk about surviving fictional worlds. We all know that sometimes, the worlds we love in fiction can be dangerous. Which fictional worlds would you want to live in? Which worlds do you never want to dive into? Which worlds are you content to stay behind the glass, so to speak, rather than wishing to dive through the page? And once you get there, what would you do?

**I think I wouldn't mind Kenyon's Dark Hunter world. It's modern day but with the addition of supernatural beings. At the same time not sure I would want to live in NOLA in her world.

They are watching
by Nightscream 452 (DeviantArt)

I wouldn't mind exploring Hogwarts. Maybe not as a student but I'm sure I could find plenty to do and see.

Back at Hogwarts
by Alea Lefevre (deviantArt)

Sticking with the UF/ Fantasy theme. I was reading a Jim Butcher graphic novel from his Dresden Files series and realized I wouldn't want to live in his Chicago. Between the mafia, councils, vampire courts and everything else you can think of there is nowhere you can turn to get away from it all.

The Dresden Files: Your Story
by charro art (DeviantArt)

Have a Happy and Safe Reading Weekend!

Armchair BEA 2016 ~ Beyond the Books & Beyond the Blog

Armchair BEA website 

Here on Day 3, we are moving our focus beyond the traditional format of the media we consume and create!
Beyond the traditional form of the novel, what are your favorite alternative forms (graphic novels, audiobooks, webcomics, etc)? Do you have any favorite works within these alternate forms? How do you think the changing format affects the reading experience?

**I've tried a couple of audiobooks but haven't really been able to focus when they are playing. If I don't have something in my hands I feel like I should be doing something and forget that I'm supposed to be listening. I should probably try one when I'm walking or something.
**Of the things listed the one I read the most are graphic novels. I'm even more picky with these than regular books. If I don't like the graphics it does not matter how good the story is, I cannot get into it. For me it started with some of my favorite UF book series, Jim Butcher's Dresden series (Goodreads) and Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series (Goodreads).

This branched out into other types of graphic novels. The first and still one of my favorites is the  Fables series (Goodreads) by Bill Willingham. The last volume came out in 2015.

Another set I read for the first time this year is the Runaways by Brian K Vaughn (Goodreads). I'll admit to not liking his Saga series as much as everyone else did but I did like Runaways. The graphics and story just worked better for me in this one than in Saga.

Armchair BEA 2016 ~ Aesthetic Concerns - Books & Blogs

Armchair BEA home

Welcome to day 2 of Armchair BEA. To find out more click the link above.
Today is all about aesthetics! The first part of this topic is concerned specifically with the books, the second with our blogs.

Books: I've found lately that I judge books by the cover a lot more than I used to. If I'm turned off by the cover I won't even read what it is about. This also comes into play with styles/genres. If it looks like a contemporary novel I tend to skip over it. I've been coming across more uf/fantasy (especially YA) that have more contemporary cover. An example is Melissa Marr's Seven Black Diamonds

Nothing about this cover say Faerie. Not only that but a war between the fae and humans. If it hadn't been for the author's name I wouldn't have read the blurb to see what it was about.

These are a couple of examples of what I think of when looking for UF or Fantasy.

Blog: I don't know if it is because this is more of a hobby for me or not but I don't really brand my blog. The only thing I really do is use the same pic across social media sites but that is about it.
My reviews tend to change as I do. Sometimes I want something simple and others a more detailed review. Lately, I've been featuring books more than reviewing them. I find it easier to talk about why I picked a book to read rather than what I liked or disliked about the same book.

Armchair BEA 2016 ~ Introductions

Armchair BEA Home

1.  What is the name you prefer to use? Kristina D

2.  How long have you been a book blogger? A little over 5 years. I have always done this as more of a hobby or just a place to vent and keep track of thoughts on the books I'm reading.

3.  Have you participated in ABEA before? Yes, I think this will be the third time.

4. What is your favorite genre and why? Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy. Really any fantasy. Why, because when I read it is to escape everything around me at the moment. I want something I can get lost in that doesn't have a bunch of real world problems.

5.  If you could choose three characters to have lunch with, who would they be and why? Acheron from Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters, he has been around forever and I'm sure has plenty of stories to tell.
Bran from Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series. Same reason as above. My favorite character from these series and would have plenty to talk about.
Alexia from Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate (or Lord Akeldama)They both just seem like they would be a lot of fun to spend some time with.

6. Do you have a favorite book? If you cannot choose a favorite book of all time, pick your favorite book today - just this second.
Not a specific book but Kenyon's Dark Hunters series is my favorite series. There have been a few along the way that I haven't enjoyed as much but this is one of the few that I still buy right away. Another favorite is J.D. Robb's In Death series.

7. What book are you most excited for on your TBR? What are you most intimidated by? 

Excited to read This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab. I've liked most of her books and look forward to when she releases a new series.
Most intimidated: Not sure if intimidated is the right word but I tend to put off finishing series. I just cannot bring myself to read the final book in some of my favorite series. Usually this is because I've read too many that just end badly and don't want the same fate for my faves.

Can't Wait Books 2016

Starting off the New Year looking forward. These are just some of the books I cannot wait to read this year.

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare (The Dark Artifices #1)
Goodreads
expected release date: March 8, 2016
**I haven't really kept up to date on her Shadow Hunter's but something about the book blurb just caught my attention. May end up waiting to see what people who have actually read it say.

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
Goodreads
expected release date: January 5, 2016
**This is the one I've seen on every year end/looking forward blog I've read the past couple of weeks. I always worry when there is so much hype but really hoping this one lives up to it all.

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
Goodreads
expected release date: February 23, 2016
**I've been waiting for this book since the day I finished A Darker Shade of Magic. Loved just about everything about book 1 and cannot wait to go back to Kell, Rhy, and Lila's world.

Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs
Goodreads
expected release date: March 8, 2016
**A world I have loved since the first. Whether it is this series or Alpha and Omega they always seem to end way too soon.

Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop (The Others #4)
Goodreads
expected release date: March 8, 2016
**Another Author/Series that is always on my favorites list. I love the world of The Others just as much as I loved her Black Jewels world.

Seven Black Diamonds by Melissa Marr
Goodreads
expected release date: March 1, 2016
**Almost passed by this one without reading what it was about. The cover looks more like a contemporary read than a fantasy that takes place in faerie.

The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
Goodreads
expected release date: May 3, 2016
**I'm a sucker for all things Rick Riordan writes.

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
Goodreads
expected release date: January 5, 2015
**Another that I've seen everywhere. Also, I love witches.

Some New Year's Randomness

New Year's Trivia

• In Italy, people wear red underwear on New Year’s Day to bring good luck all year long.
• In Colombia, Cuba and Puerto Rico, some families stuff a large doll, which is called Mr. Old Year, with memories from the past year. They also dress him in clothes from the outgoing year. At midnight, he is set ablaze, thus burning away the bad memories.
• Chinese New Year is celebrated the second full moon after the winter solstice. *2016 is the year of the Monkey.
• The traditional New Year’s song, “Auld Lang Syne,” means, “times gone by.”

Art

2016 Zodiac Dragons Cancer
by The Sixth Leaf Clover (DeviantArt)

Symbol of the year - 2016! Red Monkey
by Yullapa (DeviantArt)