It’s time to play “guess that book” and also watch our TBRs weep.
Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and is all about the first line of a current/upcoming read. Friday 56 is a meme hosted by Freda’s Voice, where you turn to page 56 (or 56%) in what you’re reading a find a snippet that jumps out at you.
“Really?” Dante asked, wrinkling his nose.
“Really.”
“It looks a little … dull. We can get that sharpened up for you after practice,” Marisa said, her own long, graceful knife hanging at her hip, its surface swirling like an oil slick on the river. “Honestly, I’m not even sure where it came from …”
She fell silent at a fierce look from Pao, who felt weirdly protective of the ugly little dagger.
“But I’m sure it’ll be great!” Marisa added hastily.
Space-obsessed 12-year-old Paola Santiago and her two best friends, Emma and Dante, know the rule: Stay away from the river. It’s all they’ve heard since a schoolmate of theirs drowned a year ago. Pao is embarrassed to admit that she has been told to stay away for even longer than that, because her mother is constantly warning her about La Llorona, the wailing ghost woman who wanders the banks of the Gila at night, looking for young people to drag into its murky depths.
Hating her mother’s humiliating superstitions and knowing that she and her friends would never venture into the water, Pao organizes a meet-up to test out her new telescope near the Gila, since it’s the best stargazing spot. But when Emma never arrives and Pao sees a shadowy figure in the reeds, it seems like maybe her mom was right. . . .
Pao has always relied on hard science to make sense of the world, but to find her friend she will have to enter the world of her nightmares, which includes unnatural mist, mind-bending monsters, and relentless spirits controlled by a terrifying force that defies both logic and legend.
✿ A Rick Riordan Presents book about la llorona!
✿ Plenty of Hispanic rep, with language and culture.
✿ Female protagonist who’s obsessed with STEM, and science in particular.
✿ LA CHANCLA! Which isn’t quite what you think, I promise.
✿ Strong family and friendship bonds.
✿ Fun adventure that takes the characters to another realm.
✿ All the reasons to stay away from random rivers, especially at night.
This is a weekly meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook meant to take place on Mondays, but since Fridays tend to be my TBR-focused post, I’ve decided to combine them here. Next Monday’s prompt is: long.
I read mostly fantasy, so sometimes long books is just what I do. *puffs out chest* of course, long books are also daunting, so there are a lot of them on my TBR that I just haven’t picked up yet because have you seen the size of those things?!
I was given a finished copy of Soulkeeper by the publisher, and I actually hadn’t heard of it before then, but oh my gosh, do you see that summary? It sounds absolutely fantastic. The sequel, Ravencaller, has come out recently, too, which means I really need to jump on reading them both.
I’ve actually got a blog tour coming up for Memory of Souls, which means I’ll be picking up Ruin of Kings soon. I mean, first, there’s a dragon right there on the cover. Second, I read the first chapter and was immediately hooked, so I’m looking forward to this one!
In my quest to catch up on all the Brandon Sanderson books I’ve missed, I’ll eventually need to pick up Way of Kings, and I’m excited to because of all the wonderful things I’ve heard about it. Hubby says I can’t read it until I finish Mistborn, though, so I’ll get there … eventually. xD
I’m a sucker for assassins, so it’s probably no surprise that We Ride the Storm is on my TBR. Just everything about it sounds fantastic.
I’ve heard a lot about House of Earth and Blood, and I’ve actually never read a Sarah J. Maas book before, so I figured this would be a good place to start. I actually checked this out from the library before, but because of its length, I just didn’t get a chance to actually read it before I had to return it. So I’ll be giving it another go before too long, hopefully.
I’ve heard good things about David Dalglish😁 I have SO many long books on my TBR we’d be here all day if I had to list them!
Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy recently posted…The Friday Face-Off: White Cover
I’m glad of that! Because it is a BEAST of a book haha. I think I sprained my wrist just putting it on my shelf. 😉 It sounds so good, though, that if it’s even half as good as the blurb makes it sound, I’ll want to stay there forever and the size will be no problem haha.
I think it’s definitely a hazard of reading mostly fantasy. I know I have friends who read contemporary, where their books tend to be 250 – 350 pages and I mention reading a 500-page book and it blows their mind, and I’m like … that’s, like, 70% of the genre. xD
Hi Sammie,
I do try to avoid the ‘chunkster’ books if at all possible, as they do take me forever to read.
Fortunately most of the thrillers / contemporary fiction novels I enjoy, are a little more considerate in their size, with fantasy taking pride of place in the long book stakes!
I always enjoy reading the ‘Reasons To Read’ section you include in your posts, so that even though it may not be a book for me, I can always find an interesting take on the story.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Yvonne xx
I know you don’t read fantasy, so that makes a ton of sense! As a fantasy reader, I’m just sort of resigned to my fate haha.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoy it. :3 Since I started working at a library, it’s hard for me to talk about books and NOT give a reason to read them lol. Hard to switch off that mode.
Ooh, I am burning up at the idea of the 118 degrees! I have lived through those high triple digits, and you can think of little else while they’re going on.
Enjoy!
Laurel-Rain Snow recently posted…AUTHOR’S HOME PAGE
Ugh, right? It’s been in the 90s here, and that’s killing me haha. I can’t imagine 118.
Oooh, a book about La Llorona? Yes, please! Thanks for sharing! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Right?! I’m not sure why this isn’t more of a thing, considering how much a part of so many people’s childhoods that story is!
I’m currently reading The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan. I’m just beginning chapter 10, so I’ll share from there:
“The only other time Diana had been at Brent’s flat -her flat- in Clerkenwell alone was when she was packing her suitcase to leave for Buckinghamshire.”
I hope you have a great weekend! 😀❤📚
Nicole Santana recently posted…First-Line Friday #146
Hope you enjoy your current read!
I haven’t heard of this book before, but it looks interesting and I like the quotes. Thanks for mentioning it!
It’s been really fun to read so far! Definitely one I’d recommend. 🙂
I tend to avoid huge books. Unless they’re written really well, they too often end up feeling bloated to me, and in need of a good editing. I’d rather the author split them up into two (or more) volumes.
And I knew what book the Friday 56 was for before I even clicked to open the post! I’m really excited about this one.
Nicole @ BookWyrm Knits recently posted…Friday Reads: Catfishing on CatNet
Sounds good to me! Happy weekend!
Freda Mans-Labianca recently posted…The #Friday56 #Instagram56
That is a pretty upbeat, funny opening line. I can picture the torture of gummies up the nose. Thanks for visiting my blog. Have a nice weekend.
Cool post! I love books + bacon so your tagline is super cool!
Thank you so much! Anyone who likes books and bacon is obviously good people. 😉
The Ruin of Kings was such a crazy read–I loved it but I know it’s gotten a lot of mixed reviews. It was a confusing wild ride and I think that’s why I loved it so much haha. I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks! I hope I do, too. Glad to see you enjoyed it, though! I’ve been finding I’m enjoying more epic fantasy more and the complexity of it.
Way of Kings is also one of the big bois on my list! Hoo boy, I haven’t read Crescent City yet but I’ve read Maas before and she’s quite heavy on the romance and not even the super bad ass I could kill you but I love you kind of love but the pretty romancing kind of romance. Haha am I even making sense? But anyway, I’d be keen to see what you think of it if you do pick it up 😀 I can’t wait to read Way of Kings though! Have you started Mistborn trilogy!?
Dini @ dinipandareads recently posted…Sundays in Bed With… #MyWeeklyWrapUp
Wow, Dini. Okay, then, just totally call me out. xD I’m stuck at 16% on Mistborn (the first book) right now LOL. Working on getting through it, though slower than I had hoped.
Ehhh, I’ll keep that in mind going in, then. Doesn’t sound like my sort of romance lol. And you made total sense! Wait … now I’m scared …