Welcome, all of you to Hogwarts!
I welcome all of you to school!
Did you know that here at Hogwarts,
We’ve got a magical readathon? [video]
Sorry, couldn’t resist that opening. So now that we’ve all got StarKid stuck in our heads, let’s talk about the Magical Readathon!
I participated in the O.W.L.s portion of this readathon back in April (#TBR + Wrap Up), and now it’s time for me to complete my N.E.W.T.s! For all the information on the N.E.W.T.s (and the Magical Readathon), watch the video here: https://t.co/u7upaZx49c
I’m still planning on becoming a Magical Librarian! (technically the world magical isn’t in the job title, but it should be)(also technically it’s a very different job from muggle librarianship, but it’s still what I want to be!)
I completed all the O.W.L.s I needed to take in April (although not by sticking to my #TBR, which I’m always awful at), so now I need to get an O in Ancient Runes and E’s in Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic to be a Librarian! I’ve planned out my #TBR with two options for each prompt this time, so hopefully I’ll have a better idea of what I’m going to be reading (even though we all know I’m going to change my mind).
And now without any further ado, my N.E.W.T.s #TBR:
Recommended by a Friend
Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins Series: Rebel Belle #1
Published on April 8, 2014 by Putnam Juvenile
Genres: Contemporary, YA
Pages: 345
Format: Kindle
Source: Amazon
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Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.
Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.
With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff Series: The Illuminae Files #1
Published on October 20, 2015 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Genres: Science Fiction, YA
Pages: 602
Format: Paperback
Source: Barnes and Noble
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This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.
The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.
BRIEFING NOTE: Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.
Written in Past Tense
The End and Other Beginnings: Stories from the Future by Veronica Roth Published on October 1, 2019 by Katherine Tegen Books
Genres: Futuristic, Science Fiction, YA
Pages: 272
Format: ARC, eARC
Source: Edelweiss
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Bestselling Divergent and Carve the Mark author Veronica Roth delivers a stunning collection of novella-length stories set in the future, illustrated with startling black-and-white artwork.
No world is like the other. Within this masterful collection, each setting is more strange and wonderful than the last, brimming with new technologies and beings. And yet, for all the advances in these futuristic lands, the people still must confront deeply human problems.
In these six stories, Veronica Roth reaches into the unknown and draws forth something startlingly familiar and profoundly beautiful.
With tales of friendship and revenge, plus two new stories from the Carve the Mark universe, this collection has something for new and old fans alike. Each story begins with a hope for a better end, but always end with a better understanding of the beginning.
With beautifully intricate black-and-white interior illustrations and a uniquely designed package, this is the perfect gift for book lovers.
The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen Published on June 4, 2019 by Balzer + Bray
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, YA
Pages: 440
Format: Kindle
Source: Amazon
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Emma Saylor doesn’t remember a lot about her mother, who died when she was ten. But she does remember the stories her mom told her about the big lake that went on forever, with cold, clear water and mossy trees at the edges.
Now it’s just Emma and her dad, and life is good, if a little predictable…until Emma is unexpectedly sent to spend the summer with her mother’s family—her grandmother and cousins she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl.
When Emma arrives at North Lake, she realizes there are actually two very different communities there. Her mother grew up in working class North Lake, while her dad spent summers in the wealthier Lake North resort. The more time Emma spends there, the more it starts to feel like she is divided into two people as well. To her father, she is Emma. But to her new family, she is Saylor, the name her mother always called her.
Then there’s Roo, the boy who was her very best friend when she was little. Roo holds the key to her family’s history, and slowly, he helps her put the pieces together about her past. It’s hard not to get caught up in the magic of North Lake—and Saylor finds herself falling under Roo’s spell as well.
For Saylor, it’s like a whole new world is opening up to her. But when it’s time to go back home, which side of her will win out?
On TBR Forever
The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall Series: The Conspiracy of Us #1
Published on January 13, 2015 by Putnam Juvenile
Genres: Contemporary, Thriller, YA
Pages: 324
Format: Kindle
Source: Amazon
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Avery West's newfound family can shut down Prada when they want to shop in peace, and can just as easily order a bombing when they want to start a war. Part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle, they believe Avery is the key to an ancient prophecy. Some want to use her as a pawn. Some want her dead.
To unravel the mystery putting her life in danger, Avery must follow a trail of clues from the monuments of Paris to the back alleys of Istanbul with two boys who work for the Circle — beautiful, volatile Stellan and mysterious, magnetic Jack. But as the clues expose a stunning conspiracy that might plunge the world into World War 3, she discovers that both boys are hiding secrets of their own. Now she will have to choose not only between freedom and family — but between the boy who might help her save the world, and the one she's falling in love with.
Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee Published on March 17, 2015 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Genres: Historical Fiction, YA
Pages: 384
Format: Kindle
Source: Amazon
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Missouri, 1849: Samantha dreams of moving back to New York to be a professional musician—not an easy thing if you’re a girl, and harder still if you’re Chinese. But a tragic accident dashes any hopes of fulfilling her dream, and instead, leaves her fearing for her life. With the help of a runaway slave named Annamae, Samantha flees town for the unknown frontier. But life on the Oregon Trail is unsafe for two girls, so they disguise themselves as Sammy and Andy, two boys headed for the California gold rush. Sammy and Andy forge a powerful bond as they each search for a link to their past, and struggle to avoid any unwanted attention. But when they cross paths with a band of cowboys, the light-hearted troupe turn out to be unexpected allies. With the law closing in on them and new setbacks coming each day, the girls quickly learn that there are not many places to hide on the open trail. This beautifully written debut is an exciting adventure and heart-wrenching survival tale. But above all else, it’s a story about perseverance and trust that will restore your faith in the power of friendship.
A Book with a Beautiful Cover
Crier's War by Nina Varela Series: Crier's War #1
Published on October 1, 2019 by HarperTeen
Genres: Romance, Science Fiction, YA, Queer
Pages: 448
Format: ARC, eARC
Source: Edelweiss
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Author Links: Website, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram
From debut author Nina Varela comes the first book in an Own Voices, richly imagined epic fantasy about an impossible love between two girls—one human, one Made—whose romance could be the beginning of a revolution.
Perfect for fans of Marie Rutkoski’s The Winner’s Curse as well as Game of Thrones and Westworld.
After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, designed to be the playthings of royals, usurped their owners’ estates and bent the human race to their will.
Now Ayla, a human servant rising in the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging her family’s death…by killing the sovereign’s daughter, Lady Crier.
Crier was Made to be beautiful, flawless, and to carry on her father’s legacy. But that was before her betrothal to the enigmatic Scyre Kinok, before she discovered her father isn’t the benevolent king she once admired, and most importantly, before she met Ayla.
Now, with growing human unrest across the land, pressures from a foreign queen, and an evil new leader on the rise, Crier and Ayla find there may be only one path to love: war.
We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia Series: We Set the Dark on Fire #1
Published on February 26, 2019 by Katherine Tegen Books
Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy, YA, Queer
Pages: 384
Format: Kindle
Source: Amazon
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Author Links: Website, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, TikTok
At the Medio School for Girls, distinguished young women are trained for one of two roles in their polarized society. Depending on her specialization, a graduate will one day run a husband’s household or raise his children, but both are promised a life of comfort and luxury, far from the frequent political uprisings of the lower class. Daniela Vargas is the school’s top student, but her bright future depends upon no one discovering her darkest secret—that her pedigree is a lie. Her parents sacrificed everything to obtain forged identification papers so Dani could rise above her station. Now that her marriage to an important politico’s son is fast approaching, she must keep the truth hidden or be sent back to the fringes of society, where famine and poverty rule supreme.
On her graduation night, Dani seems to be in the clear, despite the surprises that unfold. But nothing prepares her for all the difficult choices she must make, especially when she is asked to spy for a resistance group desperately fighting to bring equality to Medio. Will Dani cling to the privilege her parents fought to win for her, or to give up everything she’s strived for in pursuit of a free Medio—and a chance at a forbidden love?
Random Book from TBR
A Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan Series: A Touch of Gold #1
Published on August 14, 2018 by Blink
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mythology, Retellings, YA
Pages: 313
Format: Kindle
Source: Amazon
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King Midas once had the ability to turn all he touched into gold. But after his gift—or curse—almost killed his daughter, Midas relinquished The Touch forever. Ten years later, Princess Kora still bears the consequences of her father’s wish: her skin shines golden, rumors follow her everywhere she goes, and she harbors secret powers that are getting harder to hide.
Kora spends her days locked in the palace, concealed behind gloves and veils, trying to ignore the stares and gossip of courtiers. It isn’t until a charming young duke arrives that Kora realizes there may be someone out there who doesn’t fear her or her curse. But their courtship is disrupted when a thief steals precious items from the kingdom, leaving the treasury depleted and King Midas vulnerable. Thanks to her unique ability to sense gold, Kora is the only one who can track the thief down. As she sails off on her quest, Kora learns that not everything is what it seems—not thieves, not pirates, and not even curses. She quickly discovers that gold—and the power it brings—is more dangerous than she’d ever believed.
Midas learned his lesson at a price. What will Kora’s journey cost?
Suggested Reading by Dave Connis Published on September 17, 2019 by Katherine Tegen Books
Genres: Contemporary, YA
Pages: 385
Format: ARC, eARC
Source: Edelweiss
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In this hilarious and thought-provoking contemporary teen standalone that’s perfect for fans of Moxie, a bookworm finds a way to fight back when her school bans dozens of classic and meaningful books.
Clara Evans is horrified when she discovers her principal’s “prohibited media” hit list. The iconic books on the list have been pulled from the library and aren’t allowed anywhere on the school’s premises. Students caught with the contraband will be sternly punished.
Many of these stories have changed Clara’s life, so she’s not going to sit back and watch while her draconian principal abuses his power. She’s going to strike back.
So Clara starts an underground library in her locker, doing a shady trade in titles like Speak and The Chocolate War. But when one of the books she loves most is connected to a tragedy she never saw coming, Clara’s forced to face her role in it.
Will she be able to make peace with her conflicting feelings, or is fighting for this noble cause too tough for her to bear?
“Suggested Reading is a beautiful reminder that there is nothing simple about loving a book.” —David Arnold, New York Times bestselling author of Mosquitoland
Written by a Person of Color
Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann Published on January 23, 2018 by Swoon Reads
Genres: Contemporary, YA, Aspec, Queer
Pages: 304
Format: Kindle
Source: Amazon
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Author Links: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram
Alice had her whole summer planned. Non-stop all-you-can-eat buffets while marathoning her favorite TV shows (best friends totally included) with the smallest dash of adulting--working at the library to pay her share of the rent. The only thing missing from her perfect plan? Her girlfriend (who ended things when Alice confessed she's asexual). Alice is done with dating--no thank you, do not pass go, stick a fork in her, done.
But then Alice meets Takumi and she can’t stop thinking about him or the rom com-grade romance feels she did not ask for (uncertainty, butterflies, and swoons, oh my!).
When her blissful summer takes an unexpected turn, and Takumi becomes her knight with a shiny library employee badge (close enough), Alice has to decide if she’s willing to risk their friendship for a love that might not be reciprocated—or understood.
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan Series: Girls of Paper and Fire #1
Published on November 6, 2018 by Jimmy Patterson
Genres: Fantasy, YA, Queer
Pages: 400
Format: Kindle
Source: Amazon
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Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It's the highest honor they could hope for...and the most demeaning. This year, there's a ninth. And instead of paper, she's made of fire.
In this richly developed fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most persecuted class of people in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards for an unknown fate still haunts her. Now, the guards are back and this time it's Lei they're after -- the girl with the golden eyes whose rumored beauty has piqued the king's interest.
Over weeks of training in the opulent but oppressive palace, Lei and eight other girls learns the skills and charm that befit a king's consort. There, she does the unthinkable -- she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens her world's entire way of life. Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.
A Fantasy Book
Circe by Madeline Miller Published on April 10, 2018 by Little
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, Retellings
Pages: 393
Format: Kindle
Source: Amazon
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In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.
Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.
But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.
Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters by Emily Roberson Published on October 22, 2019 by Farrar
Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Retellings, YA
Pages: 352
Format: ARC, eARC
Source: Edelweiss
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Sixteen-year-old Ariadne’s whole life is curated and shared with the world. Her royal family’s entertainment empire is beloved by the tabloids, all over social media, and the hottest thing on television. The biggest moneymaker? The Labyrinth Contest, a TV extravaganza in which Ariadne leads fourteen teens into a maze to kill a monster. To win means endless glory; to lose means death. In ten seasons, no one has ever won.
When the gorgeous, mysterious Theseus arrives at the competition and asks Ariadne to help him to victory, she doesn’t expect to fall for him. He might be acting interested in her just to boost ratings. Their chemistry is undeniable, though, and she can help him survive. If he wins, the contest would end for good. But if she helps him, she doesn’t just endanger her family’s empire―the monster would have to die. And for Ariadne, his life might be the only one worth saving.
Ariadne’s every move is watched by the public and predestined by the gods, so how can she find a way to forge her own destiny and save the people she loves?
A Book with a Map
Kingsbane by Claire Legrand Series: Empirium #2
Published on May 21, 2019 by Sourcebooks Fire
Genres: Fantasy, YA, Queer
Pages: 608
Format: ARC
Source: Direct from Publisher
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Author Links: Website, Goodreads, Pinterest
In this sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller Furyborn, two queens, separated by a thousand years, connected by secrets and lies, must continue their fight amid deadly plots and unthinkable betrayals that will test their strength—and their hearts.
Rielle Dardenne has been anointed Sun Queen, but her trials are far from over. The Gate keeping the angels at bay is falling. To repair it, Rielle must collect the seven hidden castings of the saints. Meanwhile, to help her prince and love Audric protect Celdaria, Rielle must spy on the angel Corien—but his promises of freedom and power may prove too tempting to resist.
Centuries later, Eliana Ferracora grapples with her new reality: She is the Sun Queen, humanity's long-awaited savior. But fear of corruption—fear of becoming another Rielle—keeps Eliana's power dangerous and unpredictable. Hunted by all, racing against time to save her dying friend Navi, Eliana must decide how to wear a crown she never wanted—by embracing her mother's power, or rejecting it forever.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart Published on May 23, 2017 by Delacorte Press
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery, YA
Pages: 272
Format: Hardcover
Source: Book Outlet
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Author Links: Website, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram
A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.
Reread a Favorite Book
Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Series: Debutantes #1
Published on November 6, 2018 by Freeform
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery, YA
Pages: 390
Format: Kindle
Source: Amazon
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Author Links: Website, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram
"I'm not saying this is Sawyer's fault," the prim and proper one said delicately. "But."
Eighteen-year-old auto mechanic Sawyer Taft did not expect her estranged grandmother to show up at her apartment door and offer her a six-figure contract to participate in debutante season. And she definitely never imagined she would accept. But when she realizes that immersing herself in her grandmother's "society" might mean discovering the answer to the biggest mystery of her life-her father's identity-she signs on the dotted line and braces herself for a year of makeovers, big dresses, bigger egos, and a whole lot of bless your heart. The one thing she doesn't expect to find is friendship, but as she's drawn into a group of debutantes with scandalous, dangerous secrets of their own, Sawyer quickly discovers that her family isn't the only mainstay of high society with skeletons in their closet. There are people in her grandmother's glittering world who are not what they appear, and no one wants Sawyer poking her nose into the past. As she navigates the twisted relationships between her new friends and their powerful parents, Sawyer's search for the truth about her own origins is just the beginning.
Set in the world of debutante balls, grand estates and rolling green hills, Little White Lies combines a charming setting, a classic fish-out-of-water story, and the sort of layered mystery only author Jennifer Lynn Barnes can pull off.
The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine Series: The Two Princesses of Bamarre #1
Published on March 1, 2004 by HarperCollins
Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade
Pages: 304
Format: Kindle
Source: Amazon
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Twelve-year-old Addie admires her older sister Meryl, who aspires to rid the kingdom of Bamarre of gryphons, specters, and ogres. Addie, on the other hand, is fearful even of spiders and depends on Meryl for courage and protection. Waving her sword Bloodbiter, the older girl declaims in the garden from the heroic epic of Drualt to a thrilled audience of Addie, their governess, and the young sorcerer Rhys.
But when Meryl falls ill with the dreaded Gray Death, Addie must gather her courage and set off alone on a quest to find the cure and save her beloved sister. Addie takes the seven-league boots and magic spyglass left to her by her mother and the enchanted tablecloth and cloak given to her by Rhys - along with a shy declaration of his love. She prevails in encounters with tricky specters (spiders too) and outwits a wickedly personable dragon in adventures touched with romance and a bittersweet ending.
So you may have noticed that I switched my prompts around for DADA. The original prompts were either not going to fit (if I’m reading on a kindle, I’m not sure what color the cover is under the dust jacket), or would drive me crazy (I tend to get really nitpicky about voice in my reading, so when something’s obviously British it throws me off), so I switched them! I’m calling it part of my Magical 504 Plan and saying that it was necessary to switch them so that I could complete my tasks. And now before I get onto a tangent about the need for special education at Hogwarts, let’s wrap this up.
As a reminder, to be a Magical Librarian, I need to get N.E.W.T.s in:
- Ancient Runes (O)
- A: Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins or Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman
- E: The End and Other Beginnings by Veronica Roth or The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen
- O: The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall or Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee
- Defense Against the Dark Arts (E)
- A: Crier’s War by Nina Varela or We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
- E: A Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan or Suggested Reading by Dave Connis
- O: Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann or Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
- History of Magic (E)
- A: Circe by Madeline Miller or Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters by Emily Roberson
- E: Kingsbane by Claire Legrand or We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
- O: Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes or The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
That’s an O in Ancient Runes and an E in Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic, but I’m hoping to get O’s in all three!
So that’s what I’m planning on reading! Are you participating in the Magical Readathon? Let me know what you’re planning to read (and what your Wizarding Career will be!) in the comments and have a splendiferous day!
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
[…] to my December #TBR! (which I really need to stick to since I haven’t done one of these since August. […]