It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #225: Just A Bit Of Confusing Time Travel

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Monthly Wrap-Up: May 2021

This month I read 8 books and 1 short story. This is also the most I have read in a month so far this year (2921 pages!)

Finish the Series #14: On A Superhero Binge

Just over two months ago, I was working my way through the Bigtime series and I really thought I was going to finish it...

Review: Mr. Conjure (Scary Mary #6) by S.A. Hunter

Title: Mr. Conjure

Series: Scary Mary #6

Previous books in this series: Scary Mary (#1) | Stalking Shadows (#2) | Broken Spirit (#3) | Strange Girl (#4) | Scamming Death (#5)

Author: S.A. Hunter

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: September 2017

Published by: S.A. Hunter

Source: Purchased ebook

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Synopsis: Jenny is a little stupid, at least that’s what Mary thinks. Why else would the teen go to an abandoned house by herself and play a game to summon a monster called Mr. Conjure? Mary doesn’t believe he exists, but Jenny insists that he’s out to get her. She’s so afraid of him that she attempts suicide.

Rachel wants to help Jenny and needs Mary to do it. Mary thinks Jenny needs a shrink, not her. She’s sure Mr. Conjure isn’t real. But something is lurking in the dark, and if it can’t get Jenny, it’ll take Mary instead.

My rating: ★★★★☆

“This is going to be weird,” Rachel declared.
“That’s our normal,” Mary told her.

This one was fun! I don't know if you guys have read any of the Creepypastas where the story is basically instructions to play a spooky game where maybe you’re granted a wish or get a question answered or whatever, and spooky things happen along the way. BUT if you don't play the game right or don’t win, you get dead. Anyway, the premise of this book was basically that, and I really enjoyed it! The way this spook was described, he almost sounded like the Babadook (which is a good movie! Highly recommend!) But yeah, this story coupled with our snarky heroine... I loved it! We haven’t had much snark from Mary since book one, so I’ve really missed this. Glad to see the snark return! Lol.

Review: Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) by Marissa Meyer

Title: Winter

Series: The Lunar Chronicles #4

Previous books in this series: Cinder (#1) | Scarlet (#2) | Cress (#3)

Previous novellas in this series: Glitches (#0.5) | The Little Android (#0.6) | The Queen's Army (#1.5) | Fairest (#3.5)

Author: Marissa Meyer

Genre: YA, sci-fi, fairy tale retelling

Publication date: November 2015

Published by: Feiwel & Friends

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: Princess Winter is admired for her grace, kindness and beauty, despite the scars on her face. She's said to be even more breath-taking than her stepmother, Queen Levana...

When Winter develops feelings for the handsome palace guard, Jacin, she fears the evil Queen will crush their romance before it has a chance to begin.

But there are stirrings against the Queen across the land. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even find the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter claim their happily ever afters by defeating Levana once and for all?

My rating: ★★★★★

This book was SO good! I literally finished all 823 pages in under two days!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #224: Superpowers Galore

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Review: Scamming Death (Scary Mary #5) by S.A. Hunter

Title: Scamming Death

Series: Scary Mary #5

Previous books in this series: Scary Mary (#1) | Stalking Shadows (#2) | Broken Spirit (#3) | Strange Girl (#4)

Author: S.A. Hunter

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: September 2016

Published by: S.A. Hunter

Source: Purchased ebook

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Synopsis: Gran is the most important person in Mary’s life. Mary would do anything for her. So when Eddie, a freshman at her school, asks Mary for help with his grandma, she can’t say no.

But what he wants is an exorcism.

Mary goes to meet his grandma with misgivings. She’s not sure how she’ll break the truth to Eddie. Elderly people can change. They can stop recognizing their loved ones. They can act like completely different people. Alzheimer’s can do that. Dementia can do that. But a ghost can do that as well.

Eddie’s grandma is possessed. But the ghost swears that she’s protecting the elderly woman because there’s something scarier than ghosts at the nursing home. An angel of death stalks the building.

With Eddie and her friends, Mary must find the angel of death and stop them, but how do you stop an angel? Mary will have to figure that out before the angel strikes again.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I really liked this story—it was very interesting! There were some parts that were predictable, but overall it was good. I really liked Eddie, the kid that came to Mary for help in regards to his grandmother who is acting weird and may or may not be possessed.

Review: Fairest (The Lunar Chronicles #3.5) by Marissa Meyer

Title: Fairest

Series: The Lunar Chronicles #3.5

Previous books in this series: Cinder (#1) | Scarlet (#2) | Cress (#3)

Previous novellas in this series: Glitches (#0.5) | The Little Android (#0.6) | The Queen's Army (#1.5)

Author: Marissa Meyer

Genre: YA, sci-fi, fairy tale retelling

Publication date: January 2015

Published by: Feiwel & Friends

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series.

My rating: ★★★★★

This novella was all about Levana, and I was very excited to read this because I always wondered why Levana was the way she was. This gives us some insight into that, and it’s not pretty 😬

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #223: Another SuperNova

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Review: Strange Girl (Scary Mary #4) by S.A. Hunter

Title: Strange Girl

Series: Scary Mary #4

Previous books in this series: Scary Mary (#1) | Stalking Shadows (#2) | Broken Spirit (#3)

Author: S.A. Hunter

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: December 2014

Published by: S.A. Hunter

Source: Purchased ebook

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Synopsis: *You look awesome.*

This is a typical text from Jake, the mysterious guy who saved Mary from the Shadowman. After everything had settled down, he started sending little messages to her. They brighten her day and make her feel special. She likes Jake. He's different like her. A freak. They send texts back and forth frequently, and Mary hasn’t told anyone about him. He's her secret friend.

When the TV producer Regina Smith comes to ask Gran for help, Mary pushes Gran to take her up on the opportunity. Regina wants them to go to Alabama to help a group of paranormal investigators, who are making a reality show. They've stumbled onto a real haunted house, and if no one steps in, they're going to get themselves killed. But Mary doesn't really care about that. She wants to go because Jake lives in Alabama. And she hopes to meet him. But when Gran’s kidnapped, Mary no longer hopes to meet Jake, she has to meet him. He’s her only hope of rescuing Gran. But mysteriously, he has stopped answering her texts.

To save Gran, Mary not only has to contend with two malevolent ghosts but also the paranormal investigators who will stop at nothing to capture evidence of the paranormal. If they have to, they’ll put Gran and Mary at risk. They will get the ghosts one way or another.

My rating: ★★★★☆

This installment in the series was really interesting because we get out of town! Mary and her grandmother go investigate a haunted house after the insistence of a ghost hunting show. They don’t want to do it initially, but Mary has ulterior motives. She wants to meet this guy, Jake, who has been texting her for a while now. He’s different like her, in that he has a very interesting ability. But boy is she in for a surprise 😬😂 Unfortunately, her grandmother is soon in trouble and she turns to Jake for help.

Review: The Death and the Strawberry (Bleach #74) by Tite Kubo

Title: The Death and the Strawberry

Series: Bleach #74

Author: Tite Kubo

Genre: YA, manga, fantasy

Publication date: October 2018

Published by: VIZ Media

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: The final battle against Yhwach gets under way as Ichigo and his allies reach the Quincy King’s throne room. Can Ichigo put an end to the thousand-year war between the Soul Reapers and Quincies? The conclusion of Bleach is here!

My rating: ★★★★★

The last volume... and I am not okay 😭

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #222: Supernova

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Review: Broken Spirits (Scary Mary #3) by S.A. Hunter

Title: Broken Spirits

Series: Scary Mary #3

Previous books in this series: Scary Mary (#1) | Stalking Shadows (#2)

Author: S.A. Hunter

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: July 2013

Published by: S.A. Hunter

Source: Purchased ebook

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Synopsis: Mary has been through a lot recently. She defeated a Shadowman, saved Vicky from a coma, and got a date to homecoming. She's ready for life to settle down and be a bit boring so she can catch her breath and process everything that she's been through. But she isn't going to get any downtime.

She may have defeated the Shadowman, but it isn't done with Mary, and it has her number. Literally. Now a scary monster is calling her house and Mary can't block its number. What does it want? How can she get rid of it? And what will she do when it decides to come visit?

My rating: ★★★★☆

I am enjoying this series quite a bit, I really am, but the romance is still driving me nuts so let's get that out of the way, huh? 😅

Review: Battle Field Burning (Bleach #73) by Tite Kubo

Title: Battle Field Burning

Series: Bleach #73

Author: Tite Kubo

Genre: YA, manga, fantasy

Publication date: July 2018

Published by: VIZ Media

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Facing a powerful opponent, the mysterious Kisuke Urahara is forced to reveal his Bankai for the first time. Meanwhile, Ichigo finally makes it to Yhwach’s throne room, but what can he do against an enemy whose power is omnipotence?!

My rating: ★★★★★

First of all, I was SUPER excited to read this one cause omg the cover is gorgeous! I ADORE Renji! He is my absolute favorite! And while I enjoyed the volume overall, there was a minimum amount of Renji in this book and I was totally not okay with that! 😩 You put Renji on the cover and I’m gonna expect a volume dedicated to him, but nooOOOooo 😭

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #221: It's Been 10 Years??

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.