COFFEE BOOK TAG

I have been wanting to participate in a book tag for such a long time and when I saw this one, I just knew I had to make it the first of many on my blog.

Coffee, along with books, has been my addiction for many years and there is nothing I enjoy more than sipping warm coffee while reading under a blanket with my puppy as it rains outside.

This book tag was one I found on my friend Mieke’s blog, The Little Mouse That Reads. If you have not visited her blog yet, please make sure you do! Her blog is absolutely stunning and I just love her content.

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BLACK COFFEE — name a series that’s tough to get into but has hardcore fans.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

G O O D R E A D S  |  S Y N O P S I S

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .

A convict with a thirst for revenge
A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager
A runaway with a privileged past
A spy known as the Wraith
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

A few people may disagree with me on this one but I have seen people talk about it. Although I love these books with all my heart, I admit that I struggled getting into the story. The first few chapters were a bit slow and confusing but my reading experience got better as I went on. Ever since it was announced that there would be a Netflix series coming soon, the hype and love for these characters and books only escalated.
This book was one of my favourite books of 2019! To read more about my favourite reads of last year, click here.

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PEPPERMINT MOCHA — name a book that gets more popular during the winter or festive time of year.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

G O O D R E A D S  |  S Y N O P S I S

Harry Potter’s life is miserable. His parents are dead and he’s stuck with his heartless relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. But his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he’s a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

After a lifetime of bottling up his magical powers, Harry finally feels like a normal kid. But even within the Wizarding community, he is special. He is the boy who lived: the only person to have ever survived a killing curse inflicted by the evil Lord Voldemort, who launched a brutal takeover of the Wizarding world, only to vanish after failing to kill Harry.

Though Harry’s first year at Hogwarts is the best of his life, not everything is perfect. There is a dangerous secret object hidden within the castle walls, and Harry believes it’s his responsibility to prevent it from falling into evil hands. But doing so will bring him into contact with forces more terrifying than he ever could have imagined.

Full of sympathetic characters, wildly imaginative situations, and countless exciting details, the first installment in the series assembles an unforgettable magical world and sets the stage for many high-stakes adventures to come.

The Harry Potter series is one of the series that gets reread most by thousands of bookworms every year, myself included. I read the books for the first time last year and when I finished it, I made a promise to myself to return to Hogwarts during the autumn and winter months.

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HOT CHOCOLATE — what is your favourite middle grade book?

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

G O O D R E A D S  |  S Y N O P S I S

When Dumbledore arrives at Privet Drive one summer night to collect Harry Potter, his wand hand is blackened and shrivelled, but he does not reveal why. Secrets and suspicion are spreading through the wizarding world, and Hogwarts itself is not safe. Harry is convinced that Malfoy bears the Dark Mark: there is a Death Eater amongst them. Harry will need powerful magic and true friends as he explores Voldemort’s darkest secrets, and Dumbledore prepares him to face his destiny …

To be quite honest with you, I was not the biggest reader when I was younger and so, I did not read the popular books everyone was reading. As mentioned, I only read the Harry Potter books last year so this book is the only one I could think of that fits.

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DOUBLE ESPRESSO — name a book that kept you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

G O O D R E A D S  |  S Y N O P S I S

Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There’s just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia’s task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.

And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor’s reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this young adult fantasy is pitch-perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Renée Ahdieh.

I finished reading this book only days ago and I still think about it a few times during the day. It has been a few weeks since I read a fantasy that grabbed my attention the way this one did. All the action, adventure, romance and suspense had me on the edge of my seat and I could not get enough.
Also, I got approved for my first blog tour, the sequel to this book, Unravel the Dusk, so make sure to keep an eye out for my blog post soon!

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STARBUCKS — name a book you see everywhere.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

G O O D R E A D S  |  S Y N O P S I S

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper – despite the displeasure of Achilles’ mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

I finally read this book a while ago after seeing it almost everywhere for years. It is one of the most hyped books I have ever seen and I completely understand why. Achilles and Patroclus found their way into the deepest parts of my heart. It is a book that I will always recommend.
To read my review, click here.

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THAT HIPSTER COFFEE SHOP — give a book by an indie author a shoutout.

Spinning Hair into Gold by Caitlin Keely Gemmell

G O O D R E A D S  |  S Y N O P S I S

A collection of poems and fairy tales about magic, nature connections and weaving the threads of fate.Oriana is “The Weaver of Fate.” She is a creature crafted from the honeyed rays of sun and mysterious shadows in equal measure. Her story, a blended retelling of fairy tales such as “Rapunzel” and “Rumplestiltskin” is woven throughout these pages.These magical poems and story threads traverse the path between destiny and free will, remind us that enchantment can be found lurking in every corner, and delve into the mysteries of dreams and the otherworld.This collection is ideal for lovers of nature, magic, fairy tales, and mythology from the British Isles.

At the end of last year, I saw this book on bookstagram and as I am always on the look for more poetry books to read, I decided to give this one a go. This little book is filled with many magical poems and fairy tales and I really ended up enjoying it.
To get more poetry book recommendations, click here.

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OOPS! I ACCIDENTALLY GOT DECAF — name a book you were expecting more from.

Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

G O O D R E A D S  |  S Y N O P S I S

A searing #OwnVoices coming-of-age debut in which an Indian-American Muslim teen confronts Islamophobia and a reality she can neither explain nor escape—perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Jacqueline Woodson, and Adam Silvera.

American-born seventeen-year-old Maya Aziz is torn between worlds. There’s the proper one her parents expect for their good Indian daughter: attending a college close to their suburban Chicago home, and being paired off with an older Muslim boy her mom deems “suitable.” And then there is the world of her dreams: going to film school and living in New York City—and maybe (just maybe) pursuing a boy she’s known from afar since grade school, a boy who’s finally falling into her orbit at school.

There’s also the real world, beyond Maya’s control. In the aftermath of a horrific crime perpetrated hundreds of miles away, her life is turned upside down. The community she’s known since birth becomes unrecognizable; neighbors and classmates alike are consumed with fear, bigotry, and hatred. Ultimately, Maya must find the strength within to determine where she truly belongs.

Everyone was/is always talking about how much they ended up loving this book and honestly, I cannot understand why. It has been a while since I read it so I cannot vividly remember why I disliked it. All that I do remember is that it was way too dramatic for my liking and that I felt quite irritated with the characters.

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THE PERFECT BLEND — name a book or series that was both bitter and sweet but ultimately satisfying.

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

G O O D R E A D S  |  S Y N O P S I S

Bound by blood.
Tempted by desire.
Unleashed by destiny.

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom—and the power of love.

This book was my most anticipated release of the year. I immediately dived into it as soon as it was released and could not wait to get lost in another world Sarah J. Maas created. However, the first hundred pages almost had me putting it down. The writing was so, so good but the first part of the book was all an information dump and I felt quite overwhelmed. It was difficult for me to remember everything about the world of Crescent City and to get into the story. In the end, I decided to keep going and I am so glad I did otherwise I would not have found the treasure hidden underneath it all. I guess you can say I am complete Sarah J. Maas trash but she has done it again. This one is one of my favourite reads of the year (if not ever) and I just cannot get enough of Bryce and Hunt.
To read my review, click here.

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I had such a fun time writing this blog post and am looking forward to participate in many more book tags in the future.

For this book tag, I am tagging:
Bellerose Reads
The Booktrovert Blog
Katie Elizabeth
The Perks of Being Noura

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