Weekly Check-in #52

 What I've Been Writing:

Defectors and Queens - Word count is at 110,000 words. And I have the first 36 chapters fleshed out. I feel as if we still have a ways to go to finish, so I'm still writing strong!

What I've Been Reading:

The Tempest Blade - This was my favorite book of the year so far, plus most anticipated book of the year. I loved it all the way through. I just wish I hadn't read it so fast; I should have savored the ride.

City of Iron and Ivy - Got this through my Allurial Book Box subscription, and I thought all the books sold there were supposed to be romantasy; this was not a romantasy. Not sure why it has been promoted as one, but aside from that, it was a good book. Just don't go in thinking any couple's going to come out with a hea/hfn ending (which is basically the only reason I read books, but I can deal), and you'll be fine. 

What I've Stacked on my Shelves:

You're never going to believe this, but I got no new books this week. I know! Something feels missing from my life. I may have to make up for this next week.

And...I just realized I didn't mention last week that I also got my Allurial Book Box Subscription last week. So add three more to last week's total: The Wicked Sea, City of Iron and Ivy, and (yes, another) Blood Bound!

Weekly Check-in #51

 What I've Been Writing:

Defectors and Queens - I've been so busy this week that I didn't think I'd get anything new written at all, but I finally snuck in some time and finished chapter 34. My favorite line I've written today is, "Never question why I love you again." (You may have to be in the thick of the scene to really feel it, though!) Word count: 104,000.

What I've Been Reading:

Guess what? I finally finished the entire Throne of Glass series with Kingdom of Ash! Woot. It was good. Empire of Storms was my favorite book in the series, but it's also nice to be free to read whatever I want now and not be stuck in a big commitment series. (Which is making me wonder if people hate me because I have a 10-book series and am five deep in a 7-book series. Except those are standalones that don't really rely on the other books to keep going if you want to wander off for a while, so maybe that makes them different, I'm not sure.) 

Anyway, I received The Tempest Blade - Book 6 in the Bridge Kingdom series - and I'm plowing my way through that right now. It was my very top, most anticipated read of the year, and it IS living up to my very high expectations. I am loving it and could read 20 books in this series, I think, and still want more. (Which makes me now wonder if it's just how invested a person is in the series that makes them feel tied and dragged down to it, or like they could continue it forever. Hmm...all interesting thoughts.)

What I've Been Stacking on my Shelves:

I got The Tempest Blade this week, since it released on Tuesday.  And then two books with 3D-decorated spines from the ACOTAR series came from the company AcryliPics that I'd ordered back in January.

And that's been my week. Happy Bat Appreciation Day to you. Hope you enjoy it. 

Weekly Check-in #50

What I've Been Writing:

Defectors and Queens - I'm pretty sure I don't love this title. But I'm gonna keep calling it this until something better comes along. I definitely love the story more than the title right now. I'm feeling all the romance in it. Word Count = 100,000. Chapters Completed = 33.

What I've Been Reading:

Hey, hey! I finished my tandem read of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn. It had been an okay series for me up to this point. I wasn't seeing why it had quite the fandom it did, but there were some good parts. After Empire of Storms, however, I decided wow, it's an amazing series. The end of that book finally just pulled all the other stories together and made me glad I went through that whole journey to get to that point. Brilliant.  

And then Rites of the Starling came in this week, so I had to drop everything and read that.  More brilliance! I knew what was coming, but it still hit hard when I read the last cliffhanger paragraph. Need Book 3 as soon as it comes out, though I'm not sure I'll ever be emotionally ready to endure it. 

Until then, I'm working my way through Kingdom of Ash.

What I've Been Stacking on My Shelves:

I got three new releases this week. It was very bloody!  There's Blood Bound (that came from Book of the Month Club), Bloodsinger, and Rites of the Starling (Green blood, anyone?)