Salutations Chapterlings! I haven’t done a book tag in ages and when my lovely friend Destiny tagged me in this, oh ho ho! The cackle that escaped my body should have been illegal, but I digress. Since I haven’t done one of these in a while, I might be a little rusty, but I hope you enjoy this little break in all the reviews!
1 – The Sand: A book that stuck with you long after you finished reading it
The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco literally haunts my thoughts. It’s been weeks, almost a month and I’m still thinking about this book, about these characters, and just everything about this book. While this book doesn’t come out till October 2022, it was such an atmospheric read and probably one of my top 5 favorite books of 2022.
2 – The Sun: A book that burned you
I’m kind of wincing as I write this because this is a very fresh, recent read for me and I feel like this book has slapped me in the face so much that I’m still a little shell shocked. Darling by K. Ancrum was one of my most anticipated reads, but this book not only has a very hurtful scene towards Indigenous people, but still has the ghost fingers of trauma gripping around my heart. If you haven’t read my review, I highly recommend checking it out for more details. Needless to say, this book has me hesitant to pick another book by this author.
3 – The Waves: A book that calms you down after a long day
Honestly, I don’t think I have a book that calms me down and I typically don’t reread books that often. Soooooo… NEXT!
4 – The Bathing Suit: A book with a pretty, summer-y cover:
I’m going to hit two-birds with one stone and give you that end of summer, beginning of fall vibes! Cafe Con Lychee by Emery Lee not only has that beautiful cover, but also has a lot of school scenes which is perfect for the month of August. With everyone trying to get in their final summer trips and preparing for school/college, this is a perfect book about family, delicious food, and a brewing romance!
5 – The Birds: A book that’s everywhere
I feel like everywhere I look, this book has been making waves in the book community. On IG, Booktok, blog posts, book twitter, etc… Everywhere I go, everyone is talking about Wild Is The Witch by Rachel Griffin and it’s well deserved. I literally read this book in one day because it was so good and every time I’d sit the book down for a break, I kept thinking about what was going to happen next. If you haven’t checked this book out yet, I highly recommend it!
6 – The Company: A book with wonderful characters
This was a recommended book and let me tell you, if you thought I wasn’t going to put a graphic novel on this tag then you would be wrong! This was such a cute, adorable graphic novel about produce characters. Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen is such a wholesome read and made me feel all the things. If you’re looking for a cute read with a lovely art style, look no further!
7 – The Ice-Cold Drink: A book you absolutely gulped down
I’m sorry, but I had to throw a paranormal, dark romance on here, with sexy demons! I couldn’t resist the temptation, okay?! But seriously, Her Soul to Take by Harley LaRoux was so freaking good! This was a buddy read and when I say it was so hard not to read ahead, I’m not kidding. If you haven’t checked this series out and you like a book with some demon action, highly recommnend. Just make sure you check out content/trigger warnings in advance. This book is not for the faint of heart.
8 – The Fun Memories: A book you can’t wait to return to
I feel like this ties in with rereads and as I mentioned,. I don’t do rereads that often. Due to my backlist being huge and out the wahzoo, but I digress. I’m going to go with a series that I’m eager to get back to. I’m really excited for the third book in the Souls Trilogy to release. I finished the second book back in May and I’m eagerly anticipating for the third book to drop. I miss these characters, the small down vibes, and the demon smexy goodness. The third book is following two characters I’m eager to learn more about and hopefully, this will be a buddy read with my best friend so we can conclude this trilogy together!
Okay, I think that covers all the parts of this tag. I think! I hope you all enjoyed seeing some of my book recs and just a bit of a recap of some recent reads for me. Honestly, I miss doing tags and maybe a book tag every once in a blue moon wouldn’t be so bad, and a great way to break up the constant flow of reviews. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed and until next time, stay hydrated! ❤️
Hi, it’s me! Back with setting myself up for struggles with tbrs… again!
Salutations Chapterlings! As I’m sure you’ve seen floating around on Instagram and possibly book Twitter, there’s a new challenge in town! Yes, it’s true, this lovely challenge was brought to us by the lovely Shadowbooker (who’s link you can click above, directly under the image for this post) who crafted this stunning template. After a lovely friend reached out to me asking to give them a recommendation for this challenge, I was easily persuaded into doing this challenge myself.
Thanks to friends, family, and some amazing peeps in the book community, I was finally able to gather all 12 books onto this list. And then I had a thought, “Let’s make a post dedicating it to this challenge and essentially holding myself to this challenge.” So, let me introduce to you the 12 books recommended to me for this challenge.
P.S. To everyone who reached out and recommend Elatsoe by Darcy Little Badger: Thank you for recommending that book to me. Yes, I have already read it and yes, I need to do a reread to actually take some darn notes and write a full review, but I have read it. You can find a statement from me on GoodReads HERE!
Honestly, I’m really nervous about this list of books. Some of them I’m really excited for because many friends have been recommending certain titles to me for a hot minute, but I definitely have some worries. If I pick up a book and don’t like it, that’s on me because I should know my reading preference, but when others recommend books and I don’t like it… oh, I’ll feel bad for days if I didn’t enjoy the book. Even more so due to three books on this list being overly hyped to me and anytime someone overhypes something, I get very weary about if I’ll actually feel the same. So I’m definitely nervous, but excited to do this challenge. Are you participating in the 12 Challenge this year? If so, what books do you have on your list or if you have a similar post, post a link in the comments. Until next time chapterlings, sending you all of my love for this new year of reading! 💚
The Tag was originally created by Sam’s Nonsense 🧡
Salutations fellow readers! I’m continuing on with another fallish book tag! I know, this is like my second or third one this week. I promise my regular content will be coming back soon, but for now, I hope you enjoy another fall book tag! Now lets dive into the questions!
🍂 Crunching Leaves: The world is full of color! Choose a book with red/orange/yellow on the cover. 🍂
I’m choosing Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco! I loved this book so, so much! The world was beautifully crafted, very similar to Fables or Once Upon A Time, and there’s a couple in here that I ship so hard. I’m eagerly waiting for the second book to be released in 2021.
🍂 Cozy Sweater: It’s finally cool enough for warm, cozy clothing! What book gives you the warm fuzzies? 🍂
I’m going to choose the Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy by Nora Roberts! Not only is this a small town in Maryland, but the community is very close knit and the characters we follow in this series are all close to one another. This is one of my favorite series, the series I recommend all the time to those who want to get started with Nora Roberts, and it was my first series I read first by Nora Roberts. I hope you all give this series a chance and fall in love with these characters like I have!
🍂 Fall Storm: The wind is howling and the rain is pounding. Choose a book that you like to read on a stormy day. 🍂
The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones was such a fantastic, atmospheric read! I love reading during stormy weather and I think this would be a great book to pick up during a fall downpour!
🍂 Cool Crisp Air: Makes you breathe freely. Who’s the coolest character you’d want to trade places with? 🍂
This is the hardest question ever! Hmm… if we’re talking about spooky reads or more fall themed reads, I think I’d want to be Taako from The Adventure Zone: Here There Be Gerblins! Taako is just a fun character who’s sassy and hilarious!
🍂 Hot Apple Cider: Warm autumnal drink. What underhyped book do you want to see become the next biggest, hottest thing? 🍂
I feel like There Will Come A Darkness by Katy Rose Pool is such an underrated book! When this book first released, I heard a little buzz about it, but nothing more. I loved this book so much and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t like more than two povs. I loved the world building, I fell in love with a few of the characters, and the way this book ended left me wanting more! I truly can’t recommend this book enough especially to my fellow fantasy readers!
🍂 Coat, Scarves, & Mittens: The weather has turned cold & it’s time to cover up! What’s a book cover you don’t like? 🍂
I loved The Hearts We Sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones, but this cover doesn’t do this book justice! It would have made more sense to have a chest with a knitted heart or something of that nature. I just feel that this cover could have been different and it would have been more beneficial.
🍂 Pumpkin Spice: Time for some Starbucks! What’s your favorite fall comfort food? 🍂
I love cinnamon rolls in the fall time especially freshly baked ones! There’s something so comforting and delightful about a warm cinnamon roll on a crisp autumnal morning with a cup of coffee!
🍂 Warm, cozy bonfire: Spread the cozy warmth! Who do you tag? 🍂
I’m going to tag Robin, Emer, Dani, Kayla, Donna, and Lauren! And anyone else who sees this and would like to participate!
I hope you all enjoyed this little tag! I had so much fun answering these questions and it’s perfect for the fall weather! Do you like doing seasonal book tags? If so, tell me your favorites down below! Until next time, stay hydrated, enjoy the change of the season, I love you! 🧡
Salutations and welcome back Chapterlings! I wanted to take a small break from the usual reviews and posts to bring another tag to you. My wonderful friend, Robin at Paperbacks and Planners had this delightfully fall book tag on her blog and I wanted to give it a try. So I hope you enjoy this little break and if you haven’t checked out Robin’s blog yet, you can find her HERE!
🍁 Apple Picking: A book on your TBR that looks so delicious you can’t wait to take a bite out of it! 🍁
Y’all know Kerri Maniscalco is an auto-buy author for me. I will throw my money at anything Kerri Maniscalco because I truly love her work and I think she is such a wholesome being. Plus, her content just fills my heart with all the spooky goodness. So when she announced this book, Kingdom of the Wicked, naturally I preordered… multiple copies… Do I worship at the alter of Kerri Maniscalco? Maybe a little, just a little!
🍁 Corn Maze: A book that’s so much fun to get lost in! 🍁
If we’re talking about recent reads, I have to pick the Wayward Children series, more specifically In An Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire. I loved getting lost in this world and following Lundy! I think this series is so easy to get lost in and would make the perfect autumnal read!
🍁 Haunted Houses: A book that scared you silly! 🍁
I wouldn’t say it scared me silly, but it has been a while since I got chills up my spine because of a book. So, I have to recommend The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones. I feel like I’ve been hyping this book all year, but for me, this was such a brilliant read and I can’t help recommending it to others!
🍁 Pumpkin Patch: The latest book you purchased! 🍁
I do have a few remaining preorders right now. However, the most recent book to actually be placed in my hands is Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I’m so excited to have this book in my hands! It sounds so good, the author is stunning, and this is the October pick for the Dragons & Tea Book Club! So all around, I can’t wait to start this in October!
🍁 Scenic Drives: A book that is lyrically beautiful! 🍁
I had to pick K. Ancrum for this! The way Ancrum writes, the characters she creates, everything is so beautifully woven together. I couldn’t decide between The Weight of the Stars and The Wicker King, so I’m picking both!
🍁 Pumpkin Carving: A book you didn’t like and wouldn’t mind carving up! 🍁
🍁 Drinking Apple Cider: A sweet book to curl up under the covers with! 🍁
I’m going to have to say the Signs of Love series by Anyta Sunday! This is another self-published author who writes about LGBTQIAP+ romances. I have read the first three books in the series with one novella and have really been enjoying my time in this series. Scorpio Hates Virgo is the most recent review I have posted and let me just tell you, I read that book in two, maybe three days! It was so good and I think this is the perfect series to curl up with!
🍁 Jumping In A Leaf Pile: A book that reminds you of your childhood! 🍁
Every time fall rolls around, I spend half the season talking about The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury. I love this book for a plethora of reasons, some personal and some that hold dear memories. This is also one of my favorite movies to watch during the spooky season. For those who may not be a fan of the book, you might want to watch the movie. I feel like the movie clarifies things that the book doesn’t. Ultimately, I loved both of these and once again, recommending that you pick this book and movie up for spooky season!
🍁 Scary Movie Night: Your favorite spooky read! 🍁
Okay, so I might not have one for this. Even though I grew up with my mimsy (my mother) who is a horror and thriller fanatic, I don’t read a lot of horror and thriller. I think I’m going to choose a thriller that made it onto my top books of 2020 and that’s When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole. I really enjoyed the audiobook of this book and I think this is going to make a lot of readers’ favorites of 2020!
🍁 Bonus! Costume Party: A book with an eclectic cast of characters! 🍁
Hands down has to be Well Played by Jen DeLuca! I love the characters in this series, the small town, the sense of community, and of course, the Ren. Fest! There’s so much I loved packed into the first two books and I think many lovers of Well Met are going to need this second book asap!
I had so much fun doing this little tag! I really had to think on some of the answers, but I’m so glad I was able to put this together. If you were thinking of doing this, consider yourself officially tagged! I hope you enjoyed this little detour of my usual posts. Tag yours’ in the comments below! Until next time, may your fall season be spooky, stay hydrated, I love you! 🧡
🍂 Link back to the original post 🍂 Thank the person who tagged you 🍂 Do the prompts below 🍂 Tag some friends 🍂 Most importantly – have fun!
🍂 Pumpkin Spice Latte: A book you didn’t think you’d love 🍂
I say this all the time, I don’t do overly hyped series or books. Trust me, I have a whole box of overly hyped books from my friends that I haven’t read yet because quite frankly, I don’t want to be disappointed or disappoint them. However, when my spouse offered to buddy read this book with me, it made the experience of this book better and it allowed me to form my own thoughts about this book without that kind of pressure (although, the looming anticipation from friends was lurking right over my shoulders the entire time). I was pleasantly surprised. I still need to finish this series, but I understand why so many readers really love the Illuminae trilogy.
🍂 Hot Apple Cider: A book that got you a bit hot under the collar 🍂
The Devil In Me (Seven Devils #1) by K. I. Lynn hit me right out of left field! I knew it was going to be a steamy book… I just didn’t know how steamy. And that’s all I have to say about that.
🍂 Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate: A book that felt like a warm hug 🍂
Check Please Vol. 2 left me in a whirlwind of feelings. I laughed, I got emotional, and I’m still in denial that this duology has finally come to an end. I refuse to accept it! This duology follows Eric Bittle and his adventures in college, more specifically playing on his college’s hockey team. There’s a very wholesome romance throughout both books, found family, and navigating the waters of publicly coming out to the ones you love most. This is probably one of my favorite duologies and I can’t recommend it enough!
🍂 Maple Pecan Latte: A book you enjoyed that was hard to get into 🍂
Okay, let me explain this one! I recently finished Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1) and I loved it. I really, really enjoyed it. However, I say this all the time (this will be mentioned in my final review as well), I struggle so much with multiple povs. I can handle three point of views max, two at bare minimum, but once you go past the third perspective, things start to bleed together for me and I struggle with keeping track of who’s who. I emphasize this especially with high fantasy books because there’s so many details to remember. I also want to mention there’s a lot of content and trigger warnings for this book (which are listed on my pre-statement about this book). Both of these things will be mentioned in my finally review, but setting those aside, I really enjoyed this and I was easily captivated with the story. I’m eager to see how the next book will play out especially with the ending of this book!
🍂 London Fog: A vanilla character 🍂
Yumeko from Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa. I love Yumeko in this series! She loves with her heart on her sleeve and tries to do the right thing. Julie Kagawa did a fantastic job at writing her character and taking Japanese mythology, mixing it into this fantasy adventure. And saying she’s vanilla isn’t a bad thing. Yumeko is very sweet, very innocent, and as you read through this series, you see amazing character development. I truly enjoy her character and what she brings to this story.
🍂 Hot Buttered Rum: A book that was velvety smooth to read 🍂
I think I’m going to have to choose the Wayward Children series for this answer. When I hear ‘velvety smooth’, I think of books that were easy for me to fall into, to read in one sitting, and books that have writing that’s lyrical and easy to fall in love with. To me, that’s the Wayward Children series. I have reviews for the first four books which I’ll link below.
🍂 Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew: A character whose temperament is icy cold 🍂
Surprisingly enough, I don’t have an actual answer for this. I haven’t read a book in a long time that has a character with a temperament that’s icy cold.
🍂 Salted Caramel Mocha: A book that you’re salty about 🍂
I don’t get upset with books that often. For the most part, usually the lowest I’ll rate a book is three stars. It’s extremely rare when a book makes my blood boil and I give a low rating, too. It’s month later and I’m still salty about The Wives. I understand why some readers would like this. Not only did I buddy read this with a friend of mine who also had a conflicting reading experience, I also read chapters out loud to my spouse who continuously repeated “WTF” and made cringed faces. I took it as far as thinking “maybe I was overreacting” and actually sent screen shots to friends and family who thrive off the horror and thriller genres. I was met with a lot of questions, comments, and concerns. Needless to say, I don’t think I’ll be picking anything up from this author in the future.
🍂 Honey Bee Latte: A character who is sweet 🍂
I love all the characters from The Tea Dragon Society, but I really love Greta especially in The Tea Dragon Tapestry. Greta has so much love and cares so, so much for those around her. That really shines throughout this entire book. I really loved the moments Greta has with Ginseng. I thought they were such precious moments and I love them together so much! This series means so much to me and I’m really hoping we’ll see more of this world in the future!
🍂 Gingerbread Latte: A character you’d take home for Christmas 🍂
I have to say Chloe from Get A Life Chloe Brown. Chloe and I have a lot in common and I just have this feeling like we’d be good friends who really connect with each other. Plus, I think she’d have a fun time trying to cuddle all three of my cats!
Okay, readers! That wraps up another blog tag! I had so much fun filling this out and I thought it was very appropriate now that we’re moving into the fall/winter season. Do you have a book you’re salty about? Do you have a favorite character you find incredibly sweet? Tell me in the comments below! Until next time, I hope you’re all tackling those tbrs, I love you! 🧡
I grabbed this tag from Destiny! If you’re not following Destiny yet, you should fix that ASAP, because she’s a wonderful soul, has amazing blog posts, loves spooky goodness, and I feel so honored I get to call her my friend! 💜
🍁 Do you keep a list of the books you have read? 🍁
Yes and no. I do have my ‘read’ shelf on my GoodReads, but that’s the only place. I also try to do monthly wrap ups, here on my blog, but as I mentioned in my August 2020 Wrap Up, I’ve been a ghost with them since early spring of 2020. So the best way to see what all I’m reading or have read is to check out my ‘read’ shelf.
🍁 If you record statistics, what statistics do you record? 🍁
I know so many friends and fellow readers who use spread sheets and graphs, but I’m not one of them. It’s embarrassing to say I’m not on that bandwagon… yet. The only thing I keep track of is where I get my books from. So I have this constellation notebook with categories like NetGalley, Indie book stores, friends & family, etc… I like to know where my funds are being put into and then I usually determine if I need a “buying ban” or if I need to shift my funds towards more Indie book stores or kindle editions of books.
🍁 Do you give star ratings for books, and if so, what do you score books out of? How do you come about this score? 🍁
I do rate books! I usually rate them out of five stars. Even though I do think many of the books I read have a half star, I usually take extra time to round up that half star to a full star. Not just for the GoodReads rating system (because why would they give us the one thing that makes sense in a rating system), but for my own benefit of when I feel indecisive on how I truly feel about that particular book. For example, if I have a book that’s 2.5 stars, I’ll take extra time to sit on if I had a positive or negative reading experience with that book. This usually leads me to reexamine my notes and reexamine my thoughts. I hope this all makes sense!
As for how I come to my scores, let me just show you all what my GoodReads bio and what my review policy should also reflect:
My rating system: ★★★★★ This book stole my soul ★★★★☆ I really loved this book! ★★★☆☆ This book was enjoyable ★★☆☆☆ I didn’t like this book, but enjoyed/appreciated some aspects ★☆☆☆☆ This book was not for me
🍁 Do you review books? 🍁
I try to. There is a small handful of books I haven’t had a chance to review, which could be from a plethora of reasons. However, I do try to make reviews a top priority especially if it’s an arc.
🍁 Where do you put your finished books? 🍁
I always prioritize arcs over anything else. So those have their own individual stack (if they’re physical arcs) that’s always next to my laptop. Unless they’re e-arcs, then I usually have calendar reminders of which e-arcs need to be written up. This leads to having multiple tabs open on my laptop. However, for books that have already been released, they have their own stack and section. I’m currently working on getting baskets so I can keep them more organized. Once I have those baskets, they’ll officially have a new home and won’t take up space in other spots around my reading area.
🍁 Do you have any other rituals for when you have finished a book?🍁
I do! I usually immediately mark the book/s as ‘read’ on GoodReads and then add content/trigger warnings with my ‘full review coming soon!’ comment. I also mark off that book from my tbr list. I keep a hand-written copy of my tbr on a sticky note and then I’ll check mark it off. I’ll also start a draft of a review for my blog and then mark on my large calendar when I want to have the review posted by.
I tag anyone who wants to!
Okay, friends! I hope you enjoyed this little tag! Make sure you go follow Destiny and check out Brock’s content! Until next time, I hope your reading five star reads, I love you! 🧡
Salutations friends and fellow readers! I have a new book tag to share with all of you! Thank you so much to my dear friend, Donna at Momsbookcollection for tagging me in this. Donna is a dear friend of mine and I can’t recommend her enough. She sweet, caring, and I’m so, so thankful to have her in my life. So check out her content! Now without any delay, let’s get into the tag!
I’m almost done with my reading for the month of August. Like usual, many surprises happened and so my tbr has been altered by a lot. Thus, The Language of Ghost has become my current read! I’m only a few chapters in, but I’m intrigued to see where this book will go. However, I did just finish Unbirthday by Liz Braswell and I highly recommend checking that out!
🌻 What’s your favorite ‘can’t leave the house’ activity? 🌻
It’s no secret that I do spend free time playing video games. Right now I’ve been playing a lot of OverWatch, but I’ve also been playing a lot of Monster Prom (and waiting for the Monster Camp release date to finally be announced).
🌻 What book have you been meaning to read forever? 🌻
I know this only came out last year, but the fact that I still haven’t finished this series yet bothers me like it’s no tomorrow. I’m hoping during the month of October to finally, finally scratch this off my tbr.
Okay… hear me out with this one. This is on my September tbr and I’m worried that I’m hyped myself up so much for this book, all the buzz about those who have read the arcs has all gone to my head, and now my expectations are so high that the book might not live up to those expectations. But… I really, really want to read this come September.
I can’ttalk too much on this one, but there’s an exciting announcement coming soon. Either by the end of August or the first week of September. So keep your eyes peeled for that!
Also, another book with another announcement and something magical also happening. I can’t give too many details because that would ruin the surprise. However, what I can tell you, I have everything ready for when I do read this and my full review for this book won’t be posted until October. I also have something really creative in the works for this especially since the release of this book comes out in October. I’m so excited and keeping these details secret is so hard!
I love you all, but no one, I mean no one, better disturb me for a week because this book is my number one anticipated release of 2020. This book comes out on August 25th, I’m so excited. Once this is in my hands, I’m disappearing under a rock! For those who are new to my blog, I’m very open about myself being Apache. The author of this book is also Apache. Darcie is Lipan Apache author. Words cannot express how long I have been waiting to find an Apache author. Words can’t express the feeling I feel deep in my soul that this book is going to stand up to every expectation I have and probably even more. This book is going to be everything and I’m so ready for it to be released.
The Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire is the only short books I know of, that I have actively been reading recently. So I would recommend checking these out. I’ve really been enjoying them and they’re super quick reads.
Okay, I know this isn’t super long, but if I’m basing this off books I’ve read so far for 2020 (which I am), then this is the book. I had the pleasure of reading an arc for this book and fell madly in love with it. This is another book that comes out on August 25th, 2020. The problem with reading an arc is having to wait for the next book to come out because all I wanted was the sequel right after it released. If you want to read my review for this book, you can find it HERE!
🌻 Something you love to do while stuck at home? 🌻
I feel like this ties in with a question before. So video games again except this time, Animal Crossing!
I just got an arc of this book and I’m so happy. I never expected this to happen so the fact that it did, I’m so grateful to Berkley and NetGalley. I fell in love with Well Met and when I found out there was another book coming out, I screeched. I’m pretty sure my friends were sick of me babbling about it. Now I have an arc and I’m so ready to read this. I bet it’s going to be sweet, charming, hilarious, and probably super fluffy!
Okay, friends! That wraps up this tag and once again, please check out Donna’s content. She’s someone important to me and she is just a wonderful soul. Let me know in the comments below what your next read is going to be. Until next time, I hope you all continue to stay safe and healthy, I love you! 💛
Da’anzho (pronounced dah-ahn-zho) or Hello in Apache! For those who are new here, welcome and for those who have been here, it’s good to see you again. As you can tell, this is going to be a post a lot different than I usually do. For anyone who doesn’t know, I’m Indigenous, I’m Apache. I’m as open as I can be about my heritage and I take a lot of pride in it. I’m truly grateful for my friend, Michelle for creating this tag. If you’re not following Michelle and the amazing content she makes, please go check out her content HERE. To be honest, I’m really nervous about this tag, but I hope you learn something about me and maybe that will spark you to do your own research about the Apache. Without any further delay, let’s get this tag rolling!
🌻 Hoka Hey – Introduce yourself, clan/tribe (active or terminated, it all counts) 🌻
Da’anzho (pronounced dah-ahn-zho), my name is Autumn and I’m half Apache. I learned at a very young age about my heritage from my Aunt. Some things you should know is the majority of the members in my father’s family have rejected our heritage and the culture that comes with being Apache. Only three of my Aunts uphold Native American traditions, culture, and heritage. It wasn’t until I got into my teens that I really started to deep dive into my family’s history and heritage. While I know how far back in my family our heritage runs, I haven’t had any success in tracing what tribe our family originated from. I’m still searching to this day.
🌻 Native Things that just make sense – What’s your favorite book with Indigenous characters? 🌻
I’ve mentioned this a few times, but never went into details about it. I don’t have a favorite book with Indigenous characters… yet. I spent the majority of my upbringing reading books in my school libraries because of medical reasons, but those libraries never had any books with good or any Indigenous representation. It wasn’t until I was in 8th grade that I discovered the Twilight Saga, but even then (we know where I stand with that), most books I was encountering with Indigenous representation, it was done very poorly or stereotypical representation.
🌻 Regalia – Most colorful book/bookish aesthetic, and if you have regalia, can we see it? (totally okay if you don’t feel comfortable posting) 🌻
I think anyone who follows my bookstagram knows I had a major glow up with what I wanted for the theme and backgrounds I use now. I realized really quickly that while I liked wooded backgrounds, I really enjoy neutral color backgrounds, but still wanted it to have a texture to it. So that’s why you see more neutral backgrounds and themes with what I use. Plus, it allows the cover of the book to really pop!
I do not own any regalia. I’m not a dancer (there are many different types of dancers such as Crown Dancers, Devil Dancers, etc…) but I wish I was. Anytime I watch any Apache dances, it steals my breathe away every time. This is one of the more recent that I have seen that also provides some information, HERE.
🌻 Auntie & Uncle: Favorite Indigenous movie 🌻
This movie was absolutely everything. It touched parts of my soul in so many ways and I don’t think I ever stopped crying during this entire film. This is a documentary that follows the life of ten-year-old Dujuan, as he learns two different systems of knowledge, what it means to learn history through public schools and to learn your history through the elders of your heritage and culture. There were so many amazing lines throughout this movie, but I think the one that really hit home was a statement Dujuan said…
“I want my future to be on land with strong language and culture.”
If you haven’t seen this documentary yet, I highly recommend it. I don’t usually watch a lot of movies or television, so this is how you know it’s good. You can watch the trailer HERE.
🌻 Frybread or bannock? What’s your favorite trope? 🌻
Um, frybread! Yum!
Oh no… I don’t know if I have a favorite trope. There’s a lot of tropes that I like or enjoy, but I’m not sure I really have a favorite. I guess if I had to pick one, I guess hate to love or enemies to lovers? I honestly don’t know for this one.
🌻 Gramma’s the best-What’s your favorite auto-buy Indigenous author? 🌻
I don’t know if I have one yet. If anything, I think Stephen Graham Jones is probably an auto-buy for me now. After interviewing him, having a great conversation with him, and then reading The Only Good Indians… I just have no choice but to stan!
🌻 All-Nations: What is a book that made you feel the most represented? 🌻
I think I mentioned this earlier, but I have yet to read any book with Apache representation. However, the author Darcie Little Badger is Lipan Apache and she is the first author that I’ve come across who’s Apache. She has a new release coming out August 25th, 2020, Elatsoe. I’m super excited about and I have no doubt that it’s going to make my list of top books for 2020!
🌻 They Say Native Girls Look Mean: Favorite female character/author? 🌻
I’m probably going to say Rebecca Roanhorse. She seems like such a sweet being and all I want to do is read all of her work. Race to the Sun is sitting on my shelf right now taunting me, but I’m trying to save it for November. She also has Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky #1) coming out on October 13th, 2020 and I’m so excited for it! If you’re a fan of fantasy then please add this to your must read list! Plus, the cover is stunning!
🌻 Star Quilt: What’s something you hold dear from your culture (beadwork, handmade things) 🌻
As of right now I only have a few items that mean the world to me. The first item is a necklace with a piece of blue agate that has Kokopelli on it. Kokopelli is a fertility deity, but is also known as a trickster and a spirit of music. You can read more about Kokopelli HERE. I was given this necklace after I had joined my school’s choir. The next piece is more of a choker than a necklace, made from turquoise, and it’s another piece that features Kokopelli. I was given this necklace by my Aunt after I had received my first award from my school as the “song bird” of the school. And the final jewelry piece I own is a necklace of all turtles handcrafted from turquoise. It’s the crown jewel of all my jewelry, the most delicate, and one that holds the largest place in my heart. This piece was given to me by my Aunt and mother when I attended my first PowWow. In many Southwest Tribes, from what I have by told by my Aunt, represents precious water and if you know anything about Southwest Tribes, water is a true gift.
Of course, I have dreamcatchers throughout my home. You can learn more about dreamcatchers HERE and HERE. My very first dreamcatcher was given to me when I turned sixteen. My Aunt had taken a few months to relearn how to weave dreamcatchers and presented me with this red dreamcatcher with a bull skull in the center. The other dreamcatchers I have in my home have all been sent from my best friend. She’s also Apache and spends a lot of time going to PowWows, traveling back and forth from the reservations. Each one means so much to me, she and I have been friends for six or seven years now (she’s my ride or die), but the very first one she sent me was white with white and brown feathers, which now hangs over my bed.
🌻 Don’t Whistle at Night: Scary story as a Native? Also favorite book with horror/thriller? 🌻
I don’t really have any scary stories I feel comfortable with sharing out in the open.
Hmm… I grew up in a house where horror is the definition of Friday movie night. My mother loves horror. I don’t think I have a favorite horror book yet. I mean, yeah there’s Dracula by Bram Stoker, but I’m not a huge horror reader. The only book I can recommend (at least for now) is The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones.
🌻 He even drinks water, INDIGENOUS: List your favorite actor/actress, book, media, whatever you like. 🌻
You want my whole list? HERE WE GO!
Adam Beach, Irene Bedard, David Midthunder, Roseanne Supernault, Floyd “Red Crow” Westerman, Rodney A. Grant, Saginaw Grant, and of course Graham Greene.
🌻 It’s a Good Day to be Indigenous: Tag your Indigenous friends 🌻
And all my fellow Indigenous readers and reviewers who I didn’t tag! Ya’ll should do this tag! Also, if you’re non-Indigenous and you’ve never heard of any of these content creators, change that right now! These are only some of the amazing creators, with so many more I haven’t listed (because that would be an extremely long list), but they are all wonderful souls and I highly encourage you to spark up a conversation with them, to support them, and to boost their voices. I say this all the time; we are here, we review books, we want our voices to be heard, we want to have conversations with you about books we love, and even though we are small in this community, we are mighty.
Woo! I may have gotten a little emotional with this post and may have ended up with missing my Aunts, like a whole lot. So that concludes the Indigenous Bookworm Tag. Once again, if you’re not following Michelle and her content, go do that right now! She’s such a warm soul and is truly a gift. I’m so thankful to have her in my life and I get to call her my friend. And as I mentioned, make sure you check out the other content creators I listed above. They’re all amazing people and they have been so loving, so welcoming, and they’re all incredible in their own way. I hope you, yes you dear reader, enjoyed this post. I hope it moved you to go do research, to learn about Indigenous people, learn about the history, and I hope it encourages you to lift the voices of Indigenous readers in the book community. Until next time, may you continue to stay safe, stay hydrated, I love you. 💛
Salutations Chapterlings! Yes, the theme has finally changed and brought back the sunflowers! Summer is in full bloom with never-ending heat, bees trying to sting my face, and the endless bumps on my skin that are bug bites. BUT! Despite all of this, I’m enjoying summer the best I can and I have been tagged by the lovely Lauren at Lala’s Book Reviews to do the Mid-Year Freak Out Tag! Can you believe we’re almost halfway through 2020? Where has the time gone?
So far this year has brought many hardships, many challenges, but I keep hoping that we’ll start to see change and something good will come out of everything happening in the world. Change is the only way for the world to grow for the future.
Anyway, if you’ve been following this blog, my social media platforms, then you know I’ve been very vocal about things happening in the world right now. And even though I’m getting back to a normal schedule and regular posting, I will continue to keep voicing those things on my platforms. As a quick recap, I have two blog posts that have specific links to help show support for the Black Community (Weekly Check-In & June 2020 TBR) and those posts don’t even scratch the surface. Please make sure you are signing petitions, using your voice and platforms, support Black authors and Black own businesses (like Black owned book stores), showing support and boosting the voices of Black LGBTQIAP+ organizations, etc… Things are far from over so please make sure you use your platforms and voices because that can bring about change.
Moving forward… I haven’t done a Mid-Year Freak Out in a really long, hot minute. So seeing Lauren tag me in this was like drinking a glass of ice cold water on a blistering hot summer day. And then it hit me. Have I had a good reading year so far? Did I read any books that I want to recommend to all the people? Where am I at with my goals, my personal challenges, etc…? Now, I get to unleash that chaos into this post.
🌻 Best book you’ve read so far in 2020? 🌻
This is a really hard answer. I had so many amazing reads so far for 2020 and I don’t know how to choose one. I think I’m going to choose Get A Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert. I was completely blown away by this book. From the chronic pain and illness representation to the way the main character and love interest fell for one another, my heart was so full because of this book.
🌻 Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020? 🌻
Hands down has to be Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa! I love The Shadow Fox trilogy (although I still need to read the third book in the series). I think I recommend this series to everyone all the time. I love it so, so much and I truly never stop talking about it.
🌻 New release you haven’t read yet, but want to? 🌻
I would have to pick Meet Cute Club by Jack Harbon. This book sounds so sweet, so wholesome, and just a feel good time. This is a romance contemporary about two men who develop a slow burn romance for each other, but also brings back a slowly dying romance book club. Just do yourself a favor and read the whole synopsis because it sounds fantastic! Also, I believe a lot of his work is self-published. So if you haven’t picked this book up yet, go support this gentleman by purchasing his book and then tell me you bought this book so we can plan a buddy read!
🌻 Most anticipated release for the second part of the year? 🌻
Okay, ya’ll knew this was coming! You had to know it was coming! Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas for the win! I have posted about Aiden reading parts of their book, I have screeched about this book from the highest points of my social media, and I’m pretty sure Aiden is on the verge of telling me to be quiet with how often I’m telling them they’re making me melt with the constant overflow of fan art of Yadriel and Julian. Seriously though, I’m so excited for this book and Aiden is just a total cinnamon roll. September can’t get here fast enough. Plus, Adri posted an amazing reading vlog on their YouTube channel about this book that ya’ll need to watch!
🌻 Biggest disappointment? 🌻
I don’t think I’ve had one yet for this year. Keyword: yet. Most of the books that I’ve been reading haven’t gone lower than three stars, most recently the things I’ve been reading have been somewhere between four to five stars. I think the reason that my reading has been so good has been due to me really taking the time to ask myself these questions…
Does this synopsis sound like something I would really enjoy? If so, why do you think you would enjoy this or what elements stand out to you the most that’s similar with past books you’ve enjoyed?
Is this a book with diversity, ownvoices, or something you really feel drawn to or you’re excited to boost?
Have you read the reviews for this book? Have you talked with your trusted reviewers and friends? Have/has problematic content or issues been addressed or brought to attention? If so, do you still think this is a book to put your time and energy into?
What content and trigger warnings have been stated about this book? Are you in the right head space right now to read this book? If the answer is no, do your self-care and come back to this later.
Those are just some of the questions I’ve been asking myself recently when I’m purchasing books, making my tbrs, even when I’m pre-planning books I want to buy in the next year, I ask these questions and double check. I’m constantly editing, adding, or removing books based off these questions. Obviously, it’s not perfect and I’m sure there’s flaws, but this has really been helping improve my reading.
The Only Good Indians for so many reasons! This book is probably going to hold a very special place in my heart for a very long time. I interviewed Stephen and it was a truly incredible experience. Also, reading this book, it chilled my bones. I haven’t read a horror novel that chilled me the way The Only Good Indians did in a really long time. The reading experience alone is something I won’t be able to shake for a long time. And while I’m not Blackfeet, I am Apache and as an Indigenous reviewer, having an arc of this book… I can’t express how honored I feel, how seen I feel, and how grateful I am.
Emergency Contact was a book I had on my backlist for the longest time. I never picked it up because so many reviewers said they didn’t like it. Out of all my friends and all my trusted reviewers, only two seemed to enjoy it. So I was really hesitant to pick it up. So when the Backlist Readathon happened, I used this as an opportunity take a leap of faith and finally read it. It was so good. I can understand why many readers struggled with it, but to me, it felt like two very real teens struggling with their own issues. I have no idea why I put it off for so long.
🌻 Rereads this year? 🌻
The only books I reread for 2020 has been the InnBoons Boro trilogy by Nora Roberts. I promise I’m working on an overall series review because so many of you want to hear my thoughts on it as a whole. But I will link my review for each book down below.
Surprisingly, I haven’t found one yet. Keyword: yet. I have some theories on which books may hold a new fictional crush, but right now, those books aren’t on my radar at the moment.
🌻 Newest favorite character? 🌻
Ooooooohhhhh… this is a hard one. I’m going to go with… Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles. I loved the side characters and our main three characters. Okay wait, when I refer to side characters, I’m talking the circus crew and Aros because they were fantastic. Even the wonderful and mysterious reporter we get introduced to near the end of the book, I loved her. It’s just a colorful cast and if you haven’t pre-ordered this book yet, please do so!
🌻 Book that made you cry? 🌻
Go read my review for The Sound of Stars. That’s all I have to say on that because just thinking about it, I’m getting a bit emotional.
🌻 Book that made you happy? 🌻
Despite the emotional moments in this book, I loved this book with my whole heart and it makes me so happy! If you haven’t read Check Please!, Book 2: Sticks & Stones yet, please change that right now!
🌻 Favorite book to film adaptation? 🌻
Sooooo… I don’t watch a lot of t.v. or movies… I think the last movie I watched was last year during the summer when my family was visiting…
🌻 Most beautiful cover you’ve bought this year (or received)? 🌻
Hands down, this award goes to A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown! The synopsis sounds amazing and I’ve heard nothing but good reviews for this book. On top of it the cover is STUNNING!
🌻 What books do you need to read by the end of they year? 🌻
All of them. Literally all of them because they all sound amazing and some of them are part of series that I need to finish, but I can’t read that fast and I get burnout so quickly. Or worse, my mental health will take a nose dive and then I have to claw my way out of the reading slump void to get back into reading.
Anyone who wants to do this and that includes the lovely souls above!
Okay, readers! I think those are all the questions (unless I missed some)! I had such a fun time answering these questions and some of them were so hard to chose answers for. Please feel free to tell me in the comments below if you have a Mid-Year Freak Out post so I can go check it out. Until next time, may you stay healthy, keep hydrated, stay safe, I love you! 💛
Salutations Chapterlings! Yes, it finally happened… I have fallen deep into the hole that is Animal Crossing. In my defense, it’s a really addicting game and I have a very addicting personality. I was doomed from the start, but I’m having a wonderful time and still trying to persuade my spouse to come play as well. But I wanted to do something a little different and what’s more different than bringing in a gaming tag that somehow relates to books! So sit back and enjoy this wild ride!
🐾 PAST VILLAGER — who is a character you found when you were younger that still has a place in your heart? 🐾
I think I talked about this a few times, but when I was in third grade, I was reading thick books like The Tale of Despereaux. I discovered this book not long after I had become severely ill and advised to stay inside to fully recover. And reading that book, it was a wonderful adventure and I still remember the little mouse that changed my time in self-isolation. I still think about that book and Despereaux from time to time. I still love that little mouse with my whole heart.
🐾 BLATHER’S BLATHERINGS — recommend a historical fiction book that you think everybody should read 🐾
Oh jeez, this is one of the worst genres for me. Historical fiction is not my cup of tea. I guess, if I really had to choose, I would say The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare. Aside from one other series, this is a book that I really enjoyed and the male lover interest completely stole my heart. It is a romance book. If that’s not your cup of tea, I’m sorry. I don’t have many historical recommendations!
🐾 CELESTE’S WISH — what is a future book release you wish you could read now? 🐾
You know, I have shouted from the roof tops about how much I want to read Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. However, I do have my interview with Stephen Gramham Jones on May 30th and I really, really want to read his book, The Only Good Indians. Aside from the cover, everything I’ve been hearing about this book has me excited and this book can’t be put in my hands fast enough. Also, being half Apache myself, I don’t talk about Indigenous authors or books enough and this is me telling you to go support this author.
🐾 TIMMY & TOMMY — what is your favorite sibling relationship in a book? 🐾
No, not another hard question to answer! I have read so many books with fantastic sibling representation. Of course, I’m a sucker for those books because I love my younger sibling a whole lot and would take on the world for them. I think out of all of the books I’ve read with great sibling relationships, There Will Come A Darkness by Katy Rose Pool definitely has that sibling relationship that I feel represents my younger sibling and I. Beru and Ephyra are two very different beings, but they’re still sisters. Beru is terminally ill and Ephyra is a force of nature that will stop at nothing to find a cure for her. While my younger sibling isn’t terminally ill, my younger sibling is more passive and quiet like Beru. Whereas Ephyra, who loves like a burning sun and is very protective, is more my personality. And I truly love their moments together.
🐾 THE EASTER BUNNY — a popular book character you’re not a big fan of 🐾
I feel like this is going to cause a huge uproar. However, I really didn’t care for The Darkling. Listen, not only did I strongly dislike The Darkling, but I strongly disliked Alina and Mal. The only one who made that trilogy a little brighter was Nikolai. Sorry, but that’s just me and my opinions.
🐾 IT’S A C+ — what’s a book trope you don’t like that keepspopping up? 🐾
For once, I want the chosen one trope to back fire or be rewritten differently. While we’re on tropes, the whole Beauty & the Beast retelling trope, I’m over it. Give me a Hades and Persephone retelling, give me a chosen one story line where they’re really not the chosen one, give me something new and fresh. No matter how many different ways you write it, it’s still the same trope. Do something new!
🐾 THE WANDERING CAMEL — what is your favorite book set in a land far away from yours? 🐾
The Shadow of the Fox trilogy by Julie Kagawa. I love Japan, the culture, the history, and the mythology. If I had it my way, I would get a ticket as soon as possible and take a trip out there. One of my childhood best friends is Japanese-American and they still hold residency in Japan. They have trying for years to get me to come with them on one of their trips. So every time I recommend that trilogy, I always think of them, I think of Japan, and then I end up craving some homemade sushi.
🐾 WHAT WOULD DODOS DO — a fictional land you wish you could fly away to at any moment 🐾
I think the question and answer above answers this question perfectly!
I tag anyone who wants to do this!
Okay, friends! I hope you had as much fun as I did writing this article! And I got to recommend some of my favorite books to all of you! If you plan on doing this tag, please feel free to tag me so I can read your answers and feel free to tell me in the comments below if you’ve read any of the books I talked about above. Until next time, stay hydrated, stay safe, I love you! 💕
Chapter Malliumpkin 