Book Tour | Your Guide to Shadowhunters’ Los Angeles Part 1

It’s no secret that I’m fully obsessed with Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter World. So, you can imagine that when The Dark Artifices were published, I was beyond excited to have a Los Angeles Institute. I grew up in in the suburbs of the city, I went to college in Downtown Los Angeles, and now I spend my morning commuting in the glorious LA traffic. All of this to say, I know my way around Southern California, and I decided what better way to nerd out than to visit all the places Emma and her posse know and love.

Los Angeles is a BIG place. You can’t get around by just walking, so if you’re planning on touring make sure you have a car, a full tank of gas, and some snacks. Because of the distances, I decided to break up my tour into 3 different parts – The Beach Hot Spots, The City Hangouts, and the miscellaneous, hard-to-find haunts.

So, on with the show! Check out hip beach spots the LA Institute hits during the series. I’ve added in my route from Google maps, links to websites (click the pink headers below!), and other cool stuff that might be helpful for fans wanting to visit – I went through tons of sticky notes to provide “expert” research from the books, too.

The Route

I plotted a course from my house to all the big spots I wanted to hit off the coast. Then, I put them in order so I would be driving in a straight line up the Pacific Coast Highway and wasn’t wasting gas. One *super important* thing to remember is timing. The beaches & surrounding areas get really packed on weekends after about 9 AM. So, I started my trip around 7 AM and was able to hit every place without too much traffic – mundanes and cars alike. I also had a reference point from this handy – and super pretty – Shadowhunter Map I found online (I think it came with special ARCs of Lady Midnight).

The Spots

The Santa Monica Pier

The pier has games, food, rides, and sight-seeing! You might even spot a celeb or two, so keep an eye out.

Address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401

“She’d always loved the Santa Monica Pier, since she was a little girl and her parents had taken her there to play air hockey and ride the old-fashioned merry-go-round…But the boards under Emma’s feet were still warped and weathered by years of sun and salt. The air still smelled like sugar and seaweed…” –Lord of Shadows, Chapter 1, Page 11-12

Hidden Treasures

Hidden Treasures is Emma’s favorite vintage store and when you see it, you’ll understand why. It fits her personality SO perfectly. It’s definitely hidden from touristy eyes, and you need to drive through the canyon to find it. It’s super tiny and is easy to miss – so be on the lookout!

Address: 154 S. Topanga Canyon Boulevard Topanga Canyon, California

“In front of them was a single freestanding building with a sign boasting foot-high letters in glitter that spelled out the words HIDDEN TREASURES. A massive red-and-white popcorn machine stood next to the store, along with a painted model of a curtained caravan, advertising the services of Gargantua the Great.” –Lady Midnight, Chapter 13, Page 308

Leo Carillo State Park

A lot of Leo Carillo is currently closed due to the Woolsey Fire, but the good news is the beach and stairways are reopened! You have to hunt for some of the tunnels/caves, but the beach is only about 2 miles long here, so you can walk along the entire span, check out where the necromantic rituals were taking place, and still have plenty of time to explore.

*Pro Tip: Look for Lifeguard Station 3 and head down to the beach right below for some of the easier to access caves. It’s a bit rocky, so make sure you take some sturdy shoes along with your beach sandals, just in case.

Address: 35000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

“He was just inside the cave, looking down at more of the same plants, clustering around the dry soft stone…As he moved forward into the cave, which began to narrow into a tunnel…it opened out into a circular chamber lined with metal…the walls were bronze, covered in strange symbols…” -Lady Midnight, Chapter 9, Page 210-211

“Leo Carillo State Park is home to the sea caves that play an important role in Lady Midnight.” -Cassandra Clare Takes Us Through Emma’s Los Angeles (Back of Lady Midnight Hardcover)

Neptune’s Net

The spot where Emma, Julian, Cristina, and Mark grab late night seafood is actually the best. It’s literally right across the road from the beach. You can sit out on their patio and look out to the ocean while enjoying some fish & chips!

Address: 42505 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

“They passed over a late-night seafood shack, music and light pouring out of the windows. Emma had been there before and remembered sitting on the big wooden picnic tables with Jules, dunking fried oysters in tartar sauce…” –Lady Midnight, Chapter 9, Page 208

“A massive neon sign reading POSEIDON’S TRIDENT hung over the ramshackle building…they found Mark and Cristina seated on top of a picnic table, surrounded by cardboard boxes of French fries, buttered rolls, fried clams, and fish tacos.” –Lady Midnight, Chapter 9, Page 221-225

Point Mugu State Park

The site of the convergence is a few-mile long stretch of beach and park. We stopped at “Mugu Rock” because it seemed like it would be the site of some strong magic. It’s popular, but dangerous, and accidents sometimes happen. So I guess there might be something dark & mysterious actually going on after all.

Address: 42505 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

“A granite rise loomed in front of them, a dome-like hill atop the bluffs…Mark pointed at a dark opening in the rock of the hill…” –Lady Midnight, Chapter 9, Page 209

“The site of the convergence isn’t in a specific place, but it’s based on some of the scenery in Point Mugu State Park” –Cassandra Clare Takes Us Through Emma’s Los Angeles (Back of Lady Midnight Hardcover)

Coming Soon

As I continue my “research” and exploration, I have a list of for sure places I want to hunt down. Stay tuned for part 2 and 3 in the coming weeks so you don’t miss out!

The LA Institute

Malcolm Fade’s House

Johnny Rook’s House

The Shadow Market

Sepulchre Bar

The Midnight Theater

Anselm Nightshade’s Pizza Place

Canter’s Deli

Vasquez Rocks

Talk To Me

Are there any spots I’m missing from my list’? Have you visited any of the beach spots? Any you’d like to check out?

Spoiler-Free Review | Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

Chain of Gold

By: Cassandra Clare

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

From Goodreads: Welcome to Edwardian London, a time of electric lights and long shadows, the celebration of artistic beauty and the wild pursuit of pleasure, with demons waiting in the dark. For years there has been peace in the Shadowhunter world. James and Lucie Herondale, children of the famous Will and Tessa, have grown up in an idyll with their loving friends and family, listening to stories of good defeating evil and love conquering all. But everything changes when the Blackthorn and Carstairs families come to London…and so does a remorseless and inescapable plague.

James Herondale longs for a great love, and thinks he has found it in the beautiful, mysterious Grace Blackthorn. Cordelia Carstairs is desperate to become a hero, save her family from ruin, and keep her secret love for James hidden. When disaster strikes the Shadowhunters, James, Cordelia and their friends are plunged into a wild adventure which will reveal dark and incredible powers, and the true cruel price of being a hero…and falling in love.

Theme Song

TL;DR:

Chain of Gold was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020 and for good reason! It is an amazing addition to the Shadowhunter World. If you’re new to the Shadowhunter Chronicles and don’t mind reading out of chronological order, I HIGHLY recommend you start with this installment. This is Cassie’s best writing yet, and you’ll be so in love with the Edwardian London setting, sassy & sweet characters, and action-packed plot. This has everything you’ll be looking for in a historical-fantasy series. READ IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

The Good

The Action-Packed Plot

If you’re a fan of Cassie’s other Shadowhunter novels, you know she doesn’t lack in the action department. There’s always some demon to slay, a warlock to track down, a sick downworlder to help, or a hottie to love from afar. Chain of Gold is no different. From page one, the new crew is neck-deep in supernatural problems to solve and the action doesn’t stop until the very last page. Can SyFy just take over the Shadowhunter world and make this into an Edwardian Fantasy Drama? Because I would totally watch it. It’s like a refresh of Dark Shadows, but a million times better.

James Herondale, Cordelia Carstairs, and The Merry Thieves (And Everyone Else!)

For fans of the Shadowhunter world who may have issues with certain heroes and heroines from past series, I’m here to tell you that you have nothing to worry about with this new crew. For newcomers, I’m also here to prepare you to love at least a dozen new characters and all their quirks and questionable choices. James Herondale is the emo bookworm of your dreams. Cordelia Carstairs is the badass heroine who actually thinks about her actions (I’m looking at you Clary), and the rest of the supporting cast will leave you with total swoon heart eyes for days. Seriously, you won’t be able to pick a favorite and you’re going to be rooting for everyone’s happily ever after. You’ve been warned!

The A+ Top-Notch Villain Scheming

Without being too spoiler-y, I’m just going to say that I’m ready for this villain(s?). Clare always does a really great job of humanizing her evil characters and giving them a backstory and it’s no different this time around. You’ll be left hating certain people, and it will feel sooooo, so good and so, sooooo bad at the same time. Prepare for all the drama. 

The World Building Is AMAZING

Queen Cassie is known for making her Shadowhunter world so expansive that sometimes it can be hard to keep up. But, I’m here to tell you that if you’re into high-fantasy worlds with lots of details and characters – this series is for you. Clare ties together her short stories and previous trilogy into this newest installment SO WELL. Her older, beloved characters make appearances, but don’t hog the spotlight, and all her mini stories pave the way for major character arcs to be explored. And, even if you haven’t been introduced to any of her previous work, there’s enough detail for you to still experience a rollercoaster of emotions. You’ll be left wanting more (and will probably buy the entire Chronicles to keep your cravings satisfied).

The Ending

THAT CLIFFHANGER THO. All I have to say about the ending is it’s SO  bittersweet and somehow satisfying all at the same time. I don’t know how my heart could feel so many different emotions at once, and I’m still thinking about where we’re going next. Please mentally prepare yourself for a massive book hangover. And, please let me know if you want to join me in my quest for clues and theories on Chain of Iron.

The Bad

NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THIS BOOK.

I have spoken and will not be taking questions at this time.

The Ugly Truth

Chain of Gold is one of my favorites reads of 2020 so far. It is 5-star, fantasy gold and should definitely be on any fantasy lover’s TBR list. If you’re new to Cassie Clare books, do yourself a favor and start here. If you’re not a newcomer, drop what you’re reading and get on the Chain of Gold party bus. It. Will. Not. Disappoint.

Talk To Me

Are you a Shadowhunter fan? Will you be adding Chain of Gold to your TBR?

Review | The Cursed Key

The Cursed Key (The Cursed Key Trilogy #1)

By: Miranda Brock & Rebecca Hamilton

Overall Rating: ★★★

Publication Date: January 14th, 2020

*Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for hosting the tour and providing an e-book for my honest opinion!

Synopsis:

A forgotten past, a dark mage, and an unyielding curse.

Another team beat free-spirited archaeologist Olivia Perez to the dig of a lifetime, and now she’s left with the choice to wait for scraps or brave a dangerous, dusty tomb in hopes of finding other priceless artifacts. Her reward? A mysterious key she has no idea is cursed. Soon, Olivia realizes she’s brought home more than just an ancient rarity.

Malevolent visions begin to plague her. Unnerved by what they reveal, she casts away the key…unknowingly placing it into the waiting hands of a dark mage bent on destruction. Only when a shifter agent from the Paranormal Intelligence and Tracking Organization arrives searching for the key does Olivia realize what a huge mistake she’s made.

Forced to team up with the ill-tempered shifter, her journey to reclaim the cursed key leads down a twisting path of dark histories, dangerous magic, and deadly obstacles. But Olivia’s efforts to take back the ancient relic before the dark mage can destroy the lives of humans, shifters, witches, and fae alike are thwarted by her own dark past…and a price steeper than what she’s willing to pay.

Fans of Tomb Raider and Ilona Andrews will love the blend of urban fantasy, magical adventure, and paranormal romance in THE CURSED KEY from Miranda Brock and New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Hamilton!

 

Theme Song

TL;DR

The Cursed Key has hints of Indiana Jones, Supernatural, and The Rook series all wrapped into a fun, action-packed urban fantasy! It starts off a bit too slowly for my liking and the writing seemed to be lacking in some places, but I ended up really enjoying the second half and the overall concept of the story.

The Good

The Fantasy

I was obsessed with the magical elements. There’s a paranormal government agency,  faeries, witches, and hot jaguar shifters! If Supernatural had a cross-over episode with Indiana Jones, it would be something like The Cursed Key. If you’re looking for an intense urban fantasy world, Brock and Hamilton have got it.

The Diversity

I’m here for the brown skin appreciation in this book! The main characters are both of Latin descendent and *gasp* they’re normal Americans, with decent lives, steady paychecks, an education, and they aren’t described as having accents or an alluring ~exotic~ look to them. What a concept that brown people can also just be normal. I’m here for more heroes and heroines like this.

The Bad

The Writing/Pacing

The first third of the book was really hard for me to get through. There’s a lot of repetition in word usage, phrases, and general feelings that I couldn’t help but notice. A few examples: the term “relic” is used so many times. Was there not at least one synonym that could have been used? And Olivia “rolls her shoulders” to get rid of feelings about being watched about a million times through the story. I get it. She felt eyes on her. Next plot point, please. Which leads me to, the pacing. There’s so much action in this book! The problem I had was it wasn’t evenly dispersed enough to make the entire book story intense.

The Ugly Truth

For anyone looking for a quick, magic-filled archeological adventure, this one is for you! The Cursed Key is a trilogy, so make sure you prep yourself for a cliffhanger and some romantic tension you’ll be dying for.

Purchase Links

Amazon |B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

Talk To Me

 Will you be adding The Cursed Key to your reading list? Does it sound like something you’d want to read?

Trash Tuesday | My Trash Collection

Welcome back, Trash Mob! Today we’re talking about all the bookish merch we can’t live without. I’m sharing some of my favorites today, but if I listed out all my collection gear it would go on forever.

As always, here’s the link to the Trash Tuesday blog page if you want to know more.

Bookish Clothes

I know this might be a given for all book nerds, but I have a serious obsession with bookish clothing items. I have sports gear, summer gear, winter gear, and everything in between. I have an entire drawer in my closet that consists solely of book-related t-shirts and I think I might have a slight problem. Check out some of my favorite pieces!

 

Candles, and Room Sprays, and Essential Oils, Oh My

I have an intense candle and room spray collection based off fictional characters and worlds and it is not weird at all. Who knew Shadowhunters and Rhysand could smell so good (Correct Answer: ME).

 

Bags, Sleeves…All the Ways to Carry All The Books

I’ve lost count at how many sleeves and tote bags I have that relate to my need to read. I will never stop collecting ways to carry around my books. One can never have to much protection for their precious book covers!

Talk To Me

What’s in your trash collection? Anything we have in common? Any items I should add to my current stash?

Review | Nocturna

Nocturna (A Forgery of Magic #1)

By: Maya Motayne

Overall Rating: ★★★

Finn Voy is a face shifter who gets caught by a powerful mobster and forced into an impossible mission: steal a legendary treasure from Castallan’s royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever.

Prince Alfehr is dealing with the death of his brother and the realization that he is now first in line for the Castallan throne. He’s now obsessed with finding a way to bring his brother back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.

Finn and Alfie’s fates collide, they accidentally unlock a terrible, ancient power and now they have to capture it or risk the destruction of the entire world. As you can imagine, things don’t go well and we get some INTENSE fight scenes.

Theme Song

TL;DR

I really wanted to enjoy Nocturna more than I did. While it isn’t a terrible book, I felt it lacking in key places. I absolutely LOVED the Latin atmosphere – it was my favorite part of the entire novel – but the characters and world building could have done with some work. Overall, if you’re looking for a dense fantasy with Latinx vibes and have a short TBR, give this a go, but don’t get your hopes up for this to be your next obsession.

The Good

ALL THE LATIN GOODNESS

This was my first read this year for Hispanic Heritage Month and I was NOT disappointed. All the main characters are brown and proud with last names that speak of Hispanic descent. Everyone speaks Spanglish, moms and old ladies threaten the youth with chanclas, and celebrations aren’t complete without spiced hot chocolate, sangria and Bachata!

The Intensity

It takes about 150 pages (out of the 470 total) for things to pick up, but when it does things get DARK. Motayne doesn’t pull her punches, and some of the battle scenes where villain and protagonist face off get very gruesome and heavy. We’re dealing with family trauma, emotional & physical abuse, slides into alcoholism, and you may or may not see an attempt at a human deboning (yes, like what you do with fish). I always appreciate the darker side to fantasy novels and this definitely doesn’t disappoint.

The Bad

The Magic System

I found the magic system and set up to be VERY confusing…and I read a lot of fantasy books that involve unique magic systems. There was just a lot going on and, in my opinion, could have been stripped down or explained over the course of the entire series (which I hope there’s a book 2 but we’ll get to that soon). Castallans are all born with some type of “main” magic – earth, water, fire, etc. – which is known as elemental magic. Then, on top of that, there’s also a different type of magic that can be done with words. THEN, on top of that, you can also do magic with writing. THEN, to make things more confusing, some special people have “propio”, or a unique inner magic that gives them strange abilities. I seriously had to take notes on this while reading and I found myself over the entire set up super early on.

The Characters

Finn and Alfie are both broken, dark and complex. I usually love when characters have layers that need to be pulled back, but for some reason I just couldn’t connected with them.  I still feel the same way about these two now as I did on page one – indifferent. The character growth in this book is amazing, but the personalities didn’t mesh well with me.

THAT WAS THE ENDING? 

I went into this book thinking I was going to have a crazy, intense cliffhanger because Nocturna is book one in a series, but I was sadly disappointed. There are multiple threats that are mentioned throughout the book – the main antagonist (dark magic mentioned in the recap), the mob boss Finn has to deal with (also mentioned), then of course the plot twist shocker about Alfie’s brother’s murder. At 3/4 complete, nothing had been resolved, issues were forgotten about, and I thought for sure the ending was going to be heartbreaking. Instead, I got a lukewarm goodbye scene and an “all is seemingly well”. I honestly felt like I was reading a standalone, which I guess works well for those who don’t want to complete the series.

The Ugly Truth

Would I recommend Nocturna to my friends? Possibly…but I’d be hesitant. It has an awesome premise and the potential to be great, but I really want to see how book two plays out. It might make me feel differently about my read of book one. So, at this moment in time, WE’LL SEE.

Talk To Me

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think of it? Will you be adding it to your reading list soon?

Book Tag | Bookish Adventure

Thanks to @Jess – Fiction No Chaser for tagging me! It’s been a hot minute since I did any of the tags but this seemed like a great one to strike off my list.

Rules

Imagine that you are an intrepid literary adventurer- braving the harsh bookish wilderness, traversing jungles of pages and slashing through vines of words. Where in the vast world of books would you go?

• Write about one place mentioned in a book you wish you could visit and why.
• List 3-5 things that you would do there.
• Mention which souvenirs, if any, you would bring back with you.
• Then tag some more literary explorers and please link back to the creator (Umairah @ Sereadipity) so I can see all of your adventures!

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Where I Would Go

It took me a while to decide where I’d want to visit, but I came to the conclusion I’d stay in America because I really wish Rick Riordan’s Demigod world existed. I mean, maybe it really does and I’m just not lucky enough to have the site or be born to one of the *gods*. Percy, if you’re out there, I love you!

What I Would Do

• Visit Camp Half-Blood (obvi)
• Visit Camp Jupiter
• Convince Blackjack to give me a ride around the world
• Go looking for the magical Lotus Casino…I’m of age and it seems like a good time minus the whole getting trapped in time thing
• Visit Amazon headquarters so I can meet the Amazons and convince them to give me a free Prime membership

Souvenirs

Definitely saying I want to take Percy’s pen/sword, Hermes flying sneakers, and a Camp Half-Blood shirt home with me.

Tagging

Anyone who wants to do this tag!

Trash Tuesday | Characters I’m Trash For

Welcome back, Trash Mob! Today we’re talking about characters we’re obsessed with and I can’t wait to share mine. As always, here’s the link to the Trash Tuesday blog page if you want to know more.

I tried to keep my post on the shorter side because I didn’t want everyone reading 20-page essays. Now, let’s get trashy.

Jace Herondale, The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare 

Um, have I ever mentioned that I am IN LOVE with Jace from The Mortal Instruments. I have Jace art on my shelves and he is and always will be the bad boy for my heart. He’s witty, sarcastic and goes from angsty teenage boy to angsty adult. Did I mention he’s a part-angel demon hunter? And a blonde hottie with a body?

Hermione Granger, Harry Potter by JK Rowling

Let me count the ways I love Hermione. 1) We are both September Virgos. 2) We are both Gryffindors. 3) We are both ISTJ-As (according to 16Personalities). 4) We are both book nerds who need to get our priorities straight. Seriously, Hermione was one of my original idols. She’s strong, sassy, smart, and doesn’t take sh*t from anyone. I relate SO HARD to Hermione and I just want to be like her. Is that too much to ask?

Simon Randell, The Empirium Trilogy by Claire Legrand

SIMON RANDELL IS MY FAVORITE SLYTHERIN. He’s moody, knows how to use those weapons, and can sass talk you for days. If you haven’t read Furyborn, you should. It’s full of broken, complex characters, intense magic and TIME TRAVEL. This artwork is from the Furyborn preorder that I wish I had gotten.

Talk To Me

 Will you be joining Trash Tuesday? Any prompts you’re hoping to see in the future?

Review | Spin The Dawn

Spin The Dawn

By: Elizabeth Lim

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

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.

Of course, Maia gets caught, and all hell breaks loose. She’s sent on a daunting, epic journey on behalf of the King and takes along a magical sidekick in hopes of making it out alive.

Theme Song

TL;DR

Spin the Dawn is a Disney fairytale wrapped up in an EPIC fantasy box. If you love Mulan, Cinderella, Aladdin, or any of the Disney classics, you’ll love Lim’s take with her Project Runway twist. Just know you’ll have to wait for Fall 2020 for Book 2!

The Good

Disney Vibes

There are MAGICAL GLASS SLIPPERS, a MAGICAL CARPET RIDE, and a high-key reference to a trapped GENIE. Mix it all together with the “girl becomes boy to get what she wants” trope and you have all the makings of an awesome Disney fairytale-esque story. Not going to lie, the first 12 pages or so are the first 5 minutes of any Disney movie, so prepare for the tragic backstory and lots of tears.

The Questing

It doesn’t take long for Maia to be discovered and for her epic journey to begin. I loved every second of her trials. They’re high-stakes, full of magic, and INTENSE. I felt like I was on my own quest to find magical fabrics for dresses. You won’t be disappointed with Maia or her tasks.

The Romance

This is definitely a slow-burner and I wasn’t disappointed with the lack of smut. There are kisses and swoon-worthy moments and I was here for all of it. It’s refreshing to have a YA book that has cute love stories without millions of smut scenes. The romance level is appropriate for the book and I was content with the cute overload.

The Bad

That Reveal Though

I was really sad that Maia was found out so early on. I would have preferred it to be true to Mulan – or even She’s the Man/Twelfth Night/Every other “Girl becomes Boy” story – to see how that would have affected the plot and love story. It was perfect just the way it was, but of course if there is one thing I am going to think about it’s the what ifs. 

The Ugly Truth

If you love fantasy, fashion, and/or fairy tales you will love Spin the Dawn! I would highly recommend bumping this up on your TBR list.

Talk To Me

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think of it? Will you be adding it to your reading list soon?

Trash Tuesday | September & October Prompts

Welcome back, Trash Mob! I’m so excited that some of you wanted to join in on Trash Tuesday fun. I decided to put together the next 8 weeks worth of prompts for everyone and I can’t wait to see what you all write about.

If you do join, please link back to my Trash Tuesday blog page so others can find more info if they want.

See below for the next round of prompts. I’ve added in some context in case it’s needed, but remember these are meant to be open-ended, so use them however you’d like to gush about what you’d like!

September 17th: Characters I’m Trash For

Fictional characters you’re obsessed with. Boys, girls, men, women, monsters, pets, sentient beings…you name it, we’re here for it.

September 24th: Fandom Trash

Please share all the fandoms you’re part of. We all need more crews to join.

October 1st: Trash Collection 

What collectibles can you just NOT stop buying?

October 8th: Non-Bookish Trash 

We’re all here for more hobbies outside or reading.

October 15th: Cover Trash

Share the Trash book covers you can’t get enough of.

October 22nd: Villain Trash 

Spooky vibes because why not? Villains need love too.

October 29th: Supernatural Trash

Late night…are you google Vampire, Faerie, Zombie, Witch, Werewolf…something weirder? We want in.

Talk To Me

 Will you be joining Trash Tuesday? Any prompts you’re hoping to see in the future?

Trash Tuesday | New Obsessions

Hey fam, welcome to my newest thing. Before we get into things, I wanted to acknowledge the definition of TRASH that we’ll be using. Thanks to Urban Dictionary, I didn’t need to come up with my own explanation, so to make it easier here’s what it means to be trash. Example: I am complete trash for Shadowhunters…but I digress. 

This topic came about when I was discussing my current obsession (hot lumberjack Bear Shifters) with the squad – @Loretta & @Jess. I was jokingly mentioning how I should start a blog theme about all the weird randomness I become trash for and they were super into it. So, here we are! (Shoutout to Loretta for making the awesome banner & logo.)

We’re hoping to make this into a weekly thing with weird open-ended prompts and all (like non-book related things we’re trash for, bad boys, ridiculous covers), so please let us know in the comments if you’re interested in joining the trash mob. To get a feel for what these would be like, keep reading. My first Trash Tuesday is all about T.S. Joyce and her Shifter Series! So, without further ado, here is the latest trash that I am currently trash for. 

*Disclaimer: All mentions of “trash” are made in a super loving manner. I love trash books and don’t actually think they’re trash, so haters please move along.

SHIFTER WEREBEARS ARE A THING YOU NEED IN LIFE

T.S. Joyce writes paranormal romance novels about hot lumberjacks and firemen…who turn into bears (and lions, and gorillas and dragons OH.MY.) Seriously, I never thought I needed these in my life but I ended up binging 23 books within the matter of a month. I repeat TWENTY THREE BOOKS IN ONE MONTH. I’m KILLING my Goodreads challenge thanks to this series, and I’m not even done yet. There are like fifty something books that span multiple generations of shifters and you get hot, steamy vibes in them all. What am I doing with my life now? Trying to figure out which shifter I love the most.

I’m also going to take a moment to appreciate the fact that Joyce actually keeps a consistent timeline and plot throughout the entire series and focuses on actual problems/villains  they run into instead of just the smut. Don’t get me wrong, the fluff and smut is great, but there’s depth in this series, too. Don’t mind me while I start a fan casting page dedicated to hot lumberjacks.

Please join me in my love for all things shifters. I need a crew and more people to obsess because AKSHDFDKJHSG. I have no words for how trash I’ve become for shifters.

Talk To Me

How do you feel about paranormal romances? Do you think you’d read T.S. Joyce? Are you looking forward to more Trash Tuesdays?

September TBR | Hispanic Heritage Month

How is it already September?! If you didn’t notice, I took a lot of summer off to focus on me and enjoy the world outside of blogging. My summer reading slump hit me like a ton of bricks, but now I’m back in action and my first order of business is hitting my TBR pile hard. I’m hoping to get through some solid reading with stories that all have to do with my Latinx heritage. Why, might you ask? Well…

I wish I was more connected with my Mexican culture in so many ways, but growing up without stories with little brown girls didn’t make it any easier. Why aren’t we ever the heroines in the stories? Why don’t we ever get the guy/girl? I decided to do some research and realized maybe I was just looking in the wrong places for books that highlight my culture.

Queue: This month’s potential reading list to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which kicks off on the 15th! My goal is to read at least 4 books on this list, if not more. These were all chosen based on genre, author, and main character backgrounds and all have Latinx roots in some way. I also had to do some major digging more these, so please feel free to add them to your TBRs if you’re looking for more Latinx in your life!

*Disclaimer: I am by no means in expert in Latinx reading, but I’m hoping to find some great reads along my journey and if you have any recommendations, I would love to know!

The Books

1. Nocturna (A Forgery of Magic #1)  by Maya Motayne

“Set in a Latinx-inspired world, a face-changing thief and a risk-taking prince must team up to defeat a powerful evil they accidentally unleashed.” MAGIC FANTASY LATIX WORLD AND I AM IN

2. The Storm Runner (The Storm Runner #1) by J.C Cervantes

“Feisty heroes, tricky gods, murderous demons, and spirited giants are just some of the pleasures that await in this fresh and funny take on Maya mythology, as rich and delicious as a mug of authentic hot chocolate.”

This has literally been sitting on my shelf for ages and I’m ready for some Mayan gods and abuelita’s hot chocolate. Please and thank you.

3. Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas #1) by Zoraida Cordova

“Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation…and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo she can’t trust, but who may be Alex’s only chance at saving her family.”

I see Bruja Born EVERY.WHERE. and didn’t even realize it was part of a series, so hello to book 1. I’m obsessed with all things brujeria so let’s do this.

4.  The Living (The Living #1) by Matt de la Pena

“The earthquake is only the first disaster. Suddenly it’s a fight to survive for those left living.”

I don’t know where this one is going to take me, but post-apocalyptic stories are my kind of stories.

5. Shadowshaper (Shadowshaper #1) by Daniel José Older

“With the help of her friends and the hot graffiti artist Robbie, Sierra must dodge Wick’s supernatural creations, harness her own Shadowshaping abilities, and save her family’s past, present, and future.”

As you can see, I have a type…fantasy/urban fantasy/magic.

6. The Gateway Through Which They Came by Heather Marie

“To seventeen-year-old Aiden Ortiz, letting the dead walk through his body to reach the other side comes with the territory. Being a Gateway isn’t an easy job, but someone’s gotta send Bleeders where they belong. Heaven. Salvation. Call it whatever you want. Dead is dead. But when his search for Koren Banks––the girl who went mysteriously missing seven months ago––leaves him with more questions than answers, he finds himself involved in something far more sinister and beyond his control.”

I’ve heard this one is a bit on the younger side of YA, but I’m gonna give it a try.

7. The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore

“For twenty years, the Palomas and the Corbeaus have been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows—the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find.”

Um, Latinx Romeo and Juliet? Yes, please.

8. City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende

“But there are many secrets hidden in the unexplored wilderness, as Alex and his new friend Nadia soon discover. Drawing on the strength of their spirit guides, both young people are led on a thrilling and unforgettable journey to the ultimate discovery. . . .”

This is meant to be a younger-skewing YA series, but I’m into Percy Jackson so why not give this a try.

9. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

“The brilliant, bestselling, landmark novel that tells the story of the Buendia family, and chronicles the irreconcilable conflict between the desire for solitude and the need for love—in rich, imaginative prose that has come to define an entire genre known as “magical realism.”

Another one that I’m not quite sure I’ll love, but I hear great things and I’m expanding my palette TYVM.

10. Aristotle & Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

“And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.”

Everyone has been raving about this and while the genre it isn’t normally my cup of tea, I’m going all in. I might be surprised.

Talk To Me

What did you think of my picks? Any other Latinx reads you would recommend? Any from my list that you want to add to your TBR?