Sunday Post (Weekly Wrap Up November 18th-24th) #SundayPost #Blogging #WrapUp #Reading

Sunday post picture meme girl

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This meme was created for bloggers to spotlight posts they published in the week, as well as to talk about what they plan to write in the week that’s coming.

Sunday post is also great opportunity to showcase books we got in the week behind us.

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Hi Guys!

This week was slow and relaxing. I feel like I have less and less energy in me. I think it’s because of pregnancy.

Yesterday I had a lovely day with my friend Monika. We went into Chinese restaurant for lunch, and after that in a really nice caffee for Pumpkin Spice Late.
I had best intention to take pictures and then I simply forgot. I guess we’ll have to go back at some point!

Today I plan to watch a Christmas movie on tv, answer to every comment on my blog and to finish a book I’m reading.
So I guess it will be a slow, relaxing Sunday.

Last Week on Book Dust Magic:

Monday: In Movie Monday I talked about A Christmas Detour    
Wednesday: I gave you my thoughts on The Hunting of Hill House Netflix show
Thursday: I reviewed The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
Friday: I talked about the time I met Katherine Arden
Saturday: I reviewed Well Met by Jen DeLuca

Next Week on Book Dust Magic

Upcoming reviews:

The Christmas Invitation by Trisha Ashley book cover, UK edition One Winter Morning by Isabelle Broom book cover
I am also preparing some lifestyle posts.

Currently reading:

Bid my Soul Farewell by Beth Revis book cover I am reading the second and final book in Give the Dark my Love duology and I am in love with everything. If you ask me, this is one of the best fantasy series out there.

Giveaway:

I am hosting an international giveaway in which you can win a signed copy of The Bear and the Nightingale. You can enter here.

That is it!
Let me know what’s been going on with you, what you’ve been reading or watching this week and feel free to leave your links so I can visit you.
Have a lovely Sunday!

Best books I read in 2018 #BookBloggers #BookLovers #reading #BestOf2018

2018 was a good year for me reading wise. I managed to read 75 books which I’m pretty satisfied with.
When I look back at all the books I read, there are some I rated 5 stars that I don’t remember much about, but there are also some I rated 3 stars that left a huge impact on me.

I was thinking about doing my Top 10 books I read in 2018 list, but in the end I decided to go with 13 that now seem like the most important ones I read. I just couldn’t force myself to leave behind any of those books.

Not all of them were 5 stars, but they all left a big impression on me, and I am very thankful that I had a chance to read all of them.

 

1. The Olive Branch by Jo Thomas

This year I was fortunate enough to discover Jo Thomas, and out of all of her books I read, The Olive Branch was my favorite.
This book was perfect in any way, and it made me happy. It was well structured, with good story, great characters and so many positive vibes.
A chick lit novel at it’s best!

 

2. One Day in December by Josie Silver

You know a story is good when it makes you feel all kinds of emotions and you think about it again and again, even days after you finished it.
This is the book I finished two months ago, so it is the “freshest” in my memory, but I feel like it will stay with me for a long, long time.
If I could recommend only one festive book to my followers, it would be this one.

3. Darcy Burdock by Laura Dockrill

This middle grade comedy made me laugh out loud so many times that I lost the count. It won my heart and it is now one of my all time favorite books. It’s the one I recommended the most when it comes to middle grades, and I am so happy to know that there are so many sequels with Darcy to enjoy.

4. Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land

Good Me, Bad Me surprised me, because I never expected to like it that much. What I liked the most when it comes to this novel is it’s writing style. I wish more psychological thrillers were written in a similar way.

5. While I Was Sleeping by Dani Atkins

If I should pick only one book that put me on an emotional rollercoaster, While I Was Sleeping is the one. It made me sad in ways I didn’t even know was possible, and it made me care about one character like I knew her from my real life.
Even though I was mad the story didn’t took a path I was hoping for, I am still so in love with this novel because I remember the feels, and it is the book I will be coming back to.

6. Five Years from Now by Paige Toon

Speaking of emotional stories, this list wouldn’t be complete without Five Years from Now. It made me cry, and not many books can do that.
It contains my favorite theme: two people who love each other but can’t be together, finding their ways to each other.
It is also very realistic, especially with the way it ended.
This novel is also one I want to re-read many times during my lifetime.

7. The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton

The Perfect Girlfriend is definitely the most unique story I have read in 2018. Written from the perspective of a psychopath, it made me understand and even root for the main character, even though I knew what she was doing was wrong.
This book is the one I recommend to everyone who likes thrillers, and I am so happy that it was also translated into Croatian.

8. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Going into The Cruel Prince my expectations were very high, but I was not disappointed. In fact, I was kinda surprised how good it was. I already knew I would like it, because I liked books by Holly Black before, and since my favorite creatures, faeries, were involved, I knew I would love the world too.
I fell in love with the characters, the story and of course, with the world.
This book is next on my to be re-read list, because the sequel comes out in a few days.

9. Give the Dark my Love by Beth Revis

Another ya fantasy I fell in love with, another series I can’t wait to continue. What I liked the most about Give the Dark my Love was character development, the dark atmosphere and the unique world.
I hope next books in the series will also be good, because there’s a big chance this could become one of my all-time favorite book series.

10. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

I feel like everyone and their mothers read this book already, and in 2018 I joined the club. Everyone from my colleagues also read it, and we discussed it many times. This book stayed with me, and even today I caught myself thinking about one scene.
I feel like books that you go back to again and again in your thoughts deserve to be on the best one’s list.
I can’t even count how many times I recommended this book to people around me, and to clients at my work.

11. The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

Of all the Mistborn books I read this year, I decided to feature the last one from the original series in this list, because of it’s conclusion.
This series is probably the best fantasy series I have read, it is certainly the most unique and Brandon Sanderson is an incredible writer. I love the creatures he created in this universe, called kendra. I am not sure if kendra is his own creation, or was it inspired by some mythical creature, but it is worth of admiration in any way.

12. Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

Surprise Me was one of my most anticipated books of 2018. and it didn’t disappoint. In fact, it even surprised me, because it took a turn I didn’t expect. I liked how different it was from Kinsella’s other books, and it is now in my top 3 of her novels.

13. I See You by Clare Mackintosh

I read this novel back in January, but it stayed with me the whole time. I certainly didn’t expect what a huge impact on me this book will have, not even after I finished it. Sometimes we are not immediately aware of the quality in front of us, but time shows us what our subconsciousness recognized. This book is the proof, and it is now one of the best books I read.

 

That is it!

Please tell me what are your favorite books that you’ve read this year?
Also, if you have similar post to this one, feel free to leave your links.

Book Review: Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis @PHRGlobal #partner #GiveTheDarkMyLove #BookReview

Title: Give the Dark My Love
Author: Beth Revis
Series: Give the Dark My Love (#1)
Publisher: Razorbill, Penguin
Date: September 25th, 2018
Pages: 368
Format: eARC
Source: from Publisher for a review

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads): When seventeen-year-old Nedra Brysstain leaves her home in the rural, northern territories of Lunar Island to attend the prestigious Yugen Academy, she has only one goal in mind: learn the trade of medicinal alchemy. A scholarship student matriculating with the children of Lunar Island’s wealthiest and most powerful families, Nedra doesn’t quite fit in with the other kids at Yugen, who all look down on her.

All, except for Greggori “Grey” Astor. Grey is immediately taken by the brilliant and stubborn Nedra, who he notices is especially invested in her studies. And that’s for a good reason: a deadly plague has been sweeping through the North, and it’s making its way toward the cities. With her family’s life–and the lives of all of Lunar Island’s citizens–on the line, Nedra is determined to find a cure for the plague.

Grey and Nedra continue to grow closer, but as the sickness spreads and the body count rises, Nedra becomes desperate to find a cure. Soon, she finds herself diving into alchemy’s most dangerous corners–and when she turns to the most forbidden practice of all, necromancy, even Grey might not be able to pull her from the darkness.

Review:

Trigger warning: this book contains graphic surgical operation scenes, talks about deathly disease and also has some scenes with animal cruelty.

 

Give the Dark My Love was one of my most anticipated books this year. 
In all honesty, the first thing that appealed to me was this gorgeous cover, then the synopsis.

This was my first time consciously reading an anti-hero story, and God I loved it so much!
I’ve heard before from many readers how anti-heroes stories are the best ones, but I guess it takes one to read until he’s proven right!

I’ll tell you this, and I mean it wholeheartedly: Give the Dark My Love is one of the best (if not even the best) books I read this year and it will surely be in my top 10 books I read in 2018.
I loved so many things about it, and I am on a mission to tell you everything, so you’d pick it up and hopefully love it as much as I did.

First of all, character development: I loved, loved, loved how the characters we met at the beginning of the story were totally different persons at the end.
There is nothing that I love more in my books then a good character development, and this novel has it at it’s best.

Second: It explores grief and human relationships on such a strong level that even though this world our characters live in is so different from ours, we still empathize with them, understand their feelings and grief with them.
This is fantasy, but still it feels real in a way.

Third: The world is unique, different, dark and gives you creeps. It is perfect for those who like dark fantasies, but it is also perfect as a pick for a spooky read, especially in this time of the year when everyone wants to have that Halloween feeling.

Fourth: Exploring alchemy and necromancy is very interesting in this book, that I even had a feeling I was learning something new.

Fifth: Political games also play part in the story, as one fantasy wouldn’t be complete without it.

Sixth: What kind of story set in high school would it be without little high school drama? Give the Dark My Love has little drama in it, but it is nothing too big and it has it’s reason, but it’s also entertaining at time.

And seventh and final: The writing style is sooooooo good, you will fly through this book and it will keep you interested from the start to the end.

Overall, I am so pleased I have read this book. I had so much fun reading it, but it also made me emotional and I can’t even tell you how many times I have said “OmG, this book is so good!” while reading it.
The start and the first half are pretty good, but the second half is what made this book exceptional!

I would recommend this book to lovers of dark fantasy, adult and young adult.
I would also recommend it to readers who would like to try to read fantasy and to those who like stories about anti-heroes.

I can’t wait for the second book to come out!