How has 2020 affected your blog?

So, 2020. 

Yep. 

Truly, I feel like a broken record this year. Every time I post I feel like I'm reiterating that I've been MIA, but that I promise I'll be posting more regularly. And then, I just don't. Because this year has truly been the biggest dumpster fire I've ever experienced.
 

Sometimes, I look around and feel like my blogging friends are all doing great! You're still posting regularly and interacting with the community and I genuinely wonder how it's possible. Please, allow me to share an infographic detailing my 2020. 

The funny thing about all of this is that I'm actually feeling okay overall. I'm reading and keeping up with my goals for the year for the most part. I'm enjoying hobbies and taking more time for self care. But it seems like something (what?) keeps me from sitting down and posting. I try, I really do, but as soon as I sit in front of the computer, I decide I literally just cannot. Can someone who understands psychology please explain this? 

But I know, I KNOW that there have to be people struggling as much as I am. So today I want to know how 2020 has impacted your blogging habits. Are you still reading and posting like you have every other year? Even MORE than every other year? Or have you, like me, dropped off the planet just a bit?

Top Ten Tuesday #284: Bookish pet names

 

Today's Topic: 

Characters I’d Name a Pet After

Happy Tuesday! This is such a fun topic! I already have dogs named after book characters: my 11-year-old Toy Fox Terrier is named Bella (don't judge), the 9-year-old Chiweenie is named Luna, and my little Kovu's middle name was Rhysand. Bookish puppies are the best puppies!  

Wolf | Perrin | Pippin | Kestrel | Grey

Echo | Galaxy | Nyx | Wrath | Rhysand

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Weekly Recap: 11/8 - 11/14

HAPPENINGS OFF THE BLOG

Hi, everyone! I hope everyone is still doing okay. I didn't make a post last Sunday because I was STRESSED following the election, etc. But I'm back, hurray! And because I skipped a week it looks like I did an extra lot of reading and shopping. :D During our post-election recharge, my husband and I have been researching puppies and think we may have found one we're really excited about. Of course, actually getting a puppy will have to wait until sometime next year, but yay! Another dog could never replace our Kovu, but we (I) desperately want another dog in the house. 

When it comes to bookish things in the last couple of weeks, I read a few dark adult fantasy books and then took a sharp turn into fantasy romance. I started with Kingdom of the Wicked (amazing!) and now I'm deep into The Bridge Kingdom (stress!). Next up will probably be A Deal With the Elf King. I've also been seriously thinking about creating a reading schedule to attempt reading multiple books at once. I got the idea from Erin @ As the Book Ends, but failed miserably the first time I tried it. Maybe next time it'll stick? 

In less exciting news, my brother had to go back into the hospital for emergency surgery at the end of last week due to an infection in his leg at the bone level. If you didn't know already, my brother was in a really bad climbing accident in the summer and suffered a compound fracture in his leg, which he's been recovering from. Hopefully this surgery will be his last! He's back at home now adjusting to this added complication. He does seem to be in good spirits though! He does have a GoFundMe and I also forced him to make a book wishlist (is smol) just in case anyone is able and has the desire to help him get back on his feet (and stay sane in the process). 

NEW BOOKS THIS WEEK

   

  

THIS WEEK I READ

   

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

ARC review of The Fires of Vengeance

I shared a list of spooky books and movies for Halloween

The topic was bookish song titles for Top Ten Tuesday

Book review of Kingdom of the Wicked

UPCOMING REVIEWS

Will it actually happen this week?

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I'm linking up to Stacking the Shelves & The Sunday Post!

Book Review: Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked #1)
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publication Date: October 27, 2020
Publisher: JIMMY Patterson
Pages: 448
Add to Goodreads

Amazon | Bookshop.org

Two sisters.

One brutal murder.

A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself…

And an intoxicating romance.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems…

I will absolutely admit that I was skeptical of Kingdom of the Wicked. I read every book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, although I was unimpressed by all of them. Still, I was drawn to the promise of enemies-to-lovers romance with a Prince of Hell and could not resist. 

Kingdom of the Wicked is so completely different than Stalking Jack the Ripper and I couldn't be more pleased! While there is a murder mystery here, the fantasy elements of the Princes of Hell and their kingdom were at the forefront. Emilia is a strong (if reckless) heroine with a compelling story. I felt her devastation at the loss of her sister and sympathized with her desire to hold on to every piece of her. 

As usual, I was most concerned with the enemies-to-lovers romance, but I need not have been because this one was incredibly well written! The hatred between Emilia and Wrath was believable, as was Emilia's doubt as they grew to tolerate each other a bit more. Wrath was such a fascinating love interest! He managed to be both intimidating and gentle at the same time and I obviously ship it. The chemistry was SO good. We knew that it would be after Cresswell and Audrey Rose, but this was on another level. 

While the story was set in Italy, the witchy and Hell mythologies were incredibly well written. I am so hyped to see more of the Kingdom of the Wicked in the second book! Based on what was already introduced, I have a feeling the Princes' world is going to be amazing. 

I didn't realize until almost the very end that this book was the first in a series and promptly almost cried. The next book can't come soon enough! I am dying to find out what will happen after the cliffhanger this story ended on. I'll definitely be recommending this to all my dark-fantasy loving friends!

Top Ten Tuesday #283: Bookish song titles

 

Today's Topic: 

Book Titles that Would 

Make Great Song Titles

Happy Tuesday! I'm actually posting and I'm so proud of me! Today's topic was a strange one, especially since I don't tend to listen to much music, but these are ten songs that I'd definitely listen to!   

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.