2018 Beat the Backlist Challenge

I stumbled across this challenge while visiting other blogs and decided to check it out! It sounds like so much fun, and definitely motivates me to do something I've been wanting to do for years. I have sooo many books on my shelves that need to be read, and they keep getting skipped for something else. There's absolutely nothing wrong with them, but there's always another book to read (being a mood reader doesn't help).

Beat the Backlist focuses on reading titles that have been on your TBR for a while, which is a wonderful way to tackle the remaining unread books on my shelves! I've almost caught up on everything, and I'm hoping this challenge is the push I need.

Guidelines (via Novel Knight):

The challenge will run from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. You have an ENTIRE YEAR to complete your goal!

Books must be released prior to 2018 to count for this challenge. Although we love new releases too, this isn’t the challenge for them.

I also love that re-reads are included in this challenge, because that's also something I've really been wanting to do! This will also be my first official challenge since coming back to blogging! If you want to start a few months late (like me), you can join and include books that you've already read this year (as long as they fit the criteria!) so you won't be too far behind.

Oh, and there are teams! It's completely optional, but I love the idea of having support while participating in a challenge. There is also an opportunity to win a prize, if your team has the most points at the end! I feel like I'm missing vital information, but you get the gist. Check out their blog (linked above) if you'd like to know more!

My goal for the 2018 Beat the Backlist Challenge: 100 books

Are you participating in any challenges this year? What are they? What do you think about this one? Let me know!

Edit (04/18/18): I'm a Dewey Dragon!

♡

What I've read so far:

1. Breath of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles, #2) by Amanda Bouchet
2. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
3. The Baller by Vi Keeland
4. You Don't Know My Name (The Black Angel Chronicles, #1) by Kristen Orlando
5. White Hot (Hidden Legacy, #2) by Ilona Andrews
6. Wildfire (Hidden Legacy, #3) by Ilona Andrews
7. Deep (Stage Dive, #4) by Kylie Scott
8. Begin Again (Again, #1) by Mona Kasten
9. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
10. Binti (Binti, #1) by Nnedi Okorafor
11. Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1) by Marissa Meyer
12. How to Love by Katie Cotugno
13. The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett
14. Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2) by Marissa Meyer
15. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
16. The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor, #1) by Jessica Townsend
17. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
18. Lost and Found Sisters (Wildstone, #1) by Jill Shalvis
19. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
20. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
21. Caraval (Caraval, #1) by Stephanie Garber
22. You by Caroline Kepnes
23. We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
24. Autoboyography  by Christina Lauren
25. Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles, #2) by Melina Marchetta
26. The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
27. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1) by J.K. Rowling *re-read
28. Geekerella (Starfield, #1) by Ashley Poston 
29. Royally Screwed (Royally, #1) by Emma Chase
30. Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3) by Marissa Meyer
31. Renegades (Renegades, #1) by Marissa Meyer
32. Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley
33. Sea of Shadows (Age of Legends, #1) by Kelley Armstrong
34. Empire of the Night (Age of Legends, #2) by Kelley Armstrong
35. Forest of Ruin (Age of Legends, #3) by Kelley Armstrong
36. Silver Silence (Psy-Changeling Trinity, #1) by Nalini Singh
37. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
38. Forever, or a Long, Long Time by Caela Carter
39. Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles, #1) by Suzanne Collins
40. The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout
41. Wintersong (Wintersong, #1) by S. Jae-Jones
42. Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
43. Royally Matched (Royally, #2) by Emma Chase 
44. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2) by J.K. Rowling
45. Mosquitoland by David Arnold
46. Royally Endowed (Royally, #3) by Emma Chase
47. Roar (Stormheart, #1) by Cora Carmack
48. Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4) by Marissa Meyer
49. The Wild Robot (The Wild Robot, #1) by Peter Brown
50. Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1) by Laini Taylor
51. Nightmares! (Nightmares!, #1) by Jason Segel, Kirsten Miller, Karl Kwasny (Illustrator)
52. Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1) by Ilona Andrews
53. Once and for All by Sarah Dessen
54. Roomies by Christina Lauren
55. Snowed In by Rachel Hawthorne
56. Moonlight Over Manhattan (From Manhattan with Love, #6) by Sarah Morgan
57. Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1) by Eoin Colfer
58. Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, #2) by Ilona Andrews
59. The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1) by Katherine Arden
60. The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
61. My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, #1) by Jean Craighead George
62. Tangled (Tangled, #1) by Emma Chase

My Weekly Pull [15]

My Weekly Pull is something I do every Wednesday to show which comics I had pulled for me that week! If you're into comics, or you're looking to start, please join me! If you decide to do your own post, leave a link in the comments. I would love to stop by and check it out!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #81 by Tom Waltz, Brahm Revel, Kevin Eastman

Despicable Deadpool #298 by Gerry Duggan, Mike Hawthorne

Domino #1 by Gail Simone, David Baldeon, Greg Land

Falcon #7 by Rodney Barnes, Sebastian Cabrol, Jay Anacleto

Spider-Man Deadpool #31 by Robbie Thompson, Chris Bachalo

Thanos #18 by Donny Cates, Geoff Shaw, Mike Perkins (Venom 30th Anniversary Variant)

Venomized #2 (of 5) by Cullen Bunn, Iban Coello, 

X-Men Red #3 by Tom Taylor, Mahmud A. Asrar, Inhyuk Lee (Venom 30th Anniversary Variant)

Do you remember when I said we were going to cut back on our comics? Well, that's very difficult to do when more comics are being released that I really want to read! Do you see that Domino cover? It looks amazing! X-Men Red is only on it's third issue, but it's already sooo good. I'm not entirely sure what Venomized is (still reading through all the Venom issues), but I love that cover of him eating pizza on the wall.

It's not a big pull this week, but that gives us more time to sort through what we already have. I don't think we can fit any more comic boxes in our closet. 🤷

The Rules of Rebellion by Amity Hope | Blog Tour: Book Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

#TheRulesOfRebellion

Hello! Welcome to the next stop on The Rules of Rebellion blog tour hosted by Entangled Publishing. I'm really happy to share my thoughts on this book with you, as well as an excerpt from the story! The Rules of Rebellion was released into the world on April 2nd and can be found here.

♡

Synopsis (via Goodreads):
1. Skinny dip (her idea)
2. Stargaze (his idea)
3. Prank someone (her idea)
4. Go on a date (his idea)

Leo Zimmerman has had a crush on his curvy friend Kylie Jenkins since forever, so when he discovers the girl with a flair for candy making has a newfound plan to rebel against her overbearing parents, he’s determined to be the one to help her carry it out. Who better than himself to show her the ropes of letting loose?

Sure, taking her to her first high school party, helping her sneak out of the house, or watching a sunset together isn’t exactly a hardship, but much harder is masking his feelings the more time they spend together. And when he suggests adding “a first date” to Kylie’s plan and she accepts…suddenly all his dreams seem to be coming true.

But Leo’s got a secret that could change everything between them, and it’s only a matter of time before it comes to the surface. 

𑁋

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. 

This is my first book by Amity Hope! The Rules of Rebellion was cute and managed to tackle a tough topic: bullying. In high school, Kylie's sister was body-shamed and bullied so intensely, she begged her parents to let her move in with an aunt. I liked that the author addressed such a serious issue, and brought attention to something so important.

As for the story itself, I started off incredibly confused. Kylie has three older siblings, three girlfriends with three boyfriends, and then Leo. Leo also has three or four older siblings, so it all became a bit too much. There were a lot of names being thrown around in the beginning, and I kept getting them mixed up. Was Meg dating Adam, Nate or Luke? Which guy lived out of town? Did he date Julia or Maddie? Wait, no... Maddie was one of the sisters...

I was almost finished with the book before I started to sort people out. It didn't help that the secondary characters (other than Allie) didn't get addressed very often. They were just fluff for the story and didn't really have any defining characteristics of their own. I think if they had been fleshed out a tad more, I wouldn't have felt so lost when names were tossed around.

I will admit to being super judgmental of Kylie's parents. They wanted to control every male aspect of their daughter's lives, and I felt like they went a little overboard. You can tell two teenagers to keep their hands in "safe places" until you are blue in the face, but you can't watch them forever. I'm pretty sure hands will wander, because that's what teenagers (and adults) do. I think parents should trust their kids, and be confident in their ability to make good decisions. They shouldn't be terrified to bring a love interest home with them.

However, Maddie's circumstances did warrant a little extra protectiveness, and I can see why her parents were on edge when it came to boys. It just sucked for all of Maddie's sisters.

I loved the idea of having a list to cross off. I am a big fan of lists and love how it feels when I complete one. It's like I've accomplished something spectacular! I wish I had made lists like this in high school, because I think it might have made me take a few more chances and try new things.

Leo was adorable, and I loved his projects. I think he and I would have gotten along smashingly, but only after I punched his dad in the face. He's sweet, considerate, but lacked the ability to say what was important. A little more honestly on both sides, and this book would have turned out a lot differently.

This review got away from me, so I guess I had more to say than I thought. I liked the book and thought it was fun, but I wasn't wowed by their story. There were too many things nagging at me while I read this, so it took away from my overall enjoyment.

Venom (#1-6) by Mike Costa

Venom (#1-6)  by Mike Costa, Gerardo Sandoval (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): VENOM IS BACK AND BADDER THAN EVER! The symbiote you know and love has returned to New York City. No more "Agent of the Cosmos." No more "Lethal Protector." It's time for a new Venom, and it's great to be bad. 

𑁋

I've always been fascinated by Venom! He's a symbiote from space that bonds with other hosts. His first host on earth was Spider-Man. When you see the black and white Spider-Man costume, that's when Venom is around. However, Spider-Man is never Venom, he remains Spider-Man. Everyone else actually becomes Venom.

Venom has bonded with a lot of people, but not all of them were good. Lee Price is the perfect example of an asshat that only wants to use Venom for personal gain. He sees Venom as a suit, and he's only interested in what he can get out of their pairing. He imprisons the symbiote within his mind (a scary place to be), and essentially treats him like a thing. It's disgusting and I despise Lee Price.

I did enjoy this arc, though. It allowed us to see how Venom has changed since coming to earth, and what he's learned being bonded with other people. He's changed over time, but he genuinely wants to help people and be a good person. He wants to be a hero.

I'm not crazy familiar with Venom and all of his hosts, but I do know of Flash Thompson and Eddie Brock. In the sixth issue we move from Price (yay!) to Eddie. I'm not sure how the story will continue from here, because I still need to read the issues after this one. I'm way, way behind on this series, but I wanted to read them all before the new Donny Cates series starts.

If you're looking for a slightly darker comic, with a lot of ties to Spider-Man, this might be something you'd like. Venom is interesting on his own, but it's always fun to see how things work out when he is paired with someone else. He retains their information and abilities, which makes him a formidable opponent in any battle. He's also scary in general, haha.

*Spider-Man does do something slightly awful, so I might be a little miffed at him right now. I'm also really excited about the new Venom movie! Ahhh! #WeAreVenom

My Name Is Venus Black: A Novel by Heather Lloyd

Synopsis (via Goodreads): In this stirring, life-affirming debut novel, a young woman must reconcile her past with its far-reaching consequences on her quest for redemption.

I think about this a lot lately, trying to figure out how I got here. I trace my life back in time, looking for all those places in the past where, if I could change one key detail, I would never have seen what I saw or done what I did that terrible February night.

Venus Black is a straitlaced, straight-A student obsessed with the phenomena of astronomy—until the night she commits a shocking crime that tears her family apart and ignites a media firestorm. Venus refuses to talk about what happened or why, except to blame her mother. Adding to the mystery, Venus’s developmentally challenged younger brother, Leo, suddenly goes missing.

Five years later, Venus emerges from prison with a suitcase of used clothes, a fake identity, and a determination to escape her painful past. Estranged from her mother, and with her brother still missing, she sets out to make a fresh start, skittish and alone. But as new people enter her orbit—including a romantic interest and a young girl who seems like a mirror image of her former lost self—old wounds resurface, and Venus realizes that she can’t find a future while she’s running from her past. 

"If you ask me, we’re all born by accident and there’s no such thing as God. We travel through this life with no real trajectory, ricocheted here and there by the consequences of other people’s actions. And it works both ways, of course. The stupidest little thing we do can alter the future for so many people."

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Also, the quotes I used may have changed or been altered in some way, but I am quoting from what I received.

My Name Is Venus Black made me feel a lot of things. I thought I knew what to expect when I started this, but I was wrong. I was pleasantly surprised with the story and how beautifully it was portrayed. I was also heartbroken and insane with uncertainty on more than one occasion.

The beginning is hard to read, because you have no idea what's going on. The author keeps the specifics to herself, and slowly lets things slip as the story progresses. You have to very patient with this book, because nothing is rushed. It was painful at times, especially when her brother goes missing and years pass before the story continues. 

The writing was phenomenal! I loved the way the author spoke through the characters.

"That’s another thing that got me here. Nothing is as it appears. It’s like that with space. Objects that look round might not be, and stars that look close to each other might be billions of miles apart. And it’s the same with people. Only instead of standing too far away to see the truth, you’re probably standing too close."

I can't say I would have done things the same way Venus did, but I can see why she made certain decisions. Her mother was...ugh. I really wish she had done more for her children. We get an idea of what her mindset was like, but I still don't agree with her reasoning. She seemed disconnected.

I really enjoyed the parts that are told through Leo's perspective. He's developmentally challenged, and I think the author did a great job conveying his thoughts. I can't imagine that is an easy thing to do, but I felt like I understood a lot about Leo. It was fascinating to see how he viewed what was happening around him, his choices for dealing with what happened, and other things that occur later on.

I also like that this book brings attention to how hard it is for someone being released from prison. They've served their sentence, but the world doesn't make it easy for them once they get out. It's a constant battle for them to try and make something with their lives, especially when they've been kept away from the world they are now expected to live in.

My heart was so torn while I read this. I felt conflicted about my feelings and how I wanted the story to end. I didn't agree with a lot that happened (and I think it's great when an author can help me perceive viewpoints so different from my own), but I can also understand why certain choices were made in the moment. It all comes back to the first quote, and how one small thing can alter the future for so many other people.

My Weekly Pull [14]

My Weekly Pull is something I do every Wednesday to show which comics I had pulled for me that week! If you're into comics, or you're looking to start, please join me! If you decide to do your own post, leave a link in the comments. I would love to stop by and check it out!

Analog #1 by Gerry Duggan, David O'Sullivan, Declan Shalvey
All-New Wolverine #33 by Tom Taylor, Ramon Rosanas, Dustin Weaver (Venom 30th Anniversary Variant)
Amazing Spider-Man #798 by Dan Slott, Stuart Immonen, Alex Ross
Astonishing X-Men #10 by Charles Soule, Aco
Marvel 2-In-One #5 by Chip Zdarsky, Valerio Schiti, Dave Johnson (Venom 30th Anniversary Variant)
New Mutants Dead Souls #2 (of 6) by Matthew Rosenberg, Adam Gorham, Ryan Stegman

Punisher #223 by Matthew Rosenberg, Guiu Vilanova, Clayton Crain

Rogue & Gambit #4 (of 5) by Kelly Thompson, Pere Perez, Kris Anka

Runaways #8 by Rainbow Rowell, Kris Anka

Spider-Man #239 by Brian Michael Bendis, Oscar Bazaldua, Patrick Brown

Venom #164 by Mike Costa, Mark Bagley, John Tyler Christopher (Venom 30th Anniversary Variant)

Venomized #1 by Cullen Bunn, Iban Coello, Scottie Young

Tom Taylor is only writing All-New Wolverine through #35, so I'm curious to see how Laura is portrayed in the next few issues. Old Woman Laura, I believe. I'll definitely try the new writer, because sometimes they have wonderful ideas, but I also like for them to be true to the characters I fell in love with.

New Mutants Dead Souls was pretty good. I wasn't expecting angsty teenagers, but I've always liked Magik. I'm curious and want to see where this story will go!

The last issue of Rogue & Gambit was sooo good! They've finally come face-to-face with the villain, which means things can only escalate from here. I also loved how romantic the last issue was! Jacob isn't a fan of Gambit, but the man loves Rogue. Always has! She's his everything, and Rogue is just as attached.

Rainbow Rowell is an author I really like, so why haven't I been reading her comic? Good question! I've located the first three issues through my LCS, and I'm going to grab the current one this week. I hope it's not too hard to find the others I'm missing! 

Loving all the Venom covers! Especially the Scottie Young variant. Baby heroes are adorable.

Reading any new comics this week? Did you know Rainbow Rowell was the writer of the Runaways comic? How do you feel about Venom?

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.

But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

What could go wrong?

With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.

And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?

If Brett is Sirius, brighter than anything else in the night sky, Lennon is the moon: often dark and hidden, but closer than any star. Always there.

(I'm not going to lie...when my brain read "Sirius," it immediately made a Harry Potter connection. 🤣)

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Also, the quotes I used may have changed or been altered in some way, but I am quoting from what I received.

Jenn Bennett is my jam! She has forever changed my life with her beautiful, charming, realistic stories and unforgettable characters. Starry Eyes was no exception, and even made me want to go camping, which is not normally a desire that I have. 

I loved living vicariously through Zorie (awesome name, btw), and experiencing her anxiety and need for plans and organization. The thing about Jenn Bennett's books... they all resonate with me in some way. I'm usually able to relate to multiple characters, which doesn't happen very often. I have a strong urge to plan every little thing, but having kids quickly changed that. I can barely plan dinner, so an entire day is out of the question. I understood Zorie on a very deep, emotional level. Her stress was my stress, but without the hives.

My husband loves, loves, loves to go camping. He would backpack across the world for the rest of his life, if he could. I prefer short walks and camping in cabins. I loathe mosquitos and they adore me. We like to take short hikes as a family, and I love the solitude it provides. You're really stuck with your thoughts, and it gives you a chance to think about everything and nothing. All of these things, the mosquitos, the quiet, the thoughtfulness--it's all mentioned in this book. It's a story that speaks to the soul. 

I love that Lennon has two moms and then a dad. Mac and Sunny sound like ridiculously awesome parents. I don't think I'll be able to see or hear the word "shrimp" without laughing to myself. Zorie's family was unconventional, but also enjoyable. I loved her relationship with her stepmom, and how the two of them were friends and not just mom and daughter. Oh, and Grandpa Sam was one of my favorite characters even though he's only mentioned a few times and seen once. 

Giant sequoia trees, the Perseid meteor shower, and even a few creatures were all a part of this wonderful story. I always find it more difficult to review the books I love, because I feel like there is so much to say, but also like I cannot adequately put my feelings into words. I love how sex-positive this author is, and how her characters always seem to discuss it with maturity and responsibility. Cursing and sex are not taboo, and they shouldn't be. Most teenagers are sexually active, or at least having thoughts about it. Like I said, realistic. 

Starry Eyes was about two people trying to navigate their emotions and the wilderness. I loved watching their journey and seeing the world through their eyes. If you haven't read something by Jenn Bennett, I highly recommended that you do! 

“Anyway,” he says. “We’re completely safe here, wolf-wise. Better chance of spotting a werewolf.”

“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you, Bram Stoker?”

“He wrote about vampires.”

“Same difference.”

“Do you enjoy being wrong?” he asks.

“I enjoy your sanctimonious defense of fictional creatures.”