Blood of the Seer {blog tour + book review}

Binge reads - how do we feel about them?  Personally, it depends on the series.  For this one, though, I can't recommend it highly enough.

That's right, my friends, it's time for another blog tour, and this is one I've been very much looking forward to!  I've had my eye on the first book for awhile, even purchasing it last time I had Kindle credit, and with the release of the second book (which is available everywhere now, yay!!), it was finally time to actually read it.  And boy, am I glad I did.  

This might turn into a review of both books... sorry not sorry. xD 

Blood of the Seer (and also, kind of, Oath of the Outcast) 

Author: C.M. Banschbach 

Genre: Fantasy adventure

Content: Lots of violence, some "he cursed" and a few other mild profanities, and one creepy-as-heck cult of evil dudes.

Main Characters: Rhys MacDuffy, Sean MacDuffy

Synopsis (Spoilers for book 1!) : 

A blood curse.
A shadow world.
An indomitable evil.
A forgotten bond.
Banished for a crime he didn’t commit, Rhys MacDuffy risked his life to rescue the little brother he no longer could claim as his own. Sean, the Seer of Clan MacDuffy, returns from his ordeal to war between the Clans and Lord Adam Barkley. Moreover, the Clan Lords refuse to lift the exile on Rhys. No outcast has ever been forgiven.
But the druids who held Sean captive have taken the key to controlling his powers—his blood. Rhys determines to keep his brother safe no matter the cost. Heedless of the war, he leads his rowdy band of Mountain Brigands on a hunt to destroy the druids before they destroy Sean with their dark magic.
The druids force Sean into a shadow world full of demons and danger, where their menacing god Deronis can consume him. Yet Rhys is able to follow Sean into the other world. There they discover an older magic that might be the key to stopping the druids.
The bond of brotherhood between Rhys and Sean runs deep. But is it strong enough to stand against the druid’s blood god?

Add Oath of the Outcast on Goodreads ~ Purchase Oath of the Outcast on Amazon

Add Blood of the Seer on Goodreads ~ Purchase Blood of the Seer on Amazon

What I Thought: 

How do I fangirl enough to get you to read these books but make it a somewhat coherent review? 

Like I said, I've had my eye on these for awhile now, but I really didn't know what I was walking into.  I have this habit of just... not reading the synopsis for books, especially ones I'm excited for.  Like, I'll glance at them to determine whether or not it intrigues me, but by the time I actually read them, I've probably forgotten at least 90% of what the blurb says.  Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, because it does make for a wild ride once I'm in.  In the case of these books, I had one expectation: I thought there would be dragons.  Alas, there are no dragons to be found within its pages.  But what I did find was a story so powerful it almost made up for it.  (Do I still think it could have been improved by dragons?  ... probably, but what story can't be, honestly?) 

This is a story of redemption.  A story of brotherhood.  A story of forgiving yourself.  And also a story about stopping a war before it starts, and epic fight scenes, and a lot of other really great stuff that I'm not going to spoil. 

I was invested in Rhys's story from the beginning of book 1, and seeing his arc come to a conclusion here was so perfect that it made me cry.  Which was unexpected, but not unwelcome.  It's part of why I can't recommend a binge-read of these enough.  Since book 2 picks up right where book 1 leaves off (thank goodness), it was nice to read it as a continuous story, and made the ending even sweeter.  The faith content?  Is so good?

The relationships between the leads was everything and I don't know how to stress that enough.  I'm very much a character-driven writer - make me fall in love with your characters and you've probably sold me on the whole book.  And these ones were great.  Relationships I loved: Rhys and his Cairns (the band of outlaws who are loyal to him and each other and no one else), Rhys and Alan (his ex-best friend), Rhys and Sean (I love them so much ;-; ), basically between Rhys and anyone he let into his circle.  I love a big angry man who has a secret soft spot for certain people.  What can I say? 

This is just a good old fashioned adventure story that was everything I didn't know I wanted.  If you're a fan of Tricia Mingerink's Blades of Acktar series, you're going to love these.  They gave me a very similar vibe. 

Honestly at this point I'm sad it's over.  I never want to leave.  Oh well.  I guess I'll just have to re-read them in the not-too-distant future.

Overall Rating: 5 swords out of 5

About the Author: 

C.M. Banschbach is a native Texan and would make an excellent Hobbit if she weren’t so tall. She’s a pizza addict, a multi-faceted fangirl, and a firm believer in being authentic—even if it means acting like a dork sometimes! When not writing fantasy stories packed full of adventure and snark, she works as a pediatric physical therapist where she happily embraces the fact that she never actually has to grow up.
She also writesYA/MG fantasy-adventure as Claire M. Banschbach.

Connect with Claire: Her website ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook

Thanks again to Uncommon Universes Press and the author for letting me participate in this awesome blog tour!  Mine isn't the only post you should check out - you can find the whole list at this link right here! 

Have you read these books?  Are you planning to now?  Let me know in a comment! 

~ Abigail

Lament {blog tour + book review!}

 Hello, my friends! Happy new year! It's been a bit since I've chatted with you, but today I have a super exciting blog tour to share! 

(Also, just to let you know, yes, I still have 2 parts of Silver Nights left to post. I haven't forgotten about it, things have just been kind of crazy around here xD)

Today, I'm reviewing one of my most anticipated books of the year, the sequel to Keen (which you can read my review of right here), the continuation of the story of a teenage banshee, this time as she travels the world of the faeries.

Let's jump on in! 

Lament

Author: Laura L. Zimmerman

Genre: Fantasy

Content: None

Main character: Caoine 

Synopsis: 

Half-fae banshee, Caoine, is devastated by the loss of her father, and graduation is just around the corner. Ignorant of an old enemy seeking revenge, she is whisked away to the Unseelie Realm where she learns someone dear to her is being held captive. She vows not to go home until he's free.
Then she finds out she's trapped, unable to return to the human realm.
In order to go home, she must set aside old prejudices and work with a nemesis to survive faerie tricks and fae creatures hungry for human blood. Only then will she discover the secret to her escape and her loved one's freedom.
Aided by an unlikely band of fae, she uncovers more about her banshee powers than she dreamed possible, even as the fae remind her just how human she really is.
She'll take the drama of high school over the pettiness of the fae any day.

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon

What I Thought: 

Like I said, this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year.  That cover didn't hurt my excitement either, lol!  And since time is strange in these strange times, I ended up reading the whole thing in less than 24 hours and thoroughly enjoying my time with it. 

The concept of a teenage banshee was what originally drew me to the series, and continued to keep me hooked in this one.  Caoine's powers are fascinating, even more so as she learns to control them rather than fight them.  Also her character growth! was everything! I'm so proud!

I'm not going to say names because spoilers, but I am always a sucker for the bad boy who gets a second chance, and that trope was in full swing here.  There are a few things at the end that I'm gonna have to get over emotionally, but that just proves that Laura writes excellent characters. 

There is one thing that I have to say I wasn't a fan of - the friends were left behind.  Part of the reason I loved Keen so much was the friend group that was built around Caoine, and in this one we just... left them in the human world?  When I said I wanted adventures in the faerie realm I kinda thought we'd all go, you know?  But this book did introduce a new and fascinating supporting cast, plus setting up for what I assume will be the plot of the third one (which I'm very intrigued to learn more about!)

I can't forget to mention the worldbuilding because it's so cool!  The Unseelie Realm sounds like a place I'd love to explore in theory, but in all reality I'd probably die within moments of stepping into it.  I am a soft and squishy human, lol!  The different kinds of faeries were so cool, and I did love getting to know, at least a little, the new supporting cast. 

Overall, it was a lot of fun to be back with this story, and I'm definitely looking forward to the next one!  If you're a fan of banshees, or just fun adventures in faerie worlds, I recommend this series for sure! 

Overall Rating: 3.5 mysterious books out of 5

About the Author: 

Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. She lives in a suburb of the ultra-cool Charlotte, North Carolina. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing loudly, buying LuLaRoe and pretending to do yoga.
An avid coffee drinker, she gave up eating meat ten years ago and is a sucker for anything zombie related. She’s been married to her Mr. Darcy for 18 years and feels it’s her life goal to pass along her obsession with the Star Wars saga on to her offspring.
She loves to read sci-fi and fantasy for YA and MG, which in turn, bleeds through to her writing. (Watch your back: She occasionally writes horror, too!)

Connect with Laura: Her website ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Thanks again to Laura and to L2L2 Publishing for giving me the opportunity to participate in this awesome blog tour!  There are tons more awesome posts in store for this tour, so check out all the info at this link right here! 

If you could see any mythological creature put into a modern setting, which would you pick? 

~ Abby

The Joy of Christmas Book Tag {12 Days of Christmas}

It's that time of year again! The 12 Days of Christmas Link-up is back!! 

I said to myself, earlier this year, "self, if Faith does 12 Days of Christmas again, we're going to participate."  Spoiler alert, Faith did indeed decide to host it again, and thus, we find ourselves here.  I'm pretty hyped, and I hope you are too! 

We're starting simple, with a book tag that I stole from my awesome friend Rachel, because what is Christmas for if not stealing tags from people you admire?

Let's jump on in! 

1) Anticipation: 

The Christmas excitement is real; What release(s) are you most anticipating?

There are quite a few!  I think the top one has to be Lament, though.  I've been looking forward to this one since I read the first book last year!  Also, can we talk about this cover?? *heart eyes*

2) Christmas Songs & Carols: 

What author can you not help but sing its praises?

I've got to hand it to Marissa Meyer, the Lunar Chronicles are a masterpiece.  Each one wouldn't let me go, her characters are full and real, she's the queen of that old writer advice of "what's the worst thing that could happen to your character? do that thing" because WOW do the characters go through some stuff. 

3) Gingerbread Houses: 

What book or series has wonderful world-building?

No one builds a world quite like Tricia Mingerink.  Especially in her Beyond the Tales series.  Tallahatchia is a fascinating world that I've so enjoyed getting to explore more in each book of the series! 

4) A Christmas Carol: 

Favorite classic (or one that you want to read)

This one, luckily, is actually pretty easy for me, seeing as it's my favorite book of all time.  I adore The Magician's Nephew, and the whole Narnia series, with all of my heart.

5) Christmas Sweets: 

What book would you love to receive for Christmas?

There are quite a few indie-published books that I would love to see under the tree this Christmas, and this lovely one (and the rest of its series) is definitely on that list.  (You can check out my full review to see how much I loved it, lol)

6) Candle in the Window: 

What book gives you the warm, fuzzy feelings? 

Every one of Tara Grace Ericson's books have given me all the warm fuzzies, but especially Poppy's Proposal.  Something about that friends-to-lovers, marriage-of-convenience plot, man. 

7) Christmas Trees & Decorations: 

What are some of your favorite book covers?

I mean?? Can you even??

8) Christmas Joy: 

What are some of your favorite things about Christmas 

and/or some of your favorite Christmas tradition? 

- Opening presents at our house on Christmas Eve, and then at our grandparents' house on Christmas Day. 

- Watching White Christmas with my sister at the beginning of the season. 

- Listening to all my favorite Christmas music.

- Just... the feeling in the air.

- Like, the world is happier for a bit. 

- People are kinder. 

- There's a joy around in the decorations and the music and the fake snow (FL life, lol) 

- I don't know how to describe it, but just the feeling of Christmas is my favorite.

And there we have it!  Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas! (it's actually more like 7 for me, but go with it, haha)  Make sure you check out all the other amazing posts! 

In the spirit of Christmas, there's also an awesome giveaway going on! You can enter it by clicking this link right here! :D

Merry Christmas!

~ Abby

The Midnight Show Review {Tattered Slippers Blog Tour}

Hello again, my friends! Welcome back to the Tattered Slippers Blog Tour! Today I've got a review for you, and I'm pretty jazzed about it.  (sorry... I couldn't resist)

As always, make sure you check out all the other amazing posts from the tour so far, and the new ones from today by clicking this link right here!  There's also information there to do with the giveaway where you can win 3 of the releases in paperback!  How cool is that?? 

Okay, let's jump on in to the review! 


The Midnight Show



Author: Sarah Pennington
Genre: Urban fantasy mystery
Content: Alcohol consumption
Main Characters: Dayo Temitrope and Bastian Dennell

Synopsis:
This mystery is the case of his dreams - and her nightmares.
By day, Dayo Temitrope is a swinging singer, an up-and-coming star with a shining career ahead of her. By night, she’s . . . well, she’s not sure, but whatever she does leaves her every morning with sore feet and worn-out shoes. And after six months, she’s had enough.
Enter Bastian Dennell, a private investigator just trying to get by. When Dayo hires him to find out where she goes at night, he’s sure it’s his big break: his chance to establish himself and get the funds to pay off his family’s debt. Plus, he gets to work with his favorite singer, even if she isn’t exactly what he expected. What could be better?
But first he has to solve the case — which means navigating a tangled web of strange dreams, fair folk schemes, and show business. It will take all Bastian’s wits, along with the shining talents of Dayo herself, to figure out the truth before the curtains close for good on Dayo’s career.
A jazz-age-inspired twist on the Twelve Dancing Princesses from the author of "Blood in the Snow".

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon

What I Thought: 

This was so much fun!  It felt very much like an old black-and-white detective movie, complete with trench coats, jazz music, and shadowy figures.  But at the same time, it was full-on fantasy novel, which made it even more intriguing. 

The world was so rich, and I just wish I'd gotten more of a chance to explore it.  Obviously, Dayo and Bastian's plot was the focus, so there wasn't much that we get to see outside of their sphere, but I would definitely be interested in seeing more stories set in this city at least, if not outside of it.  There seems to be so much depth there that I just wanted to dig into, you know?

The characters were great, honestly.  I loved Bastian from the first moment he stepped onto the page (what can I say, I'm a sucker for a man in a fedora), and Dayo fascinated me.  There basically isn't any romantic subplot between them, which I thought was neat. There's a bit of attraction, and I would absolutely read a sequel to see if it goes anywhere, because I'd be here for this relationship, lol! 

The actual mystery was SO intriguing, and kept me glued to the page the whole time.  Maybe my favorite thing about this whole Tattered Slippers blog tour has been seeing how each author weaves different elements of the fairytale into their stories, and the choices made for this book were so unique and perfect!   

Basically, this was just delightful, and I'm so glad I picked it up.

Overall Rating: 4.5 swinging jazz tunes out of 5

About the Author: 
Sarah Pennington has been writing stories since before she actually knew how to write, and she has no intention of stopping anytime soon. She is perpetually in the middle of writing at least one or two novels, most of which are in the fantasy and fairy tale retelling genres. Sarah’s first published work, Blood in the Snow, received a perfect score and Special Unicorn status in Rooglewood Press’s Five Poisoned Apples contest. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys knitting, photography, and trying to conquer her massive to-be-read list.

Connect with Sarah: Her website ~ Her blog ~ Her second blog ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

Make sure you check out all the other posts from the blog tour - there have been some really fun ones! Oh, and make sure you enter the giveaway! Click this link for more info!  

And there you have it! What fairytale would you set in the jazz age? 

~ Abby

Poison's Dance Review {Tattered Slippers Blog Tour}

 Hello my name is Abby and I've been emotionally compromised by Tricia Mingerink yet again.

In other words, welcome to the Tattered Slippers blog tour!  Get ready for not one, not two, but SIX amazing Twelve Dancing Princesses retellings that are releasing this week!  The tour is already in full swing, so make sure you check out the full schedule to join in on all the fun! 

There are a ton of amazing bloggers involved in this tour, and I'm so excited and honored to be one of them!  So for four of those six days, you can stick right here for reviews of these new releases! (Who's hyped? I'm hyped!)

We begin with one of my most anticipated reads of the year, the third book in Tricia Mingerink's Beyond the Tales series, which continues to solidify itself as one of my all-time faves.

** I'm gonna stick a spoiler warning right here because there are spoilers for at least the first book in the series (Dagger's Sleep) from this point forward. 
So... you've been warned. **

Poison's Dance



Author: Tricia Mingerink 
Genre: Fantasy fairytale retelling
Content: Some violence
Main Characters: King Alexander, Princess Tamya, Daemyn Rand

Synopsis:
If he falls to the lure of the curse, the dance might trap him forever.
Alex has survived his first year as high king. The new counsel has improved cooperation between the kingdoms, and peace seems achievable. When the Tuckawassee queen sends him an invitation he can’t refuse, Alex must once again face his greatest threat for the sake of peace.
Princess Tamya of Tuckawassee, along with her eleven sisters, has danced from sunset until sunrise every night of her life. It is her gift and her curse. When Queen Valinda wishes to use the power their cursed dance gives them to rule all of Tallahatchia, Tamya must decide if she will do what is right even if it betrays her own sister.
Daemyn Rand has survived a hundred years' worth of battles. All he wants to do now is safely marry his princess. Will he be forced to choose between the love of his life and the high king he has loyally served for years?
They have faced certain death before. This time, they might not make it out alive.
Don’t miss this re-envisioning of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale.   

Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon ~ My review of book 1 ~ My review of book 2

What I Thought:

This book broke me.  In the best way.  I finished it at 3:30 AM because there was no way I was putting it down.  I was a sobbing, snotty mess.  It was basically everything and I don't know how I'm supposed to just go on with my life now? 

Being back in Tallahatchia was so good for my soul.  Like, I started reading and seeing familiar names and it just gave me so much joy.  I didn't realize how much I missed it.  The world itself is so cool, and seeing it unfold throughout the series has been everything.  Each book we get to explore a different kingdom, and if this means that we'll eventually potentially get 7 books for the 7 kingdoms... you would not hear me complaining, that's all I'm saying.

Speaking of things unfolding throughout the series, can we talk about Alex for a minute?  Because I'm so proud of him??  Watching his journey from the first book to now - he was a big part of why I cried from about the 75% mark onward because I'm just so proud of who he's becoming with the Highest King's help.  I'm not okay.  *melts into a puddle of feels*  He's never been my favorite character of the series but that might change now, honestly, idk.  Also his relationship with Daemyn is everything to me and I'm quickly becoming a sucker for the king/lord/important person + his guard/servant friendship dynamic, it's one of my faves. Also Daemyn and Rosanna continue to be wonderful together. 

The character of Tamya was amazing.  We've had three very different female leads in the series so far, and I'm here for it.  Her relationship with her sisters was so well done - the princesses is always something I judge 12DP retellings on, and they were great here.  There were a couple who faded to the background, but for the most part, each one was unique and distinct enough that I didn't have trouble remembering who was who.  

The fairytale elements were woven in so perfectly, as they always are in these books.  The worn dancing shoes, the underground world, the silver and gold trees, the sinister eldest sister, it's all here and it's all just as iconic as it should be. 

All in all, I'm never going to stop talking about this series.  I know this book just came out today but I wish I had book 4.  The ending made me squeal with happiness on several occasions, and I'm just really happy, okay? 

Overall rating: 5 goblets of maybe-poisoned wine out of 5 

About the Author: 
Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn't writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country.

Connect with Tricia: Her blog ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest

As I mentioned at the top of this post, the Tattered Slippers blog tour will be going on all week!  So keep your eyes peeled for more reviews coming your way from me, and click this link right here to see all the amazing posts! 

Have you read the Beyond the Tales books?  Are you excited for this one?  Let me know in a comment below! 

~ Abby

5 More Indie Books You Should Read {+5 More On My TBR} - #IndieAugust20

 Last year, I hosted a readathon on my bookstagram called the Indie August Readathon, dedicated to celebrating the best of independent publishing.  I had so much fun hosting it, and I knew I wanted to do it again!  And since last year I also shared 5 of my favorite indie books here on the blog, I'm back again with 5 more recommendations! 

I'm a firm believer that independently published books can be just as great (if not better!) than traditionally published ones, and these books are a testament to that.  All of these were among my favorites from either 2019 or 2020!  I tried to pick from a variety of genres, too, so there's something for everyone!  For even more recommendations, make sure you check out my post from last year!

Let's jump on in!


1. Prince of Shadow and Ash - Selina R. Gonzalez 



Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon ~ My review

First off, that cover though!!  This was absolutely everything I wanted - a mix of high fantasy and fluffy romance that was perfection.  Sassy main characters, kick-butt action, epic magic, and an adorably shippable couple to boot.  Regulus and Adelaide's story sucked me in and didn't let go, and I can't recommend it highly enough!

2. Rook Di Goo - Jenni Sauer



Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon

A sci-fi Cinderella retelling following a runaway soldier, full of adventure, friendship, and hope despite hard times.  Featuring the found family trope and a lot of tea, this is one of my favorite reads of the year, and I can't wait to see what Jenni has in store next.  (also if you don't come out of this one wishing you had standard issue Liosi military boots and you aren't a little in love with Captain Leiv Benham, I'll be surprised xD)

3. The Old River Road - Hailey Rose



Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon ~ My review

Based on the real story of Hailey's great-great-grandparents, this is one of the most wholesome and heart-warming historical fiction stories I know.  I adored Clara and William so much, the whole book just felt so comfortable and cozy, and I never wanted it to end.  It's got all the feels, and I love it for that.

4. The Divided Nation - Angela R. Watts



Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon

One of the most unique and heart-pounding dystopians I've read in awhile, this is a story that's hard to look at at times, but one that's so important.  Set during the future second American civil war, we follow a fairly large cast of characters who are doing their best just to survive.  There's a lot of found family/"your family stinks so I'm your family now" tropes going on, plus a really stinking Soft romance, and I'm here for it. 

5. Never Say Goodbye - Sarah Grace Grzy



Add on Goodreads ~ Purchase on Amazon ~ My review

Speaking of Soft romance... xD  Tyler and Alyvia's story made me so ridiculously happy, tbh.  Everything about it was just about perfect.  Friends-to-lovers romance, a single dad with an adorable child, a female lead who wants to run a book store, everything you could ask for and then some amazing faith content throughout.  

And now, here are five indie books that are on my list to read as soon as is humanly possible:

1. One Bad Apple - Rachel Kovaciny



snow white retelling + wagon train setting + found family trope (i think... lol)

2. Poison's Dance - Tricia Mingerink



twelve dancing princesses retelling + high fantasy + book 3 in one of my favorite series

3. Thief - Savanna Roberts



robin hood retelling + kick-butt heroine + squad goals

4. As Easy As Cherry Pie - Bell Renshaw

 

fluffy romance + baker + handyman + return to justin harbor (yaaasss)

5. The Anamnesis - Adelaide Thorne



epic story + slowburn romance + cross my heart the only reason i haven't finished this yet is because i don't want this series to end ;-; 


So there you have it!  If you'd like to participate in the readathon, we'd love to have you! 

What's an indie book that you would recommend?  Are you adding any of these to your TBR?  Let me know in a comment below! 

~ Abby

Top 10 Books of My Childhood - Childhood Favs Readathon

I'm one of the lucky ones - I've loved reading since I was a kid.  I have so many friends who tell me that they've only fallen in love with reading since they were an adult, or that they left it for awhile and have come back to it.  But I've always loved books and stories, partially due to my parents being avid readers, and partially due to the books I was given.  In times of struggle, I go back to these books of my childhood, to the familiar and safe, to see what they can teach me now.

My friend Bre over on Instagram (@brelikestoread) decided to host a readathon based around childhood favorites, and surprise! She asked me to co-host it with her! So while the majority of the festivities are going to be over on booksta, I thought it would be fun to put together a little blog post of some of my favorites from way back when, just to do some reminiscing.  But, if you're interested and you're actually seeing this in time, here's the little graphic I put together for the readathon:

(If you have any questions, feel free to message me on Insta or leave it in a comment here!)

And now, let's get into the faves!

1. The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis

 

 

"then he isn't safe?" said lucy.

"safe?" said mr. beaver; "don't you hear what mrs. beaver tells you?

who said anything about safe? 'course he isn't safe.

but he's good. he's the king, I tell you."

 

I know, I know, no one saw this coming. xD Narnia is my favorite book series of all time, so it's probably no surprise that I've loved it since I was a little kid.  I think I was around 10 when I read the books for the first time, and I read them several times after that.  But it's really only since I've been an adult that they truly solidified themselves as my favorite books; there's just so much more to see now that I'm old enough to read fairytales again.

2. Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder

 

mid pleasures and palaces, though we may roam,

be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.

Technically speaking, Little House in the Big Woods was always my favorite.  I grew up on the picture books of these before I graduated up to the full novels.  We had the cookbook, the songbook, and several other educational materials surrounding one of my grandmother's all-time favorite series, and this is part of the reason I grew up secretly wishing to be a pioneer (a dream that has since died an abrupt death when I realized that nature hates me and my allergies, lol).  Are these books perfect?  No.  But they hold a lot of memories for me, and that's enough.

3. The Giver Quartet - Lois Lowry

 

 

"the worst part of holding the memories is not the pain.

it's the loneliness of it.

memories need to be shared."

 

We fast forward a few years to this one, which I read for the first time in 8th grade.  This was the first book assigned to me by a teacher that wasn't my mom that I actually loved.  It's heavy and hard to look at, but it's so powerful.  The rest of the series just make it better and better, and they all hold a super special place in my heart now.  It was also the start of Lois Lowry becoming one of my favorite authors - "Gossamer" and "Number the Stars" were other faves from her.

4. City of Orphans - Avi

 

 

so maks reminds himself that he's not a real hotel employee.

that willa's what's real. she's what's important.

he won't budge.

 

This was the first book to ever make me cry (that I can remember).  Avi was one of my favorite authors when I was 12-or-so, with "Seer of Shadows" and the Crispin books also being faves.  But "City of Orphans", man.  This book was just right.  I checked it out of the library over and over again, until it was steady and familiar and comfortable right when I needed it.  And I'm happy to report, as of reading it last year, that it still hits just as hard.  It's a beautiful story and more people need to read it, tbh.

5. The Books of Beginning Trilogy - John Stephens

 

 

"that's the whole point of life.

to love someone. don't you think?"

 

Of all the book series I loved as a kid, this is the one I'm the most scared to re-read.  I knew these books inside and out.  I had whole passages memorized.  This was truly the first time I felt like a solo fandom and I'm so nervous that if I read them again they won't be the same, you know?  One of these days I'll muster up my courage and do it.  But for now, they sit on my shelves, staring at me.  Full of family dynamics, magic, and banter - one of the first books I ever pre-ordered was the third book and I remember staying up until midnight just so I could download it.  Wow, I loved these a lot.

6. The Boxcar Children - Gertrude Chandler Warner

 

 

one warm night four children stood in front of a bakery.

no one knew them. no one knew where they had come from.

 

What was special to me about this series was how into it my sister got.  Neither of my siblings are big readers, but I would read these books aloud to them when we were little, and eventually, my sister started reading them on her own.  She'd check out stacks of them from the library and read them all in the week, which was a thrill for me.  I loved them a lot too, don't you worry.  They were kind of my first foray into the mystery genre, which I still love and keep coming back to.

7. The 39 Clues - Various Authors

 

 

five minutes before she died,

grace cahill changed her will.

 

This series was my obsession in my early middle school years.  Anything that was educational while also being entertaining was my jam (my homeschooler is showing, lol), and these were epic.  The idea of a world-wide scavenger hunt that relied on research was like a dream for me, and dang if these books didn't pack in the feels!  Amy and Dan's relationship is still one of my favorites, and I happily sorted myself into Janus as a tween.  Who needs Hogwarts houses?  If you were a fan, what was your Cahill branch back in the day?

8. The Underland Chronicles - Suzanne Collins

 

 

"who says I can't handle it? I can handle it!"

said gregor, clearly not handling it.

 

Will I ever be over my emotions from this series?  No, probably not.  After City of Orphans, these were the next books to make me cry (meaning, I full-on sobbed my way through Code of Claw and I feel no shame).  I don't know how Suzanne Collins can make me cry over vermin, but here we are.  I re-read these not too long ago, and I have to say that not only is this my second-most re-read series after Narnia, it's genuinely one of the best I've ever read.  The world building, the character development, it's all just utterly perfect and I'm emotional again just thinking about them.

9. The American Girl Books (but mostly Felicity)

 

 

"hello, river," felicity thought. "here I am, back again.

what adventures do you have in store for me this summer?"

 

I grew up on all the American Girls, but Felicity was my favorite.  To be honest, I'm not really sure why?  Other than that she was based in Colonial Williamsburg, and that's one of my favorite places in the world.  But Felicity herself and I couldn't be more different, so idk, lol.  My sister and I watched the movies obsessively, Mom used a study plan based on several of the girls for my history course for a few years, and I had several of the dolls (Felicity included, of course).  Many of my fondest childhood memories come from this series, and it still holds a special place in my heart for that.

10. Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Rick Riordan

 

 

"don't feel bad. I'm usually about to die."

 

I have several reasons for loving this modern classic of a series.  The first time I experienced it, I think I was 12 or 13.  A few of our church friends had been really loving it at the time, so my parents decided it would be educational if we read them all together.  My dad was one of the best narrators I've ever known, so his reading of the books was absolute perfection.  I fell in love with Percy's world, with the characters, with the writing style - basically everything about them, I loved.  And I still do.  Riordan is one of my favorite authors, and this series is a big reason why.  It's so well crafted and so entertaining.  Side note, if you haven't listened to the musical, you need to.


So there we are!  10 books (and series) that I was obsessed with as a kiddo.  Do we share any favorites?  Will you be joining us for the readathon?  Let me know all the things in the comments!

~ Abby

**I don't own the pictures in any of the collages - all images found on Pinterest**