Welcome to September’s Monthly Minutes at Midnight!
Here’s the deal: I’ll share the books I’ve obtained, posts of interest from others, giveaways I have happening, and just general random shenanigans. You know I love a shenanigan. Also, covers all link to Goodreads, because I am awesome.
The Books
For Review/From Publishers:
Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak
Huge thanks to Random House! (To be fair, I have no idea how or why I have this- there was no note, it could have been a giveaway I don’t remember entering? But alas, let’s just throw it here anyway. Also, exciting!)
eARCs:
Huge thanks to Flatiron for the review copy!
Purchased:‘
Gift cards are my friend! And you know I needed my Queens of Fennbirn to match, come on!
Won/Gifted/Traded:
Thanks for the trades, friends! But no thanks to the person who scammed me, that was rude.
Shenanigans Since Last Time:
I read 12 books this month, which isn’t too bad all things considered!
It was a pretty EH month in general- a couple of these were quite good but more were just mediocre.
Giveaways: Click Here, or on Sidebar
Blogosphere Bulletin
Here are some of the loveliest/most entertaining/super helpful/just plain interesting posts I found this month!
- Sam @ We Live and Breathe Books ponders blogging identity crises
- Sammie @ The Writerly Way dishes on DNFing
- Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction wants to know your thoughts on book box subscriptions
- Aimee @ Aimee, Always has some tips on engaging blog readers
- Jennilyn @ Rurouni Jenni Reads discusses why one-star reviews are rare on blogs
- Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books talks about why tags and memes are so popular
- Cait @ Paper Fury shares the warning signs that she won’t like a book
- Jenna @ Happy Indulgence shares how her relationship with audiobooks changed
- Greg @ Book Haven discusses monarchs in fantasy
- Lauren @ Shooting Stars Mag asks fellow bloggers how they chose their blog names
- Tracy @ Cornerfolds talks about receiving review requests
Fancy & New Since Last I Saw You!
I love looking at pretty covers! So here are some new ones that I have fallen in love with since our last update!
Things we need to talk about at this juncture:
- Please check out Shattering Stigmas FOUR hosted by a ton of awesome individuals! (Find info HERE.) It was really hard for me to step down this year, but I will be sharing a post on Taylor’s blog about why. And why it’s okay to take a step back. And I hope to be back in the mix next year, but in the meantime, please show these lovelies your support!
- Bookish Games are BACK! I am so scared and so excited because if you remember last time, they nearly killed me. And not just in the game, like in actual life? They get intense! But it was also SO. MUCH. FUN. so it’s exciting too! The book that inspired this incarnation is Vicious, so you can see why I read it! (Also- you can still sign up as a spectator or replacement player, even though the game is full!)
- The 100 hiatus update! Okay so there isn’t a ton to update? We have two episode titles (6×01 is Sanctum, and 6×02 is Red Sun Rising. And Idk who this guy is, but he’s been cast as… new guy.
- The Caffeinated Reader is hosting the Fraterfest Readathon and I am going to join in! Because look, I always say I am going to read scary stuff in October, but do I actually? No, the answer is no. So now, I have to! I want to do at least two, but we’ll see. BUT since I am indecisive as hell… I am letting you pick!
Queens of Fennbirn- sweet cover. Believe it or not I haven’t seen that one before? I just bought the e- version, but I may need to get a physical one at some point. I’ll be super interested in your final thoughts on Vicious… and you read Damsel? Ooh what’d you think of that? I saw a very interesting review somewhere and it sounded really different.
Thanks for linking my post. And yeah for joining FraterFest! I’m doing it too…
That is a TOUGH poll! I voted Echoes cause I’m gonna read it next lol, but Into the Drowning Deep is a trip, and The Trees crept In is supposed to be freaky as well. Looks like you can’t go wrong w/ a lot of these…
Dude that is because the damn UK version now has the same US cover. Hence why I ordered the UK one first, then realized what happened, and then ordered the Australian one, which is, admittedly, a stupid waste of money, but here we are. Vicious. So okay, Vicious was decent, but I have to be honest (and this is going to get shit thrown at me in the book community, but oh well), I don’t think the author and I get along too well? Like her books are okay for me, never BAD, but they never are mind-blowing like they seem to be for everyone else? Idk, I am anxious to see what you think of it!
Damsel was good. I will be reviewing it probably on Tuesday. It’s short, but it has a really awesome message. I KNOW you are joining FraterFest because I would not have known it existed if you hadn’t mentioned it hahaha
I think I will wait for you to read Echoes, and if you think I should buy it then I will. I want to read Into the Drowning Deep but like. It’s 500 pages of Mermurder, so we’ll see! I agree that they all seem like pretty solid choices (I hope!) I weeded through all the books I had that weren’t packed yet and that I kind of wanted to read, and… this is what I had!
Well I’m still debating whether to read it. TBH the premise doesn’t really grab me, but you know, with the Games, I feel like I should? But I feel like I’ve already read Fantastic Four lol??!? I guess I have to decide quick.
Aw that sucks about the cover. But I can see why you did it.
Looking back on Into the Drowning Deep, I still like it, but… it could have been shorter? I mean I wouldn’t read it again. BUT it a definite must read for, like you said, Mermurder. I mean we just don’t get enough of that.
If it helps, it’s pretty quick. I finished it in two nights. And since I re-looked at the Chaos Walking Games… it does come in handy- especially if someone name claims and you’re trying to figure stuff out! (Or, in the case of those, the whole two-mafia thing!)
YES I think a lot of people have said that it’s good, but it didn’t need to be THAT long. Or maybe it should have been multiple books, Idk. Looks like Mermurder is losing anyway though bwhahah.
Ooh I vote for The Cresswell Plot because it was EXCELLENT! Although I don’t actually know if it’s horror-y or not, but cults are kind of scary so anyway. ? And YAY Bridge of Clay! I got sent a surprise ARC for it too and it’s terrifyingly huge and I thought “oh yeah I have plenty of time for this” but apparently it’s out in a week.?RIP me. Sucks you got scammed in a book trade though?! The nerve of people pffft. I hope Feral Youth is good though!! It sounds excellent!
And thank you for sharing my post ?
I LOVE cults! Cults are automatically creepy, right? (Plus, it is listed as thriller or horror or some such in Goodreads, so… who am I to argue? ?) And RIGHT!? That thing is HUGE, I know I won’t be getting to it in time, goodness! Yeah this wasn’t my first time getting scammed, I am just irritated that people suck, you know? Especially because I was super nice to this person and obviously shouldn’t have been. And of course!! 😀
Sorry for the mediocre reading month. And for getting scammed. That is so crappy. I voted for All the Missing Girls. Loved that book. Have a great October!
Aw thanks! I have heard SUCH good things about it- I will definitely be picking it up sometime, I love the author too! Hope you have a great month too!
Sorry that you got scammed, the nerve of that person. Thanks for linking my post in your blogosphere bulletin.
You probably know how I love you and this blog because of how courageous you are for hosting Shattering Stigmas for these last years. But I understand that even the best of us need to take a break. Rest assured that I will continue to support the future SS posts. 🙂
Aww thanks! Seriously, people can be so rude!
And you are too sweet, I am tearing up in the good way right now at your kind words! My post on Taylor’s blog (I don’t know when it will go up, but I’ll obviously tweet and such!) will explain the whole awful thing- it has been QUITE the year, so I really appreciate the support ♥♥
You got Bridge of Clay! I don’t usually preorder books, but I preordered that one because I’ve been waiting for it since 2011, when it was originally supposed to come out. I really hope it doesn’t suck. I’m signed up for Fraterfest, too. Have a great October!
I really hope it doesn’t suck too hahah- especially since it is pretty damn hefty, I don’t want to read 500 pages of nonsense! BUt I suppose since it took him 7 extra years, maybe he was working extra hard? Hahha fingers crossed! And thanks, you too!
The cover of Enchantee is fairly gorgeous. Boo to the person who scammed you. Thanks goodness those people are the minority – but it still sucks to be taken advantage of. Hopefully October will be a much better reading month. I voted for The Call since I’ve heard it gets fairly twisty and horrific.
Right? The cover is AMAZING- and I bet it’ll look even prettier in person! ANd seriously, I am so sick of people being gross! You are right, it IS the minority thank goodness! And YAY I am here for twisty and horrific, wooo! And looks like it’s winning!
September was one of the best reading months I’ve had in a long time. I got through so many ALA books so yay! but I also LOVED most of what I read – which has been getting kind of rare for me.
I’m afraid to trade with anyone but a few trusted bloggers. I’ve heard so many horror stories.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
Oooh I am glad that your September was better than mine hah! You know, funnily, a lot of them were my ALA books too, go figure! You must have done a much better job picking yours! ?
And seriously- every so often I take the risk and then I am usually sorry I did. This isn’t the first (or even second!) time I have been scammed and it’s just so disheartening!
Yay for getting Enchantée, I’m really curious about that one – though I am not sure if it’s because of the book, or mainly because the title is in French and French-me is super curious about it ahahaha. I hope you’ll enjoy it!
I’m sorry to hear most books were not so great this month – I’m spotting interesting titles here: I can’t wait to read When We Caught Fire, This Cruel Design and The Light Between Worlds…. so I hope these ones were good? 😀
Thank you so, SO much for sharing my post, so happy you enjoyed it! 😀
And yay for the cover of the belles #2, I am so in love with it.
I hope you’ll have a brilliant October, Shannon. Very excited (and a bit nervous) for the Shattering Stigmas event to start, I’ll be looking forward to your post 🙂
Um I might also have just liked the French title? And cover? Who can tell. I keep forgetting what books are about after I add them to my TBR so that’s a problem bwhahah
Okay so This Cruel Design was AWESOME. It and The Spy With the Red Balloon were fabulous. The Light Between Worlds was actually my least favorite though, eep! I hope you have better luck than I did with it- if it helps, I have been seeing a LOT of good reviews!
I am excited to read all the Shattering Stigmas posts too! And I will be trying to share as much as possible, but I KNOW you got this! I mean- I usually panicked and threw everything together at the last minute, so I assume you’re already a step ahead ?
Ok, A Good Night For Shooting Zombies is going on my tbr right now! 🙂
I’m doing the FraterFest Readathon too – I’ve voted for The Call! And the Trees Crept In was great too, but if you like creepy fae, The Call is definitely a great choice.
Bwhahha right? Is that not THE most amazing, fun looking cover? I hope it’s good!
Ooooh yay! I am excited- I am actually really surprised that The Call is winning, I didn’t expect a lot of people to know about it, but that makes it exciting!
How dare somebody scam you! I want to find them, and put a hex on their house. Boo! The new Colbert cover is awesome. The book sounds fabulous too. I have read none of those scary books, but AJ liked Creswell Plot, so it must be pretty good. Thanks for the share!
I mean, I approve of this solution hahah! I had a feeling the person wasn’t being straightforward, but then I saw that she’d scammed ANOTHER person, and then she blocked me. Awesome. And yesss I remembered I wanted to read Cresswell when I saw AJ’s review hahahha
12 books is great. I feel like I haven’t been reading as much, and I’m not sure why. I hope to read tons in October though. Thanks for sharing my blogger’s name post – I didn’t know how you got your name, but I love that story, and it’s fitting for you. 🙂
I voted for Bird Box because I loved it and it’s going to be a movie.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Aw I hope you are able to read more too! I go through those months, not fun! And thank youuuu! Also- I had no idea it was going to be a movie, now I must read it ASAP!!
I loved All the Missing Girls. I’m glad I’m not the only one that I can’t always remember why I’m getting a book in the mail. See my wrap up at Girl Who Reads
Oh yay! Good thing, since it is currently tied for first place hahah. And NOPE- now I am glad I am not the only one 😀
Yaay I got Enchantée too, bring on the 2019 books!
I had some pretty meh books in September too, I think I’m burned out on YA for a little bit.
Yayyyy! Seriously, at first it was like “2019, that is so far!” but actually… not really! Dude same. Except maybe I am just burned out on ALL books, who can tell?
I think I win on the mediocre reading month front, because a friend lent me her Anita Blake novels and I read a bunch of those before giving up. They’re… ehm. Not my thing, let’s leave it at that.
Ooh, the Queens of Fennbirn cover is so pretty!
JR Bourne on The 100? it’s like that dude follows me. First Teen Wolf, then Suits, then something else, now this. Anyway, I’m still super happy we’re getting a 6th season!
Aw no that is rough! Especially a bunch in a row! I really hope this month is MUCH better for you!
That is so funny, I haven’t heard of him before this, but I am definitely excited to see what his character has in store! And same- I am now just eagerly waiting for someone to tell me about Season 7 (fingers crossed hah)
Dang it. Another reminder I still need to read Vicious. 😛 On the bright side, you got a ton of reading done this month! Unfortunately, I don’t really read scary books either, so I’m useless on that front, lol. Unless law textbooks count? They are pretty scary…
Law textbooks absolutely count, they would give me nightmares for SURE! And Vicious… ehhh. I didn’t dislike it. I didn’t love it. It was not bad. I feel like I don’t have the same enthusiasm for Schwab books that everyone else does. Maybe I am broken…
Oooh you got Bridge of Clay?! Lucky. A lot of people seemed to have a sort of eh reading month in September? Is there some conspiracy going on? Is it the end times?! xD
Thank you so much for the link to my blog post! It’s a great list, and I’m excited to check these posts out. 😀
I LOVE the cover of The Everlasting Rose! I still haven’t read the first book, though. =/
Good luck with the readathon!
Well it is DEFINITELY the end times, I think. So yes hahha. But I agree, I don’t know what happened this month!
And I love The Everlasting Rose cover SO much- and The Belles was quite good so I am excited to read it, too!
Shannon, you should read Not Even Bones with me. It’s horror-y and I am scared. I need you to hold my hand. Also in terms of your poll, I am conflicted between The Masked Truth and And The Trees Crept In. I think you’ve read Dead House, right? I feel like ATTCI isn’t as good as Dead House but I think it is still great. More paranormal. The Masked Truth is more horror/mystery? BOTH ARE DIFFERENT AND YOU SHOULD read whichever you’re in the mood for.
Also, can I have Bridge of Clay? K. THNX.
Excellent reading month! Each of your books is still on my TBR as they all sound fun to read. I voted for The Trees Crept In because I’ve been too chicken to read my copy. So you first please!
That’s a very productive month! Some of those covers are just awesome! Happy October!
Oooh! The Bookish Games sounds like fun! I need to check that out! Awesome month you had!