“I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.”
― George Weasley ―

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
― Professor Dumbledore ―

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live"
― Professor Dumbledore ―

 

"So why are you even bothering? [...]
"We may not be much, but we are the first line of defense. We are the only line of defense. We've gotta keep being that, no matter what. It's all we've got, even if in the end, this is all that's left."
― Joey Harker ―

"We shouldn’t have to fight.”
“We shouldn’t”
“But we do. If we don’t, Binary and HEX will take over. They’ll destroy everything, make the Altiverse into what they want.”
“A silver dream”
― Joaquin to Joey Harker ―

“Sometimes war is necessary to teach us the value of peace. Sometimes you need to learn the real value of diplomacy in avoiding war."
― Mr. Dimas ―

“You know the problem with heroes and Saints? They always end up dead.”
― A Wise Woman ―

“But no one chooses a future. You choose a path without being certain where it leads.”
― Cardan Greenbriar ―

"The Noise is a man unfiltered, and without a filter, a man is just chaos walking."
― A Knife of Never Letting Go ―

"The intelligence it displays is breathtaking. But it’s almost childlike in some of its simplicities"
― Olivia Klein ―

"EVERY STORY NEEDS ITS VILLAIN. AND ITS HERO. AND ITS MONSTER.[...] AND THE MONSTER IS ME."
― AIDAN ―

“NOW, CHILDREN, WATCH CLOSELY.
HOLD YOUR BREATH.
LISTEN.
AND I WILL SHOW YOU THE COMPONENTS OF CALAMITY.”
― AIDAN ―

WE PLAYED CHESS, HE AND  I[...] HE WOULD LOSE EVERY GAME.
AND STILL HE INSISTED ON PLAYING.
I WONDERED AT THE FUTILITY OF IT. IF IT IS THE DEFINITION OF
INSANITY TO REPEAT THE SAME PROCESS AND EXPECT A DIFFERENT
OUTCOME, MOST OF HUMANITY MUST BE INSANE.
― AIDAN ―

"Maybe the gift of being human is that we do not give up ― even when the hope is lost "
― Nikolai Lanstov ―

“Fear is a phoenix. [...] You can watch it burn a thousand times and still it will return.”
― Zoya Nazyalensky ―

“A secret too long kept can kill a soul by inches. I watched a secret almost destroy a man once, the finest man ever made. Such a secret is like keeping treasure in a tomb. Little by little, poison eats away at the gold. By the time the door is opened, there may be nothing left but dust.”
― Brother Zachariah to Matthew Fairchild ―

“Grief as a claw. The claw of a massive monster you couldn’t see, that reached down out of the sky and seized hold of you, punching out your breath, leaving only a pain you couldn’t wriggle away from or avoid. You just had to endure it for as long as the claw had you in its grasp.”
― Emma Carstairs ―

"I think you cannot root out love entirely. I think where there has been love, there will always be embers, as the remains of a bonfire outlast the flame"
― Gwyn ap Nudd ―

“The choices we make, make us.”
― Diana Wayburn ―

"We are all what our pasts have made us, the accumulation of thousands of daily choices. We can change ourselves, but never erase what we've been"
― Catarina Loss ―

you have just been recruited by the Monster Police. You may be wondering, why? [...]
8.You know too much, and should be recruited because the secrecy of the Shadow World has already been compromised for you.
9. You know too little; it would be helpful to the Shadowhunters if you knew more.
10. You know exactly the right amount, making you a natural recruit.
― Magnus Bane ―

Hello readers! It has been awhile since i did a booktag and since the pandemic is swirling around for almost two years now, i think why not doing something with the theme because i am literally working from home right now for the second time since the pandemic started. Found this booktag from Stange The Story Teller blog, so it's not created by me, feel free to check her blog. 

I will mention all the books i've read (mostly) in this year, but we'll see if some books that i find fit as the answer for the question even tho i've read it years before, since i've done mid-year book tag, i'm afraid i might bore you by my answers. Without further ado, let's go!

1. Laying In Bed : a book you could/have read in a day

As a slow reader (i still think i am slow tho i made quite a progress to be able to read at least a book every week when i'm in good condition) there are not many book that can counted in this category. But i finished Ivory and Bone by Julie Esbaugh in less than 24hrs. I found the book is such a page turner even tho i hesitated a lot to read it before starting it. I found the book is unique with the writing style that i never encounter it before and i was happy that actually finish it.

I also finished the second book as fast as the first book, which conclude it as one of the best duology book i've read during the duology fiesta event that i hold back in end of march to half of june. 

2. Snacking : Guilty pleasure book

 I always think this one would be Twilight series. I know a lot of people hate the writing style of it, i did struggle a lot too while reading it. But this book has special place in my heart since it was the first English books i've ever read (yes, what a bad choice with that past tense writing style, it was a big struggle) i remember i even made my own Verb 2 dictionary since they got lots of V2 that i don't know. but i consider it as a learning progress that i would never regret tho.

It was also the most re-read series for me, as you might know i don't reread book no matter how much i don't remember what was the previous book was all about, i usually just go suffer and endure it, or a bit googling for some plot that i forgot. But i re-read this book a lot since i was so broke back then that i have nothing to read except this one. I remember i read whole series in same amount of reread except New Moon because i hate new moon broken heart vibe in it.

3. Netflix : A Series you want to start

Well we got a lot for this one don't we? My priority would be Illuminae Series, but you probably already know that, so i probably gonna mention other series that i want (and need) to start this year, And I Darken Trilogy is one on the list that has been sitting in my shelf for some time already.

 I want to start reading any Brandon Sanderson's books too this year. Lots of my friends said i can start with Mistborn trilogy, but since i know it has the continuation of it, i think i might want to collect the others first before starting it. I already have the Reckoners (you know, calamity, fireflight one?) in my shelf so i probably gonna start with that one.

4. Deep Clean : A book that has been in your TBR for ages

The oldest one in my shelf was The Bane Chronicles that i bought back in BBW Jakarta 2018, but i finished this July, so i guess i have to pick another oldest one in my shelf. I think Lady Midnight is the oldest one since i bought it in BBW 2019. I'm gonna read it anyway this month, after reading the Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy (you know me, i read by sequence in order to no spoilers). 

To be honest i expecting a lot from TDA series since Emma already steal my attention in the last book of TMI series. I hope i didn't disappointed, since lots of people said TDA is the best among the three (TMI,and TID. I love TID lots lots more than TMI, i hate TMI. Well you also already know it, probably) but since i sometimes got unique taste, maybe i won't like it? i dunno, i guess we'll see about it.

5. Animal Crossing : A book you recently bought because of hype

This is a hard question, because i literally bought book because someone recommend it, or because it appears a lot in social media, since i don't read synopsis before reading it. But the most hype one would be (and i will only mention the books that i've bough this year only) would be Skyward by Brandon Sanderson, and Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari because one of my favorite youtuber, Nathaniel Drew recommend it in his video right before the book went viral.

Sapiens also become the first non fiction books i've bought in like, almost 5 years now. So please expect special review of it in the future (yes of course i've plan about the review, the only matter is WHEN will i start and finish reading it) but anyway, keep an eye for it.

6. Productivity : A book you learned from or that had an impact on you

Since i mostly read fantasy, i don't think i got lots of memorable things to learn except to be brave, beware of betrayal and get ready to the adventure that might appears in any seconds. Yeah i know, it sounds like i'm kidding but well...

 The book that left me thinking for awhile after reading it would be Traveling to Infinity : My life with Stephen by Jane Hawking. I see her point of view for being a women, that not only have to be a mother but also a wife for her physically incapable husband. The weight of fame that she has to endure, and the search of being a women, not just wife and mother, but just being a human. Is it wrong to pursue her hobby in that kind of situation that asked her to sacrifice a lot of her sanity. 

7. Facetime : A book you were gifted 

I got like two books from giveaway, A house of Earth and Blood (Cresent City series) by Sarah J Maas, which would be sitting for awhile in my shelf since it's still ongoing series that i would never start rightaway. The other one is the book that i highly anticipate and you probably already know that because of the author is one of my fave content creator, the brother of the contemporary author that i probably only gonna collect books from (That author is John Green, in case you don't get a clue of it yet) which is Hank Green's second book from Carls duology : A beautifully foolish Endeavour.

I'm glad that i finished this series this year because i've been avoiding The Vlogbrothers post in youtube because i'm afraid to encounter with any spoilers, now i can start binge watch their vlog again!

8. Self-care : One thing you've done recently to look after yourself

I don't think i got lots of new self-care this year since i did it all the time (i love my self a lot, so self care is one of my biggest priority). I got a weekend off from work this year, no contacting with work related people, i took a nap in weekend, sleep early in Saturday or Sunday mostly in order to have a good sleep time, I deep cleaning my refrigerator and kitchen in order to feel myself again (it was hard and time consuming but the effect after was fulfilling). Also deep cleaned my bookshelf three times already this year (it usually took 3-4 hours which a good time to listen to audio book at the same time) 

I also tried to at least video call my family once a weak (usually more, it used to be less than that, only a call not a video call. Dude, i'm trying okay?) being lived for my own for decades now, being alone is one of my fave trait but i can't being selfish for just knowing i'm okay without let my family know my conditions too right? like i said, i'm trying.

9. Bonus : A book coming out soon

This one would be one and only for Jay Kristoff's books. The Aurora's End ( so i can start collecting it and reading the whole series) and also the first pre-odered ever for me, The Empire of Vampire. I know i must wait for years for reading this one because (again) i never start unfinished series, but i highly expecting this series a lot. I know lots of people cancel him, but not me. You can judge me, but i also can judge you too, so why bother? i like his works so i don't care about what people talked about him or his private life. It doesn't really matter to me tho. He's a man, not a deity or god, he can makes mistakes (IF he did made mistakes, not just some gossip swirling around). We can't please anybody, so why bother?

Okay that's it for today, i hope you enjoy it, check out also previous booktag!

" One can give up many things for love, but one should note give up oneself."
― Magnus Bane ―

"What good is an honor when greed eats away at its foundations"
― Sophia ―

Ola everyone! it's another time for another mid year freak out book tag! I did this tag last year in July, but i think it might be better if i start with the middle of the june instead, the middle of the middle of the year, got it? The questions are the same, you can get it anywhere by now, the booktube also. Before i start the book tag, let me give you my reading stats so we got a bit of context here.

2021 Yearly Goal :  48 books
Finished Books so far : 28 books

From the stats, we can say, i'm a bit ahead from my reading goal, so i guess it's a good sign although i got into slump months ago. Anyway, without further ado, let's dive in!

1. Best Book so far this year?

I didn't have lots of 5 star read this year so far, i guess i'm being picky about the books that i'm reading, but for this category, i would pick the book that has been my highly anticipated release last year, which is the Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green. This would be the one that i think meet my highly anticipate one, since i got some highly anticipate books that didn't meet my expectation, you know the rule of high anticipation means lots of disappointment, i wonder why i keep doing the anticipation while knowing the after effect of it.

Anyway this book is super great, i really like the witty comment, the multiple POV here is just, in some point, i can say some of them are special that just by reading the title of the chapter itself made my eyes go teary.

2. Best Sequel you've read so far in 2021?

This would be Muse of Nightmare. I was a bit (really, just a bit) disappointed with Strange The Dreamer at first when i finished reading it, because the book was such a hype and i (again) highly anticipate this book. Turns out, the book was okay, but i was expecting more (yeah, here we go again with high anticipations  and big disappointment cycle). 

When i post my review in my Bookstagram about the first book, one of my friend said that the second book is going to be much more fun to read and yes, i do believe i agree with her. I think this one is perfect book as the ending of the duology.

3. New Release you haven't read yet but want to?

I really want to read the Rule of Wolfes by Leigh Bardugo right now, but thanks to the OCD i can't because i have to read by sequence, and by now i still got at least 6 books to read before start reading the King of Scars duology. Yes, i haven't read the KoS either because (if you know me) i never start the still in going series, or in simple term, i always wait for the series to be end first before i start reading it. 

Anyway, Nikolai is my fave character in Shadow and Bone trilogy, and i just can't wait to meet him again, since i love shadow and bone a lot, i just can't wait to read his story. I know some spoilers, saying that this would be his adventure with Nina Zenik, which i sensed it by reading SoC las time, i still don't know how i feel about it. Nina isn't one of my fave character after all. But we'll see how it goes! Of course i will keep you updated about that, just stay tune in this blog, i might be able to read it this year, well.. it have to be this year tho.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

This would be definitely Jay Kristoff's Empire of Vampire! I really can't wait for its release in september. I've pre-ordered the book and i just can't wait for it! I know there are lots of issues for the author, but internet can say anything about anything so i don't really care. I know he's humble and so far i didn't find the fact that he's a racist author (except people said "according to info i got" kind of issues) so as long as he wrote amazing journey in the book, i'm down to it!

 This book also be the one that i Pre-ordered. I've never did that before because i know i won't read it right away, because i need to wait for the last book to be in my shelf before i start the series (which would be approximately 3 years from now, at least) but i bought it anyway, and yes i'm so excited for it!

5. Biggest Disappointment?

Fierce like a Firestorm it is! I would say, this one is so disappointing that i really want to unhaul it, but i really like the cover. lol! I guess i have to stop buying the book by its cover, but i just can't! The thing that i don't understand is, why made a fuss about here and there while the end is like no one win. 

She was the girl that once loved by two men, but end up going elsewhere (which she was fighting for to go back home so desperately) but home in the end. So tell me, what's the point?

6. Biggest Surprise?

I think i got quite surprises this year, and i just can't pick just one, i would left to these two books that took me by the surprise. First one would be Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth. I will say it's surprising because i know the split opinion about this book because they said it failed to top the Divergent series. Just for your info, i haven't read the Divergent series yet, so i can't really relate to that readers, but this Carve the Mark really a page turning one for me, of course the sequel is a bit lacking , but still a good page turner.

The second one would be Ivory and Bone. If you have read my review about this book, i postpone to read this one a lot because i just don't think it would be fun. Of course i was so hype for this book at the time i found it in Big Bad Wolf event back in 2019, but i never seen people post about the book in instagram, that somehow made me think am i right? 

I love the idea of the plot set in stone age (that one i know by the people who i seen posted this book because of the fairyloot subscription box featured this book) and that was the reason i want to collect the book, apart from, of course, it has such a pretty cover. But once i start reading it, the first chapter itself (which is the prologue) already catch my attention, and i end up finishing it less than 24 hrs.

 

7. Favorite New Author?

Ugh i got lots for this one, but i will choose Jay Kristoff for this time. He, not only the author that can cruelly slay your fave characters and proud of it, but also the one that can write in such writing style that i never seen before in my reading adventure so far. Not only that, like i mentioned before, i really like his personality. All the gossips of him, i don't really care since it's just an issue. 

So yeah, i'm looking forward for his other works, how the world that he created and the characters took me to their adventures, i would say, yes, i can't wait. And of course, like i said, i need to be prepared for him to suddenly did something that readers might hate him for doing it to the characters inside, because i think he's the only author that can do it.

8. Newest Fictional Crush?

This year, i realized, i really love this type of character. A sweet, soft loving man, but he actually a strong character. Akos from Carve the mark, Lazlo from Strange the Dreamer and Kol from Ivory and bone, they are characters that made me realize this. 

For the winner of the Fictional Crush, i probably choose Lazlo for it. Because he's such a dreamer (just like me) and his love for books are just a boyfie goal for me. He's thoughtful and such a loving man, i need that kind of man.

9. Newest Favorite character?

This would be Mr. Kindly from Nevernight series. Have i told you how much i love a sarcastic character?

10. Book that made you cry?

I think this year i haven't read any sad books yet, since i'm not into sad book. But one that made me want to cry, not just because of touched, but because it includes a sad scene in the middle of action scene (since i mainly read fantasy, that happens, you know?) 

I would say the book that made me cry, (or in my term, made me sad, because i haven't shed a tear yet so far) would be Obsidian and Stars.  It start with the death of the clan leader of Manu, which is Kol's father, and followed by the death of the leader of Olen's Clan which is Mya's brother. Not only that the death that made me sad to be honest, but also the problem that came after that. But well, you can see it if you read the book so i encourage you to read this duology, too bad it's so underrated in my opinion.

11. Book that made you happy?

I always love Rick Riordan books, as you probably already know, i always start my year with his books as the opening. But i found his Percy Jackson's Greek Gods as the one that made me smile and laugh a lot while reading it.  As you might know already, i love his sense of humor.

12. Favorite book to film adaptation?

Can i suggest book to Series adaptation instead for this? I highly suggest you to watch the shadow and bone series in netflix. I think it's so far a good book to movie adaptation to me, or probably because it's not a movie but the series. Really can't wait to the next season to be release, i can't wait to see how they made the story of Kaz's childhood. I think it's good that they add Six of Crows characters in the series, but not the SoC story yet because it set after the Shadow and Bone series, but still gave them part in the series in Shadow and Bone timeline, Nina and Matthias's adventure is one of the story that i really want to watch happening since i read the story in book and i'd say they picture it well! Of course can't wait for Nikolai to be there in next season too!

Also the other one probably Anne with an E which i believe is the one that adapted from Anne of Green Gables book. I haven't read the book yet, but binge watching the movie, see how well the characters growing up along with the seasons added, i just happy with the heartwarming feeling of it. Specially Anne and Gilbert! Too bad that they decided to not adding another season for it. But well i'm pretty satisfied with the ending tho

 

 

But to answer the Book to Movie adaptation part, i watched the Chaos Walking movie. I got to say, i've been waiting for this movie a lot since few years ago they said that it will be adapted to the movie, and then it got pending, even rumored as canceled, yet this year it's officially released! Tom Holland is one of some actor that i'm looking forward to since he acted as Spiderman in Captain America Civil War. 

Chaos Walking series has been my fave Dytopian trilogy so far up until now, i love the complexity of the story, the plot twist that made me almost throw the book across the room (i never did anything so anarchy to a book, but for this one, is close!) the perfect use of multiple POV, the great villain that Patrick Ness created. Plus after reading some male author books, he did great at creating the romance part. 

Too bad to say that the movie just end shorter than it should be (a trilogy) the mayor died just like that in the end of the movie (well i guess he is dead, i suppose they still can made him alive again if they decide to continue the movie) but i think we didn't get his reason why he become who he is, unlike the book, it was so emotional and sad at the same time.

13. Favorite review you've written?

I think this mid year freak out book tag will be win by Jay Kristoff. I think it's his year this year, because i enjoyed a lot while make another book review in a new series that i'm doing in this blog which is "EXPLAINED! : Understanding the Epic Fantasy Series", the series i dedicated to high fantasy book review, or at least a book with more complex world building. 

 

I had fun writing it, also while planning to add this series in the blog, because well why not add another series even if i had lots of series here in my blog already? I just think it would be perfect to learn the amazing world building while reading it, taking notes, and give it to you.

14. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year?

I've added 79 books in my shelf so far this year (and still counting) so it's really hard just to pick one book (since, you know i judge book by its cover, so i love pretty covers, that leads to collecting pretty books are likely the goal). By the book i added this year, I love Illuminae Series that i bought (i bought it last year but arrived at January (i hope it counts?) i think this series.

 

 

I also think this year is gold year for me, because i got lots of pretty book with gold font or cover in it, I got the pretty cover The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald,  Skyward UK edition by Brandon Sanderson, Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo and Norse Mythology.

15. What book do you need to read before the end of the year?

Gosh i got lots in my list, but all i think of is the Korean Version of The Little Prince because i got it back in 2018 which made it the oldest book in my TBR shelf right now, and i hope i can finish the book (i think i will read it in the end of the year since i usually read hard to read books after i reach my reading goal so i got less pressure) but we'll see, maybe i can start it early? 

Read Last Year Mid-Year Freak out Book tag

 

“A toast, to self-government. Saint Etheldreda's School for Young Ladies will be run by young ladies from this point forward. Hear, hear!"

I pray only when I’m desperate, when I know I need her the most, and I know that in a way, that is worse than never praying at all. It shows I believe, but not enough to do anything about it. I know the Divine can help me, but I also know I can do most things myself.
― Mya ―

“There is strong danger in a person who can create such powerful deceit they can no longer distinguish their own lies from the truth.”
― Lo ―

“I’m a free spirit
Adrift in sunshine and song.
Office hours bore me.”
― Haiku by Apollo God of Prophecy ―

"Remarkable things don’t get done by people waiting for the status quo to crawl along"
― Dr. Constance Lundgren ―