I'll prelude this blog by saying that I'm usually reading more than one book at a time. One fiction and a couple non-fiction. Reading non-fiction is difficult at best. It's dry reading for me, even if the subject is interesting. I need to alternate between reading non-fiction and fiction. I can only read one fiction book at a time, and I only want to read one at a time to give that author's story my undivided attention.
Fiction
So . . . what am I currently reading in fiction? When I knew this blog was coming up, I didn't know what I would be reading. It was toss up between five or six books that I'm eagerly awaiting reading. I'm reading A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas, the third book in her A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Originally, I didn't want to read this series. There was so much hype about it, I wasn't sure if it was a series I would like. I do not pay attention whatsoever to reviews posted on Goodreads and FOR GOOD REASON. While there are some people that write an honest review, most of the reviews are based on an opinion. And opinions on books will vary just like they do for music and movies. What someone else may thoroughly hate, I might really enjoy. Therefore, I will read the back blurb and judge a book by its cover before I ever put any stock into someone's bad review.
The first book in this series was actually fantastic and had me hooked. The story itself was good. So good that I had to read the next book, which wasn't until a few books later, but I did pick it up and finished it last week. The second book, A Court of Mist and Fury, was SUPER good and hooked me every further. There are two other books in this series, A Court of Frost and Starlight and A Court of Silver Flames. I'm looking forward to reading them, too.
I've been reading a lot of romantasy lately, but I've mixed it up, some having read The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern and The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst recently. Though I'm not sure I would recommend The Starless Sea unless you want to be thoroughly confused, I would recommend The Spellshop. It was a delight.
I've not decided which fictional book I'll be picking up next. There are so so many to choose from right now. So many that I want to read. I might have to flip a coin to decide.
Non-Fiction
For my non-fiction selections, I'm reading Writing into The Dark by Dean Wesley Smith, which is about writing without an outline. For those of you who know me, or have read my blogs, you know that I heavily outline each book before I start the book. Well, my fifth book–the third in the Gangster series–has NO outline. You heard me right. I've done very little as far as outlining. Instead, I'm writing into the dark on it. I've had to pause to ensure The Aristocrat's Wife is published in time, but this book is helping me through unknown territory while I navigate without an outline. The other non-fiction book that I'm reading is How to Write a Successful Series by Helen Scheurer. Again, those who know me or who've talked to me at events know that I never intended for The Gangster's Daughter to turn into a series. It was by pure chance that I wrote the characters into The Gangster's Mistake as supporting characters, which turned it into a series. And if you don't know already, I have at least five more Gangster books coming. Those who have not purchased those books yet, I'll be adding a page to the inside of those books that will state: This series is best enjoyed in this order . . . I'm not planning on changing the book covers to have Book One, Book Two, etc.
That's what I'm reading right now! If you need any recommendations, let me know!!
Happy reading!
Jodie