Monthly Reading Goals: May 2019

Nicole over at Thoughts Stained With Ink talked me into trying out this post topic back in January and after running with it a couple of months I’ve decided to keep it going. For now at least.

This isn’t something I usually do because I hate locking myself into a specific reading list. It just never works out for me. As my previous Month In Review posts reveal, I rarely stick to what I set out to read. I might read more, less, or switch books out for others. Rarely to I finish the month as I intended.

So my ongoing rule for this topic will be…

After last month I’m really nervous about committing to a reading schedule. If you didn’t see my recap from last month you can read it here, but in a nutshell I really only read two books and posted one review. Can I do better this month? We’ll see.

CURRENTLY READING

My current read is SWORLD: The Chronicles of Malick, by William Harris and published by Chandra Press.

“Forced to flee his homeworld, Oberus, the genetically re-engineered Malick leads a scientific expedition to the far reaches of the solar system. A distress call from an alien ship with a mysterious cargo leaves the team marooned on the arcane planet Sworld. Plunged into a quest for answers that ultimately leads them to their genesis, Malick and the crew must solve the enigmas of Sworld or perish.” – blurb from Goodreads

I was sent a copy of SWORLD by the publisher. Chandra Press is a relatively new publishing house that released it’s first book in October 2018. SWORLD is the fourth title in their stable with an expected release date of May 3, 2019.

MAY READS

Up To The Throne, by T.A. Frost

This is a book I was supposed to read last month. I was sent copy to review by the author. I’m adding it to my May list because well I told him I’d read it and I want to keep that commitment. That and it also sounds like a cool book.

“Giulia Degarno returns to the city-state of Pagalia with one intention: to kill the man who scarred her and left her for dead. But Publius Severra is no longer a mere criminal, and has risen to become a powerful politician – and perhaps the only man who can save Pagalia from anarchy. Now, as Severra stands poised to seize the throne. Giulia must choose between taking her revenge, and saving her home.

Up To The Throne is a dark fantasy novel set in a magically-enhanced Renaissance: a dangerous world of assassins, alchemists and flying machines. It is a world where artists and scholars cross paths with feuding nobles and clockwork monsters – and death is never far away.” – Goodreads blurb

The author contacted me back in January before I’d opened the blog to review requests again. I had to put him off at the time but finally reached back out to him and accepted the request. I was intrigued by this Renaissance themed fantasy that sounds like it may be dark and gritty. Frost has written a number of other books including a couple for Black Library’s Warhammer 40K series as Toby Frost.

Yearly Reading/Blogging Goal: Read more self-published fantasy; Open the blog to review requests again.

Tales of Kingshold, by D.P. Woolliscroft

“I am Mareth and I collect tales – tales that do not make the official histories. Join me and learn the secret stories of those who sparked the wildfire. Stories from our past, from that fateful summer and its aftermath.

If you loved Kingshold, discover the next installment in the epic Wildfire Cycle.
Tales of Kingshold, Book 1.5 of the Wildfire Cycle, includes four novelettes and six short stories.” – Goodreads blurb

I was a big fan of Woolliscoft’s Kingsworld as you can see from my review here and I’ve been wanting to dig into this one ever since I finished it.

Yearly Reading/Blogging Goal: Read more self-published fantasy

By Fire Above, by Robyn Bennis

‘”All’s fair in love and war,” according to airship captain Josette Dupre, until her hometown becomes occupied by the enemy and her mother a prisoner of war. Then it becomes, “Nothing’s fair except bombing those Vins to high hell.”

Before she can rescue her town, however, Josette must maneuver her way through the nest of overstuffed vipers that make up the nation’s military and royal leaders in order to drum up support. The foppish and mostly tolerated crew member Lord Bernat steps in to advise her, along with his very attractive older brother.

Between noble scheming, under-trained recruits, and supply shortages, Josette and the crew of the Mistral figure out a way to return to Durum―only to discover that when the homefront turns into the frontlines, things are more dangerous than they seem.”

This is a book I’ve had on my TBR for about a year now. I’m soooooooo upset with myself for not having read it yet. I read the first book in the series The Guns Above when it came out and absolutely loved it but it was before I started the blog. It’s black powder fantasy with airships but it isn’t really steampunk. It’s like steampunk but…different. I loved the main character Josette and the snarky and foppish Lord Bernat. I may try to review both books together.

Yearly Reading/Blogging Goal: Catch up on series I’ve started

The Ninth Rain, by Jen Williams

“The great city of Ebora once glittered with gold. Now its streets are stalked by wolves. Tormalin the Oathless has no taste for sitting around waiting to die while the realm of his storied ancestors falls to pieces – talk about a guilt trip. Better to be amongst the living, where there are taverns full of women and wine.

When eccentric explorer, Lady Vincenza ‘Vintage’ de Grazon, offers him employment, he sees an easy way out. Even when they are joined by a fugitive witch with a tendency to set things on fire, the prospect of facing down monsters and retrieving ancient artefacts is preferable to the abomination he left behind.

But not everyone is willing to let the Eboran empire collapse, and the adventurers are quickly drawn into a tangled conspiracy of magic and war. For the Jure’lia are coming, and the Ninth Rain must fall…” – Goodreads blurb

I’ve owned The Ninth Rain for probably a year or more now too and still haven’t read it. I’m finally doing it now because it’s been selected as one of the read along books for this year’s Wyrd & Wonder. I figured this was the perfect time to get this one read. If you’re interested in joining the read along check it out on Goodreads.

Yearly Reading/Blogging Goal: Reduce the size of my TBR.

Well that’s it for this month. As always I reserve the right to change this reading list up at any time, to add to it or remove items from it. Odds are at least one of the above won’t be read by the end of the month and I’ve probably got at least one too many on the list. But maybe I can stick to it. Cross your fingers for me and look for some reviews to come. Till then, Happy Reading!