Time for another round up of books from my TBR to go through! Each week I’ll be going over a selection from my physical unread books and deciding what to keep and what to purge. There will be a third option–undecided–which I might ask for your input on why you think I should keep or purge that title from my list. You can also check out my full TBR pile here.
Furyborn by Claire Legrand
When assassins ambush her best friend, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing herself as one of a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light, and a queen of blood. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven elemental magic trials. If she fails, she will be executed…unless the trials kill her first.
One thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a fairy tale to Eliana Ferracora. A bounty hunter for the Undying Empire, Eliana believes herself untouchable–until her mother vanishes. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain and discovers that the evil at the empire’s heart is more terrible than she ever imagined.
As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic war that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world–and of each other.
I think I got this one for free in a book grab bag at WFC. Pretty sure. And I still want to check this out one day as it looks like my kind of jam. KEEP
Wolf Dawn by A.L. Kaplan
Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers. But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.
This is a short story that I bought from one of the local authors I’ve met at various local book events. I feel kind of bad because I haven’t had time to read it yet and it’s not that long! Definitely holding on to this though because I want to read it. KEEP
The Dracula Tape by Fred Saberhagen
Bram Stoker portrayed him as a terrifying creature of the night, heartless, soul-less, preying on the pure and innocent. The truth is far different. Dracula is no villain but a tower of strength, eternally protecting his land and his people from the depredations of invaders. Those who hunt him are the true villains, for they seek to kill what they do not understand. Here, then, is the story of the Count’s greatest love, Mina Harker, and the bloodthirsty vampire hunters whose cruel pursuit drove the master of the night to actions ever more ruthless.
On the one hand, vampires. On the other hand this feels like it could be a little bit too old school style for me. I’m unsure. UNDECIDED
The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom’s borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution–send in Guinevere to be Arthur’s wife . . . and his protector from those who want to see the young king’s idyllic city fail. The catch? Guinevere’s real name–and her true identity–is a secret. She is a changeling, a girl who has given up everything to protect Camelot.
To keep Arthur safe, Guinevere must navigate a court in which the old–including Arthur’s own family–demand things continue as they have been, and the new–those drawn by the dream of Camelot–fight for a better way to live. And always, in the green hearts of forests and the black depths of lakes, magic lies in wait to reclaim the land. Arthur’s knights believe they are strong enough to face any threat, but Guinevere knows it will take more than swords to keep Camelot free.
Well this is a relatively new add, from one of my Owlcrate shipments. I really want to check this one out as I’ve heard good things so this one stays in the pile. KEEP
The Time of the Ghost by Diana Wynne Jones
There’s been an accident! Something’s wrong! She doesn’t know who she is, and doesn’t know why she’s invisibly floating through the buildings and grounds of a half-remembered boarding school. Then, to her horror, she encounters the ancient evil that four peculiar sisters have unwittingly woken — and learns she is their only hope against a deadly danger.
I’m keeping all of my Diana Wynne Jones on principle, whether I get to it or not. I just have such a nostalgia for her work. KEEP
That’s all for now! This brings my total count to:
| Keep | Purge | Undecided |
| 347 | 117 | 64 |
A lot of keeps again this week–this doesn’t look good for progress but I’m also getting into some of the newer books I’ve added to my TBR so that’s to be expected. What do you think about my choices here? Anything you’d do differently? Leave a note in the comments, I’d love to chat!
Way Too Fantasy 
The Dracula Tape actually sounds good! And I’m sure I have at least one Fred Saberhagen book on my shelves😁
It does! Although I also have *so* many books so I have to prioritize at this point LOL.
I’ve seen some mixed reviews about Guinevere Deception but I also have that one from Owlcrate! The cover is gorgeous and I’m excited to give it a try 😃 Hope you enjoy it!
Yeah, I’ve seen mixed reviews as well although one friend who shares similar tastes when it comes to YA really loved it so I have high hopes! Thanks, Dini! Hope you do as well.
YAY to the Guinevere Deception!! Nay to Furyborn!! haha! I never understood that book!! haha!
LOL! I don’t mind hanging on to Furyborn because it’s a nice hardback and looks good on my shelves although who knows if I’ll ever get around to it. I definitely want to check out The Guinevere Deception. 🙂
The description of Guinevere Deception sounds interesting!🤩
Yeah, it really does sound intriguing! Thanks for stopping by!
Mention not ☺️
The First Mate loves the dracula tape but says the rest of the series not so much. It is on me list to read one day.
x The Captain
Hope you enjoy it when you get to it! It’s a vampire book so I do want to check it out but then I probably won’t get enough motivation for it so… LOL.
I really want to get to Furyborn, I’m glad you kept it!
Guinevere Deception is such a cozy read, keep it!
Definitely plan on it. Oooh, cozy? I may have to bump it up.
I legit read the 75% of the second book in bed on a rainy day and it was the best.
Oh, nice. I will have to see about reading it soon then!
I’m so torn on Furyborn because, on one hand, I hate it. On the other hand, I also recently bought the third one, so like?? Take me with a grain of salt because this feels like Cruel Prince all over again. Welllllll, I ended up liking Wicked King, and I had the same hate/like with Kingsbane, so I don’t know. It’s not awful, there are just a lot of things that made me want to chuck it out the window. But also clearly enjoying it since I keep eyeing the third one to read. Who knows!
LOL, Mary! I know what you mean though? Sometimes you just keep going even if you’re not keen on book 1, I have done that as well. I do plan on keeping it for now but I don’t know when I’ll get around to it, it’s not high on my priority list.
I love the cover for Guinevere Deception – and according to the comments it’s a cosy read so I might just have to go and check it out.
Lynn 😀
Yeah, I love that cover too! I’ve heard good things about it and people are making me want to pick it up sooner rather than later.