It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #1

    Hi, everyone! Welcome to my first ever try at a It's Monday! What Are You Reading? book blog event. If you're new to Stepping Stones Book Reviews, welcome. This is the first of The Week of Book Memes, a four-part series of posts I'm doing this week, all dedicated to participating in some of the most fun and popular book blog memes that the Internet has to offer. 

    I've had some rough stuff going on the past few weeks (including recovering from a huge surgery), so I got a little behind on my usually big reading list. As I've rested and gotten more strength up, I've begun to pick up more books and finish them too. I hope you'll enjoy taking a look at my bookshelf as of right now.

    Last week, I finished reading Michael Vey: The Hunt for Jade Dragon, Erynn Mangum's We Are Gathered Here novella collection (now I've finished reading all the books she's written and published!), The Writing Desk, and Elise Allen's UnTwisted.

Michael Vey #4 was pretty awesome. I liked how one of Hatch's main "eagles" actually went through a redemption arc. Definitely wasn't expecting that, but once I caught on to it I rooted for it! Makes me wish I'd started reading the series earlier, when it was more popular.

We Are Gathered Here was a fun book to read. I actually tried to get through it earlier, but didn't have the strength and had to wait for a while until I could fully focus on it. I'm so glad I did, as all the novellas in there have Mangum's trademark sweetness and humor. I even found myself gasping out loud at one of the plot twists!

The Writing Desk was an interesting book. I was not prepared for some of the twists and turns that the author put in! Overall I felt it was easier for me to slip into Tenley's point of view rather than Birdie's point of view, but once I did I found I enjoyed Birdie's outlook on life and her stronger, more mature faith than Tenley from her character's perspective. At the end I thought Tenley's story would go a completely different way than it had gone, so I was a little disappointed despite the happy ending.

About a year ago, I picked up a copy of Twinchantment and loved it so much that I had to reserve the sequel. This one was a great continuation of the first book, and I loved the whole "academy" feel of this one. (Probably because I've also loved/written a bunch of boarding school stories!) There was a hint of romance in this one, which for the most part I felt distracted from the parts of the story that I felt were more important to the main plot. Though Sara and Galric are kind of cute together...

    On the blog I reviewed The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found, a book which I also finished last week. It's an amazing story of love, loss, and family bonds, and is definitely a must-read. I can't seem to stop raving about it! You can find my review of it HERE.

    Right now I'm reading some writing drabbles from other writers I know and fanfiction, mostly based on Disney movies. I also started and would love to finish Sam Hopper's Rise of the Royals: Links of the Two Worlds.

Synopsis: Lindsay is a two-inch-tall, fourteen-year-old girl who lived a normal life with her tribe until Nathen came along. When an Upperlander shrinks, will she be able to put things back to normal? Join Lindsay and Nathen in "Rise of the Royals: Book One" as they discover this magic that has come upon them.

    Next week, I'm looking forward to reading Michael Vey: Storm of Lightning, The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Interrupted Tale, and Blood of Kings: To Darkness Fled.

Synopsis: The Electroclan is on the run. The resistance movement has been compromised. The safe house has been destroyed. The voice is in hiding, and they have no idea if their families are alive…or dead.

Meanwhile, the Elgen are on the move. They’ve launched a new assault on the small island nation of Tuvalu. If they are successful, it will be the first domino to fall as part of Hatch’s master plan to take over the rest of the world. But cracks are beginning to appear in the ranks of the Elgen elite, and while Hatch still rules with an iron fist, there are signs of dissent. If the Elgen are beginning to turn against each other, can the Electroclan find an opportunity to use this to their advantage? Or is it just a trap to destroy them once and for all?

The stakes have never been higher, and Michael and his friends are about to be tested in ways they never imagined.

Synopsis: Turning sixteen is a bittersweet occasion for Miss Penelope Lumley. Luckily, an invitation to speak at the annual Celebrate Alumnae Knowledge Exposition (or CAKE) at the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females provides just the diversion Penelope needs.

Optoomuchstic as ever, Penelope hopes to give her CAKE talk, see some old friends, and show off the Incorrigible children to Miss Mortimer, but instead she finds her beloved school in an uproar. And when Penelope is asked by the Swanburne Academy board of trustees to demonstrate the academic progress of her three wolfish students so they can judge the true worth of a Swanburne education, the future of her alma mater—and of her job as governess to the Incorrigibles—hangs in the balance.

Synopsis: They have no choice. Chased by an evil prince, Achan, Vrell, and the Kingsguard knights flee into Darkness. They head north, for Tsaftown and Ice Island, where they must free an army that can help them fight for Er’Rets.

 
Darkness sickens Vrell. How long can she keep her secret without being caught? Achan already suspects her of lying. If she is not careful, he will suspect her of treason as well. She hopes he will let his suspicions go until they reach her home. 
 
Achan wanted freedom, but this new journey has bound him more than ever. Sir Gavin’s claims are so far fetched. First, that there might only be one God, and second, that this God chose Achan to push back Darkness, the magnificent curse of Er’Rets. Him. Achan. Barely a man himself.
 
Each setback Darkness brings seems minor compared to the one choice only Achan can make. What will he choose?

    I hope you enjoyed my It's Monday! What Are You Reading? post. I had so much fun going over my bookshelves and analyzing all of my reads and to-be-reads, and am excited to do more of these in the future.

    Join me tomorrow for a Top Ten Tuesday list based on book quotes...