Reading is a hobby that transcends almost anything else. That being said, the constant reader has the ability to go deeper into a story or a set of ideas, to truly transport themselves to the vision of the author while also constructing the details in their own imagination. To this end, reading is deeply personal while also a very sociable and democratic activity.

Past any pretentious descriptions though, reading is just great fun, no matter what genres speak out to you the most. (We all know how much I love a good thriller!) With that in mind, getting the most out of your reading can be a true exercise in potential and can help open you up to many more forms of reading experience as the years pass on. Check out these quick tips on how to get the most out of your reading time.




Craft A Perfect Sitting Environment

We all have our favorite places to read. I would love to read outside more often, but don't have the space to do so where I can be comfortable and unafraid of spiders lurking. Instead you can find me cozied up on our sofa if I'm at home, or lounging on my office lounge space at work. Obviously I can read anywhere, but I can really soak into a story if I'm one of my favorite comfy spaces. I often try to read in bed, but find myself taking a nap instead (I sure do love naps). Maybe a nook is more up your alley, and it's definitely an end goal of mind in terms of trying to create the perfect home space. I'm sure you've got a space that you gravitate towards when it's time to read that helps you make the most of your reading time.



Track Your Reading

This isn't a goal of everyone, but I certainly love to track my reading. I enjoy knowing how many pages I've read and how many books I've finished. It's something I thoroughly enjoy - just checking off book after book from my TBR. I tend to use Goodreads to set reading goals each year, and while I don't use it to best of its functionality, I definitely place my books on "Currently Reading" as soon as I pick up a book to read and I "Finish" it and rate it in the app once I'm done. I also like being able to get up-to-the-minute information regarding authors releasing new books and enter the many giveaways. I love that Goodreads is a free service and would love to see the app develop over the next few years to a more user-friendly experience.



Make Sure You’re Comfortable

So many people underestimate comfort. But if you’re going to sit reading for a while, it is really important that you’re in a comfortable position. Sitting in a chair with proper back support can help your overall wellbeing. Having proper reading glasses and reading in a well-lit space can save your eyes strain. Having a glass of water nearby can make sure you stay hydrated throughout your reading session. These simple steps can make so much difference!



Consider The Indulgences

I also think it's incredibly important to consider what is important to you when it comes to reading, even those things some people may consider "guilty pleasures." Do not be afraid to enjoy them, and don't feel guilty about it. So you love Fifty Shades of Grey? Who the heck cares? It's actually that trilogy that got me back into reading so heavily. I'm serious (and I actually talk more about it here). So what if you enjoy reading a steamy romance outside of your usual reading habits, or you love the gore and horror of a Stephen King novels (or you don't!), or maybe you enjoy reading about red wine facts to know that supplement your complimentary reading drink of choice? A little glass of red can go with any book perfectly, especially on those cold winter evenings (and I've heard a glass is pretty good for your heath). We all like what we like, and feeling as if we cannot enjoy them to any degree simply prevents us from focusing on the things that give us joy. And, of course, that’s not what reading is about.
















*This is a collaborative post. 

PopSugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book becoming a movie in 2019


TW: Violence, death, harm to elderly and/or children, racial slurs, drugs, alcohlism




I've said it before and I'll say it again. Nothing convinces me to read a book like it coming out as a movie. So of course I had to finally pick up Doctor Sleep and read it. It'd been on my shelf for a couple of years, so it was about time picked it up. I had read The Shining last fall and truly loved it, and I actually didn't realize Doctor Sleep was a sequel until I started seeing the previews for the movie. I was excited to follow along with little Danny Torrance, all grown up, and while the plot originally was unexpected, I really enjoyed the book once I got into it.


Many years after the terrifying events at the Overlook Hotel, Daniel Torrance has grown into an alcoholic and a bit of a skeeze. But after moving to a small-town and starting the 12-steps, he finds his home in a local hospice home where he helps the patients "pass." There, he's known as Doctor Sleep. Miles and miles away, there's a group of travelers who call themselves the True Knot, and they feed on the steam of children who have the shining. And there's a young girl who's got the strongest shine, maybe of all time, and the Knot is coming for her.


The book starts up with follow-up from The Shining, which I really appreciated. I wanted to know more about Danny, Wendy, and Dick after that fateful winter ending. So I was able to get some closure and follow-up there. Once the book changes to the perspective of the True Knot, I was less entertained. Chapters with Dan and with Abra were the ones I looked the most forward to, but I feel this story was a nice sequel to its classic predecessor and I'm glad to have read it.

As with all the King books I've read so far, the story is a study in character development. The plot is still important and necessary, but more than anything I cared about the characters. This story is truly haunting, and gruesome at times. There were parts that are pretty terrifying, but it's also about flawed people and the mistakes they make, and more importantly, overcoming them.

There's nothing like sticking with a character from childhood and getting to revisit their story in adulthood. It's a beautiful thing. I was glad to continue with Danny Torrance's journey. I'm not sure there are any major King characters that I've read about yet that haven't stuck with me, and this was a rare chance to revisit.





Doctor Sleep started slow, but exciting (if you've read The Shining). Became a bit slow for me in terms of introducing this story's villains. And steadily amped up speed until it reached the climax, which was so beautifully written, it sped by so quickly. I enjoyed so much of this book and I'm thrilled to see the movie when it's released next month. Once again, King comes through with chilling writing and a gracious character-driven plot.




Goodreads rating: ★★★★★

I got through six books in September, which was a pretty big deal for me because I felt like I had a ton going on. I only read one stand-alone, and the rest were part of the Three Dark Crowns series (see below). I just wish I could get through six books each month. Reading's felt so slow for me this year, so I'm hoping to pump out some great months to end 2019.



The Best of Crimes* by K.C. Maher ★★★☆☆
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: N/A

Brief synopsis: Walter is a bit of a prodigy. A child genius, if you will. Before turning 20, he'd earned two doctorates and had a job in the legal big league. Within years, married with a daughter. His childhood had flashed right before his eyes, so watching his daughter and her best friend, the neighbor girl, grow up became a pleasant experience for him. But his relationship with his daughter's best friend begins to grow and blossom in a way he never expected. Which could mean trouble for him.

Overall thoughts: I was not a fan of this book. I thought it was creepy and weird. The writing was great - easy to understand, which I really like. And while I typically enjoy books with controversial topics, this one was just a bit too out of range for me.  Full review here.






Three Dark Crowns (complete series) by Kendare Blake ★★★★☆
Three Dark Crowns, One Dark Throne, Queens of Fennbirn, Two Dark Reigns, Five Dark Fates*
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book with a plant in the title or on the cover (book one), A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, and South America (book two)

Brief synopsis: The four-novel series focuses on three triplet queens, born to rule and on their sixteenth birthday, two must die so the other can rule. Each sister possesses a gift - Mirabella is an elemental, Arsinoe is the naturalist, and Katharine is a poisoner. For the past several generations, poisoners have ruled. But the rule is not just given. The sisters must fight for the crown. They must fight to the death. The two novellas (both combined to make Queens of Fennbirn) within the series are prequels - The Young Queens focuses on the sisters as children, before they were taken to their adoptive families. The Oracle Queen tells the tale of Queen Elsabet, the oracle queen who killed three whole families based only on a vision.

Overall thoughts: I didn't expect to love these books so much. They all started off slow, but the character development was out-of-this-world. I become so connected to each of the characters and just had to know what was going to happen next. The worlds created were so imaginative, but easy to envision. I definitely recommend this series. Full review here.




















* denotes book was received free in exchange of an honest review. All opinions, as always, are 100% my own. 

PopSugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book with a plant in the title or on the cover (book one), A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, and South America (book two)


TW: Abuse, violence, death of animals, abduction, murder



As part of the Booksparks YA Fall Reading Challenge (#YAfrc2019), I was provided with a complimentary copy of the newest and final Three Dark Crowns novel, Five Dark Fates. I'd wanted to read the series for a while, but had never gotten around to it. So it was the perfect opportunity to pick up the others in the series. September was basically just reading the Dark Crowns series.



The four-novel series focuses on three triplet queens, born to rule and on their sixteenth birthday, two must die so the other can rule. Each sister possesses a gift - Mirabella is an elemental, Arsinoe is the naturalist, and Katharine is a poisoner. For the past several generations, poisoners have ruled. But the rule is not just given. The sisters must fight for the crown. They must fight to the death.

The two novellas (both combined to make Queens of Fennbirn) within the series are prequels - The Young Queens focuses on the sisters as children, before they were taken to their adoptive families. The Oracle Queen tells the tale of Queen Elsabet, the oracle queen who killed three whole families based only on a vision.





First thing's first - the order of the novels. I was really confused about this because they aren't in the order of the numbers in titles, and there aren't five novels (four novels plus two novellas). So here's the order to read them in:

1. Three Dark Crowns
2. One Dark Throne
3. Queens of Fennbirn (The Young Queens, The Oracle Queen) - I read this between novels 4 and 5, but I would recommend it here. Novel four ends on a cliff hanger and you'll want to jump straight into the final novel. Do not read this prior to books one and two if you do not want major spoilers!
4. Two Dark Reigns
5. Five Dark Fates



For the most part, each of these novels starts off slow. These are truly slow-burn fantasy novels and will not jump straight into action and excitement. Character development is central to the plot. If I'm being totally honest, each of the novels is slow for at least half the book. It took me a good bit to actually get into book one (Three Dark Crowns), but once I was in it, I was freaking in it, okay? Then I was so hooked to the characters, I had to dive into the other books.

So there are three sisters, right? Three triplets. Three queens. And while you spend pretty equal time with each of this, I took a liking to one of them right away and stuck with her throughout. She was hands down my favorite, and while it may have been unintentional, she was the protagonist of the book. The other sisters are just as much protagonists, I'm sure, but I had a deep connection with this one in particular, and I'm curious if everyone else felt the same?

Here's what I loved so much about this entire series - it's woman-driven. Even though women are killing each other, and the Queen's rule ends once she has triplets that she never gets to raise, it is Queens who rule - not men. Even the warriors are mostly women. Male characters play more minor roles, and there are few male "sidekicks," but these stories focus on girls and I loved it.

There were some parts that were confusing at times, and I felt the language was a bit inconsistent. I wasn't sure for the longest time what the time period/setting was. I thought it was current-day, then ultimately ended up believing it was more medieval. And at times, the language would reflect an older time period, while at other times it seemed modernized. It was a weird combination of both that I wish had felt more consistent - but that was my biggest complaint.






These books are so cool - they're basically a female-driven Game of Thrones for a much younger crowd. There is death and war. There are familiars and magic. Three sisters fight to become the Queen of the island - it's a queendom, not a kingdom. It was also very fun and shocking and intriguing. I would definitely recommend.





Goodreads rating: ★★★★☆














*I received Five Dark Fates free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.