Graphic Novels TBR (2020)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And because I'm due to start the graphic novel series Saga soon, I've become aware of some other graphic novels that I would like to try. So, I've accumulated a list. Here's my Graphic Novel TBR (2020!)

Enjoy! 

Series'

1. Saga (Volumes 1-8), by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples 

This had to be the first one on this list because it's going to be the first series I attempt. Saga is about two soldiers from opposing sides of a never-ending war fall in love, and risking everything to bring a child of new into the age old universe they live in. This is my first science fiction/ fantasy graphic novel series I will be attempting. It will also be my first adult series too, so I have no expectations going into this. I'm excited to see what I encounter going into this. 

2. Fence (Volumes 1-4), by C.S. Pacat & Johanna the Mad 

I heard about this series when I was reading the Heartstopper series, by Alice Oseman. Everything I've heard about Fence convinces me that I need to pick it up soon. An LGBT graphic novel series with a competitive sport too! Count me in! Also, I don't think I've ever read a series about fencing, so I'm excited to start this. 

3. Amulet series (Volumes 1-8) by Kazu Kibuishi 

The Amulet series is about two children, Emily and Navin. After losing their dad, the two siblings move with their mother to their deceased great-grandfather's house, which turns out to be dangerous when a sinister creature lures their mother through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world fraught with demons. It's all they can do to stay alive, but will they ever find their mother? This sounds like an intriguing middle grade series, and although I might not get to this for a while, my interest is rooted deep, so I will for sure be getting to it soon. 

4. Skyward trilogy (Volumes 1-3- finished), by Joe Henderson 

The Skyward trilogy is only that, a trilogy. Which means that if I really commit to it, I could finish the whole thing in a couple of days. This is the graphic novel that I know the least about on this list, but even just based off the cover, its about a world with very little gravity. Based on the blurb, I now know that it follows a character called Willa Flower, who was born just before the world's gravity plummeted. There's also a mysterious plot, crafted by her father, to restore the level of gravity, which she might just get mixed up in! Now, that blurb has me very intrigued, and I'm looking forward to checking it out!

5. Check, Please (Volumes 1/2- Finished), by Ngozi Ukazu

I found out about this one too, when I found out about Heartstopper. Another LGBT series that has a sport thrown in, but this time it's Hockey! This also seems to have more of a Heartstopper vibe: cute, with a challenge, but not as intense as Fence. Aside from that, it's only a duology! From everywhere I've searched, I've heard nothing but fantastic reviews, so I'm eager to get my hands on this coming-of-age duology! 

6. Paper Girls (Volumes 1-6), by Brian K. Vaughan, Matthew Wilson & Jared K. Fletcher

As far as I know, this is about four girls, who run a town newspaper, and come across a story of a lifetime. Based on the non spoilers reviews on Goodreads, the story goes all ET, and although I know squat about this series, of course I'm going to put Brian K. Vaughan's other well known series on this list. Based entirely on the cover, I think I'm going to enjoy reading about these characters.  

Standalones

1. Nimona, by Noelle Stevenson 

What draws me to Nimona, is the fact that it's written from the POV of the villain. And that intrigues me like you wouldn't believe. It sounds epic, and dark, and there's a clear goal right there in the blurb. This is the story of Nimona, a woman with a talent for shapeshifting, and Lord Ballister Blackheart, and their mission to prove that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are. But as small acts of mischief turn into a vicious war, Nimona's wild side might not tip the scales in their favour, but might be their undoing. This has been on my radar for a good long while, and it's time I get to it!  

2. We Are Okay, by Nina LaCour 

Again, another graphic novel that's been on my radar for a while, but I feel like I need to be in the right mindset for it, because it discusses some heavy subjects. Yet it sounds like something completely different to anything else in this list. We Are Okay is about Marin, a girl who has run from her home town with just her phone, her purse and a picture of her mother. But when her friend Mabel visits, she is forced to confront all that she thinks she has left behind. I'll reach for this when I'm in the mood to cry, because it sure sounds like a tearjerker. 

Okay! Those are all the Graphic Novels I want to get to in the near future! I hope you enjoyed, and let me know in the comments whether you are into graphic novels, and what your favourites are! 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I'll see you all with my wrap up next week! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx  

Anticipated Releases (October-December 2020)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And today I am posting something that I usually enjoy (but just this once, the amount of release date sources is seriously annoying me) but today I will be talking about my Anticipated Releases! 

(Which you probably already knew because you saw the title.) 

But nevertheless, enjoy! 

October Releases

1. Blazewrath Games, by Amparo Ortiz 

Release date: 6/10/20 

I had no idea this book even existed until the cover caught my eye when I was scrolling through the "YA book releases" on Goodreads last week. I just love the colours, the design, and it totally set it apart from everything else. After reading the premise once, I was totally and completely sold. Blazewrath Games follows Lana, whose sole aspiration is to represent Puerto Rico in the Blathwrath World Cup, a sixteen country tournament where dragons and their riders fight for glory in a dangerous relay. And when Puerto Rico's rider is disqualified- she's given the chance to try. But when she discovers that a former rider has teamed up with the Sire- a legendary dragon whose cursed into human form- Lana will have to navigate an international conspiracy that's deadlier than her beloved sport, or the world will be in ruins, and the Blazewrath Games will be cancelled. Dragons, racing, and a premise that sounds fast paced and action packed- sign me up!  

November Releases

1. Instant Karma, by Marissa Meyer 

Release date: 3/11/20 

Most of you know probably know Marissa Meyer as the author who wrote The Lunar Chronicles series a few years back. That's what I know her for- her ability to write epic fantasies that have me on the edge of my seat. So now she's writing a contemporary, and I can't wait to get my hands on it! Instant Karma follows Prudence Daniels- a chronic overachiever who is always quite to cast judgement on the lazy slackers she sees everyday. So when she wakes up one morning to find she can give each person their karma instantly, she feels like her dreams have come true. She can give instant karma to everyone- everyone except Quint Erickson- her slacker of a lab partner and mortal enemy. Soon, Pru begins to uncover truths about Quint, her peers, and even herself, at how close the line is between virtue and vanity, generosity and greed... love and hate. This sounds like an enemies to lovers novel, and I am here for it. I'm also intrigued as for what Marissa Meyer can do in this genre! 

2. Ready Player Two (Ready Player One #2), by Ernest Cline 

Release date: 24/11/20 

I know literally nothing about this, I only heard about it on Sunday. The blurb on Goodreads gives away nothing about the plot. I just know that I am here for it, and I can't wait to see what direction Ernest Cline takes this sequel in. I also hope I'm not disappointed. 

December Releases

1. Divided Fire, by Jennifer San Filippo 

Release date: 1/12/20 

First off, check out the cover! I've never seen such a beautiful cover! Again, with this kind of cover, one read of the premise and I knew I needed this. Divided Fire is about sisters Miren- who has never allowed jealously of her sister's magic keep her from taking care of Kesia- who has always relied on Miren. When Kesia is kidnapped, Miren will stop at nothing to get her back, even teaming up with her sister's boyfriend. Neither sister has left their small fishing town before, and now they are plunged into the deep, dark depths of the world around them, minor players in a war between nations. Each sister finds challenges and strengths in their urgency to find eachother again. But what will become of each sister if they fail to do so. For those of you that have been following me for a while, know that I love reading about siblings- when they get along, and this seems like the book for me. 

2. The Cousins, by Karen M. McManus 

Release date: 1/12/20 

By this point, I consider Karen M. McManus to be one of my auto-buy authors. Her books always have an interesting premise, and this one is no exception. Milly, Aubrey and Jonah Story are all cousins, but they barely know each-other, and they've never met their grandmother. So when an invitation for each of them arrives for them to work at her island resort for the summer, their parents make one thing clear: they cannot say no, for this could be the perfect chance for them to get back in her good graces. But when they arrive, they find their family past to be even darker than they imagine... The entire Story family has secrets- and this year- the Story cousins will learn everything. 

I always love Karen M. McManus' books, and this one seems like the best one yet! Genuinely can't wait for this release! 

Okay! Those are all of my anticipated releases! I hope I haven't missed any, but feel free to let me know in the comments what your anticipated releases are, maybe I'll add those to my list! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening, and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

Birthday Book Haul

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And it was my birthday on the 14th, so I got a truck-load of books! 

Here's what I bought! 

1. Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicle #1), by Jay Kristoff 

 

Finally! I've actually been wanting to get this book for the longest time, but I haven't because other books took priority. But now I have it! I'm planning on picking it up soon (after my CR and Midnight Sun because I still haven't got to it!) But as The Nevernight Chronicle trilogy is on my Series' TBR for the year, I know for sure that I will definitely be getting to this soon. I don't know much about this- that's the way I want to keep it- but I know that it's dark and gothic, it has assassins in it, and the hype is huge for this series. 

2. The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig 

I got this on Monday. Started it yesterday, and I've got about 100 pages left. If you don't know, The Midnight Library is where you go when you're between life and death, and it gives you a chance to see where your life would have gone if you had made different choices throughout your life. I got sucked in straight away, and I wasn't able to put it down after that. I already love this, and even though I haven't finished it yet, I highly recommend. 

3. Punching the Air, by Ibi Zoboi 

I knew I wanted to read this as soon as I heard about it. The Exonerated 5 isn't something I'm terribly familiar with (though I'm researching as I write this.) But I haven't seen one negative review on Goodreads yet, so you can bet that I'll be getting to this as soon as I can. Punching the Air is the story of Yusef Salaam who, even at a diverse art school, is seen as a disruption. Then one fateful night, he is wrongly accused of a crime he didn't commit, and sent to prison. At just sixteen years old, Salaam's future as a poet and an artist is upended, seemingly forever. This should have never been his story- but can he change it? So excited to read this. 

4. Nick and Charlie (Solitaire #1.5), by Alice Oseman 

A completely different pace to the previous book, I picked up Nick and Charlie because it's been on my radar for a while, it's not terribly long and you can never get enough Nick and Charlie, can you? It's going to be a long wait until Heartstopper Volume Four is out, and this'll be a nice placeholder for me, while I wait for May to roll around. It takes place two years after the most recent Heartstopper volume, and it centres around Nick heading off to university, and the question of whether Nick and Charlie's relationship will withstand long distance. This promises to be cute, and I can't wait to start reading about one of my favourite couples once more! 

5. Beach Read, by Emily Henry 

This caught my eye when I was on the lookout for Kristin Hannah's book The Nightingale, but once I saw it, I couldn't get it out of my head. Beach Read has been floating round Booktube for a while now, and I decided to give it a try. If you didn't know, Beach Read is about two writers- each with writer's block. They each have to come up with bestselling stories by the end of the summer. The challenge: write a story from the other person's genre, and see who becomes published first. What could go wrong? I rarely read adult romance, and this looks like it could be a fun novel to pick up amidst all the fantasy I'll no doubt be reading in the upcoming months, so I'm looking forward to picking this up. 

6. Alice (The Chronicles of Alice #1), by Christina Henry 

7. Red Queen (The Chronicles of Alice #2), by Christina Henry 

All the books from here on-wards are currently on order, because they weren't in my current Waterstones. The Alice Chronicles is the final TBR Jar Challenge I have for the year, and I've specifically waited for October to roll around so I can be in the Halloween mood for it- I've heard it's insanely dark and creepy- and it's suddenly only two weeks away! I don't know a huge amount about the duology, just that it starts in a hospital full of souls, which is also where Alice resides. After a fire provides the distraction she needs to escape, and she begins to search for clues as for what got her to the hospital in the first place (all she remembers is a tea party, long ears, and blood...) I absolutely adored The Girl in Red by Christina Henry last year, and I am so excited to sink my teeth into this duology, and I hope to do that next month. 

8. Saga: Vol 1 (Saga #1) by Brian K. Vaughan (Writer) & 

Fiona Staples (Artist)

Another book I've finally ordered! I mean to be fair, this is a graphic novel (but it still counts as a book), and honestly, I'll probably pick this up as soon as I have it in my hands, because of how quickly I'll be able to fly through it. Saga has been on my TBR for literally years, and this is the year that I finally catch up on the series! I've heard its very unique, that it combines Sci-fi and fantasy together seamlessly, and to be honest I haven't heard a bad review yet. I'll definitely be getting to this soon. 

Okay! That's my book haul! I hope you enjoyed it, comment below if you want to talk about any of the books mentioned! 

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you next week! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx