Hello, again ♥

I have spent the last month not really feeling motivated or comfortable posting my usual content considering what is going on in the world. However, I would like to start slowly putting out content again.

Before I get into the post, I would implore you to educate yourself about the Black Lives Matter movement, the police brutality and also the successes of these protests. Sign petitions, donate if you can, spread awareness and boost black people. There are many resources available and Google is free!

For a place to start, here is a carrd I saw on Twitter that has a lot of links and from what I understand is updated regularly: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

If you would like to donate, but don’t know where to start I would suggest ActBlue. This is the one I used and it allows you to split your donation to a range of organisations: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ab_mn

From now on I will be linking these in my future posts and will try to incorporate useful information and creators as well. I’m a small platform, but I still want to help spread resources and boost Black and POC voices. If you would like me to share anything, comment and I will!

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I have not read for a while, but I thought I would use the Kpop ReadAThon to try and change that. This ReadAThon was created by Noura over at theperksofbeingnourablog here on WP and her Twitter is @NunuKz (which is where there is a thread all about the prompts etc.)

It will run from 15th June – 15th July!

There are 16 teams altogether! The prompts are generally 6, but there are some teams with 3-5~

I thought I would immediately choose SHINee – for obvious reasons – however, I will be Team MONSTA X.

And because I never do these things the way they’re meant to be done, I will be working through all teams. Not in the month time frame (I’m not that dumb) but for as long as I can/want to. I think with every finished team I will reward myself and thus bribe myself into reading again 😂

I will also be making a post a week (?) about the team I am currently part of. I think they will be fun to write and there are several groups that I either don’t know, or am not very familiar with (i.e. monsta x, ateez, stray kids & NCT) and would like to check them out ♥ If you have any suggestions let me know!

PROMPTS:

FANTASIA: READ A FANTASY BOOK

Stealing Thunder; Alina Boyden

Protecting her identity means life or death in this immersive epic fantasy inspired by the Mughal Empire.

In a different life, under a different name, Razia Khan was raised to be the Crown Prince of Nizam, the most powerful kingdom in Daryastan. Born with the soul of a woman, she ran away at a young age to escape her father’s hatred and live life true to herself.

Amongst the hijras of Bikampur, Razia finds sisterhood and discovers a new purpose in life. By day she’s one of her dera’s finest dancers, and by night its most profitable thief. But when her latest target leads her to cross paths with Arjun Agnivansha, Prince of Bikampur, it is she who has something stolen.

Goodreads

I read about this book on https://blackgirlnerds.com/ and the premise sounds great and I’m looking forward to reading it~

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CHAOTIC: READ A HYPED OR POPULAR BOOK

The Conference of the Birds; Ransom Riggs

I don’t know if this counts because I haven’t actually seen anyone talk about this book… However, I’m going with it because I still haven’t read it despite buying it when it came out. Also, Miss Peregrine’s has been so hyped for forever, I mean it has a film!

It’s book 5 so I won’t put a blurb here 😂

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BEAUTIFUL NIGHT: READ A BOOK AT NIGHT

Smoke & Summons; Charlie N. Holmberg

As a human vessel for an ancient spirit, Sandis lives no ordinary life. At the command of her master, she can be transformed against her will into his weapon—a raging monster summoned to do his bidding. Unlike other vessels, Sandis can host extremely powerful spirits, but hosting such creatures can be fatal. To stay alive, she must run. And in a city fueled by smoke and corruption, she finds a surprising ally.

A cunning thief for hire, Rone owns a rare device that grants him immortality for one minute every day—a unique advantage that will come in handy in Sandis’s fight for freedom. But Sandis’s master knows how powerful she is. He’s determined to get her back, and he has the manpower to find her, wherever she runs.

Now, to outwit her pursuers, Sandis must put all her trust in Rone and his immortal device. For her master has summoned more than mere men to hunt her down… 

Goodreads

I really liked the Paper Magician trilogy from this author, so I’m excited to see what this one has to offer!

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ZONE: READ A BOOK THAT’S OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America; ed. Ibi Zoboi

Black Enough is a star-studded anthology edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi that will delve into the closeted thoughts, hidden experiences, and daily struggles of black teens across the country. From a spectrum of backgrounds—urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more—Black Enough showcases diversity within diversity.

Whether it’s New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds writing about #blackboyjoy or Newbery Honor-winning author Renee Watson talking about black girls at camp in Portland, or emerging author Jay Coles’s story about two cowboys kissing in the south—Black Enough is an essential collection full of captivating coming-of-age stories about what it’s like to be young and black in America.

Goodreads

This is an anthology of stories about black teens by black authors. This is out of my comfort zone because these are experiences I will never go through as a white woman. However, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t read about these experiences – be they real or fictional. And I’m going to do better at reading more own voices and diverse books, now and continuing on.

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IT AIN’T OVER: READ A BOOK IN AN UNFINISHED SERIES

Beyond the Deepwoods; Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell

I know this is cheating, but hear me out. These men keep saying the Edge Chronicles is done, but then keep bringing out new books. I also know that the Twig Saga is complete, but… again I don’t trust these men and I’m using this book for this prompt and you can’t stop me haha 💁‍♀️😝

Plus I have to read it for my Book Scavenger Hunt post!

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STAND UP: DIVERSE BOOK

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin; Roseanne A. Brown

For Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home and start a new life with his sisters in the prosperous desert city of Ziran. But when a vengeful spirit abducts Malik’s younger sister, Nadia, as payment into the city, Malik strikes a fatal deal—kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadia’s freedom.

But Karina has deadly aspirations of her own. Her mother, the Sultana, has been assassinated; her court threatens mutiny; and Solstasia looms like a knife over her neck. Grief-stricken, Karina decides to resurrect her mother through ancient magic . . . requiring the beating heart of a king. And she knows just how to obtain one: by offering her hand in marriage to the victor of the Solstasia competition.

When Malik rigs his way into the contest, they are set on a course to destroy each other. But as attraction flares between them and ancient evils stir, will they be able to see their tasks to the death?

Goodreads

This books is inspired by West African folklore of which I know nothing! I saw Epic Reads reacting to the first chapter on Twitter and I’m super excited to get this in my hands and start reading!

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Those are my choices! Are there any you highly recommend? Or not so highly?

Thank you for reading! I hope you’re having a lovely day and staying safe ♥