ZombieGoddess Beauty: My 2020 Reading List

I'm kind of embarrassed about how little I've read these past few years. I've I haven't even really supplemented it with blogs. I just haven't read much. So that is why I have set a goal to read 24 books this year. 2 a month seems doable. I also have a goal for 12 Wicca books this year. So 3 books a month in total. Seems plausible.

But now that it is June and I still haven't picked up a book I guess my new goal is 12 fiction books. I decided that I wanted to do 6 newer fiction books and 6 classic fiction books. I haven't read most classics out there so I have a lot to choose from. Picking just 6 is actually going to be a bit hard.

Plus I'm going to double my remaining Wicca Books like a crazy lady. So still 12 Wicca Books. I need to start reading more about Wicca. So I'm keeping it at 12 books. 2 a month instead of one.

I also decided to add some self-published books to my list. I'll try to do 6, one for each month. And want to add a few books written by black women. I think I'll try for 6 books, one for each month left in the year. 3 fiction and 3 non-fiction.

So a grand total of 36 books in 6 months. 6 books a month. I can do this! I think...

So what will I be reading?

NEW

A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanna Collins

Synopsis:

Set against the backdrop of the 10th Hunger Games, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes revolves around the adventures of a teenage Coriolanus Snow, who would become the dictatorial president of Panem by the events of the original trilogy.

I'm so excited for more of the Hunger Games world! And this one follows Snow! It will be really interesting to experience the games from the other side!

Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie

Synopsis:

Nagasaki, August 9, 1945. Hiroko Tanaka watches her lover from the veranda as he leaves. Sunlight streams across Urakami Valley, and then the world goes white.

In the devastating aftermath of the atomic bomb, Hiroko leaves Japan in search of new beginnings. From Delhi, amid India's cry for independence from British colonial rule, to New York City in the immediate wake of 9/11, to the novel's astonishing climax in Afghanistan, a violent history casts its shadow the entire world over. Sweeping in its scope and mesmerizing in its evocation of time and place, this is a tale of love and war, of three generations, and three world-changing historic events.

When looking for POC writers this book jumped out at me. After reading the synopsis I am dying to read it. It really sounds like a book I won't be able to put down. And also one that might make me cry a little.

Five Feet Apart by Mikki Daughtry, Rachael Lippincott, and Tobias Iaconis

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Stella spends most of her time in the hospital as a cystic fibrosis patient. Her life is full of routines, boundaries and self-control -- all of which get put to the test when she meets Will, an impossibly charming teen who has the same illness. There's an instant flirtation, though restrictions dictate that they must maintain a safe distance between them. As their connection intensifies, so does the temptation to throw the rules out the window and embrace that attraction.

Because why not read another book like Fault in Our Stars and cry my eyes out again having to read through tears. Honestly, though it does sound like a really good book!

Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez

Synopsis:

Ximena is the decoy Condesa, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. Her people lost everything when the usurper, Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts and drive the Illustrians from La Ciudad. Now Ximena’s motivated by her insatiable thirst for revenge, and her rare ability to spin thread from moonlight.

When Atoc demands the real Condesa’s hand in marriage, it’s Ximena’s duty to go in her stead. She relishes the chance, as Illustrian spies have reported that Atoc’s no longer carrying his deadly relic. If Ximena can find it, she can return the true aristócrata to their rightful place.

She hunts for the relic, using her weaving ability to hide messages in tapestries for the resistance. But when a masked vigilante, a warm-hearted princesa, and a thoughtful healer challenge Ximena, her mission becomes more complicated. There could be a way to overthrow the usurper without starting another war, but only if Ximena turns her back on revenge―and her Condesa.

This book sounds so different from most of the books I've read. I'm really excited to read this one and experience a different story!

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Synopsis:

Miles Halter, a new student at Culver Creek Boarding School, has had a boring life until he meets Alaska Young. Gorgeous, clever and undoubtedly screwed-up, Alaska draws Miles into her reckless world and irrevocably steals his heart. For Miles, nothing can be the same again.

I've read 2 of Jonh's books so far and both times I couldn't put them down. Read straight through the night and didn't stop until I was done. I can't wait to read another of his books!

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Synopsis:

A teenage girl's secret love letters are exposed and wreak havoc on her love life. Lara Jean Covey writes letters to all of her past loves, the letters are meant for her eyes only. ... Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

I'm not usually one for love stories but this one just sounds so intriguing. And a fun mystery to find out who sent the letters? I'm in!

CLASSICS

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Synopsis:

The story revolves around the lives of four sisters growing up during and after the Civil War. With their father off fighting the war, the girls face the hardships and constraints of poverty and social expectations.

Just about everyone will tell you this is a classic you need to read. I do believe I've seen a movie version at some point but I still really want to read the book. Books are always better!

Alice's Adventures in Wonder Land by Lewis Carroll

Synopsis:

It tells of a young girl named Alice, who falls through a rabbit hole into a subterranean fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre.

I feel like I had such a deprived childhood. I never read Alice or had it read to me. A classic that is most peoples' childhood favourite. I never watched any movies based on the book or watched the Once Upon A Time spinoff about it. I feel like this is one I need to read!

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

Synopsis:

The Hobbit is set within Tolkien's fictional universe and follows the quest of home-loving Bilbo Baggins, the titular hobbit, to win a share of the treasure guarded by Smaug the dragon. Bilbo's journey takes him from light-hearted, rural surroundings into more sinister territory.

I've also never read the Hobbit. I watched LOTR and I've been meaning to watch The Hobbit but I think I want to read the original story before I watch the Hobbit films.

A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Synopsis:

Earthman Arthur Dent is rescued by his friend, Ford Prefect—an alien researcher for the titular Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, an enormous work providing information about every planet in the universe—from the Earth just before it is destroyed by the alien Vogons.

Everyone seems to tell you to read the first Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Aliens, space Earth about to be destroyed? Sign me up!

To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee

Synopsis:

Scout Finch lives with her brother, Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus, in the sleepy Alabama town of Maycomb. Maycomb is suffering through the Great Depression, but Atticus is a prominent lawyer and the Finch family is reasonably well off in comparison to the rest of society.

A classic praised to this day and deemed "too controversial" for some schools. It's been on my reading list for a long time.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Synopsis:

Frankenstein tells the story of gifted scientist Victor Frankenstein who succeeds in giving life to a being of his own creation. However, this is not the perfect specimen he imagines that it will be, but rather a hideous creature who is rejected by Victor and mankind in general.

WICCA

Wicca by Harmony Nice

Synopsis:

"To me, Wicca will always be about experiencing the earth, working with what you can find and practising the craft for its true meaning. It promotes equality in all and has brought me many benefits: acceptance, kindness and self-love."

Harmony Nice is at the heart of a growing community of modern-day Wiccans who practise natural magic to improve their own lives and the world around them. In Wicca, she encourages you to explore the positive impact that ritual, meditation and embracing nature can have on your creativity, confidence and sense of self-worth.

Harmony is the one who introduced me to Wicca. I'm about halfway through her book and it is so good! Such a great book for beginners. She explains all the basics the book is a great introduction to the craft!

The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Synopsis:

At her core, the green witch is a naturalist, a herbalist, a wise woman, and a healer. She embraces the power of nature; she draws energy from the Earth and the Universe; she relies on natural objects like stones and gems to commune with the land she lives off of; she uses plants, flowers, oils, and herbs for healing; she calls on nature for guidance, and she respects every living being no matter how small.

In The Green Witch, you will learn the way of the green witch, from how to use herbs, plants, and flowers to make potions and oils for everyday healing as well as how crystals, gems, stones, and even twigs can help you find balance within. You’ll discover how to find harmony in Earth’s great elements and connect your soul to every living creature. This guide also contains directions for herbal blends and potions, ritual suggestions, recipes for sacred foods, and information on how to listen to and commune with nature. Embrace the world of the green witch and discover what the power of nature has in store for you.

Though I practice a more eclectic path I am drawn to the ways of the green witch. So this book is a great introduction to that for me. I have the audiobook. I think I might put it on next time I do the dishes or clean around the house.

The Modern Guide to Witchcraft by Skye Alexander

Synopsis:

Unlock your highest potential, achieve your deepest desires, and delve into the world of witchcraft.

Looking for an enchanting love potion? Want to create your own sacred space and promote good energy? The Modern Guide to Witchcraft helps you harness your own inner power so you can shape your destiny.

With the help of spellcraft expert Skye Alexander, you'll tap into your own magic and create incantations, potions, and charms. As she carefully guides you through each step of these witchcraft practices and details ways of personalizing them to your specific situation, you'll gain confidence in your own knowledge and inner force.

Once you learn to harness your natural talents as a witch, you'll discover that a whole new world of possibilities exists.

This book was suggested by Harmony and I'm super excited to give it a read! Another audiobook I'll have to pop on while doing mindless housework.

Living Wicca by Scott Cunningham

Synopsis:

Living Wicca takes a philosophical look at the questions, practices, and differences within Witchcraft. You'll learn how to create your own rituals and symbols, develop a book of shadows, and even become a high priest or priestess. Also covered in this Scott Cunningham classic are tools, magical names, initiation, the Mysteries, 120 Wiccan symbols, and the importance of secrecy in your practice.

Scott is considered the Grandfather of Modern Wicca. His books are a must-read for baby Wiccans.

The Modern Witchcraft Book of Tarot by Sky Alexander

Synopsis:

Learn how tarot cards can unlock the secrets of the past, present, and future in the latest book of the Modern Witchcraft series.

For centuries, witches have used the tarot to seek insights into the past, present, and future. Today, a new generation is discovering the wonder of divining through the cards. Expert tarot reader Skye Alexander shares the many meanings of the cards within the Major and Minor Arcana.

Featuring twelve of the most popular spreads and easy-to-follow explanations of how tarot readings can be interpreted, The Modern Witchcraft Book of Tarot is the essential guide for successful, insightful tarot readings

I'm finally getting into Tarot and since Skye is the go-to gal for Wicca Lit I have to great and read her Tarot book. Every author describes Tarot a bit differently. So even though my cards came with a book all about tarot I still want Skye's book too.

In Focus Astrology Your Personal Guide by Sasha Fenton

Synopsis:

In Focus Astrology provides all you need to know about the characteristics and workings of the zodiac signs, along with instructions on how to create your own astrology chart. Included inside the back cover is a beautifully illustrated 18 × 24–inch wall chart detailing the main characteristics of each astrological sign.

I've been more and more interested in Astrology lately and these In Focus books seem to be a great series.

In Focus Crystals Your Personal Guide by Bernice Cockram

Synopsis:

In Focus Crystals describes over 100 crystals, from amethyst to zircon, complete with detailed summaries of their uses, qualities, and strengths, all expertly presented by crystal therapist Bernice Cockram. Included inside the back cover is a set of 7 double-sided grid cards that provide quick and easy reference to laying out crystals for healing, energizing, and more.

Crystals are quite possibly my favourite thing in all of Wicca. A book all about them? Sign me up!

Wiccapedia by Shawn Robbins and Lenna Greenway

Synopsis:

Live life to the fullest using simply fabulous contemporary witchcraft! “Spiritual life coaches” and celebrity witches Shawn Robbins and Leanna Greenaway unlock the secrets of the Wicca universe, explaining what it means to become a “simply fabulous” twenty-first-century witch. Newfound witches—and even more experienced ones—will learn how to tap into magic, re-empower themselves, and realize their dreams through a little witchy know-how.

The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs by Judy Ann Nock

Synopsis:

Incorporate herbs into spells, rituals, and divination with this all-inclusive guide to the benefits of using herbal magic in witchcraft.

From creating potions to using dried herbs in rituals, herbal magic is a natural way to practice witchcraft. Herbs can be used in many different ways to help set the intention through every part of a witch’s process.

In The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs, learn everything you need to use the most powerful herbs and use them as an essential part of your practice. Including information on which herbs are best for what kinds of spells, how to use herbs in divination and rituals, and step-by-step guides to making herbal bundles, potions, and sprays, this guidebook has all the important facts to make your herbal witchcraft a success.

In Focus Meditation You Personal Guide by Jacqueline Towers

Synopsis:

Author Jacqueline Towers expertly explains the history and multiple branches of the ancient practice of meditation, as well as explaining the necessary tools to extend your knowledge, make spiritual connections, and obtain spiritual protection—and to just relax. Included inside the back cover is a set of 7 beautifully illustrated reference cards that provide quick-and-easy guided meditations and mindfulness exercises.

With our lives a hectic combination of running to and from work, planning events, fulfilling family responsibilities, and building personal relationships, we are on overdrive for the better part of each day. Add in the impossible task of keeping up in our social media lives, it's no wonder we are stressed out and yearning for spiritual meaning.

The Modern Witchcraft Spellbook by Skye Alexander

Synopsis:

Hundreds of spells for the modern-day witch!

At any given moment, you have the power to manifest lasting love, boost your prosperity, and shape your destiny. Written by Skye Alexander, spellcraft expert and the author of The Modern Guide to Witchcraft, this book teaches you how to harness your inner magic through incantations, potions, and charms. Whether you're looking to get the job of your dreams, rejuvenate your body, or bring good fortune to family and friends, each page provides you with a spell that can be re-created or personalized for your specific situation. With the tools in The Modern Witchcraft Spell Book, practicing witches will hone in on their natural talents and discover a whole new world of possibilities.

10-Minute Magic Spells by Skye Alexander

Synopsis:

Some magic is basic and practical, such as finding a treasured item you’ve lost; some is performed as part of an ongoing practice of self-care. Learn to put magic to use for you in just 10 minutes.

So basically I want all of Skye's books and all the In Focus books. Not all the In Focus books are on my list this year but I will get them all by 2022.

BLACK WRITTEN FICTION

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterwards, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Something I don't have too much experience with is the struggles that POC face in America. I didn't have any black friends growing up and don't really have any friends so books like these are something I'm super interested in finding and reading.

Children of Blood and Bone by Toni Adeyemi

Synopsis:

They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.

Now we rise.

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.

I am all about a witchy book! Give me all the magic all of the fight! I can't wait to start this series!

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Synopsis:

Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living, with her confidence-driven brand, showing other women how to do the same. So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains' toddler one night, walking the aisles of their local high-end supermarket. The store's security guard, seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, accuses Emira of kidnapping two-year-old Briar. A small crowd gathers, a bystander films everything, and Emira is furious and humiliated. Alix resolves to make things right.

But Emira herself is aimless, broke, and wary of Alix's desire to help. At twenty-five, she is about to lose her health insurance and has no idea what to do with her life. When the video of Emira unearths someone from Alix's past, both women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know about themselves, and each other.

This just sounds like such a powerful book.

BLACK NON-FICTION

Something I don't read a lot of is non-fiction. But I'm tired of not knowing what POC go through. I want to hear their stories. So I want to read at least 3 of these Black Written Non-Fiction books before the end of 2020.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Synopsis:

In a profound work that pivots from the biggest questions about American history and ideals to the most intimate concerns of a father for his son, Ta-Nehisi Coates offers a powerful new framework for understanding our nation’s history and current crisis. Americans have built an empire on the idea of “race,” a falsehood that damages us all but falls most heavily on the bodies of black women and men—bodies exploited through slavery and segregation, and, today, threatened, locked up, and murdered out of all proportion. What is it like to inhabit a black body and find a way to live within it? And how can we all honestly reckon with this fraught history and free ourselves from its burden?

Between the World and Me is Ta-Nehisi Coates’s attempt to answer these questions in a letter to his adolescent son. Coates shares with his son—and readers—the story of his awakening to the truth about his place in the world through a series of revelatory experiences, from Howard University to Civil War battlefields, from the South Side of Chicago to Paris, from his childhood home to the living rooms of mothers whose children’s lives were taken as American plunder. Beautifully woven from personal narrative, reimagined history, and fresh, emotionally charged reportage, Between the World and Me, clearly illuminates the past, bracingly confronts our present, and offers a transcendent vision for a way forward.

The fact that this is written as a letter to his son means that this book will probably make me cry before we even get to the hardship and fight for equality.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Synopsis:

Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide.

Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local “powhitetrash.” At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (“I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare”) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.

Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read.

This is something I desperately need to learn about. I need to know about the lives of POC in America. The hardship and racism they face that my parents were too racist to notice or teach me.

You Can't Touch my Hair by Phoebe Robinson

Being a black woman in America means contending with old prejudices and fresh absurdities every day. Comedian Phoebe Robinson has experienced her fair share over the years: she's been unceremoniously relegated to the role of “the black friend,” as if she is somehow the authority on all things racial; she's been questioned about her love of U2 and Billy Joel (“isn’t that...white people music?”); she's been called “uppity” for having an opinion in the workplace; she's been followed around stores by security guards; and yes, people do ask her whether they can touch her hair all. the. time. Now, she's ready to take these topics to the page—and she’s going to make you laugh as she’s doing it.

Using her trademark wit alongside pop-culture references galore, Robinson explores everything from why Lisa Bonet is “Queen. Bae. Jesus,” to breaking down the terrible nature of casting calls, to giving her less-than-traditional advice to the future female president, and demanding that the NFL clean up its act, all told in the same conversational voice that launched her podcast, 2 Dope Queens, to the top spot on iTunes. As personal as it is political, You Can't Touch My Hair examines our cultural climate and skewers our biases with humour and heart, announcing Robinson as a writer on the rise.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Synopsis:

In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.

In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.

I adore Michelle and I can't wait to read her memoir!

The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Synopsis:

She’s the creator and producer of some of the most groundbreaking and audacious shows on television today. Her iconic characters live boldly and speak their minds. So who would suspect that Shonda Rhimes is an introvert? That she hired a publicist so she could avoid public appearances? That she suffered panic attacks before media interviews?

With three children at home and three hit television shows, it was easy for Shonda to say she was simply too busy. But in truth, she was also afraid. And then, over Thanksgiving dinner, her sister muttered something that was both a wake-up and a call to arms: You never say yes to anything. Shonda knew she had to embrace the challenge: for one year, she would say YES to everything that scared her.

This poignant, intimate, and hilarious memoir explores Shonda’s life before her Year of Yes—from her nerdy, book-loving childhood to her devotion to creating television characters who reflected the world she saw around her. The book chronicles her life after her Year of Yes had begun—when Shonda forced herself out of the house and onto the stage; when she learned to explore, empower, applaud, and love her truest self. Yes.

I related to never saying Yes to anything so much! And since Shonda created one of my faves (Grey's Anatomy) I feel like I just have to read this book!

SELF-PUBLISHED FICTION

The Chalice and the Crown by Kassandra Flamouri

Synopsis:

Driven, talented, and determined to live up to her family's fame, Sasha Nikolayeva is ballet’s crown princess. But just when Sasha lands her most prestigious role yet, she falls prey to a host of disturbing neurological symptoms that threaten to end her career and her very life. As her mind and body deteriorate, Sasha spirals into a nightmare world where beauty and cruelty exist in the same breath and villains rule from the shadows.

In the glittering, sharp-edged City of Roses, Sasha is no princess. She’s a thrall, a slave. Thousands like her suffer in cursed silence while citizens enjoy the splendour of the City, blissfully unaware that their servants are anything more than living dolls enchanted to do their bidding. But the City's slavers know the truth, and they are always watching. One misstep could cost Sasha her life—or her soul.

Even as she endures the violence and indignity of captivity, Sasha can't help being drawn to the beauty of her nightmare world and the underground rebels who offer her friendship, shelter, even love. Before Sasha can break her chains for good, she'll need to choose between the life waiting for her at home and the countless lives she could save if she stays. To choose a nightmare over her real life, her future, would be madness...but maybe a little madness is just what it takes to change the fate of a city built on lies.

Kelly Titan by Robert B. L.

Synopsis:

Kelly Titan is the beginning of a science-fiction universe where the reader will explore the origin story of a supervillain that has a mental disorder and a deep understanding of AI programming. However, many antagonists start their journey as someone good, but the perspective will change over the course of the series, later to experience the story from Kelly's new perspective as the story's villain.

The reader will get the chance to explore why good people turn bad, and why bad people turn good, and the reasons behind it. It stars an orphan tomboy named Kelly Titan, an advanced computer scientist with the brains over brawn to her advantage. She was taken from the streets of Earth at a young age to a mining planet, Quill, to work on a project she never knew the real purpose for. Soon she became a part of a new family and gained a purpose.

What she didn't know was that she was working on a next-generation overwatch system called Olympus. A system keeping millions of people trapped on Quill, never to return back to Earth. All given the promise of a high reward. Instead, they were all fooled and became slaves under Olympus watching eye. Millions of humans became stranded on the red desert planet, only to extract fuel back to Earth.

Kelly will understand that what she helped to created wasn’t just an overwatch system, it was the very foundation of which a new kind of slavery was built on. An intergalactic treadmill to drain Earth from the unwanted. Upon deeper discovery, Kelly will find herself in the middle of an alien civil war that the humans have started and funded to keep the fear amongst the colony workers. Kelly will be given the opportunity to become the bridge between the humans and the natives, but in order to become the bridge and save a planet from oppression, she has to go against her own creation, her own family.

I am Sleepless: Sim 299 by Johan Twiss

Synopsis:

Aidan's special gifts allow him unprecedented success in the virtual training simulations, advancing him further than any cadet in history. No one knows what lies after sim 299, but someone, or something, is guiding Aidan to the last simulation. If he can pass the final test, he may discover the key to ending the Splicer War.

Time Zero by Carolyn Cohagan

Synopsis:

Fifteen-year-old Mina Clark lives in a future Manhattan that is ruled by extremists. Girls aren’t allowed to get an education, they need permission to speak to boys, and all marriages are negotiated by contract. But Mina’s grandmother has secretly been teaching her to read, leading Mina down a path of rebellion, romance, and danger that not only threatens to destroy her family’s reputation, it could get Mina killed.

Scratches by Joshua James Marsella

Synopsis:

A mother and son with a strained relationship inherit a house following the sudden death of a family member who had a history of violence. When the son moves his bedroom into the basement he starts to experience unexplainable and terrifying phenomena. After he uncovers a dark secret concealed in the house, they quickly learn that some truths are better left a mystery. Can they overcome their differences in order to survive or will the darkness consume them both?

Rising Vengeance by Stephen Trolly

Synopsis:

For ten thousand years and ten thousand times that, the Morschen of Anaria have dwelt in a perpetual state of warring peace with each other, wielding their elemental magic and training massive armies that all too often find their way to a battlefield.

Ten nations, who stand or fall by the sword, each with its own ancient and proud beginning, come together every year for a time of common council. For years beyond count, they have fought wars and made peace among each other, only to repeat the process a decade or a century later. But an enemy, long thought defeated in the great war that was fought at the dawn of time, has awakened once more, and his eye is fixed on the world he failed to take.

Will the one real leader that the Morschen have to be able to see the meaning of a nightmare in time? Will his fellows be able to push past their disputes to name a ruler who can truly unite them? Will loyalties that have held for a thousand years stay strong under a new threat? Will a world ruled by magic and sword see a hero rise? Or will everything that they have worked for come crashing down around them?

I'll be "reading" these books in a combo of physical books, kindle books and audiobooks. I fell in love with them last year and listen to Harry Potter 1 + 2. I definitely want to listen to more.

What books are you diving into this year? I'm open to suggestions from any fiction genre. I haven't read much in so long I'm kind of exploring to find my favourite. But I do love a good murder or mystical, magical, mythical stories!

Thanks so much for reading this post! I hope you enjoyed it! Please leave a like if you did, it's much appreciated!