A while ago Candyce and I wrote a couple ‘Last Year I Was Reading’ posts. I really enjoy looking back at what I was reading before and it’s a nice way to be reminded of those books again. We discovered Last Year I Was Reading on Cozy with Books. This meme was originally created by Reading Maria and started off on Instagram! Let’s check out what this is all about and what I was reading last year!
What I (and you!) do is:
Take your current read and compare it to what you reading this exact time last year. Which one do you like better? What is different about the books? Any special facts/things you want to make note of or bring attention to?
I am very happy I track all the books I read in a spreadsheet so it’s very easy to look back and see what I was reading at any point.
Last Year I Was Reading: The House in the Cerulean Sea – T.J. Klune
A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.
When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he’s given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.
But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.
An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.
I’m Currently Reading: The House of Earth and Blood – Sarah J. Maas
Bound by blood.
Tempted by desire.
Unleashed by destiny.
Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.
Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.
As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.
With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom—and the power of love.
Comparing the Books:
These books have more in common than the books from my previous post haha. They both have the word House in the title and they’re both fantasies. But I would say the comparison pretty much stops there. The House in the Cerulean Sea is much more of a feel good read then House of Earth and Blood. Sarah J. Maas destroyed my heart within about 200 pages whereas T.J. Klune is able to warm even the coldest heart with this story. I do really like the world building in both books. They are very different worlds but I enjoyed reading and learning about both.
I guess they might have another thing in common. The House in the Cerulean Sea was a 5 star read and was high on my 2021 favorites list, while I haven’t finished House of Earth and Blood yet it is looking like a 5 star read as well. I can’t imagine giving it less than 4,5 stars as of right now so I’m pretty sure it will feature in a favorites list as well!
What were you reading last year? Is it anything like what you’re reading now? If you can’t remember what you were reading last year I’d love to hear about your current book. Let me know in the comments!
