BE Spring ’20: Knock Offs

Good morning bookworms!

It’s time for BookEnding Spring 2020!! (I mean technically it started like a week ago… but I was in a mini life slump… but aren’t we all?) But I’m here now and ready to go!

This post is part of Bookending Spring 2020, which is organised by Sam & Clo! Today’s post, “Knock Offs” is hosted by our host Sam @ Fictionally Sam! If you want to do this prompt, please don’t forget to link back to Sam’s post!

Prompt Explanation: Old books creating cobwebs and dust on your TBR? Create a list of backlists books you are attempting to finally get off your TBR this spring!

OMG Sam, why do you have to do the hardest prompts?! ? Ok, fine… This is a list of books that I really do need to read this year, because they have sat on my bookshelf for a disturbingly long time… unread. In saying that, I hope to read them by MY spring, which is still a good six months away (thank goodness!!)

Finnikin of the Rock – Melina Marchetta

It is shameful how long Finnikin of the Rock (and the rest of the Lumatere Chronicles) has been on my TBR for. Especially considering how much I love Melina Marchetta’s books. Looking for Alibrandi got me through high school (I couldn’t even begin to imagine how many times I have read my poor battered copy), and I loved The Piper’s Son and Saving Francesca almost as much. So, imagine my absolute DELIGHT when my fave contemporary author wrote a fantasy trilogy. (If you can’t imagine, I was ecstatic.) So, why has it sat on my shelves for over ten years? Because I am terrified that I won’t love it. Fear is the reason I haven’t read this trilogy yet. Which, honestly, is ridiculous considering how many people I do know (and trust the recommendations of) that have read and loved this book. So, it’s in my 2020 pile of must read books.

Spellslinger – Sebastien de Castell

I have heard nothing but amazing things about this series. And I own all of the first five books. Have I read any of them? No. In fact, the first time I saw this book was actually not through #bookstagram or on blogs. I first saw this book when we were leaving Dublin to go back to London, while on our honeymoon. This was a random airport purchase. And I picked it up because the paperback has beautiful red sprayed edges. However, since picking it up, I have seen it EVERYWHERE. People (including my own friends) rave about this series. Since the paperback of the last book is coming out this year, this whole series is going on my must read list.

Warcross – Marie Lu

I have so many series and duologies that have finished, where I own the entire series, and have not started. It’s actually kind of ridiculous. Anyway, Marie Lu’s Warcross duology is one of those series. The only book by Lu that I have read is Batman: Nightwalker, which is by far my favourite of the DC Icons series (more on that shortly). Lu also did the artwork by “Hanna Donnelly” in Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. So what’s holding me back on this one? Probably fear as well. Also, it’s sci-fi, and while I like sci-fi, it’s not one of my favourite genres. Probably the thing that annoys me most about this is that I own the most beautiful covers for this duology. The naked hardcovers are like a rainbow prism, which mostly pink and purple for Warcross and mostly blue and green for Wildcard.

A Darkness at Sethanon – Raymond E. Feist

I know! I scream so much about how amazing Magician is, that it’s hard for anyone (myself included) to comprehend that I still haven’t finished the Riftwar Saga. However, as I always say, you can just read Magician as a stand-alone novel. Which I have done, about three times in my life. During my last reread (in 2017), I decided I would continue the series, so I decided I would continue the series with Silverthorn. And it was great! I loved Prince Arutha and seeing more of his story and the kingdom. And then it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, and instead of picking up A Darkness at Sethanon, which would then end the next mini instalment of the GIANT Riftwar Saga, I read Nevernight. And then I think I died and couldn’t read any more adult fantasy, so really, it’s Jay Kristoff’s fault that I haven’t read past book 3 of Feist’s epic fantasy series.

Superman: Dawnbreaker – Matt de la Peña

Ahh, the final book in the DC Icons series, and the only one that I haven’t read. I don’t even had a good excuse. I just… haven’t gotten to it yet, and I never made it a priority because I’ve only ever read one short story by de la Peña. And I loved it so much that I cried. I cried, reading a THIRTY-FIVE PAGE Christmas story. Yup. He’s that good. Now, I know there was some sort of controversy surrounding him, but honestly, I just kind of try to ignore everything that’s happening on Twitter (obvs because I still love Rainbow Rowell), and leave all the negativity over there. And I enjoyed the rest of the series, although I thought Catwoman left a little to be desired. (Why yes, my order from top to bottom for the three I have read is Batman, Wonder Woman and then Catwoman, which is a very unpopular opinion.) So, I guess the reason that I haven’t read this is… I don’t really like Superman. THERE. I’VE SAID IT. Chiara will now come to Australia and kill me in my sleep. (It’s not really a Henry Cavill thing, Chiara, I haven’t like ANY of the Supermans.) So, I just haven’t been that interested!! But I do want to finish this series!!

I must say, it’s really nice to finally post a BookEnding Spring post, I’ve genuinely missed this fun little corner of the community. If you want to join in, it’s not too late!! Just check out any of the prompts coming up (you can see them on Sam’s page HERE), and add your details to the blog-hopping master list so we can come visit you. Also, don’t forget to tag the creator of the post you’re doing if you follow one of our prompts!!

What books are on your spring cleaning list?