percy jackson & heroes of olympus book tag

hello hello! it’s been a very long time since i did a book tag, but given that i just reread The Titan’s Curse and it’s the percy’s birthday this month… i wanted to (finally) do the percy jackson book tag! putting together this blog post made me want to reread all the PJO books all over again.

without further ado, here’s the tag!

rules:

• link to the original creator, may @ forever and everly (aka one of my favorite book bloggers!!!!) please note that she made the artwork/graphics that i’m using
• match books with the given prompts.
• tag however many people as wanted!
• copy-paste the rules and list of prompts.

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goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

i haven’t read many five star books this year (or books at all, for that matter), but i’m choosing: Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning, by Cathy Park Hong. i read it at a perfect time (aka when the hype of anti-racism and blm was going on) and i LOVED IT. it made me want to study culture and talk about race, being asian, and all things related. i’d highly recommend to any asian american, anyone who wants to understand asian americans, or anyone interested in race and culture.

review – goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

okay, i have to choose The Poppy War, by R.F. Kuang! i recently finished my third time reading it and it still makes me !!!!!!!!! every single time!!!!!!!!! i’m currently rereading The Dragon Republic and it’s so so so good ;——; when i remember that the author is only a few years older than me i’m like ?????!!! how??? and that she wrote it on her gap year?? AND IT’S GENIUS????!! anyway, read The Poppy War.

goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

maybe it’s not under-hyped but i don’t know anyone else who has read this book. it might be because i normally associate with those who read YA vs essay collections BUT: Too Much and Not the Mood, by Durga Chew-Bose is one of my favorites !!!! it made me want to write or be a writer?? i even named my animal crossing island after an essay in the book?? it’s not a book i’d constantly reread, but it really captures the beauty of literature – in its messy and wonderful way.

goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

i rarely ever read books i think i’d hate. because why WHY would i subject myself to that?? but sometimes i read them because i’m curious, like The Wicked King, by Holly Black. i didn’t enjoy The Cruel Prince, but everyone was telling me “READ THE WICKED KING” so i caved and read it. i binged it in a day then immediately read Queen of Nothing via audiobook then immediately bought a signed copy of Queen of Nothing because i wanted to reread it in physical form. needless to say, i really liked the books. although if you ask me now, i have no idea what they’re about.

goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

i was originally going to pick the PJO series but changed my answer when i remembered Stargazing, by Jen Wang. it’s a children’s graphic novel with the most adorable art and a very very heartwarming story. but the main reason why i say it feels like home is because it’s set in what feels like the suburbs of LA or my hometown, the san gabriel valley. i don’t think it’s “officially” set there, but there’s a scene in a restaurant that is undeniable one i went to growing up (and still go to now!), and the author lived in the SGV for a while. therefore, it’s in SGV in my mind. and it makes me miss home :’)

goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

The Diviners, by Libba Bray!! i read it not too long ago, but i think i already read the books three times,,, every time i finish the books, i want to reread them all over again. 1920s NYC with ghosts and diviners??? BIG FAN. there’s a huge cast of characters and the relationship between memphis and his brother isaiah is one of my favorites in literary history!! sibling relationships are often under-hyped but i love them ;-; this series is also under-hyped please read it

goodreads – buy it from me here <3

i think this is meant for positive books where ~you couldn’t stop reading~ but i’m saving it for a book i couldn’t wait to get through: Loveboat, Taipei, by Abigail Hing Wen. i had really high hopes going into this book, but unfortunately all of them were crushed. all i can say is that i thought i would love it but it turns out i couldn’t wait to for it to stop. i originally tried reading the hardcover, but ended up switching to the audiobook because i couldn’t keep going. (at least with the audiobook i could multi-task,,) anyway, biggest disappointment of 2020.

review – goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

i feel like Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo, is everyone’s go-to rec but it’s also my go-to rec so… yeah. I LOVE IT. everyone loves it. it definitely deserves all the hype it gets and i could reread it over and over again. if you haven’t read it… what are you waiting for? diverse cast, brilliant plot, and THIEVES.

goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

this is probably the hardest prompt but i finally decided on: Turtles All the Way Down, by John Green. it’s one of my favorite books of all-time maybe the favorite book of all-time. i know whenever i want to ~ feel things ~ and question life, i can turn to TATWD feel hopeful again. it’s incredibly multilayered book so i know i’ll find something new with each reread.

goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

i’m getting ready for the release of The Burning God by rereading The Poppy War series and i’m both terrified and excited. i’ve heard so many people mention how painful and wonderful it is so i’m so excited and,,, honestly not ready. i have an eARC but don’t want to start until i finish my reread. i’m also half tempted to wait for its release on audiobook since that’s how i’m reading the other books but… we’ll see. either way, i know this book will destroy me.

goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

for this, i’m choosing: These Violent Delights, by Chloe Gong!!! i’m kiiinda cheating since i have an eARC of this book and i could technically read it already BUT i’m half tempted to wait until the physical/audiobook release because i don’t want the format to affect my review. (i almost never read ebooks) it’s been at the top of my TBR ever since i heard the pitch: Romeo & Juliet in 1920s Shanghai. as a shangahinese person, i’m SCREECHING. i’ve never read any books set in shanghai so i’m truly ;——;

goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

this is reaaaaally old but The Mortal Instruments, by Cassandra Clare! i read it pre-blogger days, and definitely judged the cover. but if it hadn’t been for tiffany @ readbytiffany‘s insistence, i probably wouldn’t have picked it up. and initially, i denied my enjoyment because i didn’t want to admit she was right (lmao). but!! the shadowhunter world has become one of my favorite literary worlds ever so… shoutout to tiffany for forcing me to read it :’)

goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

we all know Percy Jackson has the funniest banter so i had to choose it for this (despite wanting to give it to some other prompts). the scene in The Titan’s Curse with the dam snack bar… gets me every time. and the chapter titles!! and percy in general! and LEO in general!! i love these books and i know i can count on them to make my day brighter.

goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

this prompt is perfect since i’m currently participating in nostalgiathon and rereading all my faves!! but i have to choose: The Clique, by Lisi Harrison. for a while i denied enjoying these books – even though they summed up my pre-teen years. after reading YA, i was convinced they were “too petty” and filled with superficial drama. but i’m coming to terms with my past self and… these books are *chef’s kiss*. i reread the manga and rewatched the movie; and although yes it is super petty and yes they’re literally 12, massie block is still my childhood idol and i love her.

goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

so i recently finished A Little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara, and lemme say… that book is so brutal. before starting it, i knew it would be a hard book to get through – the amount of people telling me they sobbed while reading it,,, – but i didn’t anticipate how hard. it’s probably one of the most painful books i’ve ever read. although it was good, i can’t see myself recommending it without highlighting all the trigger warnings: rape, child abuse, depression, suicide, disordered eating, emotional abuse, physical abuse, among many many more.

goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

(i don’t understand why everyone hates reyna????? she’s the best and i will fite™ )

anyway, this isn’t a book that everyone hates but a lot of people think it’s alright while i, on the other hand, love it to pieces. which is: The Way You Make Me Feel, by Maurene Goo. it’s one of my favorite books because of LA and the romance, but i know a lot of my friends didn’t love it as much as i did. which is understandable! clara is annoying at times; the plot is a little wonky; but i still love it.

goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

i generally wouldn’t punch any book unless 1) the author is really problematic or 2) the book itself is really problematic BUT Enter Title Here, by Rahul Kanakia, is one of the worst books i’ve ever read. i completely forgot i read it and it existed but goodreads is useful sometimes. i don’t want to summarize it because i don’t remember it but it’s really not worth your time. the character is meant to be an antihero (i think) but she’s ultimately just AWFUL. i didn’t understand the purpose of the book after i finished it and just wished i could get my time back.

goodreads – bookshop – book depository – amazon

in my humble opinion, the recipe for the best literary romance includes: a slow burn, angst, and a force that prevents the characters from being together. although it’s definitely not the only romance i like, i realize these tropes just make me *clenches fist*. and they could apply to books i already mentioned (echm PJO and Six of Crows) but i’ll be choosing the original heartbreaker: The Infernal Devices, by Cassandra Clare. there’s nothing like a love triangle where you literally root for all parties involved.

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i tag… anyone who loves percy jackson & wants to do this tag!

who is your favorite character in the PJO/HOO series? let me know in the comments!