November Wrap Up and December TBR

    Hello everyone!  I know, it's basically the middle of the month at this point and I'm finally getting around to doing this, but I've been super busy with end-of-semester assignments (both my final projects were due a day apart last week).  Now that I finally have time to relax, I can tell you about all the books I didn't get to last month and the abysmal TBR list I have for this month.  I blame most of this on Outlander (which I'm STILL READING) and putting time and effort to one book I never finished.  More on that in a minute.

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    Obviously I was able to finish A Torch Against the Night, seeing as how I was almost done with it by the end of November anyway.  This was the second installment to Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes series and it was very different in comparison to the first.  This book starts right where we left off in Ember, with Laia and Elias on the run from the Commandant and the Martial army.  This book has the fantastical element that I felt was lacking in the first book.  There is more elaboration on the Jin and their conflict with the humans as well as a look into a different realm of the world.  We also see Helene coping with the aftermath of Elias's choice and her ultimate goal of having to kill him eventually, per the Emperor's demand.  I thought the setting was a bit lacking in this book.  In the first book, the reader is given the set-up of the plot and the world building is intense so you can picture the empire in your mind.  This book is all about the journey through barren lands and flat terrain, so the only relief we really get in setting is toward the middle when they arrive somewhere new, but it doesn't last long.  There are other powers at work here in this book, so I'm curious to see if the issues resolve themselves or if we'll see an all-out war between the humans and the fantastical beings.  Overall I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang was not originally on my TBR for last month because it was something I read for a class, but it was surprisingly wonderful to read!  I'm very lucky in that my "required readings" are mostly items that I chose myself, so when I realized that I would have the opportunity to read this graphic novel that I've had my eyes on for years, I was excited to finally pick it up.  This award-winning graphic novel follows a young Chinese-American student whose family moves from the San Francisco area to (I believe) San Diego, where he's the only Asian-American in his school.  From there chaos ensues, with tie-ins to Chinese mythology and obnoxious Chinese stereotypes scattered throughout, this book is not only entertaining, but eye-opening.  The author really captures the feelings of a diverse people living in a white-washed society and how that effects someone's childhood.  I highly recommend this graphic novel to anyone interested in diverse literature or Asian-American themes.  I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.  I'm hoping to pick up Yang's other graphic novel series Boxers and Saints next year.

(goodreads.com)

    I also read a book of prose for one of my classes called Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse which followed a group of native Alaskans living on the Aleutian Islands during World War II.  During the course of the book, we follow the perspective of a young girl living with her family on the island as she and her people are displaced by American soldiers and forced to live elsewhere in deplorable conditions for many years.  I've been very intrigued by World War II literature that follows lesser-known stories about the struggles of different types of people effected by the war.  The format of this book was sometimes difficult to read, being prose, but the message was received loud and clear.  I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    Now about the book I never finished...  I very rarely review books I DNF, but I felt compelled to talk about my troubles here.  I had anticipated that As Old As Time, a Twisted Tale by Liz Braswell, would be right up my alley as a Beauty and the Beast retelling.  I was very disappointed with the writing style and the blatant regurgitation of the original Disney version.  They even use the same dialogue and words from the film in the beginning.  I don't know if it was naivety on my part for not realizing that this is probably more of a middle grade book than a YA, or if Disney had this in mind when helping to publish this book.  I had heard mixed things about the other books in this Twisted Tales series, but I thought I could at least handle this one since I knew the story best.  I just couldn't get over how awfully written it was.  I couldn't even connect with Belle, who wasn't even really the main character in this story, but instead focused on her mother, the enchantress who supposedly cursed the beast in the first place.  I got about halfway through before I gave up.  I'm sad to say that this was a very disappointing "retelling" of this story and I was sad to give it up, but at least it has a stunning cover.

    Since we're almost halfway through December already, here are the books I plan to read this month:

(goodreads.com)

    Outlander by Diana Gabaldon:  I WILL FINISH THIS BOOK THIS WEEK.  I knew what I was doing when I decided to read this monster, but I never imagined that it would take me almost two months to finish!  I will definitely be more cautious with the next book in this series and make sure I have plenty of time to devote to such a behemoth.  As you should already know, I began watching the series a few months ago and really enjoyed it, so I decided to read the book as well.  At this point, I'm at the same part in both the series and the book, so it's cool to see how the show really portrays the book well and sticks to the main story line with little to no deviation.  I'm excited to start season two, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to read Dragonfly in Amber in January...  We'll see what happens.  For now, this is only a partial review.  A more in-depth one will follow soon!

(goodreads.com)

    Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes: The 5th book to the Falling Kingdoms series comes out TOMORROW and you bet your ass I'll be at the bookstore after work buying myself a copy.  I can't go into much detail about the plot at this point, especially if you haven't read any of the other books, but this is a continuation of the series after the events of the last book Frozen Tides.  Magnus, Cleo, Lucia, and Jonas have all separated, but will converge on Mytica in a magical battle that will test the strength of whoever wins the throne.  This series is great for fans of Game of Thrones and I, for one, can't wait to get my hands on it!

(goodreads.com)

    A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray:  I was really entertained by Bray's Diviners series, so I decided to read her other one, which I believe will be more to my liking.  Set in Victorian England among other places, this story follows Gemma, who has spent the majority of her life in India until her mother's death (this immediately sparked references to Secret Garden for me, which hooked me immediately).  Enrolled in a prep school for girls, Gemma weasels her way into the popular circles in an attempt to gather gossip and solve her mother's murder.  Gemma is soon introduced to the Order, a powerful organization of which her mother was a part.  The Order had knowledge of a other-worldly realm outside of reality to which Gemma can travel in her visions.  There seems to be a lot of mystery, intrigue and fantastical elements to this story and I'm interested in diving in.  Hopefully it'll be a quick read.

(goodreads.com)

    Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling AB:  Continuing on my quest to re-read the Harry Potter books, I'm hoping to finish Chamber of Secrets this month and perhaps start Prisoner of Azkaban by the time the month is ending, so we'll see how far I get.  It's been great re-reading them in this form and I'm really enjoying being able to remember certain things I've forgotten about the books in the last 15 years as well as making connections to the films.  It's the perfect thing for winter!

    So, that's all for today I'm afraid.  I didn't want to put too much on my reading plate this month because I'm not sure where I'll be with Outlander and other commitments by the end of the month.  I'm trying to keep it simple until I can get a good rhythm going again.  What are you all planning on reading during the holidays?  What's your favorite read for the winter season?  Let me know in the comments below.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

October Wrap-Up and November TBR

  Hey everyone!  It's been real October, but we're finally into the holiday season, which is easily my favorite time of year (as I'm sure most of you can agree).  I'm not really a Halloween person, so I basically just wait for it to pass until I'm free of it.  I'm really proud of myself for the amount of books I was able to finish this month.  I ended up reading 5 total, which is a huge surge in comparison to other months.  I ended up reading most of the books I wanted to, plus some I had to add for school.  I'm hoping to keep my reading game strong heading into November too.  As usual, I'll start with my October reviews and then move into my TBR for November.

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    The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski: This book was a fast read in comparison to the books I usually go for (400-500 pages).  This book pretty much met my expectations.  The world is interesting, but not that exciting.  It reminded me of ancient Rome or the Middle East at times with it's traditions and the war-torn setting.  The characters were standard; one main female character, her trusty side-kick friend and the lone mystery boy who grabs their attention.  There are other characters too, but they are less memorable.  The court scandal and backstabbing made this story interesting.  The ending of this first book in the series leaves plenty of room for an action-packed sequel in which Kestrel must keep up appearances to maintain her position.  I'm curious to see where the story goes from here, but not enough to jump into this world again so soon.  I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo:  This book was EVERYTHING that I wanted it to be.  Before I start with my review, can I just say that when I got my hands on this beautiful thing I was amazed.  The pages edged in red, along with the whole cover underneath the dust jacket, the black inside.  I was actually really upset with myself that I didn't just go out and buy this series, but I'm trying to save my money for Christmas shopping, so I'll be putting these books at the top of my list for my birthday.  Anyway, in Six of Crows, we left our gang of thieves reeling after a gut-wrenching betrayal and the kidnapping of one of their own.  It was so great to see these guys try to regroup after a devastating loss.  The characters and their motives are what propel this story, so it was interesting to see everyone change gears and adapt some different mentalities as the story progressed.  Jesper has a few breakthroughs in this book with a few different characters.  I loved the tension of this book as well, much stronger than the first book, especially from within the group itself.  The banter was also great and really lightened up the mood a bit, but not too much.  We stay in Ketterdam for most of this book, which was a nice contrast to the questing of the last book.  Seeing the crew work on their own turf obviously gave them an advantage.  The ending was so genuine and well thought out.  My only real critique with this book is that it should have ended a chapter early.  That's literally my only complaint with this book.  I thought the way Kaz and Inej dealt with their relationship was appropriate for them and their situations.  The whole book was heartbreaking and satisfying at the same time.  I obviously gave this book 5 out of 5 stars and I definitely plan on re-reading this again after I get my own copy.

(goodreads.com)

    Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman: This one I actually read for a class I'm taking.  I've always wanted to read this graphic novel, but never really felt that I had the right amount of time to devote to reading it.  It took me longer than I expected, but I flew through this.  This nonfiction graphic novel tells the true story of Vladek Spiegelman, retold by his son Art, in the manner of illustrations depicting mice as the Jews and cats as the Nazi Germans.  It's all in black and white, which adds to the morbidity and the seriousness of this book.  The fact that it's real is very humbling.  Art uses his father's own voice, a broken sort of English due to his father's status as an immigrant, which adds more to the story because you can hear him speak.  Art also depicts his own frustration with his father because of Vladek's old ways and customs he just can't let go of.  The book dragged at times, but overall the pacing was what it should be for this kind of in-depth retelling of history.  This book is definitely a must-read for fans of World War II literature.  I gave it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater: This is the second book in the Raven Cycle series, so I was worried that my memory of the first book that I read a year ago would be a little foggy.  I need not have worried because the book takes off right where we left off.  We learn more about Ronan's talent and about the way the mysterious forest of Cabeswater works.  We are also introduced to a new character, The Gray Man, who gives me the creeps, but is actually more than he seems.  Where the first book is definitely more on the paranormal side, this one adds more fantastical elements.  This book is also more exciting and has more action than the first book.  We learn a little more about each of our characters and it's nice to see the progression each character takes in their development.  I'm already planning on finishing this series sooner rather than later because I don't want to risk forgetting anything.  You really have to pay attention to this story because there are small hints and clues spread throughout.  The way Stiefvater writes is really enthralling and I appreciate her almost poetic version of narrating.  I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.  Only two more to go!

(goodreads.com)

    A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess:  This book caught my eye on someone else's TBR and it sounded interesting, so I decided to pick it up on a whim.  This was also not on my original TBR, so I'll summarize it briefly.  Henrietta Howel (cool name, right?) has the power to burst into flames.  In this alternate version of Victorian London, sorcerers and magicians are not revered, but hunted and killed for possessing magic.  After using her powers to protect her friend Rook from a creature called a Familiar, servants to greater beings known as the Ancients, Henrietta is found out and brought to London to train with other sorcerers.  She finds out that not only are sorcerers not murdered for their powers, but their trained specifically to protect London from the Ancients.  She also finds out that she's the first female sorcerer...or is she?  The premise immediately grabbed me, along with raves from some of my favorite authors.  The similarities to some of my favorite series, like The Infernal Devices and Harry Potter were obvious, and a little weird.  Wands are called "staves," an attack by an Ancient leaves you scarred, and the magic system was somewhat complicated.  Sorcerers and magicians are feuding factions of magic users.  Magicians apparently have the ability to manipulate space and time with their thoughts while sorcerers act as conduits for elemental magic.  It was interesting to see how both magicians and sorcerers use magic in different ways.  The setting was one I've seen and loved before, so that wasn't very difficult to picture.  The fact that Henrietta was the only female in this guild of sorcerers was also interesting.  I thought that, for all the male characters in the story, only two stood out to me.  The author used Magnus and Blackwood for the boys' names, which are obviously Shadowhunter related.  What irked me the most was that Henrietta named her stave "porridge."  I couldn't ever let that go.  The ending I think was the best part because it left room for more questions.  I ended up giving this book 3 out of 5 stars.

(barnesandnoble.com)

    *I also read an audio book this month, which is something I've never done before.  This was also for a class, so I chose a book I've read before and always wanted to re-read.  I've heard wonderful things about Jim Dale and his award-winning narration and I wasn't disappointed.  The story was brought to life in such a way that made me miss my childhood and wonder why it took me so long to re-read this series.  I was also pleased with the fact that the book and the movie are actually quite similar, more so than I had actually thought.  I loved listening to this on my way to work and this experience opened me up to reading more audio books.  How can you not give Harry Potter 5 stars?


Now on to the books I plan on reading during the month of November!

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    A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir is the second book in the An Ember in the Ashes series and follows Laia and Elias as they flee the Empire on a journey to free Laia's brother Darin.  This book was on my TBR last month, but I had to rearrange my reading list to make room for overdue library books, so I ended up finishing it this month instead.  You can check out my summary in my last blog post and my review of this book will be up soon!

(goodreads.com)

    Outlander by Diana Gabaldon is the first book in the Outlander series.  I've been watching the show and I'm intrigued by the premise and the setting so much that I decided it's time to read the book.  I've heard so many great things about Gabaldon's writing and this book seems perfect for November.  For those of you who aren't familiar with this series, it begins in 1945 at the end of World War II and follows a combat army nurse named Claire as she goes on a second honeymoon with her husband Frank in Scotland.  While out on a stroll through the countryside, Claire accidentally activates a portal through a standing stone circle to the year 1743 during the Jacobite rebellion.  Claire must use her knowledge of history to aid her in surviving in this time period so she can figure out a way to get back home to 1945.  She also meets the swoon-worthy Scotsman James Fraser, who helps her understand the unfamiliar Scottish court.  The series is great and the scenery is breathtaking, so I'm really excited to start reading the book!

(goodreads.com)

    Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater is the third book in the Raven Cycle series.  As I said before, I'll hopefully be able to finish this series by the end of the year and I don't want to forget anything from the first two books, so I'm reading this one straight away.  The synopsis doesn't leave much to be desired, but I'm assuming this book will take place directly after the events of the last book, where we left off on a cliffhanger.  The gang has trespassed over dangerous territory and now there be monsters, both human and inhuman.  The hunt for Glendower continues!

(goodreads.com)

    As Old As Time by Liz Braswell is another Beauty and the Beast retelling I've been eyeing lately.  This book is part of a series called "Twisted Tales" that tell fairy tales from alternative viewpoints.  This one in particular asks the question: What if Belle's mother cursed the beast?  The story seems to hold true to the original while sprinkling in elements of invention here and there to create a what-if scenario.  The fact that Disney is involved makes me feel hopeful.  This should be really interesting, if I can get to it before the end of the month.  Also, LOOK AT THAT COVER!

    And there you have it, my wrap-up for October and my TBR for November.  It should be a good month for reading and I have a few more books I may add that I'm reading for my classes, so stay tuned for the reviews to come!  What books do you associate with fall or November specifically.  I'm always in the mood for a dark, gritty romance or fantasy series this time of year.  Let me know what you're reading down below in the comments or if you've read any of the books I've listed above.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

September Wrap-Up and October TBR

  It's that time of year again!  Fall is most definitely in the air and that means darker reading material.  I'm hoping to put more of a dent in my reading goals this month, considering it took me almost an entire month to finish Empire of Storms (more on that later).  I've been trying to get my schoolwork under control as well, which also includes some reading, so making time to read has been difficult with everything else going on.  Let's get into the books I managed to finish last month and the books I plan on reading this month.

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    The first book I finished last month was And I Darken by Kiersten White.  This book is a historical fiction gender-bend story about the life of Vlad the Impaler.  I haven't read historical fiction in awhile, so I wanted to try and branch out and away from fantasy literature for a whole two minutes.  This book was better than I had anticipated.  I am not familiar with the author's other works, if there are any, but I found her writing style to be pleasant and easy to read, but still complex in its world-building and description of the characters.  It's a familiar story, but White twists it so that it is also unfamiliar, by making Vlad into Lada, a blood-thirsty warrior princess who's out for revenge against her father and her Ottoman captors.  I also found the portrayal of Islam to be fascinating.  I'm very interested in religion and the history of religion so this was an interesting presence to see in this book, especially with its historic context.  I also really liked Radu and his conflicting emotions about turning on his own religion, his family and his feelings.  It was a really satisfying read and I will be looking out for the sequel whenever it comes out.  I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    The second and last book I managed to complete (in the nick of time) was Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas.  This is the 5th book in the Throne of Glass series and IT WAS AMAZING as usual.  There isn't really much I can say about this book without spoilers because it's the second to last book in this series (cue the waterworks) but I can tell you that the continuation of the story was a little more hectic that before.  I wasn't necessarily drawn to the main characters as much as I was the side characters, and that pretty much seems to be the theme with other readers who have reviewed this book.  We spent a lot of time on the coast and barely any of it in Adarlan, where we spent the last few books.  The character development in this book was its strong point, as Sarah has a way with writing fabulous side characters and romance.  A lot of my favorite ships have docked in the harbor or flown away on top of a Wyvern, so we'll wait and see what happens in the finale but I'M STILL NOT READY SARAH.  I gave this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

    Now for my over-reaching reading goals for the month of October:

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    The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski is book one in The Winner's Trilogy and follows our main character Kestrel as she attempts to avoid joining the military in a militarized society.  Kestrel ends up purchasing a slave at auction by accident (?) and immediately regrets her decision.  Arin, the slave in question, is indifferent towards his new master and really doesn't listen to orders.  Because of their unique personalities, Kestrel and Arin begin to bond and form an unlikely friendship, but when it turns into something more, Kestrel and Arin must sacrifice everything for the betterment of their people.  I have already read this book (I finished it in four days) but I'll save my extended thoughts for the wrap-up.

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    Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo is currently in my possession and I CAN'T HANDLE THE EXCITEMENT.  I didn't think I would be this excited about a book, especially since I wasn't expecting to love this first one as much as I did.  This book is the finale in Bardugo's duology about a rag-tag team of thieves and criminals as they attempt to complete the heist they started in book one.  Everyone has debts to settle, revenge to exact, and money to earn.  I hope we get some closure for our characters in this book, but all I'm expecting is heartbreak and death.  Should be a fun ride!

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     The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater is the second book in The Raven Cycle series.  It's been about a year since I finished the first book and it seems like a great series to continue with this month considering its spooky nature.  Our friends are still working out the mystery of Glendower as they also deal with Ronan's revelation about his dream-thieving.  But Ronan isn't the only one who's interested in his abilities.  I have no idea where this story is going, so I'm excited to find out!

(goodreads.com)

    Lastly, I want to try to get to A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir.  Since I finished the first book a few months ago, I've been dying to read the next installment.  This second book this series follows Elias and Laia as they run from the law, including Elias's best friend Helene, who is now the new Emperor Marcus's Blood Shrike.  It looks like it will be a test of survival and loyalty, which I can't wait to read.

    This is actually a pretty ambitious TBR for me, so we'll see if I can get to everything.  So far I'm on book #2, so if I can keep up the pace, I may make it!  What are you reading this month?  If you've already read some of these books, what did you think?  Let me know in the comments below.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

September TBR

    Welcome back!  I can't believe it's already September.  This month always signifies the start of fall, which is my favorite month of the year, and not just because of the weather and the cider donuts.  September also has a lot of great releases for books usually, so I'm eager to get my hands on a few of those in the coming weeks.  I officially start classes this week and I'm actually pretty excited about both of my courses, so hoping to incorporate some of what I'm reading for fun into my coursework.  Here's my modest list of books I hope to get to this month.

(goodreads.com)

    And I Darken by Kiersten White has one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen.  I MEAN LOOK AT THAT COVER GUYS.  I really hope this is on ongoing theme for the other covers that will grace this series.  Artwork aside, I have had my eye on this book since it was announced.  The premise intrigued me and obviously the cover had me at hello, so I had to pick this up.  A not-exactly-entirely-accurate YA historical fiction focusing on a gender-swapped Vlad the Impaler?  Shut up and take my money.  I started this book on September 1st and I'm about half way through and I can safely say that I'll be reading the sequel.  The characters are really intriguing (and somewhat annoying at times) and I'm really interested in where the story is going, based on historical facts and the author's interpretation.  Definitely enjoying this one so far!

(goodreads.com)

    Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas is coming out TOMORROW AND HONESTLY I CAN'T WAIT ANOTHER SECOND.  I will be driving to the book store directly after work to buy this immediately and start devouring it with my eyes.  If you aren't already aware, I'm a HUGE Maas fan and I think I can speak for everyone in this fandom when I say that we've been waiting for book #5 for what seems like forever, (when in reality it's probably only been a year which is a totally acceptable deadline for Queen Maas I guess but whatever).  If you're new to this or haven't even read Throne of Glass yet and have been living a lie under a rock somewhere, then I'll very briefly summarize.  Celaena Sardothien, the best assassin in the realm, is given the opportunity to prove her worth in a contest to become the King's Champion, setting in motion a bunch of shit that hits the proverbial fan with both glorious and terrifying repercussions.  At this point I can't say much without spoiling everything, but there's a lot of Fae, hand-to-hand combat, romance, murder, court intrigue, and witty banter, which is basically everything you need in a high-fantasy series.  Plus a kick-ass protagonist with a score to settle and a taste for luxury isn't bad either.  Do yourself a favor if you haven't and start from the beginning; you won't be disappointed.

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    The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkowski came out what feels like a million years ago but everyone has been telling me that I'll love it so I decided why the heck not?  This series follows a girl named Kestrel, who lives in a realm that values war above all other things.  Kestrel is a general's daughter who's fate seems already sealed, until she buys an unusual slave at an auction.  Soon everything she has worked for is being threatened and she must sacrifice everything in the name of love.  Seems like your typical plot structure for a court-centered YA fantasy novel, but I'm willing to give it a shot, even if I can already tell where it'll lead me.  Better late than never!

    Alrighty, those are all the books that I'm committing to this month.  Are you excited for Empire of Storms?  Have you read The Winner's Curse already?  What did you think?  What are you all reading this month?  Let me know in the comments and I'll catch you all later!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

August Wrap-Up

    Hello everyone!  I'm actually doing a wrap-up on time for once!!  I've also finished most of the books that I promised I'd read this month, so I'm feeling pretty accomplished right now.  I'm taking huge strides into being an actual adult.  I'll be starting more courses next week since it's officially September (where did August go?!) so I feel comfortable in my 3 book limit.  My next post will dive into the books I hope to read this month and I'm already excited about my prospects.  Here are the three books I read in the month of August.

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    I FINALLY finished Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson!!  The first half of this book dragged on for soooo long with me, I didn't think I could manage it, but about half way through I changed my mind and soldiered on, with great results.  The second half of this book was full of action, intrigue and mystery that had me reading faster to see what would happen.  Surprisingly, there was a lot more court politics in this book than I had originally anticipated, especially after the first half taking place in the slums mostly.  Although the story was interesting, I didn't feel as connected with the characters like I have with other books.  I enjoyed Vin the most for her wit and determination, with Kelsier and Elend as close seconds, but everyone else seemed pretty forgettable.  The setting was all over the place during the second half so at times it was difficult for me to picture what was going on.  Overall I'll probably pick up the second book in this series, but not any time soon.  I gave this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch: This book had been on my radar since I finished A Court of Thorns and Roses last year because of the seasonal kingdoms similarity.  Although I enjoyed the story (after getting through the first few chapters where nothing really happened) I wasn't really invested in it.  I thought all the characters were very unsure of themselves and Meira was the only one to really take any risks, and even then she blamed herself.  Her life goal seemed to be pleasing her Captain, which is a pretty lame existence to be sure.  I caught on to the "big secret" about half way through because it was somewhat predictable.  The setting was interesting, but again, not as much detail or charisma as there was in the description from ACOTAR.  The world building seemed lacking to me.  I had high expectations for this book that just weren't met.  I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either, so I just sort of feel "meh" about the whole thing really.  I  may finish the trilogy and I might not. I've heard mixed reviews about the second book, so it may take me awhile to get to it.  I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab: I decided against reading Cursed Child until October because I want to be in more of a fall mood when I read it, so I chose this book instead and I regret nothing.  I knew that I would enjoy Schwab's writing because honestly, who doesn't, but this book surpassed my expectations tenfold.  I went into this not really knowing what to expect because the concept of the plot was so unlike anything I've read before or that Schwab has written about before.  I was actually somewhat hesitant to pick this up, but I'm so glad I did.  The world was similar to what I read in Tell the Wind and Fire in the sense that there are two halves of a whole city who are at war with each other, but that's really where the similarities stop.  There are monsters in this Dystopian world who come into being as the result of violent events.  The three types of monsters are the results of various stages of violence and each have different abilities.  Kate Harker's father runs and protects the prosperous area of the city while August Flynn's adoptive father assumes control of the dangerous zone.  These two teens come together to prevent a war and in the process come to discover what it really means to be human.  I wasn't sure where this book was going until the middle and then I could barely put it down.  The only thing I'm still on the fence about it the lack of romance.  The story really didn't call for it, but while I was reading I could tell that there was something there that wasn't being addressed and it KILLED ME, but I was still happy with the outcome of the story.  There will be two more books in this series, so maybe my prayers will be answered, but even if they're not, I'll be waiting patiently for the next Schwab book.  I ended up giving this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

    So there you have it, those are the three books I managed to finish last month.  Let me know in the comments below if you've read any of these and what your thoughts are.  I also recently started writing book reviews at the library I work at, so if you're interested in reading those, I'll leave a link here so you can follow me there!  I'll be back soon with my September TBR, which I'm very excited about because there are a few highly anticipated releases coming out this month that I'm itching to get my hands on!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

August TBR

    Sorry it's taken me so long to get to my TBR for this month, but this past weekend was super crazy!  Boston Comic Con was awesome and I'd do it again in a heartbeat, but after three packed days and a lot of walking around the city, I was totally spent.  I definitely needed the 10 hours of sleep.  Unfortunately, I also had no time to read, so it looks like my August TBR may be a bit small in comparison to last month, (since August is already half way done).  Here are the books I'll attempt to get to this month.

(goodreads)

    Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson:  I think I've been working on this book for at least two months now, but I'm determined to finish it!  This book is the first in a lengthy series about a society where certain people can bend metals to manifest extraordinary powers.  These people are rare and most reside with the noble class, whereas the lower class Skaa citizens are treated as slaves.  A rebellion is brewing, led by a Skaa rebel named Kelsier, who is also a Mistborn, someone who possesses the power to wield all metals.  Vin, his young apprentice, gets thrown into the mix as we follow her journey from Skaa street urchin to rebel spy.  I'm about 70% finished and I'm really enjoying it so far.  I'll definitely be adding more Sanderson books to my to-read pile.

(goodreads)

    The next book I'm planning on reading is Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch.  I think I had planned on getting to this one last month, but ended up running out of time, (story of my life).  Someone recommended this series to me after I read A Court of Thorns and Roses because the setting revolves around kingdoms separated by seasons.  The kingdom of Winter has been conquered and enslaved and Meira, a surviving refugee, has taken on the task of retrieving Winter's lost magic and restoring her kingdom back to glory.  This looks like a fun YA Fantasy series and I've been looking forward to starting it for awhile now.  The third book, Frost Like Night, comes out in September, so I'm hoping to get caught up before then.

(goodreads)

    The last book I will hopefully get to before the end of this month is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling.  This book is actually a published screen play for the theatrical eighth installment of the Harry Potter series and follows the gang and their children almost 20 years after the events of The Deathly Hallows.  I'm surprised at myself for not immediately wanting to read this because I bought it like two weeks ago, but I've been having trouble bringing myself to open it.  I have to read Snow Like Ashes before this because it's a library book that has a due date as opposed to a book I already own, so I will eventually get to this, hopefully within the next few months, but maybe not this month, due to the lack of time.

    So there you have it, my lackluster attempt at a TBR list.  Let me know if you've read any of these books and what you're planning on grabbing next month.  September is a big month for new book releases and I'll be doing a post soon about the books I'm most looking forward to next month.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

July Wrap-Up

    Hey everyone!  It is officially August which means we are officially on our way out of summer (thank GOD).  I am obviously not a huge fan of summer for obvious reasons (sunlight, heat, destroyed kidneys, etc.) but if I had to pick a favorite month of summer, it would probably be August.  I always have a lot going on this month and this year is no exception.  We just got back from our vacation up north and it was AMAZING to just unplug and unwind for a week.  This week is the Yankee Homecoming Festival in Newburyport, MA, which is where my family is from.  We usually make time every year to go down, peruse the shops, eat food, and watch the parade at the end of the week.  It's a really great family weekend and I'm looking forward to sharing that with my nephew for the first time.

(inbeon.com)

    Next weekend the hubs and I will be in Boston for Boston Comic Con (8/12-8/14) and we'll be tag-teaming the Inbeon Studios booth with a few of our favorite people.  If you're attending Con this year, stop by our table and say hello!  Then, at the end of the month is St. Anthony's Feast, which is also in Boston.  It's one of the oldest Italian festivals in America and it's packed with people, food, Italian goods, and music.  I love going because it gives me an opportunity to explore that part of my culture, while also stuffing my face with cannolis and sfogliatelle (Google it, they are THE BOMB).  This year I actually have an opportunity to go to both St. Anthony's Feast and the Fisherman's Feast, which is the weekend before (8/20 and 8/21).  Similar feast, different saint, same sort of fun.  It's a great experience and if you're Italian I guarantee that you'll enjoy yourself.

    On to the books!  Unfortunately, I think I set myself up for failure last month with so many books.  I didn't spend as much time reading as I did last summer while we were on vacation, so I only managed to finish three books and start a fourth, which I hope to finish soon.  My August TBR is pretty daunting, so I'll try to get through as much as I can, but that's a blog for another day.  These are the books I finished last month.

(goodreads.com)

    I believe in my last post I had started Six of Crows, but hadn't finished yet.  I really enjoyed this book, far more than the original Grisha trilogy.  The characters are so much more complex and the story is so much more engaging that I literally had trouble putting the book down.  I enjoyed seeing the world from an alternative perspective from a different slum city and the problems that setting causes for our characters.  I'm a sucker for multiple points of view, so this book was right up my alley.  My favorite character was probably Kaz (I'm sure many of you would agree) because his character is so guarded and mysterious, but as the reader we get to see inside his head a little more to understand why he is the way he is and it's just heartbreaking to understand the truth and the severity of what he's been through and how it cripples him not just physically but mentally as well.  As the self-proclaimed "leader" of this band of thieves and criminals, this is something I think he'll end up having to deal with at great cost in the second and final book.  I also really enjoyed the back-and-forth from Nina and Matthias because they were so annoyed with each other it made me laugh at times.  The banter in this book was great and very reminiscent of (almost) Infernal Devices for me, but maybe a little darker.  I ended up giving this book 4.5 our of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    The second book I read last month was Rick Riordan's first book in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series The Sword of Summer.  What originally drew me to this book was the stunning cover, but I've also never read any of Rick Riordan's books before this one (GASP).  I know, I'm a horrible person.  I was also drawn to the idea of Norse mythology over the Greek mythology of the original series, so I ended up choosing this one as my first Riordan novel.  This book did not disappoint me at all.  I was hooked from the chapter titles and it just got more interesting from there.  I loved all the characters, the protagonist's back story, the setting, etc.  Knowing that Riordan lives in Boston, the setting definitely showed his love for the city and his attention to detail.  He made me want to go into town and try to find all the landmarks he created from Norse influence.  I also really liked that he had a diverse cast of characters and portrayed a character with a disability.  He was probably one of my favorite characters too, and it was great how well they all worked together.  The only thing I didn't really like about this book was the main villain.  He seemed like the main villain for most of the book and, although he was quite menacing, I feel like he didn't live up to his obviously heinous reputation.  The REAL main antagonist was also a little bit underwhelming as well, although the last battle was pretty brutal.  All in all it was a great fun read and I'm curious to see what happens in the second installment.  I gave this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    Last but not least, I read Hollow City by Ransom Riggs, which is the second book in the Miss Peregrine's series.  I hadn't picked this book up yet and I read the first one last year almost a year ago, so I wanted to refresh my memory while also prepping myself for the movie coming out later this year.  This book is a continuation of the events that happened in the first book, so I'll try not to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it yet.  The book starts out incredibly slow, so I almost gave up on it in order to read another book because I had no idea where they were going to end up for about five chapters, but eventually it got more interesting and their travels.  Their survival was the key story line in this book and the troubles they face are many.  There are some real-world issues from history going on in this book due to the time loops, so it's interesting to see these historical events portrayed in this story.  None of the characters stood out to me that much since they have all worked together in a cohesive group since the beginning, besides Jacob.  The relationship he has with Claire is tested as they come to terms with the finality of their situation.  Overall I'd say this was a good second book to a series, but it wasn't anything I would read again eagerly.  I gave this book 2.5/3 out of 5 stars.

    Those are all the books I read in the month of July!  What did your July reading log look like?  Have you read any of these books and, if so, what did you think?  Let me know in the comments!  I'll be posting my August TBR shortly, so stay tuned!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

June Wrap-Up and July TBR

    Hello everyone!  Can you believe it's already July?  I'm super hyped about my upcoming camping trip vacation and that means planning out what I'll read on the beach every day.  July is always a great reading month for me because I can usually knock out at least four books if not more while I'm on vacation, not including the rest of the month.  Before we look at my tentative reading list for July, let's talk about the two books I finished last month.

(goodreads.com)

    An Ember in the Ashes was actually a book that I wasn't initially interested in.  Desert fiction and Arabian fantasy don't really interest me or get me excited, so based on my judgment of the cover and synopsis, I didn't think I would like this book.  I judged this book way too quickly, which I will never do again.  The setting was actually based on Ancient Rome, which interests me greatly.  I really enjoyed the characters of this book and the connections between each of them.  The pacing at the beginning was a bit slow for me and I wasn't always sure what was going on.  I still had a tough time picturing the setting throughout the book, so I spent a lot of time going back and forth between the cover and the map inside to help me out.  I think Laia's development over the course of the book was great, especially since I found her annoying in the beginning.  My favorite character was probably Elias because he was very conflicted, but also very noble, which is an anomaly for his "profession."  I'm anticipating the sequel coming out soon to be just as action-packed as this first book, so hopefully I won't be disappointed.  I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    The second book that I managed to finish last month was Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton.  This book was recommended to me by a colleague and I wanted to give it a try.  Set in the Scottish wilderness (and China for a bit) this book follows a young girl named Quinn and her fellow Seekers-in-training John and Shinobu as they work towards their goals of becoming full-fledged Seekers like their parents.  Little do they know the price they are about to pay for that knowledge and power.  I thought the concept of this story was intriguing and the setting was gorgeous.  I'm a sucker for anything in the UK, so bring me there immediately please.  The concept of Seekers, which is the main conflict in the story, still seem to be a bit ambiguous.  By the end of the book, we understand what Seekers are doing now and the powers they possess through their artifacts, but we really don't understand what they are supposed to be doing or what they are supposed to represent, before they were turned into something other.  I'm hoping they elaborate more on that in the second book.
    The characters were a little stagnant for me in the sense that I didn't think that any of them really stood out or did anything to be recognized as cunning, important, strong, etc.  The character I liked the most and the one whom I thought had the best development and story line was Shinobu.  He had the biggest transformation for me and I found myself rooting for him in the end.  The story really revolved around him, with John portrayed as more of a villain (but even then, not really) and Quinn, whom I had thought was the main protagonist, but didn't really seem like it.  Overall, I think I would read the second book just to see where the story goes from where we left off.  I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.

    Ok, so now I want to talk about the books that I plan on reading this month.  This will be a tentative list because things tend to come up and I may or may not get to all of these, despite my best intentions.  I also tend to change my mind over the course of a month (for example, I had no intention of reading Seeker last month until my coworker asked me to).  These are books I want to read in the month of July and over the summer or have just been on my TBR shelf for awhile.

(goodreads.com)

    The first book I plan on reading (or finishing) is Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.  I've already started it and it's taken me a long time to get to this book as it is.  This book follows six outlaws as they strive to complete the most impossible heist.  There's magic, backstabbing, and cunning gangs in this version of the Grisha world, which is a stark contrast to her other books.  I wasn't a huge fan of Bardugo's Grisha trilogy, so I was hesitant to pick this one up, which is set in the same world.  However, many Booktubers have been raving about this book, even if they didn't care for the original trilogy, so I thought I would give it a shot.  So far I'm not disappointed, so we'll see how it goes.

(goodreads.com)

    Hollow City by Ransom Riggs has also been on my TBR list, ever since I finished Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children last fall.  As you may already know, the movie adaptation is being released by the end of the year, so I'd like to brush up before going to see it.  I'm glad Tim Burton is directing, but it seems like they've already changed a lot of things about the characters so far, so I'm a bit wary.  Hollow City is a continuation of the original book, taking place directly after the events of the first book and following Jacob on his quest to London to meet up with other peculiars in order to fend off The Hollows.  This is one of the most interesting and unique story lines I've ever read and all of the characters bring something unique to the table, so I'm excited to continue with this series.

(goodreads.com)

    It's been almost a full year since Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: Sword of Summer was released and the next one will be coming out soon, so it's about time I read it.  I've never read any of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series or any of his other books, but the setting in Boston and the focus on Norse mythology had me interested in this book (not to mention the stunning cover).  I've had this book in my hands countless times but have never been able to pull the trigger until now.  This was my number one summer read on my list, so lets hope it lives up to the hype.

(goodreads.com)

    Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman recently infiltrated my TBR shelf.  I've been looking to fill the gaping void left by the Falling Kingdoms series (the next book doesn't come out until December) and this looked like a good fit.  There seems to be similarities in the variation in character perspectives as well as the alternative motives and manipulations of these characters.  The story takes place during an alternative past and follows a young Alexander the Great as he attempts to secure his kingdom.  This looks really interesting and I'm totally in the mood for another great fantasy, so bring it on!

(goodreads.com)

    Another book that's recently caught my eye is Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch.  I don't know much about this series besides the fact that the kingdoms are separated by seasons, which reminded me immediately of ACOTAR, obviously.  There seems to be a magical element as well, which is always interesting.  This story follows a young female refugee of the fallen Winter realm as she trains to avenge her people and help them rise to power again.  The cover is stunning as well, so I hope I have time to cram this book into my summer reading pile.

(goodreads.com)

    Last, but not least, another long-time resident of my TBR shelf is the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson.  I really couldn't tackle a huge series with the amount of schoolwork I've had lately, so the summer is really the best time to dive into a new epic fantasy series.  I've also been trying to read more adult books, regardless of genre, so I'm working my way towards that goal (albeit slowly).  This series is raved about on Booktube so much it would be a disservice to myself not to read it.  The main seller of this series is the magic system, which centers around Allomancy, (the manipulation of metals).  Sounds like a fun and epic read to be sure.  I can't wait to get into it!

    As I stated earlier, this is only a tentative list of books I hope to read next month.  In all likelihood, some many end up on August's reading list, but as long as I get to them before the fall, I think I'll feel accomplished either way.  I have some new releases coming out at the end of the summer and the early fall that I have to make room for, so I'm eagerly anticipating the next few months of reading.  What are you planning on reading this summer?  Have you read any of these books yet?  Let me know in the comments!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

May Wrap-Up

    Hey everyone.  I know it's like the middle of the month, but I've been way busier with schoolwork than I anticipated (summer courses, amirite?).  Anyway, since I completely missed the beginning of the month, I thought I would grace you guys with at least one blog post this month.  Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be getting to a June TBR, but that just means I'll be doing a mystery wrap-up, hopefully on time this time.  I read four books in May, so let's get started!

(goodreads.com)

    This book was EVERYTHING I HAD HOPED IT WOULD BE AND SO MUCH MORE.  Honestly, I'm not even kidding when I say this was already the best book I read this year.  A Court of Mist and Fury certainly lived up to all the hype.  This book tackled all the issues that weren't really present (but possibly hinted at) in the first installment of this series.  We see Feyre and other characters struggling with PTSD after the events that took place in ACOTAR.  I was surprised to see so many relevant social issues addressed in this YA fantasy book.  I LOVED the character development and it really propelled the story forward.  All of the new characters and their backgrounds were really fun to read and I loved the dynamic among all of them (Night Court squad goals for sure).  The story line began very similarly to ACOTAR with Feyre being taken against her will as per the bargain she made with Rhysand in the previous book.  Without giving too much away, the characters all learn a lot more about themselves, their abilities and their feelings throughout this book.  I couldn't put it down and I immediately began re-reading it upon finishing.  I laughed, ugly-cried and screamed during this book, so you probably will too.  Sarah J. Maas does not disappoint.  She is my queen.  Rhys is the fae version of Will Herondale (FIGHT ME).  10 out of 5 stars.  Take me to the Night Court forever please.

(goodreads.com)

    Tell the Wind and Fire was a book I was hesitant about at first, but decided to read anyway.  I have mixed feelings about it.  For one, the beginning is very slow and I wasn't entirely sold on this futuristic version of New York City.  Despite the fact that it was set in a place I've been to, I still had trouble picturing the entire setting.  The characters were also not relatable and sometimes downright frustrating to read about.  Some of the choices the characters make throughout the book made me want to scream.  I really only liked Carwyn because he was the ONLY character with substance and personality.  I ate up the end of this book.  The last five or so chapters went by very quickly and I found myself unable to put the book down.  The ending was sad but expected, based on the original.  I wanted to like it more than I did because it was advertised as a retelling of A Tale of Two Cities and like the sucker I am for The Infernal Devices, I dove into it without thinking.  Maybe if I had actually read the original, I would have liked it more?  Maybe not.  I ended up giving this a 2.5 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    Gathering Darkness and Frozen Tides are the third and fourth books in the Falling Kingdom series.  These books were very different in the aspect of plot and had more character development for certain characters.  Gathering Darkness moved a bit slower for me than Frozen Tides, but they are both middle books in a series, so it's to be expected.  This series is all about the characters and is very similar to Game of Thrones and other books that follow multiple perspectives, which really makes the series interesting.  I really liked the development of Cleo and Magnus (I am so Team Magnus's Happiness).  I've begun to hate Jonas more than I wanted to, but his character has become very annoying and he's definitely not the same rebel he was in the first book.  I think all of the failure he's experiencing is ruining his spirit, but I'm hoping his luck turns around in book five, which will come out this fall.  I love this series because everything can change so quickly and you never know what's going to happen.  We get to visit a different kingdom in Frozen Tides, so it was interesting to see a different side of this world we haven't seen before.  I'm eagerly awaiting the next book!  I gave Gathering Darkness a 4 out of 5 stars and Frozen Tides a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

    Those are all the books I read in May.  Like I said before, I'll be doing a June wrap-up at the end of this month and prepping my July reading list for the summer very soon.  Right now it looks like I'll be reviewing at least two books, so you'll have to wait and see which ones I chose.  I can't wait to have a chance to read more!  I'll also hopefully have time to blog a little more.  I'll be starting to blog for my library on their reader's advisory blog for the books I've been reading, so stay tuned for more information on that.  Have a great Father's Day weekend everyone!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.