April Wrap-Up

  Hello everyone! It feels like it's been forever since I posted. April dragged by, especially for my last week of spring coursework. I'm officially done for two more weeks before I start my last summer course. That being said, I didn't get a lot of reading in last month; I only read three books... Now that I don't have classes, I should be able to read more in the next few weeks. The three books I read last month will be described in more detail below.

(goodreads.com)

  The Wrath & The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh: This book was required reading for my first book club meeting. I chose this particular book because it wasn't solely based in fantasy, but had some folktale elements to it as well, which I thought might go over well with my first batch of attendees. Most of my fellow readers liked the book, which made me more confident in my choice. The plot of this book centers around the Arabian fairy tale One Thousand and One Nights and follows our two main characters, Shaharzad and Khalid. Since claiming the throne, Khalid has taken a new bride every night, only to murder them the next morning. Shazi volunteers herself as tribute to the evil boy king Khalid in order to enact her revenge on him for killing her best friend. After her marriage, Shazi beings to weave a fantastic tale for her new husband every night in order to stall her execution. As Shazi and Khalid begin to get to know each other more than they had originally intended, truths come to light as a result of Shazi's snooping and Khalid's growing love for her.  This book was rife with magic and secrets on both sides. Shazi goes into her marriage, thinking herself an assassin, but slowly realizes there's more to the king than she thought. The twists Ahdieh took on the original tale were interesting and created more of a background for her characters in this world. I really enjoyed Shazi as a strong female lead in this story; she does not need a man to save her. I also really liked some of the side characters, like Despina and Jalal, who both brought the witty banter with them. I'm intrigued enough by the ending to read the next and final installment, when I have time. I gave this book 3.5/4 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

  A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi: Keeping with my apparent theme of Arabian fairy tales, this book is the second in Chokshi's Star Touched Queen world (it is not a series, but the second book set in the same world). I loved her previous book so much that I had to pick this one up.  Plus, can we please take a moment to WORSHIP THAT COVER ART THOUGH MY GOD. I really enjoyed following Maya's sister Gauri's perspective because they are two fundamentally different characters. Gauri has grown up into a warrior, vying for her evil brother's throne and willing to do whatever it takes to secure it. She fights for her people and they're freedom from her brother's tyranny. Unfortunately, she gets captured on the battlefield and taken to an enemy kingdom, where she meets Prince Vikram, heir to the throne. Where Gauri is serious and logical, Vikram is inquisitive and witty. Their banter back and forth throughout the entire book was my favorite part. Vikram gives Gauri the opportunity to join him on a quest, given to him by the Lord of Wealth in the realm of dreams. Each of them have their own reasons for desiring the ultimate prize of one wish, but will they survive to earn it? I loved the pace of this story; it was almost never boring. The romance was also a slow-burn, which I appreciate. Is it wrong to want one of those creatures who talk nonsense and sit by battle fields eating the remains of the dead? There were so many parts of this where I had no idea where the plot would turn and what the characters would do to improve their dismal situation. I enjoyed this ride and I was super bummed when it was finally over. I gave this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

  Shadowcaster by Cinda Williams Chima: This one was one of my most anticipated reads of this year, especially after what happened in the first book to this new series. Let me start off by saying that I HATE the new covers. There are two camps when it comes to Chima's new covers: love or hate. I think that the previous cover with the beautiful gems on would be so much better, but alas, I have no choice but to accept this one. Although Alyssa looks super bad ass here, I can't help but think this looks almost exactly like the Throne of Glass covers, so it's not even an original concept to me. I fell in love with Chima's Demon King series, and this one is its sequel series taking place a decade in the future. In the first book, Flamecaster, we followed Ash, the son of Han and Raisa, where he escaped his homeland to attend the wizard academy after his father's murder. This book follows Ash's younger sister, Alyssa (great name!) and heir to the Grey Wolf Throne. I'm not going to lie, Alyssa's story was not as exciting as Ash's was. I had high hopes because obviously her name is mine and I wanted to love her the most, but more than 3/4 of the book felt like there wasn't anything really going on. Alyssa spent a lot of time pining for her lost brother and trying to force her feelings down, which is obviously unhealthy. I really liked Hal in this book though, even is he has the worst luck ever. I didn't quite believe the attraction in this one, but I'm curious to see where the story goes from here. I think the third book might see family reuniting under one major cause to win this war. I'm also still confused and eager to learn more about a lot of things: the mage marks on the necks of two characters who still feel underdeveloped, a mysterious queen bent on capturing them both, DRAGONS, etc. The mainland war seems almost non-important now, but we'll see what happens. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.

  So those are the books I read this month. The next book in my book club is Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, so expect a review of that coming soon. What did you read last month? What are you planning to read this month? Are you a member of a book club? Let me know in the comments. Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

March Wrap-Up

    Hello everyone!  God I wish it would just STOP SNOWING.  Don't get me wrong, I'm really pumped to have a three day weekend, but I'm in Spring mode now so I'd appreciate it if the weather reflected my desires.  That and I've been itching to do some cleaning and honestly, I don't think anyone ever feels like cleaning during a nor'easter.  Anyway, I was only able to finish two books this month with all the school work I had to finish lately, but they were at least two of my most anticipated reads of the year.

(goodreads.com)

    A Conjuring of Light by V. E. Schwab:  THIS BOOK.  I've been dreading the end of this series because I fell in love with it HARD when I started it a few years ago and I just don't want to let go of any of these glorious characters.  In this final installment of the Shades of Magic trilogy, we find Kell and Lila thrust into a battle to save Red London from the clutches of the evil Shadow King (tell me that premise doesn't sound like an epic fantasy adventure?)  We learn a lot more about the overarching conflict in this book and how it came to pass, based on mini inklings leaked from the first two books.  We also get to learn way more about Holland, which I LOVED.  He is such a conflicted character and I really liked the way Schwab took the time in her last book to really flesh him out so that readers can see him as more of a grey area character (no pun intended) than a common "bad guy."  This book also didn't have such a fast pace like the previous book, but I liked the change of scenery.  I appreciated the fact that it ended the way I would have wanted it to and the way I had subconsciously pictured it ending in my head.  My only qualm with this book is this: devoted readers of this series will know that Schwab has been hinting at and feeding us subtle information about the origins of poor Kell since the very first book and I was hoping that we might finally find out where he actually came from or who his true parents are.  We get SO CLOSE in this book to finding out the truth, but unfortunately never see the light.  I understand why Schwab did what she did for Kell's character development, but COME ON.  WE WERE SO CLOSE.  Oh well I guess...  I was so sad (in a good way) when I finished this, but I definitely think this is one of those series that I'll be re-reading again and again for the rest of my days.  A solid and well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars (despite my disappointment).

(goodreads.com)

    The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon:  Can we just take a minute to marvel at the glorious cover for the special edition that I specifically ordered?!  IT'S PURPLE AND ORANGE.  It's way better in person, but I can't believe people would prefer the newer cover design to the originals.  I just can't.  I literally just finished this one yesterday and HOLY CRAP things are getting real.  Now that it was announced that there would be seven books in this series, I feel like it's going to take forever for it to finish.  This book picks up directly following the events to the previous book; Paige has claimed the Under-throne, Jaxon Hall has disappeared, and Scion has plans to wage war on the Citadel and its Unnatural citizens.  A lot happens in this book, but it takes awhile to get there.  I'm not going to lie- the first half of this book dragged a lot.  I had almost no desire to continue, but my hope that it would pick up towards the middle kept me going and I wasn't disappointed.  We get to leave London in this book, which I found fascinating.  I had always been curious to see what it was like outside of London in the world where Scion has slowly been taking over.  There are a lot more mentions of the free world in this as well, so I hope we get to see more of that in future books.  The ship that is Paige and Warden took on a little water in this book.  I'm not as confident in their relationship now as I was before, but we'll see how it pans out.  They are in the middle of a war, so obviously tensions are high.  I'm curious about her tarot reading and how that prediction will play into later books.  I ended up giving this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

    I'm really pleased with the books I was able to get to last month and this month looks really good in terms of how many I'll be attempting to read and the genres I've chosen.  After the depressing subject matter in Shannon's book, I need a little more fantasy in my life.  Let me know if you've read either of these two books and what you thought or let me know what you plan to read this month in the comments.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

February Wrap-Up

    Hello!  I hope everyone is relishing the end of Winter as we move on into March.  Last month I definitely felt the pressure of necessary homework on my leisure reading, so I didn't get to everything I thought I would, but I still read three books, which is nothing to scoff at.  For the first time I can remember, I've found it hard to concentrate on my reading outside of schoolwork (which I've always had a hard time concentrating on, but I digress).  Sometimes I find it difficult to prioritize, even when I know it's the right thing to do.  Anyway, here's what I read last month.

(goodreads.com)

    My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand:  I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book, but I'm actually really glad that I picked it up.  A few of the BookTubers I follow have raved about how witty and fun this book is so I thought I deserved a little of that lightheartedness in my life.  It was definitely an interesting take on historical events...in a good way.  Lady Jane Grey is widely known as the "9 day Queen" because she ended up ruling England for only 9 days before being executed.  Fortunately, there are no beheadings in this book (that I can recall) and focuses mainly on a vile plot to overthrow the true King Edward (Jane's cousin), along with a lot of nobility that can shape-shift at will into animals.  It reminded me almost of a Patronus; but if the wizard turned into their Patronus form instead of projecting it.  Needless to say this book was really entertaining and I honestly laughed out loud in several places.  Very reminiscent of my Georgia Nicholson books, which I appreciated.  I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge: This book took me by surprise.  I had really enjoyed Hodge's other book Cruel Beauty and thought it would be along the same line, but I was wrong.  This book was way more action-packed than the first and followed a heroine that resembled one of Sarah J. Maas' female characters, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  Rachelle acts as a sell-sword to the King after surviving a harrowing ordeal in the forest which resulted in her becoming bound to its will.  She is eventually tasked with guarding the prince, who has also been touched by the forest.  Legend tells of a sword that could destroy the forest for good and release the souls it's claimed, so Rachelle and the prince set out to find it.  This story propelled itself forward, relying heavily on the plot and the tension to save the kingdom.  I would say that I liked this a tad more than Cruel Beauty, so if I were to recommend reading them in any order, I'd start with this one.  I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    Caraval by Stephanie Garber:  This was one of my most anticipated releases of this year and it did not disappoint (entirely).  I loved The Night Circus, so when I heard of this and that it was compared to it, I had to have it.  Where Night Circus revolved around two lovers over the course of decades, this story revolved around two sisters, Scarlett and Tella, who are sequestered on a remote and conquered island and abused by their father.  They have always dreamed of attending the invite-only Caraval, but have never been allowed to leave.  By chance, they are able to flee their island and get to the performance, just in time for one of the sisters to be kidnapped.  The rest of the story follows Scarlett as she tries to find her sister through the twists and turns of the game.  I loved that I couldn't guess where the plot was going to end up.  This is no ordinary game and the stakes are more real than they seem at first glance, so I loved the suspense aspect of the story.  I liked how mysterious all the characters were and how that played into the game and Scarlett's illusions.  The only thing I didn't like about this book was how Scarlett described her feelings as colors.  At first it seemed poetic, but by the end of the book I was cringing at the metaphors and symbolism because it just felt SO WRONG.  I thought it must be because her name is "Scarlett" and she must have always resorted to visualizing her feelings as colors, but it didn't end up mattering in the plot of the story so I thought it was kind of pointless.  Despite that setback, I ended up giving this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.  It seems like the author has another book coming after this one, so I'm curious to see where it'll go from here.

    Those are all the books I read last month.  Let me know in the comments if you've read any of these and what you thought if you did.  I'm about 75% through one of my other most anticipated releases of this year right now, so I'm excited to get that review up for next month.  What you you reading right now?  Let me know or follow me on Instagram to keep up with my reading lists!  You can also check out reviews I write for my library here under "Lax Literarian."  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

January Wrap-Up

    Hello everyone!  It's been awhile and I apologize, but with school back in session for the Spring semester, I haven't had much time to get to post.  I've also decided that, because I have rarely stuck to my TBR each month, I'm going to try not posting a TBR each month and just do a wrap up.  That way I don't have to read something I don't feel like reading and I can still write about the books I did manage to read each month.  I will occasionally do a "My Favorites" list each year at the end of the year, or a "Most Anticipated Releases" each month, but we'll see what my schedule allows.  That being said, I read a whopping 4 BOOKS last month guys!  I knew I would have a lot of time to read over the winter holiday and I'm proud of staying in time with my reading goals for the year.  Here are the books I ended up finishing last month.

(goodreads.com)

    Tales from Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare, etc.:  I have had my eye on this book for at least a year, but didn't have an e-reader to read the electronic copies, so I had to wait until the hardcover edition was released.  It was totally worth the wait!  Although there was no discernible plot and the story moved a bit slow at times for my taste, I really enjoyed getting to know this new version of Simon as he struggled through his training at the academy.  I really liked the side characters as well, especially my Scottish BFF George.  If you've been following me at all, you'll know I've been on somewhat of a Scottish kick since I finished Outlander.  The ending was a bit surprising because it was so abrupt.  I feel that because the book is supposed to be a bunch of short stories put together that the ending might have been different if this was a traditional book.  My favorites parts were towards the end as well as those that included the Herondale children.  I felt like they could have done a lot more with the characters with a few extra pages.  Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

   










    Passenger and Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken: These books were amazing!  Duologies are my new favorite thing; they are so concise with their story lines but they still pack a huge punch when it comes to plot.  In this short series, we follow Etta, who is a violin prodigy readying herself for her concert debut when she is unceremoniously shoved (literally) into the world of time traveling by a family who wants to use her to get a valuable object that her mother has hidden.  This story was a whirlwind full of traveling, history, adventure, romance and manipulation.  I honestly had no idea what was going to happen until the end and I really liked that I couldn't guess the chain of events.  Etta was a great protagonist and Nicholas is my precious cinnamon roll and they are straight up couple goals.  I loved that I started off not feeling too kindly towards certain characters, but ended up liking them in the end.  There was a lot of character development, especially with the female characters spread across the story.  I also really liked the ending Bracken gave her characters because it felt real and not rushed at all.  The whole second book moved a bit slower for me than the first, but I liked the result.  Full marks at 4.5 out of 5 stars!

(goodreads.com)

    The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi: This book wasn't even on my radar until I saw the cover of the second book by this author and saw that they were related.  Maya is our main character and she is cursed by the stars to have death follow her wherever she goes.  Although Maya favors reading over marriage and other female duties, her father makes a bargain with a neighboring kingdom for her hand.  Maya and her new husband Amar rule together over Akaran, an otherworldly realm where anything seems possible.  Maya soon realizes the fate of the world is in danger of plunging into eternal darkness and it will be up to her to save not only her kingdom, but also her husband from falling into the wrong hands.  This story reminded me so much of ACOMAF that I was instantly hooked by the synopsis.  I guess this book was based loosely on an Indian myth about the realm of death and a different take on the Persephone myth (obviously because it isn't Greek).  The imagery in this book was stunning, the way the author paints each scene as if you are looking out at crumbling ruins, lush forests, or an elaborately decorated castle.  I really liked the Night Bazaar and all the creatures that utilize that space.  I'm really excited that her next book is going to be released next month, so I can follow more of her characters.  I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

    There you have it!  I read a lot of great books last month.  This month is actually shaping up to be just as good.  With all these snow days we keep getting here in New England, I suppose I'll have many more opportunities to read in the coming weeks.  What are you reading this month?  What are some books you can't wait to get your hands on this year?  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.

(goodreads.com)

    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!

(goodreads.com)

    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.

(goodreads.com)

    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:

(goodreads.com)

    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.

(goodreads.com)

    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!

(goodreads.com)

     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.

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.

(goodreads.com)

    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.

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.

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.

February Wrap-Up

    Long time, no see!  I know it's been awhile since I last posted, but I'm really glad I made the decision to cut back on blogging, (unfortunately).  It's bitter sweet because, obviously, I'd rather be writing about a ton of cooler things besides management techniques and reference sources, (OK, my reference services class is actually pretty neat).  That being said, I did want to make time to address the books I did get to read this month.  Sadly, it was still a little less than I had hoped, but I'm actually in the middle of a book right now, so I'll mention that one as well.  Then I'll sort of review what I think of Shadowhunters so far.  Let's get to it!

(goodreads.com)

    The first book I tackled this month was Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes.  This is the second book in the Falling Kingdoms series that I started last month.  I'm really enjoying this series and where it's going so far.  For some reason I can't place, I find Lucia to be annoying, but I'm sure that will subside eventually...  I'm also not one of those people who hate Magnus, (how can I possibly hate ANYONE named Magnus?!?).  I think he's just misunderstood; he's been physically and emotionally abused by his own family, so why wouldn't he be vengeful?  I am a bit disappointed that Magnus can't seem to hurt or kill anyone unless it's from behind.  I guess I was just expecting a little more effort from him, but I would still chose him over Jonas.  Jonas bugged me in this book and it was probably because he NEVER LISTENED to ANYONE.  A lot of people died in this book, so I'll be curious to see how the rest of the series unfolds from here.  I ended up giving this one a 4 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    The second (and final) book I read this month was Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor and it was a breath of fresh air for me.  It's so different than anything I've been reading that I was intrigued from the start.  I think I'm starting to experiment more with what the kids call "urban fantasy," which is what this is.  The book takes place in Prague, so I have no idea what Prague looks like, but it seems like the most beautiful place in Europe from the way Taylor describes the place.  I also like that our female characters, Karou and Zuzana are quirky, eccentric students living their own lives.  The way they talked to each other reminded me of the way I used to be in high school, so I loved that take on their friendship.  I also liked the romance, being very much star-crossed lovers.  Honestly, I can say that I didn't see anything in the second half of the book coming at all.  I knew something was strange, but I was totally blindsided by the reveal towards the end.  I'm curious about the other two books in this trilogy, so when I find time, I will definitely be finishing it.  I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars as well.

(goodreads.com)

    The book that I'm currently reading is Prudence by Gail Carriger and it's the first book in her Custard Protocol series.  This series is actually Carriger's newest, having written The Parasol Protectorate series, the original series to which Custard Protocol is the sequel.  Prudence is the daughter of the protagonist of the original series, so I went back and forth for awhile to see which one I would read first.  Upon starting this book, I do wish I had read Soulless and the other books in that series prior to this one because it seems like this book just starts and doesn't explain how anything works regarding the world, people's personalities and actions.  Everything just seems expected, so I wish I had some tether to the original characters to make this one seem important.  I do enjoy the Victorian-century wit, very similar to that of The Infernal Devices, so that at least is familiar and enjoyable.  I'm not that far in yet, but I'm going to try to finish it soon so I can get into A Gathering of Shadows, which should be in my hands by tomorrow and Lady Midnight, which I should have hopefully sometime next week! (SQUEE)  I also grabbed Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard from my library before it went out on the shelves, but I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get into that with the other two looming over me.

OK SO SHADOWHUNTERS SHADOWHUNTERS SHADOWHUNTERS

    So I know I haven't updated my feelings about this show in awhile after my initial underwhelming reaction to the pilot, but at this point episode eight premiered tonight, (NO I haven't watched it yet and it's KILLING ME SLOWLY), and the series has improved greatly, in my eyes.  I think the way they're handling the plot twists and changes is admirable and they've been subtly adding more and more lines from the book, which is great!  My favorite characters, by far, have been Alec and Simon.  They are honestly the best people to play those two characters and they are always on point in personality.  It's like they were meant to be those characters.  I'm also really enjoying Magnus and all of his bedazzled glory, so I'm hoping Malec is worth the painstaking wait.

    There are two things that I haven't seen yet from this show that I think should have happened by now because they're extremely important to the books.  Although Jace has mentioned Demon Pox already, he has yet to play the piano!  I know this probably doesn't matter for some people, but his playing the piano is part of his softer side that Clary needs to witness.  It also ties him more to Will Herondale, which is extremely important to me, considering all the name dropping the show is doing from TID.  It doesn't seem like much, but I would just like to see Jace at the piano at least once please.  The second thing that is bothering me is that Clary has made absolutely no runes!  She actually seems to forget the ones she's learned so far, so what's up with that?  Clary's special ability is supposed to be her ability to create runes and have them work really well.  She almost seems like she has no idea what she's doing most of the time.  We also never saw her pick up the book and study any either, so I'm wondering how she's learning all of this stuff to begin with.  I'm still not 100% in love with the show yet, but it's steadily getting better for me, and that's all that matters.

    What do you guys think?  What do you think of the show so far? (we're already more than half way through!)  What's missing for you or what could they add from the books?  What do you hope to see from a season two, if it happens?  Personally, I'm praying for BROTHER ZACHARIAH Y'ALL.  Let's discuss in the comments.  Thursday I'll be talking about my March TBR.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.