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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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:

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    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!

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    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!

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    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.

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    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.

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!

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

April Wrap-Up and May TBR

    Hey everyone!  I feel like it's been awhile, but it's only been a month.  I just finished my classes for the spring semester and it was a HECTIC last week.  I had about three major projects (two group ones) due last week all around the same time and it was crazy.  Luckily I now have a few weeks off before my summer course starts, so I'm looking forward to not having too many responsibilities this month.  That being said, I am excited that I'll have more time to read all the books I have planned for this month!  I decided to combine my wrap-up and TBR because I only read two books last month, so I didn't think it was necessary to make two posts.  I am planning on reading 4 books this month, so we'll see if I can handle that.  Let's get started!

APRIL WRAP-UP

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    The first book I read last month was A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab.  This book was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it definitely did not disappoint.  I enjoyed this book because we got to get a different look at the world we've already been introduced to from A Darker Shade of Magic.  In this second book we follow Kel and the repercussions of his actions from the events of the first book.  He's struggling inwardly with his decisions and what has become of his life in the castle.  We also get to follow Delilah Bard as she embarks on her quest to see the world(s).  The magical competition storyline was a nice contrast to the gritty, action-packed storyline of the first book.  Not to say there wasn't a lot of action in this one, but we see more of the political side to the world.  The alternating perspectives of the characters flowed really nicely and I was entertained throughout.  I can't believe how it ended, but I'll be eagerly waiting for the third (and final?) book in this series, whilst crying in a corner...  I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.

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    The second and last book I read this month was Uprooted by Naomi Novik.  I've had this book on my TBR shelf for awhile and finally got the nerve and time to pick it up.  I had heard great things about the story and that it was very fairytale-esq, which is was.  The book takes you in a completely different direction about half way through, so I was pleasantly surprised by that.  The book starts off with building the story, but not much world-building.  There are descriptions, but nothing concrete where I can actually picture something in my head.  The middle was great and I loved the chemistry between the Dragon and Nieszka.  Most of the time I'm pretty sure the Dragon resented her very existence, but she just went on not caring about a damn thing, so it was hilarious to see him get so frustrated with her all the time.  I did think that he bordered along the jerk line a bit though.  I thought that at some point he would express feelings for her (ANY feelings besides hatred or frustration) but he didn't...even after they shared an intimate connection.  He just reverted back to his usual self.  I was a little disappointed with that and the ending.  After chapter 30, I was done.  I loved the reveal at the end, but it took a long time to get there and too much descriptive narrative.  Overall I gave this book a 3 out of 5 stars.  I enjoyed most of it, but I'm sad that it's only a stand alone.

MAY TBR

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    The first book I'm reading this month is OBVIOUSLY A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas who has my life in her hands.  I actually went to the bookstore when I got out of work yesterday and bought the book so I could read it immediately.  This is easily my most anticipated book of the year, by far.  This book is the second one in Maas's new fantasy series, the first being A Court of Thorns and Roses, (which is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and RUINED MY LIFE).  ACOMAF takes place after the events of the first book, so if you haven't read ACOTAR yet, GO READ IT, because there may be spoilery territory ahead.  Anyway, this book follows Feyre after the events of the first book, which left her broken.  She has also been bound by oath to the High Lord of the Night Court, whom she doesn't trust at all.  Her loyalties will be tested and tried as she navigates both the light and dark worlds she feels drawn to.  I've been hearing that this one is a retelling of the Persephone myth, which is one of my favorites.  For those of you who don't know, Persephone was married against her will to Hades, the God of the Underworld.  She spends half her time down there with him and the other half on Earth, which is an explanation of the seasons in Greek mythology, (the very abridged version...just Google it).  Anyway, since Feyre has to spend at least some time with Rhysand (SWOON) in his Court, I can only see this affecting Feyre in some major way.  Her love for Tamlin is obvious, but is it enough?  We shall see.  I literally haven't even started the book yet because I'm scared that I won't be able to stop...  SO EXCITED.

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    The next book on my list is Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan.  This book was kind of a random pick based on the retelling alone.  Since reading and obsessing over everything Shadowhunters, mainly The Infernal Devices, I've been trying to get back into classics like A Tale of Two Cities.  This book apparently retells this story, which I am very keen on.  I don't know too much about it other than that, so I'm going into this blind outside of the summary.  The main character's name is even Lucie!  This book should have a lot of angst, revolution and romance, which I am all game for.  Bring it on!

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    I will also FINALLY be reading Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes, which is book three in her high-fantasy series Falling Kingdoms.  Think GoT, but with teenagers and lots of magic.  I won't go into too much detail here because this is the middle of the series and I've already read the first two, so a lot has happened, as you can imagine.  There are at least four main perspectives with a few more minor characters' thrown in for good measure.  Rebels, witches, royals and gods erupt in a kingdom-wide conflict to rule.  I also have book four in this series and I'm contemplating finishing it before the next one comes out in December.

    I am torn on the last book I want to read, so it could end up being a toss up between a few I've been eyeing for some time.  Like I said, I may just finish the Falling Kingdoms series to get caught up, or I could choose something else.  I've been thinking about either Six of Crows or The Dream Thieves, since I've only read the first book in The Raven Cycle and they just released the last book (which is BEAUTIFUL btw).  Anyway, I have a huge decision to make, but I think I'll leave my fourth book up to chance, if I can even get that far.  We'll see!

    So what do you guys think?  Which book should I read for my fourth pick?  Would you choose something completely different?  What are you reading in May?  Leave me a comment down below!  I may even post something extra this month on account of my free time...check back to find out.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

April TBR

    Hey folks!  As promised, I'm here to present you with my April TBR list.  I'm still keeping my goals pretty low because my classes are finishing up this month and I want to stay on track to finish the semester with honors, so I only have two (and a half) books to show you today.

    *I won't talk to much about A Gathering of Shadows, since I mentioned it in my last two blog posts, but I'm definitely way closer to finishing it than I was a few days ago, so hopefully it'll be done by this weekend so I can start on the other two!  I will say, it's getting good!!

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    Uprooted by Naomi Novik:  This book has been promoted as being a true fairy tale story, and I am SO in the mood for that!  I've been eyeing this book ever since I saw that we had it at my library, so I'm excited to finally pick it up.  This book is set in a quiet village bordered by a large forest, which houses dangerous creatures.  The Dragon, a mysterious wizard/demon/thing, protects the village from the dangers of the forest, but at a price.  He requires the sacrifice of a young girl to be his servant for ten years.  Agnieszka, (I'm going to have a hard time pronouncing that...), believes her best friend Kasia will be the chosen one, but when it turns out to be her, her whole life turns upside down.  I've heard almost nothing bad about this book, so I'm excited to see what it has in store for me.  I'm getting serious Beauty and the Beast vibes already, so I can't wait to dive in!

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    Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes: This is the third book in Rhodes' Falling Kingdoms series.  I started this series a few months back and I was hooked from the start.  In the third installment of this saga, Prince Magnus is still reeling from the aftermath of the bloody confrontation with the rebels after his wedding to Princess Cleo.  Cleo has allied herself with the rebels and their leader, Jonas, has his own motivations for stopping the tyrannical leadership of King Gaius.  Prince Magnus's adoptive sister Lucia has been trying to control her ever-growing magic, but with little results.  The Watchers are watching over her, but for how long?  Everyone is looking for The Kindred: powerful pieces of elemental magic that could be the key to stopping the war, no matter who is in possession.  Everyone has their secrets and motivation to track them down, but who will win?  This is very much like a YA Game of Thrones.  Multiple perspectives, alternative plot lines, drama, intrigue, romance, power struggles, magic, betrayal, etc.  If any of that appeals to you, please go pick this series up immediately.  I'm literally addicted at this point.  I went and bought all the books in this series in hardcover just so I could read them before the fifth one comes out this December.

    So there you have it, my very short TBR for this month.  I'm desperate to put a huge dent in my TBR, but I think it'll have to wait until this summer when I have more time.  I'll be free to read as much as humanly possible come May, so I'm looking forward to doing a more in-depth TBR.  Have any of you read the Falling Kingdoms series?  How about V. E. Schwab?  Let's discuss in the comments!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

February TBR

    Hello all! So today I'm bringing you my February TBR.  As I discussed in my previous post, I will most likely not be posting more than twice a month at this point based on the way my course work is going, (I'm still behind, but quickly catching up!).  I may choose to post a little something regarding Shadowhunters if something crazy happens, but other than that, expect just a wrap-up and TBR from me each month.  That being said, I wanted to do something a little different for this month.  Since I have no idea when I'll be able to read again or what will be available at the library, (which is where I've been getting most of my reading material as of late), I wanted to list a few books that I may end up reading this month and in the wrap-up reveal which ones actually made the cut.  I know it's a bit unorthodox, but I feel like it's the safest way to post a TBR without disappointing everyone at the end of the month when they find out I went totally off script, (like I did in October/November with The Mortal Instruments...)  Since I'm sure that I can't make time to read more than two or three books at this point, here are four books on my radar for February.

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    Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes is the second book in the Falling Kingdoms series.  I read the first book last month and loved it, so I'm obviously going to continue with the series.  Without revealing too many spoilers for those of you who haven't read it or haven't heard of it, we left off in Falling Kingdoms with an uprising led by King Gaius, leaving Mytica in shambles as Gaius attempts to merge all three kingdoms into one, led by himself.  Rebel Spring takes place directly after the events of the first book, with Cleo imprisoned in her own castle, Magnus vying for his father's attentions, Lucia discovering her long-dormant powers and Jonas attempting to counter the effects of the uprising with his rebel group.  I'm really enjoying the action and alternative perspectives in this book, so I don't think it'll disappoint me.  I currently have this book with me, so it's likely that I'll actually read it as well.

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    Prudence by Gail Carriger is a brand new series for me.  It was recommended by a former staff member of my library and it seemed like my kind of book, so I thought I would give it a try.  This is the first book in The Custard Protocol adult urban fantasy series, which I believe will be at least a trilogy.  It just came out last year and takes place some years after the events of Carriger's first series, The Parasol Protectorate.  Carriger also has a young adult series starting with the book Etiquette and Espionage, which I may pick up as well.  The Custard Protocol series follows a woman named Prudence, (or Rue), as she embarks on a rather pointless journey to India to get tea.  She runs into some supernatural beings and a mysterious plot involving kidnapping along the way.  This series seems to have both elements of steam punk nature as well as supernatural elements, such as vampires and werewolves.  Throw in a Victorian era vibe and some wit and you've hooked me immediately.  Just from reading the synopsis, I'm having flashbacks to my Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series days, which were HILARIOUS, so I'm hoping for more humor than drama in this book.  I also have this book partially in my grasp, so we'll see if I can hold onto it long enough to read it.

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    Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is a book I've been TRYING to read for what feels like months now!  I originally made plans to read this book last month, however the person who currently has this book out from the library has yet to return it and has accrued a hefty late fee in the process.  Needless to say I requested it elsewhere, which means it should be in soon.  I've already blurbed this book, so I'll be brief.  It involves demons and angels, art students, magic and urban fantasy.  I've heard nothing but great things about this series, so I'm really eager to dive in!

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    Another book that I've been meaning to read sooner but couldn't get my hands on is Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan.  This book has been on my radar ever since I saw that beautiful cover grace my bookshelves at the bookstore where I worked this summer.  I've already read the chapter titles and they were hilarious, so I can't wait to see what the rest of the book has to offer.  This will be my first middle grade book since Harry Potter I think, so we'll see how I feel about that.  Also, I'm a little worried that I won't like the "young-troubled-boy-is-actually-a-descendant-of-greatness-and-gets-sucked-into-a-powerful-battle-against-his-will" trope that I didn't really enjoy in The Warrior Heir.  I'm hoping I can get more into this one since there are vikings, Norse mythology and Boston involved, as well as a lot more humor.  Even though I've never read any other books by Riordan, I'm excited to start my Riordan collection with this particular book.

    Alright, those are my tentative plans for reading in the month of February.  Like I said, I have some of these books already, but I can't hold them forever.  My studies obviously come first, so we'll see what I can make time for.  I really want to at least finish Rebel Spring, so anything after that is gravy as far as I'm concerned.  I also have more going on this month besides school.  My little sister is having her first child and her due date is tomorrow, (!!!!), so I'll be on baby watch this weekend.  I miss reading as much as I did this summer, so hopefully things will settle down soon!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

January Wrap-Up

    Hey guys!  I'm sorry for being MIA for awhile.  I just started online classes and I ended up having a huge work load.  That being said, I will most likely be cutting my posts back to just two or three times a month.  I need to put all my focus on my studies in order to get caught up, (because I'm already behind after one week), and I really don't want to screw this up.  I will be attempting to keep up with my TBRs and wrap-ups for each month until classes are over in May, however my reading has also been suffering due to my coursework.  I was only able to complete two books this month, not for lack of trying.  One of the books I wanted to read is still on hold at the library because whoever had it last still hasn't returned it...  So I'm going to also try harder to make time to read this month in order to curb my insanity.  I'm hoping I can still make time to discuss more Shadowhunters and other TV shows when I have the time, but for now this is what my schedule will probably end up looking like.  Anyway, let's get on with the books I read this month!

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    The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima was a book series I was so looking forward to reading, since I loved her Demon King series.  Unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me.  It took me until well after 200 pages to get at least mildly interested in what was going on and even after that, my heart still wasn't in it.  I think the premise is similar to Riordan's Percy Jackson series, but not as well executed.  It was difficult to picture the setting and get attached to any of the characters.  No one stood out to me as "likable," except for maybe Will or Linda.  I was really disappointed that I couldn't get into it.  It took up a lot of this month's reading time, so I probably should have ditched it when I had the chance, but I like seeing things through to the end, even if it's not satisfying.  I gave this book 2.5/3 out of 5 stars.  I probably won't continue with this series.

(goodreads.com)

    Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes was definitely a more satisfying read!  This series has been on my TBR for awhile and I'm still on my fantasy kick, so I decided to pick it up in the hopes that it would tear me away from the Infernal Devices series, (still working on it).  I was hooked right away, which was a stark contrast to the previous book.  I loved all the different perspectives of all the different characters and I loved all the drama.  The settings were solid with their descriptions and even felt familiar.  The characters are what really drive this story and they were both likable and not likable at the same time in their own ways.
    -Poor Magnus!  I think I'm probably the only one who actually likes Magnus as a character.  I felt bad for him more than anything, mostly for everything that's happened with his father and between him and Lucia.  This is such a Jace/Clary situation, but with a very different, (and more realistic), outcome.  The abuse he's gone through, both mentally and physically, basically drives him to where he is at the end of the book, so I'm hoping that by the end of the series there's some redemption for him.
    -Jonas also seems like a poor, unfortunate soul.  I wanted to kill that noble bastard too, but I think Jonas is regretting his decisions about where he put his trust.  Obviously he's going to go looking for revenge where ever he can find it, and I don't blame him for that.  I also noticed his feelings regarding Cleo changing drastically from the beginning to the end of this book, which felt rather odd to me.  You don't hate someone and then dream about them all the time and wonder where they are.  I'm sensing a ship in his future.
    -Cleo is the most stupid twit I've ever read about.I basically couldn't even deal with her until the very end.  Cleo also reminds me of Clary in the sense that she's stubborn and will throw herself into situations without realizing how dangerous it is.  I do feel badly that she's on her own now, but maybe that will teach her to buck up and live a rougher life than she's used to.  Sometimes having everything taken away from you makes you a stronger person, so hopefully she matures...quickly.  Also, I never believed in the whole Cleo/Theon thing, although it was reminiscent of  a Celaena/Aelin and Chaol situation.  I don't think they developed that relationship enough to make me care about them in the end.  A lot of other literary connections in this book!
    -Lucia, my precious cinnamon roll!  She basically spent her whole life living a lie and then gets thrust into doing magic for everyone.  She seems a bit dim, but towards the end I could tell that she's actually smart, but maybe chooses not to speak too much of her own mind.  I can understand her not wanting her brother that way, but I still kind of hated her for pushing him away and making him so angry.
    Overall, I really enjoy this series and I'll be reading the next book this month.  I gave Falling Kingdoms 4 out of 5 stars.

    That's it for the books I read this month.  Pathetic, I know, but maybe I'll get to three next month.  I'm currently re-reading Clockwork Prince because I needed something to read while I waited for my new books to come in from the library.  I'm still posting my favorite passages to Instagram, so follow me there!  On Thursday I'm hoping to bring you my TBR for February.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.