Audio Book Review: The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis

Posted in Audiobooks, Books, diverse books by

The Mighty Miss Malone CoverBook: The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis, narrated by Bahni Turpin

Published January 2012 by Listening Library|Run Time: 7 hours, 59 minutes

Where I Got It: I borrowed the audio C.D. from the library

Series: None

Genre: Children’s Historical Fiction

Blog Graphic-What It's About

“We are a family on a journey to a place called wonderful” is the motto of Deza Malone’s family. Deza is the smartest girl in her class in Gary, Indiana, singled out by teachers for a special path in life. But the Great Depression has hit Gary hard, and there are no jobs for black men. When her beloved father leaves to find work, Deza, Mother, and her older brother Jimmie go in search of him, and end up in a Hooverville outside Flint, Michigan. Jimmie’s beautiful voice inspires him to leave the camp to be a performer, while Deza and Mother find a new home, and cling to the hope that they will find Father. The twists and turns of their story reveal the devastation of the Depression and prove that Deza truly is the Mighty Miss Malone.

Blog Graphic-What It's About

I wasn’t sure what to think about The Mighty Miss Malone at first- I had a hard time getting into it, but as I listened, I did like it more than I thought I would.

I think part of why I had a hard time with it, particularly at the beginning, is that Deza is very much a special snowflake.  She seemed a little too precocious and comes across as condescending.  I think that Deza has been told she’s special so much that she has a hard time handling not doing well on something- like when her best friend does better on an assignment than she does, and she expected her friend to feel bad about it.  She does seem to handle it a little bit better when she’s at a different school, but the book seems to be more about the Great Depression than race or segregation, even though it’s touched on a little bit.

And there were a couple points, especially towards the end, where it seemed like Deza’s love of reading and learning was very much encouraged, but Jimmie’s singing wasn’t really nurtured.  I’m not sure if it’s because the book is about Deza (and not Jimmie), but I definitely got the impression that Deza being good at school was more important than Jimmie being good at singing.

Still, we do see how racism affects her grades, and, more than anything, the book shows what it was like to live during the Great Depression.  It does do a great job of showing that, and I think that’s where the book shines.  It does touch on how hard it was for African-Americans to find work, and how much everything going on affected them.  For that alone, I’d definitely recommend the book, because I think it is something that needs to be talked about.

One thing that sort of confused me was when Deza, her mother and her brother arrive in Flint.  They’re supposed to stay with her dad’s mother (her grandmother) but once they get to Flint, there is no mention of her grandmother for the rest of the book.  And if they’re supposed to be staying with relatives there, then why do they stay in the shanty-town, instead of going to find Deza’s grandmother?  Unless I missed something when I was listening to the book, which is possible.  But why have it be part of the book, when it doesn’t even go anywhere, and is never mentioned again?

I wasn’t sure about the narration at first- I definitely didn’t like it, and I think the narration is a big part of why I didn’t like Deza at first.  Deza sounded a lot older than 12, and something about her tone of voice really grated on me, to the point that I wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep listening.  It did get better over the course of the book, and I do feel bad, because a person has no control over what their voice sounds like.  I definitely won’t be seeking out anything else narrated by Turpin, but for me, I might think twice about an audio book if I know she’s narrating it.

Blog Graphic- My Rating

3 stars.  I did like the book, because it does a wonderful job at showing what it was like to be alive during The Great Depression.  I wasn’t the biggest fan of Deza, or the narrator, but it’s a really good look at the Great Depression, and that makes it worth checking out.

Book Review: A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly

Posted in Books by

A Criminal Magic CoverBook: A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly

Published February 2016 by Saga Press|432 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the e-book from the library

Series: None

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction/Fantasy/Alternate History

Blog Graphic-What It's About

In Lee Kelly’s newest fantasy novel, two young sorcerers experiment with magic and mobsters in 1920s Prohibition when a new elixir is created that turns their lives upside down.

Washington, DC, 1926. Sorcery opponents have succeeded in passing the 18th Amendment, but the Prohibition of magic has only invigorated the city’s underworld. Smuggling rings carry magic contraband in from the coast. Sorcerers cast illusions to aid mobsters’ crime sprees. Gangs have even established “magic havens,” secret venues where the public can lose themselves in immersive magic and consume a mind-bending, highly addictive elixir known as “the sorcerer’s shine.”

Joan Kendrick, a young sorcerer from the backwoods of Norfolk County, accepts an offer to work for DC’s most notorious crime syndicate, The Shaw Gang, when her family’s home is repossessed. Alex Danfrey, first-year Federal Prohibition Unit trainee with a complicated past and talents of his own, becomes tapped to go undercover and infiltrate the Shaws. When Joan meets Alex at the Shaws’ magic haven, she discovers a confidante in her fellow partner and he begins to fall under her spell. But when a new breed of the addictive sorcerer’s shine is created within the walls of the magic haven, Joan and Alex are forced to question their allegiances as they become pitted against one another in a dangerous, heady game of cat-and-mouse.

Blog Graphic- What I Thought

When I first heard about this book, I knew I had to read it, because the idea of Prohibition, but with magic, instead of alcohol, was really different but also interesting!

I just love the idea of a world where Prohibition was all about magic, and not alcohol.  It’s really different, and I wanted to keep reading, even when I had finished the book.  I particularly loved the last few chapters, and especially the last chapter.  It was all so unexpected, and for the entire book, I wasn’t sure what to expect as far as the ending went.

And it’s interesting is that things are tied up really well, and you know it’s the end of the book, but it’s still just open enough that you’re hoping it’s the first book in a series.  I was surprised to find that’s a stand-alone, because the world was so fascinating that I wanted more, and I couldn’t believe that this was all we were getting.

I loved the world, and I wanted to know more about it.  Considering it’s fantasy, and just over 400 pages, the world-building was pretty good.  You get a really good sense of what magic is like in this world, and how different the magic is for everyone who can do magic.  And I loved the concept of The Shine- and the other products (which seems to be the best way to describe it) that produce a similar effect that Shine does.  In a way, the effects reminded me of someone on drugs, so maybe that would be a slightly better word than products.

Still, I can’t remember if we ever learn why magic was illegal, and if it’s not explained why, then I wish it was something that was explained, because it’s something I really want to know.  And if it was mentioned, then clearly it didn’t stick.

But I really liked the twist on Prohibition, and I think the time period was why it worked as a stand-alone. While there was a lot of world-building, it didn’t need as much because it was a twist on something that already happened.

I really liked Joan and Alex, but I found that I liked Joan’s chapters a lot more than Alex’s.  Alex did have an interesting story, and I liked how their stories came together, but as the book went on, I found that I cared a lot more about Joan than Alex, and I’m not sure why.  Still, they both had such an interesting story that I can’t help but wonder what happened to both of them after the end of the book, and if Prohibition was ever repealed in this world.

Blog Graphic- My Rating

4 stars.  I didn’t love it, and I’m not sure why, because there are a lot of really interesting and different things about A Criminal Magic.  But I did really like it, and it’s definitely worth checking out!

Book Talk: Why I Love The Library

Posted in Book Talk by

Book Talk is a sporadic feature where I talk about non-book review bookish things.

Book Talk

I’ve been thinking about the library a lot lately.  Partly because of this post, but also because I’ve been going to the library a lot lately.

There are times where I use the library a lot, but then I also have times where I hardly use the library at all.  I mostly go to check books, and I generally don’t utilize anything else the library offers, but libraries are really important and there are reasons why they are awesome.

The Books/DVD’s/Music:

I love that I can check out books, which one of the main reasons why I go to the library.  Here are some other reasons why I love the library:

  1. I really like that I can take a chance on a book- with the library, I don’t feel like I wasted my money if I end up not liking a book, and with just browsing, I can pick up stuff that I’ve never heard of.
  2. If I’m looking for a particular book on a certain subject, the library is a great place to start.
  3. I don’t really check out crochet books or cookbooks, but the library is a good place to get them, because I can see if it’s something I want to buy.
  4. And of course, I can do e-books and audio books (both CD’s and MP3’s) in addition to print books.
  5. Also, one of the branches of the Chula Vista library has an area dedicated to Chula Vista history, if I ever wanted to learn more about that.
  6. I don’t check out music and DVD’s, but it’s good to have that as an option.  Especially with movies.

The Library As A Work/Reading Space:

The library is one of my favorite places to go if I need/want to get some writing or blogging done.  Or even crochet, because I’ve done that a few time!  Here are some reasons why:

  1. I feel like the library is a better option to camp out if I need to.  The library has more outlets, comfortable chairs, and it’s a cheaper option in comparison to coffee shops/cafés, because I don’t have to keep buying food/coffee to warrant my stay there.  If I need a snack or something to drink, the library I go to the most has vending machines.
  2. The library is a good place to stay cool.  This is especially helpful during the summer, when your A/C decides to stop working and isn’t fixed yet.
  3. It’s quiet.  I don’t mind the noise of Starbucks or Panera, but there is something nice about how quiet the library is.
  4. For whatever reason, I’m a lot more productive at the library then I am anywhere else.
  5. If I need to look something up, the library will probably have at least one book related to whatever the topic is, and I go get it from the shelves.

Random Things:

  1. On an unrelated note: I love key-chain library cards.  It’s a lot easier pulling out my keys than my wallet and trying to find the right library card.
  2. I love that I can donate my old books to the library.  I’ve randomly been culling my print books, and dropping them off the next time I’m at the library.
  3. They have a lot of random events and services- from film forums to helping people with taxes to enrolling people in health insurance to book sales, there’s all sorts of things to do!

I could probably go on and on about why I love the library, but I think I’ll keep it to what I’ve already talked about, because I’m not in a super-rambly mood right now.  But who knows?  Maybe I’ll do another post about why libraries are awesome.

I hope everyone has a lovely day!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I’d Buy If I Received A Fully Loaded Gift Card

Posted in Top 10 Tuesday by

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, bloggers share their own bookish top ten lists based on the topic of the week.  You can check out Ten Tuesdays here.

Blog Graphic- Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Books I’d Buy Right Now If I Received A Fully Loaded Gift Card

There are so many books I want, and while I love the library, these are the books I’d buy if I magically received a gift card.

  1. The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows.  I’ve wanted to read The Orphan Queen for a really long time, so this is definitely one I’d buy.
  2. House Of Leaves by Mark Danielewski.  This is another one I’ve wanted to read for a while, and it seems like a weird book, which means it’s right up my alley!
  3. The King Arthur Flour Baking Companion.  As far as baking goes, they are my go-to source, and it only makes sense to have their cookbook.
  4. The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick.  I loved The Boy Next Door, and I can’t wait to read this one!
  5. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard.  I’ve heard a lot of good things about this book, but I’m really nervous about reading it because what if I don’t like it as much as everyone else?  Still, a gift card would probably make me hesitate left.
  6. Mouse Guard by David Petersen.  I love the first two volumes, and even though I haven’t read the 3rd one yet, I’d buy all three with no hesitation.
  7. Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix.  I’ve been fascinated with this book designed to look like an Ikea catalog ever since I first heard about it ages ago.  It would look pretty cool on a coffee table or bookshelf.
  8. Adult coloring books.  I’ve only done a little coloring, but coloring is fun, and I’d definitely buy quite a few coloring books.
  9. Basically anything by Brian Froud.  I LOVE fairies, and he does an awesome job with drawing fairies.
  10. And knowing me, I’d probably buy cookbooks or crochet books, because I love cooking and crocheting.

Currently Obsessed With: July 2016

Posted in Currently Obsessed With by

Currently Obsessed With is a once-a-month (but sometimes more) feature where I talk about my favorite things from the last month.

Currently Obsessed With

July has been a fun month!  It’s also been really hot, and the lack of working AC didn’t help, so for the most part, all I had the energy to do was sit on the couch and watch t.v.

Crochet:

I finally felted the purse I talked about last month.  I tried doing it by hand, but I got really impatient, so I ended up throwing it in the washing machine.  I had to do it a couple times to get it to how you see it in the picture, but I think it also depends on how felted you want it.

July 2016- Felted Purse

I wasn’t completely happy with how the handles turned out, but that was my fault- I didn’t count as well as I thought I did for that part of it.  It’s also really small, so I’m not sure what I’m going to use it for, but I am using a different purse (that’s also bigger than what I’m used to), so maybe I’ll use it for smaller things like my keys and wallet.  But I’m not sure.  Below, you can see what it looks like, before and after felting.

July 2016 Purse Before And After

As you can see, you can still see the stitches a little bit, but I think felting is one of those things where you do it until you get the look you want.

I did a capelet and witches hat too, and both took longer than I wanted to.  But only because I got a bit lazy, so then I had to crochet furiously for about a week, just to get them done in time for the midnight release of HP And The Cursed Child.  But I got it done!  Somehow, I did, even though I’m not completely sure how!

July 2016- Fleur Collage

I really like the capelet, though I don’t know that I’ll wear it much beyond the Harry Potter events going on.  But honestly?  It was a lot cheaper/easier making it than it would be to buy it.  And it’s the same with the hat!  I will say, though, that the hat threw me a little.  I really like it, and it turned out well, but there was something slightly weird about it.

There were some rounds, mostly towards the end, where my stitch count was off for no apparent reason- and it was always the rounds where I didn’t increase.  I had the correct number of stitches in the previous round, I didn’t miss any stitches- even at the beginning and end of the round, and I even counted a good three or four times.  And yet, I was still off by one stitch, even though I should have had the correct number of stitches.  I don’t think it’s the pattern, because it was fine until the brim, so I’m chalking it up to crocheter-error.  You can find the pattern for the hat here, and the pattern for the capelet here, if you’re interested!

Books:

I went to the Gail Carriger book signing for Imprudence, and I had a great time.  If you ever have the chance to go to one of her books signings, they’re really fun.  She takes questions the entire time, and she’s funny, and people always ask really interesting questions, and she has some really funny answers.  One thing I might start doing is taking notes, just because I can never remember what they talk about, and I wish I could talk more about what people asked and what their answers are.

Also: Harry Potter midnight release party!!!!!!!!  That was fun, and I talked more about it here, but I will say that it was nice to go to another midnight release party for Harry Potter.  I can’t think of any other book that would get the midnight release party treatment.

As for the books I bought: I bought Imprudence by Gail Carriger, and Servants Of The Storm by Delilah Dawsonn. Of course, I also bought Harry Potter And The Cursed Child- both print and e-book.  I also got When Reason Breaks by Cindy Rodriguez from Audible.

T.V./Movies:

I saw The BFG, which I talked about here, and I also went to see Ghostbusters.  Ghostbusters was a lot of fun to watch, and in no way did it ruin the fact that I grew up on the original- which I now want to re-watch, because it’s been way too long since I’ve seen it.  I loved Holtzman, and Patty was awesome, and I loved that they were very much about the science, and what they had to go through in order to be taken seriously.  Also: Chris Hemsworth as the dumb receptionist was absolutely hysterical.  It definitely has its own story, and I think the all-female cast was a good choice because it meant it was really different from the original.  But there are also quite a few nods to the original Ghostbusters movie, and that was really cool.  And definitely stay for the credits, because it’s one of the most entertaining credits I’ve seen in a long time.

As for t.v., I’ve been watching Law & Order: SVU on Netflix, so I’ve basically been watching the post-Stabler seasons (which I’m sure are on hulu).  I will never understand how I can binge-watch this show.  I finished season 1 of iZombie, which I really liked, and now I’m watching Royal Pains.  I’ve only seen bits and pieces of Royal Pains, and the original stuff on USA is pretty cool, from what I’ve seen of Royal Pains and White Collar.

Around The Internet:

Reading rules we don’t follow as adults that we expect students to follow was pretty interesting reading and makes a lot of good points.

This blog post about genres and how important it is to place books into the right genre was also interesting reading.

On a semi-related note: How To Define YA and Do YA Characters Need To Be Role Models?

I liked this post about disability terminology, this one about navigating criticism and discussions about disability representation, and this one about chronic illness in YA.

I also liked this interview with 4 YA authors about sci-fi, sex and writing for young women.

If it weren’t so hot, I’d totally make these baked chicken strips.  However, that just means I may need to have these snacks on hand.

This honey lemon chicken looks really good!

This post hits the nail on the head about required reading in English class.

Speaking of school…I loved seeing these historical photos.  They really bring history to life.

I am a fan of page flags, particularly when I read non-fiction, and these make me want to buy some!

You can find all of this, and more, over on pinterest!

Things I’m Looking Forward To In August:

There’s not much, but there are a few things I’m looking forward to.

  • A Harry Potter party!  I went last year, and it was super-fun, and I’m definitely looking forward to it this year.
  • I’m going to a book signing for The Beauty Of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson.  I’m sad the series is coming to an end, but I also need/want to know what happens next!
  • Suicide Squad!  I usually go see all of the Marvel movies, but I almost never make it to the DC ones.  But this one looks cool.

Music:

Here’s a playlist of what I’ve been listening to over the last couple of months.  Enjoy!



Book Talk: A Spoiler-Free Talk About Harry Potter And The Cursed Child Midnight Release Party

Posted in Book Talk, Books, Harry Potter by

Book Talk is a sporadic feature where I talk about bookish things that aren’t book reviews.

Book Talk

Today’s topic is…Harry Potter!  Specifically, the Cursed Child Midnight Release Party, but I wanted to share a little bit of my own Harry Potter story.  I have read The Cursed Child already, and I’m going to talk about it but I promise there will be no spoilers in this post.  I will be probably be doing a review full of spoilers when I’ve had the chance to read it again.

A Little Bit Of My Harry Potter Story:

I’ve loved Harry Potter ever since I saw the first movie.  I saw it, loved it, and then immediately read the 4 books that were already out.  I anxiously awaited the release of each book and movie, reading theories on Mugglenet and mostly reading fanfiction (but writing a little too) and words cannot completely express what Harry Potter means to me. Whatever is going on my life, I know that I pick up Harry Potter, and everything will be fine.

I don’t have a lot of memories of midnight release parties for the books or the movies.  Bookwise, I only made to the Deathly Hallows midnight release party, and for the movies, only Deathly Hallows, Part Two.  I remember pre-ordering Deathly Hallows at Barnes And Noble, and going to their midnight release party, and wandering around the store a little, but also doing a couple craft, there was random trivia, and Harry Potter scene-it.  I got the book, and was up all night reading the book, and then going into work exhausted because I was up all night. But it was worth it, because I love having that memory.  And for Deathly Hallows, part two?  It was magical and fun to be watching Harry Potter at midnight in a packed theater, and the experience of that made it really fun and memorable.

Finding Out About The Cursed Child Script:

I remember seeing the news that the script for The Cursed Child on a blog post, and at first, I couldn’t believe it. I honestly thought it was a joke, and when I finally looked at the news headlines, and realized it was really happening, I jumped up and down screaming for about 10 minutes.  I immediately pre-ordered the e-book- I didn’t care that it was more than what I’d usually pay for an e-book (and the price can probably be explained by the fact that it’s a new Harry Potter book).

It wasn’t until recently that I had the thought to pre-order a print copy, to go on my shelf with the rest of the series.  I thought I had pre-ordered it too late, because Mysterious Galaxy had a wait-list going.  But I was really excited when they called saying they had more copies, and I was able to get one.

Either way, I was going to the midnight release party, because I didn’t want to miss out on the magic.

Going To The Midnight Release Party:

I knew that I was going to dress up, because how could you not?  I dressed up as Fleur Delacour- I made the hat and capelet she wears in the movie, because it was easier and cheaper than buying them.  I had a bit of trouble finding a dress in the right color, because when I need a powder blue dress, that is the color I can’t find to save my life.  Either I need to start planning costumes better, or I need to learn how to sew, so I can just make what I need.  But I was willing to go with any shade of blue I could find, but I found something close enough to powder blue that I wasn’t stressing out about it.

I arrived at Mysterious Galaxy, checked in at the register, and got my orange slip so that I could pick up my book when midnight hit.  I looked around a little, I got in line for snacks, colored a little, and watched people play Charades and Taboo.  I hung out with my friend Mollie, which was also fun, and made an already fun night even more fun.

And I loved seeing the costumes!  There were a lot of people in robes, and some of the kids had really cute costumes- one kid was dressed up as Snape, another as Malfoy, and a third was dressed up as a dementor.  There were people dressed up as Trelawney, Snape, and there was an impressively costumed Dumbledore and Sprout. And it was weird, but fun getting compliments, and a couple people even asked if they could get a picture of me.

They had really cool decorations- devil’s snare on some bookshelves, the flying keys, the floating candles, and textbooks, cauldrons, and potions bottles scattered around the store.  But I think my favorite thing was the muggle wall, where people wrote about their memories of Harry Potter.  The costume contest was fun, but the kid who won was cute (but then again, they all were), and for the adult costume contest, it was no surprise the woman dressed up as Sprout won.

Just before midnight, we sang Happy Birthday and then went to stand in line.  The line was (not surprisingly) pretty long, and wrapped around the building, but because everyone had paid already, the line moved fast, because they were basically just handing out the book.

So a little after midnight, I was holding the script for Harry Potter And The Cursed Child in my hands.  AND IT WAS GLORIOUS AND COMPLETELY AMAZING.

HP Cursed Child

In Which I Read The Script And Talk About It With No Spoilers At All:

I got home, changed into my pajamas, made some coffee (that I never drank), started playing Sorcerer’s Stone, and settled in on the couch.  And I read until I had finished.  It was only a couple of hours, because as a script, it went pretty fast.

While I’m not the biggest fan of READING plays, I love Harry Potter so much that I did not care.  With reading plays, you are missing out on a big part of it: actually seeing it being performed.  Reading it just isn’t the same as seeing it live on stage, but with the Cursed Child, I’m glad I get to at least read it, because I’m sure tickets for it are really hard to get, plus there’s the fact that I’m not in London, so that’s a factor.

I fully acknowledge that there is a piece of the Cursed Child that I’ve missed, because I’ve only read the script and haven’t seen it performed.  But that doesn’t stop me from loving the story, because I did, and my rating, right off the bat, would be 5 stars.  That may change, once I have a chance to read it again, and actually have time to think about it a little more.  Because right now, I’m super-excited, and I have so many thoughts, and it definitely needs another read.

What I loved the most about the midnight release party, though, is the reminder that Harry Potter brings so many different people together, and how much Harry Potter means to people.  I can’t think of any other book that inspires so many people to have parties to celebrate a book coming out, and waiting in long lines just to get a copy, only to go home and stay up until they’ve finished it.

I am so glad that I got to go to one more Harry Potter midnight release party, because I never thought we would get another one for the books.

And, of course, I would love to wish a very happy birthday to Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling.

Book Review: The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Posted in Books by

The Jewel CoverBook: The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Published September 2014 by HarperTeen|249 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the e-book from the library

Series: The Lone City #1

Genre: YA Dystopia

Blog Graphic-What It's About

“Today is my last day as Violet Lasting. Tomorrow I become Lot 197.”

The Jewel is a shocking and compelling new YA series from debut author, Amy Ewing.

Sold for six million diamantes, Violet is now Surrogate of the House of the Lake in the centre of the Lone City, the Jewel. Her sole purpose is to produce a healthy heir for the Duchess – a woman Violet fears and despises.

Violet is trapped in a living death, her name and body no longer her own. She fights to hold on to her own identity and sanity, uncertain of the fate of her friends, isolated and at the mercy of the Duchess.

The Handmaid’s Tale meets The Other Boleyn Girl in a world where beauty and brutality collide.

Blog Graphic-What It's About

I thought The Jewel was an interesting idea, and it reminded me of quite a few dystopias out there- The Hunger Games, the Chemical Garden trilogy by Lauren DeStefano, The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, The Selection by Kiera Cass, and there was something about the book that made me think of Divergent too, and I think there’s something about some of the events that happen in this book (and could potentially happen in the next one), that we could see elements of Divergent in the rest of the series.  So basically, I was reminded of some of the more well-known dystopias out there, and it’s why it ended being just okay.

I spent a lot of the book comparing to other books in the same genre, and that worked against the book, because it was similar enough to other books that I was bored and thought it to be a little bit predictable.  I did finish it, and I did like it, because the overall idea was interesting enough to keep me reading and caught my interest just enough that I wanted to give it a try.

I thought Violet was lackluster.  I think part of it is that she wants to tell people her name, instead of her lot number, but she’s constantly referred to as 197 or the surrogate.  That was one of the more interesting things about the book, because in a way, it makes her less human if she’s nameless.  I do wonder if that’s partially why I felt disconnected, because everyone viewed her as someone who will produce a child, instead of an actual person.

The only thing I remember about her is that she plays the cello, but beyond that, I feel like there’s nothing special about her.  She’s special but there seems to be no reason for why she’s so special.  At least, we don’t find out what that is in this book.  And if she’s so special and can do things no one else can, why was she lot 197, and not lot 200? That makes no sense at all.

There was romance, but it didn’t stand out, and there’s not much to say about it, because it was boring, and didn’t get my attention.  It’s undeveloped and sudden, and quite honestly, I’m not sure why it’s even in the book.

I have a lot of unanswered questions about this world, and the little world-building we get doesn’t explain much.  It felt like it wouldn’t hold up if you looked at it too closely, because we only get bits and pieces of why there are surrogates and not much else.

I’m honestly not sure if I’ll be reading the next one.  I don’t necessarily have a problem continuing on with the series, and with how the last few pages went, I am curious about what’s going on. It’s definitely enough that I’m considering reading at least the next one, but I don’t think it will be anytime soon.

I’ve never read The Handmaid’s Tale so I’m not sure about that comparison, but I don’t get the comparison to The Other Boleyn Girl.  Granted, it’s been quite a few years since I’ve read it, so maybe I’m missing something, but from what I do remember, I don’t get the comparison at all.

Blog Graphic- My Rating

2 stars.  I wanted to give it a higher rating, because I do like the overall idea, but I was too reminded by the similarities to other books to really enjoy it.

Book Review: A Court Of Mist And Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Posted in Books by

A Court Of Mist And Fury CoverBook: A Court Of Mist And Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Published May 2016 by Bloomsbury USA|640 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the hardcover from the library

Series: A Court Of Thorns And Roses #2

Genre: NA Fantasy

Blog Graphic-What It's About

The #1 New York Times bestselling sequel to Sarah J. Maas’ spellbinding A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

Blog Graphic- What I Thought

I really liked A Court Of Mist And Fury!  I like it so much more than A Court Of Thorns And Roses, and it’s going to be a long wait for the next one.

So, Feyre’s deal with Rhysand…I had no idea what to expect with it, but I really liked where it went.  I loved Rhysand in this book (and he was definitely my favorite in ACOTAR), and after reading this book, I am completely sold on him and Feyre.  Rhys and Feyre are equals, and they are on equal ground, much more than Tamlin and Feyre ever were.  Rhysand is supportive and encouraging and better for Feyre than Tamlin ever will be.

Because honestly?  Tamlin is horrible!  Completely horrible…and he seemed like such a different Tamlin in this book, that I couldn’t believe I liked him at first.  I definitely want to go back to read the first one, because I can’t help but wonder if I missed something.  What happened in between ACOTAR and ACOFAM that Tamlin switched personalities?  Was it there, but I didn’t notice, or did he really change that much?  Because how he treated Feyre wasn’t okay, and I don’t care what his reasons were, it wasn’t okay.  And when he came in, all apologetic, because she gone for ages, and he wanted her back?  He doesn’t deserve her, and she can a lot better than a guy who didn’t realize he had a good person.

As much as I like Rhysand and Feyre together- and as much as I think that Rhysand is a better fit for Feyre after everything she’s gone through- I dislike that Tamlin had to change so much just to make Rhys look like the better option.  I think he is in a lot of ways, and I wish that Feyre had gone to Rhys in a different way, because I’m not a fan of how that was done, even though I like the end result.  I guess I have some hesitations about Rhys and Feyre, more than I originally thought.  But overall, I stick with what I said in the above paragraph.

I loved seeing the Night Court, and different it is from the Spring Court.  I hope we get to see more of the different Courts as the series progresses.

Another thing I wanted to talk about is the series, but this book in particular, as a YA book.  For me, it’s more New Adult than YA, and that’s because of the sex scenes.  Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with sex in YA, but in ACOFAM, they’re more detailed than what you typically see in YA, and I’m hesitant to classify it as such.  But it’s not like there’s a New Adult section at the library or the bookstore, and since it’s fantasy (not contemporary romance), that’s probably why shelved in the YA section.  I’d say that it’s probably appropriate for 15 and up.

Now that I have that out of the way, let’s talk about how we see the consequences of everything that happened that happened in the first book.  Things started to make a lot more sense, and that’s because we learned a lot more about what’s going on.

I also loved most of the new characters we see in the book, and they’re all so memorable and distinct and wonderful, and they are just amazing!  They really stand out and I can’t wait to see more of them in the rest of the series.

Blog Graphic- My Rating

4 stars.  I dislike how much Tamlin changed just to make Rhys and Feyre work, even though I love them together.  And even though I like it a lot more than ACOTAR, it wasn’t quite a 5 star read for me.

Book Review: The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye

Posted in Books, diverse books by

The Crown's Game CoverBook: The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye

Published May 2016 by Balzer + Bray|416 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the e-book from the library

Series: The Crown’s Game #1

Genre: YA Fantasy/Historical Fiction

Blog Graphic-What It's About

Vika Andreyev can summon the snow and turn ash into gold.

Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air.

They are enchanters, the only two in Russia and, with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.

And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, a duel of magical skill. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.

Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter, even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has.

For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with beautiful, whip-smart, imaginative and he can’t stop thinking about her.

And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love…or be killed himself.

As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.

Blog Graphic- What I Thought

Imagine The Night Circus, set in Russia, where the “winner” of a magical duel becomes the adviser to the tsar, and the loser dies, because only one enchanter can access the magic source…and you have The Crown’s Game. The Night Circus is a magical book, and this book was pretty magical, with a touch of politics.

I really liked learning more about Nikolai’s family, but I wish we knew more about Vika’s family.  I know that learning about Nikolai’s parents is much more important to the plot than Vika’s parents, but still.  I’m holding out hope that we learn more about them in the next book.

I really liked both Nikolai and Vika, and how different, but also complementary, their magic was.  It makes me a little sad that only one could survive but only one enchanter surviving makes a lot of sense.  I also feel pretty hopeful we haven’t seen the last of both Nikolai and Vika- I only say both because I don’t want to spoil what happens, because it took me off-guard.

And that leads me to Pasha, who I hate with a passion.  He is a complete idiot, and I hate that he became tsar. Then again, it wouldn’t be the first time someone made bad decisions, and that people who aren’t good leaders become leaders anyway.  Still, his actions caused a lot of hurt for a lot of people, and while I get that he didn’t fully understand the consequences of his actions, he did get a very horrible wake-up call when he finally realized the effect his decisions had.  I hope he doesn’t try to get Vika back, because I don’t think she’ll have it. At all.  And even if he does, I hope she doesn’t give him another chance.  She deserves a lot better than the spoiled brat that is Pasha.

I also love that we have a fantasy novel set in Russia.  Shadow And Bone is the only other Russian-inspired fantasy I can think of, and Russia is the perfect setting for the book!  I love the story behind the magic and the Crown’s Game and the enchanters, and it all works really well together.  Skye did such a great job with the research, and she blends fantasy and history really well.  It’s such a believable story, and there were times where I forgot that magic wasn’t real because it blended so well into this world.

I expected something slightly darker to the duel, but the way that things went (at least initially) is what reminded me so much of The Night Circus.  For some reason, they are very good read-alikes, and I recommend it to anyone who loves The Night Circus.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved the magic, and everything about it the duel (again, initially), but based on the summary, I thought it would be a lot more cutthroat than what we got.

Blog Graphic- My Rating

4 stars.  I didn’t love it, and I did want something darker/edgier than what we got but I also loved seeing the magic, and I liked the blend of history and fantasy.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Things I Wanted To Learn About Because Of Books

Posted in Top 10 Tuesday by

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, bloggers share their own bookish top ten lists based on the topic of the week.  You can check out Ten Tuesdays here.

Blog Graphic- Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Things That Books Made Me Want To Learn About

One of my favorite things about reading is that it opens up my world, and makes me want to learn more about the things I see in books!  Reading makes me realize how little I know, so here are 10 things I want to learn more about and do.

History/Current Events:

  1. Where The Streets Had A Name by Randa Abdel-Fattah makes me want to learn about…the Israeli-Palestine conflict, because I know nothing about it except that it’s a thing.
  2. Surviving Santiago by Lyn Miller-Lachmann makes me want to learn about…the Pinochet regime.  Because knowing more about it would have really helped if I knew more about it before picking up this book.
  3. Rebels by Accident by Patricia Dunn makes me want to learn about…the revolution that happened in Egypt a while back.  I vaguely remember hearing about it on the news when it happened, but I don’t remember anything about what happened.
  4. Crow by Barbara Wright makes me want to learn about…the Wilmington Race Riots of 1898.  I didn’t even know this happened, and Crow made me want to learn more about it.
  5. Between Shades Of Gray by Ruta Sepetys makes me want to learn about…the work camps in Siberia during WWII.  This was something that new to me, and I want to learn more about it.
  6. A Moment Comes by Jennifer Bradbury makes me want to learn about…the Partition of India.  Like some of the other books I’ve talked about, this was something I didn’t know happened, and I want to learn more about it.

Fairy Tales/Mythology:

  1. All of the fairy-tale re-tellings make me want to…read all of the different versions from all over the world. Because it’s interesting to see the different versions, and also to see how the original story is used in the re-telling.  Especially because the story I know tends to be the Disney movie.  There isn’t a specific book in mind, because I could probably do an entire list based on fairy tale re-tellings.
  2. Basically all of the books that are inspired by mythology and stories that aren’t Greek.  Specifically the Middle East and Maori, because those are the first two that come to mind, but in general, any mythology that isn’t Greek is something I want to read more about because it is becoming more common, and that’s cool.

The Cliche And Random:

  1. Reading, in general, makes me want to travel and learn, and even though it’s a great way to do so when actually doing the traveling isn’t an option, reading about it isn’t the same as actually going somewhere and experiencing what it’s like to be somewhere else.
  2. A Daughter Of Smoke And Bone by Laini Taylor makes me want to be more creative.  Though any book featuring characters who sing, dance, draw or be creative in some way would work, that one’s the first one that come to mind. I crochet, but when I see creative characters, it jut makes me want to find other creative outlets besides writing and crochet.