Book Review: Sky in the Deep

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Solid three-star read.

Book Review: Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Actual Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Ever read a book and think that was terrible, but I loved it? Well, I'm super conflicted right now.

Book Review: Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was ... just fine. Definitely not what I wanted for my first book of 2020, but here we go :)

Book Review: Blood of Elves

Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Let's start with some honesty. This book was not on my TBR. I was reading this SOLELY because I wanted to watch the show and didn't want to feel reader guilt. So, I read it.

Book Review: The Heart Forger

The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Oh Tea, oh dear Miss Tea.

Book Review: The Novice

The Novice by Taran Matharu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

About five years ago (ugh, don't look at how long books have been on my TBR) a patron at my library who didn't really like to read, recommended this book to me. I added it to my TBR and even bought it on Audible. I just never read it.

I think that books kids love, especially boys who don't like to read, deserve a closer look sometimes. Why, after recommending a hundred books over a few weeks time he picked up this random book I'd never heard of before and devoured it ... enjoying it so much that he waited for me outside my office to tell me how excellent it was. This is the kind of book I have to read.

Book Review: Good Omens

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Let me start by saying I LOVE Neil Gaiman. His way with words is so enchanting ... on the other hand, I don't really care for Terry Pratchett. His way with words isn't my favorite. Which made this book an unusual ready.

The storyline is brilliant. The whole pebble under the cup game (which they tell you to pay careful attention to) effects the endgame in ways that I totally saw coming, but enjoyed the ride.

Book Review: Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

 Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well. Um. That wasn't as good as I'd hoped.

I wanted to read this because the MOVIE looks amazing. And I have a rule. You have to read the book first. So I did.

The premise is intersting - the cities MOVE. Like, they are on wheels and drive around. And eat other cities. Not literally (honestly, I didn't quite get that at first), but rather they overtake them and dismantle them. I'm not entirely sure what happens to the people who lived there. I feel like it was glossed over. Are they killed? Do they become prisoners? I don't get it.

Book Review: The Witch's Kind

The Witch's Kind by Louisa Morgan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hello friends, it's time for another book review. This time I'm reviewing an ARC (that is an Advanced Reader's Copy) of The Witch's Kind. This book is released March 19th, 2019.


The Witch's Kind told a different story than I expected. Judging the book by the title and cover, I expected a story about witches ... and it might have had witches, but that simply isn't what the story was about.

I LOVED this book. Seriously, the pacing was slow and melodic (which isn't always to my taste, but it felt relaxing to read this story), the characters were interesting, flawed, and real. The story came alive on the page, which I think it really all you can ask for when reading a story.

Book Review: Glitter by Aprilynne Pike

Outside the palace of Versailles, it’s modern day. Inside, the people dress, eat, and act like it’s the eighteenth century—with the added bonus of technology to make court life lavish, privileged, and frivolous. The palace has every indulgence, but for one pretty young thing, it’s about to become a very beautiful prison.
When Danica witnesses an act of murder by the young king, her mother makes a cruel power play . . . blackmailing the king into making Dani his queen. When she turns eighteen, Dani will marry the most ruthless and dangerous man of the court. She has six months to escape her terrifying destiny. Six months to raise enough money to disappear into the real world beyond the palace gates.
Her ticket out? Glitter. A drug so powerful that a tiny pinch mixed into a pot of rouge or lip gloss can make the wearer hopelessly addicted. Addicted to a drug Dani can sell for more money than she ever dreamed.
But in Versailles, secrets are impossible to keep. And the most dangerous secret—falling for a drug dealer outside the palace walls—is one risk she has to take.

Book Review: The Problem With Forever by Jennifer Armentrout

For some people, silence is a weapon. For Mallory “Mouse” Dodge, it’s a shield. Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.

Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she’s imagined, there’s one she never dreamed of—that she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with the lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory faces a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants, and the truths that need to be heard.

Book Review: Prudence

Why did I pick it up:  I read a couple other of Gail's books and they were fun reads, so I thought this one would be too ;)

Summary: Prudence, Rue to anyone she likes, and her best friend Primrose are bound for adventure. In Rue's new dirigible, that is a flying ship that Rue names the Spotted Custard (because she's just practical like that), they are destined for India with two annoying men and a ship full of capable staff. But Rue isn't one to shirk excitement and get herself involved in everything she shouldn't.  

Book Review: The Queen of the Tearling

Why Did I Pick It Up: Did you see that cover? I really found the description awesome from a year ago.

Summary: After spending her formative years in hiding (and doing LOTS of reading) it is time for Kelsea to go home and become the Queen she is meant to be. In a land without technology, they are the light battling a stronger kingdom’s darkness that threatens to crush them on their way to power. Kelsea is uncertain at best and weak at worst. Her people question her ability to rise to the occasion and her idealistic nature might be her own undoing. 

Book Review: City of Heavenly Fire

Why did I pick it up: I FINALLY thought I'd finish up this series in anticipation for Lady Midnight coming out next month. 

Summary: Clary, Jace, Alec, Isabelle, Simon, Magnus, and all of the characters of this series are back, bringing with them character from The Infernal Devices and the upcoming The Dark Artifices. Sebastian is prepared for war and brings it down upon the Shadowhunters - 

This will be spoilery if you haven't read the previous books. 

Vampire Diaries

Guess what came in the ILLs today?? That's right (I guess the title gave it away), the first book in the Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries series, Origin (by LJ Smith). Now, I love the show and have been addicted since the first season. Usually I have a hard, fast rule about reading the book first before indulging in any other sort of media, but I didn't know these were books before I started watching. Nevertheless, it was time to start reading.

But, can I just tell you, I was a little disappointed in the cover? I don't believe in buying books with the movie adaptation covers ... and I don't it that this is ALL the Stefan's Diaries have. I couldn't even find a different kind of cover. Sad day. 

Anyway, super excited to start this ... as soon as I'm done with Everneath of course :) So, probably tomorrow!!

In case you haven't seen the show (it is in my top five favorites right now), you should check it out.

April 12th

Remember how I said I was going to wait to read this until I finished Everneath? Well, that didn't happen. Last night I read the first six chapters and I was pleasantly surprised. I liked how it added to what they show on television (I was a little worried it was a total repeat). The story line actually has other things going on! I like meeting the characters I already know, and seeing what Stefan is thinking before he knows better (i.e. about Katherine). I'll try and trade off reading this one and Everneath, but this is pretty intriguing ... plus it is a super quick read.

April 16th

The dates between updates is a little embarrassing, but I'll admit I went the whole weekend without reading anything except silly magazine articles and Facebook posts. However, I'm back at it with a question, do I feel like L J Smith is a great author because she describes her characters and setting in such a way that seems real, or does it all seem real because I've already seen it on television and she is merely an okay author? How does one decide? This is why I always read the book first. The story line is progressing, however a bit slow for my tastes (and what I normally expect from a YA book is great characters and a quick moving plot line). 

April 19th

I actually finished this a few days ago and forgot to update! Sorry :) 

In the end I think that I liked the book because it added a little to the show, but for the most part I felt like it was just a retelling of what I had already seen. In addition, I think I would have thought of Stephen as pathetic, Daemon as childish, and Katherine as slutty if I had read this first. Although those are a part of their characters, they are so much more than that on the silver screen. In addition, the book isn't very detailed, it doesn't tell us about the town, the people, the weather, anything really. I actually think it was a little dry.

So, as much as this goes against what I normally think, I'll stick with the television show.