Sorry!

I know, I know, it's been almost a month since my last post. I just started grad school, and course work has taken its toll on posting.

Even though I write very short reviews, I do put time and thought into them. I have not had the opportunity to do that recently. I hope to start again soon.

Contagious: Why Things Catch On

 I listened to the audiobook, and I found myself sitting in the car listening, because I found this book so interesting.

If you need to market anything, want to create a successful integrated marketing communication campaign, or are just interested in why certain things to viral, read this book.

The Wrath and the Dawn Duology

Read these books now.

A great blending of romance, magic, tension, action, and fun. These book kept me turning pages as quickly as I could. 

A Torch Against the Night

I read an ARC of this book.

Another exciting, action packed, just the right amount of romance, novel.

Although the first two books in the An Ember in the Ashes trilogy were fun (dare I say good) reads, I hope Tahir has something up her sleeve for the third book. It could easily become one of those "am I re-reading the previous book, or is this really the new one?" experiences.

Half Lost

A surprising, emotional, and appropriate conclusion to the Half Bad trilogy. If you have the opportunity to experience the audiobooks, I highly recommend it.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

A fun, exciting, and magical look into the lives of many fan favorites. True to the characters and wizarding world. I would have liked to see more of Lilly and James Potter, though.

Side Note:
I have read a few reviews that state (complain) that they would have liked more description/ wanted to see how things were done. To them I say, this is a play. The point of a play is to watch it, not read it. If reading the script made you wonder what a particular scene would look like, or now something is done, I would consider that a strength of the writing, not a weakness. If dialogue alone pulled you into the world of the story, imagine what seeing it on stage would do.

Saga Volume 5

If you haven't read Saga yet, do it. Volume 5 continues the amazing story telling, artwork, and journey of the previous 4 volumes.

Burn Baby Burn

A compelling story that many teens will enjoy, but probably won't pick up on their own. This one needs to be sold, but it's worth the effort.

Half Bad

The audio book was fabulous. The characters were fabulous. The story was fabulous. You get the point.

Am Ember in the Ashes

Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed this book. At first I wasn't taken with Laia's story, but as she found strength, so did her plot line.

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library

A fun and crazy game through the coolest library in literature.

After You

A funny and thoughtful sequel to Me Before You, but not quite at the same level of lovely as the first book.

Highly Illogical Behavior

Not a book that instantly pulls you in, but 100% worth the read. Witty, likable, and unique characters in a book full of friendship and ambition.

The Blackthorn Key

Find it at your library

I listened to the audio book and loved every minute. If you like middle grade mysteries with some awesome science, read this ASAP!

Salt to the Sea

Find it at your library

A wonderfully written, engaging story told from multiple perspectives about a little talked about WW2 tragedy.

If only it had a better cover.

Me Before You

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This book was filled with so much love and beauty that it made me cry.
Please note: It takes a lot to make me cry.

Between the World and Me

Find it at your library

I listened to the audiobook of this. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it myself.

Coates' fluid letter to his son is a memorable and powerful piece of work that gives outsiders a glimpse into the race-related struggles many people face.

The Nameless City

Find it at your library

A fast paced read with likable characters, amazing artwork, a fun plot, and an ending that will leave you wanting more.

Rebel of the Sands

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I am in love with this book. I need the sequel ASAP.

Action, adventure, magic, hidden powers, and just enough romance to keep things mixed up, but not enough to make this a mushy "does he like me, does he not" book.

The Crown

Find it at your library

Fewer giggles than The Heir, (but not my much), rushed, and lacking all of the girl power and oomph of the previous four books. A disappointing ending to a cute series.

So B. It

Find it at your library


A nice novel about a young girl who will travel any distance to find the answers.

The Heir

Find it in your library

This book made me:

Please Note:
These are not all of the giggles in this book. I started tracking the giggles about half way through.

Also note, if you are in the mood for a light teen romance, and would like to read a book that somehow manages to have this many giggles and still have girl power, give The Heir a try.

Ready Player One

Find it at your library.

My only regret is not reading it sooner.

I listened to this book, and it was an amazing experience.

Gotham Academy vol 2: Calamity

Find it at your library.

The artwork throughout the entire volume was AMAZING, but the story line was lacking. I'd continue reading this series simply for the art.

Curio

Find it at your library

Picked it up, read 25 pages, put it down.

Glass Sword

I get it. Your heart is glass, you're confused, and no one can understand the pain. Now get back to the action, please.

Station Eleven

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A thoughtful and beautifully written novel about what the future holds for the human race, through the eyes of multiple narrators.

Feminism: Reinventing the F-Word

Find it at your library

A brief introduction to the history and cultural significance of feminism that will leave readers wanting to learn more.

Prez, Vol. 1: Corndog in Chief

Find it at your library 

A fun, unique, and slightly disturbing way to look at the future of the United States government. Perfect for an election year,

Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits

Find it at your library

I did not finish this book, not because it was bad, but because it just wasn't for me. However, if you like crazy characters, non-stop action, twists, turns, futuristic technology (and violence!), a protagonist who can think for herself, and smelly cats, then you should give this book a try.

Ms. Marvel Vol. 4: Last Days

Find it at your library

The illustrations are amazing, the characters are fantastic, and the plot left me pining for more.

MORE MS.MARVEL ASAP, PLEASE!

Six of Crows

Find it at your library

This book has an intriguing cast of characters, a mission that will have you asking yourself, "How will they do it? Can they do it?," and will leaving you wanting to know what happens next ASAP.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Find it at your library

The humorous story and happy ending that LGBTQ literature so desperately needs.

Every Exquisite Thing

An ARC was given to me by the publisher. It will be available in May 2016.

This book shows the power books can have on people's lives, all the while managing to be a completely uninfluential, uninspiring, and forgettable book itself.

Echo

Find it at your library

First of all, listen to this on audio book. You will not regret it.


This story is in the frame of a fairy tale, and follows three unique stories that are linked with a magical harmonica, and the power of music.

Roller Girl

Find it at your library


Fun, fast, and crazy; I want more!

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

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I listened to the audio book version of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. 

I felt that this book is to the "Song of Ice and Fire" series as "The Hobbit" is to LOTR; a bit lighter than the novels in the main series, but not any less important. 

A note on the audio book: There are parts where the protagonist has inner monologue. The reader says these lines softer than the surrounding dialogue, and it was often so quiet that I had to turn the volume WAY up to hear what he was saying.

Tokyo Ghoul volumes 1 and 2

 
Find volume 1 at your library
Find volume 2 at your library

A relatable story about a boy who is a mix of two cultures and doesn't know where he belongs, with a twist of the cultures being human and monster.

The first volume was a solid okay, but the story builds and hooks in the second volume.

We Are the Ants

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This rarely humorous and mostly depressing novel is about a boy who is bullied, and must decide if the world is worth saving.

This is not part of the review, but I need to say that I finished this book on January 29, 2016. To find out why this is significant, read the book.

Red Queen

Find it at your library

A dystopian tale of rags to riches (against the protagonist's wishes, of course) to outlaw with a healthy dose of betrayal. If you enjoyed The Selection by Kiera Cass, but wanted a little more edge, this book is for you.

Winter

Find it at your library

The last installment of The Lunar Chronicles was not as satisfying as the first three books, and occasionally left me thinking, "Why would they do/ not do that?" or, "That doesn't make sense."



I wish the ending for this inventive series had been as strong as the rest of the books. Still a fun read, though, and I would recommend it to fans of re-imagined fairy tales, sci-fi, and people who enjoy strong female characters and a happy ending.

Americanah

Find it at your library

A beautifully written, eye-opening look at race, gender, and relationships through the eyes of a woman who moves from Nigeria to the United States and back again.

Henni

 Find it at your library

 

A hard copy of this book was given to me by the publisher to review.

Although this story had a clear goal, it was disjointed and lacked depth. Each part of of the plot was rushed, and there were many quick and unceremonious jumps in setting. The characters, villages, and societies were not well developed and I did not, at any point, feel a pull that made me want to know what would happen next, nor did I grow to care for Henni, the heroine of the story.

The artwork was interesting, but I did not feel it fit the story. The characters were drawn androgynous, and at one point I was surprised to find that a character that I thought was female for most of their time in the story was actually a male. Some of the facial expressions were a bit too dramatic, which was off-putting.

The book attempts tackles many issues: gender equality, class systems, corrupt government, religion as a way to control people, coming of age, and losing a parent. However, with only 150 pages, this book is too sort to effectively cover so much in so little time. The book ends on a cliffhanger, but I feel no need to keep reading.

Ms. Marvel, Volume 3: Crushed

 Find it at your library

Not as strong as the first two volumes. However, the first two had the strength of 5 Minotaurs, so the third still had a large amount of inhuman strength.

Gotham Academy Volume 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy

Find it at your library.

A mystery beneath the school, a summer she can't remember, a new friend of an old love, and a girl who hates Batman. Please give me more ASAP.

Kill Shakespeare, Volume 1

Find it at your library.

Not phenomenal, but still a bloody entertaining exploration of the Shakespearean Universe.