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The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
4.0
Offred is a handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, which was once a part of America. As a handmaid, her job consists of going outside once a day to shop for food for the home of her Commander, his wife, and the two Marthas, who are the women who clean and cook for the Commander and his wife. When she does this chore she must wait for another handmaid as they are only allowed to walk in groups of two, and they walk to town where the signs are pictures now instead of words. Women are no longer allowed to read. Offred and her handmaid companions pay for their food by way of tokens, because money is no longer valid in Gilead and women are no longer allowed to have money or make money of their own.
As Offred and her walking companion go home they walk by The Wall, a place were they see the dead bodies of religious priests, people caught engaging in love affairs, and dissents. When Offred returns home she rests until the next days journey to town. Offred and the other handmaids are not allowed to drink, smoke, consume caffeine, or engage in excessive extracurricular activities, because it is thought those would effect their health. They are also not allowed to commit suicide and so their rooms have no glass in them or anything that could be turned into a blade. Baths and toliet times are also regulated.
The handmaids are to undergo health screenings once a month to see if they are pregnant and to make sure they are healthy. The doctors sometimes make offers of sex to the women out of pity. Why? Because the handmaids have an important function in Gilead. They are the fertile few who will help reverse the declining birth rates that effect Gilead. They are to participate in a ceremony each month in which the handmaids lie on their backs between the legs of their Commander's wife while the Commander tries to impregnate his handmaid. This is the reason the handmaids are highly valued, they have viable ovaries and are Gilead's only hope for children. If a handmaid gets pregnant and gives birth, there is a chance the child could be deformed or imperfect. This happens fairly often. If a handmaid is able to give birth they will never risk being sent to The Colonies, a place where people are either forced to clear away the radioactive waste or forced to farm for Gilead.
Offred remembers the time before when she went to college and had a job. She made money on her own, had unlimited access to knowledge and was allowed to smoke, drink, and consume caffeine. She remembers her husband, Luke, and their daughter. She remembers making love with Luke and giving her daughter baths. She especially remembers the day her daughter was taken from her and Luke disappeared. The life she had before is gone now and all she is left with are the memories.
The book, especially at the beginning, mainly focuses on Offred's thoughts and memories. At times it is hard to discern between what is present and what is past. It is also hard to tell what is true and what is made up in her mind, as at times she admits she doesn't remember what happened and what she made up in her mind. As discovered in the end, Offred used fake names throughout the book and didn't speak her own name. The book is presented as a memoir and in the end you leave the book not knowing much more than what you knew going into the book. Offred is a vague, unreliable protagonist and is very scattered at times in her writing.
I loved how Offred presented her story as a back and forth narrative between the present and the past and her hope for the future, but I had issues as her as a protagonist. She did something that not a lot of protagonists in modern books do: she gave up. She didn't fight back or try to escape. She accepted her position and only mildly disobeyed, and even that disobedience was at the insistence of the Commander and/or his wife. The book was also depressing and offered little hope for a good outcome, as I believe Offred died at the end of the novel. This book would definitely not be something I would recommend reading in one sitting. I tried and ended up so depressed I had to stop reading.
Besides those issues, I wholeheartedly believe this book is something that needs to be read, especially in today's time. No matter your views on the future of America, the important aspect of this book is what could happen if people's rights were taken away, something that could happen at any moment either today or 100 years in the future. It's important to read books like these in order to be remembered that our rights can be taken away as easily as they were given to us and that's something all people should be weary of.
As Offred and her walking companion go home they walk by The Wall, a place were they see the dead bodies of religious priests, people caught engaging in love affairs, and dissents. When Offred returns home she rests until the next days journey to town. Offred and the other handmaids are not allowed to drink, smoke, consume caffeine, or engage in excessive extracurricular activities, because it is thought those would effect their health. They are also not allowed to commit suicide and so their rooms have no glass in them or anything that could be turned into a blade. Baths and toliet times are also regulated.
The handmaids are to undergo health screenings once a month to see if they are pregnant and to make sure they are healthy. The doctors sometimes make offers of sex to the women out of pity. Why? Because the handmaids have an important function in Gilead. They are the fertile few who will help reverse the declining birth rates that effect Gilead. They are to participate in a ceremony each month in which the handmaids lie on their backs between the legs of their Commander's wife while the Commander tries to impregnate his handmaid. This is the reason the handmaids are highly valued, they have viable ovaries and are Gilead's only hope for children. If a handmaid gets pregnant and gives birth, there is a chance the child could be deformed or imperfect. This happens fairly often. If a handmaid is able to give birth they will never risk being sent to The Colonies, a place where people are either forced to clear away the radioactive waste or forced to farm for Gilead.
Offred remembers the time before when she went to college and had a job. She made money on her own, had unlimited access to knowledge and was allowed to smoke, drink, and consume caffeine. She remembers her husband, Luke, and their daughter. She remembers making love with Luke and giving her daughter baths. She especially remembers the day her daughter was taken from her and Luke disappeared. The life she had before is gone now and all she is left with are the memories.
The book, especially at the beginning, mainly focuses on Offred's thoughts and memories. At times it is hard to discern between what is present and what is past. It is also hard to tell what is true and what is made up in her mind, as at times she admits she doesn't remember what happened and what she made up in her mind. As discovered in the end, Offred used fake names throughout the book and didn't speak her own name. The book is presented as a memoir and in the end you leave the book not knowing much more than what you knew going into the book. Offred is a vague, unreliable protagonist and is very scattered at times in her writing.
I loved how Offred presented her story as a back and forth narrative between the present and the past and her hope for the future, but I had issues as her as a protagonist. She did something that not a lot of protagonists in modern books do: she gave up. She didn't fight back or try to escape. She accepted her position and only mildly disobeyed, and even that disobedience was at the insistence of the Commander and/or his wife. The book was also depressing and offered little hope for a good outcome, as I believe Offred died at the end of the novel. This book would definitely not be something I would recommend reading in one sitting. I tried and ended up so depressed I had to stop reading.
Besides those issues, I wholeheartedly believe this book is something that needs to be read, especially in today's time. No matter your views on the future of America, the important aspect of this book is what could happen if people's rights were taken away, something that could happen at any moment either today or 100 years in the future. It's important to read books like these in order to be remembered that our rights can be taken away as easily as they were given to us and that's something all people should be weary of.
Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
1.0
Rating: 1/5
Recommended Age: 18+
Favorite quote: none. DNF-ed
Cheris is a Captain of the Kel. When she decides to make unconventional decisions during battle, she becomes disgraced by her people. She has one chance to redeem herself: take control of the Fortress of Scattered Needles from the heretics. If the fortress completely falls, the whole hexarchate might be next. Her best chance of winning lies in relying on a man named Jedao who is undead. He has never lost a battle... But he did kill his whole command once. Can Cheris trust him and his unconventional ways to win this war?
This book is an excellent example of good writing and the book did something I often wonder about when I read other sci fi books: it creates its own calendar and time keeping system. Unfortunately that's the only things the book did good in my opinion. I'm really sorry, but I did not like this book. It was like I was missing the first 4 chapters of the book. I had no idea what was going on or what these names or things meant. I spent the whole book guessing the meaning behind people's words. I made it to about 100 pages left in the book before I finally had to give up. At that point in the book, random characters were being introduced without proper explanation or being mentioned again in the future. If you had to ask me what I believed was happening when I stopped reading, I'd have to honestly say I didn't know.
Don't let my review sway you to not try this book. I am not a voice for everyone and because I couldn't get into a book doesn't mean you won't be able to. This book is an excellent sci fi war book and to someone who can understand what is happening in this book, I bet this would be the best book ever.
Recommended Age: 18+
Favorite quote: none. DNF-ed
Cheris is a Captain of the Kel. When she decides to make unconventional decisions during battle, she becomes disgraced by her people. She has one chance to redeem herself: take control of the Fortress of Scattered Needles from the heretics. If the fortress completely falls, the whole hexarchate might be next. Her best chance of winning lies in relying on a man named Jedao who is undead. He has never lost a battle... But he did kill his whole command once. Can Cheris trust him and his unconventional ways to win this war?
This book is an excellent example of good writing and the book did something I often wonder about when I read other sci fi books: it creates its own calendar and time keeping system. Unfortunately that's the only things the book did good in my opinion. I'm really sorry, but I did not like this book. It was like I was missing the first 4 chapters of the book. I had no idea what was going on or what these names or things meant. I spent the whole book guessing the meaning behind people's words. I made it to about 100 pages left in the book before I finally had to give up. At that point in the book, random characters were being introduced without proper explanation or being mentioned again in the future. If you had to ask me what I believed was happening when I stopped reading, I'd have to honestly say I didn't know.
Don't let my review sway you to not try this book. I am not a voice for everyone and because I couldn't get into a book doesn't mean you won't be able to. This book is an excellent sci fi war book and to someone who can understand what is happening in this book, I bet this would be the best book ever.
The Idea of You by Amanda Prowse
4.0
Rating: 4.5/5
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+
Favorite Quote: "I paid from the dress they had located, and watched as they wrapped it in tissue, before placing it inside little bag. I didn't want to bring it home, in case anyone found it, so I carefully laid it on the wall of the car park where I had left my car. I hoped, I still hope, that someone found it and a little girl got to wear it. A little girl like you."
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. This did not influence me in any way.
As Lucy approaches her 40th birthday, she seems to have the perfect life. A great marriage, a cozy home, a successful career, and now a chance to begin trying for her own baby. Life couldn't be anymore perfect. But when conceiving is harder than Lucy thought and when her stepdaughter comes to stay with them, Lucy is constantly reminded of what she feels she'll never have: a child of her own. When her own failing dreams and her step daughters attitude combine, the results make Lucy feel as if she's losing everything she's ever worked towards.
I don't typically read adult novels, especially adult contemporary novels, but something about this book drew me to it so I decided to give it a try. Generally, this book was an enjoyable novel. The quality of writing was excellent, albeit it was wrote by an author I assume to be British so some of the terms the characters used were a bit unfamiliar to me, but I dug deep to my Doctor Who vocab and came out knowing most of the phrases used lol. The plot development is well thought out and it keeps you guessing til the end. The book is also very insightful. It's primary objective is to shed light on miscarriages, which is something not a lot of people talk about. It's a hard subject to approach, which is why a lot of people refuse to discuss it, but the women and men who have had to go through miscarriage shouldn't have to suffer in silence. More acceptance on the matter is needed and I think this book does a good job at showing how miscarriage can effect everyone. The book also offered insight on what it means to be a mother. A few years ago I stumbled upon this YouTube video featuring women who were walking different paths in their life. Some were mothers who had children of all ages. Some of the mothers were old, some were young. Some of the women were grandmothers and some were stepmoms. Some were pregnant or were trying to conceive. Some had miscarried and some had experienced a still birth. The message was clear: no matter your walk you are a mother. If you've wanted, tried, or had a child you've been a mother. You've also been a mother if you've been a stepmom, a surrogate, or a grandmother. Motherhood isn't defined as the ability to have children, it's defined by the ability to love the children in your life, love the child who hasn't come yet, or love the ones who couldn't stay long. This book is a perfect companion to that YouTube video in that it teaches you about the different types of mothers you can be.
While this book is so beautiful, I did find issue with the pacing, some of the characters, and the ease of reading. I felt the pacing was a bit awkward at times. There were random shifts in time throughout the book and sometimes it wasn't stated how long of a jump the reader made, which left me confused as to the time line. Lucy and Jonah's character development also confounded me at certain points. I was amazed at how a nearly 50 year old man could behave like a child and how a nearly 50 year old woman could have thought that secrets were something she could keep in a marriage. I felt both of these characters were childish at times and I sometimes wondered how reliable the narrator (Lucy) was thoughout the novel. I felt some of the things that happened were biased in Lucy's favor, but this bias was resolved at the end of the novel. This is why I gave the rating a 4.5 rather than a 4, the characters did develop and some of my issues were resolved by the end of the novel. The ease of reading was also an issue I found with the book. It's not that the writing is bad, quite the opposite, but I felt the material was that in which it might be very hard for some people to read, especially those who've suffered the lose of a child at any stage. So, just to forewarn you, you might cry.
Overall I liked the book! This is a new release and I believe you should check it out if it sounds interesting to you! Definitely a must read for anyone who's had kids or is thinking about having them.
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+
Favorite Quote: "I paid from the dress they had located, and watched as they wrapped it in tissue, before placing it inside little bag. I didn't want to bring it home, in case anyone found it, so I carefully laid it on the wall of the car park where I had left my car. I hoped, I still hope, that someone found it and a little girl got to wear it. A little girl like you."
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. This did not influence me in any way.
As Lucy approaches her 40th birthday, she seems to have the perfect life. A great marriage, a cozy home, a successful career, and now a chance to begin trying for her own baby. Life couldn't be anymore perfect. But when conceiving is harder than Lucy thought and when her stepdaughter comes to stay with them, Lucy is constantly reminded of what she feels she'll never have: a child of her own. When her own failing dreams and her step daughters attitude combine, the results make Lucy feel as if she's losing everything she's ever worked towards.
I don't typically read adult novels, especially adult contemporary novels, but something about this book drew me to it so I decided to give it a try. Generally, this book was an enjoyable novel. The quality of writing was excellent, albeit it was wrote by an author I assume to be British so some of the terms the characters used were a bit unfamiliar to me, but I dug deep to my Doctor Who vocab and came out knowing most of the phrases used lol. The plot development is well thought out and it keeps you guessing til the end. The book is also very insightful. It's primary objective is to shed light on miscarriages, which is something not a lot of people talk about. It's a hard subject to approach, which is why a lot of people refuse to discuss it, but the women and men who have had to go through miscarriage shouldn't have to suffer in silence. More acceptance on the matter is needed and I think this book does a good job at showing how miscarriage can effect everyone. The book also offered insight on what it means to be a mother. A few years ago I stumbled upon this YouTube video featuring women who were walking different paths in their life. Some were mothers who had children of all ages. Some of the mothers were old, some were young. Some of the women were grandmothers and some were stepmoms. Some were pregnant or were trying to conceive. Some had miscarried and some had experienced a still birth. The message was clear: no matter your walk you are a mother. If you've wanted, tried, or had a child you've been a mother. You've also been a mother if you've been a stepmom, a surrogate, or a grandmother. Motherhood isn't defined as the ability to have children, it's defined by the ability to love the children in your life, love the child who hasn't come yet, or love the ones who couldn't stay long. This book is a perfect companion to that YouTube video in that it teaches you about the different types of mothers you can be.
While this book is so beautiful, I did find issue with the pacing, some of the characters, and the ease of reading. I felt the pacing was a bit awkward at times. There were random shifts in time throughout the book and sometimes it wasn't stated how long of a jump the reader made, which left me confused as to the time line. Lucy and Jonah's character development also confounded me at certain points. I was amazed at how a nearly 50 year old man could behave like a child and how a nearly 50 year old woman could have thought that secrets were something she could keep in a marriage. I felt both of these characters were childish at times and I sometimes wondered how reliable the narrator (Lucy) was thoughout the novel. I felt some of the things that happened were biased in Lucy's favor, but this bias was resolved at the end of the novel. This is why I gave the rating a 4.5 rather than a 4, the characters did develop and some of my issues were resolved by the end of the novel. The ease of reading was also an issue I found with the book. It's not that the writing is bad, quite the opposite, but I felt the material was that in which it might be very hard for some people to read, especially those who've suffered the lose of a child at any stage. So, just to forewarn you, you might cry.
Overall I liked the book! This is a new release and I believe you should check it out if it sounds interesting to you! Definitely a must read for anyone who's had kids or is thinking about having them.
Long Hidden: Speculative Fiction from the Margins of History by Rose Fox, Daniel José Older
3.0
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Fantasy/ Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (mature scenes, language, and some gore)
Favorite Quote: "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul"
"In 1514 Hungary, peasants who rose up against the nobility rise again – from the grave. In 1633 Al-Shouf, a mother keeps demons at bay with the combined power of grief and music. In 1775 Paris, as social tensions come to a boil, a courtesan tries to save the woman she loves. In 1838 Georgia, a pregnant woman's desperate escape from slavery comes with a terrible price. In 1900 Ilocos Norte, a forest spirit helps a young girl defend her land from American occupiers.
These gripping stories have been passed down through the generations, hidden between the lines of journal entries and love letters. Now 27 of today's finest authors – including Tananarive Due, Sofia Samatar, Ken Liu, Victor LaValle, Nnedi Okorafor, and Sabrina Vourvoulias – reveal the people whose lives have been pushed to the margins of history. " - back cover blurb provided by Amazon
This might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those who love to read about history whether it be fictional or nonfictional. This book is a series of short stories that are historical fiction and also blur the lines between reality and fantasy. For the most part I loved this book. I loved the different takes on different historical points and I loved how the authors Incorporated fantasy elements into the stories, but I had a lot of issues with this series.
Some of the stories were really really well written and could have easily been made into full books, but some of the others were really bad. The characters weren't developed and the stories were confusing. The pacing was off on a lot of stories, but this is a collection of short stories.
Overall about half of the stories were very enjoyable and exciting and you might like some of the ones I didn't! That's the joy of books: no one reads the same book twice.
Genre: Fantasy/ Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (mature scenes, language, and some gore)
Favorite Quote: "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul"
"In 1514 Hungary, peasants who rose up against the nobility rise again – from the grave. In 1633 Al-Shouf, a mother keeps demons at bay with the combined power of grief and music. In 1775 Paris, as social tensions come to a boil, a courtesan tries to save the woman she loves. In 1838 Georgia, a pregnant woman's desperate escape from slavery comes with a terrible price. In 1900 Ilocos Norte, a forest spirit helps a young girl defend her land from American occupiers.
These gripping stories have been passed down through the generations, hidden between the lines of journal entries and love letters. Now 27 of today's finest authors – including Tananarive Due, Sofia Samatar, Ken Liu, Victor LaValle, Nnedi Okorafor, and Sabrina Vourvoulias – reveal the people whose lives have been pushed to the margins of history. " - back cover blurb provided by Amazon
This might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those who love to read about history whether it be fictional or nonfictional. This book is a series of short stories that are historical fiction and also blur the lines between reality and fantasy. For the most part I loved this book. I loved the different takes on different historical points and I loved how the authors Incorporated fantasy elements into the stories, but I had a lot of issues with this series.
Some of the stories were really really well written and could have easily been made into full books, but some of the others were really bad. The characters weren't developed and the stories were confusing. The pacing was off on a lot of stories, but this is a collection of short stories.
Overall about half of the stories were very enjoyable and exciting and you might like some of the ones I didn't! That's the joy of books: no one reads the same book twice.
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
5.0
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Fantasy/Romance (not sure why it's targeted towards the YA audience when Feyre is in her twenties I believe. Either way she's an adult).
Recommended Age: 18+. Lots of mature scenes and very strong language. LOTS of mature scenes... like a whole chapter devoted to mature scenes.
Favorite Quote: "There are good days and hard days for me - even now. Don't let the hard days win."
WARNING: Slight spoilers if you've not read the first book! Nothing spoilery from this book, but some things in the back cover blurb and in my review could spoil the first book for you. Don't read any further if you want to remain spoiler free on the first book!
"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." - Back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Back in Prythian again, but this is not the happy ending Feyre deserves. She's very broken from her stay Under the Mountain and she's suffering from severe depression and PTSD. She's also having to navigate her new life as a High Fae and plan a wedding... but is this the life she wants?
First of all, this book is a very longgggggggggggg book. It is 624 pages in the edition I have.... but it doesn't feel like a 624 page book. To be honest the writing is so good that you easily breeze through the book. The pacing, albeit slow in the beginning, and the plot development are beautiful. The character development is amazing as well. I learned so much more about every main and side character that I am too heavily invested to NOT read ACOWAR. I also have to say this book was way better than the first book.
The only issues I had with the book were that it ended on a cliffhanger and that while it was tremendously good I feel that it was just a segue into the final book. It was a lot of filler information and I feel that everything I read was back-story for the real story I will read in the third book. I also fill this book could have employed more diversity in it. I enjoyed the book so much though and while this book has problems with the lack of diversity I still feel the book is very well written and very enjoyable. Hopefully more diverse characters will come into play in the third book.
---- New Review ----
Genre: Fantasy/Romance (not sure why it's targeted towards the YA audience when Feyre is in her twenties I believe. Either way she's an adult).
Recommended Age: 18+. Lots of mature scenes and very strong language. LOTS of mature scenes... like a whole chapter devoted to mature scenes.
Favorite Quote: "There are good days and hard days for me - even now. Don't let the hard days win."
WARNING: Slight spoilers if you've not read the first book! Nothing spoilery from this book, but some things in the back cover blurb and in my review could spoil the first book for you. Don't read any further if you want to remain spoiler free on the first book!
"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." - Back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Back in Prythian again, but this is not the happy ending Feyre deserves. She's very broken from her stay Under the Mountain and she's suffering from severe depression and PTSD. She's also having to navigate her new life as a High Fae and plan a wedding... but is this the life she wants?
First of all, this book is a very longgggggggggggg book. It is 624 pages in the edition I have.... but it doesn't feel like a 624 page book. To be honest the writing is so good that you easily breeze through the book. The pacing, albeit slow in the beginning, and the plot development are beautiful. The character development is amazing as well. I learned so much more about every main and side character that I am too heavily invested to NOT read ACOWAR. I also have to say this book was way better than the first book.
The only issues I had with the book were that it ended on a cliffhanger and that while it was tremendously good I feel that it was just a segue into the final book. It was a lot of filler information and I feel that everything I read was back-story for the real story I will read in the third book. I also fill this book could have employed more diversity in it. I enjoyed the book so much though and while this book has problems with the lack of diversity I still feel the book is very well written and very enjoyable. Hopefully more diverse characters will come into play in the third book.
---- New Review ----
Disclaimer: I bought my own copy of this book from a second-hand shop. All opinions are my own.
Book: A Court of Mist and Fury
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Book Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Spice Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: Adult Readers, Romantasy, Fantasy, Fae, High Fantasy
Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Genre: Romantasy
Age Relevance: 18+ (PTSD, Panic Attacks, Depression, Trauma, Slavery, War, Language, Sexual Assault and Rape, Attempted Suicide, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence)
Explanation of Above: There are a lot of mentions and showings of various mental health issues, such as PTSD, panic attacks, depression, and generalized trauma. Slavery is mentioned as is war. There are a couple of occasions of cursing. There are mentions and flashbacks to sexual assault and rape of one of the main characters. Attempted suicide is mentioned. Child abuse is mentioned. Domestic violence is shown and there are paragraph long scenes of occurrences mostly in the beginning of the book.
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Pages: 626
Synopsis: Feyre has undergone more trials than one human woman can carry in her heart. Though she's now been granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae, she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and the terrible deeds she performed to save the lives of Tamlin and his people.
As her marriage to Tamlin approaches, Feyre's hollowness and nightmares consume her. She finds herself split into two different one who upholds her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court, and one who lives out her life in the Spring Court with Tamlin. While Feyre navigates a dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms. She might just be the 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 in turmoil.
Review: I don't know what to say in terms of reviewing this book since the last time I read it. I will say that out of the main trilogy of this entire series, I think that this is my favorite book of the three. I feel like some of the issues that were in the first book, such as the pacing and some of the character development flaws were rectified in this book and I just loved absolute overhaul of the story from the first book to the second. I also loved the continuation of the trauma from the first book and how well it was carried over into this book. The book did so well to show how that trauma impacts a relationship and your daily life and honestly I don’t feel like a lot of authors I have read previously have carried that so well from one book into another. I thought the world building that was expanded upon in this book was really well done and I love how all of the little things that were mentioned in the first book and then throughout the second are all brought together in the end of this one.
The only thing I can really fault the book for is that there were some small pacing lulls in it And sometimes it feels like stuff just comes together too neatly for the story.
The only thing I can really fault the book for is that there were some small pacing lulls in it And sometimes it feels like stuff just comes together too neatly for the story.
Verdict: I absolutely love this book.
Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
3.0
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (some mature scenes and lots of language).
Favorite Quote: “But you can't stay with people because of guilt. Or because they can drive a speedboat.”
When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she’s in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident—in a Mercedes no less—Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she’s about to find out just how much things have changed, Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband—who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she…well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably disheveled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all. Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does? – Amazon.com
Have you ever fell and hit your head really, really hard? Have you ever lost your memory from it? Ever wake up and realize that you lost a couple of hours? While that’s terrifying enough, imagine if you lost a couple of years. That’s the situation Lexi finds herself in when you read or listen to this book. Her whole world is completely different and even she is a different person altogether. This book’s strengths are definitely in character development. Sophie Kinsella always writes these very relatable main and supporting characters and this book is no different. While I can’t attest for how the book was written (since my copy was an audio book) I can say that the audio book was very well done for the most part (females trying to speak in male tones kind of off-puts me but I dealt with it) and it seems like an easy read for anyone.
However, I did have issues with this book. I felt that the pacing was a bit weird. It jumped from a slow paced book to a fast paced one towards the end of the book. It felt like Kinsella wanted to end the book fast, but she really had enough material to make a duology or triology out of the books. Another complaint of mine was that I felt the plot was meh. No one really seemed to get that losing 3 years of memories means that you don’t remember what happened in a phone conversation last week. Also Sophie seems to have this issue where the main climax of the book does not happen until the very end of the book. The book also ends without wrapping up the biggest conflict in the whole book and it doesn’t give any finality of Lexi’s story.
While I enjoyed the book for the most part I did not like the ending of it. It was a decent contemporary read though and other people might like the overall message about it, but it just wasn’t for me I’m sorry to say.
Genre: Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (some mature scenes and lots of language).
Favorite Quote: “But you can't stay with people because of guilt. Or because they can drive a speedboat.”
When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she’s in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident—in a Mercedes no less—Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she’s about to find out just how much things have changed, Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband—who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she…well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably disheveled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all. Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does? – Amazon.com
Have you ever fell and hit your head really, really hard? Have you ever lost your memory from it? Ever wake up and realize that you lost a couple of hours? While that’s terrifying enough, imagine if you lost a couple of years. That’s the situation Lexi finds herself in when you read or listen to this book. Her whole world is completely different and even she is a different person altogether. This book’s strengths are definitely in character development. Sophie Kinsella always writes these very relatable main and supporting characters and this book is no different. While I can’t attest for how the book was written (since my copy was an audio book) I can say that the audio book was very well done for the most part (females trying to speak in male tones kind of off-puts me but I dealt with it) and it seems like an easy read for anyone.
However, I did have issues with this book. I felt that the pacing was a bit weird. It jumped from a slow paced book to a fast paced one towards the end of the book. It felt like Kinsella wanted to end the book fast, but she really had enough material to make a duology or triology out of the books. Another complaint of mine was that I felt the plot was meh. No one really seemed to get that losing 3 years of memories means that you don’t remember what happened in a phone conversation last week. Also Sophie seems to have this issue where the main climax of the book does not happen until the very end of the book. The book also ends without wrapping up the biggest conflict in the whole book and it doesn’t give any finality of Lexi’s story.
While I enjoyed the book for the most part I did not like the ending of it. It was a decent contemporary read though and other people might like the overall message about it, but it just wasn’t for me I’m sorry to say.
Beyond Fear by Stephanie Hanlon
3.0
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence and gore)
Favorite Quote: "'Since that day, the world we live in has become a very dark and dangerous place.'"
“Are you really ready to condemn all those people to death?” he asked.
“Because they will die. I can promise you that.”
A new evil has arisen, to take the throne of Kaimaira, but trapped within their prison the once great Elders of Valista cling to their last glimmer of hope, a hero from another land.
Lizzie Somers always dreamed of escaping her life but when she finds herself transported through the Borders into another world, she soon realises that the reality doesn’t always live up to the expectation.
Dragged into a terrifying quest and hunted throughout by a deadly enemy, Lizzie must learn to trust the one person she never thought she could in a desperate fight for survival.
But as her journey spirals out of control will Lizzie run and hide or will she find the strength to face her fears.
Because Beyond Fear there is courage and her life will never be the same again.
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my opinion of the book in any way.
I love reading books in which me and the characters can be transported to a fantasy world. And I love when that literally happens in a book. This book is a fun tale about Lucas and Lizzie who are taken from their world and placed inside one that seems ripped straight out of a fantasy novel. Is it fate that they’re there? I can’t answer that, but I can say that this book is a fun, exciting tale that you won’t want to miss out on. The main characters are fairly well developed and the writing is fantastic. The writing is also very age appropriate and would even be suitable for younger audiences dependent on how well they handle certain material.
However, I did have some issues with the book. I felt that the pacing was very fast for this book. I also felt that because of the pacing the book was zooming through major plot points without giving them time to sort themselves out. The pacing really threw me out of the book many times because I felt that as soon as I was introduced to a character I was saying goodbye to them. I think that if the book was slowed down and the actions, backstories, and scenery were explained better then the book would have not been as disconnecting and that all of the characters would have been better developed.
Overall, I felt the book was a great inspirational piece on finding strength and it would be a great read for children in the middle grade or teen age group, as that’s the age when most children begin experiencing bullying. It’s a fast read and it’s a fun one as well. I found it enjoyable and if you enjoy fantasy reads then you will too!
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence and gore)
Favorite Quote: "'Since that day, the world we live in has become a very dark and dangerous place.'"
“Are you really ready to condemn all those people to death?” he asked.
“Because they will die. I can promise you that.”
A new evil has arisen, to take the throne of Kaimaira, but trapped within their prison the once great Elders of Valista cling to their last glimmer of hope, a hero from another land.
Lizzie Somers always dreamed of escaping her life but when she finds herself transported through the Borders into another world, she soon realises that the reality doesn’t always live up to the expectation.
Dragged into a terrifying quest and hunted throughout by a deadly enemy, Lizzie must learn to trust the one person she never thought she could in a desperate fight for survival.
But as her journey spirals out of control will Lizzie run and hide or will she find the strength to face her fears.
Because Beyond Fear there is courage and her life will never be the same again.
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my opinion of the book in any way.
I love reading books in which me and the characters can be transported to a fantasy world. And I love when that literally happens in a book. This book is a fun tale about Lucas and Lizzie who are taken from their world and placed inside one that seems ripped straight out of a fantasy novel. Is it fate that they’re there? I can’t answer that, but I can say that this book is a fun, exciting tale that you won’t want to miss out on. The main characters are fairly well developed and the writing is fantastic. The writing is also very age appropriate and would even be suitable for younger audiences dependent on how well they handle certain material.
However, I did have some issues with the book. I felt that the pacing was very fast for this book. I also felt that because of the pacing the book was zooming through major plot points without giving them time to sort themselves out. The pacing really threw me out of the book many times because I felt that as soon as I was introduced to a character I was saying goodbye to them. I think that if the book was slowed down and the actions, backstories, and scenery were explained better then the book would have not been as disconnecting and that all of the characters would have been better developed.
Overall, I felt the book was a great inspirational piece on finding strength and it would be a great read for children in the middle grade or teen age group, as that’s the age when most children begin experiencing bullying. It’s a fast read and it’s a fun one as well. I found it enjoyable and if you enjoy fantasy reads then you will too!
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
5.0
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (racism, sexual content, language, violence. Trigger warnings for those who may have been victims of extreme racism or prejudice)
I received this book for free from KidLitExchange in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates.
Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.
Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack. – Amazon.com
I knew racism still existed. I’m from the South and while I grew up around it I still knew it was bad and I chose to study it extensively in college. So to hear people say that racism doesn’t exist anymore really makes me angry. That being said I immediately fell in love with this book from the moment I picked it up. The book was a very blunt story on racism in America, specifically regarding young African-American men. The reader sees the world through Justyce’s eyes and I think I’m better for reading this book. I loved how complex all the characters were in the book and that there were different types of racism or prejudice shown in the book by almost all of the characters. I loved how the plot developed and that heartwrecking twist! The pacing was also very well done and the writing was simply amazing! I probably could have read 600 more pages of Nic Stone’s writing and that would have been fine by me.
I absolutely love this book, but I do feel that this book can be polarizing for some readers. Some readers might not see the world as Justyce and the author. This book talks about a very hot-button topic as well as including scenes with recent-events that can be upsetting to some readers.
Verdict: I think this is a very important read in today’s world. Racism is only going to get worse and the divisive attitude some people have in this country needs to be dealt with. The only way we’re going to start moving away from racism for the final time is if we start putting each other in our own shoes, especially those who do not know what it’s like to be African-American in America. I also thought that even though Justyce makes a lot of mistakes in the book, he is an inspirational character and his journey is just as inspiring. Definitely recommended reading for everyone in America. I’m ready for change. Are you?
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (racism, sexual content, language, violence. Trigger warnings for those who may have been victims of extreme racism or prejudice)
I received this book for free from KidLitExchange in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates.
Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.
Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack. – Amazon.com
I knew racism still existed. I’m from the South and while I grew up around it I still knew it was bad and I chose to study it extensively in college. So to hear people say that racism doesn’t exist anymore really makes me angry. That being said I immediately fell in love with this book from the moment I picked it up. The book was a very blunt story on racism in America, specifically regarding young African-American men. The reader sees the world through Justyce’s eyes and I think I’m better for reading this book. I loved how complex all the characters were in the book and that there were different types of racism or prejudice shown in the book by almost all of the characters. I loved how the plot developed and that heartwrecking twist! The pacing was also very well done and the writing was simply amazing! I probably could have read 600 more pages of Nic Stone’s writing and that would have been fine by me.
I absolutely love this book, but I do feel that this book can be polarizing for some readers. Some readers might not see the world as Justyce and the author. This book talks about a very hot-button topic as well as including scenes with recent-events that can be upsetting to some readers.
Verdict: I think this is a very important read in today’s world. Racism is only going to get worse and the divisive attitude some people have in this country needs to be dealt with. The only way we’re going to start moving away from racism for the final time is if we start putting each other in our own shoes, especially those who do not know what it’s like to be African-American in America. I also thought that even though Justyce makes a lot of mistakes in the book, he is an inspirational character and his journey is just as inspiring. Definitely recommended reading for everyone in America. I’m ready for change. Are you?