The Hate U Give review

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Star Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5 stars

Format: library eaudiobook

Summary: Starr witnesses the murder of her childhood friend Khalil by a police officer. She struggles with speaking up over it between threats from the police and local gangs.

Review: I heard so many great things about this book, there has been so much hype about it. And that hype lived up to it. I had put off reading it because I was afraid with the #BlackLivesMatter subject that it would be too hard of a read. And yes it is emotional but it wasn’t super rough the entire book. 

I feel like this is a really important book, one I think would be a good addition to high school curriculums. It’s a very important book, it’s super readable and yet still incredibly powerful. It’s super relevant right now and I think it offers such a good look at where the BLM movement is coming from.

Starr is a very likeable character to me. I think it’s interesting how she changed her personality depending on where she was– whether at her home or her fancy prep school. I like her whole character arc, she had amazing development and I think her struggle to find the real Starr was beautifully written. I think at its core, this is Starr’s coming of age story.

There are so many great characters in this book, Starr’s family, her neighbors, friends and students at her school… They were all super vibrant and lively characters, I didn’t feel like anyone was a stock background character which is such an amazing feat. 

Recommendation: I know I’m behind on this but this was such a good book. It tackles a very tough subject well. I really think this is an important book to read.

2019 Popsugar Challenge Prompt: An “own voices” book 

Bones of Faerie review

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner 

Star Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5 stars

Format: hardcover

Summary: Liza was born after the war between humans and fairies. Th war destroyed so much and left humans scared of magic. When Liza discovers she has magic of her own she runs away from the home she’s always known.

Review: This was so much fun! I have to say this is one of the most creative post-apocalyptic novels I’ve read. Mixing in fae and magic with the end of the modern world was amazing. I think the concept to date is my favorite I’ve ever read.

The world building is fantastic. The magic leftover from the war has seeped into plants and make them malevolent. The world is wild and unsafe to be out after dark. I feel like it really was set up in a way to make the reader feel how ravaged the world has been by magic. 

I liked the characters a lot, I feel like I’m invested to want to read the other two books in the series. I do wish it had been longer, but as it is the first of a trilogy I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. There is still plenty of room for the story to really stretch its wings.

I liked Liza’s character development in this book. How she goes from scared of to comfortable with using her powers. I any to know more about how magic works in this world and what Liza is capable of. 

I’d really hoped there would be a more satisfying conclusion for Liza’s sister. Maybe in the other books but I don’t think I’ll hold out much hope over it. Though it would be really nice to add more to that part of the story.

Recommendation: This had been one the most creative takes on the post-apocalypse genre, I love the mixing of destruction and magic.

Suspicious Minds review

Suspicious Minds by Gwenda Bond

Star rating: ★★★★ ☆ 4/5 stars

Format: library eaudiobook

Summary: A prequel to the but Netflix show Stranger Things, this book follows the experiments that came before Eleven.

Review: I love the show Stranger Things, of course it’s wildly popular so they’ve recently been releasing companion novels to the show. Which is great, I love expanding the story behind just the screen. It’s been so successful for Star Wars so why not here too?

One thing about this book, is that it’s a prequel so you know some of what will happen. I still rooted for the characters even though I knew that they wouldn’t fully succeed. 

I liked getting more background for Eleven’s mother and the experiment as a whole. It fills in the world a lot more and gives fans a better idea of everything. We knew some things from the show but this creates more details. Since the show is unlikely to do episodes in the past showing these events I think it’s cool that they put it into a book. 

I think the author did a good job with the characters, I was invested in them. They all held my interest, there was a lot of great stuff that I really felt added a bit more to this universe. Of course now I’m curious if any of these characters might reappear in future seasons. I suppose it’s possible but I also don’t think I’m going to hold my breath about it. 

My favorite characters we got to see more of was Dr. Brenner and Eight. Dr. Brenner is still fairly mysterious to me in the tv show, so this gave me a better look at him and understanding of his motivations. Eight, or Kali, was a new character that we only saw briefly in season two– I really appreciated that we got to see what she went through.

Recommendation: If you like the show and want a deeper dive into the universe then I think this is a good book to pick up. I think if you don’t really want to know more about Eleven’s mother and feel like there’s been plenty I. The show itself then this probably isn’t the  book for you. 

2019 Popsugar Challenge Prompt: A book set on a college or university campus 

Much Ado About Mean Girls review

William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Mean Girls by Ian Doescher

Star rating: ★★★★ ☆ 4/5 stars

Format: ARC 

Summary: Remember the beloved movie, Mean Girls? Of course you do, who doesn’t know a billion quotes from that movie? Well now you can read it as if it had been written by Shakespeare.

Review: I received a free ARC of this book for review. 

This book was so much freaking fun. It’s written so cleverly, taking the movie I know and love and turning it into a Shakespearean play. I honestly wasn’t sure if it would be worthwhile, but it was a great time.

It’s a quick read, thanks to the script format. It’s not great literature but honestly if you’re picking this up expecting that I don’t know how to help you. You want to relive one of the best teen movies in the most ridiculous way? This is definitely the book.

I appreciate at the end of the book when the author gives an explanation as to why he chose to write things a certain way in his retelling. The movie has a lot of quick cut scenes, mainly of teens gossiping with each other, and in order to make this work for a stage play there are a lot of quick entrances and exits via a balcony. Honestly I thought this was a brilliant remedy. 

The on!y change to the story of the movie is making it Shakespearean. Other than that it’s the same. So there’s not much I feel I can say as far as plot, character development, etc. Mean Girls is one of my favorite movies to quote so I have a hard time finding fault with any of that. Plus, here it wouldn’t be appropriate to critique as the author isn’t creating it himself. 

Recommendation: Want a fun way to spend an afternoon? This is a great choice for that. It was so much fun to read.

2019 Pop sugar Challenge Prompt: A book that makes you nostalgic 

The Everlasting Rose review

The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton

Star Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5 stars

Format: library eaudiobook

Summary: Camille may be in hiding but she’s not about to stop fighting. Princess Sophia’s coronation is approaching and if Camille wants to save herself and the other Belles from her tyranny she’s going to have to find a way to stop her from being crowned. 

Review: I really loved the first book when it came out last year so I was super eager to get my hands on the sequel. I loved the 18th century decadence of the first novel, and I was so happy that the second continues that feeling throughout only with the added spice of rebellion. 

Camille is great, I love her so much. She’s still naive in ways, but she’s trying her best to bring down a corrupt government and save her sisters. I love how she learns new ways to use her powers. She’s a really likeable character to me, I cared about her and her journey every step of the way.

I love how much emphasis is put on the sister’s relationship with one another. I was very invested in them reuniting. I wish we got to know some of the sister’s more but there were only so much time that could spend on that and there are so many of them.

I think there is room for a sequel to this book but if there doesn’t end up being one I would be satisfied with this ending (mostly). I do think Sophia needed more punishment for all the horrors she was inflicting on people than what she got. I get it, Charlotte doesn’t want to do anything to her sister but jeez– you sometimes just have to. Especially when you’re in that kind of position of power.

Recommendation: This is such a fun change in the dystopian fiction world. I love this series and I think it’s a great read.

2019 Popsugar Challenge Prompt: A book that’s published in 2019

Labyrinth Lost review

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova

Star rating: ★★★★ ☆ 4/5 stars

Format: library eaudiobook 

Summary: Alex is from a family of brujas, and she’s been trying to hide her powers but she’s found out. When she attempts to banish her powers and instead makes her whole family disappear and she has to travel to another world to save them. 

Review: This book has a lot going on for it. Magic, bisexuality, fun magical creatures, family dynamics… I really liked Alex and I thought that her character development was great. I like how she slowly begins to accept her powers and her place within her family.

I do wish that I felt we got closure over Alex’s father. I get that those sorts of situations don’t always get resolved but it was such a huge plot point throughout the book I just felt we would get something out of it. I expected him to have some sort of reveal but nope.

I really liked all the magical beings in Los Logos. Especially Agosto, I thought his character was so interesting and aside from Alex, he was my favorite. I would love to read more about Los Logos, the history and the magic. 

I like when an author puts a good deal of thought into how magic works within the world of their book. Córdova does just this, making sure that the magic makes sense and is consistent. If the magic doesn’t make sense to me then I have a hard time not focusing on that (if you really want me to go off ask me about the magic in Sofia the First sometime). 

Also, that romance! A bi love triangle is super rare but such a treat. I loved it! I’m not usually into love triangle plots but when it breaks the straight conventions I am all for that shit. 

Recommendation: I loved this book, I definitely will read the sequel to this. If you like magical stories this is such a great choice. 

2019 Popsugar Challenge Prompt: A book that takes place in a single day 

May 2019 Wrap-up

How is it June? Half the year is gone, it’s so crazy. Like I’m telling myself “that’s how time works, dummy” but I’m still feeling weird half the year is over. May was a good month, not very eventful. Summer Reading program has already started, which is one of the best times of the year. Hectic for work but I still love it.

Here are the books I read this month:

The Ghost Bride 
Tides
Sky Without Stars
Rumple Buttercup
The Lightning Thief
Labyrinth Lost
Marvel 1602
The woods vol 5
The Everlasting Rose
Legend the graphic novel
The walking dead book fifteen
Steven universe punching up
Ms Marvel vol 10
Much ado about mean girls
Stranger things: suspicious minds
Ducktales vol 1
The olympians: Zeus 
Stay sexy & don’t get murdered
Bones of faerie

Total read: 19

This month I’ve got to prepare for the (dreaded) annual camping trip in the beginning of July. Plus it’s going to start getting hot as balls. But at well, summer should be over soon if the speed of this year so far is anything to go off of.

The Lightning Thief review

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Star rating: ★★★★ ☆ 4/5 stars

Format: library eaudiobook

Summary: Percy Jackson feels like an average boy, until his math teacher turns into a monster on a field trip but no one else remembers it. He discovers he is a demi-god and attends Camp Halfblood, setting off on a hero’s quest.
Review: When this series came out I was just out of the age group it was intended for so I wasn’t interested in reading it. My two youngest siblings were really into it though, my brother still wears a Camp Halfblood shirt he made himself. So I had some vague ideas about the series, plus it’s all based off Greek mythology. (I also half remember watching the movie? Like Sean Bean was in it? Maybe?)

This book was really cool. I liked that all demi-gods have ADHD, honestly I don’t think I’ve read any book that has a character say they have ADHD, let alone multiple. Also dyslexia, it’s just I don’t know, amazing to me that Riordan created these characters to have these traits that would normally be viewed as negative but they’re a direct link to them having cool powers and such. 

It’s middle grade level, but still enjoyable. I think if I had been younger when I read them I would have gotten more out of it but I still liked it. I’m going to try to read the rest of the series, it’s fun and it’s been a bit minute since I’ve read anything good based off Greek mythology. 

I think this is a series I will encourage my daughter to read once she gets to this reading level. Greek mythology can be really fun and I think this series really utilized the best part to make a great story.

Recommendation: I know it’s a middle grade book, so it may not appeal to some people but it’s a good series. I think if you want a fun story based off Greek mythology this is a good choice. It’s a quick read but enjoyable. 

2019 Popsugar Challenge Prompt: A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads

Sky Without Stars review

Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell

Star rating: ★★★★ ☆ 4/5 stars

Format: library eaudiobook

Summary: A retelling of Les Miserables, set in space. I’m not going to elaborate because do you really need anything else?

Review: Alright, this was a really fun book overall. The world building was really good in my opinion, it really set up the whole world for me. I liked that I was able to really visualize the world of the novel. 

So Chantine is this universe’s Eponine, Marcellus is Marius and Alouette is Cosette. For a bit I was unsure who was who for a bit because I assumed this would start at the same point as the original so I was looking for Fantine in Chantine, I mean the names are damn close. So I felt a little lost until I caught on that no, this starts later. 

Full disclosure, I HATE Cosette. Something about her just grates on my every last nerve. I tried though I TRIED to be open-minded about her counterpart her but god. I couldn’t stand Alouette, I mean at least the authors were able to stay true to the source? The series isn’t finished yet but I have a feeling because I don’t like Alouette that I won’t enjoy the ending.

I loved being able to spot references to the original. I am not assumed to admit I scream-sang “TWO FOUR SIX OOOOOH ONE” when that prisoner number was first brought up in the book. I wanted more Javert-counterpart though. Where is my Stars?? who is screaming “AND I’M JAVERT”? He could have been so much better but he was kind of, bleh. I think of the counterparts in this book Javert was the most disappointing to me. 

This is part of a series, it was a very long book and I’m not sure how many books will be in the series but I do want to keep reading this series.

Recommendation: This was a super fun retelling, I really loved Les Mis in space. If you’re into Les Mis, give this one a shot.

2019 Popsugar Challenge Prompt: A book by two female authors

Tides review

Tides by Betsy Cornwell

Star rating: ★★★☆ ☆ 3/5 stars

Format: hardcover

Summary: Noah and his sister Lo go to a small island to spend the summer with their grandmother. At the same island, a pod of selkies live in the waters, Noah meets a girl from the pod and how his summer internship connects to the selkies.

Review: I don’t know what exactly I expected from it but I found it a little lacking. I’d seen the book listed in a list of LQBT books and yeah there is a relationship but it’s fairly in the background, I had hoped it would be the focus but it is not.

There are some bigger issues within the novel, I think the one I had the biggest problem with was Lo and her eating disorder. At first I was interested in how it would be handled and it was super bad. Lo just stops what she has been doing to purge when Mata, the selkie, tells her that she should stop. AND SUDDENLY SHE IS CURED!! There is no more conflict, she’s just CURED and it really bothered me. I’m all for magic but it is not at all implied that selkies have any sort of pervasive powers. So one pep talk and she’s done? With years of an eating disorder? One that she had been to intense therapy for? I cannot buy that. 

I was a little bored by the relationship between Mara and Noah. I felt it didn’t really grow, one second they were just getting to know each other and the next they were holding hands. I did like that the secondary relationship was between two older women, it was nice to see. 

It took me a long time to finish this book because I just didn’t feel like I needed to see how It ended. Should I have probably picked up a different book instead? Yeah, but I like selkie myths so I had hoped that there would be some turning point for me, it just wasn’t there though. The writing isn’t really bad or anything but I don’t know, it lacked something for me. 

Recommendation: If you like selkie myths then I would have to say give this a try anyways but if that particular folklore doesn’t interest you I wouldn’t read this one. 

2019 Popsugar Challenge Prompt: A book you meant to read in 2018