130 replies to this topic

[Katia11]

The Apothecary's Poison, C.J. Archer ★★

 

Summary: When a newspaper report of a medical miracle catches Matt's eye, he and India go in search of Dr. Hale in the hope he is more magical doctor than miracle worker and can lead them to Chronos. But Hale turns out to be an apothecary magician keen to educate the public about magic. 

 

Their disappointment at not finding Chronos is soon forgotten when Hale is murdered, and Matt becomes a suspect. With Matt's nemesis Sheriff Payne influencing the investigating detective, India and Matt know they must find the real killer, or risk his freedom, and ultimately his life. Time is running out as they hunt for a killer capable of turning medicine into poison with a magic spell, as well as continue the search for Chronos. A search that must end in success before Matt's malfunctioning watch stops altogether.

 

I've really enjoyed this series so far. I really liked the chemistry between Matt and India and the mysteries that they solved.

 

But this one really got under my skin. It felt like it was almost identical to the others in the series. There's no significant progress until the very end. It's mostly India not being willing to accept that Matt views her as an equal. And that he wants her. I mean, are you blind woman? Also, there's the cliche' of oh, i'm not beautiful but every time I meet a guy they fall for me.. Plus, Matt needs to stop being a jerk and broody. The only way this trope works for me if they have an arc. Take it somewhere! I don't know, the tension of oh, I want him but can't have him is getting pretty old. But thankfully, they finally found Chronos at the end of this book and so maybe that means that the actual plot will start. I will probably pick up the next in the series, but I really hope that it will be more satisfying than this one was. 

[Katia11]

Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull  â˜…★

 

Summary: For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite. . .

 

Kendra and her brother Seth have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws give relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, an arcane evil is unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save her family, Fablehaven, and perhaps the world, Kendra must find the courage to do what she fears most.

 

This was an interesting story. I liked the fairies and Fablehaven. I didn't care for how flat the characters felt. They had their 'stereotypes', the boy was reckless and too curious for his own good. And the girl was uptight and cautious. Towards the end of the book those characteristics did flesh out a little. But part of the book was based on the mistake of the boy. I was really angry with how quickly the grandfather forgave him. He put a fairy in a jar with a lid, turning her into an imp. I don't know it felt over the top. I don't know if I will read the others in the series. I might try one more. 

 

 

King's Cage, by Victoria Aveyard  â˜… 1/2 -  â˜…★

 

Summary: Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother's web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.

 

As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare's heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.

 

When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down.

 

Oh, this book. I wanted this book to be good. I'd been excited for it.  I have to admit the last one was disappointing and I was really hoping this would take the book back to a good path. 

 

I liked the plot well enough, but what really grated on me was Mare. She thought about Maven and longed for the 'boy that she thought she knew'. I get it! He tricked her! But he is clearly a psychopath. He has her literally in CHAINS that could possibly kill her and drain her of all her power. Thankfully, she's angry by the end, but there's still enough of it that made me literally want to throw my phone across the room. Like, what even? It just felt like it was so distasteful. Also, I hated how it followed the 'you can't trust anyone trope'. It exhausts me. 

 

I really liked this series and now I don't know if I want to finish it. 

[SweeneyxxTodd]

I read Fablehaven when I was a kid. Late middle school or early high school, I think. I liked it a lot. The second book...not so much. It was decent but I knew afterward I wouldn't be continuing with the series. My little sister read at least through the third, possibly the fourth. So she liked them a little more than I did, but I don't remember her talking about them much after she finished them. I actually side with the grandfather forgiving Seth so easily--Seth had absolutely no way of knowing the implications of what he did. He had never been informed of what would happen if he kept a fairy indoors overnight, and when he learned what had happened and how it was due to his actions, he felt bad about it. Seth was a little destructive at times, but it was due mostly to just being ignorant of magic. So I don't think he got off easy. The other characters just understood that it was a mistake and taught him not to make it again.

 

As for King's Cage...I haven't read any books in that series since the novella bind up last year. I was really disappointed in those. I got the impression that they were the publisher's cash grab, that Victoria Aveyard had good ideas but was forced into rushing through them to help promote the second book. I think if she'd been given a year to write them so they could promote the third book instead, they would have been better. And I didn't really hear much about the second book at all--positive or negative. It's like this series more or less dropped off everyone's radar after the bindup of novellas was so disappointing to everyone. I think I do want to give it a chance and see if I like it as much as the first book, though. Eventually.

[Chompyzilla]

I got to say I loved the Fablehaven books. Basically read the last one in a single sitting. They do get better.

[Katia11]

I read Fablehaven when I was a kid. Late middle school or early high school, I think. I liked it a lot. The second book...not so much. It was decent but I knew afterward I wouldn't be continuing with the series. My little sister read at least through the third, possibly the fourth. So she liked them a little more than I did, but I don't remember her talking about them much after she finished them. I actually side with the grandfather forgiving Seth so easily--Seth had absolutely no way of knowing the implications of what he did. He had never been informed of what would happen if he kept a fairy indoors overnight, and when he learned what had happened and how it was due to his actions, he felt bad about it. Seth was a little destructive at times, but it was due mostly to just being ignorant of magic. So I don't think he got off easy. The other characters just understood that it was a mistake and taught him not to make it again.

 

As for King's Cage...I haven't read any books in that series since the novella bind up last year. I was really disappointed in those. I got the impression that they were the publisher's cash grab, that Victoria Aveyard had good ideas but was forced into rushing through them to help promote the second book. I think if she'd been given a year to write them so they could promote the third book instead, they would have been better. And I didn't really hear much about the second book at all--positive or negative. It's like this series more or less dropped off everyone's radar after the bindup of novellas was so disappointing to everyone. I think I do want to give it a chance and see if I like it as much as the first book, though. Eventually.

 

Yeah, that makes sense about Fablehaven. I agree that it wasn't really his fault. It just grated on me for some reason. Perhaps because it just seemed cruel to lock something inside of a jar. I just never really had that urge as a kid, so that might be it. ) I will probably pick up the second one at some point.

 

But I found myself liking the Five Kingdoms series a little bit more. The morals were still hit you over the head obvious, but the action and interesting story made up for it.  

 

As for the Red Queen series, I didn't read the novellas. I don't really care for novellas usually. So, I wasn't as turned off by those. The second book was pretty good, but this one just really made me mad. I'm really hoping that the next one will be better. 

[Katia11]

This one is going to be long because my computer died a week or so ago.

 

 

Traitor's Masque, by Kenley Davidson ★★★

 

Summary: Trystan has only two goals — to free herself from her stepmother’s household and to live her life on her own terms. But she cannot do so alone. In her desperation, she accepts the aid of a mysterious band of conspirators in exchange for her promise to help protect the kingdom. Trystan is uncertain whether her new friends can be trusted, but then she meets Donevan, a compelling and enigmatic young man whose face haunts her dreams.

 

Caught between her desire for love and the needs of a kingdom in turmoil, Trystan attends the Royal Masque, where she learns that her quest for a happy ending may have betrayed the man she loves. Plunged headlong into a nightmare of duplicity, espionage and intrigue, she will have just one chance at redemption, though she may be forced to sacrifice everything she’s ever dreamed of to prevent her kingdom from falling into the hands of a ruthless adversary.

 

This was an interesting take on Cinderella. I loved the relationship between Trystan and the Prince. The political tensions made it kind of fun. There was just one problem, the bad guy was too predictable. I saw all the major twists coming from the moment I started reading. Also, the drama was a little bit over the top at times.

 

Enjoyable, but not one of my favorites.

 

 

The Runaway King, by Jennifer A. Nielson ★★★

 

Summary: Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

 

I haven't read the first book in the series in so long. But this one explained things pretty well and it was like I read it yesterday. A tense read with pirates and a prince whose not super likable all the time. I kind of enjoyed that. It was a pretty easy read.

 

It ended on a pretty tense note, I will probably read the next book. 

 

 

The Bone Witch, by Rin Chupeco ★★★

 

Summary: Let me be clear: I never intended to raise my brother from his grave, though he may claim otherwise. If there’s anything I’ve learned from him in the years since, it’s that the dead hide truths as well as the living.

 

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she’s a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.

 

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha—one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles…and make a powerful choice.

 

The voice in this book still haunts me. Especially Tea as told through the eyes of Bard. Eerie and climactic. The choice to make the Asha basically geisha with superpowers was interesting one. But for some reason, it worked for me. I thought the idea of balancing out the darkness provided in the Bard's chapters with the glittery world of the Asha fit. It made sense. It was also interesting how the differing perspectives worked, because Tea is telling Bard her story. So, as the story goes on it gives away things that are yet to happen. It made me wonder how Tea ends up in such a place, which I'm sure was the point. 

 

This book focused mostly on her teaching as an Asha and not much time was spent on fighting, which sort of disappointed me. But it looks like the next one will be a little more intense with Tea coming for revenge with her army of monsters. 

 

I'm looking forward to the next one. 

 

The Death Collector, by Justin Richards ★★★

 

Summary: What starts as an ordinary picket-pocketing incident in Victorian London unites three teens against a madman. Eddie is the pickpocket; George is an assistant at the British Museum; Elizabeth has a nose for trouble―and all of them are being hunted by Augustus Lorimore. Lorimore is a sinister factory owner, a villain bent on reanimating the dead, both humans and dinosaurs―and one of each is already terrorizing the streets of London. It's up to Eddie, George, and Elizabeth to stop Lorimore's monsters . . . or die trying.

 

This book was entertaining. A mystery with dinosaurs. It was an enjoyable read. The bad guy was a little bit too predictable, but it was still a fun book. 

 

 

This Savage Song, by Victoria Schwab ★★★★

 

Summary: Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives. In This Savage Song, Victoria Schwab creates a gritty, seething metropolis, one worthy of being compared to Gotham and to the four versions of London in her critically acclaimed fantasy for adults, A Darker Shade of Magic. Her heroes will face monsters intent on destroying them from every side—including the monsters within.

 

Wow, this book was good. I tore through it in a day. I was a little bit hesitant at first when I saw it described as Romeo and Juliet. Yes, there are some similarities but for the most part the tensions between the Flynn's and Mr. Harker and the fact that their children bond, was about where that similarity ended. I loved the monsters. I loved the idea of them being born from violent acts. I loved August especially. Wow. I loved the music tie ins. I could just hear August's song in my head. Man, if there was a way to die, music would be the way to go.

 

The bad guy was a little bit over the top and predictable, but it ended in a very interesting way and I'm very excited to see where she will take the story from here. 

 

I will definitely be picking up the second book in the duo-logy.  It was gorgeous. 

 

 

Arrows of the Queen, by Mercedes Lackey ★★★

 

Summary: Chosen by the Companion Rolan, a mystical horse-like being with powers beyond imagining, Talia, once a runaway, has now become a trainee Herald, destined to become one of the Queen’s own elite guard. For Talia has certain awakening talents of the mind that only a Companion like Rolan can truly sense.

 

But as Talia struggles to master her unique abilities, time is running out. For conspiracy is brewing in Valdemar, a deadly treason that could destroy Queen and kingdom. Opposed by unknown enemies capable of both diabolical magic and treacherous assassination, the Queen must turn to Talia and the Heralds for aid in protecting the realm and insuring the future of the Queen’s heir, a child already in danger of becoming bespelled by the Queen’s own foes.

 

I liked this book quite a lot. Very reminiscent of Harry Potter, although even though she is 'special' it's not really chosen one as much as Harry Potter. It was a fun read with magical horses and magic powers. I enjoyed the characters and enjoyed seeing Talia grow and learn. 

 

I loved Talia's power of being able to sense emotions and even help soothe them. That's such an interesting idea to me. 

 

Arrow's Flight, by Mercedes Lackey ★★

 

Summary: Talia could scarcely believe that she had finally earned the rank of full Herald. Yet though this seemed like the fulfillment of all her dreams, it also meant she would face trials far greater than those she had previously survived. For now Talia must ride forth to patrol the kingdom of Valdemar, dispending Herald's justice throughout the land.

 

But in this realm beset by dangerous unrest, enforcing her rulings would require all the courage and skill Talia could command—for if she misused her own special powers, both she and Valdemar would pay the price!

 

This one was my lest favorite of the three. I really didn't care for how the author undid everything so easily. I recognize that it was to build up Talia's self doubt, so that she could master it, but it still irked me. I mean, how did that even happen that they completely trained her the wrong way? I mean, it just irked me. Also, I loved Kris so much. I loved their easy banter and their relationship. I did find it a bit odd that Talia is head over heels for a guy she's only met three times but is 'lifebonded' to, when she had such a great relationship with Kris. But, in the end they stayed friends. Also, SO MUCH COULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED IF PEOPLE TALKED TO EACH OTHER. Talia doesn't talk to Kris, who doesn't talk to her about her feelings for Dirk. It was SOOOO annoying. This problem did continue in the next book as well. 

 

 

Arrow's Fall, by Mercedes Lackey ★★★

 

Summary: With Elspeth, the heir to the throne of Valdemar, come of marriageable age, Talia, the Queen’s Own Herald returns to court to find Queen and heir beset by diplomatic intrigue as various forces vie for control of Elspeth’s future. 

 

But just as Talia is about to uncover the traitor behind all these intrigues, she is sent off on a mission to the neighboring kingdom, chosen by the Queento investigate the worth of a marriage proposal from Prince Ancar. And, to her horror, Talia soon discovers there is far more going on at Prince Ancar’s court than just preparation for a hoped-for royal wedding. For a different magic than that of the Heralds is loose in Ancar’s realm—an evil and ancient sorcery that may destroy all of Valdemar unless Talia can send warning to her Queen in time! 

 

This one was the conclusion in the trilogy. She killed Kris and it killed me. I really liked him. But I suppose that was the point. Although, I was disappointed that Talia wasn't present for the final battle with Ancar. And that the other bad guy went down so smoothly. Also, I really don't like when author's use rape as a plot device. It just squicks me out. 

 

An enjoyable trilogy, but overall I don't think it's one of my favorites. 

 

 

The Rogue Prince, by Lindsay Buroker ★★★

 

Summary: Starseer, pilot, and animal lover Jelena Marchenko wants to prove to her parents that she’s ready to captain her own freighter and help run the family business. When she finally talks them into getting a second ship and letting her fly it, it doesn’t faze her that the craft is decades old and looks like a turtle. This is the chance she’s craved for years. 

 

But it’s not long before the opportunity to rescue mistreated lab animals lures her from her parentally approved cargo run and embroils her in a battle between warring corporations. To further complicate matters, her childhood friend Thorian, prince of the now defunct Sarellian Empire, is in trouble with Alliance law and needs her help. 

 

Torn between her duty to her family and doing what she believes is honorable, Jelena is about to learn that right and wrong are never as simple as they appear and that following your heart can get you killed.

 

This was a fluffy book. But very action driven. So, even though usually fluffy silliness would irk me, it didn't so much in this book. Because there's a lot of stuff happening from chapter to chapter. It did seem a little childish compared to the rest of the setting though. I still found myself very much enjoying the characters and their relationship with each other. 

 

Angle of Truth, by Lindsay Buroker  â˜…★★

 

Summary: When Jelena Marchenko learns that her parents have incurred a huge debt due to her previous actions, she’s determined to find a way to pay it off. But running cargo doesn’t pay anything off quickly. She comes up with a scheme to turn herself and her eclectic crewmates into mercenaries, at least for long enough to make some money. 

 

Unfortunately, Jelena has no interest in maiming, killing, or otherwise tormenting people, the typical things mercenaries are hired to do. She’s relieved when, with Prince Thorian’s help, she finds a mission that seems perfectly suited to her team: rescuing prisoners of war. 

 

But what was supposed to be a quick way to earn money soon turns into something devastating and deadly. Caught between two sides in a war fueled by centuries of resentment, Jelena must choose between her needs and the needs of a planet. No matter which choice she makes, she risks her ship and the lives of her team. Does she truly have what it takes to be a mercenary?

 

This one was still a little juvenile. (Multiple references to unicorn underwear and asteroid pajamas-- this was funny slightly the first few times but it is starting to get old) But I still found myself enjoying it. After the disaster of her first mission, Jalena and her crew take on a new job to pay back the debt she owes on the damages she caused. The war they find themselves in, is grey and a bit complicated. But I thought it was interesting, because Thor is still planning to start the next war. So, it offers a bit of perspective on where he's coming from. I think I will pick up the next in the series when it is released.

 

Tricked, by Jen Calonita ★★

 

Summary: At least, that's what Gilly's heard through the Enchantasia rumor mill. Word is, notorious trickster Rumpelstiltskin has taken over management from Headmistress Flora, and he's locked down the school tighter than the Pied Piper's pants. Not that this news concerns Gilly. She's been released from FTRS and is now suffering through attending Jack of All Trades School, where she gets to learn about different kinds of shoe leather and ways to measure feet. Truly riveting stuff.

 

But when Gilly's little sister Anna gets whisked off to FTRS thanks to her troublemaking new friends, Hansel and Gretel, Gilly knows she's got to get Anna out of there. There's only one thing to do; make some serious trouble and get thrown back into FTRS.

 

A quick and easy read. Still a little predictable, but fun. I'm not sure if she continues to write more in this series. But I find myself coming back to them even I'm rolling my eyes a little bit at the villains. And I really want to see how her relationship with her sister works out. That plot thread hit me especially hard with where I'm at in life. 

 

 

The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart ★★★

 

Summary: When this peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you, dear reader, can test your wits right alongside them.) But in the end just four very special children will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. As our heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their newfound friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all?

 

This book has been on my to read list for quite a while. It was quite long, but I never minded. I liked the characters, I liked the mystery and the mission. I enjoyed the tension. Of course, the big baddie was over the top as they often are in Children's novels, but it was still fun and I probably will read the others in the series at some point. 

 

 

The Girl from Everywhere, by Heidi Heilig ★★

 

Summary: As the daughter of a time traveler, Nix has spent sixteen years sweeping across the globe and through the centuries aboard her father’s ship. Modern-day New York City, nineteenth-century Hawaii, other lands seen only in myth and legend—Nix has been to them all.

 

But when her father gambles with her very existence, it all may be about to end. Rae Carson meets Outlander in this epic debut fantasy.

 

If there is a map, Nix’s father can sail his ship, The Temptation, to any place and any time. But now that he’s uncovered the one map he’s always sought—1868 Honolulu, the year before Nix’s mother died in childbirth—Nix’s life, her entire existence, is at stake. No one knows what will happen if her father changes the past. It could erase Nix’s future, her dreams, her adventures . . . her connection with the charming Persian thief, Kash, who’s been part of their crew for two years.

 

Loved me some Kashmir. He was the best part of this book. I did like the idea of traveling anywhere with a map. But I found that the adventures they were having didn't really grip me the way I was expecting. I found myself having trouble getting through chapters. Which was odd, because I felt like the book had atmosphere, and good characters. Time traveling pirates? Awesome! But for some reason things weren't really clicking for me. I don't think I will read the second in the series, although I am a bit curious to see where the Temptation is headed next. 

[Katia11]

I was doing so well at keeping up with these. Sigh.

 

 

First Year, by Rachel E. Carter ★★

 

Summary: Magic. Romance. Rivals. Perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, Falling Kingdoms, and Tamora Pierce. Before the age of seventeen, the young men and women of Jerar are given a choice —pursue a trade or enroll in a trial year in one of the realm’s three war schools to study as a soldier, knight, or mage… For fifteen-year-old Ryiah, the choice has always been easy. Become a mage and train in Combat, the most prestigious faction of magic. Yet when she arrives, Ry finds herself competing against friend and foe for one of the exalted apprenticeships. Everyone is rooting for her to fail—first and foremost among them is Prince Darren, the school prodigy who has done nothing but make life miserable since she arrived. Will Ry survive, or will her dream go down in flames?

 

A story with a magical school and a girl with powers that show up very conveniently. Enjoyable enough. Guilty pleasure read for sure.

 

Apprentice, by Rachel E. Carter ★★

 

Summary: She survived a trial year at the Academy of Magic, but that was the easy part… Now sixteen-year-old Ryiah is an apprentice of Combat, her school’s most notorious faction. When she finishes, she will be a war mage, but in order to do so, she has to survive four years traveling across Jerar, training with a master she hates, her old nemesis, Priscilla, and Prince Darren, her sometimes-rival sometimes… more? Ry’s new apprenticeship is nothing like what she prepared for. War is on the horizon and her lessons aren’t just for practice anymore. It’s time to fight.

 

This one went even further downhill from the first one. It skipped large passages of time, which was kind of sad. I really like seeing characters grow. I don't know if I will read the third one. I doubt it. 

 

Truthwitch, by Susan Denard ★★★

 

Summary: In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands. Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home. Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself. In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

 

This was pretty good! I read it really fast. I really liked the idea of the different witches. But honestly? I actually almost liked Iseult's chapters more than Safiya's. I don't know why. I felt like I just identified with her more. Plus, the idea of a threadwitch is so intriguing. (Being able to see people's connections, other than their own.) The story was still interesting and I happily picked up the second in the series.

 

 

Windwitch, by Susan Denard ★★★

 

Summary: On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a "witchery," a magical skill that sets them apart from others. Windwitch continues the tale begun in Truthwitch, with a focus on Merik--cunning privateer, prince, and windwitch.

 

This one took me a tiny bit longer to get through. I don't know why. But I still enjoyed it quite a bit. I still feel like Iseult is actually the stronger character in these books. Even though it's looking like Safyia is going to be part of the equivalent of this world's 'chosen one' without Iseult. That made me sad.

 

The Unusual Suspects, by Michael Buckley ★★★

 

Summary: In book two of the series, the Sisters Grimm start school at Ferryport Landing Elementary. Daphne's lucky enough to get Snow White for a teacher she loves little people but poor Sabrina's stuck with Mr. Grumpner and a class of mildly psychotic sixth graders. When Mr. Grumpner is found hanging in a spider's web, it is up to the Grimms to find the Ever after who did it. If only Sabrina can get over her distrust of all fairy-tale folk. But how can she trust those who just might be responsible for the disappearance of her parents?

 

I just adore fairytales. They are my weaknesses. Very enjoyable! A fun read that had a good moral. 

 

The Problem Child, by Michael Buckley ★★★

 

Summary: In book three of the series, Sabrina and Daphne Grimm tackle their most important mystery: Who kidnapped their parents more than a year ago? Sabrina enters the hideout of the Scarlet Hand, the sinister group of Everafters who are keeping her parents prisoner. She has a chance to rescue her mom and dad but is foiled by the most famous fairy-tale character in the world. With the help of her little sister (who might be tougher than Sabrina realizes) and a long-lost relative, Sabrina finds a powerful weapon for fighting her enemies, and discovers that magic has a high price.

 

Figured out who the bad guy was right away, but still a fun and fast read. I really enjoyed most of the characters most of the time. But sometimes, Sabrina could get on my nerves. 

 

Once Upon A Crime, by Michael Buckley ★★★

 

Summary: For the first time since their parents were kidnapped, Sabrina and Daphne Grimm return to their hometown, New York City, to find Puck's family. But the fairy-tale detectives get more than they bargained for in the Big Apple: wand-wielding fairy godfathers, swashbuckling Wall Street pirates, subway-stealing dwarfs, and, worst of all hidden among these urban Everafters, a murderer. This is not the city Sabrina remembers, the place where she spent happy, normal days with her family. Even her memories of her parents are not safe. As the sisters Grimm investigate the death of an important Everafter, they learn that their mother kept a secret from them that might lead to the heart of that evil Organization, the Scarlet Hand.

 

A good addition to the series! A fun and easy read. 

 

Stolen Legacy, by Lindsay Buroker  â˜…★★

 

Summary: Even though Captain Jelena Marchenko has Starseer talents, such as telepathy and telekinesis, she has grown up feeling ostracized by the Starseer community. She longs for an opportunity to prove that she deserves a place among them.  When an old friend of the family shows up, seeking transportation to the site of an ancient Starseer relic, Jelena believes this may be her chance to prove herself. If she helps Abelardus recover an artifact that's important to the Starseer community, perhaps she’ll finally be invited to join. But once they are on their way to the site, she starts to question what Abelardus plans to do with the artifact—and if he even has the right to dig it up. Further, she wonders why it’s been left alone for centuries. Is there a reason nobody tried to recover it before? And is it worth risking the lives of herself and her crew to win the good regard of strangers?

 

I liked this series of books quite a bit. The juvenile tone could irritate me at times, as mentioned, but it did give a nice balance to the action. I really liked the mystery and the characters really grew on me quite a bit.

 

 

Jane Steele, by Lindsay Faye ★★★

 

Summary: Reader, I murdered him. A Gothic retelling of Jane Eyre. Like the heroine of the novel she adores, Jane Steele suffers cruelly at the hands of her aunt and schoolmaster. And like Jane Eyre, they call her wicked - but in her case, she fears the accusation is true. When she flees, she leaves behind the corpses of her tormentors. A fugitive navigating London's underbelly, Jane rights wrongs on behalf of the have-nots whilst avoiding the noose. Until an advertisement catches her eye. Her aunt has died and the new master at Highgate House, Mr Thornfield, seeks a governess. Anxious to know if she is Highgate's true heir, Jane takes the position and is soon caught up in the household's strange spell. When she falls in love with the mysterious Charles Thornfield, she faces a terrible dilemma: can she possess him - body, soul and secrets - and what if he discovers her murderous past?

 

This was a pretty fun read. Jane Eyre with murder. At times, the mystery confused me and I found myself having to reread a paragraph, but otherwise very enjoyable.

 

A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. Le Guin ★★★★

 

Summary: On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a "witchery," a magical skill that sets them apart from others. Windwitch continues the tale begun in Truthwitch, with a focus on Merik--cunning privateer, prince, and windwitch.

 

A good book in which a boy brings on his own 'demon' by using magic he didn't really know how to use. A pretty easy and fast read. Although, I don't know if I will pick up the rest in the series or not.

 

Peter and the Starcatchers, by Dave Barry ★★★

 

Summary: Orphan Peter and his mates are dispatched to an island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They set sail aboard the Never Land, a ship carrying a precious and mysterious cargo the "greatest treasure on earth" - but is it gold, jewels, or something far more mysterious and dangerous?

 

Sort of a prequel to Peter Pan. To tell you the truth, Peter Pan is not one of my favorite stories. But this was pretty enjoyable. I liked the idea of 'Starstuff' being the origin for Peter's powers. I liked Captain Hook, very bad. And I enjoyed the birth of the mermaids. There are more in the series, but I don't know if I will read them.

 

The Transatlantic Conspiracy, by G.D. Falksen ★★★

 

Summary: The year is 1908. Seventeen-year-old Rosalind Wallace’s blissful stay in England with her best friend, Cecily de Vere, has come to an abrupt end, which is fine with Rosalind. She was getting tired of being high society Cecily’s American “pet.” Her industrialist father is unveiling his fabulous new Transatlantic Express, the world’s first underwater railway. As a publicity stunt he has booked her on the maiden voyage—without asking. Rosalind is furious. But lucky for her, Cecily and her handsome older brother, Charles, volunteer to accompany her home.Fun turns to worry when Charles disappears during boarding. Then, deep under the sea, Cecily and her housemaid, Doris, are found stabbed to death in their state room. Rosalind is now trapped on Father’s train—fighting to clear herself of her friend’s murder, to find the killer, and ultimately to uncover the sinister truth behind the railway’s construction.

 

This book was pretty short. It was a good read, but the mystery was kind of obnoxious. Although, I loved the idea of the underwater train.

 

The Keeper, by David Baldacci ★★★

 

Summary: Vega Jane was always told no one could leave the town of Wormwood. She was told there was nothing outside but the Quag, a wilderness filled with danger and death. And she believed it - until the night she stumbled across a secret that proved that everything she knew was a lie. Now just one thing stands between Vega Jane and freedom - the Quag. In order to leave Wormwood and discover the truth about her world, Vega and her best friend Delph must find a way to make it across a terrifying land of bloodthirsty creatures and sinister magic. But the Quag is worse than Vega Jane's darkest imagining. It's a living, breathing prison designed to keep enemies out and the villagers of Wormwood in. The Quag will throw everything at Vega Jane. It will try to break her. It will try to kill her. And survival might come at a price not even Vega Jane is willing to pay.

 

A very typical YA fantasy. I enjoyed the journey through the different circles and the way that the characters interacted with each other. The beasts were intriguing and sufficiently scary.

 

 

The Hundredth Queen, by Emily R. King ★★★

 

Summary: As an orphan ward of the Sisterhood, eighteen-year-old Kalinda is destined for nothing more than a life of seclusion and prayer. Plagued by fevers, she’s an unlikely candidate for even a servant’s position, let alone a courtesan or wife. Her sole dream is to continue living in peace in the Sisterhood’s mountain temple. But a visit from the tyrant Rajah Tarek disrupts Kalinda’s life. Within hours, she is ripped from the comfort of her home, set on a desert trek, and ordered to fight for her place among the rajah’s ninety-nine wives and numerous courtesans. Her only solace comes in the company of her guard, the stoic but kind Captain Deven Naik. Faced with the danger of a tournament to the death—and her growing affection for Deven—Kalinda has only one hope for escape, and it lies in an arcane, forbidden power buried within her. In Emily R. King’s thrilling fantasy debut, an orphan girl blossoms into a warrior, summoning courage and confidence in her fearless quest to upend tradition, overthrow an empire, and reclaim her life as her own.

 

A very predictable, but enjoyable story. I liked the romance between Deven and Kalinda. Although it happened very fast. 

 

Pirates!, by Celia Rees  â˜…★

 

Summary: Nancy Kington, daughter of a rich merchant, suddenly orphaned when her father dies, is sent to live on her family's plantation in Jamaica. Disgusted by the treatment of the slaves and her brother's willingness to marry her off, she and one of the slaves, Minerva, run away and join a band of pirates. For both girls the pirate life is their only chance for freedom in a society where both are treated like property, rather than individuals. Together they go in search of adventure, love, and a new life that breaks all restrictions of gender, race, and position. Told through Nancy's writings, their adventures will appeal to readers across the spectrum and around the world.

 

This was a pretty easy read. I liked the characters, but I would've maybe liked to see a little bit more adventure than I got. 

 

 

Sandry's Book, by Tamora Pierce ★★★

 

Summary: With her gift of weaving silk thread and creating light, Sandry is brought to the Winding Circle community. There she meets Briar, a former thief who has a way with plants; Daja, an outcast gifted at metalcraft; and Tris, whose connection with the weather unsettles everyone, including herself. At Winding Circle, the four misfits are taught how to use their magic - and to trust one another. But then disaster strikes their new home. Can Sandry weave together four kinds of magical power and save herself, her friends, and the one place where they've ever been accepted?

 

The magic in this was a little bit hard to follow at times, because I have never spun thread before. But I really enjoyed the characters (for the most part) and the story. I might pick up Daja's book because she was one of my favorite's of the group anyway. 

 

Cast in Fury, by Michelle Sagara  â˜…★

 

Summary: When a minority race of telepaths is suspected of causing a near-devastating tidal wave, Private Kaylin Neya is summoned to Court—and into a PR nightmare. To ease racial tensions, the emperor has commissioned a play, and the playwright has his own ideas about who should be the focus.… But Kaylin works her best magic behind the scenes, and though she tries to stay neutral, she is again drawn into a world of politics—and murder. To make matters worse, Marcus, her trusted sergeant, gets stripped of his command, leaving Kaylin vulnerable. Now she's juggling two troubling cases, and even magic's looking good by comparison. But then nobody ever said life in the theater was easy.

 

The magic in these was even more vague. It was all 'words' and 'lines'. It was very weird and a bit confusing. I really liked the different species and the world. I was really dissapointed that there wasn't more theater stuff.

 

Cast in Ruin, by Michelle Sagara ★★

 

Summary: Seven corpses are discovered in the streets of a Dragon's fief. All identical, down to their clothing.Kaylin Neya is assigned to discover who they were, who killed them—and why. Is the evil lurking at the borders of Elantra preparing to cross over?At least the investigation delays her meeting with the Dragon Emperor. And as the shadows grow longer over the fiefs, Kaylin must use every skill she's ever learned to save the people she's sworn to protect. Sword in hand, dragons in the sky, this time there's no retreat and no surrender…

 

This one was pretty similar. Not much character growth, but I was intrigued by the idea of seven dead girls who are all identical. The explanation for it though was a little disappointing. And Kaylin has these intense and weird powers, but has shown no inclination in finding out how they work. An interesting concept and world, but I doubt that I will read any of the others.

 

The Black Cauldron, by Lloyd Alexander ★★★★

 

Summary: Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper, and his friends are led into a mortal struggle with Arawn and his deathless warriors. Taran must wrest the black cauldron from them, for it is the cauldron that gives them their evil strength. But can he withstand the three enchantresses, who are determined to turn him and his companions into toads? Taran has not foreseen the awful price he will have to pay in his defence of Prydain

 

A delightful little story. The moral was pretty obvious and I had most of the things that were going to happen figure out pages before they happened. But the world was intriguing and the characters were enjoyable. Especially Eilonwy, a little bit odd but very fun and enjoyable character.

 

The Castle of Llyr, by Lloyd Alexander ★★★

 

Summary: Princess Eilonwy hates to leave her friend Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper, and her beloved home, Caer Dallben. Why does she have to go to the Isle of Mona to train as a proper lady when she's already a princess? But Eilonwy soon faces much more than the ordeal of becoming a dignified young maiden, for she possesses magical powers sought by the evil enchantress Queen Achren. When Eilonwy is put under a deep spell, Taran and his companions set out on a dangerous quest to rescue her. Yet how can a lowly Assistant Pig-Keeper hope to stand against the most evil enchantress in all of Prydain?

 

Still good, but I don't think I liked it as much as The Black Cauldron. I hated that Eilonwy destroys her potential to use the spells. That broke my heart a little bit. 

 

 

The Legend of Lady Ilena, by Patricia Malone ★★★

 

Summary: Ilena, daughter of Moren and Grenna, has lived in the Vale of Enfert for all of her 15 years, but it is not her true home. Her parents refused to speak about the place they came from or their lineage. After the deaths of both of her parents, her questions remain unanswered. Her father’s final words to her provide the single clue: “Go to Dun Alyn. Find Ryamen.”

 

Ilena sets out alone on the dangerous trip across Britain, certain only that Dun Alyn is a fortress somewhere in the East. Her skills as a warrior are tested against raiders from the West and Painted Ones from the Far North, but her most formidable challenge awaits her at Dun Alyn. Will she be able to accept her true identity and fulfill her destiny?

 

A fun twist on the world of Arthur. I really liked the characters, and Ilena. Although, she finds her love interest very quickly after starting off on her journey and their is very little interaction between them besides touching and gazes, etc. 

[SweeneyxxTodd]

I'm reading Truthwitch now. It's looking like it'll probably land somewhere in the 3-star range for me. I like Aeduan a lot, and Merik and Iseult are both interesting in their own ways, but I honestly just can't fucking stand Safiya. She's a spoiled brat for most of the book and incredibly short sighted pretty much always. I'm less than a hundred pages from the end and she just started caring about people other than herself and Iseult and thinking about the consequences of her actions. Like...there is a goddamn Bloodwitch bounty hunter who can track her through the scent of her blood alone and she still seems to think that she always knows the best course of action despite being clearly way out of her league. She frustrates me so much. And from what you said about the second book, with her taking a "chosen one" place in the story and Iseult not being one as well, I honestly don't think I'll bother picking it up. I might just abandon this series once I finish Truthwitch.

 

Also, Safiya's lie-detecting witchery isn't even that useful most of the time. Or that powerful. Why are Truthwitches so coveted? Because the plot seems to dictate that they should be, apparently. Both Safiya's and Iseult's magics seem rather useless, actually. Like why isn't Aeduan the protagonist? He's so much more interesting!

[Katia11]

I liked Aeduan a lot too! I admit that Iseult's powers are kind of useless for most of the first one, but I thought they took an interesting turn. Those two are for sure my favorite parts so far.

[Katia11]

I'm so behind on these. Wow.

 

 

 

Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey  ★★

 

Summary: On a beautiful world called Pern, an ancient way of life is about to come under attack from a myth that is all too real. Lessa is an outcast survivor—her parents murdered, her birthright stolen—a strong young woman who has never stopped dreaming of revenge. But when an ancient threat to Pern reemerges, Lessa will rise—upon the back of a great dragon with whom she shares a telepathic bond more intimate than any human connection. Together, dragon and rider will fly . . . and Pern will be changed forever.

 

Well, this had been on my to read list for a while, and honestly? I liked it, but I was a tad disappointed. I quite enjoyed Dragonsong, but this one was kind of meh for me.  I didn't really enjoy the romance, but I liked Lessa and the dragons. However, I don't think I will read the others in the series. 

 

 

Serafina and the Splintered Heart, by Robert Beatty  ★★★★

 

Summary: In the highly-anticipated next installment of the Serafina series, Serafina must confront the darkest threat she's ever encountered at Biltmore Estate. She knows she can face anything with her best friend and closest ally, Braeden Vanderbilt, by her side. But when a sinister force tears them apart, Serafina scrambles to uncover the mystery of her most formidable challenge yet...and about herself and the destiny that awaits her.

 

This book series was fantastic. Even though it was predictable at times, I truly found myself becoming invested in the characters. This one was so interesting, and creepy. I was very sad when it was over. Also, it's the last of it's kind in this particular series which made me sad.

 

Daughter of Blood, by Anne Bishop  ★

 

Summary: Seven hundred years ago, a Black Widow witch saw an ancient prophecy come to life in her web of dreams and visions. Now the Dark Kingdom readies itself for the arrival of its Queen, a Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But she is still young, still open to influence—and corruption.

 

Whoever controls the Queen controls the darkness. Three men—sworn enemies—know this. And they know the power that hides behind the blue eyes of an innocent young girl. And so begins a ruthless game of politics and intrigue, magic and betrayal, where the weapons are hate and love—and the prize could be terrible beyond imagining...

 

I did not like this book very much. The characters just sort of got under my skin a little. I really do not think I will read the others in the series.  

 

 

Smoke, by Ellen Hopkins   â˜…★★ 1/2

 

Summary: Pattyn Von Stratten’s father is dead, and Pattyn is on the run. After far too many years of abuse at the hands of her father, and after the tragic loss of her beloved Ethan and their unborn child, Pattyn is desperate for peace. Only her sister Jackie knows what happened that fatal night, but she is stuck at home with their mother, who clings to normalcy by allowing the truth to be covered up by their domineering community leaders. Her father might be finally gone, but without Pattyn, Jackie is desperately isolated.

 

Alone and in disguise, Pattyn starts a new life as a migrant worker on a California ranch. But is it even possible to rebuild a life when everything you’ve known has burned to ash and lies seem far safer than the truth?

 

This book was fascinating. It told the story through a series of poems instead of straightforward plot. It was heartbreaking, beautiful and there are some poems in there that cut straight to my spirit. I will be reading more by this author for sure.

 

The romance Pattyn has was a bit eye rolling at times, but the younger sister's romance was so cute. I enjoyed that one quite a bit. 

 

 

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin  ★★★★★

 

Summary: In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family's fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer. 

 

 

This book was so cute. The characters fun and engaging. So imaginative. So captivating. A beautiful, rich, and deep story with a fantastical story and beautiful world building.

 

 

 

The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame  ★★★★★

 

Summary:  With the arrival of spring and fine weather outside, the good-natured Mole loses patience with spring cleaning. He flees his underground home, emerging to take in the air and ends up at the river, which he has never seen before. Here he meets new friends like the Water Rat and Mr Toad. Toad is rich, but conceited. His motorcar obsession drives him into big trouble …

 

A very easy read. Very cute and fun! I can see why it's a classic. For sure will read this again in the future. I love Mr. Toad and all the other characters. 

 

 

 

The Shadow Cadets of Penny Royal Academy,  by M.A. Larson  ★★★

 

Summary: A triumphant victory over the witches has proven that Princess Cadet Evie really does belong at Pennyroyal Academy. News of her heroism has traveled far and wide—inspiring a kingdom of grateful citizens and, when the new term starts, a wave of fresh Academy recruits.

 

While it’s good to be returning to the Academy as a second-class Cadet, things are not as they should be. Evie witnesses the vicious attack of an innocent woman—by a trio of princesses. Pennyroyal’s Headmistress General, Princess Beatrice, is dubious about what Evie saw—princesses are enforcers of truth and justice, not thugs. But Evie isn’t so sure. Then, amidst piles of fan mail, she finds a letter with an ominous threat. A secret society has come out of the shadows with a wicked plan, putting the Academy in peril. It’s up to Evie and her friends to unravel the devious plot and save Pennyroyal Academy.

 

This one was a fun read. But I really don't remember much about it now other than I liked the protagonist. I might pick up the others in the series.

 

The Whispering Trees,  by J.A. White ★★★ 1/2

 

Summary: A triumphant victory over the witches has proven that Princess Cadet Evie really does belong at Pennyroyal Academy. News of her heroism has traveled far and wide—inspiring a kingdom of grateful citizens and, when the new term starts, a wave of fresh Academy recruits.

 

While it’s good to be returning to the Academy as a second-class Cadet, things are not as they should be. Evie witnesses the vicious attack of an innocent woman—by a trio of princesses. Pennyroyal’s Headmistress General, Princess Beatrice, is dubious about what Evie saw—princesses are enforcers of truth and justice, not thugs. But Evie isn’t so sure. Then, amidst piles of fan mail, she finds a letter with an ominous threat. A secret society has come out of the shadows with a wicked plan, putting the Academy in peril. It’s up to Evie and her friends to unravel the devious plot and save Pennyroyal Academy.

 

This one was creepy in the best way. I loved the atmosphere, the bad guy was sufficiently spooky, and the characters likeable. I think I will pick up the next in the series at some point. 

 

 

Holes, by Louis Sachar  ★★★★

 

Summary: Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes.

 

It doesn’t take long for Stanley to realize there’s more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. But what could be buried under a dried-up lake? Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption.

 

An interesting book, very close to the movie. I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Zero and Stanley. A fun and easy read. 

 

 

The Two Princesses of Bamarre,  by Gail Carson Levine  ★★★

 

Summary: A kingdom beset by monsters . . .

A disease that weakens and destroys . . .

An epic poem and a hero of long ago . . .

A story of danger and desperation.

 

The two princesses of Bamarre couldn't be more different. Princess Addie is fearful and shy. Her deepest wish is for safety. Princess Meryl is bold and brave. Her deepest wish is to save the kingdom of Bamarre. They are sisters, and they mean the world to each other.

 

Then disaster strikes, and Addie—terrified and unprepared—sets out on a perilous quest. In her path are monsters of Bamarre: ogres, specters, gryphons, and dragons. Addie must battle them, but time is running out, and the sisters' lives—and Barmarre's fate—hang in the balance.

 

I loved Ella Enchanted, loved it. I liked this one, but not quite as much. The two girls were very much set into their stereotypes, one being 'brave' and the other reserved. That sort of irritated me. The end also irritated me a bit, but otherwise it was a fairly enjoyable book.

 

Spellwright, by Blake Charlton  ★★★

 

Summary: Nicodemus is a young, gifted wizard with a problem. Magic in his world requires the caster to create spells by writing out the text . . . but he has always been dyslexic, and thus has trouble casting even the simplest of spells. And his misspells could prove dangerous, even deadly, should he make a mistake in an important incantation.

 

Yet he has always felt that he is destined to be something more than a failed wizard. When a powerful, ancient evil begins a campaign of murder and disruption, Nicodemus starts to have disturbing dreams that lead him to believe that his misspelling could be the result of a curse. But before he can discover the truth about himself, he is attacked by an evil which has already claimed the lives of fellow wizards and has cast suspicion on his mentor. He must flee for his own life if he's to find the true villain.

 

But more is at stake than his abilities. For the evil that has awakened is a power so dread and vast that if unleashed it will destroy Nicodemus... and the world

 

The idea behind this was so interesting. It was a good enough book. Although, at times the way the magic really worked confused me. The characters were engaging enough, but I don't think I will continue the series. 

 

 

Quiet, by Susuan Cain ★★★★★

 

Summary: At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over working in teams. It is to introverts—Rosa Parks, Chopin, Dr. Seuss, Steve Wozniak—that we owe many of the great contributions to society. 

 

In Quiet, Susan Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth century and explores how deeply it has come to permeate our culture. She also introduces us to successful introverts—from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Passionately argued, superbly researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how they see themselves.

 

Loved, loved this book. Very interesting research and extremely validating. Highly recommended for any introvert! 

 

 

The Wives of Henry VIII, by Antonia Fraser  ★★★★

 

Summary: Under Antonia Fraser's intent scrutiny, Catherine of Aragon emerges as a scholar-queen who steadfastly refused to grant a divorce to her royal husband; Anne Boleyn is absolved of everything but a sharp tongue and an inability to produce a male heir; and Catherine Parr is revealed as a religious reformer with the good sense to tack with the treacherous winds of the Tudor court.  And we gain fresh understanding of Jane Seymour's circumspect wisdom, the touching dignity of Anna of Cleves, and the youthful naivete that led to Katherine Howard's fatal indiscretions.  The Wives of Henry VIII interweaves passion and power, personality and politics, into a superb work of history. 

 

This period of history is fascinating to me. Especially Henry's six wives. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses. Very interesting and engaging. Of course, the authors personal thoughts were evident, but it was still very well presented. 

 

The Door in the Hedge, by Robin McKinley ★★★

 

Summary: The last mortal kingdom before the unmeasured sweep of Faerieland begins has at best held an uneasy truce with its unpredictable neighbor. There is nothing to show a boundary, at least on the mortal side of it; and if any ordinary human creature ever saw a faerie—or at any rate recognized one—it was never mentioned; but the existence of the boundary and of faeries beyond it is never in doubt either. 

 

So begins “The Stolen Princess,” the first story of this collection, about the meeting between the human princess Linadel and the faerie prince Donathor. “The Princess and the Frog” concerns Rana and her unexpected alliance with a small, green, flipper-footed denizen of a pond in the palace gardens. “The Hunting of the Hind” tells of a princess who has bewitched her beloved brother, hoping to beg some magic of cure, for her brother is dying, and the last tale is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses in which an old soldier discovers, with a little help from a lavender-eyed witch, the surprising truth about where the princesses dance their shoes to tatters every night.

 

Interesting enough, but I always felt like the stories were just a bit too short. I was left wanting more. 

 

 

The Dead in their Vaulted Arches, by Alan Bradley  ★★★★

 

Summary:  On a spring morning in 1951, eleven-year-old chemist and aspiring detective Flavia de Luce gathers with her family at the railway station, awaiting the return of her long-lost mother, Harriet. Yet upon the train’s arrival in the English village of Bishop’s Lacey, Flavia is approached by a tall stranger who whispers a cryptic message into her ear. Moments later, he is dead, mysteriously pushed under the train by someone in the crowd. Who was this man, what did his words mean, and why were they intended for Flavia? Back home at Buckshaw, the de Luces’ crumbling estate, Flavia puts her sleuthing skills to the test. Following a trail of clues sparked by the discovery of a reel of film stashed away in the attic, she unravels the deepest secrets of the de Luce clan, involving none other than Winston Churchill himself. Surrounded by family, friends, and a famous pathologist from the Home Office—and making spectacular use of Harriet’s beloved Gipsy Moth plane, Blithe Spirit—Flavia will do anything, even take to the skies, to land a killer.

 

I adore this series. I adore Flavia. Engaging, fun, and wonderfully morbid.

 

Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott  ★★★

 

Summary: Ivanhoe is a classic historical novel that practically popularized the genre. Set in 12th century England, Ivanhoe sparked interest in the Middle Ages as a whole, and Scott’s writing style made Romanticism as a movement prominent as well. Ivanhoe remains a must-read for anyone interested in literature.

 

A good book, and an interesting read. The plot was pretty engaging, and the characters interesting. Ivanhoe was an interesting character, very noble. The villains were very villainous and it was thrilling to see them get what they had coming.

 

Alexander Hamilton: The Outsider, by Jean Fritz  ★★★

 

Summary: Most people know that Alexander Hamilton was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr, and that his face is on the ten dollar bill. But he was much more than that!  Born in the West Indies, Hamilton arrived in New York as an immigrant, an outsider. He fought in the American Revolution and became George Washington's most valuable aide-de-camp. As one of America's Founding Fathers, he was there for the writing of the Constitution and became the first Secretary of the Treasury. Jean Fritz's award-winning talent for bringing history to life shines as she shares the true story of Alexander Hamilton, a man of action who was honorable, ambitious, and fiercely loyal to his adopted country.

 

A very easy to read biography of Hamilton. It filled in a few holes left by the musical. 

 

 

The Apprentice Witch, by James Nicol  ★★★ 1/2 - ★★★★

 

Summary: A special middle grade debut of magic and courage in a world of witches, written with the charm and enchantment of Circus Mirandus and The Apothecary. Arianwyn has flunked her witch's assessment: She's doomed. Declared an apprentice and sent to the town of Lull in disgrace, she may never become a real witch-- much to the glee of her arch-rival, Gimma. But remote Lull is not as boring as it seems. Strange things are sighted in the woods, a dangerous infestation of hex creeps throughout the town, and a mysterious magical visitor arrives with his eye on her. With every spirit banished, creature helped, and spell cast, Arianwyn starts to get the hang of being a witch--even if she's only an apprentice. But the worst still lies ahead. For a sinister darkness has begun to haunt her spells, and there may be much more at stake than just her pride . . . for Arianwyn and the entire land.

 

A very good book, pretty easy to read and it kept me engaged the entire time. I enjoyed the characters, but I ADORED the moon hare. I will probably pick up the next in the series. 

 

 

The Secret Keepers, by Trenton Lee Stewart  ★★★★

 

Summary: When Reuben discovers an extraordinary antique watch with a secret power, his life takes an intriguing turn. As one secret leads to another, Reuben finds himself torn between his honest nature and the lure to be a hero.

 

Now he is on a dangerous adventure--full of curious characters, treacherous traps, and hairsbreadth escapes--as he races to solve the mystery before it is too late. With fearless Penny, mighty Jack, and the wise Mrs. Genevieve on his side, can Reuben outwit a sly villain called The Smoke and save the city from a terrible fate?

 

In this ingeniously crafted novel, acclaimed author Trenton Lee Stewart invites readers to join the adventure, decipher the clues, and ask themselves the question: Is knowing a secret a gift or a curse?

 

I liked this book more than The Mysterious Benedict Society. The threat felt a lot more real to me for some reason. Mostly 'cause the Directions were super creepy. Plus, the idea of being able to be invisible was interesting. Plus, there was the added intrigue of the device taking away the users sight. I wish there was going to be another in the series because I would most definitely read it. 

 

 

East, by Edith Pattou  ★★★★

 

Summary: Rose has always felt out of place in her family, a wanderer in a bunch of homebodies. So when an enormous white bear mysteriously shows up and asks her to come away with him--in exchange for health and prosperity for her ailing family--she readily agrees. The bear takes Rose to a distant castle, where each night she is confronted with a mystery. In solving that mystery, she loses her heart, discovers her purpose, and realizes her travels have only just begun.

 

I really enjoy this fairytale and this retelling was no different. I enjoyed the characters, the journey to the troll kingdom, and I enjoyed the troll queen. Very evil. A book I will read again at some point in the future. 

 

The Fifth Wave, by Rick Yancey  ★★★ 1/2- ★★★★

 

Summary: After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

 

Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother--or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

 

Oh man, this book was intense. I was turning pages like wild. Heart pounding, but fun. The romance was a little eye rolling, but engaging enough I suppose. I enjoyed the character of Cassie for the most part.  But honestly? I found myself looking forward to reading about ..... more.  I really liked the 'others', I enjoyed reading about the waves. A quick read. I don't know if I will pick up the others in the series or not. 

 

 

Pastworld, by Ian Beck ★★★

 

Summary: What if Victorian London were an amusement park where the inhabitants were actors hired to entertain visitors from the twenty-first century? Now imagine if Jack the Ripper was a planned attraction gone horribly wrong. Life inside the park, Pastworld, is all Eve has ever known. But then she meets a tourist in terrible trouble.

 

An interesting book, very moody, with a very creepy bad guy. I wish that the end had been resolved a little more, but overall it was a decent read. 

 

 

The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman  ★★★★

 

Summary: Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal--including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world.
Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want.

But what Lyra doesn't know is that to help on of them will be to betray the other...

 

A quick and easy read. Wonderful world building, and the daemons were by far one of my favorite parts. I just love the idea that your soul manifests outside of your body as an animal. Beautiful. 

 

The question of what 'Dust' is, always hanging in the air. And the bear. Oh my gosh, for sure one of my favorite parts of the story. The battle between him and the current king was intense! Very engaging and fun book. Not one of my ultimate favorites, mostly because I felt like it took me a while to get into it for some reason, but once it got me, I was hooked!  I will probably pick up the others in the series at some point. 

 

The Sound of Music, by Maria Augusta von Trapp ★★★

 

Summary: With nearly 1,500 Broadway performances, six Tony Awards, more than three million albums sold, and five Academy Awards, The Sound of Music, based on the lives of Maria, the baron, and their singing children, is as familiar to most of us as our own family history. But much about the real-life woman and her family was left untold.

 

Here, Baroness Maria Augusta Trapp tells in her own beautiful, simple words the extraordinary story of her romance with the baron, their escape from Nazi-occupied Austria, and their life in America.

 

I'm currently in the Sound of Music and someone loaned this to me. The actual story is even more interesting than the musical. I really was interested in the work they did to help Austria after the war ended. I really liked reading about their lives. It was also interesting because Maria didn't really love the Captain. She just felt like that's what God wanted for her.

 

In fact, there was a lot of spirituality present in the story, which I suppose I should have seen coming since she was a nun. Overall, an interesting read. 

 

 

Catherine Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman  ★★★★

 

Summary: Catherine, a spirited and inquisitive young woman of good family, narrates in diary form the story of her fourteenth year—the year 1290. A Newbery Honor Book.

 

Oh man, this was a fun book. Loved Birdy, and I loved her schemes to get rid of her suitors. The book does end with her being engaged, but she feels slightly hopeful about it. 

 

 

The Miserable Mill, by Lemony Snickett  ★★★

 

Summary: I hope, for your sake, that you have not chosen to read this book because you are in the mood for a pleasant experience. If this is the case, I advise you to put this book down instantaneously, because of all the books describing the unhappy lives of the Baudelaire orphans, The Miserable Mill might be the unhappiest yet. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are sent to Paltryville to work in a lumber mill, and they find disaster and misfortune lurking behind every log. The pages of this book, I'm sorry to inform you, contain such unpleasantries as a giant pincher machine, a bad casserole, a man with a cloud of smoke where his head should be, a hypnotist, a terrible accident resulting in injury, and coupons. I have promised to write down the entire history of these three poor children, but you haven't, so if you prefer stories that are more heartwarming, please feel free to make another selection.

 

With all due respect,

 

Lemony Snicket

 

A good book and a good addition to the series. I really liked the atmosphere of the Mill. Very eerie. 

 

 

The Wide Window, by Lemony Snickett  ★★★★

 

Summary: Dear Reader,

 

If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives, I am sorry to say, are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched, and this one may be the worst of them all.If you haven't got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signalling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair.I will continue to record these tragic tales, for that is what I do. You, however, should decide for yourself whether you can possibly endure this miserable story.

 

With all due respect,

 

Lemony Snicket

 

I really enjoyed this one. The atmosphere, and the always present Olaf. An engaging and easy read. 

 

 

An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir  ★★★

 

Summary:  Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

 

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

 

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

 

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

 

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself. 

 

I liked this well enough. Very typical YA. Although, I loved Helene. I really wish she would've been more present in the story than she was. I almost, at points, was more interested in her than in Laia. Although, the idea of Laia going into service for the evil, evil woman was interesting. Her strength in surviving that- was amazing. Elias was very brave and torn between the life he knew and the life he wants for himself. The Trials were very cruel, and the Augurs are super creepy. Don't trust those dudes at all. 

 

Already reading the second in the series, and I am even more in love with Helene than before. Poor girl. 

 

 

Lockwood and Co. The Screaming Staircase, by Jonathan Stroud  ★★★1/2

 

Summary:  A sinister Problem has occurred in London: all nature of ghosts, haunts, spirits, and specters are appearing throughout the city, and they aren''t exactly friendly. Only young people have the psychic abilities required to see—and eradicate—these supernatural foes. Many different Psychic Detection Agencies have cropped up to handle the dangerous work, and they are in fierce competition for business. In The Screaming Staircase, the plucky and talented Lucy Carlyle teams up with Anthony Lockwood, the charismatic leader of Lockwood & Co, a small agency that runs independent of any adult supervision. After an assignment leads to both a grisly discovery and a disastrous end, Lucy, Anthony, and their sarcastic colleague, George, are forced to take part in the perilous investigation of Combe Carey Hall, one of the most haunted houses in England. Will Lockwood & Co. survive the Hall''s legendary Screaming Staircase and Red Room to see another day?

 

Oh man, this story was creepy at points. Wonderful though. I enjoyed every moment of it. The characters were fun and engaging. The mystery was a little bit disappointing, but the atmosphere and the interesting world building was more than enough to make up for it. I'm reading the second one and it's just as mysterious and eerie so far. 

[SweeneyxxTodd]

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin  ★★★★★

 

Summary: In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family's fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer. 

 

 

This book was so cute. The characters fun and engaging. So imaginative. So captivating. A beautiful, rich, and deep story with a fantastical story and beautiful world building.

 

I really want to read this book! Glad to know it's well done.

 

Holes, by Louis Sachar  ★★★★

 

Summary: Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes.

 

It doesn’t take long for Stanley to realize there’s more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. But what could be buried under a dried-up lake? Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption.

 

An interesting book, very close to the movie. I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Zero and Stanley. A fun and easy read. 

 

Gotta love when the author writes the screenplay for the adaptation, amirite? Holes is probably my favorite book-to-movie adaptations ever. Love the book, and love the movie, so, so, so much. Both are fantastic on their own.

 

The Two Princesses of Bamarre,  by Gail Carson Levine  ★★★

 

Summary: A kingdom beset by monsters . . .

A disease that weakens and destroys . . .

An epic poem and a hero of long ago . . .

A story of danger and desperation.

 

The two princesses of Bamarre couldn't be more different. Princess Addie is fearful and shy. Her deepest wish is for safety. Princess Meryl is bold and brave. Her deepest wish is to save the kingdom of Bamarre. They are sisters, and they mean the world to each other.

 

Then disaster strikes, and Addie—terrified and unprepared—sets out on a perilous quest. In her path are monsters of Bamarre: ogres, specters, gryphons, and dragons. Addie must battle them, but time is running out, and the sisters' lives—and Barmarre's fate—hang in the balance.

 

I loved Ella Enchanted, loved it. I liked this one, but not quite as much. The two girls were very much set into their stereotypes, one being 'brave' and the other reserved. That sort of irritated me. The end also irritated me a bit, but otherwise it was a fairly enjoyable book.

 

East, by Edith Pattou  ★★★★

 

Summary: Rose has always felt out of place in her family, a wanderer in a bunch of homebodies. So when an enormous white bear mysteriously shows up and asks her to come away with him--in exchange for health and prosperity for her ailing family--she readily agrees. The bear takes Rose to a distant castle, where each night she is confronted with a mystery. In solving that mystery, she loses her heart, discovers her purpose, and realizes her travels have only just begun.

 

I really enjoy this fairytale and this retelling was no different. I enjoyed the characters, the journey to the troll kingdom, and I enjoyed the troll queen. Very evil. A book I will read again at some point in the future. 

 

I really loved The Two Princesses of Bamarre when I was younger. I got it for either Christmas or my birthday from one of my uncles when I was young, along with Ella Enchanted. I think I remember liking this one slightly more, but I haven't read either in at least ten years, though I do still have them on my shelf. Maybe I'm due for a reread.

 

And I own East! I just haven't read it yet... I love East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon. Can't wait to read this one, as well as Ice by Sarah Beth Durst. Then I think I'll have read all the adaptations of this that I'm aware of.

 

The Fifth Wave, by Rick Yancey  ★★★ 1/2- ★★★★

 

Summary: After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

 

Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother--or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

 

Oh man, this book was intense. I was turning pages like wild. Heart pounding, but fun. The romance was a little eye rolling, but engaging enough I suppose. I enjoyed the character of Cassie for the most part.  But honestly? I found myself looking forward to reading about ..... more.  I really liked the 'others', I enjoyed reading about the waves. A quick read. I don't know if I will pick up the others in the series or not. 

 

hahahahahahahaha ohhhh man. I love this book. So much. I had a blast listening to the audiobook, and I had two dreams inspired by the plot, though one followed much more closely and the other only turned into a Fifth Wave plot in the last ten seconds. I started the second book not long after, but wasn't a fan of how Ringer had become a narrator because she wasn't mysterious anymore and I didn't like her narrating style, so I stopped. Haven't picked it up since. Dunno if I will now, since it's been almost three years. Still, I will always stand by my 5 star rating for the first book.

[Katia11]

Finished at 118 books!!

[Katia11]

oofta these are so behind. 

 

The Whispering Skull, by Jonathan Stroud  ★★★

 

Summary: In the six months since Anthony, Lucy, and George survived a night in the most haunted house in England, Lockwood & Co. hasn't made much progress. Quill Kipps and his team of Fittes agents keep swooping in on Lockwood's investigations. Finally, in a fit of anger, Anthony challenges his rival to a contest: the next time the two agencies compete on a job, the losing side will have to admit defeat in the Times newspaper. Things look up when a new client, Mr. Saunders, hires Lockwood & Co. to be present at the excavation of Edmund Bickerstaff, a Victorian doctor who reportedly tried to communicate with the dead. Saunders needs the coffin sealed with silver to prevent any supernatural trouble. All goes well—until George's curiosity attracts a horrible phantom. Back home at Portland Row, Lockwood accuses George of making too many careless mistakes. Lucy is distracted by urgent whispers coming from the skull in the ghost jar. Then the team is summoned to DEPRAC headquarters. Kipps is there too, much to Lockwood's annoyance. Bickerstaff's coffin was raided and a strange glass object buried with the corpse has vanished. Inspector Barnes believes the relic to be highly dangerous, and he wants it found.

 

The second book in the Lockwood and Co. series. I loved the creepy mirror and the characters are so vibrant. The bad guy was a little predictable, but the world was fun and kept me interested.

 

The Hollow Boy, by Jonathan Stroud ★★★

 

Summary: As a massive outbreak of supernatural Visitors baffles Scotland Yard and causes protests throughout London, Lockwood & Co. continue to demonstrate their effectiveness in exterminating spirits. Anthony Lockwood is dashing, George insightful, and Lucy dynamic, while the skull in the jar utters sardonic advice from the sidelines. There is a new spirit of openness in the team now that Lockwood has shared some of his childhood secrets, and Lucy is feeling more and more as if her true home is at Portland Row. It comes as a great shock, then, when Lockwood and George introduce her to an annoyingly perky and hyper-efficient new assistant, Holly Munro. Meanwhile, there are reports of many new hauntings, including a house where bloody footprints are appearing, and a department store full of strange sounds and shadowy figures. But ghosts seem to be the least of Lockwood & Co.'s concerns when assassins attack during a carnival in the center of the city. Can the team get past their personal issues to save the day on all fronts, or will bad feelings attract yet more trouble? Danger abounds, tensions escalate, and new loyalties form in this third delightfully terrifying adventure in the critically acclaimed Lockwood & Co. series.

 

So creepy in so many ways. 

 

The Creeping Shadow, by Jonathan Stroud ★★★

 

Summary: After leaving Lockwood & Co. at the end of The Hollow Boy, Lucy is a freelance operative, hiring herself out to agencies that value her ever-improving skills. One day she is pleasantly surprised by a visit from Lockwood, who tells her he needs a good Listener for a tough assignment. Penelope Fittes, the leader of the giant Fittes Agency wants them--and only them--to locate and remove the Source for the legendary Brixton Cannibal. They succeed in their very dangerous task, but tensions remain high between Lucy and the other agents. Even the skull in the jar talks to her like a jilted lover. What will it take to reunite the team? Black marketeers, an informant ghost, a Spirit Cape that transports the wearer, and mysteries involving Steve Rotwell and Penelope Fittes just may do the trick. But, in a shocking cliffhanger ending, the team learns that someone has been manipulating them all along. . . .

 

This was interesting- the journey to the other side was so cool. So creepy and beautiful. Bad guy was predictable, but it was a fun book anyway.

 

The Empty Grave, by Jonathan Stroud ★★★

 

Summary: Five months after the events in THE CREEPING SHADOW, we join Lockwood, Lucy, George, Holly, and their associate Quill Kipps on a perilous night mission: they have broken into the booby-trapped Fittes Mausoleum, where the body of the legendary psychic heroine Marissa Fittes lies. Or does it? This is just one of the many questions to be answered in Book 5 of the Lockwood & Co. series. Will Lockwood ever reveal more about his family's past to Lucy? Will their trip to the Other Side leave Lucy and Lockwood forever changed? Will Penelope Fittes succeed in shutting down their agency forever? The young agents must survive attacks from foes both spectral and human before they can take on their greatest enemy in a climactic and chaotic battle. And to prevail they will have to rely on help from some surprising--and shadowy--allies. Jonathan Stroud once again delivers a rousing adventure full of danger, laughs, twists, and frights.

 

The last book in this series left so many unanswered questions. And the skull.. *sniffles* That skull really grew on me! 

 

A Torch Against the Night, by Sabaa Tahir ★★★★

 

Summary: After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

 

Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars' survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom. 

 

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike. 

 

Bound to Marcus's will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape...and kill them both.

 

Some fun twists in this book! I really liked it! I am really excited to read the next one! 

 

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, by Julie C. Dao ★★★★

 

Summary: Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her.

 

Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high? Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and  exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute. 

 

Set in an East Asian-inspired fantasy world filled with both breathtaking pain and beauty, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns possesses all the hallmarks of masterful fantasy: dazzling magic, heartbreaking romance, and a world that hangs in the balance.

 

This book was dark, but beautiful! Wow. Some of the motivations confused me a little bit- but I still really liked it. 

 

 

When the Sea Turned to Silver, by Grace Lin ★★★★

 

Summary: Pinmei's gentle, loving grandmother always has the most exciting tales for her granddaughter and the other villagers. However, the peace is shattered one night when soldiers of the Emperor arrive and kidnap the storyteller.

 

Everyone knows that the Emperor wants something called the Luminous Stone That Lights the Night. Determined to have her grandmother returned, Pinmei embarks on a journey to find the Luminous Stone alongside her friend Yishan, a mysterious boy who seems to have his own secrets to hide. Together, the two must face obstacles usually found only in legends to find the Luminous Stone and save Pinmei's grandmother--before it's too late.

 

I found myself enjoying this one just a little tiny bit less than the first one I read. Still such beautiful language and world building though! Very enjoyable! 

 

Leviathan, by Scott Westerfeld ★★★

 

Summary: It is the cusp of World War I. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ genetically fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet.

 

Aleksandar Ferdinand, a Clanker, and Deryn Sharp, a Darwinist, are on opposite sides of the war. But their paths cross in the most unexpected way, taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure….One that will change both their lives forever.

 

This world was really interesting! Basically a retelling of the first World War. Except with a ship that is made out of beasts! Very interesting and fun! 

 

Goliath, by Scott Westerfeld ★★★

 

Summary: Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their round-the-world quest to end World War I, reclaim Alek’s throne as prince of Austria, and finally fall in love. The first two objectives are complicated by the fact that their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war (and crown). And the love thing would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl. (She has to pose as a boy in order to serve in the British Air Service.) And if they weren’t technically enemies. The tension thickens as the Leviathan steams toward New York City with a homicidal lunatic on board: Secrets suddenly unravel, characters reappear, and nothing is as it seems in this thunderous conclusion to Scott Westerfeld’s brilliant trilogy.

 

Liked this one, but I didn't really like the choice of villain. It seemed odd to me. 

 

The Case of the Girl in Grey, The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency, by Jordan Stratford ★★★

 

Summary: The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency was supposed to be a secret constabulary, but after the success of their first case, all of London knows that Lady Ada and Mary are the girls to go to if you have a problem. 

 

Their new case is a puzzle indeed. It involves a horrible hospital, a missing will, a hasty engagement, and a suspiciously slippery servant. 

 

But Mary’s stumbled onto a mystery of her own. She spotted a ghostly girl in a grey gown dashing through the park. A girl who is the spitting image of their new client.

 

The two cases must be linked . . . or else there’s a perfectly supernatural explanation

 

A cute little mystery! Easy and fast read. I will probably read the next in the series at some point.

 

 

The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger ★★★

 

Summary: The hero-narrator of THE CATCHER IN THE RYE is an ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caulfield. Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days. 

 

The boy himself is at once too simple and too complex for us to make any final comment about him or his story. Perhaps the safest thing we can say about Holden is that he was born in the world not just strongly attracted to beauty but, almost, hopelessly impaled on it. 

 

There are many voices in this novel: children's voices, adult voices, underground voices--but Holden's voice is the most eloquent of all. Transcending his own vernacular, yet remaining marvelously faithful to it, he issues a perfectly articulated cry of mixed pain and pleasure. However, like most lovers and clowns and poets of the higher orders, he keeps most of the pain to, and for, himself. The pleasure he gives away, or sets aside, with all his heart. It is there for the reader who can handle it to keep.

 

This is probably heresy, but I really didn't care for this book. I mean, it wasn't awful- but it just didn't really resonate with me. I found myself thinking that is was kind of pretentious at points.. 

 

 

A Pocket Full of Murder, by R.J. Anderson ★★★

 

Summary: A determined young girl joins forces with an adventure-loving street boy to save her father’s life in this “thoroughly entertaining” (Kirkus Reviews) magical murder mystery.

 

In the spell-powered city of Tarreton, the wealthy have all the magic they desire while the working class can barely afford a simple spell to heat their homes. Twelve-year-old Isaveth is poor, but she’s also brave, loyal, and zealous in the pursuit of justice—which is lucky, because her father has just been wrongfully arrested for murder.

 

Isaveth is determined to prove his innocence. Quiz, the eccentric, eyepatch-wearing street boy who befriends her, swears he can’t resist a good mystery. Together they set out to solve the magical murder of one of Tarreton’s most influential citizens and save Isaveth’s beloved Papa from execution. But is Quiz truly helping Isaveth out of friendship, or does he have hidden motives of his own?

 

Cute! The world building was so great! The magic system was pretty clever and fun. The bad guy was pretty obvious, but fun at the same time. The mystery was engaging for the most part, and the family felt real to me. Enjoyable read! 

 

A Little Taste of Poison, by R.J. Anderson  ★★★

 

Summary: Twelve-year-old Isaveth tries to take down the man who framed her father for murder in this lively follow-up to A Pocket Full of Murder, which Kirkus Reviews called “thoroughly entertaining.”

 

The city of Tarreton is powered by magic, from simple tablets that light lamps to advanced Sagery that can murder a man from afar. Isaveth has a talent for spell-making, but as a girl from a poor neighborhood she never dreamed she could study at the most exclusive magical school in the city. So when she’s offered a chance to attend, she eagerly accepts.

 

The school is wonderful, but old and new enemies confront Isaveth at every turn, and she begins to suspect her scholarship might be more of a trap than a gift. Even her secret meetings with Esmond, her best friend and partner in crime-solving, prove risky—especially once he hatches a plan to sneak her into the biggest society event of the season. It’s their last chance to catch the corrupt politician who once framed her father for murder. How can Isaveth refuse?

 

This one was even better than the first! Delved a little bit more into the characters. Also, that twist at the end. Wow! Nice! 

 

The Wish Granter, by C.J. Redwine ★★★

 

Summary: The world has turned upside down for Thad and Ari Glavan, the bastard twins of Súndraille’s king. Their mother was murdered. The royal family died mysteriously. And now Thad sits on the throne of a kingdom whose streets are suddenly overrun with violence he can’t stop.

 

Growing up ignored by the nobility, Ari never wanted to be a proper princess. And when Thad suddenly starts training Ari to take his place, she realizes that her brother’s ascension to the throne wasn’t fate. It was the work of a Wish Granter named Alistair Teague who tricked Thad into wishing away both the safety of his people and his soul in exchange for the crown. 

 

So Ari recruits the help of Thad’s enigmatic new weapons master, Sebastian Vaughn, to teach her how to fight Teague. With secret ties to Teague’s criminal empire, Sebastian might just hold the key to discovering Alistair’s weaknesses, saving Ari’s brother—and herself. 

 

But Teague is ruthless and more than ready to destroy anyone who dares stand in his way—and now he has his sights set on the princess. And if Ari can’t outwit him, she’ll lose Sebastian, her brother…and her soul.

 

I liked this well enough, but it wasn't one of my favorites. The romance felt a little forced to me, but the villain was creepy. I would've liked to know more about him actually. 

 

A Curious Beginning, by Deanna Raybourn ★★★

 

Summary: London, 1887. As the city prepares to celebrate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee, Veronica Speedwell is marking a milestone of her own. After burying her spinster aunt, the orphaned Veronica is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry—and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as she is fending off admirers, Veronica wields her butterfly net and a sharpened hatpin with equal aplomb, and with her last connection to England now gone, she intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime.

 

But fate has other plans, as Veronica discovers when she thwarts her own abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron with ties to her mysterious past. Promising to reveal in time what he knows of the plot against her, the baron offers her temporary sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker—a reclusive natural historian as intriguing as he is bad-tempered. But before the baron can deliver on his tantalizing vow to reveal the secrets he has concealed for decades, he is found murdered. Suddenly Veronica and Stoker are forced to go on the run from an elusive assailant, wary partners in search of the villainous truth. 

 

A fun little mystery with interesting characters. I really enjoyed the build up to the big 'secret', but it was a little predictable. The main character's sense of humor was fun and biting. It kept me engaged! 

 

A Perilous Undertaking, by Deanna Rayborn ★★★

 

Summary: London, 1887. Victorian adventuress and butterfly hunter Veronica Speedwell receives an invitation to visit the Curiosity Club, a ladies-only establishment for daring and intrepid women. There she meets the mysterious Lady Sundridge, who begs her to take on an impossible task—saving society art patron Miles Ramsforth from execution. Accused of the brutal murder of his artist mistress Artemisia, Ramsforth will face the hangman’s noose in a week’s time if Veronica cannot find the real killer.

 

But Lady Sundridge is not all that she seems, and unmasking her true identity is only the first of the many secrets Veronica must uncover. Together with her natural historian colleague Stoker, Veronica races against time to find the true murderer—a ruthless villain who not only took Artemisia’s life in cold blood but is happy to see Ramsforth hang for the crime. From a Bohemian artists’ colony to a royal palace to a subterranean grotto with a decadent history, the investigation proves to be a very perilous undertaking indeed....

 

Again, a little predictable, but fun all the same. I'm looking forward to the third one in the series.

 

 

The Beekeeper's Apprentice, by Laurie R. King ★★★★

 

Summary: In 1915, Sherlock Holmes is retired and quietly engaged in the study of honeybees in Sussex when a young woman literally stumbles onto him on the Sussex Downs. Fifteen years old, gawky, egotistical, and recently orphaned, the young Mary Russell displays an intellect to impress even Sherlock Holmes. Under his reluctant tutelage, this very modern, twentieth-century woman proves a deft protégée and a fitting partner for the Victorian detective. They are soon called to Wales to help Scotland Yard find the kidnapped daughter of an American senator, a case of international significance with clues that dip deep into Holmes's past. Full of brilliant deduction, disguises, and danger, The Beekeeper's Apprentice, the first book of the Mary Russell–Sherlock Holmes mysteries, is "remarkably beguiling" (The Boston Globe).

 

A fun Sherlock Holmes retelling. Loved the villain and enjoyed the mystery. Interesting and engaging.

 

A Monstrous Regiment of Women, by Laurie R. King ★★★

 

Summary: It is 1921 and Mary Russell--Sherlock Holmes's brilliant apprentice, now an Oxford graduate with a degree in theology--is on the verge of acquiring a sizable inheritance. Independent at last, with a passion for divinity and detective work, her most baffling mystery may now involve Holmes and the burgeoning of a deeper affection between herself and the retired detective. Russell's attentions turn to the New Temple of God and its leader, Margery Childe, a charismatic suffragette and a mystic, whose draw on the young theology scholar is irresistible. But when four bluestockings from the Temple turn up dead shortly after changing their wills, could sins of a capital nature be afoot?

 

Just as fun as the first, but a little strange because there was some 'love' interest built between Russell and Sherlock. 

 

A Letter of Mary, by Laurie R. King ★★★

 

Summary: It is 1923. Mary Russell Holmes and her husband, the retired Sherlock Holmes, are enjoying the summer together on their Sussex estate when they are visited by an old friend, Miss Dorothy Ruskin, an archeologist just returned from Palestine. She leaves in their protection an ancient manuscript which seems to hint at the possibility that Mary Magdalene was an apostle--an artifact certain to stir up a storm of biblical proportions in the Christian establishment. When Ruskin is suddenly killed in a tragic accident, Russell and Holmes find themselves on the trail of a fiendishly clever murderer.

 

Sherlock and Mary are married, the mystery was still fun, but even though I thought the characters meshed well together, the age gap did bother me a little too much to read any of her further novels. 

 

The Rogue Knight, by Brandon Mull ★★

 

Summary: Cole Randolph never meant to come to The Outskirts, but when his friends were kidnapped on Halloween he had to try and save them. Now he’s trapped in a world that lies between wakefulness and dreaming, reality and imagination, life and death.

 

Cole’s hunt for his lost friends has led him to the kingdom of Elloweer. Accompanied by new friends Mira, Twitch, and Jace, Cole teams up with the resistance movement and joins the search for Mira’s sister Honor.

 

But Elloweer has grown unstable. A mysterious enemy is wiping out towns, leaving no witnesses or survivors. And an infamous rebel known throughout the kingdom as the “Rogue Knight” is upsetting the balance of power.

 

With enemies in pursuit, Cole and Mira must resort to a fascinating new kind of magic to protect themselves. Every move is filled with danger as Cole and his friends try to outwit the High King, who will stop at nothing to regain what he has lost.

 

I was really quite disappointed with this book. Mira has her powers back and does practically nothing with them. I realize she's been without them for forever, and in some of the book, I believe her powers weren't supposed to work. But I felt like they weren't even featured at all. 

 

The Heart of Betrayal, by Mary E. Pearson ★★★-★★★ 1/2

 

Summary: Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape . . . and even less of being together.

 

Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komisar that she has a magical gift, and the Komisar's interest in Lia is greater than either Kaden or Lia foresaw.

 

Meanwhile, the foundations of Lia's deeply-held beliefs are crumbling beneath her. Nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to her, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom she always believed to be barbarians but whom she now realizes are people who have been terribly brutalized by the kingdoms of Dalbreck and Morrighan. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her very sense of self, Lia will have to make powerful choices that affect her country, her people . . . and her own destiny.

 

Mary! If you are reading this- you were right. I was doubtful, but this book was so much better than the first. So much deeper, darker, and more interesting. The only thing that made me dislike it was the love triangle. Also, the ending was a teeny bit disappointing for me. It felt anti-climatic for some reason. I will be reading the last book in the series!

 

 

The Diabolic, by S.J. Kincaid ★★★

 

Summary: A Diabolic is ruthless. A Diabolic is powerful. A Diabolic has a single task: Kill in order to protect the person you’ve been created for. 

 

Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The two have grown up side by side, but are in no way sisters. Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia, and she would do so gladly. She would also take as many lives as necessary to keep Sidonia safe.

 

When the power-mad Emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the Galactic court. She is to serve as a hostage. Now, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Nemesis travels to the court disguised as Sidonia—a killing machine masquerading in a world of corrupt politicians and two-faced senators’ children. It’s a nest of vipers with threats on every side, but Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything.

 

As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns there is something more to her than just deadly force. She finds a humanity truer than what she encounters from most humans. Amidst all the danger, action, and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life—and the empire.

 

Nemesis was awesome. I really enjoyed her character. I enjoyed her getting embroiled in the politics of the human world. The romance felt a little forced, and that was a recurring theme in the book, but I still enjoyed the plot. 

 

 

Mortal Engines, by Philip Reeve ★★★

 

Summary: Welcome to the astounding world of Predator Cities!

 

London is hunting again. Emerging from its hiding place in the hills, the great Traction City is chasing a terrified little town across the wastelands. Soon, London will feed. 

 

In the attack, Tom Natsworthy is flung from the speeding city with a murderous scar-faced girl. They must run for their lives through the wreckage--and face a terrifying new weapon that threatens the future of the world.

 

A interesting read! Hester Shaw was brilliant. I loved her. She was by far what kept me engaged with the world and interested in the story. 

 

Wintersong, by S. Jae-Jones  ★★-★★★

 

Summary: Deep in his terrifying realm underground, the cold and forbidding Goblin King casts a dark shadow over nineteen-year-old Liesl. Her grandmother had always warned her to follow the old laws, for every year on the longest night of winter the Goblin King will emerge into the waking world in search of his eternal bride. Sensible and plain, Liesl knows it's her duty to keep her beautiful sister safe from harm, but she wishes only to indulge in her wild, captivating music, composed and played in secret in the Goblin King's honor.

 

When her beautiful sister Käthe is stolen by the Goblin King, Liesl knows she must set aside her childish fantasies to journey to the Underground and save her. Drawn despite herself to the strange, beautiful world she finds--and the mysterious man who rules it--she finds herself facing an impossible choice. With time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.

 

Oh, this book could have been beautiful. It has lots of beautiful ideas, imagery, and language in it. But I felt like the ideas were sort of repeated needlessly. The romance was kind of more 'lust' then actual romance and so when it reaches it's pinnacle it wasn't really satisfying to me. Probably will not be picking up the next in the series. 

[Katia11]

Hello, my friends! I don't know if you guys still like these or not, but it's fun!  This year I set my goal at 50 books.

 

Goals: 

 

At least one classic novel

 

At least one non-fiction

 

Previous years: 2016, 2017 

 

1) The Complete Father Brown

 

2) The Phoenix and the Carpet

 

3) The Magic Misfits

 

4) To Kill a Mockingbird

 

5) As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust

 

6) The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow

 

7) The Mystery of the Jeweled Moth

 

8) The Lost Realm

 

9)  The Art Forger

 

10) Treasure Island

 

11) The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse

 

12) Mara Daughter of the Nile

 

13) The Call

 

14) Dream Magic

 

15) The Secret of Nightingale Wood 

 

16) James and the Giant Peach

 

17) The Miracle Morning

 

18) Crime and Punishment

 

19) The Thirteen Hallows

 

20) The Uncommoners

 

21) Children of Blood and Bone

 

22) The Hazel Wood

 

23) Nevermoor, The Trials of Morrigan Crow

 

24) The Night Gardener 

 

25) Sophie Quire and the Last Storygaurd

 

26) Princess at Sea 

 

27) Heart Forger

 

28) The Reader

 

29) The Looking Glass Wars

 

30) The Shadows

 

31) Thunderhead

[SweeneyxxTodd]

Considering you read over 100 last year, I know you can handle this. I am in awe of the number of books you read in a year.

[Katia11]

LOL thanks, I think? Question, do you count audio books? I have like six audible credits to use (I didn't even know they were there tbh).

[SweeneyxxTodd]

Of course! It's still completing a book.

I count anything that has a Goodreads entry to mark, no matter how short it is.

[Katia11]

Okay! Although, with an audio book I tend to space out a little more than a physical book. 

[Katia11]

Ah! I'm already falling behind on my reviews here guys. This does not bode well for 2018. 

[SweeneyxxTodd]

Lol I'm already three books behind in my reading challenge. But it's still early in the year. There's time to get caught up.