Review: Firewalker by Josephine Angelini

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication: 09/01/2015 by Feiwel & Friends
Series: The Worldwalker Trilogy #2
Pages: 352 Pages
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
Lily Proctor has made it back to her own universe, and she’s ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the pyre that fueled their escape, and they must hide her new magic or risk endangering the world, but compared to fighting the monstrous Woven and leading armies in the alternate Salem, life is looking good.

“You think I’m a monster, but…my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified.”

Unfortunately, Lillian, malevolent ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. Lily is the closest version of herself she’s ever seen in all her worldwalking, and Lillian’s running out of time. If she can’t persuade Lily and Rowan to return to her world, she’ll have to find a way to make them come back.

My Thoughts:
This series is kind of addictive. It's not great but I enjoy it while I'm reading it. I think the concept is unique and I haven't read anything else like it. However, I also find the world somewhat confusing. Especially, since the book jumped right back into the story right from where Trial by Fire left off. It took me some time to remember what happened in the first book but once I did I was good to go. 

These books are fast paced and they are pretty quick to get through. What I don't really enjoy as much about the story is that Lily is essentially helpless without her coven with her. I prefer my leading ladies to be strong in their own right. To make up for it, at least Lily is smart and can make logical decisions. I also have a weird love/hate relationship with the romance at this point. Rowan made some seriously harsh decisions and that hurt my ship. But I did like that this book approached sex, and didn't hold back because it was "young adult". 

I am excited to see how this series ends, the story ended on an emotional cliff hanger and it's time to get some closure. This is a fun series but not going to make any of my top lists. I would recommend this to people who are into witch books because this is an interesting take on a witch story. 

Review: Bossypants by Tina Fey

Genre: Non-Fiction
Publication: 04/05/2011 by Reagan Arthur Books
Pages: 277 Pages
Source: Overdrive Audiobook
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Goodreads Summary:
Before Liz Lemon, before "Weekend Update," before "Sarah Palin," Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV.

She has seen both these dreams come true.

At last, Tina Fey's story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon -- from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence.


Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we've all suspected: you're no one until someone calls you bossy.

My Thoughts
Why haven't I read this sooner? I listened to this on a road trip and I laughed my butt off the whole way. I watched Tina Fey when she was on SNL and now in whatever else she does. She is hilarious and relatable. I laughed out loud so many times. Some of my favourite parts were when she was talking about being Sarah Palin on SNL. I remember those sketches so well it was awesome to hear some of the behind the scenes action.

Tina has some good insights into the world, and I can really relate to what she says. I love listening to hilarious book from other strong women. Being a comedian and being a women can be hard and Tina is really inspiring. If you like memoirs, especially funny ones, check this one out. It's awesome and I will always highly recommend.

Book Haul #1 - YouTube


I bought myself some more books. Should I read the ones I already have, definitely but Kobo had a sale on best sellers so how could I hold back. I also included some library books in this haul. Let me know if you have read any of these books and which ones I should pick up first. 

Review: Sharp Objects

Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Publication: 2006 by Broadway Paperbacks
Pages: 254 Pages
Source: Overdrive eBook
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

Goodreads Summary
WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart 
Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker’s troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille’s first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.

NASTY on her kneecap, BABYDOLL on her leg 
Since she left town eight years ago, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed again in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille is haunted by the childhood tragedy she has spent her whole life trying to cut from her memory.

HARMFUL on her wrist, WHORE on her ankle 
As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming.

My Thoughts:
Gillian Flynn is easily becoming one of my auto buy authors. This many not have been my favourite book, but it was masterfully written which kept me going. I found Sharp Objects to be a very slow moving story, everything was relieved at the very end which kept you guessing the whole way through. I do wish that we got to the resolution quicker, and then got more insight into that end. Now speaking of the ending, my mouth fell to the floor during the ending and I laid on the couch after for at least 20 minutes after finishing this book just soaking in what I had just read. I was disturbed, but in a way that made the book memorable. 

The subplots in this book were strong and interesting in their own right. I loved the mystery behind Camille's mother and how you slowly got Camille's history growing up in that town. Sharp Objects was a good book, not the best but certainly a compelling suspenseful mystery. If you loved Gillian Flynn's other book, definitely check this one out. 

Short and Sweet Reviews: Graphic Novel Edition #4

Gotham Academy Vol 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy
 

This was an awesome book. I loved that it was kind of a mystery ghost story, and at some points it even reminded me of Scooby-Doo. The art in this was very well done and I really enjoyed the start of this series. There is still a lot to learn about the characters and the school and I am excited for the second volume to come out. 

4 out of 5 Stars


Chew Vol 4: Flambe
John Layman

I love this series, it's so unique. The story keeps taking weird and hilarious turns. There is always hidden gems in the art work that plays homage to pop culture. Some of the side characters play a bigger role in this one and it was awesome. I can't wait to pick up the next volume! I don't know why I haven't yet.

4 out of 5 Stars 


The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol 1: Squirrel Power
 & 

This is going to be am amazing series. This is has been recommended to me by a lot of comic book readers and it was perfectly up my alley. A badass women superhero that is part squirrel and who has an equally badass squirrel as a pet, now that's an awesome comic. I highly recommend this series to anyone who wants a fresh superhero, this is funny, adorable and awesome.

5 out of 5 Stars 


Ms. Marvel Vol 4: Last Days
 &  

This might be my favourite series right now. It's awesome and it has heart. I had the silliest smile on my face the entire time I was reading this book. It was exciting and I am actually connected to all the characters. I absolutely love the family dynamic and the possibility of romance. If you aren't reading this series, do it! On a side note, this book has 2 issues of Spiderman at the end which I didn't enjoy as much. However, I am not including it in my rating because it's not part of the series.

5 out of 5 Stars 

Review: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication: 09/01/2015 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320 Pages
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Goodreads Summary: 
My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

My Thoughts: 
I have heard a lot about this book ever since it was released last year. I hesitated to pick it up because I am not typically a huge fan of YA contemporary. However, I read a sampler for it a few weeks ago and fell in love. This book really surprised me and I loved it 

I really connected with the characters and felt for them especially Maddie. I think she had appropriate feelings about her illness and it's impossible to imagine living a life where you are never allowed to leave or see anybody besides your mother and your nurse. I also really enjoyed Olly's character. He seemed like he could be a real person. Sometimes I fell like in contemporary books the romantic interests are too perfect or too mature to be real. Olly however wasn't too perfect. 

I also really like that this book approached the topic of sex in a real way. Normally, YA books only imply to sex or even avoid it all together. This one didn't do that. It didn't describe it in any great detail but you clearly knew that it happened. They also were open about protection which is important for readers to see. We all know teenagers have sex, so I like when book don't avoid the topic. 

All in all, this book was fantastic. It takes some serious turns and the ending fully surprised me. I highly recommend this book to contemporary or YA readers. It's fun, addictive and super easy to flow through. I almost read it in one sitting, which I never do. All the thumbs up.