Review: Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham

Genre: Memoir
Publication: September 30, 2014 by Random House
Pages: 256 Pages
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
“If I can take what I’ve learned in this life and make one treacherous relationship or degrading job easier for you, perhaps even prevent you from becoming temporarily vegan, then every misstep of mine will have been worthwhile. This book contains stories about wonderful nights with terrible boys and terrible days with wonderful friends, about ambition and the two existential crises I had before the age of twenty. About fashion and its many discontents. About publicly sharing your body, having to prove yourself in a meeting full of fifty-year-old men, and the health fears (tinnitus, lamp dust, infertility) that keep me up at night. I’m already predicting my future shame at thinking I had anything to offer you with this book,  but also my future glory in having stopped you from trying an expensive juice cleanse or having the kind of sexual encounter where you keep your sneakers on. No, I am not a sexpert, a psychologist, or a registered dietician. I am not a married mother of three or the owner of a successful hosiery franchise. But I am a girl with a keen interest in self-actualization, sending hopeful dispatches from the front lines of that struggle.”

My Thoughts: 
I don't think I mesh very well with Lena. I like the idea of this book and I did laugh at some of the essays but it just couldn't relate to a lot of the stories that she told. I haven't see Girls of really anything else Lena has done but I have heard a lot of what she has to say about life (because she does seem to have lots to say).

I like how she can push the envelope and start a conversation but at the same time I think she takes it a little too far. I like her views on body image and sexuality. My favourite essays were the ones where she was losing her virginity and in college. These were the stories I can relate to most as an early 20-something in university. However, a lot of the other stories I just had no way to relate to them. I grew up very differently and I feel like she was trying really hard to make them funny.

I did appreciate this book and it made me think about some things. Even if I don't see the world exactly the same way as Lena, it's interesting to see someone else's thoughts. It's not perfect but it's not a bad read.

Review: Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

Genre: Contemporary/Paranormal
Publication: September 24th, 2014 by Simon Pulse
Pages: 599 Pages
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
Darcy Patel has put college and everything else on hold to publish her teen novel, Afterworlds. Arriving in New York with no apartment or friends she wonders whether she's made the right decision until she falls in with a crowd of other seasoned and fledgling writers who take her under their wings…


Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld' to survive a terrorist attack. But the Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead and as Lizzie drifts between our world and that of the Afterworld, she discovers that many unsolved - and terrifying - stories need to be reconciled. And when a new threat resurfaces, Lizzie learns her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she loves and cares about most.

My Thoughts
I have been putting this book off for awhile now and I am happy I finally got to it. I was pleasantly surprised by the stories in the book and I am glad to have read it. My favourite part of this book is Darcy's story. I loved getting to see the behind the scenes of publishing and the writing. It's not something I know a lot about, even though I read a lot, I have never tried to write ever in my life. I liked that this book gave me a different perspective on books and I really want to support my favourite authors more.

The biggest downside with this book for me was Lizzie's story. I am just not a huge fan of the paranormal genre so I struggled more with her sections. I did love seeing how Darcy's life effected the Lizzie's story but I wasn't particularly invested in her story. It wasn't bad by any means, just not my style. I also found that I got a little lost when I got back to Lizzie's story after one of Darcy's chapters.

All-in-all, I enjoyed this book. It was an interesting concept and I really had fun listening to it. I did listen to it on audiobook and there where 2 different narrators which made the experience even better. There was also an LGBT relationship, which was an awesome surprise and it made me happy. I do suggest you check out this book. It was perfect but it definitely was interesting.

Review: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: March 12, 2014 by Farrar Straus Giroux
Series: The Winner's Trilogy #1
Pages: 355 Pages
Format: Hardback
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love...

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.


Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

My Thoughts:
I am not completely sure where I stand at the end of this book. This is one of a the few times I felt like I needed a half star. But I am going to stick to my system and give this a solid 3 stars. I think the hype got to me with this one. I have been hearing amazing things for years now and I was left feeling like I was missing something. I was just a bit underwhelmed.

There were lots of things that I liked. Kestrel was a great character. She wasn't the character that was amazing at everything. She isn't a strong warrior, and is often gossiped about. She is intelligent and an extremely good strategist.  I love smart women, because brains is often better than brawn. Intelligence is often underestimated.

However, I felt like I knew the story line from early on. There wasn't a whole lot of surprises for me. The story never truly wowed me and I still don't completely understand the romance. I do plan to continue this series, there is lots of potential. It's just not on the top of my list. I think I have been reading too much fantasy lately and need a break.

Review - Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation by Bill Nye

Genre: Science, Non-Fiction
Publication: 11/04/2014 by St. Martin's Press
Pages: 320 Pages
Format: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary: 
"Evolution is one of the most powerful and important ideas ever developed in the history of science. Every question it raises leads to new answers, new discoveries, and new smarter questions. The science of evolution is as expansive as nature itself. It is also the most meaningful creation story that humans have ever found."
—Bill Nye

Sparked by a controversial debate in February 2014, Bill Nye has set off on an energetic campaign to spread awareness of evolution and the powerful way it shapes our lives. In Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation, he explains why race does not really exist; evaluates the true promise and peril of genetically modified food; reveals how new species are born, in a dog kennel and in a London subway; takes a stroll through 4.5 billion years of time; and explores the new search for alien life, including aliens right here on Earth.


With infectious enthusiasm, Bill Nye shows that evolution is much more than a rebuttal to creationism; it is an essential way to understand how nature works—and to change the world. It might also help you get a date on a Saturday night.

My Thoughts:

I grew up watching Bill Nye the Science Guy and I now sit here with my BSc reading this book with the stupidest smile on my face. I absolutely love science, and Bill was one of the first people who ever got me excited to be a scientist. Now here I am a huge Biology nerd getting excited about things like The Red Queen Hypothesis, Convergent Evolution and Sexual Selection. 

Since I do have my BSc in Biology, I know quite a bit about Evolution. I had to take quite a bit to get my degree. Therefore, I did know pretty much everything that Bill was talking about. It wasn't particularly new to me. I did really enjoy Bill's take on evolution. I couldn't help but get excited again about it. Genetics and evolution are the reason I went into biology in the first place so this whole book made me super happy. 

I do think this book is also a good introduction to evolution for people without a science background. Bill explains everything so well without having to use super complicated terms. Evolution is a pretty approachable subject and this is an easy medium to learn. Clearly, there will be people out there against this book which still baffles my mind. I can't imagine our world without evolution but I understand there are many who can.  

If you are interested in learning more about Evolution, check this one out. I listened to it on audiobook which I would suggest above the physical copy. Hearing Bill's voice tell the story makes it so much more interesting. Now I need to pick up his next book!

Review: The Iron Trial by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare

Genre: Fantasy
Publications: 09/09/2014 by Scholastic
Series: The Magisterium #1
Pages: 295 Pages
Format: Overdrive Audiobook
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial.

Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail.

All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him.

So he tries his best to do his worst - and fails at failing.
Now the Magisterium awaits him. It's a place that's both sensational and sinister, with dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future.

The Iron Trial is just the beginning, for the biggest test is still to come . . .

My Thoughts:
I was really surprised with this book. I didn't have extremely high expectations because I have heard lots of mixed reviews about it. But this book grabbed my attention from the beginning and I was drawn right into the story. A lot of people compared it to Harry Potter, which I didn't see (at least in this first book). I felt that it had a unique magic system and the Magisterium itself was an interesting setting. 

This story took some really interesting twists and turns. Some of them were predictable, but considering this book is targeted for middle grade audiences they made sense. However, I was surprised by most of the plot twists. I also really enjoyed the characters. Their motivations were strong and I am excited to see where the series takes them.

I think this will be a really interesting series and I am planning on picking up The Copper Gauntlet soon from my library. I would highly recommend this book to lovers of middle grade adventure books. I have high hopes for this series, 2 thumbs up.

Review: My True Love Gave To Me - Edited by Stephanie Perkins

Genre: YA, Holiday Romance
Publication: 08/14/2014 by St. Martin's Press
Pages: 336 Pages
Source: Library E-Book
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins. Whether you enjoy celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or New Year's there's something here for everyone. So curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. You have twelve reasons this season to stay indoors and fall in love.


My Thoughts
This book came into my life just at the right time. I was looking for Romance and some Holiday spirit, and I found just want I needed. I also thought I should get it from the library before the holiday rush. I enjoyed this book for the most part, I really enjoyed some of the stories in this book and there were others I could care less about.

My favourite stories in the anthology were Midnights by Rainbow Rowell and It's A Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins. Midnights was very bittersweet and it reminded me of New Years Eves of my past. I was super flustered after reading this story for hours, so many memories. Also, Stephanie Perkins story was so sweet that I nearly melted. I loved how the story was told and how the romance unfolded. I really want to pick up her other romances now, they have been added to my ever growing TBR. 

However, there were stories that I really didn't enjoy which brought my rating down. I also find it hard to get into short story collections. I get connected to one story then it just ends and I have to connect with another right after. It's exhausting! But I do think there is something for everyone in this collection and if you are looking for some holiday romance check these out. 

Review: The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication: 07/04/2014 by Henry Holt
Series: The Remnant Chronicles
Pages: 492 Pages
Format: Overdrive Audiobook
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Goodreads Summary:
A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

My Thoughts:
I have been waiting to read this forever! When I saw that it was available on audiobook through my library, I grabbed it. I wasn't as impressed by this book as I wanted to be. I did enjoy this book but I wasn't completely blown away. I really liked the concept: princess runs away, and is followed by an assassin and the prince she was suppose to marry. I do think that this was done very well, and I didn't guess who was who until it was relieved. It always kept you on your toes, especially when she was with these guys. However, this set up does end up creating love triangles which I felt strange about. I knew going in that it would happen but I just wanted Leah to be with one of these guys. I think she only truly has feelings for one and not the other. 

Leah was an awesome character. I really enjoyed her character development and I really enjoy that her strength isn't a physical strength. She isn't a total badass, but she still is very brave and intelligent. She understands the repercussions of her actions, and allows them to shape who she is becoming. 

I found the pacing in this book to be slow. There wasn't as much action as I expected, it's mostly character driven story with lots of politics between different nations in the world. The world building was interesting but not much different than other fantasy books I have read. I think I was even getting it confused with other worlds in different books. I like my fantasy worlds to be distinct, sure there are going to be some similarities but I don't want to confuse worlds. 

Conclusions: Enjoyable story with a very interesting premise. I can see great things coming from the sequel, but I was slightly underwhelmed by this one. If you like fantasy with some romance, check this one out. 

Quote: "Once upon a time, there was a man as great as the gods…
But even the great can tremble with fear.
Even the great can fall"

Review: The Martian by Andy Weir

Genre: Science Fiction
Publication: 02/14/2014 by Crown
Pages: 369 Pages
Source: Library Paperback
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary: 
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him & forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded & completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—& even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—& a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

My Thoughts: 
I FINALLY finished this book. Even though it took me forever, I still really really enjoyed The Martian. This is a surprisingly hilarious book, you wouldn't think a space survival book would be humorous but it is. Mark Watney is a sarcastic bastard and I absolutely loved his character. Even though he was left on Mars to die, he looked on the bright side of things and made a joke about whatever bad situation he is in. I absolutely loved his character and I might have a crush on Mark, who doesn't?

I think part of the reason that this book took me longer than normal to read this book is because it was very technical. There is a lot of scientific explanation for different situations which was awesome but slow to read. I am a scientist so I loved to read it but if you don't know a lot about science don't avoid this book. It's written so that anybody could read it and enjoy it. However, I still find it hard to believe that the government would spend millions and millions (maybe even a billion) dollars to save ONE person from Mars. But if I suspend my disbelief for the sake of the story I am good. 

I really hope that some people get excited about science by reading this book. There is some inaccuracies but as a whole it was very well down. Andy Weir seriously did his research before writing this book. I also really enjoyed that there were women scientists in important roles during the story. This isn't something you see a lot of, but it's important to show girls that science/engineering/computer science are great areas of study and you shouldn't feel held back from because you are a girl. 

Conclusions: Hilarious story with lots of science! Perfect for all the geeky nerd out there but it's still great no matter what your into. 2 thumbs up from me. 

Review: Snow Like Ashes - Sara Raasch

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication: 10/14/14 by Balzer + Bray
Series: Snow Like Ashes Series
Pages: 416 Pages
Format: Library Audiobook
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary: 
Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since. Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again. So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.


My Thoughts: 
I absolutely loved Snow Like Ashes! I haven't been so excited about a book for a long time. The story was beautifully crafted and I loved the world this took place in. I really enjoyed the combination of the rhythm kingdoms and the season kingdoms, it added a lot of depth to the story. Tension and political intrigue is present between all the kingdoms adding a whole extra element to the story. Winter had been enslaved by the Spring Kingdom. So you really feel for the Winterians' and throughout the book I had no idea how they'd be rescued from slavery.

Meira was an awesome main character. She didn't have the "I'm so special" main character complex which I appreciated. She was strong, brave and just wanted to mean something to Winter. It was interesting to see her internal struggles to feel connected to a kingdom she had never really known. This book does however have a slight love triangle, however it is one that makes sense. I am not sure how this will play out in the rest of the trilogy but I hope it never becomes the prominent story line. Both of these boys however are very swoon worthy. Prince Theron is the charming, gentleman you dream of sweeping you off your feet and making you a Princess.

The ending was fantastic. It wrapped things up in this story but leaves so much open to happen in the following books. I don't know how the sequel is going to play out but I already have it pre-ordered! I am dying to know what's going to happen to these characters and their kingdom.

Conclusions: Clearly, I loved this book. It easily became one of my favourites this year. If you are a fan of fantasy, seriously try this one out. It's got great characters and amazing world building. Read it!

Review: Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication: 08/04/15 by Putnam Juvenile
Series: Rebel Belle Series
Pages: 345 Pages
Format: Library Hardback
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary: 
Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.
Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

My Thoughts:
I had Rebel Belle on my TBR sine I heard people talk about it at the end of last year so when I saw it at my library I jumped on it. This was definitely an interesting story and one that I hadn't really read before (aside from the regular YA tropes). However in the end, there was lots of things that I liked about this book and at the same time there were a lot of just meh parts.  

So what did I like, I really enjoyed the use of Paladins. It was something original that I hadn't seen before. But what I didn't enjoy was the use of all the YA tropes and stereotypes. Sure, Harper wasn't a bad character but I've seen her character before. The seemingly perfect girl in high school who can do everything all at once and still remain awesome. I am tired of this character. She isn't bad, but I'm just over it right now. 

Now, the sequence of events was fast paced and interesting. I liked that it takes part during cotillion. I don't know a lot about the tradition besides what was portrayed in the movie She's The Man, 

So essentially nothing but I still find it interesting. What girl doesn't want to dress up in a gorgeous dress and be escorted by a gorgeous guy? And there are gorgeous boys in this book. I am a sucker for nerds, and David Stark sounds like my kind of guy. The romance involved is awesome and gave me some of the warm fuzzies. I find it hard to connect to a lot of YA romances but I liked this one. 

Conclusions: It was fun, interesting and pretty entertaining. I wasn't blown away by any means but I had a good time reading this one. Essentially, it was just the stereotypes/cliches that put me off a bit. Maybe I'm just getting tired of YA (OH NO). But in the end, not too shabby. I am planning on continuing this series but the second book isn't getting the best reviews. Sigh. But I wouldn't let that turn you away from this one. 

Review: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Genre: Contemporary
Publication: 01/04/2014 by Penguin
Pages: 260 Pages
Format: Library Paperback
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary: 
A.J. Fikry's life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island---from Chief Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who's always felt kindly toward him; from Ismay, his sister-in-law, who is hell-bent on saving A.J. from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic Knightley Press sales rep who refuses to be deterred by A.J.'s bad attitude. Even the books in his store have stopped holding pleasure for him. And then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It's a small package, though large in weight---an unexpected arrival that gives A.J. the opportunity to make his life over, the ability to see everything anew.

My Thoughts: 
This is how I sum up my thoughts: 

This book was beautiful. It made me laugh and cry all at the same time. It gave me the warm fuzzies but also proceeded to break my poor heart. I really enjoyed my time reading this story and I kind of want to read it again right now. 

Our main character A.J. Fikry is essentially a younger version of this guy: 

If you don't recognize him it's Carl from Up. Therefore he is essentially became a grumpy man because he lost his wife and now is living with that grief. I have a soft spot for grumpy old men. Especially ones that only have a grumpy exterior to hide their soft interiors so the character of A.J. was right up my alley.

The plot moved at an interesting pace and in the end all of the loose ties are done up. I got a real sense of closure and hope from the ending. This was a really well thought out book and I appreciate the planning it took to line it all up. Lots of thumbs up. The romance in this book just melted my heart. It felt so realistic and I had the warm fuzzies in my heart. I am a sucker for romance pretty much of any kind but this one is one of my favourites. It just felt real, it didn't feel overly pushed and it happened at a natural rate.

I seriously recommend this to anybody who loves books about books. A.J owns a book store and there is a lot of sub plot about keeping reading alive. It's also just a beautiful story of a man's life which I don't think anybody would dislike. If you have been thinking about reading this book, go check it out. Don't wait!

Review: Trial By Fire - Josephine Angelini

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Published: 09/02/14 by Feiwel & Friends
Series: The Worldwalker Trilogy
Pages: 374
Format: Library Hardback
Rating: 3.25 out of 5 Stars
Amazon | Goodreads | Indigo

Goodreads Summary 
This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear. Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.
What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.

My Thoughts
Look at me, finally finishing a book! 

Trial by Fire took me forever to read. Not because it was bad but just because it did. Happens to the best of us. I enjoyed the ride that this novel took me on. It was very different from most of what I had read and it has witches. Very powerful witches. 

There were things that I really enjoyed about Trial by Fire and there were things that I didn't enjoy. I found that the narration of the story was confusing at times. It is told in Third Person but sometimes I feel like it switched to First Person and I got confused. Mostly it was third person which was refreshing at times. I enjoyed seeing multiple views without hearing everyone in first person. 

Now onto the plot, which for the most part I did enjoy. It follows Lily, who ends up being brought into an alternate version of Salem. My biggest problem while reading was that I didn't completely understand WHY she was brought into this world. I feel like there wasn't a solid reason, or if there was one I missed it. 

The romance however was awesome. It was exactly what was needed and worked well with the story. You can understand the motives of both the characters. In addition, there is some bromance that adds to the storyline. I enjoyed the side characters and all the magical elements. Very interesting.

I am a bit unsure of the science element in this novel. On one hand I absolutely loved it, I have my Bachelor's of Science and really enjoyed the use of the laws of thermodynamics in this novel. However, the villain was a crusade to eliminate science. Which I don't know if I liked. I love science and I makes me worried when fiction creates misconceptions about some of our greatest developments. I hope people know this a fictional world and before you draw conclusions please research the science in our world. 

Conclusions: Grips aside this was a very interesting novel and I am very interested to see where the series goes.  I found the magic system unique and I am attached to some of the characters. The second book in this series comes out in September and I will definitely be picking it up. 

Review: Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

I did it, I read Gone Girl but if you don't already know Gone Girl follows the story of Nick and Amy Dunne. When Amy disappears suspiciously, Nick becomes the main suspect in her disappearance. It's a mystery/thriller that doesn't exactly go as you think it would. 

I REALLY enjoyed reading this book. All of the characters are so messed up and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happens. I normally don't read a lot of mystery/thrillers so this was a great step into that world (and might ruin a lot of others for me). What I loved about this books was the characters. I always wanted to like Nick, but he was total fuck up. He is your average everyday lazy dumbass husband. But somehow I still wanted to believe him. But Amy, Amy was psycho. When you thought she couldn't be any more messed up, it went a step further. 

I was fully entertained by the characters, I did kind of guess some of twists but there where so many that there is always something there to surprise you. I really enjoyed Gillian's writing and wasn't bored during any part of the story. The only thing that I wasn't completely sold on was the ending. I think I was just looking for more justice, but I do understand why it ended like it did. I'm off to watch the movie now soon!

Conclusion: Deliciously messed up. 2 thumbs up!!

Rating: 4/5 Psycho Stars

Ms. Marvel Volume #1 - Short & Sweet Review

I LOVED this story. It was a perfect way to kick off a new Ms. Marvel series and a great way for people like me (aka comics noobs) to jump into the Marvel Universe. Ms. Marvel follows Kamala Khan, a Muslim-American teenager who mysteriously gets super powers to become the new Ms. Marvel. However, the story was a lot more depth than just your basic back story. I found it very relatable for anybody who has ever felt different or has parents who are over-bearing. I found her family was relatable to anybody, because we all have weird siblings and embarrassing parents. This volume was a fantastic introduction into Kamala's life and I am excited to read the next volume to see where her character goes from here.  

Rating: 4.5 / 5