Review: A Torch Against The Night by Sabaa Tahir

Genre: Fantasy
Series: An Ember In The Ashes #2
Publication: 8/20/2016 by Razorbill
Pages: 452 Pages
Format: eBook
Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars
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Summary
Elias and Laia are running for their lives. 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.

My Thoughts
This was the last book that I read while on vacation. However, it fell flat for me. Would have it have been better if I had read An Ember in the Ashes again? Maybe. But I am not one to re-read books just for the sake of reading the sequel. This series has been kind of forgettable for me. I didn't remember a lot from An Ember in the Ashes, and I especially won't remember anything from this book by the time the next book comes out.

I just found this book was dull. They were travelling to the prison for the majority of the book, and it was slow going. I had a hard time caring about either Laia or Elias for most of this book. They just both refused to grow as characters. I ended up bored during most of their POV's. However, I did really enjoy the introduction of Helen's POV. Her character will make you think and she shows you her moral struggles with her new role in the Empire. I really enjoyed her sections. I also liked how this book wasn't afraid to go very dark. A lot of innocent people are dying and there is serious blood shed. I felt like there was something they should be fighting for but instead of saving the Scholar's they are only focused on saving one person. That just seems selfish.

I was unfortunately disappointed by this book. There were parts that I enjoyed but I was mostly bored while reading this book. There is some potential for the next book in the series. However, this book wrapped up enough of the story that I would probably be fine without continuing. We shall see.

Review: Adnan's Story: The Truth for Truth and Justice After Serial by Rabia Chaudry

Genre: Nonfiction, True Crime
Publication: 8/9/2016 by St. Martin's Press
Pages: 410 Pages
Format: eBook
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
In early 2000, Adnan Syed was convicted and sentenced to life plus thirty years for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, a high school senior in Baltimore, Maryland. Syed has maintained his innocence, and Rabia Chaudry, a family friend, has always believed him. By 2013, after almost all appeals had been exhausted, Rabia contacted Sarah Koenig, a producer at This American Life, in hopes of finding a journalist who could shed light on Adnan’s story. In 2014, Koenig's investigation turned into Serial, a Peabody Award-winning podcast with more than 500 million international listeners


But Serial did not tell the whole story. In this compelling narrative, Rabia Chaudry presents new key evidence that she maintains dismantles the State's case: a potential new suspect, forensics indicating Hae was killed and kept somewhere for almost half a day, and documentation withheld by the State that destroys the cell phone evidence -- among many other points -- and she shows how fans of Serial joined a crowd-sourced investigation into a case riddled with errors and strange twists. Adnan's Story also shares Adnan’s life in prison, and weaves in his personal reflections, including never-before-seen letters. Chaudry, who is committed to exonerating Adnan, makes it clear that justice is yet to be achieved in this much examined case.

My Thoughts
I knew I needed to read this book as soon as I finished listening to the podcast, Serial. I am a Forensic Science student and we spent a lot of time discussing people who are actually innocent of the crimes they were convicted of. Adnan's story is so similar to many of them but at the same time very different, especially considering that the ones I learn about generally contain DNA evidence. After listening to Serial, I needed to hear more evidence so that Adnan is actually innocent. This book did help give some clarity to the case and gave a much more personal recount of what happened.

I did have to put this book down the first time I tried to read it. However, I think that was because I was in the middle of school work and this story felt too much like school work at the time. I finished it on vacation, and did really enjoy it. There were some dry parts and at times I felt all 400 pages of it. However, if you loved Serial and want to know more I highly advise you check this book out. If you know nothing about this case, go listen to Serial.

Review: The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

Genre: Memoir
Publication: 9/18/2016 by Blue Rider Press
Pages: 257 Pages
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
When Carrie Fisher recently discovered the journals she kept during the filming of the first Star Wars movie, she was astonished to see what they had preserved—plaintive love poems, unbridled musings with youthful naiveté, and a vulnerability that she barely recognized. Today, her fame as an author, actress, and pop-culture icon is indisputable, but in 1977, Carrie Fisher was just a (sort-of) regular teenager.


With these excerpts from her handwritten notebooks, The Princess Diarist is Fisher’s intimate and revealing recollection of what happened on one of the most famous film sets of all time—and what developed behind the scenes. And today, as she reprises her most iconic role for the latest Star Wars trilogy, Fisher also ponders the joys and insanity of celebrity, and the absurdity of a life spawned by Hollywood royalty, only to be surpassed by her own outer-space royalty. Laugh-out-loud hilarious and endlessly quotable, The Princess Diarist brims with the candor and introspection of a diary while offering shrewd insight into the type of stardom that few will ever experience.

My Thoughts
This book made me absolutely fall in love with Carrie Fisher, however due to obvious circumstances was a very bittersweet experience. I listened to the audiobook, that she narrated herself, which brought you so much closer to the story. I always try to read memoirs through audiobook because they are pretty much always narrated by the author themselves which is the best experience.

Anyone who might know me will agree, I am a Star Wars nerd. I shamelessly cried during the opening crawl of The Force Awakens. Han Solo was always my favourite character, but I am strongly considering changing it to Leia. This book gave me all the awesome Star Wars behind the scenes which was funny and interesting. You also get a glimpse of Carrie's affair with Harrison Ford. Just the way that she wrote those sections was hilariously relatable.

Obviously, this book is a bittersweet experience due to Carrie's passing. The world lost an incredibly badass lady. She is so relatable in this book, which I loved. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is missing Carrie Fisher right now. I will definitely pick up some of her other books soon.

Review: The Girls by Emma Cline

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication: 6/14/2016 from Random House
Pages: 355 Pages
Format: Audiobook/eARC
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
Northern California, during the violent end of the 1960s. At the start of summer, a lonely and thoughtful teenager, Evie Boyd, sees a group of girls in the park, and is immediately caught by their freedom, their careless dress, their dangerous aura of abandon. Soon, Evie is in thrall to Suzanne, a mesmerizing older girl, and is drawn into the circle of a soon-to-be infamous cult and the man who is its charismatic leader. Hidden in the hills, their sprawling ranch is eerie and run down, but to Evie, it is exotic, thrilling, charged—a place where she feels desperate to be accepted. As she spends more time away from her mother and the rhythms of her daily life, and as her obsession with Suzanne intensifies, Evie does not realize she is coming closer and closer to unthinkable violence, and to that moment in a girl’s life when everything can go horribly wrong.

My Thoughts
Time to play so review catch up. I listened to The Girls on audiobook to finally get this review out in the world, only a year late! (We've all been there). The Girls has a fantastic premise, cults are one of my reading buzzwords so I had to check this one out. However, I found I was just mediocre about this story. It was neither bad nor was it fantastic. I often just felt distant from the story and had a hard time focusing on what was going on. I also found that I got confused when the story just back to the present, in the audiobook there wasn't really a break to show the change of time so I definitely got a bit lost.

I found myself siding with Evie's parents, which I definitely don't think you're suppose to do. I kept thinking you're 14-15 years old, go home! I often didn't know what her motivations were and I honestly didn't find her overly likable enough to care about. In the end, this is just an easily forgettable book.

Review: Witch's Pyre by Josephine Angelini

Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction
Series: Worldwalker #3
Publication: 8/20/2016 by Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 352 Pages
Format: Hardback
Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars
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Summary
Lily Proctor has come a long way from the weak, sickly girl she used to be. She has gained power as a witch and a leader, found her way home, chosen to face battle again, and (after losing her first love and being betrayed by her new love) she has learned more about loss and grief than she ever wanted to know.


Thrust once again into a society different from anything they have ever seen, Lily and her coven are determined to find answers―to find a new path to victory, a way to defeat the monstrous Woven without resorting to nuclear weapons or becoming a tyrannical mass murderer like her alternate self, Lillian. But sometimes winning requires sacrifices . . . and when the only clear path to victory lies at Lillian's side, what price will Lily be willing to pay?

My Thoughts
This is the final novel in the Worldwalker series, but to me it almost felt like it came from a completely different series. The plot of this series book a weird turn that felt very different from the first 2 books and it was not my cup of tea. I found this book sat in an awkward place between fantasy, science fiction and dystopian. I didn't know what the story wanted to be anymore. I felt like it was trying too be too many things at once. I would have DNF'd this book if it wasn't the last book in a series. I cared enough to know how it ended but I found myself putting off reading because of this book.

This was just a 2 star series for me. I do think I would recommend it, because there are many other series out there that are fantastic and this one just fell flat for me. I am happy I get to add it to my read series shelf but that's about it. I also noticed in the last book there might be some weird representation of native american's, I haven't seen anyone else talk about it but I would look out for that.

Review: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication: 8/2/16 by Doubleday
Pages: 306 Pages
Format: Hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. Life is hellish for all the slaves but especially bad for Cora; an outcast even among her fellow Africans, she is coming into womanhood - where even greater pain awaits. When Caesar, a recent arrival from Virginia, tells her about the Underground Railroad, they decide to take a terrifying risk and escape. Matters do not go as planned and, though they manage to find a station and head north, they are being hunted.


In Whitehead's ingenious conception, the Underground Railroad is no mere metaphor - engineers and conductors operate a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. Cora and Caesar's first stop is South Carolina, in a city that initially seems like a haven - but the city's placid surface masks an insidious scheme designed for its black denizens. Even worse: Ridgeway, the relentless slave catcher, is close on their heels. Forced to flee again, Cora embarks on a harrowing flight, state by state, seeking true freedom.

My Thoughts
I had to power through this book to get it back to the library on time, even then it was a day late. However, that late fee was well worth it. It's always important to remember the atrocities of the past and this book does it extremely well. I loved how it was an alternative history where the underground railroad was a real thing. Even though it was fictionalized for this story, it felt like it was so real. I was worried that it would feel too fantastical but it was executed perfectly.

This is a story that is quite far from my regular wheelhouse and I am very happy that I picked it up. I do feel like I have heard similar stories to this, but they are all still important to read. I liked how you got to see different parts of the country and what was going on in those areas. But at the same time, it was harder to connect with other characters from that area because you only got a short amount of time with them. I highly recommend this book.

Review: Wenjack by Joseph Boyden

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication: 10/18/2016 by Hamish Hamilton
Pages: 112 Pages
Format: Paperback
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
An Ojibwe boy runs away from a North Ontario Indian School, not realizing just how far away home is. Along the way he's followed by Manitous, spirits of the forest who comment on his plight, cajoling, taunting, and ultimately offering him a type of comfort on his difficult journey back to the place he was so brutally removed from.

Written by Scotiabank Giller Prize-winning author Joseph Boyden and beautifully illustrated by acclaimed artist Kent Monkman, Wenjack is a powerful and poignant look into the world of a residential school runaway trying to find his way home.

My Thoughts
If you are a Canadian, read this book. Seriously.
This story is based on the true story of Chanie Wenjack who tried to walk home from his residential school in Norther Ontario. This story is absolutely heartbreaking, I felt sad just from opening the front cover. This book is so important because we don't talk about residential school enough. This is a terrible thing that happened in Canadian history (modern history even!). As a Canadian my whole life, I didn't learn anything about residential schools until fairly recently. Not in school, not anywhere. I even found out the town I grew up in had a residential school and I had no idea until a few weeks ago. I think we all need to learn more about this, and this is a good place to start.

Review: The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer

Genre: Nonfiction; Memoir
Publication: August 16, 2016 by Gallery Books
Pages: 323 Pages
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
In The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, Amy mines her past for stories about her teenage years, her family, relationships, and sex and shares the experiences that have shaped who she is - a woman with the courage to bare her soul to stand up for what she believes in, all while making us laugh.

Ranging from the raucous to the romantic, the heartfelt to the harrowing, this highly entertaining and universally appealing collection is the literary equivalent of a night out with your best friends - an unforgettable and fun adventure that you wish could last forever. Whether she's experiencing lust-at-first-sight while in the airport security line, sharing her own views on love and marriage, admitting to being an introvert, or discovering her cross-fit instructor's secret bad habit, Amy Schumer proves to be a bighearted, brave, and thoughtful storyteller that will leave you nodding your head in recognition, laughing out loud, and sobbing uncontrollably - but only because it's over.

My Thoughts
I didn't think I would relate so much with Amy Schumer. I picked this up, not really knowing a whole lot about her. I have seen a few things she has done but I haven't really followed everything she has done. However, this book really surprised me. I feel a lot of the same things that she feels. I got her humour and her struggles. This book just caught me at the right time, where I could relate.

I do think that this isn't the book for everyone. Not every comedian is funny to everyone so if you already know that you aren't a fan of Amy's humour then this book isn't for you. On that same token, if you love Amy Schumer then this book is definitely for you. I loved how she mixed humour in with some very serious topics. Life isn't perfect, and she shows you that. I just really related to most of her stories. I think that if your a young female dealing with the world, then you'll be able to at least relate to some of this. I especially like when she talks about her body, not being the perfect "hollywood" body type.

I listened to this book on audio, and that is the way to go with this story. It is told my Amy herself so you get how she meant it to be read. You get the humour more and her serious stories are also more impactful. Like I said earlier, if you like Amy Schumer, check this one out. I enjoyed it a lot and nodded my head in agreement quite a bit. I laughed out loud and even got a little chocked up. I recommend.

Review: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: September 20, 2016 by HarperTeen
Series: Three Dark Crowns #1
Pages: 398 Pages
Format: eBook
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born—three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.


The last queen standing gets the crown.

My Thoughts
This was a nice change of pace for me, it was refreshing and I fell in love with the world. I have been burned out on YA Fantasy lately and this really got me excited to pick it up again. What I enjoyed most was the characters. They were very different from one another and you can really see their distinctive personalities and motives. I love that they are all the antagonists to one another and are morally grey in their own ways.

It was a slower read and I felt it was more character driven than action driven. However, I liked that aspect of it as well. It gave me time to learn about the island and how it works. It gave me time to figure out which queen I am cheering for the most. (*Arsinoe*) However, sometimes portions of the book did drag and I am confused what was going on the one of the relationships. I think I know why but there wasn't any confirmation or reason, at least in this book.

When I did get to the end, I wanted to get my hands on the next book right away but I have to wait until September. One Dark Throne is now on my most anticipated books of 2017 list! I am happy this was my first book with the year, started 2017 off right. If you are into a character driven, slow building fantasy this book is for you.

Review: Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier

Genre: Graphic Novel
Publication: September 13, 2016 by Graphix
Pages: 256 Pages
Source: Library Paperback
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn't happy about leaving her friends for Bahía de la Luna, but Maya has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea. As the girls explore their new home, a neighbor lets them in on a secret: There are ghosts in Bahía de la Luna. Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. As the time of year when ghosts reunite with their loved ones approaches, Cat must figure out how to put aside her fears for her sister's sake - and her own.

My Thoughts
I might not be exactly the target audience for this one, since it is a children's graphic novel. However, I definitely loved this story! (And so did my 10 year old cousin). I absolutely love ghosts, so a story that features many different ghosts was awesome. I really enjoyed the characters and how Maya, the little sister, had Cystic Fibrosis. I learned a lot of about CF from a campaign that is run at my university to raise money for research to fight it. So many children are affected with CF and other chronic illnesses that it's awesome they have a character like them in a book. Lots of thumbs ups for this book and if I had a kid I would most definitely be putting a copy of this book in their hands.

Review: The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Genre: Contemporary
Publication: November 1, 2016 by Delacorte Press
Pages: 384 Pages
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary 
Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.


The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

My Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book, which says a lot because I typically avoid YA Contemporary. I feel in love with Nicola Yoon's writing when I read Everything, Everything so I knew I had to pick this one up. I am still sitting on this book but I can definitely say it was pretty awesome.

I knew I would really love this book when I read the chapters told by "the universe". I loved the combination of science and fate. If you didn't already know, I am a biologist so science is kind of my thing so I loved that Natasha was into science. However, one of my small gripes was that Natasha was a bit too much of an objective thinker and couldn't believe in magic even a little. There will always be things we can't explain so why not believe in a little magic?

This book was definitely something I needed. It had a special kind of magic that I typically only see in movies. Yes, the romance is kind of far-fetched but I love to believe in love. You can always do with some heart melting romance to brighten you days. I definitely recommend this one.

Review: Wrecked by Maria Padian

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review. 

Genre: Contemporary
Publication: October, 4/2016 by Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 368 Pages
Format: eARC
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
Everyone on campus has a different version of what happened that night.

Haley saw Jenny return from the party, shell-shocked.

Richard heard Jordan brag about the cute freshman he hooked up with.


When Jenny accuses Jordan of rape, Haley and Richard are pushed to opposite sides of the school’s investigation. Now conflicting versions of the story may make bringing the truth to light nearly impossible—especially when reputations, relationships, and whole futures are riding on the verdict.

My Thoughts
I feel I like I start a lot of reviews saying this, but I don't know where I stand with this book. It handles a very important topic, sexual assault. These are important stories to tell but this wasn't my favourite book. I found most of the characters were quite flat, and stereotypes of different types of university students. Especially, the character Carrie. She was offended by everything and was the activist trope to a T. Every scene she was in, she rubbed me the wrong way.

However, I felt the actual sexual assault was handled well. I found the proceedings to be the most interesting part of the story and trying to piece together what really happened to Jenny. I liked that you were shown small bits of the night in question between Haley and Richard's chapters. I did like that the story was told from Haley and Richard's POV's. It gave a different perspective to the whole situation. I felt like their reactions were both very realistic. Sometimes standing by your friends is exhausting and hard and to what extent can you trust your friends?

I think this covers really important topics and it's an interesting way to tell the story. However, it's not the most impactful story. It got a little lost in the romance and the problems of the other students. It's still a good novel addressing the problem of sexual assault and what is consent. It helps to spread awareness and adds to the conversation which is important.

Review: The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: September. 2/2016 by Henry Holt and Co.
Series: The Remnant Chronicles #3
Pages: 679 Pages
Format: Library/ebook
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
Lia has survived Venda—but so has a great evil bent on the destruction of Morrighan. And only Lia can stop it.

With war on the horizon, Lia has no choice but to assume her role as First Daughter, as soldier—as leader. While she struggles to reach Morrighan and warn them, she finds herself at cross-purposes with Rafe and suspicious of Kaden, who has hunted her down.


In this conclusion to the Remnant Chronicles trilogy, traitors must be rooted out, sacrifices must be made, and impossible odds must be overcome as the future of every kingdom hangs in the balance.

My Thoughts:
I finally finished this book AND I finished a series. Woohoo! The slump was real when I started reading this book but I persevered and finished it. This was an awesome ending to a solid series. It's hard to talk about the details because it is the last book in a series, however it wrapped everything up as needed.

The main reason I took this one down a star was because I felt like the middle was quite slow. The battle was only the last few chapters, and the rest of the book wasn't high action. Instead there was a lot of politics involved and planning. Which is interesting and important but I found it slowed down near the middle. But I absolutely loved how the story wrapped up and where all the characters ended up. I was hoping that Lia ended up where she did so I was super happy to see it.

In the end, this series was awesome. I found it got much better as it went along. For me, the second book was my favourite in the series which doesn't often happen. I just loved the setting in that one just a little bit more, plus the Komizar is an amazing villain (and still is in this book). I highly recommend this series to fantasy lovers, I am very happy to have read it.

Review: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: 02/23/2016 by Tor Books
Series: Shades of Magic #2
Pages: 512 Pages
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
It has been four months since a mysterious obsidian stone fell into Kell's possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Prince Rhy was wounded, and since the nefarious Dane twins of White London fell, and four months since the stone was cast with Holland's dying body through the rift – back into Black London.

Now, restless after having given up his smuggling habit, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks as she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games – an extravagant international competition of magic meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries – a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

And while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night will reappear in the morning. But the balance of magic is ever perilous, and for one city to flourish, another London must fall.

My Thoughts:
This might be my new favourite series. I still don't know exactly where I want to put the rating but I am in love with this series. I love all of the characters, especially some of the new ones we were introduced too. I am also in love with the Element Games which are essentially the magic olympics. I loved getting to see some of the other kingdoms and I absolutely cannot wait until the next book comes out. 

Delilah is one of my new favourite characters ever. She doesn't fit any stereotype or cliche. She is unapologetically herself and doesn't let anyone tell her what to do. She wears men's clothes and I can just relate to her so much. I also love the addition of LGBT+ characters, it was added so seamlessly into the plot and it wasn't made into be a big coming out. I am also in love with Kel, he's adorable.

I think the one thing that kind of threw me off with this book was that there wasn't a lot of series plot. We mainly focused on word development through the Element Games and character development. I did love both these elements but I would have also wanted some more movement with the overall series plot. Don't get me wrong, the character development was extremely important, especially after the life changing events in the first book. 

I can't wait till the next book! It's going to be incredibly intense. That ending though! I think V.E. Schwab is one of my new favourite writers and I need to check out some of her other books. If you love fantasy, this is an amazing series!

DNF Explanation: The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

I receieved a copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
Publication: 04/19/2016 by Amulet Books
Pages: 384 Pages
Format: eArc
Rating: -------
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Goodreads Summary:
It was not enough. All knowledge- any knowledge - called to Faith, and there was a delicious, poisonous pleasure in stealing it unseen.

Faith has a thirst for science and secrets that the rigid confines of her class cannot supress. And so it is that she discovers her disgraced father's journals, filled with the scribbled notes and theories of a man driven close to madness. Tales of a strange tree which, when told a lie, will uncover a truth: the greater the lie, the greater the truth revealed to the liar. Faith's search for the tree leads her into great danger - for where lies seduce, truths shatter . . . 

My Thoughts:
I just wasn't in the mood for this book when I picked it up. I DNF'd it at 25% and I just was a very slow start. When I found out this book was about naturalists in the time of Darwin, I was super excited because I am a biologist nerd. However, knowing a lot about these scientists I started to find some conflicts with what I think I know about them. I think that maybe another day or time I might be able to get into this, that day just wasn't today. 

Review: Good As Gone by Amy Gentry

I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley for an honest review.

Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Publication: July. 26, 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 288 Pages
Format: eArc
Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
Thirteen-year-old Julie Whitaker was kidnapped from her bedroom in the middle of the night, witnessed only by her younger sister. Her family was shattered, but managed to stick together, hoping against hope that Julie is still alive. And then one night: the doorbell rings. A young woman who appears to be Julie is finally, miraculously, home safe. The family is ecstatic—but Anna, Julie’s mother, has whispers of doubts.  She hates to face them. She cannot avoid them. When she is contacted by a former detective turned private eye, she begins a torturous search for the truth about the woman she desperately hopes is her daughter.

My Thoughts
I don't know with this one. It was very hot and cold for me. Sometimes I was really into it, and then I would just get lost. For me, the mystery thriller aspect of this book wasn't very strong and the twist was pretty much revealed early on because of the way the story was told.

However, I was very intrigued by the story and wanted to know how it ended even if I saw it's end point. The story line jumped back in time which is what confused me the most. It brought me out of the narrative and I ended up losing interest in these sections.

I also found the psychology aspect in this book quite interesting. It had interesting commentary, however at the same time I am kind of skeptical. I do have a lot of experience in psychology, so I know it could be a possibility but I also find it far fetched.

In the end, I think if you absolutely adore thrillers then this one would be interesting to you. I was just looking for more out of it but I can see why others would very much enjoy it.

Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by John Tiffany, Jack Thorne & J.K Rowling

Genre: Fantasy, Play
Series: Harry Potter #8
Publication: July 31, 2016 by Authur A. Levine Books
Pages: 328 Pages
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places. 

My Thoughts
It's finally time for me to talk about how I feel about this book. I have waited a few days to gather my thoughts and figure out how I actually feel about this new Harry Potter story. This book has for sure been polarizing but I am going to start by saying I did enjoy reading this book. However, it does has some issues that did bother me during the reading experience.

The biggest problem I had was with the plot of this book. It's a storyline I have seen many times before, and it's just not a plot that I wanted in the Harry Potter world. I already have all kinds of movies and books that I love that do this plot so I didn't need it done this way again. I don't feel like it fit into the wizarding world storyline. However, I really enjoyed being back in that world and experiencing the characters that I love again. I liked how the characters have aged and their interpersonal conflicts would be something that I could imagine happening. The only character that seemed weird was Ron, who just seemed out of character at points.

In the end, I can see where both parties sit on this. I can see how it's easy to love and to also hate. I am sitting right in the middle on this one. The plot just threw me off too much for me to absolutely love. I do think I would have had a different opinion actually seeing this as a play, I feel like it would be an incredible experience. I think it's a fun addition to the world, it's just not the greatest thing to happen to this universe.

Review: Ruined by Amy Tintera

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: 05/03/2016 by HarperTeen
Series: Ruined #1
Pages: 368 Pages
Format: Library Hardback
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
Emelina Flores has nothing. Her home in Ruina has been ravaged by war. She lacks the powers of her fellow Ruined. Worst of all, she witnessed her parents’ brutal murders and watched helplessly as her sister, Olivia, was kidnapped.

But because Em has nothing, she has nothing to lose. Driven by a blind desire for revenge, Em sets off on a dangerous journey to the enemy kingdom of Lera. Somewhere within Lera’s borders, Em hopes to find Olivia. But in order to find her, Em must infiltrate the royal family.

In a brilliant, elaborate plan of deception and murder, Em marries Prince Casimir, next in line to take Lera’s throne. If anyone in Lera discovers Em is not Casimir’s true betrothed, Em will be executed on the spot. But it’s the only way to salvage Em’s kingdom and what is left of her family.

Em is determined to succeed, but the closer she gets to the prince, the more she questions her mission. Em’s rage-filled heart begins to soften. But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake.

My Thoughts
This was the kind of book I was looking for! I have been reading a lot of fantasy, and this one really picked up the pace. It was an extremely fast paced novel which didn't shy away from being brutal when needed. From the first chapter you know that no character is safe. A lot of novels shy away from too much violence, but in this case to you feel the weight of the war between the many different kingdoms.

One thing that did confuse me was the structure of the world. I got the different kingdoms or nations confused. First, I couldn't remember which kingdom was what and where they were located. One easy way to have fixed that would have been to have a map or maybe even an extra page with a list. Another thing I am a bit confused about is the Ruined magic. I am not sure where their magic comes from or what really is the extent of their abilities. I feel like I got bit and pieces of it but not the whole story. Hopefully, I will get what I am looking for in the the next books.

I really enjoyed myself while reading this book. I wanted to jump back in when I wasn't reading it. When I take a step back from the book, I see some of it's flaws but on sheer enjoyment I really enjoyed this story. On thing that I loved about this story was that there seemed to be equality between sexes. Many of the warriors were women and they held high positions of power. Also, there was an LGBTQ+ character which wasn't made into a big deal and it wasn't an issue in the world from what I can tell.

That was a fun read, and I will be planning on picking up the sequels when they come out. If you are a fan of fantasy and royalty I would recommend you check this one out.

Review: The Rose & The Dagger by Renée Ahdieh

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: 04/26/2016 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books
Series: The Wrath & The Dawn #2
Pages: 416 Pages
Format: Library Hardback
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once thought Khalid a monster—a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain—but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny. Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever.

Now she’s reunited with her family, who have found refuge in the desert, where a deadly force is gathering against Khalid—a force set on destroying his empire and commanded by Shazi’s spurned childhood sweetheart. Trapped between loyalties to those she loves, the only thing Shazi can do is act. Using the burgeoning magic within her as a guide, she strikes out on her own to end both this terrible curse and the brewing war once and for all. But to do it, she must evade enemies of her own to stay alive.


The saga that began with The Wrath and the Dawn takes its final turn as Shahrzad risks everything to find her way back to her one true love again.

My Thoughts
Another stop in my summer of sequels, and this one is a series finale! I am very happy to add another book to my list of finished series. Now, how did I feel about this book? It was good, not great but good. The biggest issue I found with this story was the pacing in the beginning. Considering this was a sequel and a finale it was a very slow start. I found it took at least the first third of the book to pick up pace.

In addition, I found a new trope that I am really annoyed by. It's when the girl can't hold her liquor then a man has to come and carry her home. In real life, girls drink every day and can do it without needing a rescue. The girls I know can drink the guys under the table. It just always seems like when a girl drinks in a book they need to be carried home, I'm over it.

What I did really enjoy about this book was the same with the first one, Shazi and Khalid. They're relationship just makes me happy. I love how they lean on each other and respect each other. They have always been my favourite part of this series. I also really loved how the story came together in the end. There were some surprises that drew me in. I am happy with how it ended, it's wasn't mind blowing, but a solid series ending.

All in all, I do recommend this series. It's definitely a good series and worth the read. I wasn't blown away by this final book, but it was a good ending to a solid series. I just had an issue with the beginning that made it hard for me to speed through it. It's a high 3 star rating, also a 4 but just didn't make it there.

Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: 05/03/2016 by Bloomsbury
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #2
Pages: 640 Pages
Format: eBook
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.


Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

My Thoughts
For the first time in a very long time, I cared so much about the characters I actually had a physical reaction to this book. I literally was vibrating in my seat waiting to see how this story ended. My poor heart was beating out of my chest. I can say I did enjoy A Court of Thorns and Roses when I read it last year, but this sequel blew it out of the water.

When I started reading this book, I knew it was getting a lot of hype and I didn't know where it could go. But this book was right up my alley. It gave me an emotional reaction, which doesn't commonly happen for me. Especailly the romance. This series is romance heavy, so if you're not into that avoid it. But I am a sucker for a good romance, and damn did I ever get one.

I knew I liked Rhys even from the first book. I knew there was more too him than what we originally saw. What we got in this book was even more than I ever expected. I am such a fan of Rhys that I even had a dream about him after reading certain parts. I have never had a crush on a book character this strong before. It's blowing my mind, how do people live like this!

This book also explored a lot of different themes. I liked how Maas didn't shy away from her characters having mental health problems, especially after the traumatizing events that occurred in the first book. Nobody would be able to walk away from that without having to work through something. I also really enjoyed how relationships were discussed in this book. There were abusive aspects of a certain relationship and they were never made to look okay. It wasn't romanticized and you could see how it was harming Feyre.

I just loved this book. It completely entertained me and melted my heart. I need more and I need more right now. I probably will be thinking this book for the next year waiting for the next installment. If you read the first book, definitely read this one. Even if you were on the fence with the first book, this one is amazing. Highly recommend.