Finished Series | March 2017 Update

I have been working through A LOT of series, and I am really trying to finish the series I have started. I have finished quite a few series over the last few months and that makes me really excited. Some of these I am sad to see go but I can always re-read them. I am counting a series complete if I read all the main books in the series, I generally don't read addition novellas.

1) The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson

  

Average Rating: 3.6

Thoughts: I really enjoyed this series. For me, it only got better as it went along. I didn't immediately fall in love with the first book but the second book really hooked me into this story. If you are looking for a fantasy with heavy romance elements and an amazing villain check this one out.

2) The Wrath & The Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

 

Average Rating: 3.5

Thoughts: I am not sure what I really want to say about this series. I really liked the first book but the sequel didn't blow me away. In the end, I find it kind of forgettable. I barely remember what happened in either of these books. I still recommend this series, and many people will love it.

3) Grim Reaper by Christopher Moore

 

Average Rating: 4.5

Thoughts: A Dirty Job is one of my all time favourite books and I never expected it to get a sequel. Secondhand Souls came out almost 10 years after A Dirty Job was published, which is kind of crazy. I didn't love Secondhand Souls as much as A Dirty Job but I still really enjoyed it. The characters are the best part of this series. Highly recommend.

4) Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab

  

Actual Rating: 4.75 

Thoughts: This is one of my new all time favourite series! I adored this series so much. Delilah Bard is my new favourite character. She is the badass, gender-role bending, character I have always looked for. I do see that the first book in this series can be a little hard to get into but it gets better every page. I already want to re-read it.

Stacking the Shelves #19

STS is a weekly meme hosted by Tyngas Reviews.

I signed up for Daily Deal emails and now I end up buying lots of cheap eBooks. I also recently went crazy at my local library. I realized that I am going to be moving soon and I wanted to support my library here as much I can before I leave. These are the book that I have acquired since my last STS post a few weeks ago.

Purchased

   

Library

  

   

That's everything! I am currently reading A Conjuring of Light and I am loving it so far. I can't wait to check another series off my list. I went crazy on graphic novels as always but I love them! Let me know what you picked up recently or if you have read my of these books.

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Indigo

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.

February in Review | 2017

   

   

Gotham Academy Vol 3: Yearbook {3 out of 5 Stars}

Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan {3 out of 5 Stars}

Wenjack by Joseph Boyden {5 out of 5 Stars}

Windwitch by Susan Dennard {4 out of 5 Stars}

Lumberjanes Vol 3: A Terrible Plan {5 out of 5 Stars}

Let's Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson {4 out of 5 Stars}

Chew Vol 6: Space Cakes {4 out of 5 Stars}

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys {4 out of 5 Stars}

Best of the Month: Wenjack by Joseph Boyden

Least Favourite of the Month: Yearbook Vol 3: Yearbook

General Thoughts: I got another 8 books read this month! That's fantastic and I hope to keep this up as much as I can. I enjoyed everything I read this month and am still proud of myself. I am in the middle of 3 other books still, but aren't we all? Next month I do have lots of assignments to do for the end of the semester so we shall see how much reading I get done.

  

2017 Library Love Challenge

5) Gotham Academy Vol 3: Yearbook

6) The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

7) Wenjack by Jospeh Boyden

8) Windwitch by Susan Dennard

9) Lumberjanes Vol 3: A Terrible Plan

10) Let's Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

11) Chew Vol 6: Space Cakes

12) Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

All the books I read this month were from the library, oops

Beat The Backlist

2) Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore  

(missed this one from last month) 

2017 New Release Challenge

1) Windwitch by Susan Dennard

Review: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: 10/2/2012 by Disney-Hyperion
Series: The Heroes of Olympus #3
Pages: 586
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Goodread Summary:
In The Son of Neptune, Percy, Hazel, and Frank met in Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Camp Halfblood, and traveled to the land beyond the gods to complete a dangerous quest. The third book in the Heroes of Olympus series will unite them with Jason, Piper, and Leo. But they number only six--who will complete the Prophecy of Seven?
The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land--Greece itself--to find the Doors of Death. What exactly are the Doors of Death? Much of the prophecy remains a mystery...

With old friends and new friends joining forces, a marvellous ship, fearsome foes, and an exotic setting, The Mark of Athena promises to be another unforgettable adventure by master storyteller Rick Riordan.

My Thoughts
I have been working on finishing this series and it's been fun so far.  However, this series hasn't blown me away but I reach for it because it's always a super fun adventure that I know I will like it. All of the characters are different and diverse. I feel they are growing through every book and it was awesome to finally have everybody together in this book.

I always want to rate these books higher than I do but for some reason I just can't. They are like a person you really want to fall in love with but just find those feelings. I don't know why I don't love them as much as I want to. Don't get me wrong I have fun when I read them but I just can't make myself fall in love with them. I am still going to finish it because I enjoy the characters and the adventures. I also want to know how this series ends before I continue with Magnus Chase.

If you love Percy Jackson and Rick Riordan's books you'll love this one too. The characters are relatable and the story is always non-stop. I am curious about how this series is going to end and I hope the next two books excite me more than the first 3 have.

Review: Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore

Genre: Paranormal, Humour
Publication: 09/25/2015 by William Marrow
Series: Grim Reaper #2
Pages: 335 Pages
Format: Hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Goodreads Summary
In San Francisco, the souls of the dead are mysteriously disappearing—and you know that can't be good—in New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore's delightfully funny sequel to A Dirty Job.

Something really strange is happening in the City by the Bay. People are dying, but their souls are not being collected. Someone—or something—is stealing them and no one knows where they are going, or why, but it has something to do with that big orange bridge. Death Merchant Charlie Asher is just as flummoxed as everyone else. He's trapped in the body of a fourteen-inch-tall "meat" waiting for his Buddhist nun girlfriend, Audrey, to find him a suitable new body to play host.


To get to the bottom of this abomination, a motley crew of heroes will band together: the seven-foot-tall death merchant Minty Fresh; retired policeman turned bookseller Alphonse Rivera; the Emperor of San Francisco and his dogs, Bummer and Lazarus; and Lily, the former Goth girl. Now if only they can get little Sophie to stop babbling about the coming battle for the very soul of humankind...

My Thoughts
I have been a fan of Christopher Moore for quite a few years now, so naturally when the sequel of one of my favourite books ever comes out I had to have it. Then somehow a year and a half went by, before I picked it up. I was super excited to go back into the lives of Sophie, Charlie and the other Death Merchants. The characters are the reason I feel in love with A Dirty Job, so naturally they were also the best part of Secondhand Souls.

However, I didn't love it as much A Dirty Job. I missed some of the magic from learning about who the Death Merchants are and falling in love with the characters for the first time. There also wasn't enough Sophie and her goggies. She may only be 7 years old, but I still love her the most. I also thought that the story wrapped up really quickly, and I wish some more time was spent flushing out the ending.

All-in-all, I really enjoyed myself. Sequels can be hard when the first book is one of your all time favourite books. I think if you are a Christopher Moore fan and you liked A Dirty Job, you'll also enjoy this one. I may have had some criticism but I loved getting to be back with some of my favourite characters. 2-thumbs up for Secondhand Souls.

What Am I Watching? | Netflix Edition #2

I love television and like many of us, when I am not reading I am watching something on TV. I feel like I am between shows right now so I am looking for the next show to watch. If you have any suggestions let me know.

1) American Crime

This is an interesting show. I am currently part way through season 2 in this series. Every season follows a different storyline and it's about how people are affected by crime and the legal system. I really like how each season is different but a lot of the same actors are in both seasons playing very different people. I like being able to see all sides of the story, it's a series that makes you think.

2) Riverdale

I still don't know how I feel about this series but I do plan to keep watching it. It's a very guilty pleasure kind of show, that kind you know isn't very good but you can't help but keep watching. I am still thrown off by Archie in a mystery/thriller setting, but I am intrigued to see what happens. As long as it doesn't become Pretty Little Liars, I will keep watching.

3) House

 I am doing a kind of half-hearted re-watch of House. I think his character is fantastic and always intrigued me. I saw most of the series back when it aired. I really only watch an episode or 2 when I don't feel like watching anything else or I need something to have on when I do something else. 

4) Breaking Bad

I am still stuck on season in the middle of season 4 and can't get myself to finish the series. I'm not even that many more episodes. I just need to buck up and do it because I know the end of this season is awesome.

I recently finished watching Gilmore Girls, and have been in a TV slump every since. I don't know what show to pick up next! Give me some suggestions of awesome shows that you love on Netflix.