Edrie Elen
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~ TW: death, racial prejudice, rape, sexual assault.The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a fabulous book. It's very narrow in focus, which I think is what gave the author the ability to drop her readers into 1920s backwoods Kentucky in such a believable way. The blue skinned people of Kentucky and the Pack Horse Librarian Project are both from real history and it was just a real treat to read about something so real and yet so unknown.“I was to stay put, and exactly where they wanted to keep me put. Beneath them. Always and alone.”I loved Cussy. She's had the short end of the stick in life, but she hasn't let it completely beat her down. She loves her books, and her father, and despite things really looking dim she refuses to give up hope of a better life. Cussy is nineteen years old, with blue skin, in a society that beats her down for both. Looked at as basically “worse than colored,” her father is desperate to get her married since he knows his own days are numbered, due to being a miner and afflicted with black lung. He fears for her and this is the only way he can (he thinks) be sure she is taken care of and provided for after he is gone. His plan does not work out well for Cussy, and only stirs things with the local people that already look at both of them as outcasts.Despite all the odds against her, Cussy finds a huge solace in her job as a “book woman,” one of the several female librarians who take books to the VERY farflung mountain people. She is so passionate about literacy, and helping all her patrons better themselves. My heart hurt as she constantly ran up against prejudice, not just for her oddly-colored skin but for just being a woman. Even the local doctor (someone who is supposed to be about HELPING people) is more interested in her for his ulterior reasons of figuring out her blue skin – no matter what her thoughts on the matter.I also really loved that eventually, Cussy meets someone who hasn't always lived in the hollers. Just as her mind has been expanded by books even though she's never been outside Kentucky, the stranger has both traveled (extensively, by local standards) and read, and he treats her as a person regardless of her skin or gender. There isn't really a HEA, but there is hope, and to me that is even more important.This book was SO important to me on a personal level. My family – on both sides – is from the hills and hollers of West Virginia. My parents were the first generation to move outside the same county for over a hundred years, outside the state EVER. I grew up all over the United States and the world but I am still extremely conscious of my Appalachian roots, and sadly very little has changed in many areas where my extended family still lives. They – we – need more people like Cussy.Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
~Check out my blog, The Bent Bookworm!~When Spring Comes to the DMZ is an important book. It is so easy for much of the world to forget the war that happened more than half a century ago, and the countries and people still affected by it. I spent two years in South Korea with the U.S. Army, and made more than one trip to the DMZ. In a country full of people (Seoul, less than an hour's drive from the DMZ, is HUGE and a beautiful city well worth visiting), the DMZ area is somewhat startling in its emptiness. The illustrations in this book capture the odd juxtaposition of the beautiful wildlife with the razor wire, warning signs, and military equipment. 5/5 stars, highly recommend - every school library should have a copy of this book. I've pre-ordered it to have on my personal shelf at home. I don't foresee it being very popular here in the US, which is a shame, but I want to have it to show people and children a different view of the Korean DMZ. Maybe one day the mines and wire will be gone. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+
~Be sure to check out my blog over at The Bent Bookworm!~Rant ahead. You have been warned. If you liked this book, go ahead and stop reading. This book was absolutely horrible. HORRIBLE. I usually love shifter stories, and stories with strong female leads. But the writing, the characters, the plot (lack thereof?) was just...omg. Such a train wreck. I only finished because I did receive a copy for a review. CharactersHarper and Ian are the most perfectly perfect people you've ever met. Physically they're both a 15/10. Perfect bodies, perfect virgin sex (gag), and some of the most cringeworthy sex scenes I've ever read. I guess the other reason Ian was protective was how “attractive” I'd become, according to others. Puberty hit me in the face at 14, and I went from 4'11 to 5'6 with the perfect set of breasts, hips, abs, and a “snatched” waist...I kept my brown hair nice and long, and it seemed to have the perfect shine that always caught the attention of the girls in town as to what shampoo, conditioner, and hair food I used on it daily...Now that I was sweet sixteen, I'd gained another four inches in height, and stood at 6'0. I doubted I'd get any taller at this point but I definitely didn't look sixteen to most people anymore.^Stab me now. Ian spoiled me with clothing that was similar to his. We'd essentially caused a new “trend in town; young couples left and right tried to wear matching outfits and look lovey-dovey.^I just threw up a little. Oh, the sex. Harper is a virgin at the beginning, and she is “claimed” as Ian's mate at the ripe old age of fourteen. She's eighteen by the time they get around to having sex, and while I definitely wasn't expecting any blushing-bride type scene, I do have SOME expectations and the writing for any of the sex scenes contained in this book just DID NOT DO IT FOR ME.When he turned around though, my eyes immediately locked onto his length, and I kid you not, I could have fainted out of utter happiness. Ian was officially the whole package, right down to his damn length that I knew was longer than 6 inches.Harper is also annoying AF, which is unfortunate since the book is mostly told from her first-person POV. For most of the book she's 21-ish, and she is so incredibly full of herself it's not even funny. I love confident female characters. But this went way beyond confidence into sheer arrogance and I really just wanted to slap her. Ian is just there for muscles and sex. He has the personality of a two by four. PlotWhat plot? Yes, there is this whole “wolf pack” thing going on at the rescue facility, and Harper has a strange bond with the wolves that stay there, as well as her own “internal wolf” that she won't tell anyone (except Ian, natch) about, but really it just goes in circles with breaks for sex until about the last 10% of the book. Then there is a MASSIVE explosion of an info-dump with ALL OF THIS STUFF that was supposed to have been going on in the background. I felt cheated. There was no lead up, there were no hints along the way (so that at least you could look back and have the “aha” moment), nothing. Just, “Oh, this is how we're going to explain all of this shit! And have some unicorns and glitter while you're at it!”I still have no clue about how the paranormal is supposed to fit into the world of this book. Is it accepted by the world at large? What kind of governing body is there? Who makes the rules? WHY are there shifters? Why is this particular pack so important? Where did they come from? The only one that is even PARTLY explained is the last question, which sort of starts to be answered at the end but you know, cliffhanger. That I don't give one flying fuck about. Last ComplaintIn the first few chapters, Harper is five years old and Ian is seven. They have full on adult style conversations that devolve into baby talk for a few minutes and then go right back to discussing how they're going to educate themselves for the greater good. It's ridiculous. Has the author ever even MET children? 1/5 stars because you can't give zero. Never, ever ever ever going back to this series or author. Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+_____________What even was this. RTC.
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~ I went into this book with a lot of hope AND a lot of trepidation. As a military veteran from a military family, I've found that it's often really hard for authors without an actual military background (which, it doesn't appear Koz has, I tried to look it up) to realistically portray the environment without being either completely kitschy or derogatory. Risking It All was a pleasant surprise on that front! While the action takes place at a military prep school, not in the military, it was fairly balanced and neutral in attitude. There was no political agenda (either to the left or right).Paige was awesome - uptight, but awesome. I loved her so much and could totally identify with her attitude and her heart. It IS really hard, especially at that age, to learn to balance career aspirations and relationships. Logan was cute, if kind of hard to sympathize with...he really got himself into his original mess, and let himself be taken advantage of...but then had a giant chip on his shoulder. Eh, puppy love, I suppose. He was adorable AND had amazing guitar skills, so that kind of made up for it.Overall I gave this book 4/5 stars. Recommended for cute teenage romance and interesting/unusual setting for a YA novel!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
~Review first appeared on The Bent Bookworm!The Victory Garden is a poignant, sweet book that takes place at the end of WWI in England. Emily is just turning twenty-one as the book starts, and she at last has the legal standing to shake off her overprotective parents and really DO something for the war effort. Having already lost her brother, she feels the need to do something to honor him.“I want to be useful. I want to do my bit, so that Freddie's death was somehow not in vain.”In the process of finding how she is going to do her bit, she (naturally) meets a dashing young pilot (Australian! Gasp!), falls in love, her lover dies a hero, and it turns out she's pregnant.All this is revealed in the blurb, so I picked it up thinking that it had to be more than just a romance since...well, you know. Hard to have a romance when one party is deceased, however heroically.The “more” turns out to be the massive amount of growth and experience Emily goes through in less than a year. She becomes a “land girl,” – something I was not familiar with at all, and I think many Americans would be there with me. She stands up to her parents, who despite being protective are just as much about their own egos as they are about shielding her from heartbreak. She takes a chance on love, knowing that it will most likely end in heartbreak. In the process, she discovers the power of both independence and female friendships. Britain lost a large majority of their fighting age men in WWI, something I hadn't honestly given much thought. The story really shows just how that loss changed – or at least how it began to change – societal roles for both genders.The Victory Garden isn't particular heavy on either history or romance. In fact, there could have been less of a romance and the story would have worked just as well. I knew going in that Emily's dashing aviator was going to pass, as so many of them did at that time, so I went in willing myself to not get too invested. The history was interesting but not overwhelming in detail.As far as the actual garden, there was SOME emphasis on it in the last half of the book, and a little tiny bit of a mystery involving an old journal Emily finds, but it was very...well, I wish had been more about the herbs and the garden. It seems like the title is a bit of a misnomer. 😛Overall, 4/5 stars. I closed the book feeling a little sad, but hopeful for Emily's future with her child.Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
The Cottingley Fairies is a book I wish I had been able to read as a small child. Imaginative, short, and yet full circle. The whimsical illustrations draw the reader into the sisters' world, and the accompanying text is minimal but tells the story well. I had heard of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's involvement with the Cottingley Fairy pictures, but would never have thought to look for a book telling the story for children! It was just adorable and I think will be a wonderful addition to any library for children.I also appreciated the note at the end of the book, clarifying the actual known facts of the story. Very intriguing!Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+________________This is just the cutest. Full RTC!
~Follow my blog at The Bent Bookworm!~Dark Arts and a Daiquiri picks up just a few weeks after the events of Three Mages and a Margarita, and we jump right into the action as Tori and the guys set up an exorcism for a faery spirit haunting the apartment she wants to rent. Much hilarity ensues, and then sadly the apartment and the faery are abandoned while they all become involved in hunting down this big-huge-black-magic-bad-guy that is stealing magically inclined youngsters. And by hunting down, we mean using Tori as bait. Things do not go as planned. Things – and people – are not what they seem.I loved this one just as much as the first, even if some things I was hoping for didn't happen. I snickered and giggled my way all the way through, as well as having a few moments where I simply couldn't read fast enough.CharactersI planted my feet, hands clenched as I glared at him, silently daring him to blast me into Tori goo.Tori is the same smart-mouthed chick we met in the first book. We learn a very little bit more about her past, but mostly the story was moving along so quickly there wasn't a whole lot of time for reflection. There are some new characters, Nadine, Echo (I don't care what anyone says, I am INTRIGUED), and perhaps most interestingly, Zac. Oh! And Harry. Can't forget Harry. Yes, I am being intentionally vague because this book is VERY easy to spoil.“Sorcery,” he interrupted irritably. “Not sorcerer-y.”In Tori's words:“You are a supreme dickhead and I haven't forgiven you for anything.”Actually, you know what? I just want to be able to come up with this smart-mouthed retorts like Tori. My daily life would be so entertaining.“I don't think you're as bad as you think you are.”“I told you not to get the wrong idea.”“Oh, sorry. What I meant to say was you're an evil bastard and I can't wait to see you burnt at the stake for your evil crimes of evil.”I don't know exactly why this particular exchange struck me as so funny, but I laughed until I had tears running down my cheeks.Also, I am in awe of the author's ability to make me care about ALL these characters. Usually when I read a book I'm only really invested in one or two. Not so with these. Which is why I was very disappointed that we didn't see much of the three mages in this book. They were there, but just not nearly as much, and I reeeeeeally wanted to find out more about their backstories!PlotIf you're hoping for some resolution of previous things, forget it. This book is an entirely new can of worms, and we only barely see the house-haunting faery that appear in the very first chapter! It does seem like it will play a larger part maybe in a later book, but damn.Also, there are now dragons – including baby dragons – and I want to see more of them.“For the blood of my blood's life, I will aid you again – but only once.”With so many loose ends, this seems like it could be a fantastic series of at least five or six books. Can we please go back to Ezra's story? I want to know why everyone seems to be afraid of him when he really seems like such a nice guy.Oh, and Zac. I really want to know more about him too.Flame RatingMore sexual tension, but not as much as in the first. Come oooooon, girlfriend. Tori's obviously got the hots for Aaron but I'm still Team Ezra.Minor ComplaintsAs already mentioned, lack of screen time for the three mages. Also the unfair teasing with the house faery. Then...does Tori have to immediately get into a confrontation with every other woman she meets? I thought she and the witch from the first book were going to be friends, but she only appeared in passing in this one...does it have to be all guys?4.5/5 stars. Great second book, can't wait for more!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+________OMG WTF...this is why it is SO HARD to start a series when it's still being written, the wait is SO HARD. ducks flying tomatoes from all the Game of Thrones fans________squee Downloaded!_________After the first one, I absolutely cannot WAIT for this one! And please don't let that November 2018 publish date be a typo...!
~Review first appeared on The Bent Bookworm!~ I love Beauty and the Beast retellings. LOVE. I'm slightly obsessed with that particular story arc/plot and love seeing the different spins authors put on it. I think part of it is because I absolutely adore castles, and COME ON who hasn't been obsessed with the Beast's library?When I first read the blurb for this one, I got super excited – and then read a very negative review (by a reviewer I usually agree with and whom I really respect), which made my toes curl...butbutbutbut it was Beauty and the Beast! So I decided to give it a shot anyway, and lo and behold I was approved for an ARC. I'm so glad now that I didn't let one review decide whether or not I would read the book. While of course no two people are going to feel exactly the same and the reviewer was perfectly professional and within rights to feel as they did, I personally felt the book was lovely!^This is pretty much EXACTLY how I picture the Beast's castle as written in this book! – photo from Boredom TherapyThis book surprised me by how closely it follows the original. Of course it is not exact, but it has many more similarities than most of the adaptations I've read. It is set in old France, in the 18th-ish century. Isabeau i.e., Belle, is the youngest daughter of a merchant with three daughters. The beast, cursed for an undetermined amount of time, has spent years wandering the woods around his cursed castle and later within the castle itself, attempting to claw his way back to some guise of humanity.I looked down at my hideous, beastly paws. Thickly furred on the back; black, leathery palms; and those terrible claws I could not sheate. I was overcome with shame. Who am I to love such a one as her? Just as quickly, my shame turned to anger. My talons sunk into the back of the chair. My heart is human! I cried in my mind.The magic of the story is rather different, as there are no talking candlesticks or clocks and no Mrs. Potts (so sad), but the Beast's house definitely has a mind and life of its own and is indeed very magical...more on that later.CharactersFirst of all, the Beast. He's a very sympathetic character, though a flawed one. He was cursed by a faery who had a long history with his family, and cursed NOT for being evil, but for another reason that you'll have to read to find out. He is very...well, mopey. Which is really quite understandable given the circumstances, but sometimes I did want to shake him. He recognizes, too, that his manipulation and threatening of Isabeau's father was wrong and cruel, and he is sorry for it, but as Isabeau later tells him,“Desperate men do desperate things.”The Beast definitely grows and changes throughout the story, as he does in the original and most retellings. His woe-is-me attitude sometimes crept in and made him annoying, but overall I liked him.Isabeau is your typical Belle, except – and I can't quite forgive this – she is NOT as obsessed with books as my idea of Belle always is! In fact, she declares that she doesn't quite know what she is good at or what she really enjoys, as her last few years have been spent just trying to make ends meet and help her sisters and father out of the deep depression they collectively fell into after the demise of their father's fortune. Oy. She remains mostly the same through the book, except of course she comes to see the Beast in a very different light by the end.Isabeau's father and sisters were rather different than any portrayal of them that I've read, as well. I didn't particularly like any of them except the oldest sister, but they provided a nice contrast.The Iffy StuffThe negative review I read said the Beast was essentially a voyeur and that was a large part of the reviewer's problem with the book. So, I went into this expecting him to basically be a peeping Tom, mainly on Isabeau. Which wasn't really what happened at all. Again, YMMV and of course if it bothers someone they should say so! However...the so-called voyeurism occurs at the behest of the Beast's magic mirror, which is part of his house's magic. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't – and not always when he wants it to. The book DOES use the mirror A LOT to let the reader see perspectives other than the Beast's, which is effective but given that he is seeing everything that we are, is kind of...odd. But then, what exactly is normal about his circumstances? He's much, much older than anyone else still living. His house magically manifests food and clothes. His lands are in all four seasons at once. What's a magic mirror added to all that? Also, the fact that sometimes it just shuts him off made a difference to me. Sometimes, even when he desperately wants to see something, the mirror says no.Overall, 4/5 stars. I wish I had been a little more invested in Isabeau and the Beast's romance, but it was still very sweet and they are both very likeable characters. I loved the descriptions of the old, crumbling yet magical castle and grounds. I especially loved how the Fairy's relationship to the Beast's family, particularly his grandmother, was revealed. I'll definitely be getting a copy of this for my shelf!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+————————————I have so many thoughts about this book. Also I'm conflicted about whether to count this as a 2018 or 2019 release because I got a copy of the ARC for the US version, which releases this month, but it came out in the UK last year...anyway, full RTC!
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~ Girls who run from what frightens them don't get what they want.The Cold is in Her Bones is a loose retelling of Medusa's story. I was expecting a lot more Greek influence, to be honest, so I was a little disappointed. It feels much more like a fairy tale of the British/German type, and the setting is very obviously inspired by that era, not ancient Greece. Maybe it was just me! Oh, and I was expecting snakes of the creepy variety. Um, there's ONE. Well, one at a time. And they're CUTE, not creepy.A specific place or time is never given, so it feels sort of like a historical and sort of like a fantasy world. The writing itself is intriguing, though it seems a little jerky at times. In the beginning we start off with one character, and then we never see her again until much, MUCH later. So that was a bit odd.Overall, this is a story of a girl, Milla, growing into herself and not only accepting herself, but seizing her personhood with both hands and lighting up her world. She refuses to be a “good girl” – though not at first. At first she, like many of us, is sad that she cannot be the daughter her parents want and tries very hard to please them. I absolutely loved how she eventually realized her own power and potential and threw off all the societal expectations.I really wasn't sure what to make of the old woman, or Milla's brother, or even what I was supposed to think of Milla's parents! It was just all very...well, “floaty.” I felt very much like I was drifting along trying to puzzle the pieces together. I felt really sorry for Iris and, much like Milla, only wanted to help her.I would read something by this author again. I just think this story needed a little more direction and polish. The writing was good and the tone was great. Just...needed a little more.Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
~Check out my blog, The Bent Bookworm!~First of all, I'm a complete sucker for fairy tale retellings. All the more when they aren't your typical, prince-rescues-princess-and-they-live-happily-ever-after type stories. I love a good twist and a dark underside to fairy tales (which, if you read a lot of the ORIGINALS...was often the case!). When I saw this book was a collection of short retellings I immediately requested it and was absolutely delighted to receive it just a few days before it came out! It's now available and totally worth checking out. :) Also, apparently Jane Yolen is something of a MG/YA fantasy scion...and I had never heard of her. Ever. Never read any of her books, didn't have any of them on my TBR.The StoriesHow to Fracture a Fairy Tale contains tales from many different countries. Some of them I recognized, some of them I did not. They were all interesting and most of them entertaining! Some of them were funny, like one of the two Cinderella shorts. A couple raised the hairs on the back of my neck (most specifically the very last one in the book, “Wrestling With Angels.” My favorite of all the tales though, was “Great-Grandfather Dragon's Tale,” which is a cute and funny remake of Saint George and the Dragon.A few of the tales are most definitely only suited to a YA or older audience, as they contain heavy implications of sexual assault or rape if they don't state it outright. I was a bit startled by these, to be honest, as they don't really seem to fit in with the overall tone of the book...but then, the collection is very random. The author has included, in the last section of the book, an explanation for why she told each tale the way she did, as well as given a poem for each. It is extremely fascinating, but I think due to the randomness as well as the content of this particular section, a lot of younger readers will lose interest and probably only read the stories - which are the important part, anyway!Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the free review copy in exchange for an honest review!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+
I am mostly just really confused, having only seen the initial Black Panther movie. Which maybe I should watch again? Maybe I've just forgotten a lot of things? Either way...what the hell is going on here?
DNF at 3%. What...TF. No, I didn't get far with this. Because in that 3%, I got:
- the heroine is talking to food (in her head), in the grocery store.
- she's a doctor with absolutely no confidence, apparently in anything she does.
- she equates her worth with her looks, and thinks that “men that look like that” would never be interested in her.
- she's about to stroke out over the fact that she's turning 30 and still single.
Please.
~Check out my blog over at The Bent Bookworm!~I am officially blown away. This little novella was amazing in both its detail and capacity for evoking emotions. I am absolutely stunned, and as a medical professional I am HARD to impress with books of this subject matter. Usually I find myself rolling my eyes so hard they hurt when reading books with doctors or nurses as the main characters, but not so with Kingdom of Needle and Bone!While this is, technically, a science fiction/apocalyptic novel, it felt so close to what could or might happen that I found my heart pounding in my chest, my throat constricting with pain for the loss experienced by the characters. It is just close enough to the truth to be a truly uncomfortable read, and that makes it powerful. I loved Dr. Isabel, who truly cares about people and does everything in her power to help them, but who is also coldly logical to the very, very bitter end. How far is too far, to protect the ones we love? To protect the world? Somehow even in these few pages, Mira Grant manages to explore the age old question - do we act based on the greater good, or for the good of the few closest to us? Which makes us a monster?I only wish this novella had been a full length book. I was not ready to leave any of the characters behind, I wanted more of their stories. I will definitely be reading more of Mira Grant's books, as well as looking out for her other books written under the name Seanan McGuire.Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+
~Follow all my reviews over at The Bent Bookworm!~ Wolves were everywhere. In politics, on thrones, in beds. They cut their teeth on history and grew fat on war.My heart was both incredibly full and totally shattered when I finished this book. I immediately raced off to see when Book 2 is due out, and gasp there's not even a DATE yet! How shall I survive? melodramatic screamCharactersThe Gilded Wolves is the story of friends. The most unlikely group of misfits who, despite their myriad differences, fit together and work together and love each other – even if they won't come out and say it in so many words. I love this squad so much! Jury is out on whether it will be on par with my current favorite squads (a tie between the Lunar Chronicles gang and the Night Court circle). There is a TON of diversity as far as nationality, color, and sexuality. The diversity actually feels natural, too, not just “thrown in” for good measure the way it does in so many books published recently. I think part of this is because the author herself is of a mixed heritage and it gives her a unique viewpoint from which to write.“You know how moths look at a fire and think, ‘Oooh! shiny!' and then die in a burst of flames and regret?”“Vaguely.”“Right. Just checking to be sure.”I loved Severin and Tristan, the brothers-not-really (they're not, right? not actually?). Loved them so, so much. I really wish a little more of their back story had been explained, because while there are little tiny pieces of Severin's story told through flashbacks (usually only a couple of paragraphs long), it really just wasn't enough! Must. Have. More.He wished he didn't know what he had lost. Maybe then every day wouldn't feel like this. As if he had once known how to fly, but the skies had shaken him loose and left him with nothing but the memory of wings.Severin, the leader of this merry (or not) band, is a complex character. I'm a complete sucker for anti-heroes, so I was predisposed to like him, buuuuut at the end he is super super shitty to Laila. I understand WHY – he's hurting, and either to keep himself from hurting or as an attempt to ease the pain he lashes out at her. Not to mention freezing everyone else out as well, but especially her. That was...completely uncalled for. Laila, being who she is, sees beyond his heartless words and actions to the pain underneath. Their relationship is far from resolved in this book, but I hope – I really hope – that Laila remains true to herself, regardless of her feelings for Severin. It could turn into a toxic relationship very quickly unless Severin actually allows himself to heal.Laila, the magnificent baking queen with a mask of glitter and sensuality. She is amazing and so, so strong. Despite being very young she kind of gives off the mama bear vibe and I adored it. Her relationship with Severin is unique in YA in that they actually have history, it's not insta-love or even lust. As I said above...it's not resolved, at all, and I'm very interested to see how it goes in the following books.^I feel like this would be Zofia's face on the regular.Then we have...my darling Zofia. Who is about the most awkward human being on the face of the planet, and I adore her for it. I feel like maybe she is on the spectrum, due to the way she immerses herself in projects and reacts to people? Also the ways she takes things literally. I love it so much.“What on EARTH are you doing?”“I am imitating patterns of flirtation.”“Wait. You're flirting. With...ME?”“Maybe I have the methodology wrong.”Oh, Zofia. She's also a math whiz, and counts to keep herself calm. Also Zofia + Enrique would be awesome.Oh yes, Enrique. I really feel that Enrique didn't get enough screen time in this story and I'm hopeful that he gets more in the future books. He seems to have so many layers to him, and he just wants everyone to be happy and get along. Oh, and he's a historian! Mad props.Tristan, sweet, spider-loving Tristan (yes really). He reminded me of a little brother that everyone wants to protect and love on, which is essentially what he is to this entire group but especially to Severin. I loved his constant experiments and just his general vibe. Now I have to shut up because SPOILERS but dear god my heart!I cannot WAIT to see what happens to this awesome squad in the next book! Also kind of terrified because like I already said...MY HEART.Setting/WorldbuildingParis is dual-faced in this book – on one side, glittering and sparkly (hello, Laila), and on the other dark, dangerous, and hateful (oh, is that you, Severin?). In the shadowy places in between is everyone just trying to survive and find their place in a world that would cut them down and leave them bleeding on the street. The magic system was, to me, the weakest part of the story. I still don't quite understand how forging works? Or how the ability is passed on or down or whatever? It was fascinating but I really need it spelled out in more detail.Plot“Nothing but a symbol? People die for symbols. People have hope because of symbols. They're not just lines. They're histories, cultures, traditions, given shape.”The heist! I actually usually don't like books involving heists, they give me a very Oceans 11 vibe and I get so nervous I literally can't sit still. However, this one had so many puzzles and clues and different places to go I just HAD to keep reading. It was awesome. Even if I still don't quite understand the magic behind the forged artifacts, it was enough for me that they were THE most valuable and coveted items on the planet and people would kill for them. How the squad got to them and the allies they had to make along the way was just...aaah! I WAS THERE FOR IT.Overall, 4.5/5 stars. Half a star off for my confusion over the magic system. All the stars for the squad. This is truly a YA book, with young characters who act young (but not too young), and with sex being more innuendo than action. I loved it. Book 2 please hurry!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
~Check out my blog over at The Bent Bookworm!~Adorable novella set in the Parasol Protectorate universe (the Parasolverse). I was in desperate need of a good paranormal book fix after the catastrophe that was my last foray into paranormal books, and as usual Gail Carriger did not disappoint! I giggled and swooned my way through this little story and my only complaint is that it IS little. Note: You can read this even if you haven't read any of the other Parasolverse books, but it is much, MUCH more enjoyable if you're already familiar with the world and some of the characters. Recommend starting with Soulless. Now, I have absolutely LOATHED Channing ever since he first appeared in I think it was the second Parasol Protectorate book. I hated how he treated Alexia and his general airs of superiority towards the entire world. I was more than willing to see him get his icy little heart crushed and broken in this book. Faith is an entirely new character and I loved her! I love that she totally disdains societal expectations of her interests and hobbies (she's an amateur geologist). “Are the British opposed to the immigration of foreign rocks in principle or just in theory?...I assure you, sir, these rocks are mostly harmless. Your virtue is safe from nefarious rock infiltration.”Also, the narrative voice is hysterical, as is usual for Gail's books (yes, I might be fangirling just a little bit here). There are some amazing quotes, especially near the end, but I'll leave most of them out so you can discover them for yourself. Please just go read this story. It's so worth it and really doesn't take long!Pretty please?Short, sweet, a little bit sexy - but much less actual sex than Poison or Protect, another of the novellas. 5/5 stars, highly enjoyable and highly recommend, and can we please have more Channing and Faith?!?“I've looked all my life for family...now I know it is you...this is what you and I will do now. We will hold these broken parts of ourselves dear because they brought us to this point, and we will love each other wholly and completely.”Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~ Am I the only person who didn't love this book? It has a 4+ star rating on GoodReads! I just don't see how...I wanted to like it. I wanted to LOVE it! Come on, just look at that cover. It's stunning. Sadly though, the cover was really the only thing I could 100% get behind with this book.The Good- The writing itself was quite good. I would read something else by this author without hesitation. It was just the actual plot and storyline I didn't care for.- As I've already said, the cover!- The creep factor in the last half of the book really amped up and was extremely well done. I completely doubted the conclusions I had already drawn, haha! The author was great at dragging the reader right along into all the confusion and dream-in-a-dream confusion of reality along with the characters.The Bad and the Ugly- Our heroine, who is built up as this fearless, snarky, go-getter in the first few chapters of the book, takes one look – LITERALLY one look – at a handsome man and becomes a tongue-tied, bumbling, helpless girl. She's had a sheltered life, has met very few men outside one of her family's servant's sons and her father, and all of a sudden she sees a stranger and completely falls for him. Really? This is 2019, I thought we were past this sort of ridiculousness.- The first half of the book is almost all dancing and balls and fancy dresses and shoes. I wanted to stab my eyeballs out. How many descriptions of dancing shoes and ballgowns does one really need? Like nothing was happening except they were dancing. I get it, it's a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses...but COME ON.- The villain of the story was SO OBVIOUS and it was such a worn-out trope I wanted to fling the book across the room (except, I was reading on my iPad, so I couldn't). Can stepmoms catch a freaking break already?- At the very end, I actually thought the author was going to redeem the story by not wrapping everything up in a pretty little bow as far as the romance. BUT OH NO! There must be a romantic interest and there must be a pairing up or I guess it's not a good YA story.2.5/5 stars. If you're a die-hard fan of retellings you might enjoy it more, also if you're more of a love-at-first-sight person than I am. Otherwise I'll have to recommend you skip it, but keep an eye out for other books by the author!Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
~Full review here on The Bent Bookworm!~
I was expecting to like Three Mages and a Margarita. I was NOT expecting to love it. And well..let's just say as soon as I finished I jumped onto GoodReads to see when the next one was coming out!
I signed up for the book tour because I like sassy female characters and felt like I could use a lighthearted, amusing read in the middle of all my heavy science stuff that I've been working on for months. The description made me think Jim Butcher and Gail Carriger had a brain-child...and I was NOT disappointed!
Characters
Tori is the bomb. She takes no shit, from anyone, and yet she still has soft heart and she tries to care about people. It's only sort of hinted at what sort of trauma her past holds (she tries to reveal-but-not-reveal to one other character in the book and it just left some things up in the air), but she has difficulty trusting anyone. She takes care of herself, but she tries to take care of other people too. The dichotomy is something she admits to struggling with, but it doesn't weigh the book down.
The three mages are, as promised, sexy AF. Despite that, it is not (also as promised) a reverse harem. Just a good dose of sexual tension and admiration on all sides, hence the two flames. Nothing too sexual though, though I feel like the potential is there. I am extremely eager to see what happens in subsequent books, and I'm kind of hoping for a HEA on all counts for this series. Because it just seems like it needs it. All three guys – despite being often seen together and best friends – are quite different and I loved them all but I loved Ezra just a teeny bit more. :heart_eyes: Ahem.
Worldbuilding
Now, I don't read that much urban fantasy, so it's possible the magic system isn't all that original, but I thought it was fascinating. I loved how the explanation of magic users in the modern world was explained, how they stayed hidden from the normal/human set, as well as how they used their powers and weapons.
Storyline
The plot kept it moving, which I really liked. The only reason I didn't read this all in one sitting was because – well, homework and being a responsible student.
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~ TW: violence, battle scenes, rape, animal death.The Wolf in the Whale is an absolutely beautiful, gut-wrenching book. It held my attention for the entire 500+ pages and my heart for much longer - I'm really shocked that it hasn't received more attention! Also, I'm still struggling to find the words to describe both the book and my feelings about it. I really just want to shove it in everyone's face and tell them YOU MUST READ THIS (after pointing at the trigger warnings above, of course). But that typically only works with very close friends.Not enough for you either? Ok, moving on...First of all, the entire book is based around the gods even though the main characters are human. The gods of the Inuit and of the norsemen are involved - to the point of meddling selfishly - in the lives of mortals. I didn't realize this when I first started reading and it took me several chapters to realize that no, the scenes with the gods weren't visions or dreams. The gods were actual, physical AND spiritual beings that interacted with humans. Excuse me while I rearrange my brain cells. Also, don't expect any high moral standards from the gods. Some of them are just as despicable as any human villain-characters. It was rather ghastly at times. :PThe main characters are complicated. The things that happen to Omat are absolutely brutal. The Viking warrior is sympathetic but not an innocent. The clash between Inuit and the Norse gods was fascinating.I'm going to stop here, because this book has stumped me on writing an actual review for months now. I hope that I've convinced you to give it a shot, if you can stomach the heartache and violence. It's totally worth it.Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~ “When she died, demons were going to torment her for eternity instead of letting her reincarnate. Or worse, they'd let her reincarnate, but she'd be a catfish who lived under a river outhouse.”The Bride Test is a companion novel to The Kiss Quotient, but it isn't necessary to have read that one before this one (thankfully, unlike many novels marketed as “companion”).So, somehow I avoided all the general hubbub that surrounded The Kiss Quotient, author Helen Hoang's debut novel, when it came out last year. I was aware of it, but not being in a mood AT ALL for romance, I skipped it. I continued to hear people rave about it, and then this subsequent companion novel, so I decided to pick it up.I loved so many things about this book. I loved Khai so much, and I liked Esme even if I didn't entirely relate to her...and, since she is coming from SUCH a different background than, I imagine, almost anyone who will read this book, I doubt I am the only one. She is a strong woman who will do anything – ANYTHING! – for her family, even if it means sacrificing herself. She does eventually come to realize that it is not worth it to sacrifice her happiness, even if it means a better life for her daughter, but she plays such a dangerous game here. The author's note at the end of the book actually talks a lot about this, which I really appreciated.Autism definitely gets positive rep here, and it was such a refreshing breath of air. I did think it was a little odd that Esme – who researches EVERYTHING – just sort of blew off Khai's statement about it. That seemed really out of character, but whatever, I guess. She was super sensitive to his need for a different kind of touch, to his need for order and routine...but I felt like part of that was her desperation to try to get him to like her, and it sat a little sour with me. I'm glad that she came into herself by the end, but still.There are also definitely sexy times in this book – phew! The way Khai handles his sexual attraction to Esme is funny, cute, and sexy at the same time. There is clearly attraction between them, and I love that Esme was completely okay with having sex for sex's sake – even if nothing else would come of it. We need more of that sort of sex-positive attitude in books. Enough with the slut shaming.I also loved Khai's big family. His mom – the whole reason Esme is in America – is hilarious but also so sweet because she clearly loves her kids so very much. The way Kwan and Khai interact completely melted my heart, too. I hope we get Kwan's full story in the next book! Now I am definitely going back to read The Kiss Quotient and am really looking forward to the next installment as well.Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~ What Angels Fear is the first in C.S. Harris' Regency mystery series, which as of this writing is at fourteen books. STOP THE PRESSES! I've found a new favorite historical series! Ok, so I've only read the first one but I am completely head over heels and am spending WAY too much time searching for a copy of the out-of-print hardcover. Ahem.“Life is full of scary things. The trick is to not let your fears get in the way of your LIVING.”FeelsCreepy, atmospheric, complicated, and even a little bit sexy! So many red herrings, so many things going on...and people with so many different layers to them. Holy cow. The murder mystery here is gruesome and horrible, and through the course of the book I really came to care about the victim and desperately wanted some justice for her. The overall tone was very gothic and at times creepy but not overly so.CharactersSebastian is SUCH an intriguing person. I love heroes and heroines that are somewhat morally gray, and he definitely falls into that category. He's 28 years old, has never had a happy home life (though his family has always been gentry and he's never wanted for creature comforts), and endured things during the war (possibly DID things during the war) that no human being should ever have to go through. Not all of his story is revealed in this book, and I'm looking forward to finding out more about him and his very strange family in the next installments. OH! He has some rather different physical abilities, that had me doing some serious side-eyeing when I first started reading...but what do you know, the author actually based them on an real genetic syndrome found most often in people of Welsh descent. AWESOMESAUCE.Kat – an Irish-born actress with whom Sebastian has a history – is an equally fascinating character, and I really hope she appears more in the later books. I love how she's made her own way in the world, regardless of what society says about her or how she should conduct herself. She really seems to have a heart of solid gold and is someone I would love to get to know better.Tom is a street urchin who basically adopts Sebastian despite his best efforts to dislodge the boy. Convinced that Sebastian won't last a day on the streets (being gentry, after all) without his help, Tom quickly endeared himself. I just want to scoop him up and hug him. And feed him.There is a slew of interesting side characters as well! I'm hopeful some of them may become more prominent in the later books.SettingFirst of all, while C.S. Harris actually has a Ph.D. in history and the telling of the story definitely feels like it drops you into historical London, some liberties have definitely been taken with the language. Also, the main female characters in this book have some VERY modern ideas of themselves and their rights – which I thoroughly enjoyed, but is probably not very historically accurate. I'm not a historian myself, by any means, but the rest seems fairly true to the time period. There are cramped alleys, injustice, starving children, and grave robbers.PlotThere is a LOT going on here, no joke. Political intrigue, sex scandals, murders (yes, plural), family secrets, broken hearts...AHHH! I loved it. Absolutely loved it. Of course the main focus of this book is on the murder of the young woman found dead in front of a church altar, and Sebastian's quest to prove that it was NOT him that killed her, but there are so many other threads woven through this book that are just as fascinating as the whodunit.Flame Rating3/5 flames! Sebastian and Kat still practically steam whenever they're in a room together, and there are some sexy scenes (without being very detailed about specifics). They have chemistry and don't want to admit it...until they do. Hah!5/5 stars, and I can't wait to get to the next one! See what happens when you start reading some backlist books? Highly recommend if you like historical fiction, a good whodunit, with a little sexual tension thrown in.Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
~Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!~ For all the ways I want to disappear and not let people see me, it still cuts me every time they don't.All We Could Have Been was a very emotional book. While it is YA, it tackles some very adult themes and thoughts – maybe because the main characters, while still teenagers, have both experienced life events that forced them to grow up very quickly. It seems to be marketed as a thriller, which isn't entirely accurate as it mostly focuses on the aftermath of a crime rather than the events around the crime. There are some flashback sort of memories about it though, so I guess maybe that's why...YA thriller seems to be a hard genre to pin down.FeelsI hurt so much for Lexi. For Marcus, too, but mainly for Lexie. She has been so scarred by her brother's actions and the hatred that people in general turned on her family after his crime, that she has (as many of us do) started to believe it of herself.You ruin everything, I remind myself. There's nothing you can keep safe. Lexie's parents have tried, but they've been dealing with their own trauma, and haven't entirely kept up with their very nearly adult daughter. Their best advice to her is to lay low, not attract attention, and please-for-the-love-of-god maybe consider not color coding her clothes to the day of the week. Despite sending her to a therapist, they seem to have no grasp of how important coping mechanisms are to Lexie, even something as small as clothing colors.I also caught a case of the feels for Lexie and Marcus together. They aren't the most romantic couple – their relationship is built more on a need for support and understanding that they can't seem to find from anyone else. While I wouldn't ever recommend a romantic relationship based on such, the fact is that it happens often, I've been IN a relationship like that, and sometimes it is what people need at that time. Such relationships may not be the most lasting, but they have their place.Lexie grew SO MUCH in the course of this story. She's not perfect, or “fixed” as some might be inclined to call it, but she makes so much progress. She keeps trying. Which, as anyone with depression or anxiety can tell you – IS HUGE. Sometimes it is so difficult to keep trying.CharactersAside from Lexie, there is an entire cast of other interesting people! This made me really happy because often secondary characters are so similar I can't remember who is who or did what.- There is, of course, Marcus – who is supposed to be this bad boy with a horrible reputation, when all he really seems to be is a kid who did what he had to do to survive and ended up getting swept under the rug by the school system.- Ryan is Lexie's first real friend at her new school, and he has a secret too, but one that's entirely personal. Ryan is asexual, which has caused him some grief at school and is something he really struggles with. He has come to accept it about himself but isn't ready to be public about it. I really like Ryan, until about the middle of the book, when he does something that seems entirely selfish and unreasonable and very out of character, IMO. Meh.- Chloe – Chloe is somewhat petty and self-centered, but she has a respect for human feeling that a lot of people don't. I can respect her, in the end, even if I didn't really like her.- Aunt Susie – I love adult characters that I can empathize with. This is probably less of a big deal for the intended audience of All We Might Have Been, but as an adult reader I totally felt a kinship with her. She is Lexie's mother's sister, and while she is trying to be the “parent” figure Lexie's parents want her to be, she ends up treating Lexie more like an adult. Huge props.SettingMost of the book takes place in and around Lexie's high school – the one she's starting at the beginning of her senior year in hopes she can make it 160 days. Normally I'm annoyed by school settings, but this one didn't bother me, I think because it was much more character focused than it was on any particular setting.NegativesMainly Ryan's abrupt character switch in the middle of the story. I felt like it was unnecessary and really sad – and very NOT in character for him. It really dampened the entire rest of the book. Also in the beginning there is some weird, over-the-top descriptions that really threw me for a loop...I think maybe the author was trying to get Lexie's sort of dry, sarcastic humor across but it really just felt strange.Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram
~Review first appeared on The Bent Bookworm!~Someone to Trust is the perfect holiday book for the Austen-inclined reader! I thoroughly enjoyed this historical romance, with its unique characters and large, warm, overarching family story. This was particularly refreshing because it was DIFFERENT. Instead of your typical young-couple-meets-and-falls-in-love (naturally with a few obstacles thrown in their way, but nothing they can't overcome), the heroine is actually a widow, and somewhat old for a Regency era heroine at that. Ok, not just somewhat old, but unheard-of old at thirty-five! And the hero is...twenty-six. GASP!Elizabeth has been unlucky in love, but she is reconciled to her life. She is still a vibrant, intelligent, warm-hearted woman but has determined thatContentment would be good enough, even preferable to exuberant happiness, in fact. Happiness did not last. There was more stability in contentment.I loved Elizabeth so much. She has a backbone of steel and a heart of gold. Despite her misfortune, se is not closed off or unreachable or wallowing. I think it safe to say it is all of those underlying qualities that most attract the young Lord Colin Hodges, much to his own amazement. Colin does not waste much time fretting over what society will think of his inappropriate attachment – no Mr. Darcy scruples here – but determines to win Elizabeth's heart. Of course, true love's path never runs smooth, as his own mother (and LORD WHAT A MOTHER) conspires against him, along with the rest of society and Elizabeth's own belief about herself and what she deserves out of life.This book is so far removed from what I usually expect from books labeled historical romance. It is full of solid, steady, but also heart-fluttering love. The characters are mature and make decisions that MAKE SENSE, both for the time and for the story. There was none of the ridiculous swooning and obsession that so often marks romances.4/5 stars, because I did feel that some of the dialogue was really too modern and felt removed from the time period. Didn't detract from the story itself, just from my absorption in it. Still highly recommend! I will definitely be coming back when I get the itch for a historical romance again, especially since this was the 5th in the Westcott series. All the previous relationships and people are well explained so that it CAN be read as a standalone, but it really made me curious!Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+
I really wish I had read this as a kid, I think I would have had a better reaction. As it is, I just kind of sat there and kept raising my eyebrows. “Really? Is that how kids are?”
The illustrations were pretty amusing though, and definitely what took this from a 2-star to a 3-star. Maybe at 8 or 9 years old, I would have enjoyed the rest of the book.
Read via the Audible edition of [b:Different Seasons 39662 Different Seasons Stephen King https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329662611l/39662.SY75.jpg 2248680]. “The Body” starts on chapter 77 of the recording.Chapter 20 - “The most important things are hardest to say, because words diminish them.”