Randi
How could I not have rated and reviewed this yet? I read it years ago and think of the series often. Definitely worth the read!
Rick Riordan does it again! I really need to read some of his adult fiction because what he does for teens is nothing short of magic. I especially loved how he would dedicate alternating chapters to one or the other main character's point of view. Very refreshing.
She irritates me. Alot. But Mr. Knightley was even more loveable in the book than the movie!
This was a read that I was interested in. I tend to devour YA fiction/fantasy over summer breaks, but I've been rather disappointed this year. Most books I read would lead into a series that I found myself uninterested in following. “Birthmarked” kept me guessing and wanting so badly for Gaia to discover the secrets surrounding her, and for her to overcome her own shyness (poor thing). I finished it and actually looked for the copyright date and was more than frustrated when it read 2010. I simply can't wait for the next book!
It's been a while so I hardly remember it. However, I do want to find out what happens, so I'm definitely going to work it into my TBR pile.
Heartbreaking and defining at the same time, Demick has done a wonderful job weaving the lives and experiences of several North Korean escapees in a terrible and awe-inspiring tapestry.
Very interesting world, but I found my mind wandering during intense portions. This is first in a series, but it ended in a way that I feel comfortable not continuing. I might return to the series later when I want to immerse myself in the unique world again.
A wonderful rivals-to-lovers read. Especially refreshing that the female lead isn't burdened with the typical “I'm not pretty/smart/rich/talented enough for him” garbage. She's good at what she does and everyone else sees and acknowledges it. Started giggling with relief when I saw the next book comes out this year!
More predictable than the first two, which wasn't bad at all. These books have a coziness that still allows for stakes to play out and keep your attention. The sweet romance and self-discovery were delightful, but I loved the comeuppance even more. Abigail is forever my introvert queen.
When I say I sent at least 10 “I can't handle the cuteness” gifs to the friend who recommended this to me...
Seriously, this is sweet and soft with the lightest touch of dark faerie and dark humanity and it's WONDERFUL
Such a refreshing spin on a fairy tale. I've been lucky to find several good ones and this is definitely included in that list.
I really enjoyed the diversity this anthology showed that isn't normally represented in “geekiness.” Not only is it nice to see, it's nice to be reminded.
PG
I read these books years ago, then this spring I decided to re-read them because I remembered enjoying them very much. And I did, until “Wise Child” and “Colman”. There were significant plot holes, and even a few cases where the author herself changed the past of characters for no apparent reason. The changes didn't affect the plot, but it was enough to throttle my suspension of disbelief.
Other than that, it was a fun read.
Tl:dr beautiful cover leads reader to story that expands cultural horizons but not much else
Beautiful book, gorgeous artwork on the cover. I fell deeply in love with all the vocabulary being thrown around that I had to hunt for, which only further drew me in and helped with the imagery. It was refreshing to not have the author giving me a mini history or culture lesson every time something culturally specific came up.
There were some problems for me with dialogue and action occasionally. Placement of characters being closer or further than I'd thought making the next sequence of events highly impractical if not improbable. Natural human reactions to fire being left out completely (I'm sorry, if there's fire then a person's going to back up) and adding to the placement issues. Also I didn't feel like anything was actually resolved in Sheetal's favor?
Listened on Audible. Left me emotionally compromised at Target next to the drain cleaners. Sanderson is a magician.
PG-13 to R
Death, death, and more death. I don't know what my fascination was, but I read the whole trilogy one after another and then read this. It is an amazing collection of short stories for those who couldn't get enough of the Abhorsen and her mystical world clashing with a more sedate one close to our own. The zombies, monsters, death, and overall vivid accounts of sounds, smells, and sights rate it up there with the PG-13 and R lot. There were often times that I would look up from the book on purpose to remind myself that I wasn't there; I was here, in my apartment, far from zombies, but within running distance of my friend Luke who has a plan for the zombie apocalypse.
Yeah, it was that good.
So, I know I'm sleep-deprived and all, but the fact that I TOTALLY FORGOT I read this book shows me how much it didn't register on my “wow-dar”.
It's a good story and I enjoyed reading it to pass the time and all that, but I honestly forgot until Goodreads reminded me to update my progress that I'd even read it. I even recall listing my husband all the books I'd read in the past 3 weeks, and KNOWING I'd left one out.
This one.
So, it was fun, but not enough to encourage me to continue the series. I mostly read it because I'd watched the television show and enjoyed that as well. Looks like I enjoyed the show more than the book (GASP!).
I didn't feel this was a sophomore slump at all. But then again, it might not be her sophomore novel. I was too caught up in the story to bother paying attention to that.
Despite the enticing cover and promising subject matter, this did not hit the spot. Yes, there are fairytales (4 of them, and refreshingly not all common ones), and yes there are recipes, but that's about it.
There was no narrative - story or otherwise - connecting the fairytales to the recipes. The author is kind enough to include both metric and US measurements, but flips back and forth within each recipe which comes first. That's less an actual problem and more a peeve while trying to bake.
All in all, not the best literary inspired cookbook I've come across.
This book was heartwrenching and beautiful. In all honesty there were parts where the author lost me, and others where I couldn't tell what time period she was referring to. However it all came together nicely and I put it up to the author being a poet and me not being much of a poet myself.
This was a really good book that I had terrible getting into/staying in until the last 5 or so chapters. Then I absolutely couldn't put it down. I'm honestly a little frustrated that I can't get my hands on book 2 for a while (thanks, Corona)
PG-13
It was an interesting premise, for sure. The whole “strong woman leading role” thing is starting to wear on me, though. These girls need flaws! And not sexual ones, though that may have been the author's idea of diversifying her character, but it just made me like her less. I just find it hard to believe that a girl living with her family and just coming into marriageable age (which is in the early to mid-teens) and is also a victim of an almost-rape turns into a sex-aholic. What does she even see in these guys? Any relationship development is passed over in favor of teen girl outcast trying to prove herself angst. Everything the men do is wrong and stupid, and the girl knows all. Not buying it. It was one of those books that got a good rating from me for the writing (which was beautiful), and the even more impressive story I wrote in my head while reading it.