Randi

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)

I really enjoyed this book, which one might not assume based on how long it took me to read it. It was lyrical, honest, and beautifully introspective.

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 steamy read, for sure! Predictable, enjoyable, though I'm not sure how a neurotypical man would think he's inherently broken because of his father's unfaithfulness. It was kind of a let down as far as big reveals go. The way it was built up I was expecting something MUCH more scandalous.

I personally felt this book had my mind reeling. I usually think of myself as an intelligent person, but I was basically on track with Spensa the whole time. Sure, most of the twists were pretty clear, but the extent of the twist - the angle of descent! - would often grab me. I found myself so caught up in trying to figure some mysteries out that I didn't have time to consider others which I knew were there and just out of reach.
In short, I LOVED IT. It has bred many happy hours of consideration and debate and theorizing with my husband, which in my mind is the mark of a truly good book.

It was a good ending and a good twist for the story. I liked all the characters and worldbuilding throughout the trilogy. As the end drew closer it did get harder to separate past and present as the same people were always featured, but it didn't take away too much from my suspension of disbelief.

Ok, I wanted to love this one. It may have been that the narrator doesn't speak Korean (or at least doesn't sound to me like she does. Who knows? I haven't heard it embedded in English like this in years!), or that it's a middle grade audience when I was assuming higher. All I know is the twists that could have been were not and the things that were supposed to be twists just were not surprising. At all. I really want something like this for an adult audience!

So, I had to read this for school and it's honestly been a while since I had to read anything worthwhile for a class so it was a bit rough. It was difficult to follow most of the time, but when it flowed it was wonderful. So many things I'd never considered (human rights being forced on the rest of the world via Western imperialism, religious freedom vs freedom of speech, human rights vs communitarian rights, etc) and I really appreciated the stimulation. My brain hasn't really stopped comparing and contemplating and trying to figure out where I stand on so many important issues. But the frequency with which the author seemed to contradict herself was pretty infuriating.

I made the mistake of reading a bunch of comments and most everyone else was saying things like “first works problems” and “white girl whining” and none of that got to me, but it did turn my perception to realize that this isn't what I need right now. I know the problem exists, I know I'm not immune, but I don't need more reasons to be angry right now. Right now I need to focus on other things like school and family and home so I can survive this year. I won't if I keep thinking about this while trying to accomplish that.

That was a fabulous book. Cringingly real angst over a crush that took me right back to Middle and High School. I love that it's based on an opera. That makes me want to watch it now, and I hope it'll do that for all the young adults who read it and bother to read the end pages.

So, there were a lot of books in here that I'd never read, and the author wrote about them so wittily and I started thinking to myself that I ought to put a few on hold.
Then she didn't like The Hobbit.
Or Wicked.
She reads Wuthering Heights every year.
I love the former two and loathe the latter, so I was apprehensive about the rest. But, my bookish little heart surged on and even wrote down a few potentials to pick up at the library, despite myself.
It was a good read. I'm glad I did it. I LOVED the “Fancy Bookshelf” letter. She was me and I was she and it was hilarious!

I really enjoyed this one. The separate narratives combined nicely and the fact that there wasn't an exactly neat and tidy ending despite being a younger read was refreshing.

The concept was more interesting than the romance, and unfortunately the former was greatly overshadowed by the latter. I listened on audiobook, so it may have just been the narrator's portrayal but I found the characters to be overdramatic in most instances and suddenly logical in others. It was just a little too much emotional whiplash for me.

This was seriously enjoyable. Though, come to the end and I realized I should have read The Trials of Apollo first.

It took a little bit to get into and sort out what was going on, but it was still interesting enough to plow through the confusion. I guess it wouldn't have been so hard had I remembered it was based on the Baba Yaga folklore and had a better understanding of her story to begin with, but I still loved it. I especially want to get more acquainted with Russian and Eastern European folklore now! Definitely an enjoyable read.

Second read: loved it! Forgot how gruesome it got but I liked it because it brought a sense of Halloween into my summer

Any Sanderson novel is always a pleasure.

DNF. Not really in the mindset for a book set in a time where women were considered - by science - to be inferior in every way. It was just rubbing me the wrong way the whole time. I really did try, though. Maybe another time.

Continuity issues. Like, noticeable ones. But still a great read.

There was quite a bit of language, which is kind of to be expected, but it tended to get a bit distracting at times. It was almost painful to remember how much teenaged hormones control you and mess with your logic. Ugh. But overall a good book that I enjoyed.

So, it's written in the same style as World War Z and The Martian (interviews, recorded conversations, journal logs, etc.) which - until The Martian - I didn't think I was a fan of. This was a really fun conspiracy-filled ride. I personally liked having the explanations of various motivations on a global scale being just out of reach enough for me to not have thought of them myself, but easily understood once laid out. The only real downside is that it's #1 in a series that isn't wholly out yet. Grr.

I really really liked this book. I really really liked the movie, so felt compelled to read the book, too. I found it interesting how things that were adapted for the movie to add suspense actually took away from the victory in my mind. I mean, it was all awesome while watching, but seeing the difference while reading... There was just so much left out (understandably) that was edge-of-your-seat and nail-biting to keep it light and move the story along. Again, I get it, but then some of the adaptations detract from the abilities of the characters - from their intelligence, perseverance, sacrifices - that could've made it that much more believable AND fantastic.
Still, amazing read.

Excellent world building!

Celaena is an assassin imprisoned in the salt mines for her crimes. After a year she's approached by the Crown Prince with an opportunity to win back her freedom. Compete with 24 others for the chance to become the King's official Champion and thereby earn a 4 year contract leading to her complete freedom upon completion. Along the way, emotional walls are broken down, misconceptions, etc. But there's a problem: people are dying. Contestants, to be specific. Only Celaena can stop the grisly deaths, but can she to that AND win the competition?

It was enjoyable, though I found that I'm in a different headspace while reading. The whole “exceptional youths” thing is wearing on me a bit, so I can tell I'm in a more realistic-fiction/non-fiction mood. It was entertaining, enough that I'm interested in continuing the series, but probably not until I've had a good palate cleanser first.

I really enjoyed it. Of course, it's hard not to enjoy a Percy Jackson book. The ending was satisfying yet infuriating!

This was one of those increasingly rare books that handles teenaged inability to think clearly with heightened awareness and reasoning REALLY well. The capabilities of Maisie (particularly in the technological know-how, scientific reasoning, scheming, etc.) are believable if only because they are explained by well-crafted plot devises. But take away those and she's back to being a normal, slightly above averagely intelligent girl. Refreshing, since most books these days have undiagnosed geniuses for protagonists.
Regardless, this was an excellent read. I literally couldn't put it down. Stayed up WAY later than normal to finish it. Another home run, Mrs. Hale!