Book Review: Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Tower of Dawn

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Series/Standalone: Throne of Glass Series (Book #6)

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, 

Pages: 663

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Year Published: 2017

Format: Paperback (Own It)

"Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq have arrived in the shining city of Antica to forge an alliance with the Khagan of the Southern Continent, whose vast armies are Erilea's last hope. but they have also come to Antica for another purpose: to seek healing at the famed Torre Cesme for the wounds Chaol received in Rifthold.

After enduring unspeakable horrors as a child, Yrene Towers has no desire to help the young lord from Adarlan, let alone heal him. Yet she has sworn an oath to assist those in need- and will honor it. But Lord Westerfall carries shadows from his own past, and Yrene soon comes to realize they could engulf them both.

In this sweeping parallel novel to the New York Times bestselling Empire of Storms, Chaol, Nesryn, and Yrene will have to draw on every scrap of their resilience if they wish to save their friends. But while they become entangled in the political webs of the khaganate, deep in the shadows of mighty mountains where warriors soar on legendary ruks, long-awaited answers slumber. Answer that might offer their world a chance at survival- or doom them all...."

My Rating: 5/5

While reading these, if you had told me I would rate this one higher than Empire of Storms, I would have told you there was no way. But the twists and turns at the end of this hit me in my feelings. I was surprised, I was worried, I felt deeply about the plot line and how the changes were made. While the end felt a little cheesy, I am extremely worried about the characters in the next book, but I look forward to seeing how the plot plays out in Kingdom of Ash. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn

Title: The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband

Author: Julia Quinn

Series/Standalone: Rokesby Series (Book #2)

Genre: Historical Romance, Fiction, Adult

Pages: 393

Publisher: Avon

Year Published: 2017

Format: Audiobook

"While you were sleeping...

With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother, but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie...

I told everyone I was your wife

When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out six months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is- even if he does not recall her face- and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England.

If only it were true...

Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself- completely- to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby."

My Rating: 4/5

I really enjoy these prequels. I think the fact that the setting felt so different in this one added to my enjoyment. The idea that we were seeing the war in America from the perspective of the British wasn't something I can say I've read a lot of. As a Canadian (NOT AMERICAN), we do see a lot of American media about this time period. I also loved the concept. There was miscommunication, but in a way that I understood. It wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst use of that trope. The reason this book lost a star for me is the use of the phrase "coming home". I think we can all guess when and why this gave me the ick. Interesting choice. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Andersen

Title: Big Mushy Happy Lump

Author: Sarah Andersen

Series/Standalone: Sarah Scribbles (Book #2)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comics, Coffee table book

Pages: 128

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Year Published:2017

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"Sarah Andersen's second comic collection picks up right where the first left off- huddled under a pile of blankets avoiding the responsibilities of the real world. These new comics (and illustrated personal essays!) follow the ups and downs of the unrelenting self-esteem roller coaster that is young adult life: budgeting woes, cramps, the nuances of sweater theft and the joy of staying home all day with a box of pizza. All aboard."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I really liked this collection of comics, I have been following this author's Instagram for some time and then came across this collection at my local library. It was the perfect way to wind down and have a few giggles after a long day. Would recommend. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Emperor of Evening Stars by Laura Thalassa

Title: The Emperor of Evening Stars

Author: Laura Thalassa

Series/Standalone: The Bargainer Series (Book #2.5)

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, New Adult

Pages: 219

Publisher: Self-Published

Year Published: 2017

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"In the beginning, there was darkness. 

Before he met Callie, before he became the Bargainer, there was Desmond Flynn, the bastard son of a scribe. A boy born to a weak mother, cursed with little magic, and destined to marry a slave.

But fate had something else in mind.

Till darkness dies.

From the barren caves of Arestys the palace of Somnia to the streets of earth, this is how Desmond Flynn, a fairy who began with nothing, became the Emperor of Evening Stars."

My Rating: 4/5

I enjoyed this instalment far more than the other ones in the series. I always love a prequel; seeing where a character's traits come from helps understand a side character. I really enjoyed how fast-paced it was but I was hoping for more info about Desmond before the first book in the series had taken place. I will be finishing out the series.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: A Strange Hymn by Laura Thalass

Title: A Strange Hymn

Author: Laura Thalassa

Series/Standalone: The Bargainer Series (Book #2)

Genre: Fantasy, New Adult, Romance

Pages: 385

Publisher: Self-Published

Year Published: 2017

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

First Line: "Wings."

"She survived the mad king... but the nightmare isn't over.

Siren Callypso Lillis still wears the physical reminders of her time as Karnon's captive, even after reuniting with soulmate Desmond Flynn, the King of Night. Not only that, but mounting evidence suggests the Thief of Souls, the being responsible for the disappearance of countless fae warriors, is still out there.

Invited to an annual Solstice celebration, Callie and Des journey to the Kingdom of Flora to continue their investigation. But under the bright lights and striking blooms of the realm, new complications arise, one that no amount of bargaining can undo. Soldiers begin to go missing from the gathering, and some of the fae begin to suspect Des is the man behind it all. To Callie, one thing is no one is who they appear to be. Not even her soulmate.

Fairies play dangerous games. Some want love, some want vengeance, some want flesh, and some want horrors too unspeakable to name. Something is stirring in the Land of All that Grows, and if Callie isn't careful, it will claim everything she loves- and her along with it. "

My Rating: 3.5/5

I expected something else out of a second book. Once again the plot was fine, but it seemed to move too fast by the end. It started to pick up and just as it did, it was over. The plot twists were good, not great, but good. I will be reading the next book and am excited about it because it's a prequel. I have enjoyed the series, but it hasn't been mind-blowing, as long as the novella goes well I will finish the series. I would recommend it to people who haven't read ACOTAR. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny 

Book Review: Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker

Title: Emma in the Night

Author: Wendy Walker

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 308

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Year Published: 2017

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

First Line: "We believe what we want to believe."

"From the bestselling author of All is Not Forgotten comes a thriller about two missing sisters, a twisted family, and what happens when one girl comes back....

One night three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. Three years later, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a mysterious island where the two were held. But to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter, something doesn't add up. looking deep within this dysfunctional family Dr. Winter uncovers a life where boundaries were violated and a narcissistic parent held sway. And where one sister's return might be the beginning of the crime."

My Rating: 2/5

I have had this book on my TBR for so long that I think I imagined that I knew what this was about. So it's not the book's fault that it didn't follow the plot I thought it would This is very much a domestic thriller. I think that the use of dual P.O.Vs helped to build the anticipation, but it did go in the direction I thought it might be going. There were a few surprises along the way, but not enough to shock me the way I thought it would. I would recommend if you're into domestic thrillers and psycho thrillers. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Blood on the Tracks by Shuzo Oshimi

Title: Blood on the Tracks Vol. 2

Author: Shuzo Oshimi

Series/Standalone: Blood on the Tracks (Volume 2)

Genre: Manga, Horror, Adult

Pages: 208

Publisher: Vertical Comics

Year Published: 2017

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"His mother has done the unthinkable... and now Seiichi must decide if he will be complicit. but before he can even catch his breath, what remains of his sense of self is smashed to pieces by her next shocking act..."

My Rating: 5/5

The way this volume was so unsettling in my bone was exactly what I want this to be. The art style and the way the characters act appear normal on a surface level but it takes a moment for all that to change. I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about a horror manga that is more just unsettling to start.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Blood on the Tracks Vol. 1

Title: Blood on the Tracks Vol. 1

Author: Shuzo Oshimi

Artis(s): Shuzo Oshimi

Series/Standalone: Blood on the Track Series (Vol. 1)

Genre: Manga, Horror, Adult Fiction 

Pages: 216

Publisher: Vertical

Year Published: 2017

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"Seiichi's mother loves him very much, and his days pass with placid regularity. School, friends, even the attention of his attractive classmate Fukiishi.

Until one terrible summer day, that all changes....

Shuzo Oshimi (The Flower of Evil) delivers his most unsettling work yet, the tale of a seemingly normal family suddenly swallowed up by the creeping horror of everyday life.

Gorgeous art and an understated script only serve to heighten the tension as we watch Seiichi Osabe's life spiral into nightmare."

My Rating: 3.75/5

This first volume was a good introduction to the story and was unsettling. I am so curious to see how the series goes and I wonder how the characters will respond to what is happening in the cliffhanger. I look forward to continuing the series over the next few weeks.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

Title: Us Against You

Author: Fredrik Backman

Series/Standalone: Beartown Series (Book #2)

Genre: Adult Fiction, Contemporary

Pages: 448

Publisher: Atria Books

Year Published: 2017

Format: Audiobook

"After everything that the citizens of Beartown have gone through, they are struck yet another blow when they hear that their beloved local hockey team will soon be disbanded. What makes it worse is the obvious satisfaction that'll the former Beartown players, who now play for a rival team in Hed, take in that fact. Amidst the mounting tension between the two rivals, a surprising newcomer is handpicked to be Beartown's new hockey coach.

Soon a new team starts to take shape around Amat, the fastest player you'll ever see; Benji, the intense lone wolf; and Vidar, a born-to-be-bad troublemaker. But bringing this team together proves to be a challenge as old bonds are broken, new ones are formed, and the enmity with Hed grows more and more acute.

As the big match approaches, the not-so-innocent pranks and incidents between the communities pile up and their mutual contempt grows deeper. By the time the last game is finally played, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will to be forced to wonder if, after all they've been through, the game they love can ever return to be something simple and innocent."

My Rating: 5/5

This book was so much more than I anticipated. I didn't expect this to hit so hard. It was hard to imagine how the author was going to make this a series, but once again the small-town hard-hitting contemporary vibes. Since I grew up in this kind of small town all of this hit a little too close to home. The characters in this series felt so deep and realistic. I look forward to continuing the series and seeing how the author wraps up the town's story overall.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Down Amongst the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

Title: Down Amongst the Sticks and Bones

Author: Seanan McGuire

Series/Standalone: Wayward Children (Book #2)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Horror

Pages: 187

Publisher: Tor

Year Published: 2017

Format: Hardcover (Library Copy)

First Line: "People who knew Chester and Serena Wolcott socially would have placed money on the idea that the couple would never choose to have children."

"Twin sisters Jack and Jill were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children.

This is the story of what happened first...

Jacqueline was her mother's perfect daughter- polite and quiet, always dressed as a princess. If her mother was sometimes a little strict, it's because crafting the perfect daughter takes discipline.

Jillian was her father's perfect daughter- adventurous, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tom-boy. He really would have preferred a son, but you work with what you've got.

They were five when they learned that grown-ups can't be trusted.

They were twelve when they walked down the impossible staircase and discovered that the pretense of love can never be enough to prepare you a life filled with magic in a land filled with mad scientists and death and choices."

My Rating: 4/5

This series is so unusual and I wasn't anticipating loving the world. I didn't expect to want to binge-read as many of them as possible. So far I've already started the third one and it's been excellent. The author has such a way with atmospheric writing that even in a short amount of time it grabs your attention and sucks you in. I think that this one really helped build more about the idea of the doorways. I can't wait to read more!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: If We Were Villains by M.L Rio

Title: If We Were Villains

Author: M.L Rio

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Adult, Mystery

Pages: 354

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Year Published: 2017

Format: Audiobook

"Oliver Marks has just served ten years in jail- for a murder, he may or may not have committed. On the day he's released, he's greeted by the man who put him in prison. Detective Colborne is retiring, but before he does, he wants to know what really happened a decade ago.

As one of the seven young actors studying Shakespeare at an elite arts college, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingenue, extra. But when the casting changes, and the secondary characters usurp the stars, the plays spill dangerously over into life, and one of them is found dead. The rest face their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, and themselves, that they are blameless."

My Rating: 5/5

I had tried to pick this book up physically. Still, due to the different use of language (Shakespearean quotes thrown throughout), I had a lot of trouble distinguishing who was who and put it down shortly after starting. I saw that my library got an audiobook version and this was the last chance I was giving this novel. Now if you told me that I would have rated this a 5-star book I would not have believed you. I was leaning towards 4.5 stars until the final twist. I wasn't ready for how this was going to finish. I would strongly recommend the audiobook it is EXCELLENT! I hope to read more work by M.L Rio. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Threads and Portents by Jim Zub

Title: Threads and Portents

Author: Jim Zub

Artist(s): Steven Cummings, Tamra Bonvillain

Series/Standalone: Wayward Vol. 4

Genre: Graphic Novel, Adult, Fantasy

Pages: 136

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2017

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"IMAGES SUPERNATURAL SENSATION CONTINUES! The group is pulled apart and the hidden mythic worlds of Ireland and Japan are revealed."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I have so many questions! This series keeps unfolding and gaining my attention, I can't wait to see where the rest of the series takes us. The only problem? I think this is the last copy my library owns! Tragedy strikes, but bookstores will be profiting from my obsession.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Title: Little Fires Everywhere

Author: Celeste Ng

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Adult Fiction, Contemporary 

Pages: 338

Publisher: Penguin Press

Year Published: 2017

Format: Audiobook

"Everyone in Shaker Heights was talking about that summer: how Isabelle, the last of the Richardson children, had finally gone around the bend and burned the house down.

In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is meticulously planned- from the layout of the winding roads to the colours of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules.

Enter Mia Warren- an enigmatic artist and single mother- who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenage daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than just tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the rules that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.

When old family friends attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town- and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia's past. But her obsession will come at an unexpected and devastating cost..."

My Rating: 2.75/5

This book would be great for a book club book for people who read one book a month. As an avid reader whose not a huge fan of contemporary this wasn't it for me. While this story touches on many subjects, it doesn't ever dig deep enough for me to be interested in the plot line. There weren't enough twists for me and while I understand that this isn't what is normally found in a contemporary, neither is someone burning down a house. Maybe I'm the issue, but anyway, this book was just ok to me. Easy to get through but not memorable.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardguo

Title: Ruin and Rising

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series/Standalone: The Shadow and Bone Trilogy

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Pages: 417

Publisher: 2017

Year Published: Square Fish

Format: Paperback Copy

First Line: "The monster's name was Izumrud, the great worm, and there were those who claimed he had made the tunnels that ran beneath Ravka." 

"The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a tweaked Alina must submit the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction- and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she's fighting for."

My Rating: 4/5

This happens a lot for me in a series. The final book just isn't what I expected and while I liked this one, and thought that it made some really great plot choices, the final conflict resolution just wasn't what I wanted from the series. The characters were dynamic and interesting. I am so excited to continue reading Leigh Bardugo's backlist and I'm glad I started with this series. It was such a fun ride, and a great YA read without being too much of a throwback.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Title: One of Us Is Lying

Author: Karen M. McManus

Series/Standalone: One of Us Is Lying Series (Book #1)

Genre: Mystery, Young Adult, Thriller

Pages: 416

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Year Published: 2017

Format: Audiobook

"Pay close attention and you might solve this.

On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.

Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.

Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.

Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.

Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.

And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose?

Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them."

My Rating: 3.5/5

This was fun. Teen drama, murder, and thrilling gossip. What more could you ask for? It was exactly what I wanted for the moment. It wasn't the best book/thriller I've ever read, and I saw some of the final twists coming, but overall it just was fast-paced. If you're looking for a great CW style teen drama book, I would recommend it. I look forward to continuing with the series. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Imperial Phase, Part 1 by Kieron Gillen

Title: Imperial Phase, Part 1

Author: Kieron Gillen

Artist(s): Jamie McKelvie, Matt Wilson, Kevin Wada

Series/Standalone: The Wicked + The Divine (Vol. 5) 

Genre: Graphic Novels, Adult

Pages: 200

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2017

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"The gods are free to do whatever they want. Inevitably, they do. Collects issues 23- 28 of the series, including the critically lauded Kevin Wada magazine issue."

My Rating: 3.5/5

I thought that after the last volume it would be so quick and easy to jump into this one, but the story in this one just didn't grab my attention the way I wanted it to. And while there were a few twists, they weren't unexpected. I still enjoy the art style and the plot, just hoping the next one is a bit faster-paced.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda

Title: The Perfect Stranger

Author: Megan Miranda

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Adult

Pages: 339

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Year Published: 2017

Format: Audiobook

"Confronted by a restraining order and the threat of a lawsuit failed journalist Leah Stevens needs to get out of Boston when she runs into an old friend, Emmy Grey, who has just left a troubled relationship. Emmy proposes they move to rural Pennsylvania, where Leah can get a teaching position and both women can start again. But their new start is threatened when a woman with an eerie resemblance to Leah is assaulted by the lake, and Emmy disappears days later.

Determined to find Emmy, Leah cooperates with Kyle Donovan a handsome young police officer on the case. As they investigate her friend's life for clues, Leah begins to wonder: did she ever really know Emmy at all? With no friends, family, or a digital footprint, the police begin to suspect that there is no Emmy Grey. Soon Leah's credibility is at stake, and she is forced to revisit her past: the article that ruined her career. To save herself, Leah must uncover the truth about Emmy Grey- and along the way, confront her old demons, find out who she can really trust, and clear her own name.

Everyone in this rural Pennsylvanian town has something to hide- including Leah herself. How do you uncover the truth when you are busy hiding your own?"

My Rating: 2.75/5

This book just isn't what I hoped it would be. I liked the mystery, but it felt a little bit like Gone Girl for me. I think that our main character was a little slow on the uptake. I was so confused why she just kept touching everyone's stuff. That was something that really bothered me. I also found that I had figured out where Emmy had done far before the book was over. I will read more by Megan Miranda because I felt her atmosphere was spooky enough for me to be interested in a different plotline.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Power by Naomi Alderman

 

Title: The Power

Author: Naomi Alderman

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Science Fiction, Adult

Pages: 341

Publisher: Viking

Year Published: 2017

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

"In The Power the world is a recognizable place: there's a rich Nigerian kid who lounges around the family pool; a foster girl whose religious parents hide their true nature; a local American politician; a tough London girl from a tricky family. But something vital has changed, causing their lives to converge with devastating effect. Teenage girls now have immense physical power- they can cause agonising pain and even death. And, with this small twist of nature, the world changes utterly.

This extraordinary novel by Naomi Alderman, a Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year and Granta Best of British writer, is not only a gripping story of how the world would change if power was in the hands of women but also exposes, with breath-taking daring, our contemporary world."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This book really grabs your attention and you're not sure where the plot is going. Right from the start, I was interested in the way the characters were developing alongside a new world. To watch the world begin to explode and change rapidly, I was curious how it would start to wrap up and what an ending it was. I don't think that I preferred the way that it wrapped, but the letters at the end really wrapped it up nicely for me.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

Title: Kings of the Wyld

Author: Nicholas Eames

Series/Standalone: The Band (Book #1)

Genre: Adult, High Fantasy

Pages: 502

Publisher: Orbit

Year Published: 2017

Format: Paperback (Own It)

First Line: "You'd have guessed from the size of his shadow that Clay Cooper was a bigger man than he was."

"Clay Cooper and his band were once the best of the best-- the meanest, dirtiest, most feared crew of mercenaries this side of the Heartwyld.

Their glory days long past, the mercs have grown apart and grown old, fat, drunk - or a combination of the three. Then an ex-bandmate turns up to Clay's door with a plea for help. His daughter Rose is trapped in a city besieged by an enemy one hundred thousand strong and hungry for blood. Rescuing Rose is the kind of mission that only the very brave or the very stupid would sign up for.

It's time to get the band together for one last tour across the Wyld."

My Rating: 4/5

If you like DnD this might be the book for you. If you want to read about a DnD crew that has retired and has one more great story in them, it's fantastic. I absolutely LOVED the characters in this story. The fact that they were each unique and were easy to place was such a treasure. My personal favorites would have to be Moog, Kit, or Clay. Honestly, who can decide with such a variety to chose from. That being said this is where I had a bit of trouble with the plot. I think sometimes books like this have too many side quests going on. Not that I didn't enjoy some of the conflicts, just that at times it was a bit overwhelming, especially for someone who reads before bed. I also spoiled myself by seeing the title for the next book, and that lowered the stakes. That being said would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun fantasy read.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

Title: Piecing Me Together

Author: Renee Watson

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Pages: 277

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Year Published: 2017

Format: Audiobook

"A timely and powerful story about a teen girl from a poor neighborhood striving for success, from acclaimed author Renee Watson.

Jade believes she must get out of her neighborhood if she's ever going to succeed. Her mother says she has to take every opportunity. She has. She accepted a scholarship to a mostly-white private school and even Saturday morning test prep opportunities. But some opportunities feel more demeaning than helpful. Like an invitation to join Women to Women, a mentorship program for 'at-risk' girls. Except really, it's for black girls. From 'bad' neighborhoods.

But Jade doesn't need support. And just because her mentor is black doesn't mean she understands Jade. And maybe there are some things Jade could show these successful women about the real world and finding ways to make a real difference.

Friendships, race, privilege, identity- this compelling and thoughtful story explores the issues young women face."

My Rating: 3.75/5

I don't want to make this review confusing, but just because I rate something 3 stars doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it or find meaning in the work. I certainly did. I think this book says so many things about society, systemic racism, and the white gaze that is often put on BIPOC. That being said, I prefer a plot that has a little more flow in it than this book did. The real star of this novel was the characters, they were real, they were flawed, and they were DYNAMIC. I felt like I knew these characters. I plan on reading more work by the authors as soon as possible. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny