Review: Cryptid Club by Sarah Andersen

Title: Cryptid Club

Author: Sarah Andersen

Series/Standalone:  Standalone

Genre: Comics, Coffee Table Book, Humor

Pages: 112

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Year Published: 2021

Format: Hardcover (Library Copy)

"Do you hate social gatherings? Dodge cameras? Enjoy staying up just a little too late at night? You might have more in common with your local cryptid than you think! Enter the world of Cryptid Club, a look inside the adventures of elusive creatures ranging from Mothman to the Loch Ness Monster. This humorous new series celebrates the unique qualities that make cryptids so desperately sought after by mankind (to no avail). After all, it's what makes us different that also makes us beautiful."

My Rating: 3.5/5

This one was fun but I wanted a bit more by the end. I think that while it was really cute there were some that were just a little too on the nose for me. Still a cute lil read.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Title: Every Heart A Doorway

Author: Seanan McGuire

Series/Standalone: Wayward Children Series (Book #1)

Genre: Thriller, Young Adult, Fantasy

Pages: 169

Publisher: Tor

Year Published: 2016

Format: Hardcover (Own It)

"Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children

No Socilitations

No Visitors

No Quests

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Nancy tumbled once, but now she's back. The things she's experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West's care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.

But Nancy's arrival marks a change at the Home. There's a darkness just around each corner and when tragedy strikes, it's up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.

No matter the cost."

My Rating: 4/5

This book was so intensely popular back when I was binging booktube, but I somehow never picked it up. What I don't think was talked about enough is that this book is freaking odd. A great odd, but still odd. I wasn't expecting how the story was laid out but I can't wait to continue with the series. I think that with the idea of worlds opening up throughout other volumes, I will only grow to love this more. I would strongly recommend it although I'm a bit late to the party on this one.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

Title: This Savage Song
Author: Victoria Schwab
Series/Standalone: Monsters of Verity Duology (Book #1)
Genre: Dystopia, Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 428
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Year Published: 2016
Format: Hardcover Copy (Own It)
First Line: "The night Kate Harker decided to burn down the school chapel, she wasn't angry or drunk."

"There's no such thing as safe.

Kate Harker wants to be a ruthless as her father. After five years and six boarding schools, she's finally going home to prove that she can be.

August Flynn wants to be human. But he isn't. He's a monster, one that steals souls with a song. He's one of the three most powerful monsters in a city overrun with them. His own father's secret weapon.

Their city is divided.
Their city is crumbling.
Kate and August are the only two who see booths ides, the only two who could do something.
But how do you decide to be a hero or a villain when it's hard to tell which is which?"

My Rating: 3.75/5

This book wasn't what I had at first expected. This is my first time reading Victoria Schwab's writing and I know that for many in the YA book community her work is a staple. That made me a little nervous going into it. I really enjoyed this novel overall. I think that the characters were lovable and interesting. That being said the plot was predictable for me. I assumed what was going to happen and who would be involved. I enjoyed the concept of crimes and wrongdoing becoming something that really terrorizes humanity. I also enjoyed the concept of different crimes resulting in different types of "monsters."
 I am curious about how the second and final book would be written and what the plot will be. I do hope to read this book once the local libraries reopen in my area! 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Sever by Lauren Destefano

Title: Sever
Author: Lauren Destefano
Series/Standalone: The Chemical Garden (Book #3)
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance
Pages: 371
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Book for Young Readers
Year Published: 2013
Format: Hardcover (Library Copy)
First Line: "In the atlas, the river still flows."

"Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughan's worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, through the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine's memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine's side, even if Linden's feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan's growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future- and about the past, her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano's Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered."

My Rating: 3.75/5

This is the final instalment in The Chemical Garden series. And I was a bit confused by the plot of this one. I felt as though this instalment went so many directions and I wish it just would have chosen one direction to go on. I was confused by some of the author's choices as I felt they might not have been the original plot but were thrown in upon editing. There is nothing wrong with that it just wasn't the direction I thought that this series was going to take. I will say that I love the characters and the growth they go through. I also enjoyed the plot twists and the world. Some of the twists just seemed to come out of left field for me and I wasn't at all prepared (especially when there were only 100 pages left in the series). 
All this being said, I plan to read more of Lauren Destefano's works. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Reread Thoughts: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Title: Red Queen
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Series/Standalone: Red Queen Series (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Dystopian
Pages: 383
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year Published: 2015
Format: Own it (Hardcover and Collectors)
First Line: "I hate First Friday."

"This is a world divided by blood- red or silver. The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. That is until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power. Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her the long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime. But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance- Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart."

My Rating: 5/5

This took a surprisingly long time for me to reread this time around, not because I didn't enjoy it. No rather because I was a bit lazy to reread and needed something that would gather my full attention and for that reason, I listened to many audiobooks lately. I also found that I was more looking forward to some of the aspects that happen in the coming books. I look forward to continuing my reread. Just unsure if it will be immediate.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Title: Salt to the Sea
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 393
Publisher: Philomel Books
Year Published: 2016
Format: Hardback Copy (Own It)
First Line: "Guilt is a hunter."

"Based on the 'forgotten tragedy that was six times deadlier than the Titanic.'-- Time

Winter 1945. WWII. Four refugees. Four stories.

Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies, war. As thousands desperately flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom. But not all promises can be kept...

Worl War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia, and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, many with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer to safety. 

Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. not country, nor culture, no status matter as all ten thousand people- adults and children alike- aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.

Told in alternating points of view and perfect for fans of Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning All the Light We Cannot See, Erik Larson's Dead Wake, and Elizabeth Wein's Printz Honor Book Code Name Verity, this masterful work of historical fiction is inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of Wilhelm Gustloff- the greatest maritime disaster in history. As she did in Between Shade of Gray, Ruta Sepetys unearths a shocking little-known casualty of a gruesome war, and proves that humanity and love can prevail, even in the darkest hour."

My Rating: 4/5

This story is definitely hard hitting and not for the faint of heart. I noticed right away that the authors writing style were strict to the point and that she didn't cringe away from facts that happened during this time in history, she seems to just lay them on the table for what they are. I was interested in the storyline as I hadn't heard of this tragedy, but also wasn't expecting as many gruesome details as the author included. That being said, it made the tragedy hit closer to home. Slowly the author has us fall in love with characters and also begin to understand how some characters might think in this war-torn time period.
I'm interested to read more of her work and plan to continue reading her work throughout this year.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Septys

This book has taken booktube by storm by being one of the most hard-hitting young adult historical fiction. I certainly agree with these statements this is a tragedy that a lot of people don't know about and I'm certainly one of them. I had no idea that this had happened during the war and had affected so many people, more people than the Titanic. I'm also looking forward to reading more of her works, but I'm glad that I planned to read a light-hearted contemporary book for after this hard-hitting read.

Characters:
Joana: She is strong and wise beyond her years. She has guts and has given up so much to help those around her. I can't imagine living through something like that and raising two children that you rescued. 

Florian: I enjoyed his perspective a lot based on him being on the run from the rest of his peers. To realize everything that happened during his time in the art gallery. I was glad that he was the knight they needed.

Alfred: I hated him. With a fiery passion! He was the trained sociopath that I think we expect that the German soldiers would be.

Emilia: Her story is what broke me the most. To be traded in for someone else's safety. To live her life being told that she is nothing and no one. To give birth after the sexual assault from possibly multiple people. To give up her life for that of her child, it broke me.

Shoe Poet: His death broke my heart, but at least it was quick. He didn't freeze to death in the water, and he helped Klaus find someone else to take care of him.

Klaus: I wonder about his future and what his childhood was like. Did his life get better after the war, or did he traumatic stress disorders?

Ingrid: The first loss hit hard, I was really excited to see that she had made it so far, especially being hunted for being blind, but then after it all, it didn't work out.


Thanks for reading,
Sidny