Book Review: Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Title: Heartless

Author: Mariss Meyer

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Retelling, Fantasy, Young Adult

Pages: 453

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Year Published: 2016

Format: Audiobook

"Long before she was the terror of Wonderland the infamous Queen of Hearts she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

In her first stand-alone teen novel, the New York Times bestselling author dazzles us with a prequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."

My Rating: 4/5

 At this time I have read the vast majority of this author's works.  I just don't think they are for me. I find that while they are ok, I just don't connect with the characters, or the writing style the way everyone else seems to. And that's ok. That being said, this was maybe my favourite book that I've read from here. I really enjoyed the adaptations she made to the world and how she humanizes someone who is viewed frequently as a villain. I often find myself drawn to prequels especially ones that are centred around what makes the villain in the main series and this was no different. The cast of characters was both unique and familiar, which made it easier to connect with them and feel for them. A negative aspect of the plot was the emphasis on weight. I understand that we're supposed to understand why the character might not get along with her mother but can we please have a relationship between mother and daughter that isn't look/weight centred? Overall, while a long story, it was enjoyable. I would strongly recommend the audiobook if it is available to you as the accents and voices used by the narrator helped suck me into the story.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Title: The Time Traveler's Wife

Author: Audrey Niffenegger

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Romance, Adult Fiction

Pages: 522

Publisher: Vintage Canada

Year Published: 2003

Format: Audiobook and Physical Copy (Own it)

First Line: "Clare: It's hard being left behind."

"When Henry meets Clare, he is twenty-eight and she is twenty. Henry has never met Clare before; Clare has known Henry since she was six. Impossible but true, because Henry finds himself periodically displaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life, past and future. Henry and Clare's attempts to live normal lives are threatened by a force they can neither prevent nor control, making their passionate love story intensely moving and entirely unforgettable. The Time Traveler's Wife is a story of fate, hope and believe, and more than that, it's about the power of love to endure beyond the bounds of time."

My Rating: 1.5/5

I really enjoyed this movie in my teenage years. I loved it. I thought that it really showed starcrossed lovers and it broke my little heart. Now as an adult, after reading the book I see a lot of problems with this storyline. Especially in the book. The use of sex was horrible for me, I didn't think that it showed any female enjoyment, it appeared at random, and it was awkward and stilted. Not what you want from a romance book. There was also a ton of problematic stereotypes that are glossed over. I understand that this was written in 2003, but it was hard to read through all the same. That being said, the movie is still one that I enjoyed and the reason this got the rating it did was for nostalgia purposes. Overall, would not recommend. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd

Title: Her Dark Curiosity

Author: Megan Shepherd

Series/Standalone: The Madman's Daughter Series (Book #2)

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Romance

Pages: 422

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook

"To defeat the darkness, she must first embrace it.

Months have passed since Juliet Moreau returned to civilization after escaping her father's island- and the secret she left behind. Now, back in London once more, she is rebuilding the life she once knew and trying to forget Dr. Moreau's horrific legacy- though someone, or something hasn't forgotten her.

As people close to Juliet fall victim one by one to a murderer who leaves a macabre calling card of three clawlike slashes, Juliet fears one of her father's creations may have also escaped the island. She is determined to find the killer before Scotland Yard does, though it means awakening sides of herself she had thought long banished, and facing loves from her past she never expected to see again. 

As Juliet strives to stop a killer while searching for a serum to cure her own worsening illness, she finds herself once more in the midst of a world scandal and danger. Her heart torn in two, past bubbling to the surface, life threatened by an obsessive killer- Juliet will be lucky to escape alive. 

With inspiration from Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this tantalizing mystery about the hidden natures of those we love and how far we'll go to save them from themselves."

My Rating: 3.5/5

This story wasn't what I expected it to be. I will say that there is no reason that you have to continue with the series. If you felt content after the ending of The Madman's Daughter and you don't want to continue you definitely don't have to. This one felt a little disjointed from the first. For me, that might be because of the change of scenery that we see and after reading the description I see that she was getting inspiration from another classic dark thriller, so that makes sense. I think if I can get my hands on the next book I will continue the series, but I don't think this is a series that I will purchase as an all-time favourite. I did really enjoy seeing some characters in a different setting and the exploration of different characters in London. I loved the dark themes and thrilling aspects. Some parts that weren't my favourite were romantic relationships. I loved that the author spoke about sex, and sexuality from a modern woman's perspective. I just didn't feel like the romantic relationships between characters just didn't feel genuine to me.

I would recommend this series to anyone who likes classic, dark thrillers and who are looking for reads inspired by those classics. The audiobooks are great as well and may be available through your library if you're looking for alternative reading options.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice

Title: Interview With the Vampire
Author: Anne Rice
Series/Standalone: The Vampire Chronicles (Book #1)
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Classic
Pages: 353
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Year Published: 1976
Format: Audiobook (Own It)

"Here are the confessions of a vampire. Hypnotic, showing and chillingly erotic, this is a novel of mesmerizing beauty and astonishing forces story of danger and flight, of love and loss, of suspense and resolution, and of the extraordinary power of the sense. It is novel only Anne Rice could write."

My Rating: 1.5/5

I know that this is a lot of people's favourite series and I can honestly say, I don't think I get it. Maybe someone could let me know if they are all written in the same fashion and same format. Because I'd be willing to continue if I knew next books in the series would be different but at this point, I just don't really care. I was intrigued by the idea of different kinds of vampires and vampire children but then it just seemed to drag to me. I did care about some of the characters in the story, and the atmospheric writing was beautiful, but at this point, I just don't think that I will continue the series.

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: A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

Title: A Thousand Pieces of You
Author: Claudia Gray
Series/Standalone: Firebird Series
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance
Pages: 368
Publisher: Harper Teen
Year Published:2014
Format: Audiobook

"Margurite Caine's physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes- and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite's father is murdered, and the killer- her parent's handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul- escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him. 

Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. But she also meets alternate versions of people she knows- including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul's guilt- as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father's death is far more sinister than she expected."

My Rating: 4.25/5

I had heard really great things about this series when it had first come out and upon its completion. As I normally do, I definitely put this off, which Is a major trend from me. Many of my books on my physical TBR are from this era when I had more disposable income to purchase books on a whim. I really enjoyed this book, I think that the concept of jumping through dimensions into our bodies in those dimensions is just so fascinating. I also loved the character choices that were made. I felt like at some points the relationships in this love triangle felt a little forced, but overall I really enjoyed seeing how our characters interact with each other and the changing world around them. I'm curious to read the next book in the series asap.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Title: The Madman's Daughter
Author: Megan Shepherd
Series/Standalone: The Madman's Daughter (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Retelling
Pages: 420
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Year Published: 2013
Format: Audiobook and Paperback Copy (Own It)
First Line: "The basement hallways in King's College of Medical Research were dark, even in the daytime."

"Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London- working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward- both of whom she is deeply drawn to- Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius- and madness- in her own blood.

Inspired by HG Well's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect."

My Rating: 4.25/5 

This story was deeply frightening. It includes a girl who thought she had been orphaned and/or left behind trying to make her way in the world. It shows how she discovers her father is alive and confronts the rumours that put him on the run in the first place. And it follows her along her travels through and around a tropical island. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but what I will say, is if you are a chicken like me, maybe don't read this at night. I think that Megan Shepherd did a great job of writing suspenseful atmosphere and conversations without making it feel over the top. I also think that the characters were complex and we might not even know just how complex upon completion of this first book. I will say that the ending just didn't do what I hoped it would and therefore I don't think it provided the ending I had hoped for. I am interested in continuing with the series and would recommend for anyone looking for a Gothic Thriller I would strongly recommend this first book!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord

Title: The Names They Gave Us
Author: Emery Lord
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Pages: 390
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Year Published: 2017
Format: Hardcover Copy (Own It)
First Line:  "The first prom crisis is manageable."

"When it all falls apart, who can you believe in?

Everything is going right for Lucy Hansson, until her mother's cancer reappears. Just like that, Lucy breaks with all the constants in her life: her do-good boyfriend, her steady faith, even her longtime summer church camp job.

Instead, Lucy lands at a camp for kids who have been through, tough times. As a counselor, Lucy is in over her head and longs to be with her parents, across the lake. But that's before she gets to know her coworkers, who are as loving and unafraid as she so desperately wants to be.

It's not just new friends that Lucy discovers at camp= more than one old secret is revealed along the way. In fact, maybe there's much more to her family and her faith than Lucy ever realized. "

My Rating: 4.5/5

Trigger for: parents with critical illness
I want to start this review off by saying that I'm not a religious person and I still really enjoyed this book, even though religion played a heavy part in the book. This book really follows Lucy Hansson beginning to question her faith and her life. There are secrets she uncovers about those around her as well as finding who she really is. I didn't think that I would like this coming of age story, but it hit me so hard emotionally. I think the friendships played such a huge role in this story, along with the relationships that are made and broken throughout the course of one summer. I was also grateful to have religious parents who were open to people who were not worshippers, and being just generally good people. I certainly come from a town where some churches are more judgemental and therefore intimidating and upsetting instead of a warm and helpful place to go. 
The negative that I got from this series is that there is not a concrete ending and that is not my favourite thing. I like answers and wrap up to my questions to be sure and certain. That being said, I understand why the author made this choice. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Five Dark Fates by Kendare Blake

Title: Five Dark Fates
Author: Kendare Blake
Series/Standalone: Three Dark Crowns Series (Book #4)
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 452
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year Published: 2019
Format: Audiobook

"After the battle with Katharine, the rebellion lies in tatters. Juless legion curse has been unbound, leaving her out of her mind and unfit to rule. Arsinoe must find a cure, even as the responsibility of stoping the ravaging mist rests heavy on her shoulders, and her shoulders alone. Mirabella has disappeared.

Queen Katharine's rule over Fennbirn remains intact- for now. But her attack on the rebellion exacted a high price: her beloved Pietyr. Without him, who can she rely upon when Mirabella arrives, seemingly under a banner of truce? As oldest and youngest circle each other, and Katharine begins to yearn for the closeness that Mirabella and Arsinoe share, the dead queens hiss caution- Mirabella is not be trusted.

In the conclusion to the Three Dark Crowns series, three dark sisters will rise to fight as the secrets of Fennbirn's history are laid bare. Allegiance will shift. Bonds will be tested, and some broken forever.

The fate of the island lies in the hand of its queens."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I can't believe that this riveting series is actually over. And what an ending at that. I've been reading this series for a while now and have grown so attached to different characters as well as the island of Fennbirn itself, although sometimes growing fearful of the same characters and atmosphere. Kendare Blake's writing is truly transportive and it puts you at the heart of the story of this island, filled with magical abilities, warring politics and dynamic characters. The only reason that I ended up docking .5 stars is the ending wasn't all I hoped for. I just had envisioned it going a completely different direction and while it was good to be surprised, for myself personally it did fall al little flat. I hope to continue reading works by this author and hope to revisit this world often. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Spoiler: Three Dark Crowns Series by Kendare Blake

I haven't written one of these in a long time and this is kind of the space that I used to write my full feelings, spoilers included. It isn't my best writing work but its where I rant or gush about characters and scenes, etc. I just felt that after the conclusion of this series I need to write my feelings based on character dynamics that changed throughout the story.

Do I remember every tiny detail that went on in the series? Of course no because I read these over the course of a year and there was quite a gap for me between the third one and the finale in the series.

This series has such a great setting on the island, shrouded by mist and in more ways than one the mist starts to take on characteristics itself. It is interesting to explore the different realms on the island. It really gives a great impression of how each of our queens is raised and how different they are from each other. The idea of being on a magical, mysterious island is also so intriguing just in concept in all. 

I also think that the political aspect is just amazing in the series, the way these queens are thrown at each other to compete and win. Along with the families that come with this is just an amazing aspect. I hated the Aarons at the beginning of this series, but the more I heard about Natasha the more I started to respect her choices and how she raised Katharine. I only wish that she had helped her through the struggle with the dead queens, but I understand why her character had to be killed in order for other aspects to happen. I think that Mirabella had one of the most interesting childhoods. She was reckless with her abilities and also had a memory of her sibling so in order to understand her, you must understand that at the temple in some ways she was almost worshipped (or that's how I interpreted it).

Let's talk about some (not all ok, I'd be here forever) .... 

Characters:
Mirabella: Her ending wrecked me. I think that she was such a strong person physically as well as emotionally. She was the only one who was willing to put herself in such danger repeatedly to give love to siblings that didn't even remember her childhood. I think that watching her go from graceful Priestess pet to rebel and back to warrior was so interesting to watch. I just wish that she had met a different end, but I do understand why this hand to happen. 


Arsinoe: I'm just going to say it. I wish that she would have taken the throne. I'm under the opinion those who don't want to rule often do the best job. Because they are grateful and understanding to those who they rule over. I do wonder what will happen in her life. Would she end up birthing triplets in the long run?

Katharine: She was absolutely terrifying, but she was also the underdog, so it makes you wonder how she would have lived throughout the storyline without the dead queens. And how much of her personality in the last 3 books were based strictly on those inhabiting her? I think it started slow and built to be out of control. In some ways, I was grateful at how she ended, while in others I was sad.

Juless: I didn't like that she was the one who ended up being the leader. She just didn't seem to have the conviction for it. She didn't stand for what she believed in frequently enough it bothered me. I do like her as a character and Camden as well, I just wish she hadn't gotten the ending she had. I mean she was happy, but not what I wanted personally. 

Pietyr: Who would have thought at the end of this whole thing I would like this asshole? I thought from the start that he was a piece of junk up until the end of Book 3 and through until the tower scene. It was a true turning point for him.

Billy: I hoped for more for him, but throughout the series he had to become the "man" of his house back on the mainland. That being said he did fight beside Arsinoe through so many things that were certainly not his fight. 

Joseph: His death still hurts me. 

Overall this is a great damn series. If you've read it fully let me know your thoughts down below.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny