Title: Giant Days Vol. 3
Author: John Allison
Illustrator/Colourist: Max Sarin, Whitney Cogar
Series/Standalone: Giant Days (Vol. 3 and Issues #9-12)
Genre: Graphic Novels, Young Adult
Pages: 112
Publisher: BOOM! Box
Year Published: 2016
Format: Paperback (Library Copy)
"Best friends Susan, Esther, and Daisy are rounding out their first semester at university. The girls, along with their male hallmates Ed and McGraw, find that college is more than academics and bad microwavable meals. Add some pub-hopping, hookups, breakups, and political scandal and this might just be the most eventful first semester ever."
My Rating: 4.5/5
This one made my heart wrench. I think the idea of first loves and first times is hard thing for authors and illustrators to capture sometime but somehow these people have completely captured it. Between that and the ideas of giving up whether that's on love, or class or a person it's just crazy to me. I can't wait to continue the series and see where it goes.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
This post contains spoilers.
Title: Queen of Hearts
Author: Colleen Oakes
Series/Standalone: The Queen of Hearts Saga (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Retelling
Pages: 306
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year Published: 2014
Format: Hardcover (Own It)
First Line: "'Oh, my future queen, you're late!'"
"Only queens with hearts can bleed.
This is not the story of the Wonderland we know. Alice has not fallen down a rabbit hole. There is no all-knowing cat with a taunting smile. This is a Wonderland where beneath each smile lies a secret, each tart comes with a demand, and only prisoners tell the truth.
Dinah is the princess who will one day reign over Wonderland. She has not yet seen the dark depths of her kingdom; she longs only for her father's approval and a future with the boy she loves. But when a betrayal breaks her heart and threatens her throne, she is launched into Wonderland's dangerous political game. dinah must stay one step ahead of her cunning enemies or she'll lose not just the crown but her head.
Evil is brewing in Wonderland and maybe, most frighteningly, in Dinah herself.
This is not a story of happily ever after.
This is the story of the Queen of Hearts."
My New Rating: 4/5
This is such a fast-paced retelling and one that I didn't think would hold up as well as it did. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and the setting. I will say at times that the characters were a little lacking, but as far as I remember that really changes in the second book. I also found that at times the pacing seemed to be a little off at times as more time would pass than was seemed likely. I did appreciate the relation to the original story the use of the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and Harris are just a few. I can't wait to continue on with the series.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS
Title: Outlander
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Series/Standalone: Outlander Series (Book #1)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Adult
Pages: 640
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Year Published: 1991
Format: Paperback Coy (Own it)
First Line: "People disappear all the time."
"Claire Randall is leading a double life. She has a husband in one century, and a lover in another...
In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war, and reunite with her husband on a second honeymoon- when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach- an "outlander"- in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord... 1743.
Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire's destiny in soon inextricably intertwined with Clan MacKenzie and the forbidden Castle Leoch. She is catapulted without warning into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life... and shatter her heart. For here, James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a passion so fierce and a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire... and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives."
My New Rating: 4.75/5
This seems like such a minor change and if you don't know me I'm guessing you think this is ridiculous. But here's the facts, I stand by my 5-star books and usually find that I rate them the same after a reread. This was the first time in a long time that I found it just wasn't quite as good the second time around. I have a few reasons that I lowered the rating just this tiny bit. One was that the element of surprise obviously wasn't as there for me as it might be for someone reading the novel the first time. Granted there were many aspects I didn't remember. Mostly because so many things happen in this novel, it's easy to forget an event here or there as there are so many things that happen. That is another reason that I marked it down a bit, it seemed a bit overwhelming with how many things go on. And I found that might have been the reason that I didn't see the problematic aspects of the story. There definitely are some. There are rape, assault, violence and many other aspects that should probably be warned about but every reviewer will likely tell you this. I think another aspect to keep in mind is the time period of the novel. It takes place in 1744 so the things that are described likely were the reality for many women. I understand the upset, but I think that the time period justifies most of the things that were happening in the novel.
After all these jumbled thoughts I'd just like to say that I plan on continuing with the series in April and would recommend it to romance lovers and historical fiction fans as long as you can handle the problematic aspects.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Bloodrose
Author: Andrea Cremer
Series/Standalone: Nightshade Series (Book #3)
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Pages: 406
Publisher: Philomel
Year Published: 2012
Format: Audiobook
"Calla has always welcomed war.
But now that the final battle is upon her, there's more at stake than fighting. There's saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay's wrath. There's keeping Ansel safe, even if he's been branded a traitor. There's proving herself as the pack's alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers' magic once and for all. And there's deciding what to do when the war ends.
If Calla makes it out alive, that is. In this remarkable final instalment of the Nightshade trilogy, international bestselling author Andrea Cremer crafts a dynamic novel with twists and turns that will keep you breathless until its final pages."
My Rating: 2/5
I thought that this would be my favourite in the series, but unfortunately, it was my least favourite by far. I was frustrated throughout the majority of this book. I loved the author's world and the idea of different magic and witches and guardians. But here's where this story falls flat for me, the author doesn't weigh things emotionally as much as I think that she should. Sometimes the plot and romance events weren't weighted with the importance that I think they should have been. I also wasn't a fan of the ending. I think that it felt a little abrupt in some cases. I don't' think that I will continue with the other series in this world, but I might change my mind in time depending on the availability of the audiobooks in that series.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Giant Days Vol. 2
Author: John Allison
Illustrator/Colourist: Lissa Treiman, Max Sarin, Whitney Cogar
Series/Standalone: Giant Days Series (#5-8, full Vol. 2)
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA, Contemporary
Pages: 128
Publisher: BOOM! Box
Year Published: 2016
Format: Physical (Library)
"Continuing their first semester at university, fast friends Susan, Esther, and Daisy want to find their footing in life. But in the face of hand-wringing boys, holiday balls, hometown rival, and the willful, unwanted intrusion of 'acadamia,' they may be lucky just to make it spring alive."
My Rating: 4.5/5
These are just such great pick up graphic novels. You don't have to follow a huge story, but it does capture your heart and make you happy. The characters are so endearing and the story line is relatable. I would recommend these more for someone who is having the college experience and feels like they are alone. I plan on diving right into the next volume as soon as possible.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Giant Days Vol. 1
Author: John Allison
Illustrator/Colourists: Lissa Treiman, Whitney Cogar
Series/Standalone: Giant Days Series (Book #1)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
Pages: 128
Publisher: BOOM!Box
Year Published: 2015
Format: Library Copy
"Susan, Esther, and Daisy started at university three weeks ago and became fast friends. Now, away from home for the first time, all three want to reinvent themselves. But in the face of handwringing boys, 'personal experimentation,' influenza, mystery-mould, nu-chauvinism, and the willful, unwanted intrusion of 'academia,' they may be lucky just to make it to spring alive. Going off to university is always a time of change and growth, but for Esther, Susan and Daisy, things are about to get a little weird."
My Rating: 4.5/5
After finishing Thunderhead I wanted to read a graphic novel, and since I can't find Lumberjanes at my library anymore (give a collective groan everyone). But I wasn't disappointed. This story is fun and reminds me so much of being in my late teens and thinking about how I was going to change and learning to grow. It was the perfect way to wrap up my January reading and I can't wait to continue the series. Love the characters, the setting and the storyline.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Thunderhead
Author: Neal Shusterman
Series/Standalone: Arc of a Scythe (Book #2)
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Pages: 504
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2018
Format: Hardcover Copy (Own It)
First Line: "How fortunate am I among the sentient to know my purpose."
"Rowan has gone rogue, and has taken it upon himself to put the Scythedom through a trial by fire. Literally. In the year since Winter Conclave, he has gone off-grid and has been striking out against corrupt scythes- not only in MidMerica, but across the entire continent. He is a dark folk heor now- 'Scythe Lucifer'- a vigilante taking down corrupt scythes in flames.
Citra, now a junior scythe under Scythe Curie, sees the corruption and wants to help change it from the inside out, but is thwarted at every turn, and threatened by the 'new order' scythes. Realizing she cannot do this alone- or even with the help of Scythe Curie and Faraday, she does the unthinkable, and risks being 'deadish' so she can communicate with the Thunderhead- the only being on earth wise enough to solve the dire problems of a perfect world. But will it help solve those problems, or simply watch as perfection goes into decline?"
My Rating: 3.5/5
This is a series that has been talked about a lot in the YA book community. It's an interesting idea and very unique in its presentation. I really do think that the premise of both stories is interesting, but here's why it's not 5 stars for me. They are so long for the content we actually need from them. I just find that the writing style in these books begins to bore me about halfway through and I dread picking it up. That being said the endings are usually magnificent and I usually enjoy them the most. So here is my issue. I really liked the first 1/ of the book, I would say that portion was a four. The middle section was more of a 2 and then the end was a 4.5. So overall I'd say that makes it a 3.5. There are things that I really liked in this story (the suspense of all the different characters during the changes of the scythedom) and other things that I hate (the unnecessary romance).
This leaves me thinking that I will not continue with the story, but by the time it comes out I might have changed my mind. The fact for sure is that I will not be keeping the series or buying the final instalment (I will just borrow it from a friend or the library).
Thanks for reading (sorry if this is one of your favourite books),
Sidny
This series is so raved about in the book community. And I just don't get it.
There let that shatter everyone's expectation of what I'd think. A few people told me after I didn't love Scythe that I just had to read Thunderhead and I would be so much more engaged. And I do think that this book was better for me, but I don't think that it was amazing. I enjoyed it overall. I love the idea of there being AI that is governing humans but refuses to kill them an live up to their fear. I also think the idea of different scythe followings is interesting as well. Should Scythes feel burdened by their responsibility or embrace it?
I still think that the romance is unnecessary, the characters could have remained friends and the story would have the same outlook. I also find the length to be a problem. It's just too long for the content for me.
Characters:
Scythe Anastasia: I really like her character and the way she chose to glean people. I was just disappointed that she seemed to still think so romantically about Rowan. There is no way that they were that in love. Maybe in friendship but I don't think that their romance is true or good... sorry for anyone who loves it. I do wonder if she will bring around a different belief system whenever her and Rowan are found.
Rowan: I think Scythe Lucifer was badass. I loved the name and the way he took the rules and made them his own. He was breaking the rules but for a good reason. I do wonder what will happen to him when they are found. I'm guessing he'll be sacrificed sooner or later.
Scythe Curie: This part really upset me. To finally have someone who would help the Midmerica Scythedom in charge and then loose her so suddenly it broke my heart. I was proud of her final actions as she stayed true to her beliefs and remained strong for those around her.
Scythe Goddard: This son of a bitch is back and as bad as ever. I do hate him and think that he is pure evil, especially now that he's snatched a new body for himself. I think that he would have thought of this idea for himself although Rand apparently did it herself. Will he take over the Scythedom or will it fall.
Scythe Rand: I think she regretted her choice as soon as he was back. She seemed annoyed with him more than anything throughout his inquest and arrivals. I wonder if she will turn on him.
Greyson: Greyson's character might be my favourite overall. His life before the Thunderhead truly intervened was sad, but he was making his way through the world before unforeseeable actions changed his life. I'm curious how the Thunderhead talking only to him will affect his life.
Thunderhead: I think that it is a character and that might be debated by some people. I think that it's understanding of the world is always changing and now that Endura has sunk I wonder how it will change its rules and laws for the future.
Farraday: Almost forgot about his mission and what they might have found I'm so super curious.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
