Title: Assault on Golden Rock
Author: Jeremy Whitley
Artists: Xenia Pamfil, and Christine Hipp
Series/Standalone: Raven the Pirate Princess (Book #6)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, LGBT, Pirates
Pages: 160
Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment
Year Published: 2018
Format: Paperback (Library Copy)
"Two years ago, Raven Xingtao was locked in a tower and denied her birthright thanks to the scheming of her brothers. After she was freed, she set out to reclaim what was hers and get her revenge. It has been a long time coming, but after tonight the job will be halfway done.
On Golden Rock, there is a beautiful fortress and at the heart of the fortress is Raven's brother, Magpie. Unfortunately, between Raven and Magpie is every sword-swinging, tough as nails pirate that sails under Magpie's flag and Raven has a crew of about a dozen. The only way to get in the same room and face her brother is in disguise. Now if things go south, there's an army between Raven's crew and their boat. And in plans like this, things always go south eventually."
My Rating: 3.75/5
I've been a little disappointed in the past few installments in the series. I think that there has been a change in the direction in the series in some ways (mainly in character development). I was glad to see that the plot was continuing on its main quest as I had felt previously that we were getting lost along the way. I am hoping for more action or a little more drama in the next installment in the series. Although these last few volumes haven't been my favorite, I still enjoy the series and the romances so far.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Conspiracy of Us
Author: Maggie Hall
Series/Standalone: The Conspiracy of Us (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 324
Publisher: Putnam Juvenille
Year Published: 2015
Format: Audiobook
"Avery West's newfound family can shut down Prada when they want to shop in peace, and can just as easily order a bombing when they want to start a new war. Part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle, they believe Avery is the key to an ancient prophecy. Some want to use her as a pawn. Some want her dead.
To unravel the mystery putting her life in danger, Avery must follow a trail of clues from the monuments of Paris to the back alleys of Istanbul with two boys who work for the Circle- beautiful, volatile Stellan and mysterious, magnetic Jack. But as the clues expose a stunning conspiracy that might plunge the world into World War 3, she discovers that both boys are hiding secrets of their own. Now she will have to choose not only between freedom and family- but between the boy who might help her save the world, and the one she's falling in love with."
My Rating: 2/5
I remember now why when I couldn't find an audiobook sequel I didn't go out of my way to continue the series. This book came out in 2015 which had a very certain style of writing and this definitely fit it. If anything I felt like it was written as an early 2010s book as well. That being said, I have found an audiobook of the second and third book, therefore I plan to read the rest of the series while I"m working out at the gym. I'm curious to see where the relationships in this series go and what other secrets we will unveil about the world.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Gemina
Authors: Jay Kristoff & Amy Kaufman
Series/Standalone: The Illuminae Files (Book #2)
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 659
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2016
Format: Hardcover Copy (Own it)
First Line: "...over seven hundred thousand employees across dozens of colonized worlds. Is it that difficult to believe?"
"Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna's social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.
The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.
Hanna is the station captain's pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy's most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.
When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one and a malfunction in the station's wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren't fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia- and possibly the known universe- is in their hands.
But relax. They've totally got this. They hope."
My Rating: 4.5/5
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this reread. I remember the first time I read this I wasn't thoroughly impressed by it and expected to enjoy it a bit less upon reread. Just for the reason that you would suspect. I know what is about to happen and the overall plot. I think that I actually teared up multiple times during this reread. I love the character and romance. I do look forward to finishing the trilogy!
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Get Lost Together
Author: Jeremy Whitley
Artists: Christine Hipp, Xenia Pamfil
Series/Standalone: Raven the Pirate Princess (Book #5)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, LGBT, Young Adult
Pages: 128
Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment
Year Published: 2018
Format: Paperback (Library Copy)
"Six weeks have passed since the attack on the ship and the loss of Sunshine. Now everyone is trying to get back to normal, including Ximena, who has been putting off confessing her feelings for the love of her life. Now she's finally ready to try and make it work, but is this relationship cursed?"
My Rating: 3.5/5
There was just something about this addition that just didn't do it for me as much as the other ones did. I think that the way that some characters spoke had been changed, and the different world while interesting just wasn't explored enough to capture my interest. I also thought that this instalment was spread a little thin overall the character we were trying to watch. I plan on continuing the series and I am hopeful that I will enjoy the further issues more.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Kiss Quotient
Author: Helen Hoang
Series/Standalone: The Kiss Quotient Series (Book #1)
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult
Pages: 333
Publisher: Berkley
Year Published: 2018
Format: Audiobook
"Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases- a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.
It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice- with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan- from foreplay to more-than-missionary position...
Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses but to crave all the other things he's making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic."
My Rating: 4.5/5
I was very unsure whether I would enjoy this. I thought that the main premise would be teaching her how to date and then working her way up until she was going to go for physical. But dang this book gets physical fairly quickly. I was impressed with the writing style and the representation. I thought that the use of saying "no" was great because it is constantly mentioned that if it went too far she could ask him to stop. I appreciated that aspect because sometimes in a romance consent isn't really covered. The sex scenes were well written though very explicit which I just wasn't quite ready for. The few aspects that I didn't like was the audiobook had some interesting background music and I felt that the end wrapped a little too quickly for my liking, but that might be because I binge-read the last hour or so. I'm looking forward to continuing the series and reading from other characters p.o.v.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Dark Matter
Author: Blake Crouch
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Science Fiction, Adult, Thriller
Pages: 342
Publisher: Crown
Year Published: 2016
Format: Audiobook
"Jason Dessen is walking home through the chilly Chicago streets one night, looking forward to a quiet evening in front of the fireplace with his wife, Daniela, and their son, Charlie- when his reality shatters.
It starts with a man in a mask kidnapping him at gunoint, for reasons Jason can't begin to fathom- what would anyone want with an ordinary physics professor?- and grows even more terrifying from there, as Jason's abductor injects him with some unknown drug and watches while he loses conciousness.
When Jason awakes, he's in a lab, strapped to a gurney- and a man he's never seen before is cheerily telling him 'welcome back!'
Jason soon learns that the world he's woken up to, his house is not his house. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born.
And someone is hunting him."
My Rating: 4.5/5
I think that I knew too much about this book going in. My biggest suggestion is to go in blind. Just trust that if you like sci-fi you will likely like this. I did know one aspect of the story just at the beginning but after that, I was surprised by where the plot went . I think that this author does a great job of describing scientific theories without getting too complicated. I think that this should also definitely be described as a thriller. I loved the characters and their growth. I also think that the climax of the plot was extremely well done. The premise itself is so interesting and I was intrigued at every twist and turn. I couldn't have guessed where this plot was going to go. Overall I enjoyed this book and would love to read more works from this author.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Two Ships in the Night
Author: Jeremy Whitley
Artists: Xenia Pamfil
Series/Standalone: Raven the Pirate Princess (Book #4/Volume #4)
Genre: Graphic Novel, LGBT, Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 128
Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment
Year Published:2018
Format: Paperback Copy (Library)
"Year 2 of Raven's quest for Love and Revenge begins! With the whole crew back together in one piece, it's time for a celebration. But some of the crew have ulterior motives for the pary and they'll take a romantic twist! What no one expects is the party to be cut short by an attack that will tear some relationships apart, push others closer together, and leave our crew one lady short."
My Rating: 4/5
I don't think that this was the strongest instalment into this series, but that doesn't mean that it was bad by any means. I think that the character development just wasn't on a roll quite as much as it was in Book #3. I do wonder what will happen to characters that have been torn from the story and how other characters will deal with loses of different people in their lives.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
So let's just start by saying that I absolutely love this series. It is dark, political and fantasy. It was interesting to see the past in this world.
The Young Queens:
I really enjoyed that the queens were young enough to not quite understand what was going to happen between them. I didn't realize that they didn't know from birth what their roles were going to be. Watching them together, then watching them split apart was hard, but important to better understand their characters in the main series. I especially enjoyed Mirabella's storyline because it helps us to understand why she still remembered her sisters so vividly. It was horrible but beautiful. Exactly what I've come to expect from the series (I mean this in the best possible way.
The Oracle Queen:
I think that this is one of my favourite novellas to have read in any series. There are so many hints dropped in the main storyline about the "Mad Oracle Queen" who is the reason that any Oracle queen born is put to death. Watching how this queens story unfolded was heart-wrenching. I can't imagine what she must have gone through in her last years in the tower. It also helped us better understand the families that remain in great powerful houses under the queens.
I enjoyed these novellas immensely and can't wait to finish the series and see how Kendare Blake manages to wrap the story. That being said, I know that I will be sad when it has come to a close.
Final Line: "'I do like it, Gilbert. I love it.'"
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Queens of Fennbirn
Author: Kendare Blake
Series/Standalone: Three Dark Crowns (Book 0.1- 0.2)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dark
Pages: 232
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year Published: 2018
Format: Paperback (Library Copy)
First Line: "The day of the birth of the queens who would come to be known as Mirabella, Arsinoe, and Katherine was still, unremarkable, and without omens."
"Uncover the sisters' origins, dive deep into the catastrophic reign of the Oracle Queen and reveal layers of Fennbirn's past hidden until now.
THE YOUNG QUEENS
Get a glimpse of the triplet queens Mirabella, Arsinoe, and Katharine during a short period of time when they protected and loved one another. From birth until their claiming ceremonies, this is the story of the three sisters' lives... before they were at stake.
THE ORACLE QUEEN
Everyone knows the legend of Elsabet, the Oracle Queen. The one who went mad. The one who orchestrated a senseless, horrific slaying of three entire houses. But what really happened? Discover the true story behind the queen who could foresee the future... just not her own downfall."
My Rating: 5/5
I know that many people don't read the related novellas to a series and to them I say you are truly missing a part of the story. Kendare Blake does such a wonderful job of world-building and character development that even in a few 100 pages you are able to learn so much about the past. It also helps you to better understand some hints that are left throughout the main series itself. I particularly loved the second story, The Oracle Queen. We had heard mention that all seer queens were drowned at birth due to the Mad Queen. I can't wait to continue this series and hope to finish it very soon. To those looking into reading this series I strongly recommend the audiobooks.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Sun Is Also a Star
Author: Nicola Yoon
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 384
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Year Published: 2016
Format: Audiobook
"Natasha: I'm a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I'm definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won't be my story.
Daniel: I've always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents' high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store- for both of us.
The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?"
My Rating: 4.5/5
I thought that I wouldn't like this. I felt like the whole presence just really brings out a cliche I don't always care for. And that's the love at first sight or instalove. And in some ways it is. But this book is about more than the romance, it's about the coincidences or things that happen to get us where we are. It's about "fate" or "multiverses" that are possible other than the track we are on. That being said we don't explore the multiverses that could have been we only know the track our main characters are now. Just as it is in life. Don't misunderstand I'm still a cynical twenty-four-year-old, but this, this book really got me.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Harry Potter and Order of the Phoenix
Author: J.K Rowling
Series/Standalone: Harry Potter (Book #5)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction
Pages: 766
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year Published: 2003
Format: Paperback Copy (Own it)
First Line: "The hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to a close and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square houses of Privet Drive."
"Harry is furious that he has been abandoned at the Dursleys' house for the summer, for he suspects that Voldemort is gathering an army, that he himself could be attacked and that his so-called friends are keeping him in the dark. Finally rescued by wizard bodyguards, he discovers that Dumbledore is regrouping the Order of the Phoenix- a secret society first formed years ago to fight Voldemort. But the Ministry of Magic is against the Order, lies are being spread by the wizards' tabloid, the Daily Prophet, and Harry fears that he may have to take on this epic battle against evil alone."
My Rating: 4.5/5
This is my first time rereading this 5th book in the series and if you've read my other thoughts on the rest of the series this might be surprising. I had attempted to read through the Harry Potter series many times when I was younger and found that after the 4th book I would get stuck and intimidated by the length of the 5th book. That being said, I did complete the whole series once in high school. So it's been a minute. And I have a lot of thoughts. Now when I first read this in high school I would have given it a four. You can tell that this is a point in the series where JK Rowling had deeper plans for the plotline and things start getting intense. Therefore there are some points of information being thrown at us that last for large chapters/ or paragraphs throughout. Now that I am older (and a have a bit more patience) I am able to better grasp the introductions made in this novel. The only reason it is not 5/5 is that at some points I did feel as though the story dragged. Overall excited to finish my reread of the series and see where it takes me.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Hate U Give
Author: Angie Thomas
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Hard-hitting, Young Adult
Pages: 444
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Year Published: 2017
Format: Audiobook
"Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between the worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Soon afterwards, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
But what Starr does- or does not- say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life."
My Rating: 4.5/5
I think that I read this at the start of last year and I will reiterate that I think that this story is so very important for our generation. The fact that so many people have been oppressed and treated horribly for years due to difference in skin, or financial status is horrible in itself, but we're in the 21st century and we haven't really helped anything at this point either. I do hope that one day everyone feels protected by officers and not threatened. I'm glad that I reread this book not only for the important message but also to revisit the family dynamics in this story. I loved that parents in this story and though some of the family aspects were "messy" I think it really shows that family isn't only blood.
I would strongly recommend this to anyone who is open minded to understanding the lives of others in a different situation then themselves, or for someone who needs to feel like they have been heard after a similiar tragedy.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
