Book Review: Lovely War by Julie Berry

 Title: Lovely War

Author: Julie Berry

Serie/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Young Adult

Pages: 480

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

Year Published: 2019

Format: Audiobook

"It's 1917, and World War I is at its zenith when Hazel and James first catch sight of each other at a London party. She's a shy and talented pianist; he's a newly minted soldier with dreams of becoming an architect. When they fall in love, it's immediate and deep-- and cut short when James is shipped off to the killing fields.

Aubrey Edwards is also headed towards the trenches. A gifted musician who's played Carnegie Hall, he's a member of the 15th New York infantry, an all-African-American regiment being sent to Europe to help end the Great War. Love is the last thing on his mind. But that's before he meets Colette Fournier, a Belgian chanteuse who's already survived unspeakable tragedy at the hands of the Germans.

Thirty years after these four lovers' fates collide, the Greek goddess Aphrodite tells their stories to her husband, Hephaestus, and her lover, Ares, in a luxe Manhattan hotel room at the height of World War II. She seeks to answer the age-old question: Why are Love and War eternally drawn to one another? But her quest for a conclusion that will satisfy her jealous husband uncovers a multi-threaded tale of prejudice, trauma, and music and reveals that War is no match for the power of Love."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This book lived up to all the hype I had heard about it from the book community. This isn't a typical war book, the author really went to the next level by bringing in the views of the gods into the violence, and heartbreak of World War I. I was drawn to the romance between the characters throughout the novel, and the tragedy that at some points kept them separate. The characters are astounding and easy to love, but again the real characters that captured my attention during the audiobook were the Greek gods, the different writing from their P.O.V really brought the story to life. I found that the end of the book was a bit anti-climactic, but was still able to enjoy my time reading it all the same. The author's writing is well throughout and based on the author's note at the end of the book well researched. I would recommend for fans of historical fiction and romance. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Half Lost by Sally Green

Title: Half Lost
Author: Sally Green
Series/Standalone: The Half Bad Trilogy (Book #3)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT
Pages: 340
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2016
Format: Hardcover (Library Edition)
First Line: "'We should agree on some passwords."

"This is the final battle.

The Alliance is losing the war, and their most critical weapon, seven-year-old witch Nathan Byrn, is losing his mind. Nathan's tally of kills is rising, and yet he's no closer to ending the tyrannical rule of the Council of White Witches in England. Nor is Nathan any closer to his personal goal: getting revenge on Annalise, the girl he once loved before she committed an unthinkable crime. An amulet protected by the extremely powerful witch Ledger could be the tool Nathan needs to save himself and the Alliance, but this amulet is not as easily acquired. And lately, Nathan has started to suffer from visions: a vision of a golden moment when he dies, and of an endless line of Hunter, impossible to overcome. Gabriel, his closest companion, urges Nathan to run away with him, to start a peaceful life together. But even Gabriel's love may not be enough to save Nathan from this war, or from the person he has become.

Set in modern-day Europe, the final book in the Half Bad trilogy is more than a story about witches. It's a heart-achingly visceral look at survival and exploitation, the nature of good and evil, and the risks we take for love."

My Rating: 3.5/5

I really wanted to love this book series and overall it was good. I would say that this is a book series that is different and has interesting power elements in it. I would also say if you love revolution based young adult reads you should pick this one up. But that being said, the storyline has so many elements to it that I had trouble remembering all the things that would happen in each book and why they mattered so much. Not to mention the number of deaths, that after a while I wasn't shocked by any of them. I would say that this series was just ok for me. I do wonder about the author's works and will keep my eyes out if any of her other work interests me. That being said, I wouldn't pick up anything she'd written just because she'd written it. Overall a decent series, just not for me.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Spoiler: Half Lost by Sally Green

So I really wanted to read this series and just love it as much as other's had. But unfortunately, it just was ok for me and let me explain why. This series is interesting, it has an interesting magic system and makes me wonder about the idea of witches among us (somewhat like Harry Potter), but it was just too much crammed into the books. We met so many characters and lost so many along the way that I can't even begin to name them all. I also began to not really care who died if we're honest. I was just so lost from time to time figuring out why I should care about certain people.

Characters:
Nathan: I wonder about his life for the three years after the battle, but at the same point I wondered about his psychy after everything that he saw and his encounter with the Blue. His life was overall just sad.

Gabriel: I did love him. He was my favorite character and he loved more than any other character I ever read. He was an amazing friend, fighter and romantic interest.

Soul: Classic evil guy who has henchmen. What can I say?

Nesbitt: I hope he lives a happy life. 


Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Transcendent by Katelyn Detweiler

Title: Transcendent 
Author: Katelyn Detweiler
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Magical Realism, Fiction
Pages: 448
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2016
Format: Physical Copy (Hardcover)
First Line: "Where were you the day Disney World was bombed?"

"What would you do if the world was crumbling to pieces... and everyone believed you were the only person who could put it back together?

Terrorists have just bombed Disney World. A thousand miles away, a stranger shows up on Iris Spero's stoop in Brooklyn. He brings with him a shocking secret about Iris's birth, throwing her entire identity into question.

Suddenly, the press is confronting Iris with the wild notion that she might be the miracle the world now so desperately needs. Families all across the grieving nation are pinning their hopes on her as if she is some kind of saint or saviour. She's no longer sure whom she can trust- except for Zane, a homeless boy who long ago abandoned any kind of hope

When no one knows her but everyone wants a piece of her, who is Iris Spero now? And how can she- one teenage girl- possibly heal a broken world?"

My Rating: 2.5/5

So this wasn't at all what I expected. Not even a little bit. I was going to DNF it but I always worry if I do that, by the end of the story I would have liked it. But this book was just ok for me. I think that the storyline was interesting but very drawn out. Also the characters were fleshed out but not in an important way. I think this story is something you should read if you're needing a pick me up and someone to believe in. I would also recommend for younger readers.

Thank you for reading,
Sidny