Title: The House of The Stone
Author: Amy Ewing
Series/Standalone: The Lone City (Book #1.5)
Genre: Dystopia, Young Adult,
Pages: 82
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year Published: 2015
Format: Ebook
First Line: "I am Raven Stirling."
"In The Jewel, we followed Violet in her servitude under the Duchess of the Lake. Now we'll hear Raven's story and her time as a surrogate for the Countess of the Stone in this digital novella from Amy Ewing.
When Raven is bought at the Auction, she knows immediately that things will not go well. And when she arrives at the Countess's palace, Raven quickly discovers that the Countess is much less interested in having a baby than experimenting with Raven's mind and body. Raven can only hope for an escape... and to see Violet again, all the while reminding herself that she is Raven Stirling, and she does matter.
HarperTeen Impulse is a digital imprint focused on young adult short stories and novellas wth new releases the first Tuesday of every month."
My Rating: 4/5
I want more. That's all I can really think in the moments after finishing this short little novella. I want to know more. I want to hear about her life before the Exetor's Ball and about how she stays so strong in between. Maybe we'll get more from the next book in the Lone City series and I certainly hope so because Raven is such an important character to th main character in the series and she is leading such a different life in comparison to Violet's surogacy. I do wonder about the past in this series, like generations in the past so I hope to read more of the novellas when I get through the series as a whole if I still enjoy it..... here's hoping.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Jewel
Author: Amy Ewing
Series/Stand Alone: The Lone City (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year Published: 2014
Format: Audiobook
"The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, Born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty- because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.
Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Dutchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel's glittering facade; the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.
Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess's petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for."
My Rating: 4/5
So this is another audiobook that I started a few days ago and flew through. I found that I really wanted to finish this before getting in to deep with King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard because they both have the dystopian vibe and I didn't want to confuse myself about which was which or what happened in each. I really enjoyed this first book and I've been warned that many people did but didn't like the rest of them which is fine. I'll wait and see. The audiobooks are all available through my library so I'm not really losing anything by listening to them in my spare time. I've also heard that the other two are even shorter than this one. I"m interested to see how this all plays out. I thought that this was a really good first instalment the characters were interesting and just the right amount of frustrating. I will admit that I stuck around at first more for the world as I was interested in the idea of surrogacy and why this was the case for the royals. I was also interested in how the main character reacted to the challenges around her after such a shift in her life. I will note that the reason this book didn't get a full 5/5 stars from me is because of the instalove that takes place in this book. I wasn't against it 100% I just didn't think it was necessary. I understand why the author did it but I'm just not a fan of it in this kind of book. But that ending bumped this books overall rating up for me. Damn! Damn!
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
So another audio book to start off the month. I started this audio book 8 days ago and I sped through it. I found myself wanting to listen to this rather than reading, which is kind of a reflection of me as a person. I'm trying to read something quickly, but also I'm currently reading King's Cage and I don't want to speed through it to have to wait for the next one.
So what did I think of this book, I really enjoyed it. I thought that it was an interesting premise. The idea that a group of wealthy people would buy someone to have their child to compete to become royalty was interesting to me. And to have these girls trained in a centre to have magical powers, or to train them how to use powers they already possess is a little evil, to say the least. I enjoyed the main character, but she wasn't anything that stood out that much to me other than her eyes which were mentioned about every 40 minutes in the audiobook. I really liked the characters overall but found myself sticking in it for the world-building. I will say that I wasn't a fan of the instalove in this book. It just didn't seem real enough to me I understand that the two characters would have similarities in life but I"m more interested in Ash's upbringing at this point. How was the school for him, are there more like him... what the hell. But here are more thoughts based on characters.
Characters:
Violet: I thought that this perspective was perfect she was interesting and looked at the end like she was about to get involved in a rebellion, but then she gave that chance to someone else which makes me wonder what will happen. Speaking of which. She and Ash knew that they could have been caught at any minute... maybe be a little bit more careful dumbie. I'm just saying. Be careful. I do wonder what will happen to her now, but especially with who called her at the end.
Ash: I do wonder about his schooling and his years. I'm sure he's seen horrible things, but it makes me wonder about a spinoff about his early years of life. Is there a novella like that cause I"m interested for sure. I do like that he acts so different with Violet, but they knew each other for what a month and were ready to talk about how sad they are they can't get married... that's a little too rushed, even for me.
Garnett: You are something aren't you. I kinda love it and I have his novella on my list of books to pick up next. Ugh. I just need to know.
The Lady of the Lake: She is certainly something. To treat another person like that is horrible but to know that she will kill her after child birth or that child birth will kill her is perhaps the worst of all. I think that she made a good villain for the first half of the book, and I wonder about her backstory as well.
Raven: She had more than a little bit of a tough go. How did she deal with what she did and what will she do now...? Did she even really get away or was that something that she would forget like she forgot her freaking best friend... ugh.
Julien: Interesting to see him have so much sympathy towards Violet but none for Ash.
The Electress: Evil takes another form in her. Let's just get rid of the girl's brains instead of finding a way to clone ourselves or to have children without the need for humans at all. Genius.... eye rolls are frequent right now... in case you're wondering.
Thanks for reading,
Sdiny
Title: The Vile Village
Author: Lemony Snicket
Series/Standalone: A Series of Unfortunate Events (Book #7)
Genre: Fiction, Middle Grade, Fantasy
Pages: 272
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year Published: 2001
Format: Hardback Library Copy
First Line: "No matter who you are, no matter where you live, and no matter how many people are chasing you, what you don't read is often as important as what you do read."
"Dear Reader,
You have undoubtedly picked up the book by mistake, so please put it down. Nobody in their right mind would read this particular book about the lives of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire on purpose, because each dismal moment of their stay in the village of V.F.D has been faithfully and dreadfully recorded in these pages.
I can think of no single reason why anyone would want to open a book containing such unpleasant matters as migrating crows, an angry mob, a newspaper headline, the arrest of innocent people, the Deluxe Cell, and some very strange hats.
It is my solemn and sacred occupation to research each details of the Baudelaire children's lives and write them all down, but you may prefer to do some other solemn and sacred thing, such as reading another book instead.
With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket."
My Rating: 3.5/5
I really am enjoying where this series is going. I like how the mystery is really developing and how Lemony Snicket continues a story of his own in the writing. I also enjoy trying to piece together where the story will go and why it will go where it does. I do think that Olaf is a tiresome villain. He is awful without a doubt but I don't find him as horrifying as I once did. Is that horrible? Maybe. But that's just my opinion. Let me know your thoughts down below.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Conspiracy of Us
Author: Maggie Hall
Series/ Stand Alone: The Conspiracy of Us (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Romance
Pages: 330
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Year Published: 2015
Format: Audiobook
"A fast-paced international escapade, laced with adrenaline, glamour, and romance- perfect for fans of Ally Carter.
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 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 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: 3/5
So I got this book on audio because my boyfriend was home for the week and I knew I wasn't going to have time to read physical books and that I'd be commuting a lot. I started this book feeling like it would be a quick "read" and an interesting one. I did like this book. I think that the plot was interesting, but the writing lacked some oomph. I thought that for the most part, the characters were interesting, but I definitely had a favourite right from the start. This book is definitely one to read if you're looking for a love triangle style adventure book. I will be continuing the series for the character that I do like.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Hey guys!
So this reading month. Let's talk about that. It hasn't been the best reading month for me. I knew that I would be doing a lot of travelling and life stuff. Damn being an adult. So let's get started with life changes that are going on or whatever excuses I have. I'm going to be moving from my parent's house (I moved back in after college while looking for an affordable place to rent) to a basement suite in the upcoming months. I also drove 24 hours between two weekends to pick up and drop off my boyfriend from college for his spring break. We spent some time together so I didn't really want to miss time with him to read, but that's not the point of this post soo.....
The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall, damn what a ride. I really enjoyed the idea of this book. A select few families controlling the world is interesting to me though I'm not a huge believer in the New World Order conspiracy theory but it is interesting to think about. I also thought that the pacing was good for this book. That being said the writing was not my favourite style. I thought that aspects were obvious such as what was going to happen to many characters and who was going to get with who... humph damn it Jack. Now let's get into characters. Let's be honest now... I'm here for Stellan that's pretty much it at this point.
Characters (short and sweet I know):
Avery: I thought that she was too naive for being 16. At times I was like girl is 20 she's mature, she's ready. Other times I was like this loser is 13 she's stupid. So needless to say I yelled at the audiobook while driving in a completely safe manner. I think that she should be with Stellan. I love her. I'm excited to see what happens next in her story.
Jack: You're all right. I mean I felt kinda bad when you were going to die and shit, but you don't belong with Avery... so if you could just get going. that would be great.
Stellan: Unfortunate name choice I think based on his name. But he is my favourite character. I loved his accent in the book, his flirtation, his bad boy image, as well as his interior good guy. I can't wait to see the marriage aspect in the next book.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Ersatz Elevator
Author: Lemony Snicket
Series/Stand Alone: A Series of Unfortunate Events (Book #6)
Genre: Fiction, Middle Grade
Pages: 259
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year Published: 2001
Format: Hardback Library Copy
First Line: "The book you are holding in your two hands right now- assuming that you are, in fact, holding this book, and that you have only two hands- is one of two books in the world that will show you the difference between the word 'nervous' and the world 'anxious.'"
"Dear Reader,
If you have just picked up this book, then it is not too late to put it back down. Like, the previous books in A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, there is nothing to be found in these pages but misery, despair, and discomfort, and you still have time to choose something else to read.
Within the chapters of this story, Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire encounter a darkened staircase, a red herring, some friends in a dire situation, three mysterious initials, a liar with an evil scheme, a secret passageway, and parsley soda.
I have sworn to write down these tales of the Baudelaire orphans so the general public will know each terrible thing that has happened to them, but if you decide to read something else instead, you will save yourself from a heapful of horror and woe.
With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket."
My Rating: 3.5/5
So I'm making my way through the series slowly and surely. I'm getting there, but I've felt like slowing down the series for a while. I've just found that this one was very childish. Some of the others were getting to be a more middle grade style of writing and while there are older jokes in this one, I did find that it seemed younger than the fifth book. I think that the change of scene and the plot change is awesome, so overall I did enjoy it! I thought that it was interesting to see how the children reacted to a different scenario and seeing things that are different in their lives. I do look forward to seeing where the series goes. I do have the 7th book and am debating whether to try and cram it in this week or start something different... so I guess you'll find out based on the next review or I'll keep you guys posted when I get the chance.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Stranger Game
Author: Cylin Busby
Series/ Standalone: Stand Alone
Genre: Mystery, Young Adult, Thriller
Pages: 288
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year Published: 2016
Format Read: Audiobook
"The Stranger Game is a dark, suspenseful, and twisty young adult novel- perfect for fans of Lauren Oliver and E. Lockhart- about fifteen-year-old Nico Walker, whose sister returns home after a four-year disappearance.
When Nico Walker's older sister mysteriously disappears, her parents, family and friends are devastated. But Nico can never admit what she herself feels: relief at finally being free of Sarah's daily cruelties.
Then the best and worst thing happens: four years later, after dozens of false leads, Sarah is found.
But this girl is much changed from the one Nico knew. She's thin and drawn, where Sarah had been golden and athletic; timid and unsure, instead of brash and competitive; and strangest of all, sweet and kind, when she had once been mean and abusive. Sarah's retrograde amnesia has caused her to forget almost everything about her life, from small things like the plots of her favorite books and her tennis game to the more critical- where she's been for the last four years, and what happened at the park on the fateful day she vanished. Despite the happy ending, the dark details of that day continue to haunt Nico, and it becomes clear that more than one person knows the true story of what happened to Sarah."
My Rating: 4/5
So after getting a new phone, I finally got around to getting my OverDrive app back and found some awesome newer releases that I'd been hearing some buzz about and wanted to get too. This was one of the first that I took out from the OverDrive library and one that I'd seen given in a book box or too in the last year. And can I say that I was glad to try this one out first. I listened to it more than I read physical books this past week. It's nice to listen to a book while driving or going to the gym.
And this story was very thrilling. If you are a fan of We Were Liars I think that you would really like this. This story has multiple perspectives that follow both Sarah and Nico throughout the story. I thought that the author did a great job of building suspense and overall I enjoyed this book. That being said, I did dock it one star as some of the twists I was able to almost call and I found that to be frustrating and a bit of a letdown. As for the audiobook itself, I think that reading the story physically might be more enjoyable as it's a short read and I found myself getting frustrated with how slowly the narrator was reading.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
So I got this book on audio from OverDrive from my library after I released how much time I could be listening to a book rather than just staring out the window while I drive, workout or do dishes. So this audiobook was just over 6 hours and I was able to finish it in about five days. It definitely made my commute more interesting. I really enjoyed this book overall the plot was something interesting and I thought that the multiple perspectives really added to the book and helped readers to understand where each character was coming from. I also thought that the thrilling aspects were good, not the best but really freaking good.
Characters:
Nico: The fact that she mentions all the abusive things that Sarah did to her before her disappearance gives us a pretty good idea of how she feels about her sister, and allows us to make our own opinions about Sarah. I did guess that she might know more than she was letting on especially after hearing so many miserable things about Sarah. I do feel for Nico though, Sarah affected her with life and in the disappearance and in the end with death. I did think that it was strange how fast she felt for the new Sarah even though we later find out she's not Sarah at all, but I guess it makes sense to want a better family life.
Old Sarah: Let's be real she was a flaming bitch. I have no idea how she got to be such an ass hole but she seriously was one. She kind of deserved to go how she did... is that evil? Maybe, but I doubt she would have gotten better over time.
New Sarah: I did feel bad for Liberty, but by the end, I was a little upset with her. To put a family through that is heart-wrenching and I hope that they never find Sarah's body. I did think that her point of view was important it shows how your early years of life can shape who you are, but there are ways that that can change.
Tessa: I think that she might remind Nico of Sarah before the disappearance to an extent. Without the abuse.
Mom: I think that she knows that this isn't really Sarah but her heart just won't let her believe it. Hope is a powerful thing.
Dad: I think he is blind to whether it is Sarah or not, similar to Nico and Sarah's mom. Blind with hope and gratefulness.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
