Clockwork Princess review

The Basics

Book Title: Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Pages: 568

ISBN: 978-1-4169-7590-8

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Defining Quotes

"'Sometimes one must choose whether to be kind or honorable,' he said. 'Sometimes one cannot be both.'" - p. 68

"'We see our better selves in the eyes of those who love us.'" - p. 187

Summary

This is the final book in the trilogy following Tessa, Will, and Jem as they try to bring an end to the Magister's plans, while working on their complicated relationships. 

Thoughts

If it wasn't for the weird love triangle romance in this trilogy, I'd give this book 5 stars, easy. It was by far the best written book of the three and I was emotionally engaged through most of it as well. It brought a nice end to the Magister mystery as well as Tessa's own family history. 

There were a lot of relationship wrap-ups in this book and, honestly, I think that's what really helped me get through this book. The love triangle wasn't the main romance in this book, so I was enjoying the most of it, while the triangle only came up a couple of times. I found myself emotionally invested in Will and Jem's relationship the most. I cared the most about what happened between the two of them and I believe that's because it was the most authentic relationship in the trilogy. The fact that Tessa was in love with both Will and Jem equally never made sense to me, but it did make sense to me the amount of love and devotion Will and Jem had with each other. 

Would I recommend this series to others? Well, if you don't mind love triangles, then yes I would. If love triangles are as big of a pet peeve as they are for me, then I wouldn't recommend it. The overall story is interesting, but I have read better books that have a more satisfying love story than this one had for me. 

I have read City of Bones once some years ago and now reading this series, I'm not very convinced that I like the way Cassandra Clare writes romance. It puts me on edge and in a really uncomfortable place, the one place in books that I usually find the most satisfaction in when I finish the book. I've considered trying Lady Midnight because I've heard it's even better than this series, but I'm not necessarily motivated to get to it anytime soon. 

Pros vs. Cons

• Pros
• Best written story of the trilogy
• Wraps things up nicely
• Love triangle not as blaring as in the second book
• Cons
• Not entirely satisfied with the way things ended
• Climax seemed to end rather too quickly for my tastes

Overall Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Court of Thorns and Roses review

The Basics

Book Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Pages: 416

ISBN: 978-1-61963-444-2

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Defining Quotes

"'Because I wouldn't want to die alone,' I said, and my voice wobbled as I looked at Tamlin again, forcing myself to meet his stare. 'Because I'd want someone to hold my hand until the end, and awhile after that. That's something everyone deserves, human or faerie.'" - p. 153

Summary

We follow Feyre as she is taken from her home from one of the Fae, a magical superior species separated from humans, for killing one of the Fae's own. 

Thoughts

This is my second time reading this book because I wanted the entire story fresh in my mind when I got to the third book, A Court of Wings and Ruin. It was good to read this story again so I could slow down the pace a little more and let the story sink in. 

In the first half of the book, Sarah J. Maas takes her time in getting Feyre adjusted to living with the Fae and I could see how it could be interpreted as being slow. There is information that is purposely being hidden from Feyre (for good reason), which keeps you from learning too much at once. Personally, I think the pace was just right. I felt like I was given time to get to really know Feyre and the way she thinks, as well as the new world she was just starting to learn about (just like the reader). 

Now, I planned to read this book in the course of 4 sittings - dividing the book into quarters. It was easy to do up to the halfway point. Once I was at the halfway point, I just couldn't put the book down for more than a few hours (and that was only because I had work). The second half of this book is gripping and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. I feel like the end of this book is what really puts the cherry on top for this book. I don't want to give out any spoilers, but I feel like Feyre reacts to her situation in a normal, human way that most main characters going through exciting climaxes don't usually show. It takes a turn that no other writer (that I know of) goes in a fantasy novel and I just love it. 

Overall, I can see why this book may not be a favorite to some, but for me, it's the perfect build-up to the second book. I highly recommend this book/series to any reader, especially those looking for a strong female character that you can identify with. 

Pros vs. Cons

• Pros
• Amazing main characters
• Unique development in the end
• Hard to put down after the halfway point
• Cons
• Can be slow for the first half

Overall Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Clockwork Prince review

The Basics

Book Title: Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Pages: 498

ISBN: 978-1-4169-7589-2

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Defining Quote

None this time around :/

Summary

We continue to follow Tessa, Will, and Jem as they try to discover more about the Magister's plans before Charlotte, the leader of the Institute, is kicked out. 

Thoughts

So, I do have some thoughts about this book, but it's probably not going to be as long as normal. The biggest reason that I continued on with this series was because I was interested in the mystery of the story. I wanted to know more about Tessa's past, as well as what the Magister was ultimately up to. In plot, I wasn't disappointed. I felt like there was consistent action throughout the book, unlike the first one, and was always anxious to find out what was the next step of catching the Magister. If the book continued somewhat on the same strain as the first one while keeping the same plot they had in this book, I would've rated this book 5 stars, easy. BUT. That's not what happened. 

At the end of the first book, I suspected a love triangle forming, and sure enough, it happened. Love triangles are my most hated trope in books, ever. There is enough conflict that can be formed just between two people. You don't need to get a third person involved to create conflict. Sometimes it can be done well, but for the most part, it just drives me insane. That's what happened in this book. If you haven't figured it out already, the love triangle is between Tessa, Will, and Jem. Now, the first book did a great job of setting up Jem as a good, close friend and Will as the love interest. If Cassandra Clare had just stuck with that, this book would be great, but NO. Jem HAS to be a love interest as well. -.- It's not convincing (for me) and Tessa is SO wishy-washy about who she loves more (when it's so painfully obvious to everyone - even in the book - that she loves Will more), it's just painful.

Now, I didn't drive down the rating too low on this one, because I realize that my peeve with love triangles is my own personal querk. If you don't mind love triangles, honestly, I think you'll love this book. I do have the third book on hold at the library because I do want to figure out the mystery, but I already looked up what happens with the whole Tessa-Will-Jem thing because it just annoyed me that it exists in the first place. This way I can just focus on the plot and stay engaged in that. 

Pros vs. Cons

• Pros
• Mystery still engaging
• Action is more consistent in this book
• Character development on Will is interesting
• Cons
• LOVE TRIANGLE
• Tessa being Bella Swan-like about who she loves more

Overall Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jane Eyre review

The Basics

Book Title: Jane Eyre

Author: Charlotte Brontë

Pages: 466

ISBN: my copy didn't have an ISBN or copyright date

Genre: Classics, Romance

Defining Quotes

"It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it." - p. 108

"And was Mr. Rochester now ugly in my eyes? No, reader: gratitude, and many associations, all pleasurable and genial, made his face the object I best liked to see; his presence in a room was more cheering than the brightest fire." - p. 147

"Every good, true, vigorous feeling I have, gathers impulsively round him. I know I must conceal my sentiments: I must smother hope; I must remember that he cannot care much for me. For when I say that I am of his kind, I do not mean that I have his force to influence, and his speed to attract: I mean only that I have certain tastes and feelings in common with him. I must, then, repeat continually that we are for ever sundered:-and yet, while I breathe and think I must love him." - p. 177

"Prejudices, it is well known, are most difficult to eradicate from the heart whose soil has never been loosened or fertilized by education: they grow there, firm as weeds among stones." - p. 349

Summary

We follow the life of a simple girl named Jane Eyre, raised by her aunt who despises her, as she grows up into a young woman. Most of the story takes place with her journey of accepting the role of governess at Thornfield Hall. 

Thoughts

I will preface this by saying I knew the plot of the story before I even read it. My mom introduced me to Jane Eyre years ago with the BBC Masterpiece adaptation made in 2006. I instantly fell in love with the story and the movie, which ended with me owning my own copy of the movie and watching it at LEAST 100 times since. So, I knew I would love the book going in. I mainly wondered if the movie did a good job of adapting the book to visual form or if the book was even better than the movie. 

Surprisingly, there were not very many differences between the movie and the book. There were a few characters cut out and some minute changes made, but I would say the movie is true to the book 95% of the time. I usually have a harder time getting through classics because of the writing style is so different from what it is nowadays. With Charlotte Brontë, I didn't have that problem at all. (I would like to note here that this is her first work that I've read.) It was easy to read and follow, keeping me engaged throughout. 

There is a certain part in the story that I was somewhat hesitant to read because in the movie, I sometimes like to fast forward through it since it doesn't have much to do with Jane and Mr. Rochester interacting (I won't say any more for spoiler reasons). I was pleasantly surprised by the book in how I was still engaged during this section. For some reason, I feel like the movie didn't adapt one of the characters well, which is a critical part of the character. The book, however, details the character perfectly and does a great job of balancing what this character is going through compared to Jane's struggles. 

If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend reading the book. I would especially recommend it to those who are wanting to read more classics, but don't know where to start. If you haven't seen the 2006 movie version by BBC, but have read the book, I also highly recommend watching it. It does a great job of portraying the book and I feel it even makes a couple of changes from the book that make the story even better. 

Pros vs. Cons

• Pros
• Great love story - pulls at all your heartstrings
• Easy to read and stay engaged
• Characters are well drawn out and relatable
• Cons
• Some say the extra emphasis on God and religion is a little too much for them. I thought it was appropriate for the character based on her background.

Overall Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We Should All Be Feminists review

The Basics

Book Title: We Should All Be Feminists

Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Pages: 48

ISBN: 978-1-101-91176-1

Genre: Non-fiction, Essay

Defining Quote

"The problem with gender is that it prescribes how we should be rather than recognizing how we are. Imagine how much happier we would be, how much freer to be our true individual selves, if we didn't have the weight of gender expectations." - p. 34

Summary

This essay is based off of Adichie's TEDx talk about what feminism looks like in present day and the perspective shift we all need to take for change. 

Thoughts

I heard about this book from Regan (PeruseProject) on her BookTube page. You can visit her BookTube at this link. I have been interested in reading more empowered women characters in my books when I heard about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I first heard about her book, Americanah, but was a little worried about reading it because I'm not really into contemporary books. That's when I heard about this short little essay and figured it was the perfect opportunity to test out what I think of her writing style and see if I wanted to jump into her other works. 

I read this book in about a half hour, maybe even less and I'm glad that I did. I would also consider myself a feminist and have been more intrigued recently on different views of today's feminists (such as Emma Watson). I liked how she used examples of what Adichie has personally experienced or heard from a friend that experienced it. So many times, I feel like I talk about the different ways women and men are treated in society and I get shut down because of where I am in life and because I'm white. I partially know that as a white person, I am more privileged and treated better than a black woman would in the same situation, but I can never fully understand the difference. But that's a completely different subject. 

It's a short read, but I feel it is something everyone should read. Yes, that means men AND women. I like how Adichie makes the argument that it's not only men that need to change their perspective on women, but women need to change how they perceive themselves in society as well. Even as a feminist, I read this essay and found myself assessing my own life and if I was living it to please others or to please myself - not in a selfish way, but in a way to have a higher quality of life with less anxiety and stress over how I will appear and what others may think. 

I understand it's a touchy subject for some, but the way I think of it is if you don't like to talk to feminists or hear their "complaining", at least this essay is short so you're not going through an entire book. But even then, I don't feel that Adichie is complaining about women's situations in the world. She's stating facts and suggesting how much better our lives could be if we were willing to change our perspective. 

Pros vs. Cons

• Pros
• Short read
• Good subject material
• Told in an engaging way
• Gives you information to chew on
• Cons
• Can be a touchy subject for some - need to approach with an open mind

Overall Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Clockwork Angel review

The Basics

Book Title: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Pages: 476

ISBN: 978-1-4169-7586-1

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Defining Quote

"Sometimes," Jem said, "our lives can change so fast that the change outpaces our minds and hearts. It's those times, I think, when our lives have altered but we still long for the time before everything was altered-that is when we feel the greatest pain. I can tell you, though, from experience, you grow accustomed to it. You learn to live your new life, and you can't imagine, or even really remember, how things were before." - p. 308

Summary

A group of people called Shadowhunters exist in which to protect humans (or mundanes) from the supernatural creatures of the world (or Downworlders). The story follows Tessa, who is trying to find her brother after recently discovering that she has the ability to shape shift. 

Thoughts

If I read this book in high school, or even college, I probably would've rated this book 4 or 5 stars. I feel like it was a good plot (which is what kept me going through the book) and the characters are developed well enough for a young adult audience (which is the group targets for this book). I rated this 3 stars for a few reasons. 

One is a tiny reason, but a reason nonetheless. There are multiple times throughout the book where Tessa and Will, the main characters, quote classics and poetry to each other. Now, I know that there are a lot of teenagers who do read classics and they may enjoy them, but I found it a little unrealistic for teenagers to be quoting and referring to classics so often and to know them SO well that they can quote long passages from the books. I'm a book nerd and I don't quote from classics as much as these characters do, and that's me at my current age (which is about 10 years older than these MCs). Again, not a big thing, but it was part of the reason that I declared a little bit from the book. 

Another reason is that I felt my interest in what was happening going in and out throughout the book. The book started off engaging, and then they're at the Institution and it seemed like a waiting period until the next big thing happened. Now, I know that it's important for there to be a break between action scenes in order to allow some breathing room, but for me, I could feel myself engaging in it and detaching from it throughout. Again, I think if I was younger, I would eat this up and not be able to put the book down. But I'm not. At 27, almost 28, I've dived into some adult fantasy that is written well (such as Brent Weeks and Brandon Sanderson) and loved the engaging characters and the information revealed even during the non-action moments. Going back to reading this book, obviously aimed towards teens, was difficult for me to stay engaged 100% because it dialed down too much during the non-actions scenes. I hope that makes sense. I love reading YA books, but this one seemed to not be able to branch out to older audiences (ex. Harry Potter, A Court of Thorns and Roses). 

My final reason for detracting on my score is the relationship between the two main characters. Now, I'm all about a bad-boy-who-is-actually-kind as my main love interest, but I'm finding Will to be a little too angsty for me. Again, as a teen, I would probably eat up the romance and love every word of it. As an adult, I didn't care for it AS much. I still enjoyed it to a point, but wasn't as invested. 

Overall, if you're a teenager or really just interested in an easy-to-read fantasy novel, this is a great book to check out. Like I said before, I found the plot very interesting and I'm considering continuing on with the series purely to find out the answers to the mystery they left dangling at the end of the book. If you're looking for something a bit more complex (let's say the A Court of Thorns and Roses series), you're not going to find that here. 

Pros vs. Cons

• Pros
• Good plot
• Interesting characters
• Has a good mystery throughout
• Cons
• Written on the simpler side
• Male love interest a little too angsty for my taste
• Main characters have some traits that seem a little unbelievable

Overall Rating

⭐⭐⭐

$10,000,000 Marriage Proposal review

The Basics

Book Title: $10,000,000 Marriage Proposal

Author: James Patterson with Hilary Liftin

Pages: 115

ISBN: 978-0-31-631719-1

Genre: Romance, Short stories

Summary

A billboard is displayed in L.A. stating that a man is looking for a serious candidate to marry, in which the "winner" will also receive 10 million dollars. The story follows three women who reply to the ad. 

Thoughts

It has taken me a while to get this review out because I truly didn't care for it. I picked it up with the intrigue that it was about 100 pages long and romance, hoping that I could get my romance kick, which I occasionally have, fulfilled within a couple of hours. Ironically, I think that was one of the reasons I didn't really like this book. I felt like I had no time at all to get to know these characters at all and by the end, I didn't really care who the guy ended up with (even though I pretty much knew who it would be). The whole point of reading a romance book is to enjoy the relationship that develops between the two characters and there's none of it here. The only time the "winner" and the guy actually talk to each other is in the last chapter or two of the book! No joke!

Secondly, I didn't like the stereotypical, bland character stories for the three women in the first place. One is made out to be extremely smart with technology and shows a complete disinterest in getting attached. So...she's obviously not an option. The second is a TV producer who's show just flopped and can see the potential of making this same scenario into a TV show that could put her back on top. She's written in a way as if she's just in the running to scam the guy and make money off of him. There are a couple of times where it seems she genuinely wants to find a guy, but the author makes it BLATANTLY in your face that she's all about her job, as if it's a bad thing. 

Then, we've got the social worker who still lives with her mom and has huge problem with her self-esteem.  

-.- *deep breath*

When describing her job, she states that all the kids she works with are so happy to talk with her and feel like their voice is heard in the midst of the foster care system. Now, I worked with social workers and I've worked with at-risk youth and I can tell you now that most of those kids didn't have a good relationship with their social worker. There would be some days that they want to talk to them and some days that they don't. Every social worker I worked with was extremely pleasant, but overly exhausted. These people are overworked, underpaid, and under appreciated. There's no way that this character would get satisfaction from the kids alone because sometimes their reactions to life are the most heart-breaking of all. I'm not saying that social workers don't get some reward from their kids. Sometimes they are glad to see them and sometimes the social worker is able to pull through for their kiddo and make things work. Those moments DO happen, but not often enough. I'm glad her job title doesn't take too much of a spotlight in the story because it's one of the character developments that pissed me off the most. It also irks me that she's still living with her mom, as if someone with her personality couldn't live on her own. The story does state that she's having financial and previous roommate problems, but still. They make her out to be incredibly needy instead of having her be a strong woman. Because believe me, if you're a social worker, you have to have some backbone in you. 

Okay, off my soapbox there. Like I mentioned earlier, not much of the story actually has interaction between the millionaire and the ladies in the story. There's multiple stages they have to get through and there's a few times where the ladies are talking to a man, so we "wonder" if that's the millionaire or not. I closed the book not feeling satisfied with it at all. The relationship wasn't there, the romance wasn't there, and I couldn't relate to any of the characters at all. I do have to say that one positive aspect of it was that I did keep turning the page to find out how things ended. I was curious about how they would reveal the millionaire and if there would be side romances with the other two ladies who didn't get the guy. So, I didn't put the book down and I did keep turning the page, but it had no payout at the end. 

Pros vs. Cons

• Pros
• Kept turning the page to find out what happened
• Cons
• Poor character development 
• No romance in the story
• Poor representation of women's roles/identities
• Didn't get that "happily ever after" feel by the end

Overall Rating

⭐⭐

What are your thoughts? Should I give a different "Bookshot" a try? Is there one you would recommend that might change my mind about such a short book?

The Well of Ascension review

The Basics

Book Title: The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2)

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Pages: 756

ISBN: 978-0-7653-7714-2

Genre: Fantasy

Defining Quote

"We will die to show that there are skaa who will not be bullied, who will not back down. This is a very important precedent, I think. In the histories and legends, this is the kind of event that inspires. If the skaa are ever to take rule of themselves, there will need to be sacrifices they can look to for motivation." - pg. 570

Summary

This the second book to the Mistborn series. The book is set a year after the end of the first book, The Final Empire, and the main characters are trying to figure out how to keep the brand new empire from falling apart before it even begins. 

Thoughts

Once again, this book took WAY longer than I originally intended. At first, I was getting through it pretty quickly because I knew the world and the characters. Then I started reading other books and I kept putting this one off until late at night because "I was getting through it so fast", but then never got to it because I was tired. I checked it out from the library twice, even after renewing it the max amount of times. And now, after starting it, officially, in September, I have now finished it. Why in the world did it take me that long to finish? That's a difficult question for me to answer. 

When I look back on this book after just finishing it, I truly enjoyed the ride. I remember the action scenes and appreciating them more because I understand the magic system better than I did during The Final Empire. I remember the political battles between people and really enjoying the tension through those scenes. Seriously, I think I was more enthralled in those tense moments than I was during some of the action scenes! I was left hanging to the last page on what was going to happen and couldn't guess the twist until it was revealed at the very end. Some of the main characters, such as Vin and Elend, are flushed out even further in this book, which made me understand their motivations and actions. 

I absolutely loved the plot and the characters, so why did it take 5 months to actually finish this book? Why did it take so long for me to finish the first book as well? 

I think that this is one of those series that I have to devote myself solely to this book and no other while I'm reading it. It's a book that I was able to pick up and immediately be back in the world again, so it made it easy to put down and jump into a different book that takes a couple chapters before I get into that world again. It has a different feel to it than other books, but I can't necessarily put my finger on what makes it different. 

In a lot of fantasy novels, you meet the hero, get to know him/her, and then wait to see how they're going to save the day by the end of the book. This series isn't like that at all. You will feel pain for these characters. The main characters don't always win, even when it's for the best. The struggle for them is completely realistic and it makes me drawn to them even more because I want them to succeed. If they win and live another day, then so can I. When they lose things along their journey, I can truly identify with the thoughts of whether that loss is really going to amount to anything or wondering if it was all for nothing. 

Overall, I'd say this series makes me want to stand for what is right, even though I may fall along the way. 

Pros vs. Cons

• Pros
• Great character development, especially with Vin and Elend
• Great political battles
• Fast-paced action interspersed throughout
• Cons
• Needs all of your attention - don't recommend reading another book at the same time

Overall Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts of this book/series? Let me know in the comments below!

Bone #8 and 9 review

 The Basics

Book Titles: Treasure Hunters (#8), Crown of Horns (#9)

Author: Jeff Smith

ISBNs: 978-0-439-70630-8, 978-0-439-70631-5

Genre: Fantasy, Comic books

Summary

We're down to the conclusion of the Bone series where Thorn and Fone Bone try to save the world from the Lord of Locusts. 

Thoughts

This is going to be relatively short due to the fact that I don't want to give too much away, since it is the end of the series, and the simplicity of the books compared to others I'm currently reading.

I found these books to be the main climax of the story and it felt nice to see the continuity in the characters throughout. Some of the major characters do change in minor ways, but the changes are nothing out of character where everyone is doing the right thing. For example, one character is known for trying to make a quick buck at all times and even to the end, while he changes, it's not to the extent that his actions are no longer true to his personality. I do feel that the plot would have carried itself better if I read it all in one go so it was all fresh in my mind. I started reading this series June 2016 with a lot of books in-between. I have seen a compendium of all the volumes simply titled Bone, which I think would be the best format to read this in. 

I don't know if it is due to reading epic fantasies recently, but I wish the conclusion of this journey last longer than it did. It seemed the final moment that we've been building up to came and went in two pages. Again, this might help if I read the entire story in a shorter period of time and keep in mind that this series is meant for a younger audience. 

Overall, I say it's an enjoyable read. I always liked the humor spread throughout the series and enjoyed the turns in the story. If you want to get a middle schooler into reading, this is a GREAT series to start with. There is a lot of light-hearted adventure, but also gives a mature feel for audiences wishing to be treated like adults. 

Pros vs. Cons

• Pros
• Great introduction to fantasy
• Easy to read and be engaged
• Lots of action to reel you in
• Cons
• Can be hard to keep the momentum if too much time in between volumes
• Somewhat abrupt conclusion

Overall Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Have you read the Bone series? Is there another tween comic book series out there that you would like to recommend? Let me know in the comments below :)

Queen of the Tearling review

The Basics

Book Title: The Queen of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling, #1)

Author: Erika Johansen

Pages: 434

ISBN: 978-0-06-229036-6

Genre: Fantasy

Defining Quote

"Kelsea shut her eyes and opened them again, an action that seemed to take all of her strength. Her uncle was waiting inside, but she didn't know how she could stand in front of him now. Her bloodline, once a secret source of pride, now seemed little more than a cesspool. Her uncle was filth, and her mother...it was like sliding down the face of a precipice from which all handholds had vanished." - p. 135

Summary

Kelsea has spent her entire life training to become queen and the moment has finally come. She needs to take her place on the Tearling throne, if she isn't killed first, in order to bring the kingdom out of its current misery. 

Thoughts

This book wasn't what I expected it to be. I first heard about this book from Regan and she described it as being focused on the political aspect of a kingdom. In my mind, I associated fantasy and politics-heavy with something similar to A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. Instead, this book starts you off at the very beginning of Kelsea's rule and it gradually builds upon what she has to do for her kingdom, which is in utter ruin. So, the pacing of the book was a lot slower than what I had anticipated, since I was comparing it to a complex, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat novel. But if you go in, not comparing it to anything else you've read, I think you'll have an even greater experience than I did (and it was a really good one!). 

What I really enjoyed about this story is that you're seeing her take this kingdom that really hasn't had any ruler at all for years and try to make something good out of it. It always seems that when I read a fantasy novel with kings and queens, the kingdom is well established already and we're focusing on some sort of change during that comfort zone. Here, we're starting at the very beginning and are (most likely) going to watch the entire progression from horrible to good. 

Kelsea is a very relatable character and is honestly starting to become one of my fictional role models. She has faults and acknowledges them, but doesn't let them overcome her. She's a lot smarter than people give her credit, but not to a fault. She has compassion for people and wants to do the best she can with what she is given, even if it means putting her life on the line. 

My only questionable thought about this book is whether it needed to be divided into three books or if it could've been more compact. The pace was slower than expected (as I mentioned already) and I'm wondering if the series being a duology instead of a trilogy would've helped with the pace. I've never read this series though, so I may change my mind on this. 

I am planning to continue this series and am even reading the next book, The Invasion of the Tearling, with the same buddy that I read this book with, Nathalie, on Goodreads. 

Pros vs. Cons

• Pros
• Kelsea
• Great characters
• Easy to follow plot
• Seeing the kingdom being built up from the foundation
• Cons
• Slow-paced
• Trilogy probably could've been a duology (may change my mind on this)

Overall Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

What do you think? Was the pacing too slow for you? If you haven't read The Invasion of the Tearling and want to read along with me in February, let me know below in the comments!

Dune review

The Basics

Book Title: Dune

Author: Frank Herbert

Pages: 794 (not including Appendixes)

ISBN: 978-0-441-17271-9

Genre: Science fiction

Defining Quotes

"There is probably no more terrible instant of enlightenment than the one in which you discover your father is a man-with human flesh."-p. 166

"There should be a science of discontent. People need hard times and oppression to develop psychic muscles." -p.263

Summary

The story follows a young boy named Paul Atreides. His family is moved to the desert planet Arrakis for his father, the Duke, to govern. We follow Paul as his family is betrayed and he starts to become the prophesized one - Muad'Dib.

Thoughts

I first of all what to start this review off by saying I probably didn't give this book the attention that it deserved while reading it. After finishing the book, I'm pretty sure I will come back to this book at a later time and give it the care and nurturing it needs in order to fully appreciate it. Now that we've put that out there, let's move on to my initial thoughts.

For me, this was a form of world building that I haven't really encountered before. There were a lot of terms, beliefs, ways of communicating, and societies that were brand new in a way I haven't read in other fantasy world-building books. I felt that the way everyone interacted with each other was extremely formal, which seemed strange to me. Not turned off by it, just different. My favorite character by far is the Duke Leto, Paul's father. He has a sense of integrity about him, but is also intelligent enough to know others don't play by the rules and thereby counter-attacks their attempts. 

The story is told by multiple perspectives, but not so many that you get confused. My confusion lay in a lot of the terminology, which there is a glossary provided in the back of the book for most of the terms. I feel if I concentrated my attention on this book solely instead of reading multiple books as well, I would've been more immersed in this world. I could see and read the potential, but I wasn't as absorbed in it as I was with The Way of Kings. 

If you're wanting to find a book to introduce yourself into the sci-fi genre, this isn't the book. If you love sci-fi literature and really want to see where the genre built upon itself, this is a great book to choose. Ironically, it doesn't necessarily have a lot of the technological machines that you would usually expect in a sci-fi book, but it is much closer to sci-fi than it is to fantasy, in my opinion. It's a dense book, but I believe it's a book worth reading (and reading again if you don't quite understand it). 

Pros vs. Cons

• Pros
• Great world-building
• Interesting characters you can get behind
• Great care and detail put into the writing
• Cons
• Can get lost in the terminology
• Somewhat of a dense book
• Needs your undivided attention when reading

Overall Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

What did you think of my review? Is this helpful to you if you haven't read the book? If you have read Dune, do you think this is an accurate description of the book? 

Star Wars: The Truce at Bakura review

The Basics

Book Title: Star Wars: The Truce at Bakura

Author: Kathy Tyers

Pages: 341

ISBN: 0-553-56872-8

Genre: Science fiction

Defining Quote(s)

"We will never be free from tragedy, Gaeriel. Each of us must be free to pursue her own tragedy." -p. 237

"Light endured, and so did darkness. He would choose daily." -p. 339

Summary

Picking up the story from where Return of the Jedi left off, we join the crew on a mission to Bakura, an Imperial-controlled planet. Bakura finds itself under attack by an alien race outside of Imperial or Alliance control, known as the Ssi-ruuk, wanting to transfer the human mind into machinery. Join the crew as they maneuver to save the Bakurans without getting stabbed in the back by the Imperial forces they have to join up with.

Thoughts

This is my first time delving into the written works of the Star Wars mythos and was pleasantly surprised with this. So many times, you see the conversion from book to movie and become upset with the movie for not holding up to the same standards as the book. In this case, it was the reverse process and provided more than what we could get in the movie. Due to the nature of being a book, we are able to view the thoughts and actions of multiple characters (including Chewie!). By being able to see Luke and Leia's thoughts, we're able to understand the nature of the Force and what needs to be done mentally in order to grow stronger. 

The Ssi-ruk in this story are a formidable villain, but the extent of their actions and deplorability is epitomized in the human, Dev Sibwarra. He is a servant of one of the Ssi-ruk and to see his actions and thoughts is what really makes this story exciting to read. 

My biggest problem with it, which I knew going into it, was the terminology. In the movie, it's quite easy to glaze over all those fancy made-up words and understand the gist of what they're doing/saying through their actions. In this format, you have to create some of these unknown terms from your own imagination and within the context that it is given to you, making it much more difficult compared to the movie format. My husband has read these books probably 100 times and says that it gets easier the more times you read it, which I believe. I'm sure you don't need to read it 100 times in order to understand it. Just be prepared if this is your first time around that it may be difficult to get through at times, BUT the story that is there was very much enjoyable.

I am planning on continuing with this series.

Pros vs. Cons

• Pros
• Follow all your favorite characters 
• Great insight into the Force
• Interesting character development
• Cons
• Difficult terminology at times
• Lots of newly introduced side characters

Overall Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Is there an instance you can think of where the movie was better than book? Let me know what you think! 

Stars Above review

The Basics

Book Title: Stars Above (Lunar Chronicles #4.5)

Author: Marissa Meyer

Pages: 369

ISBN: 978-1-250-09184-0

Genre: Fantasy, Short stories

Defining Quote

(Hard to pick for a short story collection, so I decided to pick a quote that stuck with me from one of the stories that wouldn't be a spoiler.)

"Then, so suddenly she almost missed it, space opened up before her. Black and expansive and endless and filled with more stars than she could ever drink in. More stars than she could ever compute."

Summary

A collection of short stories, mostly involving the main characters from the Lunar Chronicles series. The exception is "The Little Android", which is set around an android not introduced in the series. 

Thoughts

As a fan of the Lunar Chronicles, I found this book to be a great companion to the series. All of the stories, with the exception of "The Little Android", filled in information about each character that didn't have a natural place to be explained within the series. 

In "The Keeper", we learn more about Michelle's background before she was united with Cinder. In "Glitches", we follow Cinder shortly after being regenerated and is on her way to meet the Lihn family. In "The Queen's Army", we follow Ze'ev, or Wolf, before he becomes a member of the Queen's army. "Carswell's Guide in Being Lucky" is, obviously, about Carswell Thorne when he's younger. This story mainly focuses on that mysterious Kate Fallow that was mentioned in the series, but we never learned any more about. "After Sunshine Passes By", is one of the short stories detailing how Cress went from being a Lunar shell providing blood to being in the satellite. In "The Princess and the Guard", you follow Winter and Jacin. In this story, Winter is still using her powers and is freely interacting with her best friend, Jacin. As you read, you find out about why Winter decided to stop using her powers and how Winter and Jacin came to be in their relationship when we are first introduced to them in the series. 

"The Little Android" is the outlier in this book because the main focus is an android, Mech6.0. You follow a snippet of her life when her personality chip starts to act up and leads her to more human-like reactions. While these are brand new characters within this story, it stays within the tone of the other stories and brings out tender feelings by the end. 

"The Mechanic" is the only story that is a re-telling from the series, but from a different perspective. Here, we see Cinder and Kai meeting for the first time from Kai's perspective. While it isn't new information like the previous stories, it is nice to see the meeting from his point of view. Finally, "Something Old, Something New" is the aftermath of the series. It takes place two years after the conclusion of Winter with all of the main characters going to Scarlet and Wolf's farm for their wedding. 

Overall, I really appreciated the stories where something new was added that wasn't fully explained within the series. There's nothing especially thrilling or leaving you on the edge of your seat. The exception (if I dare say) being "The Little Android". As I read through this story, I was constantly wondering what would happen because I didn't know how things were going to end. This book didn't blow me away, but I don't think it was meant to do that. It filled in the gaps in the series to make it complete. 

Pros vs. Cons

• Pros
• Fills in info gaps from the series
• Stories are easy to get through
• Involves all your favorite characters
• "The Little Android" adding new material in a wonderful way
• Leaves you with a feeling of completion
• Cons
• With the exception of "The Little Android", you know how each story ends
• Nothing generally surprising

Overall Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

What do you think? If you read this book, which was your favorite story?

The Way of Kings review

The Basics

Book Title: The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1)
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Pages: 1007
ISBN: 978-0-7653-2635-5
Genre: Fantasy

Defining Quote

"Somebody has to start, son. Somebody has to step forward and do what is right, because it is right. If nobody starts, then others cannot follow." - pg. 913

Summary

This is the beginning of an epic tale, including multiple voices, but focusing on three overall: a young girl looking to become a ward, a slave, and a highprince. 

Thoughts

I don't claim to have read every fantasy book in the world, but I have read quite a few. This is, in my opinion, one of the best fantasy books I've ever read. Within the thousand pages, Brandon Sanderson gives you the opportunity to get to know the main three characters and the world they live in. I saw myself walking besides each character and seeing their world through their eyes as if it were my own. Sanderson was detailed in much of his world building, but doesn't unload it on you all at once. It's done gradually and with the assistance of sketches drawn by one of the main characters. For all its world building, I flew through this book much faster than I expected. 

What I love most about this book is the characters, by far. Each one is working towards a greater good and trying to do what is honorable. As you live their lives, you begin to see that they come with their weaknesses and make mistakes throughout. Unlike some characters where you don't understand where they are coming from, Sanderson has developed these central characters so intricately that you understand each decision they make along the way, even if it is the wrong one. My heart broke when they fell and it pumped with adrenaline when they fought for their lives. 

Being the first book in the series, it had to do a lot of building because this world is nothing like our world. Everything is from scratch, so you don't expect the story to take on too many twists. I usually pride myself for figuring out the answers to mysteries and plot twists long before they actually happen. With this book, I was left with my jaw to the floor multiple times, especially towards the end. Sanderson wove the details together so well to keep you wanting to know more and then giving that blow of information right when you want it. 

Pros vs. Cons

• Pros
• well developed world building
• characters you identify with and adore
• clever unveiling of plot twists
• not getting caught up in a lot of unknown terms at once
• Cons
• 1000 pages is still a lot to get through
• at times can be frustrating to get so little information at a time
• can be difficult to keep track of all the names, especially in the interludes

Overall Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tell me what you think! Is there anything else you want to know about what I think? Did I leave anything out? If you've read the book, do you agree with my review? 

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