Rachel

A companion novel to Sorcery of Thorns.

Oh no! Thorn manner is holding everyone hostage. Why? How do they fix it?

This novel is a chance to find out what's next for Elizabeth, Nathaniel, and the inhabitants of Yhorn Manner. It also delves a little into the history of the house.

Overall this book was cute. Elizabeth felt Luke a different character altogether. But the moments with Silas were great. Honestly I'd like a few novels following him around through the centuries.

Full of YA tropes. Yet somehow the author makes this book both engaging and refreshing.

Heroic girl with a love of books is suddenly thrust into a new world of magic, mystery and political intrigue. Oh and did we mention her new companion is tall dark and handsome, rich, powerful, and the town's most eligible bachelor?

Will she be able to solve the mystery, save the girl AND capture the heart of Mr sexy?

DNF at 71% in Audiobook

I tried really hard to get into this book. There are so many glowing reviews, I kept pushing to find out what made this book special. At 71%, I still don't know what makes it special and I dread listening to any more.

Overall I can't see what makes this book any better than other Vietnam war novels. Is it the length? The character's descent into madness. Is the long, drawn out story meant to be a parallel to a long, drawn out war?

There were some good points to the book. It is immersive. The descriptions felt like I was there in the war. The horrors were accurately captured. You can tell the author did his research to make it authentic.

I'd like to know how it concludes, but I can't find it in me to devote another 6 hours to finishing this book. I already devoted nearly 14 hours to get this far. Aside from crossing it off my to-read list, there is nothing keeping me going.

Cute

This is the second time this year I've read a Fairy Tale themed book filled with obscure modern references. I guess it's an attempt to connect with the reader. It has an "Oh the Cleverness of me!" - Peter Pan vibe to it. And frankly it's annoying. Just as I was getting absorbed into the story, the author would insert a random modern reference which would take me completely out of the tale. My mind would wander to follow the reference instead of continuing on the with story. It's unfortunate because the premis of the story was really interesting. I would have loved to learn and explore more. The fact it is so short is really an injustice because the story has a lot more to offer. Am I glad I read it? Yes. Would I pick it up again? Maybe. But only to flip to a few pages.

What a masterpiece.

The depths of characters. The relationships. The descriptions. The mix of action and drama. The beating heart of Tara. The constant fight and struggle to survive. The true magnitude of how people respond to war, trauma, and the need to survive.

Scarlett O'Hara is a self centered, spoiled southern belle. She's oblivious to around her and cares only for herself. But that self centerness is what pushes her into survival mode. It keeps her and those around her going. She destroys many, but also is the key reason why others survive.

The writing swept me away to Confederate south. I was in the rooms with Scarlett, Rhett, Melanie, Mammie, Pa, and the rest. Even the characters who swept in and out of the story had their own struggles and individual characteristics and drive.

There was depth in this novel that I have rarely seen in others. This is a book that can be read time and again, even though you know the ending.

Absolutely captivating story of survival.

From the opening pages through to the end, White Fang was hard to put down. We're introduced to the harsh wilderness of the North. A world completely unforgiving where you either kill or be killed.

The novel is as harsh and brutal as the winter weather. From animal abuse, to dog fighting. This book can be hard for animal lovers. I myself had a difficult time with the abuse, however it offered a truly captivating glimpse into what a dog in that era may have experienced.

Despite the hardness, this is one I'd gladly read again. I simply couldn't put it down.

I listened to the Audiobook narration of this book. The narrator is a 5 star narrator. It's the format that was the problem.

This book desperately tries to be something profound and gets so caught up in doing something different that it loses the heart of the story. It's written almost like an early screenplay as if the goal is to make this be as easy as possible to adapt into film. Problem is, the story jumps around so much that there is no reason to adapt to a screenplay.

I have read/listened to a number of celebrity autobiographies. I have started to see a pattern. Make yourself sound like an ordinary person, talk about your childhood struggles, begin to elaborate on your success. Make yourself sound humble. Share your worldly advice. Talk about the struggles of aging in hollywood/friends getting sick. You are now blessed with superior wisdom.

Ok, maybe that's a little unfair. I actually enjoyed Billy Crystal's book. Some parts strongly followed the celebrity autobiography pattern, but his book is filled with some great one liners that had me laughing aloud. I also learned about another side of America that I rarely encounter. Prejudice. I had no idea that you could be dismissed from a golf course just because you were Jewish. Really!? Muhammed Ali could golf there, but Billy Crystal couldn't because he was Jewish?.... It was extremely eye opening.

The book had some slow parts, but had some great moments too. I think what gets me about these autobiographies is that the celebrities feel they need to put their entire lives into their books. I'd must rather have a more focused look at a certain time frame in their lives. (Ex: As You Wish by Cary Elwes focuses on his time filming the Princess Bride with some guest narration from the cast. This was a fantastic book because it was more focused. That's what I wish some of these celebrity books were like). Aside from that, this was still a strong audiobook and in my top 1/4 of celebrity autobiography books.

hah. Funny little knights prophecy tale that pokes fun at traditional “prophetic” stories. Short, cute, and has fun little illustrations too.

August 2022 Hoopla Bonus Borrows Recommendation


Yes! Now that is how you write a cozy mystery. First of all, I LOVE that this didn't start with a breakup, divorce or cheating husband trope. Instead, it's three childhood friends who open a bakery together. They have a history to explain their friendship and for the most part they are going about their normal lives. When Tate's bridezilla fiance is found deceased, all eyes turn to Mel (mc). As Mel tries to clear her name, we encounter a small group of supporting characters. There is enough to make you go “now who did it and how?” But not enough to be overwhelming. Overall this was a solid cozY mystery for an afternoon.

No review I write can do this justice. I graduated a few years ago and it felt like I was reading the journey of two of my friends. They were personable and honest. I would highly recommend this especially for young 20 some things trying to find their way after graduation. Thank you Jess and Rachel for taking us all on the journey with you.

NOTE: This book is created from the podcast Lore narrated by Aaron Mahnke. The chapters in this book corresponds to episodes in the podcast and the wording is almost identical. The major difference is that these chapters are organized by topic. There are a few illustrations, but no more than 8.

With that out of the way, let's dive into the book.

There's a reason the podcast has been such a success. It's well written, well performed and has an interesting subject matter. It covers everything from vampires, to ghosts, to possessed dolls (I'm referring to you Robert!). Even without Mahnke's narration, the book is enjoyable. How could it not be? The wording is the same as the podcast. The biggest difference is that the book reorganizes the episodes and streamlines them by topic. Some stories are hard to swallow (yes, referring to the vampires and consumption chapter), but they're still interesting.

The way I see it, you have 2 options. Listen to the podcast or read this book. In my opinion, there's no real reason to do either. They're the same. Personally, I enjoy the music and Aaron's narration for the podcast. But with a book, you can read it much faster and everything is presented in a more streamlined order. It's really a matter of which you prefer: book or podcast.

Now what about the TV show? I'd recommend watching it in addition to either the book or the podcast. Even though the stories are covered in the book/podcast seeing it portrayed by actors makes them even more gruesome. But heads up, the first two episodes (vampires and the brain surgeon) are visually hard to watch.

I needed a new book to listen to. I find it easier to listen to stories I'm generally familiar with. A retelling of Aladdin? ok I'm game.

listening to book

groans

If I had a paper copy, I'd skim to find the point. There's not much I can say that others haven't already said. It's 1/4 exact movie description, 3/4 bad fanfiction. The characters are one dimensional, and it's clearly written by someone who isn't middle eastern.

I liked it. I enjoyed the emphasis on siren life. How it's not all it's cracked up to be. I like how it incorporated the different “siren” like creatures across different cultures. I liked that the ocean had a personality and characteristics. I like that there was some romance but it didn't take up the whole story. I liked the friendships and how the girls were there for each other no matter how hard it got. I liked the originality of the storyline.

I didn't know about Stubby before reading this. I don't usually read nonfiction but picked it up on a whim.

While I felt some of the chapters were a little heavy with facts, I overall enjoyed this. I actually shed a tear in the last chapter about his death. I already miss Stubby and wish I could have met him.

The search for the talismans continues! Dark Tide is the third book in Jennifer Donnelly's Waterfire saga. When I started the journey, I was wasn't sure I'd continue. I enjoyed the first book, but it didn't blow me away. By the time Rogue Wave came out, I was ready to give the series another shot. I loved it. It was a huge improvement on the first. Dark Tide is even better.

Dark Tide picks up where Rogue Wave left off. Sera and Neela are still on the run, Astrid is heading home, Ling is held captive, and Ava and Becca are still looking for their talismans. What I loved most was how many boundaries Ms. Donnelly crossed. Yes, on the surface the book is about mermaids, but it goes much deeper than that. The Waterfire saga is about finding inner strength and believing in yourself when everything seems hopeless. It's about friendship, and courage. The mermaids are off to save the day. They aren't relying on the mermen to rescue them. Miss Donnelly also lets her male characters show emotion! In the real world, there is still a stigma that men need to hide their emotions. I LOVE the Miss Donnelly let her characters show theirs!

I also loved the mermaid's courage. Without giving away too much, each of the mermaids must face nearly impossible odds. While Sera appears to be the sterotypical heroine, Astrid, Ava, Ling, Neela and Becca provide fresh “heroines”. Astrid, in a world of magic has lost hers. Ava, a blind mermaid must search the oceans for a talisman with death riders at every turn. Ling has a strained relationship with her mother, who has just about given up after the loss of Ling's father. Neela buries her problems in food and learns that eating does not make her problems disappear. Becca grows up an orphan, struggling often to make ends meet. That's what I love most about this story. It's not just about 6 beautiful mermaid princesses trying to save the world. Yes, Sera and Astrid are “princesses” of sorts, but Ling, Becca and Ava are ordinary mermaids that were chosen to help save their world. They aren't perfect. Heck, who would EVER put a BLIND mermaid as a heroine in her novel??

Dark Tide mostly focuses on Sera, Ling, and Astrid. We get a glimpse into what's happening in Miromara from Lucia's point of view, and we check in with Ava and Becca. While Sera's chapters become a little monotonous, Ling'd and Astrid's are filled with such beautiful imagery. Oondalina! AH! Astrid's ice palace was breathtaking! I wish I could erase the chapters from my mind so I could experience that awe all over again! Even now, my mind is back exploring her palace. Ling's chapters are darker. It's very similar to the concentration camps the Nazi's created during World War II. It was sad, and terrifying. The glimpses we were given of Ava's world were also impressive, but not as much as Oondalina. I suspect we'll see more of her world in the final book. I'm excited to see where Miss Donnelly heads next!

What a fantastic short tale. Loved it.

3.75

Daymond John is a successful entrepreneur on the ABC show Shark Tank. When I picked up the book, that's all I knew about him. I didn't even know how he became successful, what his business was, nothing. I just knew he had a lot of money, dressed nice, and got even more money by being on tv and investing in more companies.

So why did I get this book? It's simple, my boyfriend was interested in reading it. I don't think I'd have picked it up otherwise. While flipping through it I saw it was filled with names of other famous people. Most I didn't know, but a few I did recognize. That was enough to get me reading.

The writing itself is like a conversation between two people. Some people will hate the format, others will love it. It all depends what you're looking for. If you're looking for a quick book with a how to guide inside, then you've picked up the wrong one. If you're looking for a little pep talk, then you've found it. Personally, I enjoyed it. The majority of the book is dedicated to the success stories of other entrepreneurs. Social media stars, fashion moguls, child stars, musicians, etc. There's an example for almost every career. The people faced a challenge and found a way to make it work. They had to get creative, and they worked their asses off, but they did it.

The book is not a book to binge. It's much better in small reading segments. The stories are a great pep talk for when you're struggling in your own career or business. I did take some good advice and insights out of it.

I can't say it's worth the $13 price tag. I'd say $5 is more accurate. I borrowed my copy from the library. Because I didn't have any money invested in the book, I enjoyed it. If I had bought the book I'd have been disappointed.

Hmm I was really enjoying this until the 3/4 mark.

Lets start with a little summary:
The Thief Lord is quite a mashup. There are multiple stories going on. Two boys running away from their Aunt. A gang of little thieves. The secret of their leader (the thief lord). A missing item and the man who has spent his whole life hunting it. The private detective hunting the boys. Most of the stories were flowing really well together. Then at the 3/4 mark the author introduced magic. It was an interesting concept, but it turns everything upside down and really messes with the story lines. The characters all suddenly accept the magic and its consequences. It just didn't match well with the first half of the story.

Very heavy war book focused on a young man from Brooklyn fighting in the Vietnam War.

The audiobook was wonderfully narrated and the pacing is fast and heart pounding. I genuinely didn't know if the MC would make it or if the ending would be abrupt, further highlighting the atrocities of war.

I'm surprised this isn't a mandatory read, but I could see how others would advocate against this book. By highlighting the atrocities of war, this may discourage many from enlisting in future wars.

An excellent collection on disney animation and essential to anyone looking to delve deeper into the style of animation. It is full of amazing imagery that jumps right off the stage. It also goes into the history of some essential animators in disney's early career. There are pictures on every page and chock full of information. It's a great book to read and a great book to flip through.

I thought I really enjoyed this book. Looking back on my notes there were a lot of fillers. It was much better than A Feast for Crows, but too many pointless chapters to give it 5 stars.

Jon: Trying to get control of the nights watch. some chapters were brilliant, others a waste. Still one of the strongest characters in this book. Lived hearing more about the Wildlings.

Danaerys: if I hear one more thing about Daario I might scream. She didn't care about the city, so I gave up caring too.

Bran: That's it?.... sure his character is boring, but we finally were getting somewhere! Then silence. George could have easily swapped a pointless chapter for this one.

Theon/Reek. on his was to a redemption plotline. Easy my favorite chapters. The inner struggle, hiding from Ramsay. The chapters were cruel, but he had the best character development.

Tyrion: I'm on a boat. I found a dwarf friend. I get on another boat. I'm sold into slavery. get on another boat. finally almost meet Danaerys. she flies off. I try to find a new boat.

Sir Barristan: Important POV after Dany leaves, and he tells what's happening when she's too busy daydreaming about Daario. chapters just too long and boring.

Quentin Martel. hilarious. boy thinks he can whip a dragon into obeying him. moron.

other Martels : trying to screw over the lannisters I'm ok with that.

Melisandre: oooh visions. I'd be fond with more chapters from her. they actually made me like her.

Random Targaryan kid: who? why. stupidest plotline by far.

Asha Greyjoy: she's horny.... ok..... pointless chapter.

Arya: ooh closure. good. looking forward to what happens next with her.

cersei. got what she deserves. hope they behead her. what's with frankenstein??

Jamie and Brienne: I need more!! let's go!!

Davos: captured again. his plot seems done.

Victorian Greyjoy: I think he's someone to watch. using blood magic. hope Dany crisps him .

epilogue: best part. poor kevan, but FINALLY Varys shows back up. the boom missed his scheming.

What this book could have been....

This book had so much going on. Historical fiction. Jumping between two time periods (1940s and 1950), murder mystery. A detective with a mysterious past.

To put it simply, there was WAY too much going on.

1940s follows Christina and her family at their home, Villa Chimera. Recently they unearthed an Etruscan Tomb on their property and the Nazis are are interested in the content inside. There is also a handsome, Nazi who expresses interest in the young 18 year old Christina.

1950s follows what is left of Christina's family as they are being murdered by a Serial Killer. It also follows a detective named Serafina who has burns across her body and a mysterious past from the war.

There are a lot of good ideas in this book that could make for a spellbinding story. The issue is that there are so many storylines and plots that it is hard to become fully invested in them. Often the plot jumps from shocking moment to shocking moment, which is designed to keep the reader flipping the pages. I admit I became engrossed towards the end when I wondered how all of these plotlines would tie up and come together.

This is where my rating when from 4.5 to 3 stars. The ending was rushed and went for 100% shock value. At the start of the book you knew which characters would die, and that is what kept me interested. To see how it happened and why. The issue was, their deaths were just a short sentence or two. If you weren't paying close enough attention, you'd have missed it. Very sloppy. There was more focus on the death of an animal than there was on the human characters you'd been following for a few hundred pages.

The ending had me wishing I didn't waste my time on the book, or that I could have someone re-write the ending to make it even mildly satisfying. As it sits, I give it the “Dexter” treatment, where the ending was so stupid that I pretend the ending that was given doesn't even exist.

Read this for a speech class. The book wasn't my favorite, but it was good. I knocked it a star because I thought it tacky the author added herself to the story using her own name.