Spoiler Alerts: A couple of quotes and attempts to dissect some of the scenes in the book. Read at your own discretion.
Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins is such an adorable, quirky read that left my heart feeling like it was a marshmallow over a campfire.
"I'm taking back my life, one kiss at a time" (Higgins 76). (For those unfamiliar with MLA formatting its the author's last name and the page number.)
It is astounding reading Zae's growth as a person throughout the novel, and in a way, she does take her life back while also having it spiral out of control at the same time. I just love that quote because it signifies what Zae thinks she needs to do to take back control after her boyfriend cheats and her parents' marriage unravels around her.
And y'all should read page 306 middle paragraph and try to not act all girly like I did upon reading it. There are so many significant parts in the novel that I cannot find at the time, but you should read this book.
I loved watching each character grow and reading them fall in love while Zae was still struggling with her male angst. Not like I begrudge Zae and her unfortunate moments, but it was fascinating seeing how they react, and I mean seeing because I could picture it so clearly in my head especially the country concert scene with the girls flirting with the cowboys from afar.
I wish my high school were like that, but I was lucky to keep any friends I made because it turns out girls can be really catty with each other sometimes, and I wound up being the one who got the short end of the stick.
This novel is phenomenal, and I am jealous of Zae's and her friends' relationships with each other and how they always found a way back to each other. I also adore that it is not a vast book where the cheerleader gets everything handed to her in the story and Zae had to work for everything she got, in the end, no matter how terrified it made her.
My only critique was that there was a lot of crying going on in the novel.
But y'all should read it and trust me when I say that it is worthy of every read because I cannot stand contemporary novels and this was one of those I need it for the cover book.
I could have finished it in one day if I had not tried to make it my going to the college travel book.
5 out of 5 stars.
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Bloodleaf: Phantasmic Magic
Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith is so fantastic I finished it at the end of March and it took me this long to figure out how to write a review that was not this: askjfefnerighj...
Oh my word, how do I explain the feels this book gave me? Even now I am still gushing over all the twists and turns in that novel. It is the best fantasy novel I have read in a long time and I adored the phantasmic aspects to it and how when someone dies bloodleaves grow.
I am in love with Zan because he does not let his weaknesses define who he is and Aurelia, damn that girl, she tries so hard to fix everything and I dare you to not fall in love with those two. They are my book couple for early 2019 and I cannot wait for the second book.
You should read this book if you like fantasy, ghosts, blood magic, young love, and learning self-sacrifice.
5 out of 5 stars
(13 out of 5 stars).
Oh my word, how do I explain the feels this book gave me? Even now I am still gushing over all the twists and turns in that novel. It is the best fantasy novel I have read in a long time and I adored the phantasmic aspects to it and how when someone dies bloodleaves grow.
I am in love with Zan because he does not let his weaknesses define who he is and Aurelia, damn that girl, she tries so hard to fix everything and I dare you to not fall in love with those two. They are my book couple for early 2019 and I cannot wait for the second book.
You should read this book if you like fantasy, ghosts, blood magic, young love, and learning self-sacrifice.
5 out of 5 stars
(13 out of 5 stars).
Ink Magic
Ink by Jobie Baldwin is an intriguing read, and I thouroughly enjoyed reading it. The characters are cute and quirky that will have you falling in love with them in no time. The plot is well paced and has enough twists and turns to make readers want to keep reading.
My only problem with this story is it felt a little too preachy about the environment, and I could tell it is something the author felt strongly about before I even read her author profile. At some times it felt like the story was following something the author was addressing and not something that was needed to be focused on the story.
I loved how people hated the Settlers because they thought they were something else, but it turns out to be a lot more complicated than that. I can't wait to read the second book and get my Raven fix. Also, I really want to know what happens to Ben and his stupidity of trying to be one of the Tribe.
It is obvious the writer did a lot of research in her story and I love the fact that it could be any type of religion or belief that could be a tattoo. I wonder what kind of tattoo would chose us?
4.5 out of 5 stars.
Highly recommend you read this.
My only problem with this story is it felt a little too preachy about the environment, and I could tell it is something the author felt strongly about before I even read her author profile. At some times it felt like the story was following something the author was addressing and not something that was needed to be focused on the story.
I loved how people hated the Settlers because they thought they were something else, but it turns out to be a lot more complicated than that. I can't wait to read the second book and get my Raven fix. Also, I really want to know what happens to Ben and his stupidity of trying to be one of the Tribe.
It is obvious the writer did a lot of research in her story and I love the fact that it could be any type of religion or belief that could be a tattoo. I wonder what kind of tattoo would chose us?
4.5 out of 5 stars.
Highly recommend you read this.
No Damsel-in-distress Here
Swords, Sorcery & Self-Rescuing Damsels by Lee French and other authors certainly lives up to it's name.
I will not say much because you all should read this, but there is no damsels-in-distress here, and it was refreshing to read.
I actually enjoyed reading all the stories in this collection and found some of the stories hilarious with how they portrayed females helping themselves. I mean there are no words for how epic it was reading stories where a woman does not need a man unless she needs to use him for something.
Ladies take notes when reading these stories because it feels empowering, and maybe we don't always have to let the men save us.
5 out of 5 stars.
I will not say much because you all should read this, but there is no damsels-in-distress here, and it was refreshing to read.
I actually enjoyed reading all the stories in this collection and found some of the stories hilarious with how they portrayed females helping themselves. I mean there are no words for how epic it was reading stories where a woman does not need a man unless she needs to use him for something.
Ladies take notes when reading these stories because it feels empowering, and maybe we don't always have to let the men save us.
5 out of 5 stars.
Arcana: an Escapism?
I am a firm believer that books should allow readers the chance to escape reality and their troubles. Where they can feel like their problems aren't so bad and if these characters can handle their situations then so can we. However, Arcana by Paul Kane did not give me that feeling.
I feel like the story could be so much better without the prologue because it did not drag me in and make me hold my breath wanting to know why the world is the way it is. Instead, it had me asking why I was reading this story.
I still don't get why the group bombed a shopping mall or why magic is the way it is or what the heck they used to take out a bit of the mall? Or even why it went from a mall bombing to a blind man reading tarot cards? Then it went to something completely different with who I am guessing was supposed to be the main guy. I kind of gave up reading after that point because like I said earlier the prologue turned me off.
1.5 out of 5 stars.
I'm giving it an extra half star because it was great detail just not enough to really wow me.
I feel like the story could be so much better without the prologue because it did not drag me in and make me hold my breath wanting to know why the world is the way it is. Instead, it had me asking why I was reading this story.
I still don't get why the group bombed a shopping mall or why magic is the way it is or what the heck they used to take out a bit of the mall? Or even why it went from a mall bombing to a blind man reading tarot cards? Then it went to something completely different with who I am guessing was supposed to be the main guy. I kind of gave up reading after that point because like I said earlier the prologue turned me off.
1.5 out of 5 stars.
I'm giving it an extra half star because it was great detail just not enough to really wow me.
Almost Harry Potter like
The Oath by Michael L. Lewis reminded me too much of Harry Potter and so many other books that are set in the UK. I ended up stopping reading it because I just could not get into the story like I wanted to do.
The prologue was interesting, but confusing and I had no clue why it would be relevant to the story or why the character acted the way he did. I feel like I would have needed more backstory before being told that seeing a dead boy meant they were both going to die. Then it moves onto the first chapter with a boy on a train going to a boarding school and trying to act all cool in front of his mum while hoping no one would enter his compartment. I kind of lost interest once a group of older kids joined him and started to talk to each other. I know it was done to build more into the world, but I started predicting things that would happen especially when they start naming names.
Maybe I'm just being weird or too picky on stories, but the train had me feeling like I was going to start reading a Harry Potter book and the prologue had me feel like I was watching the show The Alieniest (I think I spelled it wrong, but the one that starts with a boy is dead. and he helps people that tend to be alienated from society because they don't fit into society's norms).
2 out of 5 stars.
The prologue was interesting, but confusing and I had no clue why it would be relevant to the story or why the character acted the way he did. I feel like I would have needed more backstory before being told that seeing a dead boy meant they were both going to die. Then it moves onto the first chapter with a boy on a train going to a boarding school and trying to act all cool in front of his mum while hoping no one would enter his compartment. I kind of lost interest once a group of older kids joined him and started to talk to each other. I know it was done to build more into the world, but I started predicting things that would happen especially when they start naming names.
Maybe I'm just being weird or too picky on stories, but the train had me feeling like I was going to start reading a Harry Potter book and the prologue had me feel like I was watching the show The Alieniest (I think I spelled it wrong, but the one that starts with a boy is dead. and he helps people that tend to be alienated from society because they don't fit into society's norms).
2 out of 5 stars.
A Book with not much light
Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell is one of those books that give me conflicting emotions. In the beginning, I loved certain characters and could not stand some (Allouette), but at the end of the book I ended up despising all the characters because their arcs just downgraded for me. Sure they did what they thought was best at the time, but as a reader I wanted certain aspects to be together, and people told me that if you have read or seen Les Miserables then you know it does not end the way you want it.
I think my main issue was being told it's a Les Miserables retelling because the beginning first six chapters were incredible and even if you are like me and have no clue about what's going on having never seen or read the entirety of Les Miserables you will feel like you are there. However, I could not stand Allouette or more accurately when she met Marcellus. I kind of lost respect for Marcellus after that because there is more to a girl than looks. I don't give a damn that you think she looks beautiful and is too blindsided and pigheaded to see anything else.
Chataine (I hope I spelled her name right) started to annoy me at the end because she chose to dress like a boy, so don't go throwing yourself a pity party when no one recognizes you as a girl.
I can go into length about my thoughts on the characters, but I will let others decide what they think without coloring over the lines.
4 out of 5 stars.
Feel free to let me know what you think of this book in the comments and whether you agree or disagree with me. I would love to start a book discussion with people.
I think my main issue was being told it's a Les Miserables retelling because the beginning first six chapters were incredible and even if you are like me and have no clue about what's going on having never seen or read the entirety of Les Miserables you will feel like you are there. However, I could not stand Allouette or more accurately when she met Marcellus. I kind of lost respect for Marcellus after that because there is more to a girl than looks. I don't give a damn that you think she looks beautiful and is too blindsided and pigheaded to see anything else.
Chataine (I hope I spelled her name right) started to annoy me at the end because she chose to dress like a boy, so don't go throwing yourself a pity party when no one recognizes you as a girl.
I can go into length about my thoughts on the characters, but I will let others decide what they think without coloring over the lines.
4 out of 5 stars.
Feel free to let me know what you think of this book in the comments and whether you agree or disagree with me. I would love to start a book discussion with people.
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