Imaginary Reads

10+ Ways to Read More - and a Blog Move

2018-06-27T10:47:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone!

I've moved my blog over to WordPress. I'm excited by the new functions available with WordPress and am looking forward to the change.

I have some new posts up there

I look forward to continuing my reading and blogging journey with y'all over there!

33 Books to Read After The Cruel Prince by Holly Black {While Waiting on Book 2}

2018-06-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

After The Cruel Prince left us with that cliffhanger, I about drove myself crazy trying to think of what to read next while waiting for The Wicked King (book 2) to release next year.

So I did the only sane thing for a bookaholic to do and browsed through the past several years of YA books in search of reads to sate my bookish appetite until I can get my hands on a copy of book 2.

(I also added books that came to mind as I browsed, so there are some older reads present as well.)

To read the full list, visit the new blog site at Lost in Storyland.

Giveaway

To celebrate the blog revamp, I will be hosting several giveaways in the months of June and July. To stay updated on the new happenings, sign up for the newsletter on the new blog site and / or follow me on social media @crystalmusing and @lostinstoryland.

I'm really excited to share the new changes on the blog with y'all!

(Kris)

Let's Talk Books: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

2018-06-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

I've read Holly Black's White Cat and The Coldest Girl in Cold Town. It was with these books that I fell in love with the magic that is Holly Black's writing, so I knew that I would love The Cruel Prince as well.

And I did.

Today, I'm sharing my thoughts on why I love The Cruel Prince, and I'd love for you to share your thoughts on the book as well—in the comments below, email, or social media (just shout me out - links in sidebar).

Next Friday, June 15th, come back to see my compilation of 33 books to read while waiting for book two. I'm really excited to share this post with you. I know how hard it can be to wait for the next book in a series. I hope to share some new treasures for you and for you to share some of your favorite reads as well!

To read my full review, visit the new blog location at Lost in Storyland!

To receive information about the giveaways that will be taking place there in celebration of the blog revamp, sign up for the newsletter or follow me on social media @crystalmusing and @lostinstoryland.

Monthly Musings: May 2018 ⇉ What Content Would YOU Like to See More on the Blog?

2018-06-08T07:00:00.000-04:00

In this first edition of my monthly musings, I share 5 thing I learned, May loves, what I read, and 3 things I'm looking forward to in June. At the end, learn about some changes that are coming to the blog this month!

If you're here to answer the question in the post title and would like to skip all of this, then scroll on down to the comments.

I would love to hear your thoughts on May happenings, however, and to hear what's new with you!

5 Things I Learned

1. Ask before you sign up for an online summer class
I signed up for an online class this summer thinking that I would have ALL summer to do the work at my own leisure. Turns out there are set weekly deadlines. Not to mention that the first week of class was the week immediately after finals!

While the work's not too bad (it's a 2-credit class), I could have benefited by asking friends who have taken the class what the work schedule is like.

2. I'm a hoarder
While spring cleaning in May, I cleared out stacks of books and piles makeup. (Let's not mention the closet, which I have yet to tackle.) I hadn't realized how much I had accumulated over the years!

Have you had the same experiences with spring cleaning?

3. Take a day off regularly
During the semester, I was so busy with classes, work, and other obligations that I rarely took a whole day off to rest. The week after finals, I crashed. Regular rest is important, especially when you feel like you have no name.

4. Quality time is found in small gatherings
It's so very tempting for me to open hangouts to anyone who's available. A couple weeks ago, however, I attended a small potluck. Though I didn't know everyone present, the small gathering created an intimate atmosphere, and the conversation was rich. Everyone had a chance to speak up, and we learned things about each other that wouldn't likely come up in a larger group. I would love to hold more small gatherings in the future!

5. Drink LOTS of water when running a 5k
On Memorial Day, I ran my first 5k race. At 8 a.m. in the morning, in 90-degrees. And there was only one water station. From this experience, I learned that (1) I need to prepare better for the weather and (2) I need to drink more water before and during the race (and of course after).

May Loves

Massages
A year ago, my doctor recommended that I get monthly massages, but I didn't start going to a place until this past month. I wish I listened to my doctor sooner. Massages are so relaxing. I've become a fan.

Morning Walks
Now that I'm back home with family, I've been going on morning walks on the neighborhood trail. It's been a great opportunity to get to know some of my neighbors and to enjoy some fresh air before the heat wave comes in.

Essential Oils

The real prize this past month definitely has to be my essential oils premium starter kit from Young Living. I've been in the process of switching over to natural products, and I love the versatility of essential oils. Two of my favorites this past month have been Lavender and PanAway.

I've been using Lavender to help with my acne and also with my diffuser while I sleep. My diffuser has a setting where it diffuses every other minute, which allows it to function for ten hours. It's been really relaxing, and I wake up feeling more refreshed.

PanAway is a blend of essential oils with a soothing and stimulating aroma. I add 5-7 drops to a tablespoon of coconut oil (which acts as a carrier oil). I rub this ointment on sore muscles. It's soothing, and I like the aroma. (Note: coconut oil has a strong smell, but a little ointment goes a long way, and the only scent left after rubbing it in is that of the PanAway essential oil.)

Do you use essential oils? What're your favorites?

Or if you're new to essential oils and interested in learning more, I'd love to chat with you! Just send me an email or message me on Instagram!

What I Read

I read seven books in May. Three of them before summer break started for me!

3 Things I'm Looking Forward to June 2018

My gym buddy is getting married ♡
My friend Joy is getting married this month. She's been a blessing as my gym accountability partner, and I've enjoyed getting to know her this past year. I'm happy for her and look forward to attending her wedding!

Jumping on the audiobook bandwagon
Because my copy of Cress didn't arrive in the mail by the time I finished rereading Scarlet and the only copy available at the library was an audiobook, I gave the audiobook a try and fell in love. The audiobook narration brought the characters to life in a new way. Plus, it made doing chores a lot more fun because my brain had something to digest while my hands were at work.

I've requested a few more audiobooks from the library and look forward to integrating audiobooks more into my day-to-day life.

Merging my book and lifestyle blogs (right here at Imaginary Reads!)
Lastly, I made the decision to merge this book blog with my lifestyle blog. Right now, I'm the only regular blogger here at Imaginary Reads, and for the past couple of years, I've been doing a poor job of juggling the two blogs and their associated social media accounts.

Many of my upcoming lifestyle posts will be relatable to readers. For example, I'll be sharing some posts on time management and productivity. All for the purpose of making more time for reading in our lives, of course ;)

And, of course, there will be posts directly related to reading, such as how to make intentional time for reading on a daily basis and collection posts.

I'm excited for these changes and hope that you'll enjoy them too!

Question of the Month

What kind of blog content would you like to see more on the blog?

I'd also love to hear your musings on how May has been for you! :)

(aka. Crystal)

A Thrilling, High Stakes Conclusion ⇉ Review of Winter by Marissa Meyer

2018-06-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

The Lunar Chronicles is one of my favorite YA Fantasy series. (The other big one being Tamora Pierce's Tortall books.)

I'd like to say it's a bit of a mystery why it took me until now to finish the series, but after looking at Winter's pub date, I realized that it fell right smack into my first year of teaching. On the bright side, I got to spend the last couple of weeks rereading the series, so I got to pick up Winter as soon as I finished Cress :)

The final verdict: I love the Lunar Chronicles world. There are some little details that I didn't like as much, but for the most part, this is a great high-stakes sci-fi/fantasy/fairytale-retelling/romance series that I recommend to fans of these genres.

WHAT I LIKED

A Wide, Endearing Cast of Characters
Each of the Lunar Chronicles books introduces the subplot of a new heroine and her prince. There are also other fun side characters like Iko (but really, Iko). I like how the presence of the diverse cast members opens doors to expanding the world and furthering the plot from different physical locations in the Lunar world.

The Stakes Keep Rising
With the characters fighting for different reasons and finding themselves in various dilemmas, not to mention the moves made by enemy forces, the stakes keep rising. While there are moments of respite in the novel, these are few. For the most part, the stakes and resulting action keep the plot moving forward. This may be a large novel (at over 800 pages), but it's hard to put down.

Spending Time on Luna
After all the talk about Luna, it was exciting to finally explore the moon and the culture that has developed there over time.

Cinder Steps into Her Own
All this time, Cinder has been struggling with her identity—from being a cyborg, to being a cyborg AND a Lunar, to being the missing Lunar princess. In Winter, she finally accepts who she is and finds her voice. She's grown so much over the course of the series.

WHAT I DISLIKED

A Case of Too Many POVs
I love how much can be done with such a large cast of characters, and Marissa Meyer does a wonderful job interweaving the different POVs to flesh out the world and keep the plot moving forward. The problem with so many POVs, however, is that the story doesn't feel as consistent as it could be. Just as I got invested in one POV, I would be thrown into a completely different POV.

Lack of Girl (Friend) Time
The amount of time that the girls spend together is a fraction of the time that they are shown spending with their princes. Part of the reason is that events keep moving so quickly, and they rarely have down time, but I would have liked to see more scenes where the girls are together and need to work together to carry out their plans. Oftentimes, when the team splits, willingly or not, a girl and a guy end up together. I would have liked to see the girls' relationships developed more.

Most of all, when I think of the girls, my first thought is their personal identity. My second is the identity of their "prince." Other than Cinder, who has Iko, I don't think about their relationships in terms of other girls.

Where's Book Five?
Just Kidding. Almost.

I love The Lunar Chronicles and would have loved to spend more time in this world. (In a way, I do through Fairest, Stars Above, and Wires & Nerves.) That said, all good things must come to an end, and I look forward to seeing what else Marissa Meyer brings to us.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, Winter provides a thrilling, high stakes conclusion to the series. I love The Lunar Chronicles and look forward to reading more from Marissa Meyers.

★★★★★

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mark her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend--the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

CHAT WITH ME

Who is your favorite Lunar Chronicles character?

Publication Info

Wires & Nerve, Volume 1 by Marissa Meyer, illustrated by Douglas Holgate
Published by Fiewel & Friends
On Jaan. 31, 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novel
Pages: 238 Pages
Format: Hardback

Series: The Lunar Chronicles

Content

Language (Swearing)
Violence

Boyhood Dreams + Love + Adventure + Fantasy World ⇉ Review of Magician by Ramond E. Feist

2018-05-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

Long long ago, I read Magician: Master by Raymond E. Feist. Years later, I finally bought Magician: Apprentice and read the two books back to back. The Magician books are truly, as Feist explains in the foreword, a fantasy adventure that was written for the author's pleasure, and it is best enjoyed as a fantasy that fulfills boyhood dreams of love and adventure in a fantasy world.

WHAT I LIKED

A Fantasy That Fulfills Boyhood Dreams
The Magician books are best read as a story that fulfills the boyhood dreams of the protagonists Pug and Thomas and, in the process, the reader's dreams of love and adventure. While the two boys go through hardships, events seem to work out for them in incredible ways. To enjoy this book, it's best to put skepticism on hold and enjoy this book for the fantasy romance that it is.

Likable Characters
The protagonists and the primary supporting characters are likable and come from all walks of life.

A Tale of Two Worlds
I like how the story shows events that take place on both worlds. This gives insight into the culture and beliefs of both sides and, as a result, allows the reader to emphasize with both sides. War is complex; both sides have their reasons to fight. Magician shows this complexity.

Furthermore, despite the hopes of the characters, there is no simple resolution to the war in the end. Some of the aftermath is shown at the end of Magician: Master. I hope that later books show more of the consequences of the war.

Strong Female Characters
The female characters are more than a pretty face. To name a few of their traits, they can speak their minds, have attitudes, love fiercely, and survive trials. They fight alongside of the ones they love, and a few even take a turn at narrating events. I appreciate how we're given insight into their thoughts and struggles.

WHAT I DISLIKED

Under-portrayed Character Development
The characters are almost too likable and, as a result, can come off as bland and lacking in complexities. Their personalities don't entirely come off the page. While growth can be seen, in Pug and Thomas in particular, insufficient time is spent to fully portray the character development that takes place. This is in part due to the time skips and alternating POVs.

Too Many Trails to Follow
The war is fought on multiple fronts. For containing it in two books (long as they are), Feist does a good job giving the reader an idea of what is going on. That said, it also means the reader doesn't get the full picture, only glimpses into each front. It also means that the character development isn't shown to its full potential.

In the End, Who Wins the War?
Though the protagonists do their best to protect the ones they love, greater powers are at play. In the end, the outcome of the war is debatable. Despite the happy ending, things feel unresolved, and I expect to see some of these trails continued in later books of the Riftwar Cycle.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, Magician is best enjoyed as a (for the most part) straightforward fantasy romance. It provided light, easy reading for me during a time of sickness, when my brain couldn't process complex thoughts. I recommend it to readers who enjoy fantasy novels that spend more time developing the characters, their relationships, and the socio-political climate of the world.

★★★★☆

To the forest on the shore of the Kingdom of the Isles, the orphan Pug came to study with the master magician Kulgan. His courage won him a place at court and the heart of a lovely Princess, but he was ill at ease with normal wizardry. Yet his strange magic may save two worlds from dark beings who opened spacetime to renew the age-old battle between Order and Chaos.

CHAT WITH ME

If you were to become an apprentice in a fantasy world, what occupation would you pursue?

Publication Info

Magician: Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist
Published by Bantam Spectra
On January 1, 1993
Original pub date: October 1, 1982
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 485 Pages
Format: Mass Market Paperback

Series: The Riftwar Saga

Magician: Apprentice
Magician: Master
Silverthorn
A Darkness at Sethanon
[Note: there are other books in the Riftwar Cycle, but these four books complete the first saga set in the Riftwar Cycle.]

Content

Alcohol
Kissing
Some sexual scenes / thoughts (not explicit)
Violence (not explicit)

Character Theme Songs for The Boy, The Bird, and the Coffin Maker by Matilda Woods

2018-05-15T12:00:00.000-04:00

Happy book birthday to The Boy, The Bird, and the Coffin Maker by Matilda Woods!

Today, I'm delighted to share a playlist of character theme songs for this middle-grade novel. Alice, a former regular on the blog, helped me out with the content since I got sick over finals week and am still recovering. Alice is going through some health issues herself having had a bad fall recently, so I'm really grateful for her help.

As soon as I've had a chance to finish reading Matilda's novel, I'll be sharing my thoughts on the blog. If you enjoy lighthearted fantasies or magical realism for younger readers, you'll want to check this one out!

~ Kris

CHARACTER THEME SONGS

The Boy (Tito)

1. "O-O-H CHILD" by The Five Stairsteps
This song speaks to Tito's situation before he ran away. It provides the assurance that things are hard now but there are better times ahead.

2. "Pocketful of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield
This song represents Tito's hope for a better life and his desire for a safe place to escape.

The Coffin Maker (Alberto)

1. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day
This song shares Alberto's loneliness after losing his family.

2. "Skyscraper" by Demi Levato
This song speaks to strength in forging a new life for himself after having everything taken away from him.

BOOK DETAILS

Alberto lives alone in the town of Allora, where fish fly out of the sea and the houses shine like jewels. He is a coffin maker and widower, spending his quiet days creating the final resting places of Allora's people.

Then one afternoon a magical bird flutters into his garden, and Alberto, lonely inside, welcomes it into his home. And when a kindhearted boy named Tito follows the bird into Alberto's kitchen, a door in the old man's heart cracks open. Tito is lonely too--but he's also scared and searching for a place to hide. Fleeing from danger, he just wants to feel safe for once in his life. Can the boy and the old man learn the power of friendship and escape the shadows of their pasts?

CHAT WITH ME

Do you make playlists for characters? How do they add to your reading experience?

Publication Info

The Boy, The Bird, and the Coffin Maker by Matilda Woods
Published by Philomel Books
On May 15, 2018
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 544 Pages
Format: Hardback

Series

Content

Age appropriate

This post was made as a part of the book tour of the novel by Matilda Woods.

Epic World Building + Intriguing Story = I Need Book Two Last Week ⇉ Review of The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

2018-05-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

I found The Name of the Wind when I was looking up good (fairly) recent fantasy books to read. Kvothe's introduction to his life reeled me in with the promise of an epic story. (See synopsis below.) Rothfuss didn't disappoint.

WHAT I LIKED

Poetic Language
The Name of the Wind is filled with poetic phrases. While they bring images to life, they are also beautiful to read and give me something to anticipate in future rereads.

Compelling World
In reading this book, I can tell that Rothfuss is familiar with his world and its rules. (I read in an interview that he even did the calculations for use of sympathy, which is akin to magic but scientific in its processes.) There is much potential for future exploration of this world, not to mention that a big conflict seems to be brewing.

Complex MC
Kvothe is both endearing and frustrating. I like his curiosity and desire to learn, and he has a natural flair for entertaining crowds. However, he is also very aware of his intellect and giftings. He is arrogant and prideful, and he picks fights that he cannot win. He also has a vice in his attraction for something unreachable.

Unexpected Plot Twists
I love how Rothfuss takes the legends about Kvothe and reveals how they actually came to be. It's so much fun to see them play out.

An Epic in the Making
As I mentioned in my comments on the world building, it looks like something big is brewing. I read somewhere that Rothfuss has said that he has tricked readers into reading a prologue, and it's reassuring to hear that. Given how little of Kvothe's life is covered in book one alone, I'm guessing that this trilogy will be solely about the building of Kvothe's legend. Yet, the happenings in the present suggest that there is more going on than what has happened in Kvothe's life alone. I hope to see more of this world soon.

WHAT I DISLIKED

Thinks-He-Knows-It-All Teen (Belief in His) Invincibility
There were many things that Kvothe did that made me question his intellect. I list this under what I dislike because these actions were frustrating and had me mentally headbanging. That said, I appreciate his know-it-all attitude because it portrays the dark side of his giftedness. As a gifted child, Kvothe would be arrogant and do stupid things thinking that he'll go ahead and take the consequences later.

What's the Main Plot?
The Name of the Wind felt like a chronicle of Kvothe's early life. (Well, the series is called The Kingkiller Chronicle.) Nevertheless, I do expect to see some kind of plot.

Kvothe's story of his life doesn't have immediate tie in's to his present circumstances or the present-day conflicts, and it takes a while for an enemy to be introduced to us. Even then, many of his misadventures don't connect with the conflict, at least not immediately. I get that Kvothe has been through a lot in his short life, but I would have liked to see a more coherent plot, one that sets the stage for what's to come.

Where's Book Three?
This is more of a personal complaint and has no bearing on my actual rating of the book. I've seen a lot on the Internet on the lack of visible progress on the third book of this trilogy, which promises to be the start to a larger series. I can understand that Rothfuss wants to take his time to write a good book without the weight of the guilt and burden to finish for the audience. At the same time, the wait time isn't encouraging me to pick up book two. Nor am I eager to think of picking up book three because I'll likely have to reread the first books first.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, the complexity of the world building, the depth of Kvothe's character, and the promise of an epic in the making easily makes this one of the top fantasy reads on my list. I sincerely hope to see book three released within the next several years so that I can see what Rothfuss has planned with The Kingkiller Chronicle. I wish him all the best in his writing and that he finds what he needs to complete the third book.

★★★★★

MY NAME IS KVOTHE

I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.

So begins a tale unequaled in fantasy literature--the story of a hero told in his own voice. It is a tale of sorrow, a tale of survival, a tale of one man's search for meaning in his universe, and how that search, and the indomitable will that drove it, gave birth to a legend.

CHAT WITH ME

What are some of your favorite favorite reads / series?

Publication Info

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Published by DAW
On April 7, 2009
Original pub date: March 27, 2007
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 662 Pages
Format: Paperback

Series: The Kingkiller Chronicle

The Name of the Wind
The Wise Man's Fear
Door's of Stone

Content

Alcohol
Language
Some sexual scenes / thoughts
Violence

Another Romance Novel . . . With an Oxford Setting and Frequent English Lit References ⇉ Review and GIVEAWAY of My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

2018-05-08T07:00:00.001-04:00

Oxford + Studies + Life Changes = a formula for a story. Having studied at Oxford before, the title caught my eyes. Today, I'm sharing my thoughts on the novel along with a giveaway for a copy of The Oxford Year.

WHAT I LIKED

Oxford Setting
As the MC Ella shares, Oxford is considered by some to be a magical place where dreams come true. Having spent some time there as a student, I was intrigued to see how the author Julia Whelan portrays it.

Characters Who Know Their English Lit
Much of the banter between different characters involves references to and quotes from literary works, both poetry and prose. English lit fans will enjoy seeing these references.

Character Dilemmas
Though there is a strong romance focus, romance is not the only issue they're dealing with. For example, as the synopsis says, Ella has to choose between her political dreams and being there for the man with whom she's falling in love.

Moral Questions are Raised
Various things from political issues to relationship issues raise moral questions for consideration. These questions will get the readers thinking about their their beliefs on these issues.

Note of caution: controversial political issues are raised, and the author takes a clear stance on them through Ella's responses to them.

WHAT I DISLIKED

Flat Characters
The characters fit easily into stereotyped roles. Though the MCs do find themselves taking a different path than they initially envisioned, I wasn't made to feel for the characters and the changes they go through. Their stories are fairly straightforward; the characters lacked a real sense of complexity.

Predictable Plot
I felt like I was reading another soap opera romance. The plot was predictable; it never made me feel like the characters were in any real problem.

Heavy on the "Romance"
In the end, it felt like the book was all about the romance or, rather, the physical relationship and ensuing problems it causes when things get serious (in various ways). The situation in which the characters find themselves seems only to be like the backdrop to the romance.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Oxford Year felt like a Harlequin romance novel reworked to target a younger audience with an interest in political issues, particularly those on the topics of education and women. This wasn't what I was expecting going into the novel and didn't end up being for me. However, readers who enjoy romance novels with a foreign setting and a goodly sized dose of politics may want to pick up a copy of this novel. If you're interested, scroll down to enter for a chance to win a copy!

★★★☆☆

American Ella Durran has had the same plan for her life since she was thirteen: Study at Oxford. At 24, she’s finally made it to England on a Rhodes Scholarship when she’s offered an unbelievable position in a rising political star’s presidential campaign. With the promise that she’ll work remotely and return to DC at the end of her Oxford year, she’s free to enjoy her Once in a Lifetime Experience. That is, until a smart-mouthed local who is too quick with his tongue and his car ruins her shirt and her first day.

When Ella discovers that her English literature course will be taught by none other than that same local, Jamie Davenport, she thinks for the first time that Oxford might not be all she’s envisioned. But a late-night drink reveals a connection she wasn’t anticipating finding and what begins as a casual fling soon develops into something much more when Ella learns Jamie has a life-changing secret.

Immediately, Ella is faced with a seemingly impossible decision: turn her back on the man she’s falling in love with to follow her political dreams or be there for him during a trial neither are truly prepared for. As the end of her year in Oxford rapidly approaches, Ella must decide if the dreams she’s always wanted are the same ones she’s now yearning for.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julia Whelan is a screenwriter, lifelong actor, and award-winning audiobook narrator. She graduated with a degree in English and creative writing from Middlebury College and Oxford University. While she was in England, her flirtation with tea blossomed into a full-blown love affair, culminating in her eventual certification as a tea master.

Connect with Julia
Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

GIVEAWAY

My Oxford Year
Open to the United States

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CHAT WITH ME

If you were to spend a year abroad, where would you go?

Publication Info

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
Published by William Morrow
On April 24, 2019
Genres: Romance
Pages: 352 Pages
Format: Paperback

Series

Mature Content
(Highlight to See)

Language

Alcohol

(Premarital) Sex (frequent)

Terminal Illness

Political content

I received a copy for review from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Blood, War Horrors, and a Ruthless Protagonist ⇉ Review of The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

2018-05-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

I'm always on the lookout for books with Asian protagonists, especially Asian-inspired fantasies. I love reading books with characters who look like me, and I love Asian mythologies.

I also read the author's "review" of her book on Goodreads and was intrigued by her comments on her work. (Though after reading the novel, I would caution against reading her comments until after you finish the series . . . since on hindsight her comments seem to cover the whole of the work and may potentially spoil the books for you or have you anticipating something that won't happen in the first novel or two.)

WHAT I LIKED

Asian-Inspired World
The Poppy War draws inspiration from Chinese history (the Second Sino-Japanese war). I like how the story incorporate elements of Chinese culture in a fantasy world. Because the inhabitants of this world look like me, and that rarely happens in the American book industry.

Intricate Worldbuilding
The world building is not at the scale of great books like Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind or Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, but there is a fair amount lore in this book. I like that this is included because the lore of a people group tells you quite a bit about their history and culture.

That said, I do wish that more was shown about the people and culture of the different provinces along with the intricacies of their relationships. It feels like so much of the world building is focused on the mythologies. (Which is understandable given the nature of the "magic" in this novel.) Hopefully, we'll see more focus on the present day and culture in future installments!

Detailed Imagery
Besides the lore, this novel is heavy on the imagery. Of particular note to me, the imagery brings the setting and the horrors of war to life, the beauty of the world and the ugliness that may be wrought by the hands of humans (and gods).

An Intelligent, Inquisitive Protagonist
Rin is a bright, hardworking young woman. This aspect of her nature reminds me of some of my favorite books growing up, and I appreciate a protagonist that doesn't act on emotion alone.

WHAT I DISLIKED

Power-Hungry, Inconsistent Protagonist
Rin's ideologies have been twisted by the environment in which she grows up, and later they'll be influenced on the battlefield. Because of this, I can understand the reasoning behind some of her ideas and actions, if I cannot entirely embrace them. That said, she isn't entirely incapable of compassion. The problem is that her moments of compassion/regret/human-ness feel out of place because the context has not been set for them. These moments are too rare with little apparent motivation, especially when her thoughts contradict prior thoughts that she had.

Information Overload: Too Much Summarizing
It felt like most of this book was a summary of what was taking (or had taken) place. There were also a couple chapters that summarized what Rin was learning from her books and teachers. While some is needed in an academy setting, and in a fantasy world where the reader needs to learn about how the world functions, there was so much information being summarized (and in large quantities!) that it was dry and tedious to read.

As it is, it wasn't until I was over 40% into the novel that I felt like some action was taking place, but even then, large chunks of the novel still felt a summary of events. There were only a few scenes that felt like I was actually there with Rin on her journey and not being told what happened.

Sparse Dialogue and Little Side-Character Development
While the novel was strong in its imagery, it was weak in dialogue. There aren't many interactions between Rin and other characters, at least that we're shown, and when they do talk, conversations are short and not very revealing of the other character's personality or relationship with Rin.

In fact, the side characters aren't well developed. The most interesting character was her fellow Sinegardian student with whom she spends time on guard duty once the war starts. (I still think this student has something waiting for us to discover in a future installment.) For the most part, however, the side characters fit into tidy boxes and don't seem to contribute much to the story outside of these boxes.

Over-Revealing Synopsis
Most disappointing of all has to be the synopsis. While I understand that everything presented in it is important to the plot in some way, it gives away too much about the book and leaves little to be uncovered by the reader. In fact, it pretty much gives away the whole story, excepting the war's outcome, which is won't be resolved until a later book. (Which I don't consider a spoiler given that this novel is the first in a series.)

FINAL THOUGHTS

Much is left wanting with this book. There are quite a few inconsistencies with some elements being well done and others lacking. Few scenes drew me into the story, and for the most part, these were imagery-heavy scenes. All that said, the world presented to us in The Poppy War is creative and intriguing. While I wouldn't say that this is a great novel, it has presented a compelling villain. I am interested in learning more about this world and seeing what happens next.

★★★☆☆

When Rin aced the Keju—the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies—it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard—the most elite military school in Nikan—was even more surprising.

But surprises aren’t always good.

Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.

For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The militarily advanced Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most of the people are complacent to go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away . . .

Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity . . . and that it may already be too late.

CHAT WITH ME

For who or what cause would you be willing to kill?

Publication Info

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Published by Harper Voyager
On May 15, 2018
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 544 Pages
Format: Hardback

Series: The Numair Chronicles

The Poppy War
TBD
TBD

Mature Content
(highlight to see)

Language (fairly frequent cussing, including one that involves a part of the female body)
Death, Various forms of torture, rape, and other atrocities of war described in detail
Violence (explicity)
Vulgarity

From Brokenness to Abundance, a 60-Day Journey ⇉ Review of The Way of Abundance by Ann Voskamp

2018-04-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

The Way of Abundance is a sixty-day devotional. Each day features a bible verse, a personal anecdote, and questions for reflection. Ann Voskamp's poetic language brings to life the mess of emotions and the wholeness to be found in the midst of our brokenness. Her story gives hope that our brokenness will lead us to Christ on our journey to abundant life.

WHAT I LIKED

Inspiring Message that Conveys Biblical Truth
When we're breaking inside, it's easy to feel alone, to feel like nothing can make us whole again. Voskamp speaks to the broken ones where they are. She does this by sharing her own experiences with brokenness and by professing the hope that is to be found through Christ, who also understands our pain and suffering.

Captivating Use of Poetic Language
Voskamp's language is poetic and beautiful to read. They not only paint a picture for the reader but the emotions brought about by the moments she describes. I enjoy reading the words over and over again to appreciate the beauty captured by her words.

Short and Sweet Devotionals
The devotions are short, no more than a few pages long each, and there are only two questions at the end for reflection. It's encouraging for the busy individual or the one who has a hard time sitting down for long periods of time to journal. The questions can spark reflection at various levels; you can get as much as you want out of this depending on how much time you want to invest in answering the questions.

WHAT I DISLIKED

Purpose of Bible Verses Not Clear
At the beginning of each chapter, Voskamp includes a bible verse. However, they aren't referenced in the actual devotional, so the reader is left to guess why that particular bible verse was included. This purpose isn't always clear.

"Stream Of Consciousness" Style of Writing
Voskamp's poetic use of language beautiful and heart stirring, but it does take its time reaching the message for the day. I confess that there were times when I wanted something more concrete and to the point.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I enjoyed Voskamp's devotional and would recommend it to individuals struggling to find purpose in their brokenness or hardships and to individuals searching for abundant, joyful living. A beautiful hardcover book with a ribbon bookmark, this would make a good gift.

★★★☆☆

What do you do when you wake up and feel like you're not enough for your life? Or when you look out the kitchen window as dusk falls and wonder how do you live when life keeps breaking your heart?

In sixty vulnerably soulful stories, The Way of Abundance moves from self-weary brokenness to Christ-focused givenness. Drawing from the critically acclaimed, New York Times bestseller The Broken Way and Ann's online essays, this devotional dares us to embrace brokenness as a gift that moves us to givenness as a way to draw closer to the heart of God. Christ Himself broke like bread, giving Himself to us so we might have a lifelong communion with Him. Could it be that our brokenness is also a gift to the world?

CHAT WITH ME

Publication Info

The Way of Abundance by Ann Voskamp
Published by Zondervan
On March 13, 2018
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 256 Pages
Format: Hardback

Series

Content

A copy was provided for review by BookLook Bloggers. All opinions are my own.

A Compelling World with Un-Compelling Plot Execution ⇉ Review of The Summoner trilogy by Taran Matharu

2018-04-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

I saw this book while browsing at Barnes and Noble over the winter holidays. The cover, then the synopsis drew my attention. Then I saw that this book is an overall fan favorite, and I wondered under what rock I've been hiding the past couple of year. (Okay, I was a new teacher, so that's my excuse.)

All that said, while I can see why this is a fan favorite—it has entertainment value—what I found was a series that lacks complexity and originality. Following is the breakdown of what I liked (the entertainment value) and what I disliked (aka. things that could have been done better).

WHAT I LIKED

Continually Moving Plot
Taran Matharu is good at keeping a plot moving. The chapters end on cliffhangers that have you wondering what will happen next. This may be a trait from the story's origin on Wattpad, where he first published the novel in a serial format.

Compelling Start to the Series
The beginning of The Novice is fantastic. I like how it establishes Fletcher's origins and helps the reader form a connection with him. Fletcher is a likable hero, if a bit of a Mary Sue, but I didn't know the latter at the time.

A World I Would Have Liked to Explore
The world is compelling. I like the premise of a blacksmith's apprentice summoning a demon (something unexpected in his world). That said, the series only gives us a taste of the world. I would have liked to see more exploration of the intricacies of the world.

WHAT I DISLIKED

Un-Compelling, Un-Complex Characters
There are characters that you like to like and characters that you like to hate. They all fit pretty nicely into boxed stereotypes. As much as I like Fletcher and his friends, I would have liked to see more character complexity. Give me a character I hate to hate, or a likable character with a fatal flaw, or a generally detestable character but with compelling reasons for his or her unlikable. (And so on.)

Unoriginal Plot
Though it has its differences, the Summoner trilogy felt like a poor re-enactment of The Lord of the Rings. It has the humans, elves, dwarves, and orcs. It has the heroes fighting against an orc army. It has the piece needed to rule them all....

I don't mind unoriginal plots. There are only so many stories that can be told. However, such plots need to be worked in a way that makes the story compelling in its own right.

Non-Existant Villain (Well, he may has well not exist.)
We keep hearing about the orcs being a dangerous force that needs to be stopped, but it's a while until we learn why they're such a threat. Even after we learn about the real threat that needs to be defeated, the villain rarely appears and doesn't live up to the hype. He doesn't have character.

Lackluster Conclusion
The series sets up an epic war in which the fate of the known world is at stake. So much time is spent off the battlefield, however, that the hype falls by the time Fletcher actually joins the battlefield. It's over before any suspense can build. The ending feels like a gift-wrapped package to make up for all the bad things that happened to Fletcher since he was born, not a proper resolution to everything that has happened.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While the world of the Summoner trilogy is intriguing, the plot is straightforward and superficial. The characters are stereotypical good or evil with minuscule growth, and the ending falls short of the hype that is built in the beginning. In the end, the Summoner novels fell flat for me.

★★☆☆☆

When blacksmith apprentice Fletcher discovers that he has the ability to summon demons from another world, he travels to Adept Military Academy. There the gifted are trained in the art of summoning. Fletcher is put through grueling training as a battlemage to fight in the Hominum Empire’s war against orcs. He must tread carefully while training alongside children of powerful nobles. The power hungry, those seeking alliances, and the fear of betrayal surround him. Fletcher finds himself caught in the middle of powerful forces, with only his demon Ignatius for help.

As the pieces on the board maneuver for supremacy, Fletcher must decide where his loyalties lie. The fate of an empire is in his hands. The Novice is the first in a trilogy about Fletcher, his demon Ignatius, and the war against the Orcs.

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What's a novel that didn't live up to the hype for you?

Publication Info

The Novice by Taran Matharu
Published by Feiwel and Friends on May 5, 2015
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 355 Pages
Format: Hardback

Series: The Summoner

The Novice
The Inquisition
The Battlemage

Content

Violence

Not My Favorite Fantasy, But It Presents a Compelling World ⇉ Review of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

2018-04-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

Ever since I first read Song of the Lioness, I've loved magical worlds with magical academy settings. I didn't get into the Shadow and Bone craze. (To be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of the original covers. They gave off more of a historical or Gothic vibe than a fantasy kingdom vibe.) However, many people have recommended this book, so I decided to give it a try. While it's not my favorite fantasy book, it is an enjoyable read.

WHAT I LIKED

Interesting world
While the magical kingdom/academy setting isn't anything unique, depending on how it's done, the world can be an interesting place to explore. The Grishaverse is a compelling world that offers much to explore (though it didn't capitalize on the intrigue in the end).

Characters that make you feel things (both good and bad)
While I had some problems with the characters, their interacts drew me into the novel and had me feeling all sorts of emotions. Especially because of all the plot twists that led to new developments in relationships.

Plot twist after plot twist
For the most part, this is a straightforward story. We know the main enemy (or problem), and we know our MC Alina is going to do something about it. However, twist after twist has us questioning who to trust.

WHAT I DISLIKED

Characters lack complexity
The characters fall into boxed stereotypes. While Alina's vague understanding of certain characters has us wondering whether we can really trust certain persons, this lack of understanding also mean that these characters lack sufficient complexity for them to be more than a stereotype without depth.

Simplistic plot (despite the twists)
As I mentioned earlier, this novel is a straightforward story despite all of the twists. While I enjoyed the new revelations being made, they weren't unpredictable revelations. I don't mind a straightforward plot. (Most stories are retellings in one way or another. What makes them unique is how they're told.) However, while it was a solid story, it lacked the familiarity that makes a story great. The familiarity that makes the reader feel like he or she gets the world, and is a part of the world, and is interacting with the world.

A largely unexplored world
There are suggestions of court intrigue, and we learn about the big problem lurking in the kingdom. However, for the most part, the story doesn't capitalize on the intrigue or buildsupon it.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, this is an enjoyable read. I really did feel moved to flip through the pages and find out what will happen to Alina, her loved one(s), and the kingdom. There is a failure to build sufficient intrigue and character complexity to make me feel like the world and characters have come to life, but I do have an interest in reading more of Alina's story. I hope to see more character growth in the books to come.

★★★★☆

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

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Between love and power, which would you choose?

Publication Info

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Published by Square Fish
On June 2017
Original Pub: June 5, 2012
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 416 Pages
Format: Hardback

Series: The Grishaverse

Shadow and Bone
Siege and Storm
Ruin and Rising

Content

Kissing
Making out
Violence and death

Blood, Beauty, and Tragedy: Let the Heads Roll ⇉ Review of Heartless by Marissa Meyer

2018-04-12T07:00:00.001-04:00

1. I love Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles. (Even though I have yet to read the fourth book....for no good reason. This will be remedied this summer when I actually have free time!!!)

2. The description of the lemon tarts in the first pages.

For these reasons, I knew that I was going to love this book.

And because the Queen of Hearts is a villain, I knew that my heart would bleed for it.

WHAT I LIKED

Compelling Characters
Heartless is filled with quirky, imperfect characters whose personalities and backstories make them characters that I felt something towards. Many I loved to loved and others I despised. Even the one character that seemed too good to be true has his own complexities.

Beautiful Use of Figurative Language
Marissa uses figurative language to bring the world the life. I especially love her description of the lemon tarts in the first pages of Heartless. They sound scrumptious. The use of figurative language and imagery does decline as the novel progresses, but the writing is still beautiful and poetic.

Whimsical (and Interesting) World Building
Yes, we're in Wonderland, where most anything we can imagine comes to life. I love the whimsical world building.

A Star-Crossed Romance I Didn't Dislike
I like how the ones involved in the star-crossed romance are aware of the difficulties of their attraction and how these difficulties contribute to the the trials they face. I'm not always opposed to stories where the characters want to be together despite their differences, but I appreciate how Catherine is conflicted.

Stunning Cover
The cover is beautiful :)

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE

Catherine's Indecisiveness Had Me (Mentally) Headbanging
I know this is a tragedy, and I know that bad things have to happen to good people for a tragedy to occur. And since this is the story about the making of the Queen of Hearts . . . good people need to make bad decisions. What is interesting (and a sign of fantastic character development) is how Catherine's upbringing and her own personality point towards her having the potential to become the Queen of Hearts, and we see her moving in this direction over the course of the novel.

That said, my heart bled many times over because of many of her decisions. And I kept hoping against hope that she wouldn't be the one to become the Queen of Hearts.

Mothers Who Push Their Own Agenda on Their Daughter
I got really angry at Catherine's mother. That said, this is also one of the good elements of the story (because it means Marissa Meyer did a great job bringing this character to life).

That Rushed Ending
In the last quarter of the novel, the plot picks up speed. Events are thrown at us one after the other, and the book ends almost before I realized it was coming. It felt rushed. I was almost okay with it because it reflects the chaos in Catherine's heart, but in the end, it really was too rushed for my liking.

A Tragic End (That I Was Coming) (But, okay, it was well-done for the most part)
"If only" . . . I can't count the number of times I thought these words. Plus, that adventure we almost had, except it got cut short prematurely. Because this is a tragedy, and you need to know this going in.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This is not a book to read if you love happy endings. If you love books that explore character relations and what drives people to make the decisions that they do, however, this novel is thought-provoking. It is poignant in its bitterness and beautiful in its dark poetry. It compels the reader to ask what is underlying the surface of the whimsical nature of Wonderland to reveal the darkness lurking beneath. And it portrays the human heart—showing us that the same forces that can be used for good can also be used for evil depending on circumstances . . . and the decisions that we ourselves make.

★★★★☆

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

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CHAT WITH ME

What is your favorite retelling?

Publication Info

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Published by Feiwel & Friends
On November 8, 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Retelling, Romance
Pages: 453 Pages
Format: Hardback

Series

Content

Kissing
Violence

Friendship and Bullies ⇉ GIVEAWAY + Review of The Slithery Shakedown by Tracey Hecht

2018-04-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

I love children's books that feature animals even more than I love children's books that feature magic, and that's saying something. I loved them so much growing up that I wanted to become a veterinarian, so I could spend my days with animals. My dreams have since changed, but I still appreciate a good book with animal protagonists.

The Nocturnals books are good books with animal protagonists. I'm delighted to not only share my thoughts on the latest addition to the series but a giveaway of the complete Nocturnals books!

WHAT I LIKED

Everything I Enjoyed About The Moonlight Meeting
I feel very unoriginal here, but it's also a sign that the series has stayed true to what makes it loveable!

Full-colored illustrations that bring the characters and their unique personalities to life.
Lively dialogue.
A book about a group of friends.
Fun facts about the Australian wildlife featured in this book. (Provided at the end.)

Themes of Bravery and Friendship
The Slithery Shakedown teaches good lessons to growing readers. In this installment of the Nocturnals Early Readers, the trio of friends learn what it means to be brave (that it is okay to be both scared and brave), and they provide a role model in standing up for your friends.

Fun Activities & Resources to Expand on the Reading Experience
The Nocturnals website provides resources that expand on the reading experience. The Early Readers website (growandread) has educational guides and book club kit materials. The Nocturnals site, which is intended for older readers (upper elementary and middle school) has some other activities, some of which may be used with younger readers depending on their reading level.

WHAT I DISLIKED

As always, I enjoyed this latest addition to the Nocturnals world. If I would add anything, I would love for the characters to show more complexities. At the moment, they're very much boxed into their type. In reality, we wouldn't be faced with one single problem. There are multiple elements that contribute to our problems. (A simple example would be being a person of color and a woman. Being poor and uneducated would also add to the complexities.)

All that said, this is a very short read, and I expect to see more Nocturnals books come out in the future. I hope to see more of the characters' development in future installments of the Early Readers books!

FINAL THOUGHTS

I love the Nocturnals books and what they bring to young readers, both in entertainment and in educational value. I am looking forward to reading more from Tracey Hecht. I especially love how these books are being used to promote reading. I highly recommend checking out the websites for the educational materials. This is a fun series that I can see bringing together older and younger values. I am saving this book to read with young readers in the future :)

★★★★★

Discover the friendship and humor of the Nocturnals Brigade! In The Slithery Shakedown, three unlikely friends—Tobin, a sweet pangolin, Bismark a loud-mouther sugar glider and Dawn, a serius fox—stand up to a big bully snake. In the process, they find themselves some spec-tac-u-lar snakeskin capes!

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the publisher, I have a full set of the Nocturnals books for giveaway. I love these books and am delighted to provide the set to one lucky reader!

As the publisher is only able to ship to the United States, you must have a U.S. mailing address to receive your prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Other Featured Nocturnals Reads

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CHAT WITH ME

This book describes a time when a group of friends stood up for one of their own. I'd like to hear the same from you!

Describe...

A time when you stood up for a friend or family member.
A time when a friend or family member stood up for you.
OR A story you love in which a character stands up for another character.

Publication Info

The Slithery Shakedown by Tracey Hecht, illustrated by Josie Yee
Published by Fabled Films Press on April 10, 2018
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 64 Pages
Format: Hardback

Series: The Nocturnals Early Reader

The Moonlight Meeting
The Slithery Shakedown

Content

Beautiful and Informative ⇉ Review of The NIV Woman's Study Bible

2018-03-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

The NIV Woman's Study Bible features helpful study information at the beginning of each book of the Bible to give readers context for understanding the book that they are studying. Within the books themselves include features such as quotes, articles, and study charts designed to speak to a woman's heart and give insights into godly womanhood. These features, as well as chapter headings, are provided in full color.

FEATURES

What kind of Bible is this?
This is a study Bible.

What kind of special content is in this Bible?

Introduction to each book: includes author background, date (it was written), historical background (setting, audience, purpose), literary characteristics, themes, and outline.
Commentary (provided in the footnotes)
Quotes by women, articles, study charts designed to expand the reader's understanding of the historical context and also to apply biblical concepts to life today.
Table of Weights and Measures
Index, Concordance, Maps

What Version is it?
New International Version (NIV)

MY THOUGHTS

My Reactions
What drew me to this Bible is how it is a study Bible designed for women. This is an attractive Bible that includes full-color floral illustrations and font that make it pleasing to read. It encourages me while reading in this study Bible. Furthermore, it provides commentary through study tools that have been created with women in mind. More focus is placed on the women that appear in the Bible and on the circumstances that shaped their life. The study tools also provide information that are relevant to our lives today and which provide parallels between our lives and the lives of woman in biblical times. For example, one article in Genesis provides information on cooking during the time of the patriarchs. This helped me to get a better idea of the domestic lives of the Israelites and relate it to my family’s cooking customs today.

What are you overall feelings towards this particular Bible? Is it easy to use?
This is a beautiful Bible that is easy to use and encourages me in my Bible reading. The study tools and commentary are relevant and strategically placed to illuminate biblical truths.

Are the study tools helpful and informative? Does the commentary convey Biblical truth?
I like how the study tools are targeted towards women. They provide a different insight into biblical truths compared to the ones found in other study Bibles and commentaries. This helps me to understand the Bible better from a woman's perspective.

Is the Bible durable?
I'm reading in the hardback edition of this Bible. The hardcover feels durable, but the pages are cheap and low quality. The imitation leather edition might have higher quality paper. If you're looking for a more affordable edition and don't mind the low paper quality, however, the hardback edition is priced more affordably.

Do you like the typeface and print in general?
The font for the biblical and is large and readable, but the font for the commentary is on the small side. That said, I know footnotes and articles inserted into a text are typically smaller, so it's not unexpected. I do love how the chapter headings are colored and in a different font. It's beautiful and encourages me while reading in this Bible.

Would you recommend this particular Bible to others?
I would recommend this particular Bible if you are looking for a Study Bible that is designed with women in mind. It provides especial focus on the women in the Bible and in drawing parallels between their lives and our lives today. I wouldn't recommend it if you are looking for more critical commentary on the Bible or one that with a linguistics focus.

OTHER INFORMATION

The Woman’s Study Bible poignantly reveals the Word of God to women, inviting them to receive God’s truth for balance, hope, and transformation. Special features designed to speak to a woman’s heart appear throughout the Bible text, revealing Scripture-based insights about how godly womanhood grows from a woman’s identity as a Christ-follower and a child of the Kingdom. Now with a beautiful full-color redesign, The Woman’s Study Bible reflects the contributions of over 80 women from a wide variety of ethnic, denominational, educational, and occupational backgrounds.

A copy was provided for review through BookLook.

Mini Reviews: Fan Favorites That Fell Flat for Me ⇉ Rebel of the Sands & Steelheart

2018-02-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Have you ever read a book that everyone seemed to be raving about, but you just didn't enjoy it as much as you thought you would?

Rebel of the Sands and Steelheart are books that I've seen a lot of rave reviews for. While I enjoyed them, I didn't love them. Following are the reasons why.

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mythical beasts still roam the wild and remote areas, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinn still perform their magic. For humans, it’s an unforgiving place, especially if you’re poor, orphaned, or female.

Amani Al’Hiza is all three. She’s a gifted gunslinger with perfect aim, but she can’t shoot her way out of Dustwalk, the back-country town where she’s destined to wind up wed or dead.

Then she meets Jin, a rakish foreigner, in a shooting contest, and sees him as the perfect escape route. But though she’s spent years dreaming of leaving Dustwalk, she never imagined she’d gallop away on mythical horse—or that it would take a foreign fugitive to show her the heart of the desert she thought she knew.

What was most interesting to me was how this book touches on the subject of what it means to be human. There was a lot of potential to explore this topic with the conflict brewing in Miraji and with the existence of the djinn (and their relationships with mortals). There are also elements of religion in the book, but there is a strong leaning towards atheistic themes, irreverence towards the country's gods, and the empowerment of humans. While it does reflect a growing trend in literature, it does get old, especially if that's the only perspective given. I would have liked to see more complexity in the world building. (For the most part, we only get the main characters' perspective).

The plot was predictable, no real surprises. The MC also shows inconsistencies in character that suggest that, while she is largely independent, she's easily influenced by her emotions, which is particularly noticeable when she's in love. I would have liked to see more development of the character and why she is the person that she is at the time of this novel, but the inconsistencies in character didn't detract too much from the read.

While it's not a particularly memorable read for me, it stays true to what it is: a YA fantasy with a good dose of romance. If you're looking for an easy read with a straightforward plot, I would recommend this book. Though the world is still underdeveloped (hopefully, more complexity is added with the later books), it is an interesting world to visit. That said, I don't anticipate reading book two anytime soon.

★★★☆☆

Publication Info

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
Published by Viking
On March 8, 2016
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 316 Pages
Format: Hardback

Series

Rebel of the Sands
Traitor to the Throne
Hero at the Fall

Content

Kissing
Violence

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his will.

Nobody fights the Epics...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart — the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning — and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.

He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

Recently, I found out about Brandon Sanderon's Mistborn and Stormlight Archive series. At heart, I'm a fantasy lover and have been looking for books to return to my (reading) roots. I've purchased The Way of Kings off Amazon and, while waiting for its arrival, decided to read Steelheart (since it was available for digital loan from my local library).

Since Steelheart is a YA novel, I understand that the characters and world building won't be as intricately developed as Sanderson's longer fantasy works. However, the characters were static. While we learn more about them as the novel progresses, I didn't see much character growth. Events were predictable for the most part and didn't flow into one another smoothly, though the time skips are understandable given all the waiting that must happen. What kept me turning the pages was my desire to learn why Steelheart bled and how the MC will get him to bleed again.

Overall, Sanderson has created an interesting world that explores the effects of possessing ultimate power: what it does to an individual's personality, moral code, and attitude towards others. And how their treatment of others will influence the world. I'm not in a hurry to read book two, but I do expect to read it one day in anticipation of how the Reckoners will change the world.

★★★☆☆

Publication Info

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
Published by Delacorte BFYR
On September 24, 2013
Genres: Science Fiction
Pages: 384 Pages
Format: Ebook

Series: Reckoners

Steelheart
Firefight
Calamity

Content

Violence

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A Valentine's Read on Love as an Action ⇉ Review of With Love, From Me to You by Mary Manz Simon

2018-02-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

A day meant to celebrate those we love, Valentine's Day all too often becomes about the number of candies and flowers that we receive (or give). In With Love, From Me to You, Mary Manz Simon reminds us that love is, at heart, an action. Through a series of encounters by different animals, Simon portrays different ways we can show others that we love them. She ends with a reminder of the source of our love and the need to love others year round, not just on Valentine's Day.

WHAT I LIKED

Cute Illustrations
From front to back cover, this book is filled with full-color illustrations. The overall ambiance created is light and airy. That and the board-like pages suggest that this book is intended to be enjoyed with beginning readers.

Textured Cover
The cover is textured with the title and hearts intended and covered in red shiny material that adds to the Valentine theme of love. Young readers will enjoy feeling the texture of the title letters and hearts.

Fantastic Message
What drew me most to this book is the theme of love as an action. I love how the book reminds us that love is not all about how many candies and flowers we give or receive but about showing others through our words and actions that we care about them—and that we should do this every day of the year, not just on Valentine's Day.

Furthermore, this book reminds young readers that we love not for our own benefits or because we prefer someone over others. Rather, we love because God's love is giving, and we feel it when we love others.

WHAT I DISLIKED

Complex Ideas (for the target audience)
For a book that is only nine pages, With Love, From Me to You is very wordy. The style and format/layout of the book seems to target beginning readers, but the complexity of the language and ideas is more appropriate for an older audience (and is more at a beginning chapter book level). I wouldn't read this book with young children, but the style and layout of the book seems young for grade schoolers.

Small Print
Each stanza is squeezed onto a single page of the book. As a result, the font size is small for a picture book. The font size as well as the book itself is small for a picture book. I wish that the book were larger and that the stanzas were spread out over at least two different pages. (Even four or more to add variations.)

Zero Character Development
Though the cover features a cast of characters, the characters are silent and show no character development throughout the book. They are merely there to illustrate the ideas that are expressed in the book. While this would be fine to illustrate a point in a Sunday School lesson with older children, the lack of character interaction isn't as good with a book that seems to target a younger audience.

Rather than trying to make a theological statement, this book would have been better off portraying the lesson through a story about a cast of characters. This would help the message stick in the readers' minds. After all, we learn best through stories.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While I love the message, the book fell flat for me because of the lack of story line. Rather than a story, this felt more like a Sunday School lesson wrapped in the guise of a children's storybook. It becomes quickly apparent from the first pages, however, that there is no narrative to this book. With the theological message of the book presented clearly in the final pages of the book, this book make a clear argument for God's love as the basis for our personal responsibility to love others in turn. It did not present any challenges to my faith.

I would recommend this book to parents who want to teach their children about the theological reasons for love. Because this book tries to pack a lot of information in so few pages, however, parents should prepare supporting material to expand on the ideas presented in this book. Among these materials, I would include narrative stories that allows children to explore the act of love in the characters' stories.

★★☆☆☆

With Love, From Me to You is a board book for little ones that will remind them how important it is to love and be loved. With adorable illustrations and sweet, rhyming text by bestselling author Dr. Mary Manz Simon, this book shows children how important their actions and words are in expressing God’s great love with one another. Parents will enjoy reading this book on Valentine’s Day or any day of the year to encourage their children to remember that love is more than gifts and candy; it’s about doing for others and sending love to everyone who’s near.

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Publication Info

With Love, From Me to You by Mary Manz Simon, illustrated by Corinna Ice
Published by Zonderkidz
On December 26, 2017
Genres: Children's Book
Pages: 9 Pages
Format: Board Book

Series

Content

A Protagonist Who Reads + It's Numair from the Immortals! ⇉ Review of Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce

2018-01-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

I first discovered the Tortall world in middle school. They're books that I can read over and over again without tiring. I've been waiting for the Numair Chronicles several years now and was stoked to receive this for review. So much that I made it my first read of the new year! I've been curious about Numair's origin story since Emperor Mage gave us a sneak peak into his backstory.

WHAT I LIKED

A Fellow Reader and Dreamer
Readers, dreamers, and seekers (aka. forever curious people) will relate to Arram. I have loved Tamora Pierce's strong heroines, who we also know to be real people with real struggles, but it is wonderful to have a protagonist who may also be found buried in books, is an idealist, and is constantly coming up with new ideas and wanting to know things (and getting told to stop asking questions). That was a really long sentence. I'll stop now, or I'll keep rambling about my delight with young Arram Draper.

(But one more thought: I did enjoy comparing young Arram with the older Numair in The Immortals series. It is such fun to make connections! Like his feelings about riding horses.)

Characters We Know and Love
What really made this book for me is the familiar world and characters. I remember the main protagonists as well as some other characters from Tamora Pierce's Immortal series, and I enjoyed the references to characters from other Tortall books. (There are even a couple references to characters, or related characters, from the Beka Cooper series!)

Complex Characters
What was especially interesting is the portrayal of Ozorne's character. I knew that he and Numair were friends during their university days, but given his role in the Immortals series, I was not expecting to like him so much. It's interesting to see how his character develops over the course of his time at the university in Tempests and Slaughter. I'm interested in seeing where and how his break with Numair occurs in the next installment of the Numair Chronicles.

Creative World Building
As always, the world of the Tortall books is fascinating. I enjoyed learning more about the world south of Tortall.

WHAT I DISLIKED

Feels More Like a Summary Than a Story
The story covers Arram's early years from his entrance into the university's Lower Academy at age 10 (when most enter a year later) to the first year of independent studies at age 14. Because it covers such a broad span of time—and because so much happens during this time—much gets summarized. If I was not already familiar with the Tortall world and invested in Arram's story, I doubt I would have enjoyed this novel as much as I did.

Furthermore, this is not even a complete summary. Different key plot elements get introduced at various times across the novel without a clear resolution.

The story ends In Media Res
My only clue that the story was coming to an end was the "percentage status" in the bottom right corner of my Kindle. The plot brewing had thickened, and hints had been dropped that all was not well despite thoughts to the contrary. Then we're left hanging in the middle of a scene that seems out of place given everything that has happened and that we know will happen. I was left with a feeling of incompleteness.

It seems that this novel is not meant to be the first installment in a series so much as the first half of a story that will be resolved in the second half, which is to be released (hopefully) next year.

What's with the Title?
The title sounds cool, but I'm still not sure how it relates to the story. (Or to which specific plot points they refer.) The problem may be that the story doesn't have a coherent plotline but seems more like a record of Arram / Numair's early years. (Which is how the series advertises itself but which causes it to fall flat as a standalone novel.)

If you figure out the meaning behind the title, I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

The Cover Art
I'm not a fan of the new artwork that they've given the series. I loved the original ones where they featured the character on the cover with illustrations. Even if they stopped featuring the characters on the covers, I would have preferred they keep the original artwork styles instead of using the new dark, intense covers that look heavily photoshopped (or whatever it is they use on computers nowadays).

A Few Other Miscellaneous Details
Some details don't make sense. For example, a character may have taken an action in between a couple paragraphs, but the action is not mentioned. While it doesn't heavily impact the overall flow of the story, it makes for a small glitch or bump in the road as I'm reading.

I also get the feeling that some things don't quite align with the Immortals series. It may be because this prequel series was written afterwards, or it may be because it's been some time since I last reread the Immortals. I do get the feeling that some details should be changed in the Immortals because of new revelations here. (In particular dealing with crocodile gods and sunbirds. But who knows. Maybe things happened outside of Daine's knowledge.) But perhaps the course of events in The Exile's Gift will change my mind.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I loved reading about Numair's early life and his misadventures. I wish I had book two in my hands now. However, while this series is called the Numair Chronicles, I didn't enjoy so much how the book essentially summarizes his early years at the university. The story lacks a coherent plot that allows it to stand alone but rather spends it entirety introducing the various plotlines that I expect will converge in The Exile's Gift (book two).

What made this story for me are the familiar characters and the opportunity to explore more of the world that Tamora Pierce has developed over the years. I would recommend reading at least the Immortals series first (because it's she first introduces the primary cast), but if you can read the other Tortall books as well, it will make this read even more priceless.

★★★★☆

Arram. Varice. Ozorne. In the first book in the Numair Chronicles, three student mages are bound by fate . . . fated for trouble.

Arram Draper is a boy on the path to becoming one of the realm’s most powerful mages. The youngest student in his class at the Imperial University of Carthak, he has a Gift with unlimited potential for greatness–and for attracting danger. At his side are his two best friends: Varice, a clever girl with an often-overlooked talent, and Ozorne, the “leftover prince” with secret ambitions. Together, these three friends forge a bond that will one day shape kingdoms. And as Ozorne gets closer to the throne and Varice gets closer to Arram’s heart, Arram begins to realize that one day soon he will have to decide where his loyalties truly lie.

In the Numair Chronicles, readers will be rewarded with the never-before-told story of how Numair Salmalín came to Tortall. Newcomers will discover an unforgettable fantasy adventure where a kingdom’s future rests on the shoulders of a talented young man with a knack for making vicious enemies.

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Publication Info

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce
Published by Random House BFYR
On February 6, 2018
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 480 Pages
Format: Hardback

Series: The Numair Chronicles

Tempests and Slaughter
The Exile's Gift
TBD

Content
(highlight to see)

Kissing
Sexual activity (implied)
Wet dreams
Boner
Gambling
Drinking / alcohol
Language (words specific to this culture)
Violence & death (from murder, plague, and battle) - conditions described in detail
LGBTQ relationship

Animal Friendship + A Book for Growing Young Readers ⇉ Review of The Moonlight Meeting by Tracey Hecht & Rumur Dowling

2018-01-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

It's been almost a year since I was first introduced to The Nocturnals. Some of favorite books growing up were books featured animals in prominent roles (e.g. Animal Ark, Hank the Cowdog, Warriors, Guardians of Ga'Hoole, to name a few).

What makes The Nocturnals unique is that it introduces Australian wildlife. Throughout The Nocturnals series, I've enjoyed learning more about the different wildlife that populate Australian forests. This adaptation for younger readers is my new Nocturnals favorite!

WHAT I LIKED

Full-Color Illustrations
The full-color illustrations bring the characters to life. I enjoyed seeing the characters' expressions and body language paired with their dialogue. They are adorable. (Especially those of Bismark. He's such a character.)

Lively Dialogue
Partly because this book targets a younger audience and partly because this book narrows down its focus to Tobin, Bismark, and Dawn's first meeting, more expression is put into the dialogue and character expressions. The pacing was rhythmic and made for an enjoyable read. I can easily imagine this book being reader aloud to entertain a younger reader (and having the younger reader read it back or join in on certain words/phrases).

A Book on Friendship
From the beginning, it's clear that this book is about making friends. I like how each of the protagonists has his or her unique personality. It shows how friends do not necessarily need to be alike in order to be friends but that friendship is about mutually intending to and taking action to be friends.

Fun Facts
At the end of the book, there is a section explaining what type of animals are Tobin, Bismark, and Dawn as well as what is a pomelo. I appreciate having this information to give me a better understanding of the protagonists. (And it's the type of information I would have geeked over as a kid, being the animal lover that I was.)

WHAT I DISLIKED

Where's Book Two?
To be honest, there wasn't anything that I disliked about this book. While I did have some issues with the original book form which this story was taken, the problems have been smoothed over for this one. The characters didn't feel superficial, and Bismark's over-the-top personality works for this shorter story.

If anything, I loved this book and want to read the next one right now!

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Moonlight Meeting is a highly enjoyable read featuring endearing characters and lively dialogue that are brought to life through rhythmic pacing and animated, full-color illustrations. Those who enjoy books with animal protagonists will especially enjoy this book for beginning readers. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next Nocturnals release!

For more information and resources, such as educator and book club kits, check out the Grow and Read website here. For more about the Nocturnals, check out the Nocturnals website here.

Additional note: I was sent some swag along with this book. The swag included a bookmark, paper art to recreate the protagonists, and a fox stuffed animal wearing a snake-skin printed handkerchief with the Nocturnals logo on it. It is adorable and would make a lovely addition alongside of the book for a present. I haven't heard anything about this fox plushie/handkerchief combination being on sale, but maybe it'll happen in the future :)

One of my favorite book packages that I've been sent for review @imaginaryreads. The fox stuffed animal made my day!! On a more serious note, I've had the privilege of reviewing the first three books in the original MG series @nocturnalsworld. They provide an entertaining way for young readers to learn about the different kinds of Australian wildlife (and, of course, to read). I look forward to looking at this adaptation for beginning readers!
A post shared by Crystal (@crystalmusing) on Dec 1, 2017 at 5:48pm PST

Thank you to Fabled Films for sending me a copy for my honest review.

★★★★★

In The Moonlight Meeting, Tobin, a sweet pangolin, Bismark, a loud-mouthed sugar glider, and Dawn, a series fox, introduce The Nocturnals' nighttime world with friendship, sharing, and humor.

Bonus Content includes Fun Facts about the Nocturnals.

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Publication Info

The Moonlight Meeting by Tracey Hecht & Rumur Dowling
Published by Fabled Films Press
On September 12, 2017
Genres: Children's Book
Pages: 64 Pages
Format: Paperback

Series

The Moonlight Meeting
The Slithery Shakedown

Content

Keepsakes for Little House Fans and Their Young Readers ⇉ Mini Reviews of A Little House Picture Book Treasury and Christmas Stories

2018-01-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

I loved reading the Little House books growing up. The books that I'm reviewing today are ones that I'll be saving to enjoy with young readers, especially when the next holiday season rolls around.

This hardcover, full-color treasury includes six picture book stories adapted from the classic Little House books.

The Little House series introduced generations of readers to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s life on the frontier. Now with this illustrated storybook collection, the youngest readers can share in her world as well.

Laura Ingalls lives in a snug little log cabin with her ma, her pa, her sisters, Mary and Carrie, and their dog, Jack. Almanzo Wilder lives on a farm with his family and lots of animals. These pioneer children have all sorts of adventures, including trips to town, county fairs, cozy winter days, and holidays with family.

I love how the Little House stories have been adapted to picture book format to share with beginning readers. The full-color illustrations on each page are gorgeous and bring the Little House world to life. The illustrations are reminiscent of the original artwork; they gave me nostalgia for my childhood days when I first discovered the Little House books. This treasury features six short stories that may also be purchased as separate entities.

★★★★★

Publication Info

A Little House Picture Book Treasury: Six Stories of Life on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Published by Harper Collins
On September 19 2017
Genres: Historical
Pages: 208 Pages
Format: Hardback

Series

Compilation of 6 Books from the "My First Little House Books" collection. For more, click here.

Content

For Laura Ingalls, Christmas means good things to eat, visits from friends, and special gifts to give and receive. As Laura grows up, every Christmas is better than the one before.

Join the original pioneer girl in this Little House chapter book, adapted for younger readers from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved classics. Illustrated with beautiful new black-and-white artwork, this repackaged edition includes bonus material such as games, activities, and more!

Christmas Stories features nine Christmas stories along with some fun Christmas-themed activities and an author introduction in the back of the book. It's been a while since I've read the original Little House books, but the reading level for this book felt similar to the original books. The only difference is that this book is smaller since it only includes select stories. This makes it more accessible to younger readers who would feel daunted by a larger chapter book.

That said, this book would make a great introduction for young readers to the Little House world. I'll be saving this one to enjoy with young readers during the Christmas holidays!

★★★★☆

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Publication Info

Christmas Stories by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Published by Harper Collins
On September 19 2017
Genres: Historical
Pages: 112 Pages
Format: Paperback

Series: Little House Chapter Book Collection

The Adventures of Laura & Jack
Pioneer Sisters
Animal Adventures
Laura & Nellie
Christmas Stories
School Days

Content

Endearing Characters + Magical World = Fantasy Adventure ⇉ Review of The Adventurer's Guild by Zach Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos

2018-01-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Fantasy adventures are my first love in the book world. Though I've "grown up," in recent years, I've felt drawn back towards MG fantasies, so I was ecstatic to receive a copy of The Adventurer's Guild for review.

WHAT I LIKED

The World Building
Monsters. Best friends. Mages. Elves. Dwarves . . . an Adventurer's Guild and a conspiracy in the works. Not to mention the history between the humans and the elves. The existence of the Adventurer's Guild provides the opportunity for exploring the world, and the authors deliver.

Endearing Characters
I love the main cast—even the potential turncoat lurking in their midst. The authors do a good job portraying their strengths and weaknesses. In the end, I believe they'll have to work together to overcome the situation that they're in, and I look forward to seeing their growth.

A Fantasy Adventure
I jumped in looking for a fantasy adventure, and I got a fantasy adventure. Though the plot is predictable, the story stays true to what it is. I felt immersed in Zed's experiences and enjoyed exploring the world with him. (Though I confess that I got really creeped out reading about his encounters with monsters late at night.)

WHAT I DISLIKED

Static Characters
The dialogue is stiff, and the character don't show much complexity. They're packaged into stereotypes. That said, there is a range of characters. Readers will find their favorite characters to cheer on.

Predictable Plot
The plot is formulaic. If you've read enough fantasy adventures, it's easy to predict where the story will head. However, it does mean that you don't have to think too hard reading this novel. I read this in the middle of my first semester of grad school; it provided fun, light-hearted entertainment in the midst of the busyness.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While the characters are stereotypical and the plot is formulaic, The Adventurer's Guild is an entertaining fantasy adventure that stays true to what it is: a fantasy adventure. I enjoyed exploring the world with Zed and co. Their story provided lighthearted entertainment in the middle of a busy time of year where it's all too easy to fall prey to burnout. I look forward to continuing their journey with them in the sequel!

★★★☆☆

Few ever asked to join the Adventurers Guild. . . . Their members often died young.

In one of the last cities standing after the world fell to monsters, best friends Zed Kagari and Brock Dunderfel have high hopes for the future. Zed desperately wishes to join the ranks of the Mages Guild, where his status as Freestone's only half elf might finally be an asset. Brock, the roguishly handsome son of merchants, is confident he'll be welcomed into the ranks of the Merchants Guild.

But just as it seems the boys' dreams have come true, their lives take a startling turn . . . and they find themselves members of the perilous Adventurers Guild.

Led by the fearsome Alabasel Frond, the guild acts as the last line of defense against the Dangers-hungry, unnatural beasts from otherworldly planes. And when the boys uncover a conspiracy that threatens all of Freestone, Zed, Brock, and their new allies-Liza, a fierce noble, and Jett, a brave dwarf-must prove their worth once and for all.

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Publication Info

The Adventurer's Guild byZack Loran Clark and Nick Elipulos
Published by Disney-Hyperion
On October 3, 2017
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 340 Pages
Format: Hardback

Series: The Adventurer's Guild

The Adventurer's Guild
TBD

Mature Content

Creepy creatures
Some violence

2017 Reading Challenge Results

2017-12-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

READING FOR GROWTH

<< Click title link to read full review >>

CRISS CROSS BY LYNNE RAE PERKINS
A Newberry Award winner or Honor book

A coming-of-age novel that traces the lives of several young people (and some older members of the community), Criss Cross is a whimsical read about growing up, exploring new possibilities, and gaining new life experiences. This novel isn't packed with action or drama, but it's an important read for its message that may not know where we're going, but the future is filled with limitless possibilities. So stop and appreciate the moment.

TBD
A book in translation: Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak?

Migrated to 2018 reading challenge

TBD
A book that's more than 600 pages

Migrated to 2018 reading challenge

CHRISTIAN COSMO BY PHYLICIA MASONHEIMER
A book of poetry, a play, or an essay collection

There are many secular reads out there that talk about sex. There are few Christian reads in comparison. Phylicia compiles some of her most popular blog posts that highlight Biblical truths on sex. She is one of my favorite Christian bloggers because her posts are relatable; she's been in our position before, and she's combines research with her personal experience to provide the Biblical perspective on on sex.

BECOMING A WOMAN WHO LISTENS TO GOD BY SHARON JAYNE
A book of any genre that addresses current events

A good read about different ways to listen and learn from God's revelations.

TBD
An immigrant story:

Migrated to 2018 reading challenge

TBD
A book published before I was born:

Migrated to 2018 reading challenge

NEIL GAIMAN
Three books by the same author: The Graveyard Book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and

I read and loved Coraline as a child, and I watched Stardust. I actually have the latter on my bookshelf, though I have yet to read it. I've heard a lot about Neil Gaiman's writing. This reading challenge provided a good opportunity to finally read some of his other books.

The Graveyard Book is a beautiful coming of age story with a well-thought-out plot and storyline that readers of all ages can enjoy. I appreciate how it focuses on Bod's life as he matures; the supernatural elements are a natural part of the setting, not the focus.

Migrated to 2018 reading challenge: American Gods by Neil Gaiman

ALLEGEDLY BY TIFFANY D. JACKSON
A book by an #ownvoices or #diversebooks author

It's easy to point fingers and judge others. If we took the time to get to know someone, however, what would their story reveal to us? Allegedly raises these questions even as it draws us into some of the heavy-hitting issues of contemporary society. Due to the nature of these issues, mature content is pervasive in this story. If you can get through it, however, this would be worth a read.

What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum
A book with an unreliable narrator or ambiguous ending

Read my review on the blog.

THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON BY KELLY BARNHILL
A book nominated for an award in 2017: Newberry Medal winner

A cute, whimsical story with a fairytale feel. It reminds me of the types of fantasy reads that I used to read as a child.

TBD
A Pulitzer Prize or National Book Award winner: All the Pretty Horses?

Migrated to 2018 reading challenge.

READING FOR FUN

ELIZA AND HER MONSTERS BY FRANCESCA ZAPPIA
A book I chose for the cover

The drawing on the cover reminded me of anime art; the title suggests that the MC creates worlds. Being an anime lover and a writer (mostly in my head), I felt drawn to read this book.

I love how the story deals with issues of learning to love yourself and what you do and how family is present (though there are missed opportunities for the MC to mature).

SAVING MY ASSASSIN BY VIRGINIA PRODAN
A book with a reputation for being un-put-down-able

I first heard about this memoir from the ladies in my church group. Many loved it so much that they bought additional copies as Christmas presents for friends and family. Virginia's story testifies to the power of faith and the redeeming love of Christ. Set in the last years of Nicolae Ceaușescu's communist regime, it gives us a glimpse into Romanian persecution of Christians and raises concern over the increasing persecution of Christians in other countries that, like Ceaușescu's regime, outwardly support religious freedom.

The Fallen Star by Tracey Hecht
A book set somewhere I've never been but would like to visit

Tracey Hecht's The Nocturnals series takes place in Australia. I discovered this series when I received a review request in my inbox. Being a longtime animal lover, I knew I was in!

I love this series because it provides a safe place for young readers to explore real world issues, and it teaches them to look at a situation from the other party's point of view. (The enemies always turn out to be good guys handling a situation the wrong way.)

TBD
A book I've already read

Migrated to 2018 reading challenge.

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher
A juicy memoir

DNFed. I read half but couldn't get into it.

HOW TO READ THE BIBLE LIKE A SEMINARY PROFESSOR BY MARK YARBROUGH
A book about books or reading

I purchased this book for a class on Bible study. What made this stand out compared to the other book that I could have purchased is the way Yarbrough uses to open each chapter: highly entertaining anecdotes that help readers understand concepts for Bible study. The best part? These stories come from Yarbrough's personal life.

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE BY ANNE RICE
A book in a genre I usually avoid

I'm not a big horror fan, but I heard that this is a novel to read if you're interested in seeing how vampires used to be before . . . well, Twilight. There's a lot of mature content with which I was uncomfortable in this novel (click on the title link above for a full list), but Anne Rice has a talent for poetic writing in prose and has built an entrancing world with compelling characters. She is a literary talent.

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
A book I don't want to admit I'm dying to read

I enjoyed this one a lot more than I was expecting! Read my full review here.

TBD
A book in the backlist of a new favorite author

Migrated to 2018 reading challenge.

WHO STOLE FEMINISM? BY CHRISTINA HOFF SOMMERS
A book recommended by someone with great taste: recommended by Phylicia Masonheimer
Read half of this book.

DREAMLAND BY SARAH DESSEN
A book I was excited to buy or borrow but haven't read yet

I fell in love with Dessen's writing several years in The Truth About Forever and Just Listen. I bought this book along with several others soon after but never got around to reading it until now.

While this isn't a book that I would reread, it's definitely worth the first read. Dreamland addresses relationship issues with which many women can relate and / or should educate themselves about. (Like how to say no and how to recognize when a relationship is turning abusive.)

XANDER AND THE LOST ISLAND OF MONSTERS BY MARGARET DILLOWAY
A book about a topic or subject I already love

I love Asian mythology. When I received an email about the second novel of this series, I immediately requested a copy of this book for review along with the new release.

This novel features strong family relations, gorgeous artwork, and of course, asian mythology. I especially appreciate the theme that heroes aren't born but forged through trials.

What were some of your favorite reads in 2017? Feel free to link to your reading challenge. I'd love to take a look!

Christmas Books for Young Readers ⇉ Mini Reviews of Danny and the Dinosaur: A Very Dino Christmas & Bear's Merry Book of Hidden Things

2017-12-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Christmastime is special because of the opportunity to share books you love with young readers in the family. Today, I'm sharing my two favorite Christmas books for children that I received for review this year.

Celebrate Christmas dino-style with Danny the Dinosaur!

Danny’s friend the dinosaur has never experienced Christmas before, so he and Danny decide to celebrate—dino-style! But what will happen when the museum director isn’t so happy with the new museum decorations?

Find out in this Danny and the Dinosaur 8x8 adventure, complete with 8 holiday cards, a poster, and stickers. This brand-new story is based on Syd Hoff’s beloved classic.

The Dinosaur has never experienced Christmas before, so Danny sets off to introduce his friend to Christmas. And to decorate the museum for him. Through the friends' adventures (and some mishaps when they're discovered), Danny and the Dinosaur: A Very Dino Christmas introduces Christmas traditions and the joyful spirit of the holidays to young readers. I can picture an older reader reading this book with a young reader and making connections between the book and their own Christmas traditions.

★★★★☆

Publication Info

Danny and the Dinosaur: A Very Dino Christmas by Syd Hoff
Published by Harper Collins
On September 19, 2017
Genres: Children's Book
Pages: 24 Pages
Format: Paperback

Series

Danny and the Dinosaur
Happy Birthday, Danny and the Dinosaur!
Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp

Content

Bear loves the holidays, and this year he's throwing a party for all his animal friends. But there's so much to do to get ready—and he is only one very little bear! Can you help Bear find all the secret treasures he needs for his party?

I love how this book both tells a story and invites readers to participate by helping bear find the treasures he needs for his party. To top it off, the last party brings all of the treasures together, which makes for an enjoyable endgame of trying to find where everything goes! I can see this book being a fun adventure for the family to do together as members compete to see who can find bear's treasures first.

★★★★☆

Publication Info

Bear's Merry Book of Hidden Things: Christmas Seek-and-Find by Gergely Dudas
Published by Harper Collins
On September 19, 2017
Genres: Children's Book
Pages: 32 Pages
Format: Hardback

Series

Bear's Merry Book of Hidden Things: Christmas Seek-and-Find
Bear's Spooky Book of Hidden Things: Halloween Seek-and-Find (upcoming)

Content

CHAT WITH ME

What are your favorite Christmas reads?

An Unwilling Heroine, a Ruthless Champion, a Dying Queen . . . and Epicness ⇉ Review of The Reluctant Queen by Sarah Beth Durst

2017-08-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

A world where the very elements of the land are out for human blood? Where young women must put their lives on the line to train to become the next queen that protects humanity? Speak no more and let me read this awesome book in peace.

That's how I started my review of The Queen of Blood. The feelings hold strong for The Reluctant Queen, the second novel in the Queens of Renthia series by Sarah Beth Durst.

Even better? Because the main heroine is new, you don't necessarily have to have read book one to read this one. (But I highly recommend reading it because it is wonderful.) I love books that combine the perspectives of new characters while keeping us in touch with the old. Some series I love that do this include Tamora Pierce's Tortall books and Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles.

WHAT I LIKED

Don't trust the fire, for it will burn you.
Don't trust the ice, for it will freeze you.
Don't trust the water, for it will drown you.
Don't trust the air, for it will choke you.
Don't trust the earth, for it will bury you.
Don't trust the trees, for they will rip you, rend you, tear you, kill you dead.

- a child's chant in Renthia

A Believable World
Sarah Beth Durst does solid work building the world that the people inhabit. It has its lores, its rival countries (well, there's one other country that's beginning to exert itself), and its people and their concerns.

With the introduction of Naelin, we get to learn about people who don't care about the politics of this world and just want to live their lives in peace. And we get to peer, if only for a short while, into the lives of people living on the outskirts. Daleina was in a hurry to start training, so we didn't get to look much into outside life.

Some other new characters are introduced as well (with some old ones returning for a more prominent role). Through them, the story is rounded out even more. I enjoyed seeing how different characters contribute to the plot and keep it moving forward.

An Unwilling Heroine
I love books where characters go on epic quests and do great things for their people. Alanna from Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness and Daleina from The Queen of Blood are two such people. They want to do great things and serve their country. If I personally had to choose, however, I want to keep my peaceful life. I want to make a change in peoples' lives but on a smaller scale in my local community (and possibly farther out through my blog, but that doesn't require leaving the comfort of my home).

Naelin is an unwilling heroine because she doesn't want any fame or glory. From her perspective, such people live short lives, and all she wants to do is live a quiet life with her children. I can relate to Naelin, but I also understand why the country needs her. Our new heroine is another complex character that will appeal to readers.

Another Complex Villain(?) (Who I Actually Want to Like)
This time around, one of our old friends and rivals comes back to haunt us. This is a young woman that I want to like; she's charismatic, and I want her to be a friend. For a while, we're kept guessing as to how the situation will turn out, and I still feel like it could go in several different directions. I understand her situation, and I wish that something can be done to help her while keeping the peace.

THE FAMILY IS STRONG IN THIS ONE!!! (#familygirl)
Longtime readers of the blog know that I love books with strong familial ties. That hasn't changed. Family is so important to who we are. More often than not, people tend to like their family, and it's always been weird to me how family often disappears in novels.

I love how family is such a strong force in this book. We have members from several different families featured in this book, and family influences the decisions of some other characters.

A Breathtaking Cover
I love the gorgeous artwork that's been done with this series. As I mentioned in my review of the first book, I believe in fantasy covers that showcase the world and give us insight into the world that the people inhabit. I'm looking forward to the cover for the third book!!

WHAT I DISLIKED

Do we really need a guy to make us feel alive?
There's a situation where a character asks her romantic interest to help her feel alive; they start kissing, and it's implied that they have sex. I'm not opposed to romantic relationships, but I do believe that our sense of purpose can't depend on love. If we're in a situation where we feel dead (or fear death), sex isn't going to solve the problem. We need to find purpose elsewhere.

That Plot Armor
The ending felt a bit happy go lucky and cheery for what I'd come to expect following the tragic end to book one. (The outcome is strange and novel.) That said, it does feel like the plot is moving forward, and I'm most definitely interested in seeing where Sarah Beth Durst takes us next.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Things are rushed in this novel, but they have to be given the circumstances. That said, I didn't feel rushed as I did in the first novel, where time would fast forward without warning. Sarah Beth Durst has created an interesting world with characters I want to like (as terrible the deeds they have done are) and a story that is hard to put down until I have read all that I have in my hands. (Where's book three???) The ending has me asking many, many questions that I hope to see answered in the next book.

I recommend this series to fantasy lovers, especially those who enjoy good world building and epic adventures (though we don't travel very far in this one).

★★★★☆

Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .
And those spirits want to kill you.
It’s the first lesson that every Renthian learns.

Not long ago, Daleina used her strength and skill to survive those spirits and assume the royal throne. Since then, the new queen has kept the peace and protected the humans of her land. But now for all her power, she is hiding a terrible secret: she is dying. And if she leaves the world before a new heir is ready, the spirits that inhabit her beloved realm will run wild, destroying her cities and slaughtering her people.

Naelin is one such person, and she couldn’t be further removed from the Queen—and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Her world is her two children, her husband, and the remote village tucked deep in the forest that is her home, and that’s all she needs. But when Ven, the Queens champion, passes through the village, Naelin’s ambitious husband proudly tells him of his wife’s ability to control spirits—magic that Naelin fervently denies. She knows that if the truth of her abilities is known, it will bring only death and separation from those she loves.

But Ven has a single task: to find the best possible candidate to protect the people of Aratay. He did it once when he discovered Daleina, and he’s certain he’s done it again. Yet for all his appeals to duty, Naelin is a mother, and she knows her duty is to her children first and foremost. Only as the Queen’s power begins to wane and the spirits become emboldened—even as ominous rumors trickle down from the north—does she realize that the best way to keep her son and daughter safe is to risk everything.

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For whom would you lay down your life to protect?

Publication Info

The Reluctant Queen by Sarah Beth Durst
Published by Harper Voyager
On July 4, 2017
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 400 Pages
Format: Hardback

Series: Queens of Renthia

The Queen of Blood
The Reluctant Queen
The Queen of Sorrow

Mature Content

Kissing, making out
Implied sex
Violence & death