A Tapestry Of Words: YA Reviews

2024 End of the Year Book Survey

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 03:03:00 +0000

I met my Goodreads goal again this year! I also had a pretty great reading year in terms of quality. Here are my responses to this fabulous survey originally created by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner.

Number Of Books You Read: 40

Number of Re-Reads: 0

Genre You Read The Most From: This year, hands-down, it was fantasy, which is awesome because I didn't read many fantasy books in 2023.

1. Best Book You Read In 2024?

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett -- this was just such a charming faerie read, with a delightful couple at the heart of it

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

The Hush by Sara Foster — this was unfortunately a disappointment. I was hoping this would be an intense dystopian with hard-hitting, complex themes explored, and it just kind of fell apart and became pretty far-fetched by the end.

Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese -- I love Much Ado about Nothing and so I was really looking forward to this contemporary retelling, and sadly I didn’t feel like Beatrice and Benedick’s dynamic was captured here.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher. I was surprised that such a short novel could pack a punch and feel complete.

4. Best series you started in 2024? Best Sequel of 2024? Best Series Ender of 2024?

Best series started: I started a number of series this year, but some of them I’ve only read the first book, so it’s hard to say. Based on the first book alone, I’ll go with Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries.

Best sequel: The Poisoner’s Ring by Kelley Armstrong — this is a fun time travel mystery series that I started this year, and this second book is a solid instalment in the series.

Best series ender: Exiles by Jane Harper (also the only series ender I read this year) -- this is my least favourite of the series, but it looks like it’s the final one (sadly, as overall I really enjoyed this mystery/detective series set in Australia!)

5. Favorite new author you discovered in 2024?

Heather Fawcett and Rebecca Ross.

6. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler (I don’t tend to read much sci-fi, especially sci-fi like this) or Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne (I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, but this one was fascinating).

7. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent — definitely an intense pageturner! Also, shout-out to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None — the suspense was ratcheted up so deftly.

8. Book You Read In 2024 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

I could see myself re-reading Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries or Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding, because they both gave me warm fuzzies.

9. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2024?

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross

Homecoming by Kate Morton

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries

10. Most memorable character of 2024?

Wendell from Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries — he has such a distinctive personality! He was very arrogant and lazy, but also devoted to Emily.

I’d also say that Indigo from The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi is a very memorable character.

11. Most beautifully written book read in 2024?

A River Enchanted — the writing did a great job of conveying the setting/atmosphere.

12. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2024?

Thought-provoking: The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler, Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne, How to Stop Time by Matt Haig, City in Flames by Tomas Hachard

13. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2024 to finally read?

Hands down, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. This is such a classic that I can’t believe it took me until 2024 to get around to reading it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can see why Agatha Christie is considered the “Queen of Suspense”!

14. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2024?

“You never commit a mundane moment to memory, thinking it'll be the last time you'll hear their voice, or see their smile, or smell their perfume. Your head never remembers the things your heart wants to in hindsight.” — The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Boston

“No one lets their world vanish without a fight. People will choose chaos over failure. Every time.” and “We told you that you were the centre of the world. Then we forgot to leave you much of a world to live in.”— City in Flames by Tomas Hachard

“The great and terrible thing about humankind is simply this: we will always do what we are capable of." — The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

15. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2024?

The shortest (111 pages): Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

The longest (624 pages): The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

16. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Shout-out to Emily and Wendell from Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries, and Mab and Francis from The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (spoilers, highlight to read: the way this relationship ended was unbearably tragic.)

17. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

The friendship between Beatriz and Pasquale in the Castles in their Bones series

18. Favorite Book You Read in 2024 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

This is a hard question… I read a number this year by authors I was already familiar with! Because I can’t pick just one:

Homecoming by Kate Morton — I was really happy to see a return to form for Kate Morton after I DNFed The Clockmaker’s Daughter

A Rip Through Time and The Poisoner’s Ring by Kelley Armstrong — I’d previously read YA by Kelley Armstrong, but not her adult books.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn -- I had previously read and really enjoyed Kate Quinn's The Alice Network, but I had also given up on Mistress of Rome, so it was good to connect with another novel of hers.

19. Best Book You Read In 2024 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Well, it wasn't peer pressure, but we read And Then There Were None for an online book club I'm a part of, and I'm very glad we did!

20. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2024?

Maybe George from Emma of 83rd Street?

21. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Setting: Homecoming by Kate Morton, The Survivors by Jane Harper, and House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

Worldbuilding: A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries

22. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Emma of 83rd Street — this was a very enjoyable contemporary Jane Austen retelling. I don’t remember the details (and I didn’t write a review) but I remember finding it cute.

23. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

To Poison a King by S.G. Prince — I wish this book got more love, because it reminds me of some of my favourite fantasy reads! Vibes like Summers at Castle Auburn, The Decoy Princess, The Winner’s Curse, and The Bridge Kingdom. This was my first read of 2024, and a great one to start the year with.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2024 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2025?

A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross, The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent, and Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2025 (non-debut)?

Drumroll, please… THE FIFTH BOOK IN THE BONE SEASON SERIES IS FINALLY BEING RELEASED THIS YEAR. Already pre-ordered it. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill.

Also, of course I have to mention the latest in the Hunger Games universe, Sunrise on the Reaping (also already pre-ordered!)

3. 2025 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

There aren't any debuts that I'm super stoked for, but a few that have caught my eye include: Count My Lies by Sophie Stave, Silver Elite by Dani Francis, and Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall.

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2025?

My answer would once again have to be The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon!

What were your highlight reads of 2024, and which books are you most looking forward to in 2025?

2023 End of the Year Book Survey

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 06:50:00 +0000

I met (actually, exceeded) my Goodreads goal again this year! Here are my responses to this fabulous survey created by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner.

Number Of Books You Read: 37

Number of Re-Reads: 0?

Genre You Read The Most From: mystery/thriller once again topped my reading this year! I didn't read very many fantasy or sci-fi books, so I hope to change that in 2024.

1. Best Book You Read In 2023?

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater -- for being a delightful fantastical read that warmed my heart :)

The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey -- for being a disturbing sci-fi read that messed with my head :O

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis -- I wasn't super excited for it, as I know it gets mixed reviews, but while I didn't expect it to blow me away I did think it would be enjoyable enough as a cutesy, wintry rom-com read. It was okay, but I found it slow and repetitive, and the 'destined to be together' vibes did not work for me. It didn't give me the "warm fuzzies" as much as I wanted.

Stormy Petrel by Mary Stewart -- I've enjoyed some of Mary Stewart's other novels a lot more than this one. I'm sorry to say this one is a bust.

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy -- I wished this one gave us more on the progression of the climate crisis, but it focused on characters instead of the world. It was also really slow-moving.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

The Echo Wife

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I don't think I really did any book pushing this year.

5. Best series you started in 2023? Best Sequel of 2023? Best Series Ender of 2023?

Best series started: This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede -- I found this book quite entertaining and absorbing, and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

Best sequel: Force of Nature by Jane Harper -- this series is one of my favourite contemporary mystery/thriller series, and I'll be reading book 3 in 2024!

Best series ender: The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly (also the only series ender I read this year) -- the first one in the series is still my favourite, and this is my least favourite, but I'm glad to have finished the series.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2023?

Jane Harper, who does a stellar job with crafting atmospheric settings and complex interpersonal relationships in her mysteries.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Know My Name by Chanel Miller -- I don't tend to read a lot of non-fiction, but this recounting of the author's sexual assault and its aftermath (including her experience with the court system) was eye-opening.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, or If She Wakes by Michael Koryta

9. Book You Read In 2023 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Half a Soul, as a comfort read, or maybe This Vicious Grace if I need to remind myself what happens in book 1 in preparation for the sequel.

10. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2023?

The Dry by Jane Harper

Girl in Ice by Erica Ferencik

I think both these covers really convey the atmosphere inside these stories -- one is a bone-dry heat, the other a bone-chilling cold.

11. Most memorable character of 2023?

Alessa from This Vicious Grace, perhaps? I don't think she's my favourite character, but her inability to touch others without doing them harm is quite memorable.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2023?

I don't feel like I read a book this year that had really beautiful writing as a stand-out quality, sadly.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2023?

Thought-provoking: The Echo Wife, He Said/She Said, and Know My Name

14.Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2023 to finally read?

Know My Name

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2023?

From Half a Soul: "'I do not believe in such a thing as love,' Elias scoffed. 'Perhaps attraction, or companionship, or friendship. But so many men act as though love is a special sort of magic. I feel that I am qualified to say it isn't so.'

'Well, but you have just described love, I think,' Albert replied in bemusement. 'Attraction and companionship and friendship. Is there nothing special about those things, especially if they are all together at once?'”

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2023?

The shortest (132 pages): Silk by Alessandro Baricco (also my lowest-rated)

The longest (623 pages): The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

I'm gonna go with The Echo Wife, although that may just be because it was the most recent book I read.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Either Dora and Elias from Half a Soul, or Alessa and Dante from This Vicious Grace. I'm here for both of these ships!

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

The camaraderie that develops between Alessa and her Fontes in This Vicious Grace.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2023 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

The Wildling Sisters by Eve Chase or The Golden Couple

21. Best Book You Read In 2023 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

I don't know that I read any this year based on direct personal recommendations.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2023?

Probably Dante from This Vicious Grace.

23. Best 2023 debut you read?

I didn't read any 2023 debuts.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

The Dry or Girl in Ice (both for the settings)

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Half a Soul, with an honourable mention to Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2023?

None?

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

The Echo Wife, which not enough people are reading or talking about! Honourable mention to The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King, which while it had some problematic elements (he wrote it for his daughter and it has only one MINOR female character???) was a nostalgic trip back into 80s YA fantasy for me.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

I never know what to put for this prompt.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2023?

The Echo Wife

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Know My Name, because how the author was re-traumatized over and over again by the justice system was appalling.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2023 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2024?

Homecoming by Kate Morton

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2024 (non-debut)?

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton -- I'm kinda apprehensive about this one, because I'm not sure if the premise is for me or if it will live up to the awesomeness that was The Seven Lives of Evelyn Hardcastle. *crosses fingers*

3. 2024 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2023?

I'm not reading series as much as I used to, so I don't think I actually have an answer for this one.

Half a Soul: Short & Sweet (Adult)

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 21:58:00 +0000

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

This book was really just a delight. I enjoyed the premise -- a young woman had half her soul stolen by Faeriewhen she is a girl -- the setting of Regency England, the inclusion of magic, the dynamic between Dora and the Lord Sorcier... this story is charming. I could quibble about a few issues I had (spoilers, highlight to read: how exactly does the scrying work? How does her soul end up getting transported to the place she is scrying? And I wasn't entirely convinced by Dora's motivation to murder Lord Hollowvale. Also, how does she finally, in the epilogue, become one with her other self again?) but I don't really want to, because this book had so many good things going for it and is the perfect pick-me-up sort of read. If you liked Sorcery and Cecelia, you will definitely enjoy Half a Soul.

4.5 shooting stars.

By the Book: Short & Sweet

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 07:13:00 +0000

By the Book by Amanda Sellet

Nothing revolutionary, but a cute YA read about a girl making friends, falling in love, and learning to own up to her mistakes, all with a literary fiction of the 1800s theme running through it.

3.5 shooting stars.

Silk: A Rambling Review (Adult)

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Silk by Alessandro Baricco

2.5 stars, perhaps? This story is simply written, and if you think about it, not much happens plot-wise. It's basically about a man who travels to Japan multiple times for his silk worm business, and is immediately attracted to a woman he meets but who he never exchanges a single spoken word with. This book is... odd. The writing is sparse, simple, and detached, yet somewhat repetitive. The reader is given very few details about the man's life, or his mindset, or the historical setting, or the silk worm business. Yet the book has its own sense of the poetic at times, conveying feelings of longing and wonderings of 'what could have been.'

There's also a twist at the end that I didn't pick up on. However, this story revolves around someone who is married and essentially cheating on his wife (if not physically, then mentally/emotionally), which is something I generally don't like to read about in my books. The reader is kept at a distance from Herve's thoughts and intentions, so I never understood why he was making the choices he was (he seemed to love his wife very much, after all). There was also an aspect of the story that was made much of but never explained (spoiler, highlight to read: we never find out how the young woman who was not of Japanese heritage ended up in Japan).

Plus, Herve continually refers to the woman he meets in Japan as having the "face of a girl", and as he is obviously attracted to her, this came across as kinda...icky.

2.5 shooting stars (and that's being generous).

The Dry: Short & Sweet (Adult)

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 23:58:00 +0000

The Dry by Jane Harper

A good start to my reading year! This mystery is a slow-moving one -- the murder has happened at the start of the novel, and the rest is spent with the police as they follow leads and uncover clues -- but I liked the sense of place Harper establishes (the hot, dry small-town feel of Kiewarra) as well as the characters and their relationships and history. Falk was an enjoyable protagonist to follow, as he has a good heart and really cares about others, but at the same time, seems to find it difficult to open up to them. I did find the reveal of the current-day storyline to be a little unsatisfying, but I found the past storyline to be gut-wrenching and horrifying (spoiler, highlight to read: the abuse that Ellie endures from her father is sickening, and I wish the end of the book had delivered justice for her. However, sometimes justice doesn't happen in real life, so I guess I can't expect it every time in fiction either.). I will definitely look into what else Jane Harper has published!

4 shooting stars.

2022 End of the Year Book Survey

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 05:05:00 +0000

I had a better reading year in 2022 than the previous year, thankfully! I set my Goodreads goal a little lower and then exceeded it, which made me feel pretty good about my reading. It's taken me a bit of time to get this post up, but I always enjoy participating in this fabulous survey created by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner.

Number Of Books You Read: 35

Number of Re-Reads: 0?

Genre You Read The Most From: 2022 was the year of the mystery/thriller for me! Although fantasy (including magical realism) wasn't far behind.

1. Best Book You Read In 2022?

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Even though this book gave me a headache trying to figure out all the complex time-travel-esque machinations, the plotting was so clever and the premise fascinating!

Runner-up would probably be The Q by Beth Brower, which is just such a perfect read to cozy up with around Christmas/New Year's.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Bitterburn by Ann Aguirre

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

In a way, I think I was surprised that I wasn't more wowed by Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale. I'd heard so many good things about it, and the overall Goodreads rating is so high, and while I thought it was well-written, I didn't feel like it was anything really special within the genre.

On the flip side, I liked Charlotte Rogan's The Lifeboat more than most people on Goodreads seemed to, so that was a pleasant surprise! I had the feeling it might work for me, and it did.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I don't do a lot of book pushing, but maybe The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle?

5. Best series you started in 2022? Best Sequel of 2022? Best Series Ender of 2022?

It wasn't a great year for me in terms of reading series, and honestly, I think I'm starting to get away from series in the direction of standalones. I don't have very many series that I'm actively keeping up with.

Best series started: the Moonlit Lands series by Zoe Marriott

Best sequel: I don't have a good answer for this one.

Best series ender: Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2022?

I discovered several new authors in 2022, but I'm not sure I can class any of them as "favourites" yet, as I've only read one book from each of them.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

I don't tend to read a lot of non-fiction books, but I do occasionally read memoirs. One memoir that I read in 2022 and appreciated was Sarah Polley's Run Toward the Danger. I watched the TV show Road to Avonlea when I was a kid, and she played my favourite character. It was eye-opening to read about her experiences as a child actor (both on the Road to Avonlea set as well as other sets), and interesting to hear about other aspects of her life that I found quite relatable, such as her experience with scoliosis and concussion.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

9. Book You Read In 2022 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Not sure about this question -- maybe Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift, if I end up continuing the series?

10. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2022?

There are quite a few! A couple of my favourites are Cast in Firelight and The Scent Keeper.

11. Most memorable character of 2022?

This is a hard one to answer... maybe Molly from The Maid?

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2021?

The Scent Keeper -- lyrical and descriptive writing that really paints a picture through scents.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2022

I don't think I had any life-changing books in 2022.

14.Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2022 to finally read?

Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott -- admittedly, I did pick this one up a few times prior to 2022 and try to get into it, then put it down. But this was the year I actually read it!

Also, there was a lot of buzz around The Hate U Give when it came out in 2017, but I didn't read it until 2022.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2021?

“I refuse to be silent when I know of an injustice and am in a position to make it known. Enough preaching? Not wanted? Not needed? ... I say: Preach! Preach! If you know of a higher ideal, if you see a better way for mankind to exist, then preach! Don't sit quietly by because of your own imperfections! What happens when a set of imperfect people spend their time talking about becoming better? Chances are one or two of them might actually choose to become better. Unless we buy the hedonistic drivel of the day, what keeps us from it? Are we so scared of failing? We're human! We fail. We fall.” -- The Q

There are a lot of quotable passages from The Scent Keeper, such as:

"For good or ill, my father and I lived close to the earth. My childhood was suffused with wonder -- along with the stone-hard knowledge that our lives depended upon what we could make or find or grow. For me, those mermaid boxes were about more than just food. They gave me the feeling that someone magical knew we were there and was taking care of us. Someone beyond my father, bigger than the island. I very much needed to believe in that. I think we all do.

But all I knew that day on the beach was that my father had told me a lie. I didn't stop to ask whether that lie was for me or him or both of us. Whether his stories were to make reality go away or bring it closer. All I knew was that if mermaids didn't exist, then everything else must be up for grabs, too. I turned and headed for the cabin, my feet slamming against the dirt."

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2021?

Shortest: Bitterburn by Ann Aguirre (190 pages)

Longest: Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (618 pages)

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

Despite the fact I read so many mystery/thrillers (and enjoyed a number of them), I don't recall any of them having really shocking reveals that just blew my mind. There were certainly reveals I didn't see coming, but none that made a big impact (and some were presented in a way I just didn't buy). For this question, I'll actually pick The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes, because there is some pretty shocking violence and abuse that takes place in this book.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Honestly, I didn't read a lot of books in 2022 that were romances or even had romance as a focus. If I had to pick, maybe Emmeline and Fisher from The Scent Keeper, or Adraa and Jatin from Cast in Firelight?

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

The friendships Quincy forms in The Q, and that Molly makes in The Maid.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2022 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Obsidio

21. Best Book You Read In 2022 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

The Maid by Nita Prose and The Push by Ashley Audrain

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2022?

I don't think I have an answer for this, sadly.

23. Best 2022 debut you read?

The Maid -- I really enjoyed this one!

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Best worldbuilding: Parable of the Sower -- even though there were a number of aspects of this book I disliked (including the plot and the protagonist), and I only gave it 3 stars overall, the one thing it did really well was worldbuilding.

Most vivid setting: The Scent Keeper -- the way the author used scent to describe Emmeline's surroundings was unique and evocative.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

The Q by Beth Brower -- this was a heartwarming story that I feel like I read at the perfect time of year.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2021?

I don't think I had one of these this year.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

I have a number of hidden gems! The Q by Beth Brower, The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow, The Silence of Bones by June Hur, and The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

I wouldn't describe any of the books I read in 2022 as soul-crushing.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2022?

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler -- the main character really ticked me off. She just came across as so arrogant, thinking she had the solution to the world's problems and everyone should follow her belief system.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2022 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2023?

Not sure it will be my number one priority, but I would like to try to read The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly (which would finish the trilogy).

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2023 (non-debut)?

Homecoming by Kate Morton -- I haven't been able to get into her latest novel,
The Clockmaker's Daughter, but I'm hopeful that Homecoming will be more my cup of tea (plus that cover is stunning!)

3. 2023 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

To Poison a King by S.G. Prince -- this is an adult fantasy, and the premise sounds like it would be right up my alley!

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2023?

Since I'm not actively reading many series these days, there really aren't any that I'm anticipating in 2023. (I *am* anticipating the next book in Samantha Shannon's Bone Season series, but I think that is slated for 2024.)

Short & Sweet: The Silence of Bones

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 18:27:00 +0000

The Silence of Bones by June Hur

1800s Korea and the persecution of Catholics was an entirely new setting/topic for me, and I appreciated learning about it through the eyes of Seol, who was an engaging narrator. I did find it hard to keep track of all the characters and their connections throughout the story (I wish there'd been a character list provided!). There was a long section in the middle of this book that dragged, but the ending made up for it, pulling things together and feeling finished without being overly happy or artificial. While the middle lulled, the intensity ratcheted up in the last several chapters, making it hard to put down at that point.

All in all, a different sort of historical murder mystery from most of the offerings in YA, and well worth the read as long as you are willing to be patient.

4 shooting stars.

Short & Sweet: Big Lies in a Small Town (Adult)

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 17:56:00 +0000

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain

I found the first two-thirds of this book quite slow -- it's a dual timeline story, and I was enjoying Morgan's voice from the contemporary timeline, but nothing much was happening in either era. Then there's a big event that occurs in the historical timeline about two-thirds of the way through, and after that the historical timeline held more interest for me. The premise stands out as being a bit different from your average mystery -- the art restoration was a neat element -- but it is definitely not a suspense/thriller type read. It's a much quieter, secrets-hidden-are-slowly-revealed sort of story. Also, some of the reveals are pretty guessable. I was motivated to keep reading once I got to the last third of the book, as I wanted to see how everything played out, but in a sea of dual timeline mysteries, this would not be one of my top recommendations. The best part about it was really the focus on art, and art restoration, which made it more memorable than it would have been otherwise.

3 shooting stars.

Short & Sweet: The Hate U Give

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 17:47:00 +0000

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Starr is a relatable protagonist with a distinct voice, who draws the reader into her world and the injustices (arising from systemic racism and discrimination) her community faces on a daily basis. Despite having a different background than Starr, I was easily able to connect to her character, her troubles, and her deep desire to make change happen. There were a lot of side characters in the story, and some (such as Starr's brother Seven, who was a favourite of mine) were more fleshed out than others; it was difficult for me to keep track of all the characters at times. The other stumbling block I had was that most of the story is made up of conversations, so it felt quite slow-moving to me. Plot-wise, events do pick up towards the end, but I do think that perhaps some of the conversations could have been shortened/cut, as there is some repetition of content.

Overall, I think this book does an excellent job of giving non-Black readers a better understanding of what it is like to be a Black person living in the US.

3.5 shooting stars.

The Lifeboat: A Rambling Review (Adult)

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 03:53:00 +0000

The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan

This was a book that kind of quietly crept up on me without me exactly realizing it. I found it initially quite slow-paced, and there's a certain tedium to the constrained nature of the characters' situation -- stuck in a lifeboat, day in and day out, with only each other and the occasional fish for company. There are a lot of characters, and I confess I had a hard time keeping track of who was who; a "cast of characters" list at the beginning would have been helpful. Certain characters come to the forefront as the story goes on, though, the most ambiguous (and yet most interesting) being the narrator herself, Grace. As a reader, I felt distant to Grace, never quite feeling like I understood her entirely. I believe this was a conscious choice on the author's part, to keep the reader guessing about Grace's motivations and character. It felt, even to the last page, as though there were secrets Grace wasn't telling anyone, even the reader. She's a character who you are not entirely sure you want to root for, and yet somehow, she wins you over anyway. Her matter-of-fact nature, her apparent honesty and at times bluntness -- juxtaposed with the sneaking suspicion that actually, she may not be all that honest -- makes for a narrator who entices the reader to dig deeper to try to figure her out.

This is certainly more of a character study than an action-filled story, although there are moments of tension, particularly in the latter half of the book. I did find the climax scene somewhat unrealistic, and had to suspend some disbelief there (spoilers in white, highlight to read: I have a hard time believing that none of the men, who were all on Hardie's side, even tried to stand up for him against Hannah, Grace, and Mrs. Grant. Hardie's being overpowered and thrown overboard and no one doing anything to try to stop it seemed unlikely).

This is not a flashy story; those looking for a fast-paced thriller will be disappointed. Those who don't mind enigmatic characters, an uneasy atmosphere, and being left with more questions than answers might find a real hidden gem here.

4 shooting stars.

Red Sister: A Rambling Review (Adult)

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 03:48:00 +0000

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence

I found most of this first book in the series to be quite slow-moving, except right towards the end where it feels like everything is happening at breakneck pace. It reads more like a set-up for the rest of the series than a story in its own right. But I very much enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing their friendships form and strengthen. Nona is a gutsy protagonist, although by the end of the book I found her to be somewhat "overpowered" -- she is portrayed as almost indestructible, and I feel like her personality shifted rather suddenly towards the end. She "comes into" her powers and skills so rapidly as to be somewhat unrealistic (granted, she has had training throughout the rest of the book). I also enjoyed getting to know the world, although bits and pieces of information were sprinkled here and there in such a way as to leave me feeling confused as I read (I still don't entirely understand the origin story of the Ark, or how the "focus" works, or any number of other world-building snippets). I really wish a map had been included to help me better visualize the world and the layout of the convent!

3.5 shooting stars.

End of the Year 2021 Reading Survey

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 18:31:00 +0000

I did not have a great reading year in 2021 (I blame the pandemic!), but I still wanted to participate in this fabulous survey hosted by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner.

Number Of Books You Read: 25 (and a couple short stories)

Number of Re-Reads: 0?

Genre You Read The Most From: historical (it usually isn't, but for some reason, I kept getting drawn to historical reads this year!)

1. Best Book You Read In 2021?

Mrs. Sherlock Holmes by Brad Ricca -- this is a total departure for me, since this is a non-fiction book, but I really got engrossed in it, and learned a lot about New York society in the early 1900s.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty and The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley -- the first I was looking forward to as I have enjoyed another Nicola Moriarty book, but unfortunately, I didn't connect all that well with either of the main characters, and found the story required a lot of suspension of disbelief. The second I was disappointed by because although the premise was promising, it was rather repetitive and melodramatic in its execution.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

Sweet Damage by Rebecca James -- I seriously wish I had picked this up sooner. Such an easy read that just pulled me right in, with simple, effective writing that doesn't try too hard.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I really didn't do much "book pushing" this year.

5. Best series you started in 2021? Best Sequel of 2021? Best Series Ender of 2021?

Best series started: the Raven, Fisher, and Simpson series by Ambrose Parry

Best sequel: The Mask Falling by Samantha Shannon

Best series ender: I don't think I read any series enders this year.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2021?

Hmmm...I kinda feel like I re-discovered Rebecca James, does that count?

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Mrs. Sherlock Holmes

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

The Art of Dying by Ambrose Parry

9. Book You Read In 2021 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Honestly, I don't see myself re-reading most of my 2020 books... maybe The Mask Falling?

10. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2021?

The Heiress: The Revelations of Anne de Bourgh by Molly Greeley

11. Most memorable character of 2021?

Anne de Bourgh from The Heiress: The Revelations of Anne de Bourgh. I really enjoyed how Molly Greeley pulled back the curtain on the Anne de Bourgh we see in Pride and Prejudice, and explored why she might have seemed like that to the reader and other characters, and who she really could have been as a person.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2021?

None of the books I read really stand out for this category... maybe The Heiress again? I did find the writing eloquent.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2021

The Mad Scientist's Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke -- not life-changing, but thought-provoking, certainly.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2021 to finally read?

Sweet Damage by Rebecca James -- why did I wait so long?!

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2021?

Then he had come back into my life, and little by little, I had started to notice. That I looked forward to seeing him. That he made me smile without ever smiling himself. That he challenged me. That I always wanted to hear his voice. And that even though he was a mystery, and there were shadows in him I might never disperse, I somehow knew him.

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2021?

Shortest: But Like Maybe Don't? What Not to Do When Dating: An Illustrated Guide by Arianna Margulis (176 pages)

Longest: The Mask Falling by Samantha Shannon (528 pages)

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

Hmmm, I don't feel like I read any books this past year that had really shocking twists/reveals to them...

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Weirdly, perhaps Cat and Finn in The Mad Scientist's Daughter?

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

The mother-daughter relationship in Two Wrongs by Mel McGrath

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2021 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Sweet Damage by Rebecca James

21. Best Book You Read In 2021 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

The Art of Dying by Ambrose Parry -- my mom originally ordered this from the library, and then suggested I might like it too (which I did!)

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2021?

I don't have a new one, but I'll go with an old one from a series continued in 2021, which is Warden from the Bone Season series.

23. Best 2021 debut you read?

I didn't read any 2021 debuts.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Fatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell All by Candace Fleming -- I feel like this book did a solid job of transporting me to the time of King Henry the VIII's reign.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Broken by Jenny Lawson -- I really enjoyed a lot of the author's self-deprecating humour, and there were numerous chunks of the book that had me laughing out loud (which I very much needed)! I also appreciated the author being open about her experience with anxiety and depression.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2021?

I don't think there was one?

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Sweet Damage by Rebecca James (I never see this book getting any attention!)

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

I don't have one for this category.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2021?

Kind of Coping: An Illustrated Look at Life with Anxiety by Maureen "Marzi" Wilson

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Cruel Beautiful World by Caroline Leavitt -- this book is about an abusive relationship, so it's no wonder it got me feeling mad on behalf of the young girl caught in this horrendous situation. But I was also very uncomfortable with how the abuser's POV was written, and what kind of message this might be sending.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2021 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2022?

There are so many! One that I have previously started and then put down, but I'd like to give another try, is The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2022 (non-debut)?

What Monstrous Gods by Rosamund Hodge -- I very much enjoyed Cruel Beauty, and I'd like to see what she does with this retelling of Sleeping Beauty.

3. 2022 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

I've been seeing good things about The Maid by Nita Prose, I'm interested in checking that one out.

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2022?

I have so few series I am actively reading at the moment! There are no sequels right now on my "2022 releases" shelf on Goodreads... I might try to read the next in the Raven, Fisher, and Simpson series by Ambrose Parry, though. The latest book came out in 2021, so...does that count?

Short & Sweet: Cruel Beautiful World

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 00:08:00 +0000

Cruel Beautiful World by Caroline Leavitt

The storyline here was compelling, and the depiction of a relationship turning abusive (both mentally/emotionally and physically) felt very real. I haven't read many books set in the late 60s/early 70s so that helped set this book apart from others of a similar theme. Most of the characters felt fleshed out, with the possible exception of William, whose POV we only get towards the end. I felt kind of conflicted about how his section was done, to be honest. Spoilers, highlight to read: While I understand that it's possible that in William's mind he was acting out of "love" for Lucy, and perhaps the author's intent was to show how William was lying even to himself about his behaviour, it still came across -- or at least could certainly be interpreted -- as a sympathetic portrayal of William, kind of like it was explaining away his actions by the fact that it was done out of "love". Obviously this was from William's point of view, so I suppose that was him justifying it to himself/Charlotte. Still, that portion left me feeling uncertain about what the reader was meant to take away from it.

3.5 stars.

The Mad Scientist's Daughter: A Rambling Review

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 00:47:00 +0000

The Mad Scientist's Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke

This is a quiet sci-fi story about relationships, consciousness, and growing up, so if you're wanting an action-packed sci-fi read about robots, look elsewhere. If you want something introspective, though, and you don't mind a main character who may disappoint and frustrate you (especially in the first half of the book), you might want to check this one out. The writing style is very readable, and Clarke does a good job of giving an impression of a scene without going overboard with description. I never felt like I really understood Cat, but I didn't find that necessary to keep on reading. The premise of a woman falling in love with an android is compelling, and while neither the scientific plausibility or the philosophical ramifications of an android potentially falling in love right back are explored deeply enough for my liking, the case for Cat and Finn fitting together is made in an easy, unforced sort of way. One just feels like they make sense together, somehow, even though in theory they shouldn't. (Which some of the best romances do!)

I was left with a lingering question about Daniel, however. Spoilers, highlight to read: it was repeatedly implied that Daniel did not resemble Richard at all, and comparisons were made to Finn instead. However, this was not resolved by the end of the book. Are we supposed to believe that he is Finn's son? And if so, how exactly is that supposed to work?

3.5 shooting stars.

Short & Sweet: The Silent Companions and Paper Chains

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 00:36:00 +0000

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

This was a weird read, all things considered. By the end it was definitely more violent/gruesome than I had expected (to the point where it seemed rather over-the-top). I don't entirely understand the "reveal" at the end (spoilers, highlight to read: I am assuming that when Sarah cut her finger on one of the companions, the "spirit" of Hetta took her over, and she's the one who murdered everyone else?). I was intrigued by the mystery of what happened in Elsie's past (with her parents), and wish we had gotten more explanation for that as well. I did think that the question of whether or not Elsie is delusional/hallucinating or whether there is something supernatural going on here was handled pretty well towards the end of the story; it did have me flipping back and forth between the two theories!

I also sometimes found it difficult to take the companions all that seriously in their menace. I mean, we are talking about a bunch of wooden paintings here.

3 shooting stars.

Paper Chains by Nicola Moriarty

This read definitely required some suspension of disbelief -- there are a lot of coincidences and ways things are linked together that err on the side of cheesy. However, I found the flashbacks of Hannah's past very gripping, particularly in how her mental health issues are depicted (spoilers, highlight to read: her postpartum depression felt very real). I could connect with Hannah better than I could with India, although I did sometimes find that Hannah's thoughts, particularly about herself, came across as over-the-top (granted, she was struggling with a lot). I feel like the reader only really gets to know India genuinely right at the end (spoilers: because we find out that she's sort of been trying out a new persona to distance herself from the "sick Lily" version of herself). I did think that India's and Hannah's friendship developed quite quickly and felt sort of forced. The writing style, though, made this a quick read.

3 shooting stars.

Short & Sweet: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and The Mask Falling

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 00:21:00 +0000

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

This book might've gotten a slightly higher rating if I hadn't been in a reading slump, but the pandemic has been doing weird things to my reading. Anyway, I found the main character Nina highly relatable, and I think that was probably the stand-out aspect of the book to me. I felt like I connected with her quite well, from her love of books to her anxiety to her quirky sense of humour. Plot-wise, this is not the most exciting story, and Nina ends up with a lot of relatives who I had difficulty keeping track of. But I liked that by the end, Nina was opening up more to others and being more proactive in her life.

3 shooting stars.

The Mask Falling by Samantha Shannon

I found most of this book to be slower-moving than its predecessors; I feel like it was more of a stepping stone to set up the next stage of the story than its own contained plot. It did pick up the pace towards the end, though -- and that cliffhanger! Lots of lingering questions about reveals in the last few pages, for sure. I liked that we got to spend time in a new setting (albeit another Scion one) and met a few new characters.

4 shooting stars.

My 2020 End of the Year Reading Survey (for what it's worth...)

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 04:39:00 +0000

What a year 2020 was. Goodbye, and good riddance! Let's hope better things await us in 2021. In addition to 2020 being a horrible year all around, it was also an abysmal reading year for me. I don't think the two things are unrelated -- somehow the pandemic made me way less likely to stick with a book, despite the fact that for a good chunk of 2020 I had more time to potentially be reading! (I did do a lot of reading in terms of non-fiction articles online, between reading about COVID-related news and reading about US politics/current events.)

Anyway, I came nowhere near my Goodreads challenge goal, and I don't think I did very well at any of my other challenges either.

This fabulous survey is hosted by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner.

Number Of Books You Read: 23

Number of Re-Reads: I think I skimmed some books to refresh my memory before reading a sequel, but not sure I had any true re-reads this year?

Genre You Read The Most From: speculative fiction

1. Best Book You Read In 2020?

The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen -- I just remember having a really great reading experience with this one, and getting totally sucked into the world and characters.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho -- I usually really enjoy anything that's like Regency England + magic, but for some reason, this one fell flat for me. I doubt that I'm going to continue with the series.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood -- it was a surprise that this book had such a positive tone (since The Handmaid's Tale is decidedly grim)!

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I don't feel like I did a whole lot of "book pushing" this year, but my answers would probably still be the same as last year's answers: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, Illusion by Paula Volsky, and the Bone Season series by Samantha Shannon.

5. Best series you started in 2020? Best Sequel of 2020? Best Series Ender of 2020?

Best series started: The Bridge Kingdom

Best sequel: do prequels count here? Because if so, I'll go with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. I very much enjoyed getting more of the history behind the world we first see in The Hunger Games, as well as seeing how Coriolanus develops into the man who later becomes President Snow.

Best series ender: Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers. I identified with Annith, and this was the first book to really hold my attention since the beginning of the pandemic.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2020?

Danielle L. Jensen

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

We Should All Be Feminists by Ngozi Chimamanda Adichie -- I don't tend to read much non-fiction.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

The Bridge Kingdom, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Mortal Heart

9. Book You Read In 2020 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Since I'm posting this in March, I already re-read/skimmed The Dawn Chorus by Samantha Shannon again, in preparation for reading The Mask Falling (which I am currently in the middle of!).

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2020?

Mortal Heart

11. Most memorable character of 2020?

Coriolanus Snow from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2020?

I'm not sure I read any books in 2020 whose prose really stood out as particularly beautiful/lyrical?

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2020

Again, I don't think I have an answer for this one.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2020 to finally read?

I can't believe it took me so long to finish up the Nevermore series by Kelly Creagh (I read the second and third books in 2020).

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2019?

From Mortal Heart:

"You always hold a piece of yourself back, Annith. For all your love and affection and kindness, there is always a part of yourself that you withhold from others."

And from the sublime to the ridiculous, this one from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes:

"Did you tell your best friend his crush was a cannibal? Never a rule book when you needed one."

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2019?

Shortest: We Should All Be Feminists by Ngozi Chimamanda Adichie (64 pages)

Longest: The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly (736 pages)

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

Maybe Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, or The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James?

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Lara and Aren from The Bridge Kingdom

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

The friendship between the heroines of the Dark Assassins series

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2020 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Either The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes or Mortal Heart

21. Best Book You Read In 2020 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand and We Should All Be Feminists (which was actually a gift from a friend IRL!)

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2020?

I don't feel like I have a very strong contender for this category... maybe Aren from The Bridge Kingdom or Balthazaar from Mortal Heart?

23. Best 2020 debut you read?

Didn't read any 2020 debuts.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Best worldbuilding: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Most vivid setting: The Bridge Kingdom (and honourable mention to Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier, which I was quite disappointed by, but its description of the setting was a strength)

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

First & Then by Emma Mills. This was a "cozy" sort of read.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?

I don't think I really had one?

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

I don't know about "crushed my soul," but the ending of Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes did leave me frustrated, wanting to know what really happened with Lucy Gray.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2017?

In terms of format, probably the graphic novel version of Pride & Prejudice by Ian Edginton and Robert Deas, which I quite enjoyed.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier -- I just really didn't like either of the main characters!

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2020 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2021?

I'll go with The Traitor Queen by Danielle Jensen.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2021 (non-debut)?

The Mask Falling (I mean, I'm already in the middle of it, but that would have been my answer).
3. 2021 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

I'm pretty out of the loop when it comes to upcoming debuts, but Sisters of the Snake by Sarena and Sasha Nanua sounds awesome. I love swapping identity stories.

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2021?

Sounding like a broken record here, but The Mask Falling and The Traitor Queen

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2021?

Right now, just read more and get out of this reading slump!

Mortal Heart: A Rambling Review

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 20:41:00 +0000

Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers

This has been the first book that I've become absorbed in since the pandemic hit, really. I've been in a reading slump of some variety, where nothing grabbed my attention enough to distract me from the news. While I did think Mortal Heart was a bit drawn out towards the end, and the introspective musings of Annith a tad repetitive, otherwise I was heartily glad to be whisked along on Annith's journey, as she discovers how to stand up for herself and those she loves.

Of all three protagonists in the series, I think I found Annith to be the most relatable. She is not as assertive as Ismae or as wild as Sybella; rather, she is someone used to following the rules and not making waves. She has honed it as a defense mechanism, but as the walls of her cage tighten around her, she realizes she must break free of them before it's too late. That is what sets her off on an adventure that involves a very swoon-worthy (if a tad on the "emo" side) love interest, a reconnection with her old friends Ismae and Sybella, and a whole lot of secrets being revealed. (Which, I pretty much guessed at -- or they at least crossed my mind as possibilities -- way before they were revealed.)

I did find the political plot line here rather boring, and the focus is far more on Annith's personal journey in terms of self-discovery and character development than the war going on between France and Brittany. Nevertheless, it does all come to a head eventually, and the resolution is not one I would have guessed. I do wonder if the Duchess will live to regret the decision she made...

Also, I remain confused about some questions of world-building. Spoilers, highlight to read: Are the hellequin already dead? I spent most of the book thinking they were -- and were stuck in the hunt as some sort of 'purgatory' before they earned their way to the afterlife -- but then a bunch of them actually died at the end, so... *blinks*

Overall, I think my favourite in the trilogy remains the first, Grave Mercy, both for the introduction to the world and for the dynamic between Ismae and Duval. But this one is a close second, and probably had the protagonist I was most able to connect with.

4 shooting stars.

Mr. Rochester: A Rambling Review

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 04:26:00 +0000

Mr. Rochester by Sarah Shoemaker

I enjoyed this glimpse into Rochester's mindset and retelling of the classic from his perspective. We get a lot of backstory that makes his character more sympathetic, while not feeling out of place with what Charlotte Bronte gave her readers in the original. I do think that the first part of the story, detailing his childhood and young adulthood (before he meets Jane Eyre) was more interesting (if slow-moving), since we are already familiar with what happens once he and Jane cross paths. Perhaps because of this, the author doesn't go into that much detail about their interactions, which left their romance and Rochester's emotional development feeling like it lacked something; I didn't connect with it the same way I connected with the original.

While Sarah Shoemaker sticks quite closely to Bronte's story, there is one subplot that is new. I don't think it clashes with the original, although in the end I'm not sure how much it adds (spoilers, highlight to read: the storyline involving Gerald Rochester... in the end he dies along with Bertha, and all of his scheming comes to nothing). I do like, however, that it provides more explanation for events in the original story that were not accounted for (spoilers: it makes sense that Rowland might have taken advantage of Bertha and then refused to marry her, and that Edward would have been offered up to marry her instead).

For those people who don't understand the appeal of Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre, I would highly recommend you pick this book up! And for those who love him already, you will probably enjoy getting to spend some time with this character during his most formative years.

4 shooting stars.

Short & Sweet: The Bridge Kingdom

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 04:41:00 +0000

The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen

An utterly absorbing, unputdownable read. It's been quite a while since I've been so completely sucked into a world and storyline, but these characters and the premise -- a princess marries a king, but is secretly a spy trying to bring down his kingdom -- just won me over. The kingdom politics and relationship dynamic between Lara and Aren really reminded me of The Winner's Curse series(in a good way). It looks like The Bridge Kingdom was released by an indie publisher, and you can tell that some more editing would have helped tighten some sections up and get rid of typos. I also found the modern slang jarring given the "traditional fantasy" sort of setting. But the characters, storyline, and world-building made up for these detractions in spades. I wish I could pick up the next book in the series right now!

4.5 shooting stars.

Short & Sweet: First & Then

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 01:07:00 +0000

First & Then by Emma Mills

I actually quite enjoyed this one, more than I thought I might. I do think that it's less a retelling of Pride and Prejudice than very loosely inspired by the story, as well as other Austen books. (I mean, for one thing, Devon doesn't have any sisters!)

Nevertheless, I liked Devon's voice and I felt like her character and perspective were very relatable. It took me quite a while to warm up to Ezra -- his dynamic with Devon starts out as less open hostility than Darcy and Elizabeth's, and more just sort of lukewarm apathy, so there wasn't a whole lot of unresolved sexual tension between them initially -- but eventually I came around to him. I also liked seeing Devon become closer to her cousin Foster and really develop a sense of protectiveness for him.

Overall, an easy, "warm fuzzy" sort of read that portrays high school in a rosier light than a lot of YA contemps do, and yet manages to still feel authentic.

4 shooting stars.

2020 Reading Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 23:59:00 +0000

It is time again to sign up for reading challenges, so here's what I'm thinking I'll be doing this year:

As usual, I've signed up for the Goodreads challenge -- 40 books seems to be a good number for me to achieve and surpass, so I'm keeping that the same as the past couple years.

#StartOnYourShelfathon, hosted by The Quiet Pond -- this is a year-long readathon to tackle all the books sitting on your shelf, collecting dust! I think this is new to 2020, if I'm not mistaken? You can "collect a star" for each book you've read, and keep track on your star map. It seems pretty flexible, as participants can set their own goals for how many books they'd like to read. I think I'm going to set it at 25 books, and here are some of the ones I'd really like to get read this year:

- ~~The Hate U Give~~
- Shadow Study
- Mistress of Rome
- The Last Summer
- The Book of Lost and Found
- ~~Sweet Damage~~
- In the Shadow of Blackbirds
- ~~Ultraviolet~~
- The Ballroom

- Elantris

- Paper and Fire

- ~~Sorcerer to the Crown~~

- The Last Magician

- ~~The Bear and the Nightingale~~

- Deafening

- The Clockmaker's Daughter

- ~~The Winter Rose~~

- Maid of Wonder

- Close Enough to Touch

- ~~Down a Dark Hall~~

- How to Find Love in a Bookshop

- ~~Mr. Rochester~~

- ~~Frenchman's Creek~~

- Doctor Death

- Bath Tangle

- The Woman Who Heard Colour

I completed my goal for the Finishing the Series challenge last year (hosted by Celebrity Readers), finishing 4 series! I have plenty more that I either need to finish or give up on, so I'm joining in again with this challenge. I'll still be aiming for the lowest level, C-List Series Finisher, 1-4 Series.

Some sequels I've got hanging around on my shelves that I have not yet read:

- ~~Mortal Heart~~
- Outpost
- ~~Enshadowed~~ and ~~Oblivion~~
- ~~Reached~~
- ~~Gemina~~

I did really well last year on the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge (hosted by Anne at Modern Mrs. Darcy) last year, so hopefully I can do the same in 2020! Here's the checklist for the challenge:

I like to pick a sort of "quirky" challenge that has some different sorts of categories, so this year I'm going with the 2020 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge (hosted by Gregory Road).

I think I'll start with the "Baker's Dozen" level -- one category from each of 13 topics. I'm not sure yet which categories I'll end up reading from, but here are a few examples:

- A book about lies

- A dark fantasy book

- A book by an author you always read

- A book about twins

- A book about a teacher

- A book whose title could be a Country song

- A book with binoculars on the cover

- A folk/fairy tale retelling in a non-western setting

- A story about a widow or widower

- A book that inspires you to go for a walk

- A book about a treasure hunt

- A book about nomads

- A book with a map on the cover

- A book with a narcissistic character

- A book about your parents' generation

- A book by a woman of colour

What 2020 reading challenges have you signed up for?

2019 Challenge Check-In

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 22:09:00 +0000

I tried 4 challenges last year (in addition to the Goodreads challenge), so here's a little review of how they went...

Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge: 8/10 categories

I did better on this challenge than I did in 2018, so yay! Got almost all of the categories:

- A book you've been meaning to read: check! I read Mistborn.

- A book about a topic that fascinates you: check! The Great Pretender: The Undercover Mission That Changed Our Understanding of Madness

- A book in the backlist of a favourite author: check! Where I Want to Be by Adele Griffin

- A book recommended by someone with great taste: check! My mom recommended The Silent Patient (which was indeed an excellent read!)

- Three books by the same author: fail. There were a couple of authors I read 2 books from in 2019, but none that I read 3 books from.

- A book you chose for the cover: check! (Well, sort of. I pretty much never exclusively pick books based on the cover. This one had an awesome-sounding premise, too.) The Ten Thousand Doors of January

- A book by an author who is new to you: check! The Flatshare, by Beth O'Leary

- A book in translation: check! Daniel Half Human

- A book outside your (genre) comfort zone: fail. I didn't really read any books in 2019 in genres I don't normally pick up.

- A book published before you were born: check! A Stitch in Time

2019 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge: completed!!!
After my pathetic performance on this challenge last year (I didn't get a single series finished), I did much better in 2019. I reached my goal of completing 4 series, which were: the Janie Johnson series by Caroline B. Cooney, the Dark Gifts trilogy by Vic James, the Keepers' Chronicles by Becky Wallace (okay, it's a duology, but it still counts), and the Divergent series by Veronica Roth (finally!!)

Mount TBR Reading Challenge: success! I picked the level "Mount Blanc" this year (24 books) and read exactly 24 books that were already on my TBR shelves. It always feels good when I manage to read books that have been languishing on my shelves for years...

Putting Wings on Words Reading Challenge: I did...okay?...on this challenge. I got 16/30 categories done. These were:

Read an award-winning book: When You Reach Me

Read a translated book: A Man Called Ove

Read a book that you got as a gift: Carry On

Read a book from the library: An Anonymous Girl

Read a book by a woman of colour: An Extraordinary Union

Read a book you've owned a long time but never read: Emily and Einstein
Read a book with a diverse cast of characters: The Ten Thousand Doors of January

Read that book people keep recommending to you: The Unhoneymooners
Read a book with strong family bonds: Between Shades of Gray
Read a book aimed at an age group you don't usually read: A Stitch in Time
Read a recent release: The Flatshare
Read a gloomy book: The Unseen World
Read a cozy book: Stay Sweet
Read a book with positive representation of a disabled character: A Curse So Dark and Lonely
Read an illustrated book: The Language of Thorns

Read an indie book: A Hope Divided (I think this counts?)

Goodreads Challenge: success! I surpassed my goal of 40 books, reading a total of 51 (and DNF-ing a few more, so Goodreads counted those as part of my challenge. I wish Goodreads had a separate way to score books you've DNF-ed!)

How did everyone else's reading challenges go in 2019?

2019 End of the Year Reading Survey

noreply@blogger.com (danya) — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 23:44:00 +0000

Alright, so another year has passed -- farewell, 2019! -- and 2020 is upon us. It's once again time to catalogue my reading from 2019 and look ahead to 2020. I think I did decently well in 2019 in terms of reading -- I met (and even surpassed) my Goodreads challenge, and I met 2/4 of my other reading challenges.

This fabulous survey is hosted by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner. If you want to participate, link up your blog post here.

Number Of Books You Read: 51 (which includes a couple re-reads, and not counting DNFs)

Number of Re-Reads: at least 2 (The Handmaid's Tale and The Eyre Affair)

Genre You Read The Most From: Tied between speculative fiction -- fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal -- and contemporary (Genre breakdown: 12 historical; 19 speculative; 19 contemporary)

1. Best Book You Read In 2019?

Illusion by Paula Volsky -- this is a thoroughly detailed and engrossing alternative universe fantasy retelling of the French Revolution

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides -- I read a few thrillers this year, which is a genre I don't usually read a ton of, and this one completely surprised me with the twist.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik -- I really loved Uprooted, but this one just didn't work for me the same way. I wasn't totally on board with the multiple POVs/storylines, as I didn't like or care about all of the characters equally.

A Hope Divided by Alyssa Cole -- An Extraordinary Union balanced the romance and historical storylines really well, so I was disappointed that the second in the series leaned more heavily on the romance -- which, to be honest, I felt kinda lacked chemistry -- and was quite light on the spy/intrigue storyline.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell -- surprising in a good way! I really wasn't too sure about this book starting out, as it seemed like a campy, over-the-top Harry Potter wanna-be story, but then I warmed up to it.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood -- this was a re-read, but sort of surprised me in being quite different from what I had remembered (and also quite different from the TV show, which really expanded on what Atwood had originally written). It definitely has more of a "slice of life" sort of approach to living in the dystopian world she's built, rather than the rise and fall of a typical plotline.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, Illusion by Paula Volsky, the Bone Season series by Samantha Shannon

5. Best series you started in 2019? Best Sequel of 2019? Best Series Ender of 2019?

Best series started: not sure which to pick for this one... there are a number of series I started in 2019 that seem promising, including Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne, Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, and A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigit Kemmerer.

Best sequel: Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. (Weirdly enough, since it was also listed for my "most disappointing books" question, but honestly, I read a bunch of unimpressive sequels this year, and Spinning Silver was still probably the most well-written one of the bunch.)

Best series ender: Bright Ruin by Vic James -- this series doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves!

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2019?

Paula Volsky, Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen, Alex Michaelides

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Illusion by Paula Volsky, The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

9. Book You Read In 2019 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Rosemarked (to refresh my memory before reading the next in the series)

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2019?

A Curse So Dark and Lonely, Rosemarked, Wildflower Hill, The Ten Thousand Doors of January

11. Most memorable character of 2019?

Kelsier from Mistborn; Baz from Carry On

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2019?

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow -- while some of it got purple prose-y, there were also some beautiful, quotable turns of phrase in this story.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2019

The Great Pretender by Susannah Cahalan -- not life-changing, but definitely provokes some critical thought about the mental health system in the US.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2019 to finally read?

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys -- these books have both been sitting on my shelves for YEARS and YEARS. So glad I finally got around to reading them!

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2019?

From The Ten Thousand Doors of January:

"That afternoon, sitting in that lonely field beside the Door that didn't lead anywhere, I wanted to write a different kind of story. A true kind of story, something I could crawl into if only I believed it hard enough."

And this one from A Stitch in Time:

"There are some supremely agreeable moments in life that are best savoured alone -- the first barefoot step into a cold sea, the reading of certain books, the revelation that it has snowed in the night, waking up on one's birthday... And others the full wonder of which can only be achieved if someone else is there to observe."

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2019?

Shortest: A Stitch in Time by Penelope Lively (138 pages)

Longest: Illusion by Paula Volsky (700 pages)

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

The Silent Patient

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Eliste and Dref from Illusion, Simon and Baz from Carry On, Tiffy and Leon from The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

This is a hard one to choose this year... maybe the connections that Ove forms in A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman?

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2019 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Bright Ruin

21. Best Book You Read In 2019 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Carry On

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2019?

Malcolm McCall from An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole; Dref from Illusion

23. Best 2019 debut you read?

The Flatshare

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

World building: Illusion; Spinning Silver; Mistborn

Setting: Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian; Beatrice and Benedick by Marina Fiorato

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Carry On, The Flatshare

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?

Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase (it didn't make me cry, but it was quite haunting in how it dealt with the impact of a mother's death)

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Stay Sweet -- as I said in my review, this was a "feel-good read that transported me to a summery lakeside and made me really want to taste that indescribable ice cream flavour 'Home Sweet Home.'"

Daniel Half Human by David Chotjewitz -- I was surprised by how powerful and compelling a read this was.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Black Rabbit Hall, Mistborn

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2017?

The Unseen World by Liz Moore -- it was a bit different from a typical contemporary novel, in that it dealt both with very realistic life events (the father's deteriorating mental state) and also the sci-fi elements involving artificial intelligence

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Allegiant by Veronica Roth -- Not super mad, but I just felt irritated by how pointless this book seemed. The execution did not live up to its potential.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2019 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2020?

Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine (this was my answer last year, and I still haven't read it...), Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, and The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly -- these are all already on my physical TBR shelves, so I have no excuses!

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2020 (non-debut)?

I know I'm a broken record at this point, but it remains: the next book in the Bone Season series. (Please let 2020 finally be the year it gets published!!!)

3. 2020 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

A Golden Fury by Samantha Cohoe

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2020?

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (not a sequel, but a prequel of sorts, so...)

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2020?

Just to read more books that I have a high likelihood of enjoying -- I read a lot of books in 2019 that were "okay, but not great." Perhaps this is partly because I can't resist a really good deal on Book Outlet, even if the book hasn't gotten amazing reviews. I feel like I need to be a little more selective about which books I pick up, or perhaps just more judicious in DNFing them... at the same time, I want to still be open to unexpectedly stumbling upon a hidden gem of a read!