Reign the Earth: Review

Title: Reign the Earth

Author: A.C. Gaughen

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 448

We received an ARC of this book. In no way does it affect our opinion.

Synopsis: (from GoodReads)

Shalia is a proud daughter of the desert, but after years of devastating war with the
adjoining kingdom,
her people are desperate for peace. Willing to trade her freedom to ensure the safety of
her family,
Shalia becomes Queen of the Bonelands.

But she soon learns that her husband, Calix, is motivated only by his desire to exterminate
the Elementae—mystical people who can control earth, wind, air, and fire.

Rating: 4 /5 stars

Shalia is newlywed in a completely new place, away from her home of the desert when she discovers she is one of the people her husband Caliz hates- the Elementae. Shalia holds her own and ends up befriending Calix’s brother, Galen (I’ll leave their story for the book to tell). Shalia makes changes to how her husband rules his people for the better, all while keeping her powers hidden. Waiting until it is necessary to  show that she is an elementae and with the help of Galen, a loyal guard Zeph, her 2 brothers Rian and Kairos, and her long time friend Kata, Shalia tries to stop Calix exterminating the elementae.

I’ve a tendency to lean towards books with strong female characters and almost always fall in love with the story and everything it contains. And this is one of those kind of books.

Audiobook Discussion

This last year I have been on a huge audiobook kick. I have found more and more time
that I can squeeze in some listening. It takes me 45 minutes to clean horse stalls
so I just turn my phone on and let it play. I get to work an hour before we start seeing
patients so I play my audio while setting up for the day. When the girls are helping
with chores they get to hear snippets of the book I`m currently listening to.
It's always fun catching them up on what they missed and then them asking if
they can listen when I'm finished.

Audiobooks aren't a new thing for me. When I was younger my parents listened to
the first Harry Potter book narrated by Jim Dale. Thats where my love of audio
truly started. From there my listening took a pause when Audios became so expensive.
I found audible and my interests grew.

To date some of my favorite audiobooks and Narrators are;

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Narrated by Wil Wheaton

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Narrated by Jim Dale

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Narrated by Fiona Hardingham

Wil Wheaton is one of those nerdy gamer guys I followed on youtube before I knew
he had narrated a book. Ernest Cline`s debut novel is one I was late to discover
but since finding it I have reread it or re-listened to it at least twice a year.
I am beyond excited to see the movie in March. Although I am not going in with any
high expectations just because the trailer already seems off.
The Night Circus is a book I picked up on a whim just based off of the narrator.
I am so glad I did and now I am eagerly awaiting to see what else Erin will write.
Jim Dale will always hold a special place in my heart for books. He was my
introduction to Harry Potter. The Scorpio Races was my introduction to Maggie`s novels.
Her style is amazing and since listening to this I have picked up her debut novel Shiver
to listen to at some point. This was also my introduction to the narrator as well.  
To be honest though anything by Fiona Hardingham seems to be an insta-like
book for me. She adds so much to the characters with her voice.

I am a tad picky when it comes to picking a book to listen to. I thought I would
only listen to books I had already read but that soon allowed my mind to wander
since I recalled what was going to happen. Like mentioned above though there
are some books I can reread again and again. Some requirements I look for when
picking out a book are;

1. I need an narrator that has a voice that I'm willing to listen to for 8+ hours.
2. The audio itself has to be at least 8 hours long. I just prefer unabridged version

because longer means more details.

I hope you enjoyed a look into my mind of audiobooks. What books do you enjoy
listening to instead of reading?
What stops you from listening if you haven`t tried it yet?

TTFN,

Ashley

Bookish Resolutions/Goals: Top Ten Tuesday Feature

Top Ten Tuesday was originally hosted by The Broke and The bookish. However after eight years they are closing their doors (for now I truly hope) The feature will now be hosted over at That Arsty Reader Girl

This week the topic is:

Bookish Resolutions/Goals

Michaela:

Accomplish Goodreads Reading Challenge (52 books) - I came super close this last year and I`m sure I can make the goal if I spend a little time each day reading.

Read New to Me Authors

Binge Read a Series (No interruptions or other books in between) - I was close to doing this last year with Morgan Rhodes` books but then i picked up something in-between because I didn`t have the next book.

Kenz:

Read at least 2 book every month - I don`t have a huge book goal like I did last year just because life is a little crazy with College full time and all the horse events. I`m being realistic and am exciting for the books I do read.

Write reviews for every book read in 2018

Deface more books - Ashley convinced me last year to deface the front cover of two books. I was nervous at first but with some encouragement I did it. They turned out really pretty. I was even able to take Black Moon by Romina Russell out to a signing to show her. I hope to do a few more books this year.

Ashley:

Beat Goodreads Challenge (52 books) - I ended up with 60 books read last year and I`m sure with my schedule I can beat that as well.

Prep blog posts out a month in advanced- We now have all of January prepped. One thing I found on my old blog was I got stressed easily over things not being done in advanced. By having this goal I think blogging will be more about the reading and fun and less about the organizing.

Increase pages read per hour. (right now I average 80 pages an hour I`d like to be at 100) - I took a speed reading class that sort of helped but in all honesty I know 80pgs an hour is pretty good already I just overall want to get more pages in during the time I have to read.

What reading goals do you have for 2018?

~Ashley, Michaela & Kenz

Wandering Star: Review

Wandering Star

Romina Russell

Book Two in Zodiac Series

Published on: 12/08/15

320 Pages

Publisher: Razorbill

Rhoma Grace has been stripped of her title, rumors of the Marad striking any house at any moment are spreading. And to top it all, Ochus appears, giving Rho a cryptic message that gives her no choice but to fight back.

I found Wandering Star to be just as good as its predecessor Zodiac. I really enjoyed how we got to see
Rho and her emotions a bit more; she’s grieving over Mathias, feels guilty for wanting to get to know
Hysan better, and preparing to fight the Marad with her friends by her side. She keeps up a strong front
but is an emotional mess inside. So many times I wanted to climb into the pages and console her. And
that plot twist? My heart swelled with joy while my brain tried to wrap around what had just happened.
Loved it.

~Mackenzie

Top Ten Tuesday Feature

Top Ten Tuesday was originally hosted by The Broke and The bookish.
However after eight years they are closing their doors (for now I truly hope)
The feature will now be hosted over at That Arsty Reader Girl

This week the topic is:

Ten Books We Meant To Read In 2017 But Didn't Get To

Mackenzie:

1. The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke

2.Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

3.A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Calvalero

Michaela:

1. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

2. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

3. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Ashley:

     1. Ensnared by A.G. Howard

     2. Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie

     3. Rise of Fire by Sophie Jordan

We all have pretty similar tastes so we take turns on who reads what book first. Ashley devoured both Strange the Dreamer and The Girl with The Red Balloon. Gentleman`s Guide to Vice and Virtue is one of the books Kenz defaced for Ashley last year. You`ll be seeing some of those photos later on here and on over on Instagram. 

What books did you want to get to in 2017 but didn`t get a chance to?

~Ashley, Michaela & Mackenzie 

An Enchantment of Ravens: Review

An Enchantment of Ravens

Margaret Rogerson

8hr 45min

Published On: 9/26/17

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

This was such a fast listen. I am sad that it is a standalone. I`m not a huge fairy type person but this
one is awesome. I follow someone on instagram who in October was doing the “inktober” thing where
you draw something every day. Well she was doing this awesome character colorings and gushing
about the book. I figure I had an extra audible credit so I`d give it a listen. I`m glad I did.

This was an audiobook for me and I do see myself buying a physical copy in the future. I did take an
interesting book photo with a copy of the cover. It didn't turn out the way I really wanted it to but I
think I will give it another go later on this year.  Let me know what you think.

The story behind Enchantment of Ravens is interesting. Fae folk cannot create-craft- anything. So
they go to humans to have things made for them. Our main character-Isobel- is an artist. A painter
with a talent of extraordinary taste. She is asked to paint the portrait of the Autumn Prince-Rook-a
fae who hasn't been seen in years. Things happen and they go on the run and have to defeat the Alder
King.

Overall the narrator paints this gorgeous scene throughout the novel that kept me listening. The story
can be slow at times but with the vivid imagery it keeps a fairly even pace. Some of the characters are
instantly dislikeable but it's important to remember that they are side characters. Isobel and Rook
have an interesting dynamic and it was great the see them grow closer. Rogerson does an amazing
job sticking to classic fairy lore of how fae act and treat humans. Rook has a brooding personality that
makes him a bit frustrating but the fierce feelings he has towards Isobel are tangible.

What Fae type books would you recommend?

TTFN,

Ashley

Mackenzie Introduction

Hi all.

I  am Mackenzie, the youngest of us all, but I am the tallest; however not by much.
I consider myself lucky to have Ashley as a big sister, and lucky to have access to her
ever-growing library. I am going to be 19 this month. I have never done anything like this
before, but I have always loved to read.

I spend most of my time either, on the back of a horse, at school, running cross country
or doing things with our family, and the occasional defacing of a book. (only because I can
kinda draw and Ashley asks me too). And throughout all that crazy busy stuff, I almost
always have a book with me. I'm looking forward to this new adventure and the doors
that will come with it.


~Mackenzie

Michaela Introduction

I am Michaela, the middle sister,ha. I’m the eldest twin. Having two sisters instead of just one is
a blast. I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember, but thanks to Ashley my TBR list
continues to grow.

I turn 19 this month, my last teen year. :) This is my first time ever book blogging and reviewing.
On a personal side of things, I am a full time student, and an avid horseback rider. Most of my
riding consists
of me “having nothing else to do” and it’s done on my breaks at school. I do read more physical
books than listening to audiobooks. If it wasn’t for my sisters most of my photos wouldn’t exist.
I look
forward to where this adventure takes all 3 of us girls.

Ashley Introduction

Hello Everyone

I am Ashley the eldest of the girls. I have the privilege of being the faux sister to both Michaela and
Mackenzie. They were readers when I first met them but I would like to take the honor of making them
addicted to books as much as I am.

I am turning 23 this month. I use to review books on my old site Books Buying Beauty which I closed
middle of last year. I had been on that site for seven years. As for personal life I am an avid horseback
rider, full time student and work a fulltime job. Books have always been the perfect escape from a crazy
busy life. I always seem to find time to read or listen to a novel.

I`m looking forward to this new site as well has helping to run the Bookstagram (aka Instagram) account
as well. Photography has been a passion of mine for awhile and last year my road trip consisted of a
whole bunch of book photos that I shared over on my personal account. I will be submitting a few of
them over here during my weekly contributions.

TTFN,

Ashley