Review: The Queen`s Rising

The Queen`s Rising

Author: Rebecca Ross

Published On: 2-6-18

Audiobook: 12hr 51min

Narrator: Suzanne Elise Freeman

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads):

Rating: 3.5/5

There is a few things I had a problem with and that is why there is a lower rating.

It wasn't until over 40% that I really got into the book. The middle 15% picked up the

pace and then by 76% I was hooked and wanted more of Mavan land.

The idea of Passions and being trained in a specific one is very interesting.

I liked the process as the struggle Brienna went through in finding her passion.

Her master in Magnolia House is Cartier. A man who is portrayed as being older

and wise beyond his years. A man who flirts with and has a connection to Brienna.

This is the part that bothered me and isn`t explained until later in the book.

The middle part of the book everything seemed to fall into place a little to

easy an there as a lack of character development for any of the secondary characters

who would play a huge role in Brienna`s life. Then you get the ending where we are

now located in Maevan Brienna`s home country. This is where the descriptions

become stunning. The scenery is described as is the war that is raging on.

I did enjoy the book hence the 3.5 star rating I just wish there was a little

better pacing and development. It was a long audiobook and the narrator helped

with story progression.

~Ashley

Review: Hero at The Fall

Title: Hero at the Fall

Author: Alwyn Hamilton

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

Pages: 464

Synopsis: (from GoodReads)

When gunslinging Amani Al'Hiza escaped her dead-end town, she never

imagined she'd join a revolution, let alone lead one. But after the bloodthirsty

Sultan of Miraji imprisoned the Rebel Prince Ahmed in the mythical city of Eremot,

she doesn't have a choice. Armed with only her revolver, her wits, and her

untameable Demdji powers, Amani must rally her skeleton crew of rebels for

a rescue mission through the unforgiving desert to a place that, according

to maps, doesn't exist.

Spoilers Ahead Since End of Series

Rating: 5/5

I wanted to read this book so badly that I pre-ordered a copy from the UK

because it came out sooner than the US edition.

As soon as it came I put down what I was reading and picked it up. I finished

the action packed world of Demdji’s, Rebel Princes, Rebellions, and a blue eyed girl

with a revolver, in two short days. I loved every single page. Amani finally becomes

free of being unable to use her Demdji powers to their full spectrum, after almost

killing herself trying to use them, and making deals with the Djinn Zaahir. She and

Tamid are on friendlier terms, and Tamid is searching for the words to free the Djinn

that Amani had been forced to trap by the Sultan. Innocent girls were being murdered

by the Sultan in response to his daughter Leyla being kidnapped. He would continue

to murder them until Leyla was returned to him. However that was not going to

happen if Amani and Jin and the few rebels that were still with them could help it.

They enacted a plan to save the next girl who had been kidnapped, and then devised

a plan to escape the city they had become trapped in by a impenetrable wall of fire.

And destroying as many Abdals that Leyla had created for her father, to carry out

his orders.

Amani and her friends set out to Dustwalk to return Tamid home as he wished in

return for his help to free the Djinn. They are shocked to find in Dustwalk, as well as

that Noorsham is very much so NOT dead as had been originally thought.

In Hero at the Fall, Amani, with her stubborn personality and passionate heart finds

herself in shoe’s she never imagined she’d be in, and she wears them quite well.

I am very sad to see this trilogy come to an end as I enjoyed in so much, all I wish

to know is more about Ahmed’s life as Sultan, and Shazhad’s after taking over as

General for her father. However, Alwyn wrapped the story up without loose ends,

I just don’t want to say goodbye.

~Mackenzie

Review: North of Happy

Title: North of Happy

Author: Adi Alsaid

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 368

Synopsis: (from GoodReads)

Carlos Portillo has always led a privileged and sheltered life. A dual citizen of

Mexico and the US, he lives in Mexico City with his wealthy family, where

he attends an elite international school. Always a rule follower and a parent pleaser,

Carlos is more than happy to tread the well-worn path in front of him.

He has always loved food and cooking, but his parents see it as just a hobby.

Rating: 4/ 5

I liked this story and will definitely try some of those tasty recipes. It made me

want to spend more time with my friends and try new food. I graduated from

high school this past june and my first year at college ends this may and it has

been so crazy there has been times I’ve wanted to just get away. Thankfully my

horse curbs many of the getaway feelings, so I can stay focused on my edumacation.

Let's just say I reallly wanted to eat tacos when i was reading this book too.

I'm not sure quite how I feel about Carlos and Emma’s relationship, Felix’s

appearances were quite entertaining. I liked that Carlos was able to experience

working in a real kitchen. This book definitely is one for those trying to find their path.

~Michaela

Top Ten Tuesday: Frequently Used Words

April 24: Frequently Used Words In [Insert Genre/Age Group] Titles

Ashley:This was an interesting topic. I`ve noticed over the years certain

trends in titles but I`ve never really based a book off of title alone.

Daughter of…

Something with Fire…

Something with Roses..

Girl of...

Michaela:

Something with Blood

The words Reign and Rebel

Mackenzie: I’ve noticed that a lot of the books I have read lately that

some of the titles have words in common.

Traitor(s)

Something with Fire or Burning

Thieves

Rebel

Shadow and Bone Review

Title: Shadow and Bone

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co

Pages: 358

Synopsis: (from GoodReads)

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.

Rating: 5 /5 stars

My older sister loves the Grishaverse and now so do I. She constantly talks about Leigh
Bardugo and her books. I mean she even got a tattoo based on the Grishaverse symbol.
I loved this book, once again a strong female character. Alina and Mal both orphans who
end up in the army of Ravka, Mal as a Tracker, Alina as a Mapmaker, on their way to battle
the Shadow Fold. Mal gets hurt while their regiment is in the fold and it is discovered that
Alina has Grisha powers. Actually rare powers, she is a Sun Summoner. Later Alina is drawn
into a trap with the Darkling and she doesn’t know it until her best friend appears in her life
again when she really needs him. Mal was hired by the Darkling to track Morozova’s Stag.
The Darkling wants the Stag’s antlers to create an amplifier for Alina’s power- which also puts
her under his control at all times. Thanks to Alina’s teacher Baghra (who happens to also be
the Darkling’s mother!) sending Alina away, she may have a fighting chance against the
Darkling and his twisted plan.

~Michaela

Review: Blood Rose Rebellion

Title:Blood Rose Rebellion

Author: Rosalyn Eves

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Pages: 416

Synopsis (from goodreads):

In a world where social prestige derives from a trifecta of blood, money, and

magic, one girl has the ability to break the spell that holds the

social order in place.

Rating: 4/ 5

This is a book that I had pre ordered book 2 for before even reading book one.

Ha. I seem to be on a magical sort of binge as most of my reads lately have

consisted of magical characters and lands. Anna Arden is definitely my favorite

female character and Matyas is my favorite male character. Anna because she

has a never ending drive and Matyas because of his humor. I liked this story a

lot actually. I found myself not wanting to put it down once i started it. Anna and

Noemi’s friendship is my relationship in this book. They despised each other in

the beginning, then came to actually like each other and finally they truly needed

each other’s company. I do “ship” Anna and Gabor and cannot wait to see what

book two brings the two of them. Also I wonder how the entire Luminates world is

going to function since Anna broke the binding. Blood Rose Rebellion definitely

has me ready to jump straight into Lost Crow Conspiracy.

~Michaela

Caraval Review

Caraval
Stephanie Garber
407pgs
1/31/17
5/5 Stars
Synopsis:
Remember, it’s only a game…

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, 

Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. 

Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett 

thinks her dreams of seeing 

Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the 

audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. 

With the help of a mysterious sailor, 

Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. 

Review: 4.5/5 Stars

Scarlett and Tella are honestly just trying to escape their abusive father.
Caraval has been more of a dream for Scarlett than for Tella.
Caraval and its creator Legend are just the escape the girls need.

What follows is an adventure of colourful dresses, honest truths,
deceit but most of all the bond between sisters. Tella is the wild child and
I dislike her a lot for it. If everyone would just simply stick together and be
honest from the get go about their feelings a lot of the problems could have
been avoided. Then we wouldn't have had such a long book though so there's that.


My family did a month long read of Caraval so a sort of mini book club.
Parents listened to it via my audible account, the twins borrowed my two
US editions and I read my UK timepiece edition. All but the audio is signed.
Overall everyone enjoyed the novel and I hope to do a family book club again in the future.

~Ashley

Top Ten Tuesday: TBR

April 17: Freebie (TBR)

Ashley: My TBR is ever growing. There are few back listed titles that

I really want to get to before the year is over. A few of them are series

enders from years ago.

Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier

Rise of Fire by Sophie Jordan

Ensnared by A.G. Howard

The Girl at The Center of the World by Austin Aslan

Michaela: The TBR is ever growing as more books are released. I haven’t

accomplished as much reading as I want to this year but the year isn't

even close to being over yet.

Current TBR:

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

Seige and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Lost Crow Conspiracy by Rosalyn Eves

Mackenzie: I don’t  think that my TBR list will ever stop growing. There quite

a few books that I’ve wanted to read for a while now and haven’t gotten to yet

because of new releases from some of my favorite authors, or just not enough

time in the year. I unfortunately am ill equipped to read in the car for long

periods of time unlike both Ashley and Michaela so I don’t usually get as many

books read as they do.

Currently on my TBR that I plan on reading this year are:

The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke

Strange the Dreamer- Laini Taylor

The Grisha Trilogy and Six of Crows Duology- Leigh Bardugo

Review: When Dimple Met Rishi

Title:When Dimple Met Rishi

Author:Sandhya Menon

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Pages:380

Synopsis:(from GoodReads)

Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more

than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her

finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh.

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future

wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo

her—he’s totally on board.

Rating: 5/5 stars

I definitely connected with Dimple in this book, I’m in my second semester of

my freshman year of college, I survive on way to much coffee, and am pursuing

a field where its tough being a girl but it is soo worth it. Dimple and Rishi have a

very adorable relationship in my opinion. I mean if my parents tried to pair me

with some guy I hadn't seen since i was a child, I’d be furious too but they set

all the angry feelings aside towards the end and I was smiling like a dork as I was

reading it. I love the influence of Celia and Rishi’s little brother, Ashish on their

relationship and the story of the book.  Also just in case an y’all are curious,

I WOULD NOT THROW MY COFFEE AT A BOY. (I like it to much)

~Michaela

Review: Obsidio

Authors: Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Published On: 3/13/18

Publisher: Knopf Books

Page Count: 615

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Kady, Ezra, Hanna, and Nik narrowly escaped with their lives from the 

attacks on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with 2,000 refugees 

on the container ship, Mao. With the jump station destroyed and their resources scarce, 

the only option is to return to Kerenza—but who knows what they'll find seven 

months after the invasion? 

There needs to be a 6/5 star option on Goodreads. This book tore me to shreds.

I laughed, cried and felt my gut being torn in two. I went into this series

skeptical two years ago. Now that I`m at the end it has become one of

my favorite science fiction books.

Spoilers Ahead Since End of Series

Obsidio is the end to the Illuminae Files. It's where Kady, Ezra, Hannah and Nik

all meet Asha and Rhys. Asha is Kady`s cousin who was presumed dead during

the attack on Kerenza. She truly is the star of this novel on the ground while

Aidan is the wizard in the sky. Kerenza workers and their families have been

held captive by Beitech. Asha is on the side of the rebellion trying to prevent

Beitech from jumping away from Kerenza and destroying those left behind.

I love how Obsidio adds two new main characters while incorporating

characters from the previous books. When it comes time to add everyone

together the point of views can get a little much but having the chance to see

into everyone's thoughts makes it worth it.

Aidan is not someone or technically something I thought i would become

attached to but it..he truly is remarkable. He isn't supposed to have emotions

but the connection he has with Kady is incredible. His main goal is to protect

those onboard the ships he is programmed into however his side goal and most

important to him is that Kady stays safe. That her mission is complete and it doesn`t

matter who has to die for that to succeed.

This is an epic roller coaster of a finale that leaves every “chapter” a suspenseful

pause. It took me 6 hours to tear through this book and i can`t wait to do a series

reread with the girls. They haven't read any of the books so watching their

reactions will be worth it now that they can binge. Between Kady and Asha I can`t

choose who to love more.

~TTFN

Ashley