Review: Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian

Title: Lady Smoke

Author: Laura Sebastian

Published On: 2/5/19

Page Count: 512pgs

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

The Kaiser murdered Theodosia's mother, the Fire Queen, when Theo was only six.

He took Theo's country and kept her prisoner, crowning her Ash Princess.

Spoliers

I enjoyed this way more than the torture in Ash Princess. Theodosia wasn't

my favorite main characters. I felt like her companions are who really deserved their

stories. Blaze realizing his potential, Sorin realizing how different from his father the

Kaiser he truly is. Finally we have Artemisia being fierce and standing up to her mother

in order to survive her country.

I'll be listening to book three when it releases next year. I do want to see what

happens on the world I just don't have any emotional connection with Theo at all

unfortunately. We shall see though maybe she will become the queen everyone

hopes she will be.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: The Deceivers by Kristen Simmons

Title: The Deceivers

Author: Kristen Simmons

Narrator: Soneela Nankani

Published On: 2/5/19

Audio Length: 12hr 49min

Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Welcome to Vale Hall: a school for aspiring con artists. When Brynn Hilder is recruited

to the elite Vale Hall, she can't believe her luck. Vale means a new life, away from

her mom's loser boyfriend Pete and her run-down neighborhood.

A contemporary con-artist novel. Not a genre I knew existed nor did I think I

needed in my life. Kristen Simmons does not disappoint in yet another book. This

is a story about stopping a corrupt political system in a city run by drugs. Some of the

twists I didn't see coming which made the plot have a bit more tension.

How far would you go to protect those you love?

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak

Title: Bridge of Clay

Author: Markus Zusak

Narrator: Markus Zusak

Published On: 10/9/18

Audio Length: 14hr 44min

Rating: 2/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

The breathtaking story of five brothers who bring each other up in a world run by

their own rules. As the Dunbar boys love and fight and learn to reckon with the

adult world, they discover the moving secret behind their father's disappearance.

I would like to share the length of time it took for me to finish this book.

10/22/18-2/1/19

Yes that would be 3 months and roughly 10 days. No I wasn`t listening every

day but this was the book that made me not want to audio every time i got in

my car. After seeing that Fox and Wit was doing their reading challenge and one

of the prompts was “Book about Siblings” I knew I needed to bust out the last

5hrs of this books.

I first thought it was the narrators voice that i wasn`t vibing with

(just a heads up its narrated by the author). In reality though I think it

was just the novel itself. The Book Thief was one of my favorite books

in high school so I was excited to pick this one up. That excitement was

quickly squashed.

Maybe I missed something and its truly something I don`t understand about the

novel. It just felt long and drawn out. We get Michael and Penny`s story, then there

is boxing/fighting and ‘Ends with some horse racing. The book sounded more

like a biography of the Dumbar boys which is not at all what I was expecting.

For now however my rating will stay at 2 stars, some people seem to love

this one and others are on the same level as me with not getting it.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: A Sorrow Fierce and Falling by Jessica Cluess

Title: A Sorrow Fierce and Falling

Author: Jessica Cluess

Narrator: Fiona Hardingham

Published On: 10/16/18

Audio Length: 11hr 49min

Rating:5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

It's time for her power to rule.

As Henrietta nervously awaits her marriage to Lord Blackwood, she discovers that

Sorrow-Fell is not a safe haven from the bloodthirsty Ancients. It's a trap.

Spoilers

What a way to wrap up a trilogy. Well paced and kept the pages turning.

Sad to lose some pretty awesome characters. I know it's part of the process and

some of the favorites had to die but it was so well written.

I'm still not a huge fan of Blackwood. He let his passion for success get in the

way far too much throughout his story. It was hard to not be upset that he didn't meet

his demise.

I`m interested to read whats next for Jessica. Her realm of magic was well written

and it would be interesting to come and revisit other areas on the map.

TTFN,
Ashley

Review: The Blood Spell

Title: The Blood Spell

Author:CJ Redwine

Published On: 2/12/19

Page Count: 438pgs

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Blue de la Cour has her life planned: hide the magic in her blood and continue trying

to turn metal into gold so she can help her city’s homeless. But when her father is

murdered and a cruel but powerful woman claims custody of Blue and her property,

one wrong move could expose her—and doom her once and for all.

Out of the four books in this world I think this one has to be my favorite.

Kellan wasn't my favorite human when we were introduced to him in The Traitor Prince.

However once there was some backstory I started to understand him a bit more.

Blue was by far the most interesting character alongside Nessa. Nessa did steal

pieces of my heart throughout the novel and I hope to read more about her and

some adventures in future novels.

I`m starting to fall in love with any book that involves Alchemy. Blue uses

alchemy as a way to help others not for personal gain. I also loved how much

botanicals came into play when crafting spells and brews.

A super highlight of this novel is the fact Nessa using a form of sign language

in order to communicate. There are some in the court who have taken the time to

earn the language while others refuse to do so. This whole scenario relates so well

with real life. I had a friend in elementary school that did sign language and I knew I

wanted to get to know them so I asked to take classes. This sparked my love of all

languages. I took ASL classes for 9 years and jump at using that skill any chance I

can. Having that sort of representation in a YA novel is fascinating. It was well written

and I look forward to what else this series will bring.

All of CJ`s Ravenspire novels can be read separately however I feel like this one

you really should read the other novels to fully enjoy the plot.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Dear Evan Hansen

Title: Dear Evan Hansen

Author: Val Emmich

Narrator: Mike Feist, Mallory Bechtel

Published On: 10/9/19

Audio Length: 8hr 8min

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Dear Evan Hansen,

Today's going to be an amazing day, and here's why....

When a letter that was never meant to be seen by anyone draws high school senior

Evan Hansen into a family's grief over the loss of their son, he is given the chance

of a lifetime: to belong.

After reading What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, as well as

listening to the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack I knew I was going to need this book

in my life. The audio was fantastic and I highly recommend listening to it over reading it.

There is some pretty awesome bonus content with music.

Although Evan makes some poor choices I could honestly understand that his

intentions came from the best. The story is well paced and gives just enough “Idle”

information. I`m hoping one day to see the musical in order to compare it to everything

I`ve read and listened to.

I liked how at first Evan didn`t want to write about his day because he knew he was

only lying to himself about how it was going. The because of unforeseen causes writing

how he felt actually became a therapeutic method for not only himself but for others

struggling with reality as well.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

Title: Girls of Paper and Fire

Author: Natasha Ngan

Narrator: Allison Hiroto

Published On: 11/6/18

Page Count: 400

Audio Length: 14hr 23min

Rating: 2.5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. 

It's the highest honor they could hope for...and the most cruel.

But this year, there's a ninth girl. 

And instead of paper, she's made of fire.

This was not at all what I was expecting when I heard all the hype

surrounding this book. I did appreciate the trigger warning that the

narrator gave. This did get pretty graphic considering the audience

it is intended for. The F/F love interest was awesome so I can appreciate that.

Our Main character did feel little young for the sheltered life of knowledge

she had. She did however pick up experience and education with little effort.

As much as I would like to know what happens next I don't think I`ll be

finishing this one. The last 15% of the audio was pretty awesome but after

75% of the novel being about abuse, sexual desires and hidden lies that

were pointedly obvious I can't in good faith continue.

TTFN,

Ashley

Review: Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Adrienne Young

Page Count: 352

Audio Length: 8hr 40min

Narrator: Khristine Hvam

Published On: 4/24/18

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis (Found on Goodreads):

Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen 

in an ancient rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. 

Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the 

enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.

Viking Norse culture and strong family bonds can be found throughout the entire

novel . Eelyn is fierce and loyal so when it comes to becoming a slave for another

tribe of people she is torn. Fiske is kind enough to her since he is now considered

her brother`s blood brother. Eelyn spends her days following tasks while watching

children run around. It's hard for her not to imagine these children becoming warriors,

the same warriors her people would fight after winter. The same warriors she would

be killing if it meant her survival.

If you enjoy shows like The 100 and Vikings this book is for you. For those that

like stand-alones with potential for companions then again this is perfect. There will

be a companion novel sometime in 2019 and let me tell you knowing more about

anything in this book would be a bonus. Sky in the Deep on its own is a fascinating

tale and I love how each person gets to grown in a natural setting not a forced one

chapter motive.

Since listening to the audiobook I have now bought a hardcover and thrown it

at both girls to read or listen to. Mackenzie being the super talented person gave

making a custom funko pop a shot. Eelyn was her first one and after 2 days of

painting she finished. If you head to our IG you can see a slideshow of her.

TTFN

Ashley

Review: Light Years

Title: Light Years

Author: Kass Morgan

Publisher: Little  Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 384

Synopsis:(from GoodReads)

Reeling from the latest attack by a mysterious enemy, the Quatra Fleet Academy is

finally admitting students from every planet in the solar system after centuries of exclusivity.

Hotshot pilot Vesper, an ambitious Tridian citizen, dreams of becoming a captain--but when

she loses her spot to a brilliant, wisecracking boy from the wrong side of the asteroid belt,

it makes her question everything she thought she knew. Growing up on the toxic planet

Deva, Cormak will take any chance he can get to escape his dead-end life and join the

Academy--even if he has to steal someone's identity to do it. Arran was always considered

an outsider on icy Chetire, always dreaming of something more than a life working in

the mines. Now an incoming cadet, Arran is looking for a place to belong.

4/ 5 stars

I really liked this story! I’m starting to get more into Si-Fi type books and they’ve

been wonderful. I loved the different planets and lifestyles portrayed in Light Years.

I also loved the four character point of view too. Vesper and Cormak/ “Rex”  were my

favorite characters because of their banter. I liked Orelia’s change of heart too. Arran

was adorable, a little brainiac :) I also liked the backstories on our main characters

and they fit great together. Kass Morgan’s writing style was great to read, kept you

entertained and wanting to read more. I loved that the four main characters were

from different planets and that their differences actually made them a better team in

the end.

I hope there is a second book at least to continue this story.