Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

Fawkes was our “I’m Booked” book club pick for the month of November. We kind of had to pick this book with it being about Guy Fawkes. Guy Fawkes day is November 5th and my cohost, Lindsey’s, birthday. I went into this book not really knowing anything about the history of Guy Fawkes. I’m glad I did, because I learned a lot just from reading this story.

Thomas, riddled with the stone plague, is the great Guy Fawkes’ son, but he hasn’t seen his father in years. When he is denied his color power mask he goes in search of answers. What he finds is a new group of men plotting to kill the king and a girl on the wrong side of the plot. Will he choose to help murder the king or will he choose the other side, the side of the Igniters.

Thomas was a complicated character for me. He started out a little selfish and naive but soon grew into a compassionate person. Following his journey was both frustrating and rewarding. He really made up for his short comings in the end and found himself, but I wish there was a little more there for him.

Emma on the other hand was a powerful and dynamic character. I liked her from the very beginning. She stood up for herself and knew exactly what she wanted. She complimented Thomas quite well. There is a major twist with her character in the middle of the book and it was done perfectly. I wanted more of her towards the end of the book, she was such a well developed character. I would have liked to see more into her past and discuss more of who she was.

This book has a magic system that allows someone to control colors by wearing a certain color mask. There are two sides to this, the Igniters and the Keepers. Both at war with each other over their differing beliefs. The Igniters believe in white light and the power to talk to multiple colors while the keepers believe you are given one color to control and the white light is evil.

This concept was very interesting to me and added a twist to this historical story. I did have a few problems imagining the color powers, I wish there was more back story for this magic system and more detail about how it worked and affected the people of this town. I had a lot of questions about how it worked that just weren’t answered.

The plot was thick with betrayal, twists, and other worldly magic. It touched on the horrible racism in London in the 1600s and had religious undertones based on the history of Guy Fawkes. There were sections that flew by for me and had me reading nonstop and then there were sections that seemed to drag for quite a bit. The ending felt rushed and I wanted more detail like we were getting towards the beginning. The very end wasn’t my favorite but it added a good element to the story.

Overall I enjoyed this book. I gave it 4 stars. While I had some problems with the pacing of the book and some of the characters, the story line and Emma saved it for me. I learned a lot about London in the 1600s and the story of Guy Fawkes. I think if you like historical fiction you’ll enjoy Fawkes.

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Pride isn’t just another love story between two people, it’s a love story between sisters, between a girl and her hood and a love story about family. I thoroughly enjoyed this Pride and Prejudice retelling. I was surprised by how much it made me want to go and re-read the original story. It had all the original vibes.

“It’s a truth universally acknowledged that when rich people move into the hood, where it’s a little bit broken and a little bit forgotten, the first thing they want to do is clean it up.”

The modern day setting was perfect. Zuri Benitez and her sisters have lived in Bushwick their entire lives and now it’s changing. The wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street causing all kinds of trouble, or so Zuri thinks.

I thought for sure I would love the romantic element the most in this story, but I was shocked to see how much I started to care for the family element more. The sisterly love is done so well, it makes me wish I grew up with sisters! By the end I was having all kinds of feels for the neighborhood and family, making the love story take a backseat.

The romance between Zuri and Darius wasn’t quite as good for me, but it had all the angst and back and forth of the original. At times things seemed to move too fast and I wanted even more of that slow burn romance we are used to. Maybe that’s why I focused on the family dynamic more.

I gave this book 4 stars and would definitely recommend it. It’s a laid back, easy to read adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. It gave me a look into a neighborhood and family I had never seen before and I really enjoyed it.

Crow Flight by Susan Cunningham

I was able to read this book through Netgalley to provide feedback and my honest review.

Gin is quite possibly a computer genius. She is able to make complex computer models and her dream is to attend Harvard some day. When a new boy, Felix, shows up at school her focus is turned. Felix winds up in her modeling class and becomes her new partner. As they work through their final project, terrible secrets are found and Gin has to make a tough decision.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. There was an element of mystery that kept me intrigued. The arrival of Felix and the strange crows he seemed to always be around was so mysterious I didn’t want to put it down until I knew more. Unfortunately it took over half the book to get that answer. Usually that wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me, but the story seemed to drag on without much happening.

The relationship between Felix and Gin was unusual to me. His character never seemed interested in her even when he actually was. I had a hard time seeing why they were interested in each other, other than the fact that they both enjoyed computer models.

If you enjoy computer sciences and modeling I think you would really enjoy this book. There were specifics related to how a computer model works in great detail. I found those bits to be interesting at times and a little boring at other times. Sadly my interests don’t involve computer sciences so I was probably not the right audience for this story.

The biggest problem I had with this book was the ending. The entire storyline was moving so slow and then right at the end every conflict happened one after another. It felt rushed and forced on the reader. I wish the conflict and resolution had been better fleshed out.

I think the concept behind this book was unique. It was an interesting read, but the story didn’t flow for me and was hard to get through.

Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

Shadow of the Fox is a YA Fantasy revolving around Japanese mythology. It is the story of Yumeko, a young kitsune ( part girl-part fox) who is thrust into a mission to protect the scroll of a thousand prayers. When she meets a man claiming to be a samurai named Tatsumi who is after the scroll she is trying to protect, she has to keep a secret that could destroy her. If the scroll winds up in the wrong hands the great Kami Dragon may be unleashed again. This story is full of Japanese culture, adventure, and mythical creatures.

I gave this book 4.5 stars. The storyline had me hooked from the beginning. It is told from a dual first person perspective with the two main characters, Yumeko and Tatsumi. Yumeko is a young girl raised in a temple full of monks. I love when a character really grows and learns throughout a story and she did just that. In the beginning she is naive and unsure of the outside world but by the end she is starting to find herself and her path.

Tatsumi was my favorite character in this book. He is very strict and business-like, but we start to see a shift in him as the story progresses. There is still a lot we don’t know about him and I’m hoping we get more back story for him in the second book.

The interaction between Yumeko and Tatsumi was a slow burn romance that kept me wanting more. They are both keeping secrets from each other throughout the story and at times you can’t really tell if they like each other or not, but the undertone of romance and attraction is definitely there.

I chose to listen to the audio book and I’m glad I did! There are a slew of Japanese words interwoven into this story and it was nice getting to hear them pronounced correctly. The story seemed to move quite slow, but it worked! We were introduced to so many cultural things throughout, that it helped to have a slow pace to keep things straight.

The main reason I couldn’t give this book 5 stars is because I felt like the ending was left too open. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but for me I had invested over 400 pages of reading into this book and I just needed something to be resolved towards to end. Of course this means I’ll be reading the second book, because I need to know what happens!! So maybe that was a good move by Julie…

 

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab is the anticipated sequel to Vicious; a story of right and wrong and everything in between. In Vengeful we follow the same beloved/hated characters from the first book.

Sydney is still in shock over her sister’s death. Victor is less himself, dealing with death and life over and over again. Eli Ever seems to have gotten away with murder.

In the second book Victor finds himself in a position of weakness, grasping for answers only to be led down a winding path of pain and death. His family- Sydney, Mitch, and Dominic-are falling apart around him and so are his powers.

Five years has passed and Eli Ever is trapped, constantly being tormented both physically and mentally in his new surroundings. But there is one thing that keeps him going, his work will continue, even if it’s done behind bars.

This story can never get old for me. I would follow Victor, Sydney and Mitch as they made breakfast and went shopping if V.E. Schwab wrote about it. I just love these characters that much. Their make shift family is the perfect mix. In this book, they are just as great, but we get introduced to new characters that have the potential to join this trio in my heart.

Marcella is a strong and brazen woman we meet right in the beginning of the book. She had the potential to be a main villain in our story or a powerful ally, you’ll have to read to find out which. I really enjoyed the way her character develops, as a mob bosses wife she doesn’t take opposition well.

June is another new character, yay for more female EO’s. Her history is a little more secretive and we are left not knowing much about her. I have so many questions still, that is makes me wonder if we’ll be seeing her in another book! She is a little more level headed than Marcella, but just as bad in a good way.

Without giving too much away, I thought the progression of this story flowed well. It had the same short chapters and jumpy timeline as the first which I personally enjoy. Overall I gave this book five stars and these two together are some of my favorite reads of all time. Maybe I’m a sucker for super human powers, or just the inner uneasy state of my conscious constantly telling me it was wrong to root these characters on. Either way I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes a good action packed sc-fi.

 

 

 

The Hazel Wood review

I recently finished The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert! I really wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did. From what I heard it was a little spooky, had some fairytale vibes and that’s it. I completely under-estimated this book. The story went way deeper than I imagined it would.

In The Hazel Wood, Alice, a young teenager, is dealing with a rough home life. It’s just her and her mom, Ella, and they are constantly on the move. But there’s a secret Alice is soon to learn about her family. Her grandmother, Althea, is a famous and mysterious writer who wrote a spooky fairytale book that has a cult following. When Althea dies unexpectedly strange things start happening and Alice finds herself in the middle of an adventure she definitely didn’t ask for. What is the Hinterland and why do they want her, and can she survive?

I don’t want to give anything away in this review because I really think you should go into this book not knowing very much. As I was reading this story I kept thinking to myself how much I loved Melissa Albert’s writing style. She has a way with words that makes then flow through your mind, taking root in your emotions and burying themselves there making you think about them all day. I actually went to look up Melissa to see what else she has written only to be disappointed in finding this is her first novel! What an amazing debut!

Throughout this book we get to actually read some of the creepy short stories from Alice’s grandmother. These are dark fairytales for sure! There is nothing bright and happy about them. I enjoyed the look into the Hinterland and the stories it had. We jump from present day to another world that is creepy and strange to say the least. Melissa does this beautifully.

I wound up giving this book five stars! I was invested in the characters, loved the world descriptions, and the plot was riveting. I highly recommend The Hazel Wood if you like a darker fairytale with modern day twists. I will be looking out for more from Melissa Albert! I can’t wait to see what else she writes.

Happy Reading Lovely Reader Friends

xoxo Tricia

 

 

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

I recently finished reading The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw. This story is about three sisters who were accused of being witches over 200 years ago. The towns people, scared and outraged, tie rocks to their feet and drown them in the harbor.  Now every summer they come back to haunt the small town of Sparrow and take victims back with them into the murky depths.

This book sounded pretty spooky.  I was excited to read it for October, but I only gave it 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the beginning and the end but the middle lacked something for me. I wanted more spooky scenes and more of the witches.  I almost didn’t want to finish it but I’m glad I stuck in there, the ending was worth it.

The romance in this book was unexpected. I was wanting a scary story about witches so when we were trust into this romance I was a little put off. I understand why Shea Ernshaw had to set up this part of the story but it didn’t really come to light until the end and then it all felt a little rushed.

Overall I think this is a nice easy read. It’s 308 pages but there are a lot of blank pages in-between the chapters which makes it go by pretty fast. If you can make it past the middle section the ending is definitely worth it! The plot twist towards the end was perfect! That’s the action I was craving towards the middle.

Have you read The Wicked Deep? What did you think? I would love to know in the comments below.

Happy Reading Lovely Reader Friends

xoxo Tricia

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

I recently finished reading Vicious by V.E. Schwab. I heard all the hype surrounding the sequel Vengeful and I had to pick it up! Turns out the hype was real, this book was amazing. I would like to think I’m more cautious to give out 5 star ratings for books, but lately I’ve really been enjoying the books I’ve read. This book was a definite 5 stars, 10 stars if that were on the Goodreads scale.

Vicious is a wild ride. We follow Victor and Eli, two college students, who decided to do their thesis on EO’s or Extraordinary people. When they decide to move from writing about EO’s to experimenting with becoming one the story takes a dark and twisted turn. Jump to present day and Victor and Eli are enemies and their worlds have completely changed. Do you believe in super powers? You might after reading this book.

The way V.E. Schwab structured this book was simply amazing. From chapter to chapter we are taken back to Victor and Eli’s college days and then thrust into the present day. I loved the fast paced chapters and back and forth in this book. It kept me on my toes and always wanting more.

The characters were so real and raw throughout the story. We saw their progression or in some cases their downfall clearly. The unlikely trio in this story was lovable and completely realistic. I felt like this could be a real group of people in today’s world. I loved the way all the characters were written and immediately felt a connection with them.

The ending of this book was so perfect in so many ways. I’m anxious to pick up the second book and continue this heart pounding story. If you are looking for a fast paced action packed fantasy then this book is perfect for you. It’s also a great fall read, kind of spooky and definitely shocking.

Happy Reading Reader Friends

Tricia

 

My First Book Signing

Now that I’m back into reading I want to do all the “reader” things I can. I’ve already got my eye on BookCon 2019, but I needed something now. I was lucky enough to find a book signing near me, and it was an author I absolutely LOVE! Ransom Riggs, the author of Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children!

I was a little nervous to go to my first book signing. I really had no clue what to say to an author and I didn’t know what to expect. It turns out it wasn’t as scary as I was making it out to be. It was fun! I didn’t clam up when I met him and I didn’t make a fool of myself.

This signing was small and intimate. It was at a college book store in a small town near me. When I got there they had chairs set up with a large reading chair in the front of the room. I wasn’t expecting anything other than a signing but we got to do a Q&A with Ransom and it was so much fun! We got to hear some of his thoughts behind why he made his characters the way they are and what got him into writing. Turns out he’s just as funny and charming in person as his characters are in his books.

After the Q&A we stood in line to do the signing. I was expecting to be herded through quickly but we actually got time to say a few things and get a picture with him. I told him it was my first book signing and he asked me how it was. It felt completely natural, turns out authors are real people just like us. Then I got to take a picture with him. He was so nice and really didn’t mind giving people time to chat.

It was a lovely first experience at a book signing and If you ever get the chance to go to one, do it! I went by myself and still had a great time. I felt at home, surrounded by readers and books. Everyone is there for the same reason, we love to read and we love the author that’s there. This is the first of many signings for me! What authors have you met? How was your experience? Let me know in the comments below.

Happy Reading Lovely Reader Friends

Tricia

September Wrap Up

September was a good month for me. I didn’t read a ton of books, but I started my blog and my reading journey this month. It’s the beginning of a new me, or an old me that is finally free to come back out! Hopefully this is the first of many monthly wrap ups.

I only read three books this month but I really enjoyed all of them! It’s nice to read four and five star books. That doesn’t always happen, but I got lucky. I’m pretty picky about the books I choose, which is good, but I do want to branch out into other genres in the future.

The first book I finished was Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. This book follows Sixteen year old Jacob, a boy with a tragic past. His grandfather is killed and has left behind stories of peculiar children from his past.  Jacob is determined to find out if they are real. We follow him to a remote island off the coast of Wales in search of answers. There he finds evidence of these “peculiars” and much much more.

I gave this book five stars! I loved every bit of it. The story kept me on my toes and a little scared to be honest. I fell in love with the characters and was really invested in their story. I loved the addition of vintage photographs throughout the book. It helped me visualize the characters. They really are “peculiar”.  I think this book is a perfect fall read.

The next book I finished was The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. This book follows a young girl named Jude who has a tragic beginning. Her parents are murdered and she is thrust into a new world of Fae with her two sisters where she is a mortal in an immortal world. Throughout the book we see her struggle to fit in and find her place amongst the kingdom. Prince Carden doesn’t make that easy and we follow her as she decides whether or not to defy him and find her strength.

I gave this book four stars. The first seven pages had me hooked! There was so much action and I was already invested in the characters and their story. About half way through things went a little stale for me. I was anxious for certain things to finally happen and some of the storyline seemed to drag on. That’s the only reason I couldn’t give it five stars.

The ending saved this book for me! It finally picked up and some of the scenes really blew me away. By the last page I was ready to continue the story. I have a feeling I’ll like the second book more. This one was a lot of set up which is good, but I did crave more towards the middle. I’m ready to see how these two characters, Jude and Carden, unfold in the second book.

The next book I read was I’d rather be Reading by Anne Bogel. I have an entire blog post on this book that I will link below. I gave this one five stars. It was an easy and fun read that made me laugh. It’s a collection of stories and funny book lover commentary that will melt your heart.

Blog Post on I’d Rather be Reading

That’s it! The three books I read in September. I already have my October TBR list ready and it’s full of creepy and spooky titles that I think I will love! I’ll keep you updated on that list and I want to know what books did you finish in September? Hopefully you read some good ones!

Happy Reading Lovely Reader Friends

Tricia