Daughter of Smoke & Bone

September 2021 Reading Wrap-Up

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Neon Gods by Katee Robert
(Dark Olympus, book 1)
Rating:  N/A – DNF
Review:  No
Format:  Audiobook
Reading Dates: Aug 19 – Sept 7
Read Count:  0.5
Favorite Thing:  Interesting premise
Least Favorite Thing:  This book made me feel oogy?

I tried to read this for Katesbookdate‘s patreon book club and… I swear this was almost porn-without-plot, it was barely not that. I felt so uncomfortable the whole time, not about the sex, but about how every single thing – good or bad – brought on a new sex scene. Also…the way he talked to her was shudder inducing.

My Posts About Neon Gods

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
(Percy Jackson and the Olympians, book 5)
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Audiobook
Reading Dates:  Sept 7
Read Count:  3
Favorite Thing:  The oracle!
Least Favorite Thing:  Why can’t people just tell other people things?

I probably won’t ever read these books again, but because I feel like I’ve really aged out of them. But it was a nice little throw-back.

My Posts About The Last Olympian

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
(The Southern Vampire Mysteries, book 7 )
Rating: ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review: No
Format: Audiobook
Reading Dates: Sept 1 – 7
Read Count: 2
Favorite Thing: Telepath Teamup!
Least Favorite Thing: I can’t even think of anything, I take these books as they are lol

So I’ve read this before, physically, but I listen to music or audiobooks while I work now and I needed something fluffy so of course I went for the Sookie Stackhouse books. I’ve been trying to slowly work my way through, but once I start one I just can’t turn it off!

My Posts About All Together Dead

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
Rating: ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review: No
Format: Audiobook
Reading Dates: Sept 8 – 9
Read Count: 2
Favorite Thing: I love the way everyone talks. No the accents, but like the word choice and the…cadence maybe?
Least Favorite Thing: She’s so painfully selfish, the movie definitely took some of that out.

I love this movie so much, and I have listened to a different audiobook version in the past, but I think this one was better.

My Posts About Brooklyn

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
(The Southern Vampire Mysteries, book 8)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review: No
Format: Audiobook
Reading Dates: Sept 10 – 11
Read Count: 2
Favorite Thing: I like that a major real life event was included, makes a fantastical story feel more real.
Least Favorite Thing: Stop, I’m never going to have a least favorite am I?

These books are so relaxing for me. And occasionally quite funny.

My Posts About From Dead to Worse

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
(The Southern Vampire Mysteries, book 9)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review: No
Format: Audiobook
Reading Dates: Sept 12 – 13
Read Count: 2
Favorite Thing: Shifters out!!!!
Least Favorite Thing: How many times is Jason going to be accused of some kind of horrific murder? Examine your life, bro.

Ok, fine, I picked a least favorite thing. Except it’s not even really a least favorite thing, because it’s kind of hilarious?

My Posts About Dead and Gone

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
(Daughter of Smoke & Bone, book 1)
Rating: ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review: No
Format: Audiobook
Reading Dates: Sept 15 – 17
Read Count: 3
Favorite Thing: TEETH!
Least Favorite Thing: Special girl is so special.

I had been wanting to reread these, specifically via audiobook, for so dang long! I finally broke down and joined audible just for the time it would take to listen to these books.

My Posts About Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
(Daughter of Smoke & Bone, book 2)
Rating: ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review: No
Format: Audiobook
Reading Dates: Sept 17 – 20
Read Count: 3
Favorite Thing: Ziriiiiiii
Least Favorite Thing: Mr. White Wolf himself obviously.

You know I’m just now realizing how little the covers have to do with the story…

My Posts About Days of Blood & Starlight

The Singer of All Songs by Kate Constable
(The Chanters of Tremaris, book 1)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review: No
Format: Audiobook
Reading Dates: Sept 22 – 23
Read Count: 3
Favorite Thing: I just love the magic style!
Least Favorite Thing: Does she have to love the first man she’s ever met?

Don’t ask me why, but I suddenly became convinced that this was the book I needed to listen to ASAP… Anyway I bought it and I listened and the background sounds were strange…

My Posts About The Singer of All Songs

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ – it was ok
Review: No
Format: Print
Reading Dates: July 23 – Sept 28
Read Count: 1
Favorite Thing: Uh….I….can’t think of one…
Least Favorite Thing: SHE’S SO INCREDIBLY STUPID I CAN’T HANDLE IT

Could it have taken me any longer to finish this book? Gawd! I honestly did not enjoy it at all. I wanted to, I tried really hard…. Blah.

My Posts About Lock Every Door

Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor
(Daughter of Smoke & Bone, book 3)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review: No
Format: Audiobook
Reading Dates: Sept 20 – 28
Read Count: 3
Favorite Thing: Things finally happen!
Least Favorite Thing: I wish I could care at all about the main characters’ romance, but the only romances I give a shit about are side characters lol

WHAT DOES THIS COVER HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING??

My Posts About Dreams of Gods & Monsters

In Progress

September 2017 Wrap-Up (Part 1)

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The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
(Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★★☆
Review:  No
Reading Dates:  September 1
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  “Look would it save you a lot of time if I just gave up and went mad now?”
Least Favorite Thing:  Vogon poetry 😦

I can’t believe how long it took me to get around to reading this. I think it’s because it is one of those things everyone talks about reading (or they’ve seen the movie), so I just sort of tuned it out. But I had seen examples of Douglas Adams’ writing and I knew I would enjoy it if I just did it, and I was right! I definitely recommend this book.

My Posts About The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Dicey’s Song by Cynthia Voigt
(The Tillerman Cycle, book 2)
Rating:  ★★★★☆
Review:  No
Reading Dates:  September 1 – 2
Read Count:  3  (Pretty sure I’ve read it more than that, but only 3 that I can be sure of.)
Favorite Thing:  That scene where Jeff and Mina both visited the farm for the first time and met all the other Tillermans and everybody sat around singing songs and it was cheesy and cozy and perfect!
Least Favorite Thing:  Dicey’s English teacher…blech.

My Posts About Dicey’s Song

When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore
Rating:  ★★★★★
Review:  Yes
Reading Dates:  September 2 – 7
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  The colors of the story.
Least Favorite Thing:  That freakin’ Reese douche.

I normally don’t enjoy books that are as romance-centric as When the Moon Was Ours, but everything about this story was beautiful and I’m so glad it got recommended to me.

My Posts About When the Moon Was Ours

A Solitary Blue by Cynthia Voigt
(The Tillerman Cycle, book 3)
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review:  No
Reading Dates:  September 7 – 8
Read Count:  3  (Pretty sure I’ve read it more than that, but only 3 that I can be sure of.)
Favorite Thing:  The relationship between Jeff and his dad in Part Two.
Least Favorite Thing:  Fucking Melody. Ugh. Double ugh. I had forgotten just how manipulative and emotionally abusive Melody was to Jeff and his father!

My Posts About A Solitary Blue

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
(The Lynburn Legacy, book 1)
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review:  Yes
Reading Dates:  September 8 – 11
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Angela’s rudeness.
Least Favorite Thing:  THE FUCKING ENDING WTF???????? IT BETTER BE SOME KIND OF FUCKING TRICK I SWEAR TO GOD!

I was hesitant about this book at first, but I’m very glad I read it (even if I’m also very mad). There were many moments where it had me literally laughing out loud.

My Posts About Unspoken

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
(Daughter of Smoke & Bone, book 1)
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review:  No
Reading Dates:  September 12 – 14
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  That masqued ball scene.
Least Favorite Thing:  When Laini turns her spectacular powers of descriptive language against us and describes things like Razgut and Bain… I needed 10 showers after that whole beard thing.

To my mind, DoSaB isn’t as good as Strange the Dreamer, but it’s still really good and really hard to put down!

Also I’m still filled with jealousy every time it’s mentioned that Karou just wishes knowledge of new languages into her collection. No fair, no share!

My Posts About Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Part 2

Thursday Quotables: September 14, 2017

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This weekly feature is the place to highlight a great quote, line, or passage discovered during your reading each week; whether it’s something funny, startling, gut-wrenching, or just really beautifully written.

“Hey! My body may be small, but my soul is large. It’s why I wear platforms. So I can reach the top of my soul.”

Summary:

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”, she speaks many languages – not all of them human – and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Thank you Bookshelf Fantasies for this fun book meme!

What Are You Reading Wednesdays: September 13, 2017

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What Are You Reading Wednesdays #WAYRW is a weekly feature on It’s A Reading Thing. Everyone is welcome to participate.

Grab the book you are currently reading and answer three questions:

  1. What’s the name of your current read?
  2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a couple of sentences.
  3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

  1. Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, book 1) by Laini Taylor
  2. To her, the human form — plain as it was, and not spliced together with other species — was a missed opportunity.
  3. Ha! In theory, sure, but if I actually was in that world I know I would die.

WWW Wednesday: September 13, 2017

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Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at Should be Reading and revived on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three W’s!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:  Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, book 1) by Laini Taylor
I had been wanting to reread this series for a while;, and now that I’m stuck waiting for the sequel to Strange the Dreamer, I think this is the perfect time.

I read this the first time with Mary at Books and Cookies, but that was years ago apparently!

Who knows, I may even try to review them this time around since I’m (hopefully) likely to be less overwhelmed by how much I like it with the second reading.

And, of course, I’ll be reading another chapter of Persuasion this week.

Recently Finished:  Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy, book 1) by Sarah Rees Brennan
I’m still fiddling around to see if I can come up with a whole review for this book. I have some thoughts, but I’m not sure it adds up to much.

I had never even heard of anyone doing a Young Adult book in the style of a Gothic novel before I was recommended this book. I’m glad I gave it a chance.

But honestly, y’all, that ending? I just sat there in shock like…what? What kind of complete 180??? I don’t want to say too much and spoil things, but seriously what?

Reading Next:  Untold (The Lynburn Legacy, book 2) by Sarah Rees Brennan
I’m looking forward to continuing this series. I have to admit I don’t see how they can possibly go anywhere else from where the last book ended!

As always with a sequel, I’m wary of Second Book Syndrome, but we shall see. If the dialogue is as enjoyable as the first book I don’t think I’ll have too much trouble.

And, seriously, this book better explain that ending from Unspoken or I swear I will throw something…

I’m also waiting for the last four Tillerman Cycle books to come in from the public library, so cross your fingers for me that I get those this week because I want to finish rereading that series too. (Someone please motivate me to set up my home library so I can just read my own copies of my favorite books!)