The Dream Thieves

December 2018 Reading Wrap-Up

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Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
(Grisha Trilogy, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  November 29 – December 2
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  Alina’s power
Least Favorite Thing:  They killed the poor stag…

It’s so weird because I’ve got a record of having read this book before, and now I’ve read it a second time through and I still can barely remember anything about it… Whatever, it was enjoyable to read regardless.

My Posts About Shadow and Bone

Opal by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Raven Cycle, book 4.5)
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  eBook
Reading Dates:  December 8 – 9
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  The way Opal describes things.
Least Favorite Thing:  Sad Ronan 😦

I’m so glad my library finally got this novella, it was even better than I expected it to be. I love the names Opal gives to all the things and people she encounters.

My Posts About Opal

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Raven Cycle, book 2)
Rating:  ★★★★★ – loved it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  October 27 – December 9
Read Count:  3
Favorite Thing:  Maura/Mr. Gray. They were so adorable.
Least Favorite Thing:  I can’t think of anything.

I actually decided to up my rating from 4-stars to 5 because I love this series so much and I don’t know why I was holding back on rating it 5 stars.

My Posts About The Dream Thieves

The Girl of Fire and Thorns Stories by Rae Carson
(The Girl of Fire and Thorns, book 0.5 – 0.7)
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  December 2 – 14
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Alodia’s point of view. I’d read a whole companion series from her perspective.
Least Favorite Thing:  Lord Solvaño didn’t suffer enough.

I’m really glad I finally got around to reading these stories, even if it’s been years since I read the novels. But actually this has made me want to reread the novels so maybe that will happen soon.

My Posts About The Girl of Fire and Thorns Stories

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
(Girls of Paper and Fire, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  December 6 – 24
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Gaaayyyyyy
Least Favorite Thing:  She had to come back at us with that final page? Rude.

This book was so chock-full of good representation it was like a breath of fresh air. I recommend it to anyone looking for diverse fantasy.

My Posts About Girls of Paper and Fire

You by Caroline Kepnes
(You, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  December 15 – 26
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Well written.
Least Favorite Thing:  Made me need 10 showers.

This is one that I felt a little weird rating. It’s not a feel-good novel. It will definitely make you feel a little dirty being inside Joe’s mind.

My Posts About You

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  December 26 – 29
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  The little touches of history woven throughout the story.
Least Favorite Thing:  People kept kicking the poor dogs!

I first read this back in elementary school with my class, and I remembered loving it. It’s been sitting on my shelves for a bit and the nostalgia just kept calling to me; I had to reread it. I’m so glad I did.

My Posts About Catherine, Called Birdy

Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
Rating:  ★★★★★ – it was amazing
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  December 30
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Descriptions of fairies.
Least Favorite Thing:  Forgetting.

One of my all time favorite stories is Peter Pan, but I had always been afraid to read the book in case that soured my enjoyment somehow. This was profoundly stupid. The book only increased my love.

My Posts About Peter Pan

In Progress

 

November 2018 Reading Wrap-Up

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Places No One Knows by Brenna Yovanoff
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really like it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  October 30 – November 3
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Waverly’s salty, salty thoughts.
Least Favorite Thing:  No one communicates well in this book and it is infuriating reading their conversations because like JUST SAY WORDS OK JUST SAY IT DON’T THINK IT!!

I really liked this book. Now I’m torn on Brenna Yovanoff because two of her books I hated and two I loved… What is the real Brenna Yovanoff?? Stress.

My Posts About Places No One Knows

Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  November 3 – 6
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Laini’s writing voice.
Least Favorite Thing:  As I’ve said before, there were some bits that were just too descriptive. Things I’d rather not visualize.

These stories aren’t pleasant, but I like them anyway because of Laini’s voice.

My Posts About Lips Touch: Three Times

Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi
(Shatter Me, book 4)
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  November 6 – 9
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  That scream! Whaaat!
Least Favorite Thing:  No one communicates in this book!

Man I loved the ending to this book, it was exactly what I wanted.

My Posts About Restore Me

My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Aston, & Jodi Meadows
(The Lady Janies, book 2)
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  November 10 – 19
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Helen
Least Favorite Thing:  Just a tiny bit longish…?

I read this book during a reading slump and it still managed to be a four star book for me. It was so funny!

My Posts About My Plain Jane

They Never Came Back by Caroline B. Cooney
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  July 22 – November 23
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  The POV shifts.
Least Favorite Thing:  What about Marmee and Dad Bob??

It took me ages to get past the third chapter of this book, but I won’t name any names as to whyyyy… Anyway I finished it and it was well written.

My Posts About They Never Came Back

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  November 17 – 25
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Beatrice/Benedick
Least Favorite Thing:  EVERYONE JUST FORGIVES FUCKING CLAUDIO LIKE HE DIDN’T PUBLICLY SHAME HERO????

Fuck Claudio. Also why is it always the friar who’s like “let’s pretend someone is dead!”?

My Posts About Much Ado About Nothing

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
(To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, book 1)
Rating:  ★★☆☆☆ – it was ok
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  November 24 – 27
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Um….
Least Favorite Thing:  I did not like a single character in this whole book…

I have to say, even though I rated this 2 stars, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad book. It’s a solid, decent book, but it’s really not my cup of tea which bumped it down a bit. And if you like YA Romance, then you’ll probably love this book.

My Posts About To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

In Progress

1000 Pages Read-a-Thon – Day 8 (The End)

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Woo I did iiiiiitttt!!!!!! I’m really proud of myself because I’m really struggling with my reading this past week or so. I’m desperately trying to avoid this becoming a full-on slump, which is part of the reason I did the read-a-thon at all. I think all-in-all it was successful in motivating me during my almost-slump.

64 pages – The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
107 pages – My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows
Previous Total:  851 pages

Total Pages:  1,022

June 2017 Wrap-Up

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A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
(A Court of Thorns and Roses, book 3)
Rating: ★★★★☆
Reading Dates:  June 8 – 9
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Feyre’s extremely satisfying manipulation of the Spring Court in part one OR sassy Azriel.
Least Favorite Thing:  Tamlin’s entire personality….

I may write a review of this book later, but at the moment I’m not sure I can do so coherently, so I’ll just leave a few thoughts here:
Once again Sarah has upped the amount of smut! Overall the book was well-written (and wow I especially loved the fights), but there were some brief instances of iffy stereotypes that rubbed me the wrong way. And as always, Tamlin-heavy scenes gave me anxiety attacks, but Inner Circle banter made it all better.

My Posts About A Court of Wings and Ruin

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Raven Cycle, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★★☆
Reading Dates:  June 9 – 10 & June 10 – 30
Read Count:  3
Favorite Thing:  Sass sass sass sass SASS!
Least Favorite Thing:  Barrington Whelk.

So I read this book twice this month, once on my own and quickly, and the second time with a friend a little at a time while reading the rest of the series myself.

If you are interested in the magical realism genre, you should definitely try The Raven Cycle books.

My Posts About The Raven Boys

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Raven Cycle, book 3)
Rating:  ★★★★☆
Reading Dates:  June 12 – 19
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  That entire scene in the Dollar City.
Least Favorite Thing:  Kavinsky is deeply annoying… (Um “substance party”? Ugh…)

I also really loved The Gray Man. I just enjoy the way he thinks about things, it’s so calming to read. And every interaction between him and the Fox Way ladies is just gold.

I have to admit — and I feel terrible about it — I don’t like Adam in this book hardly at all. He’s occasionally frustrating in the The Raven Cycle, but in The Dream Thieves he crosses the line to just plain unlikable.

My Posts About The Dream Thieves

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Raven Cycle, book 3)
Rating:  ★★★★☆
Reading Dates:  June 20 – 26
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  Greenmantle dialogue!
Least Favorite Thing:  Greenmantle actions…

I love Jessie Dittley, I would like to request a Jessie Dittley from the universe, please.

My Posts About Blue Lily, Lily Blue

Thursday Quotables: June 15, 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.

Then there was the awkward moment that arrives when two thirds of the people in the room know that the other third is supposed to die in fewer than nine months, and the person who is meant to die is not one of the ones in the know.

Summary:

The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after…

Thank you Bookshelf Fantasies for this fun book meme!