December 2018 Reading Wrap-Up

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

 

Update: T5W, Nov-23-16

I was looking in my old Top 5 Wednesday posts and saw this one for Books I Want to Re-Read and I just realized I can actually cross 2 of them off the list!

  1. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
  2. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
  3. The Singer of All Songs by Kate Constable
  4. Jackaroo by Cynthia Voigt
  5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Hurray for me!

UPDATE January 27, 2017: 3 down, 2 to go!
UPDATE July 2017: 4 down, 1 to go!

Top 5 Wednesday: November 30, 2016

Favorite Villains

It’s been a little while since we’ve done the villain topic, and this one will definitely be a recurring one in the group as there are always new villains to talk about.


  1. The Formics (a.k.a. Buggers) // Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
  2. Captain Hook // Peter Pan (J.M. Barrie)
  3. Lia // Stranger with My Face (Lois Duncan)
  4. Vollys // The Two Princesses of Bamarre (Gail Carsen Levine)
  5. Queen Levana // The Lunar Chronicles (Marissa Meyer)

To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, just head over to their Goodreads Group and join the fun!

Top 5 Wednesday: November 23, 2016

Books I Want to Re-Read

Though it seems like we are all constantly chasing the next upcoming release, let’s take a trip down memory lane and talk about some books that we’d like to re-visit.


  1. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
  2. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
  3. The Singer of All Songs by Kate Constable
  4. Jackaroo by Cynthia Voigt
  5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

To participate in Top 5 Wednesday, just head over to their Goodreads Group and join the fun!