Tsundoku

Friday, December 18, 2015

ARC Book Review: The Golden Braid (Hagenheim, #6)

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Website, Facebook, Twitter

Edition: eARC

Received from publisher via Netgalley

Release Date: November 17th, 2015

Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Goodreads Link

Rating: 4 Stars

I received a copy of The Golden Braid from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

So, when I requested this book I hadn't realized that it was part of a series and I started to panic. Because it is the sixth book in said series and I wasn't sure I wanted to read all the ones leading up to it. I looked into it a bit and discovered that they all served as standalone novels, though, which was a relief.

The Golden Braid is a retelling of Rapunzel set in medieval times. It's not straight up historical fiction, but more of a fairy tale, honestly. Rapunzel has been raised to dislike men by Mother Gothel, the woman who raised her. When they return to the city of Hagenheim to help a friend of Mother's, Rapunzel begins to secretly take reading lessons from a knight that saved her on the road. It isn't long before she begins to question her mother and realize that staying with her mother is detrimental to her health.

At first I wasn't sure I would like this novel. The plot was slow moving, the main characters were very 2-dimensional and not likable (Gerek was a jerk and Rapunzel was naive beyond belief), and the writing just wasn't clicking with me. After about a third of the way in, though, things really started to change for the better.

The character growth was one of the best parts. It happens subtly, so much so that I didn't realize how much characters had changed until nearly the end when everything was coming to a close. While the plot never really did pick up, it changed quite frequently to focus on different events. I was okay with this, and liked where it ended up. The final few chapters pulled at my heart and had me a little pile of goo as our hero and heroine were always just out of reach from each other and their hearts.

I've already picked up the first book in this series to give it a go when I have the chance. I'm eager to see how the other books are. And no, you don't have to read these in order at all.

Friday 56: Cress

Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice. Click here to join in on the fun.

Rules: Grab a book, any book.

Turn to page 56, or 56% in your eReader.

Find a sentence, or a few, and post it.

This week I'm spotlighting Cress, which, if you've read my review, you may realize I absolutely loved.

Here's the description taken from Goodreads:

In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

From page 56 of Cress:

Even as her husband, he would continue to defy Levana for as long as he could.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

5 Star Manga Review: Horimiya (Vol. 1)

Author| Hero X Daisuke Hagiwara Rating| 5 Stars

Edition| Paperback

Buy Links| Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Book Depository

This isn't normally the type of story I would pick up, but it's one of the best decisions I've made all year.

Waiting on Wednesday: My Lady Jane

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. Click here to join in on the fun.

Book Review: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy, #1)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Website, Facebook, Twitter

Edition: Paperback

Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Goodreads Link

Rating: 4 Stars

I have had a copy of Shadow and Bone since it came out in paperback. Which is a crazy long time. And not once did I bother to pick it up to even try the first page. I would glance at it on my shelf, think how pretty it looked, and then say I would get to it later. Well, the fates aligned and I picked it up completely on a whim. I had no inclination of starting this book for a while still, but after all but deciding I would go to Book Con and seeing the author would be there, and also waiting for a book to arrive in the mail, I couldn't stop myself. And do you know how fast I read this one? 24 hours. Right after Cress. So, yeah, it was crazy addicting, and I'm so glad to have been bitten by the reading bug again.

Shadow and Bone takes place in a fantasy world based off of Russia. It follows Alina, a mapmaker for the First Army. When she and her regiment cross the Unsea, a dark place that exists because of twisted magic, she learns she is one of the Grisha- those who have magic (of a sort; it's called "Small Science"). And not just any Grisha, but a Sun Summoner. She's whisked off to court where she must learn to master her powers in order to save her world.

I will admit that this book started off slow. I wasn't completely sold until she arrived at court, around chapter six. It wasn't a bad story before then, but it was a bit cliched and the setting hadn't had time to cement itself. Once things got going, though, it was all I could do to put it down and go to sleep. I even managed to dream about this book in the hours between reading! The plot moves quickly, and there wasn't anything unnecessary. Every plot development advanced the story, and it could have been a trilogy all on its own, with the amount of things that happen.

The strongest aspect of the story is the setting. Gorgeous! And I mean it practically comes off the page. It's a subtle world-building that relies on a few phrases, people's general idea of a romantic version of historical Russia, and a taste of magic in the writing. Every once in a while I stumble into a book with a location I actually want to visit, and Ravka is one of those places.

As for the writing and characters, at first neither really stood out. Once the ball got rolling, though, neither disappointed. I look forward to continuing this series, and plan to pick up the rest of the trilogy very soon.

Monday, December 14, 2015

5 Star Book Review: Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3)

Author: Marissa Meyer

Website, Facebook, Twitter

Edition: Hardcover

Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Goodreads Link

Rating: 5 Stars

There may be SPOILERS for the first two books in the series below, so tread carefully. Though, I really recommend you read those first, because, hello, this series is amazing! Also, this is more of a love letter and thank you to this book than a proper review. You'll see what I mean when you read it.

Cress was my favorite book in the Lunar Chronicles so far, and I don't think anything can top it. I don't think Winter can even come close. I mean, I don't know that for sure, but this book was just so good, every page of it was like another piece of candy.

Two things I want to point out as being really important to me while reading: 1) Marissa Meyer knows how to write a good kissing scene, and 2) This book has made me happier than any book has for a while now.

The first requires very little explanation. She writes breathtaking kiss scenes. I recommend them.

The second, though, seems slightly more personal. As you all know, I love to read, and reading is, generally, really fun. It can drag while I'm reading a book I don't particularly like, but I pretty much enjoy the experience. Sometimes, though, some books just have more magic than others. And I haven't had one of those books since July. That book, if your curious, was The Mermaid's Sister. I've read some fantastic, amazing books since then, but none have swept me off my feet and completely taken me to another world where my mind was solely focused on it. With college, and other things going on in my life, stress levels have been high. Even while reading books in my favorite series', like Queen of Shadows, other things haunt the corners of my mind. It makes it hard to focus, and hard to enjoy the story.

But Cress returned all that magic to my life. I didn't realize how much I was reading, or what was going on in the world around me. In fact, time ceased to exist for those magical moments where I was living in the world of the Lunar Chronicles. I didn't have time to think or guess where the story might lead, I didn't have time to think about the holiday shopping I need to do, I didn't bother to think about my grades, I just read, and read, and read. And it was so amazing. It was the perfect thing to have happen to me, the most perfect relaxing thing that could have happened. I feel refreshed, like a new person, and it's such a wonderful feeling.

Sure, all books make me happy to an extent. But Cress made me euphoric. Maybe it was the characters (who were so great, I'm so invested with all of them, I think I'll die if any of my babies get hurt), the writing (which as always was simple yet powerful), or the plot (which kept me at the edge of my seat). Who knows and who cares. This book is, quite simply, magical, and I am devastated that I did not pick it up sooner.

So, to summarize: read this book. It's worth it. Read this series. It's worth it.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

One Lovely Blog Award

Thank you Lauren @ Always Me for nominating me for this award! If you're not already following her you really should start now.

The rules:

Thank the blogger who nominated you.
List the rules and display the award button.
Give seven facts about yourself.
Nominate fifteen other bloggers for the award and make sure you notify them.
Display the award button on your blog and follow the blogger who nominated you.

Seven facts:

My aunt and I share the same birthday (though not the same year); also birthday related, one of my friends was born exactly 364 days after me.
I'm obsessed with Star Wars and counting down the days until The Force Awakens; I've also, from the trailers, determined that my favorite character is Poe Dameron and I have three different Poe action figures (which drives my mother crazy).
Dragons are the very best and I collect dragon statues, though I haven't gotten one in several years.
I love playing board games, particularly Risk, Family Business, and Settlers of Catan. My cousins, brother, and I have spent countless hours playing board games and it's always great fun.
I'm really sensitive with my eyes and every time someone comes too close to them I've either fainted or gotten so nauseous and dizzy I have to lie down. Part of the reason I'm not fond of going to the eye doctor.
While I don't really read them unless it's for class, I really enjoy novels about war.
I'm learning to crochet! My dad knows and he's been teaching me really slowly.

I nominate:

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Weekly Wrap-Up and Book Haul

Sorry this post took me so long to get up today, but I wasn't home until about an hour ago. It was a really great day and actually helped restore a lot of the Christmas spirit that has been missing these last few years. My brother, cousins, and I all helped serve the breakfast at the same Breakfast with Santa we used to go to as little kids. It was so much fun and brought back a lot of good memories. Afterwards we all went to Woodfield Mall (which is an absolutely gigantic mall in the Chicago-land area, and the tenth biggest in the country with something like 300 stores) and did a little bit of shopping and had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory (my first time there, actually). Yesterday we spent a lot of time with them, too, since one of my cousins returned from studying in Italy. It's great to see her again!

But, enough about me. Here's what I Finished this Week

Not as good a week as last week since I've been busier, but I did finish up The Golden Braid and Soundless in addition to volume four of Hawkeye and the first volume of Blue Exorcist.

Currently Reading

I'm a few chapters into Snow Like Ashes and still figuring out if I like it or not. I plan to start the first book in the Bentwhistle the Dragon series very soon (maybe even tonight). After I've finished those two I'll be reading Shadows Edge (most likely).

Last Week

Monday-- Running a Blog in College

Tuesday-- Blue Exorcist Anime Review (5 Stars)

Wednesday-- WoW: The Crown's Game

Thursday-- Noragami Vol. 5+6 Review (5 Stars)

Friday-- Dead Man's Drive Review (4 Stars), F56: Dead Man's Drive

This Week

Sunday-- Blog Award

Monday-- Book Review: Cress

Tuesday-- Book Review: Shadow and Bone, Harry Potter Tag

Wednesday-- Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday-- Manga Review: Horimiya Vol. 1

Friday-- Friday 56, Book Review: The Golden Braid

Saturday-- Wrap Up and Haul

Haul

Hold onto your horses, this a a big haul (much bigger than I planned...)

KINDLE EBOOKS

Legacy of Kings

I've heard mixed things, but it sounds like something I would enjoy, plus it was on sale.

Court of Fives

Again, on sale, and something I meant to pick up when it originally came out.

Illusionarium

I've read another book by this author, and while I wasn't crazy about it at the time, I think I'll really enjoy this one.

A Wicked Thing

Another book I've heard mixed things about, but it seems to be continuously recommended to me on amazon, so I thought, why not?

The Healer's Apprentice

After finishing The Golden Braid I knew I needed to read more books by this author in this series, so I picked up the first. I'm very excited to read this one!

MANGA

Blue Exorcist Vol. 2

After watching the show I couldn't stop from buying volume one a few weeks ago, but while I was in the middle of reading that volume I knew I needed 2 immediately, so I got it.

HARDCOVER

The Orphan Queen

This was a rather impulsive buy, but Christina at Books and Prejudice talks this series up so much I knew I needed to give it a go. I plan to read it very soon. I was a little disappointed by the not-small tear on the back cover, but it's what's inside that really matters (right???).

Anyway, that's my week! How was your week? What books did you pick up, finish? Let me know in the comments!

Friday, December 11, 2015

Friday 56: Dead Man's Drive

Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice. Click here to join in on the fun.

Rules: Grab a book, any book.

Turn to page 56, or 56% in your eReader.

Find a sentence, or a few, and post it.

This week I'm highlighting Dead Man's Drive by Michael Panush. I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Here's the description taken from Goodreads:

La Cruz looks like an average Southern California small town in the 1950s Post-War Boom, but it has some dark secrets - and its guardians. They are the supernaturally adept drivers of Donovan Motors, including former Okie bank robber Wooster Stokes, Zoot Suiter and part time shaman Angel Rey, college girl and burgeoning sorceress Betty Bright and --their latest member -- an amnesiac zombie known only as Roscoe. The drivers stand between La Cruz and chaos with only their wits and some fast hot rods to help them hold back the darkness. But an onslaught of demonic attacks heralds a new danger. Reed Strickland, a ruthless tycoon with unholy assistance, seems intent on making La Cruz his. Only Roscoe and the drivers can stop him. But Strickland's allies stir painful memories in Roscoe and even an undead gearhead is no match for his own past. Roscoe will need to overcome his memories, stand with his friends and keep his motor as the battle for La Cruz begins in a tale of white hot vehicular action, arcane Noir, and Hollywood horror that reveals the rotten heart of California's Golden Age.

From page 56 of Dead Man's Drive:

The bird swept down, its clawed feet extended. They wrapped around Felix's side. One pointed claw dug into his shoulder, drawing blood.

Book Review: Dead Man's Drive (Rot Roads, #1)

Author: Michael Panush

Website, Facebook, Twitter

Edition: Received from the publisher, Curiosity Quills

Website

Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Goodreads Link
Rating: 4 Stars

I received a copy of Dead Man's Drive from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Dead Man's Drive follows the main character, Roscoe, a zombie, who works with Donovan's Motors, a group of paranormal hunting mechanics. It's a group made up of outcasts who have become family. They're well-known in their town as protectors, but when a new businessman comes to town with plans of his own- plans that involve raising dead crusaders- everything Roscoe has ever cared about is threatened.

I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. I mean, I thought I would like it when I requested it (or I wouldn't have requested it), but it took me by surprise, still. The main character, Roscoe, was not what I expected (in good ways!) and neither were the supporting cast, the plot, or the setting. It was a pleasant surprise.

Dead Man's Drive is urban fantasy lite. It doesn't do a ton of world building, but it also doesn't suffer for it. Panush didn't have to create complex mythologies to deliver an interesting and well-thought-out plot. While his story isn't exactly original, it kept me entertained and was rather refreshing in its sparse writing. The characters, while not given much screen time (it's a very short book), all had interesting backstories that made them feel fleshed out. I liked how every single character had a voice, and no one was pushed to the side.

My biggest problem, and the reason this doesn't have more stars, is that the climax was not very climatic. Sure, lots of time was spent on it, by which I mean there were many pages dedicated to the event. However, the actual action that I would qualify as the actual climax point, was weak. It could be a lot more polished and there could be a great deal more emotion. Even still, it did deliver, and ended up being satisfying.

I recommend this one if you need some light reading at any point. It doesn't require much work on the part of the reader and is very entertaining.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

5 Star Manga Review: Noragami (Vol. 5 & 6)

Author| Adachitoka Artist| Adachitoka Rating| 5 Stars

Edition| Paperback

Related Reviews| Volumes 1 & 2 | Volumes 3 & 4
Buy Links| Book Depository/Barnes and Noble/Amazon

Do I really need to explain why I love this series?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Crown's Game

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. Click here to join in on the fun.

5 Star Anime Review: Blue Exorcist

Watch| Netflix Rating| 5 Stars

Recommended for: Fans of Noragami

I have found my newest obsession!

College Journey #7: Running a Blog in College

Welcome to another installment of College Journey. This is now a monthly post rather than an every other week post. If you ever have a question/topic you want me to cover, feel free to let me know in the comments! This month, I want to talk about what it's like to run a blog in college.

First of all, it's not too different from running it in high school. I read about the same amount I did when I was in high school, so that's been nice. I was hoping for more time, but I'm pretty good with maintaining. Writing the posts, too, isn't that difficult. At least, most of the time. I do run into weeks where I don't have enough time to really write as many posts as I would like (there was a time, over the summer, where I could pump out two a day), but I had those weeks last year as well.

The biggest difference is the when I write. In high school I would write every night after I had finished my homework and other responsibilities. Staying at college I write the posts whenever I want or have time. Often, because I really do enjoy blogging, I'll blog to destress. So I'll find myself writing in the morning, the middle of the day, in the library, in the cafeteria, in my room, late at night, whenever. That's one of the reasons I write posts ahead of time and schedule them.

For anyone who's worried about losing track of their blog in college, I have a little advice: plan breaks ahead of time. The week you move in/move back into your dorm (or wherever you'll be living if you live on campus), and the first week of school, I really think a break is good. Make sure you plan ahead of time, though, so that you don't feel like you're letting readers down. It's also a good idea to take off around midterms and finals. It allows you to really focus on your studies which are, honestly, more important than the blog.

In high school while I would have a rough sketch of what I wanted to post each day, I didn't really keep it on a calendar like I do now. I have a day planner that I adore, and I use it for pretty much everything in my life. My blog is in there and I have a section where I write down which posts I want posted and when I actually plan to write them. Having something physical to look at, and things that I can cross out when I accomplish them, makes things so much easier. I recommend keeping something to help organize. If you do this, make sure you stay up on it, though. Having a day a week (for me that's Friday) to organize and write in the planner is the best way to keep atop of things.

Well, that's just a little advice from me. I hope it helps! I was worried I wouldn't be able to stay with the blog in college, but over the first term I really managed to work it out and learn how to keep up.

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Weekly Wrap-Up and Book Haul

Hey guys I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend! You may have noticed some changes to the blog recently. Well, I did shift some things around, and tighten up the whole appearance of the place. It was starting to get a little out of hand on the sides, and I wanted to clean up a bit. I like this new double column look- it turned out much better than I thought! The other thing changing slightly is how certain posts appear, like my reviews. Really, the format hasn't changed- all the same information will be there in the same order, just with the picture in a different location. I was looking at some of my older review posts and admiring how they looked. So I ended up combining the old look with the new one. These are the only changes I really plan to make, but I hope you enjoy them.

Finished this Week

This was an amazing week for me! I got bit by the reading bug, I think, because you would have been hard pressed to find me not reading. I finished Dead Man's Drive, Cress, and Shadow and Bone (a book I wasn't even planning to pick up!). I also finished the eighth volume of Noragami, which was really good.

Currently Reading

Right now I'm about a quarter through The Golden Braid, but it's been a quick read so far and I think I may even finish it today. When I finish that I'll be picking up Soundless.

Last Week

Sunday-- Sunday Comics + Update

Monday-- Blogging Tips: How To Write a Review, November Wrap-Up

Tuesday-- Jessica Jones Season 1 Review, December TBR

Wednesday-- Waiting on Wednesday: Lady Midnight

Thursday-- Noragami Volumes 3 + 4 Review, LA Woman Review

Friday-- Friday 56: Way of Shadows, Way of Shadows Review

This Week

Monday-- College Journey #7

Tuesday-- Anime Review: Blue Exorcist

Wednesday-- Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday-- Manga Review: Noragami Volumes 5 + 6

Friday-- Friday 56, Dead Man's Drive Review

Saturday-- Wrap Up and Haul

Haul

For Review:

From author Paul Cude I received the three books in his series Bentwhistle the Dragon

I plan to get to the first one this month, and if I have the time, hopefully the second as well. I'm excited to give them a try.

I Bought:

Kid President's Guide to Being Awesome

I actually bought this one signed from Barnes and Noble. If you don't know who Kid President, let me recommend going to Youtube and finding out. He'll bring a smile to your face because he is awesome. And if he ever ran for president, he would have my vote, because his policies include "Treat everyone like today is their birthday". Such a delightful kid.

Those are the only comics/graphic novels I picked up this week. I'm excited to get to all of them. I plan to read Stray Stories near the end of the month, but Pandora Hearts will probably be much sooner. I won't get to Teen Titans until I go back to school, though, because I left volume one back there.

Alloy of Law

I actually already owned this book, but the ebook is on sale until the end of the year and I couldn't stop my greedy little fingers.

Soundless
Snow Like Ashes

I plan to get to these two at some point this month. Soundless will be my next read for sure, and after that it'll probably be Snow Like Ashes, even though it wasn't originally on this month's TBR.

Current Giveaways

Just want to remind you all about my current Giveaway. Follow this link to find out more about it and enter.