I was on a biography kick for a bit, and this book fit the bill! At first I was getting characters confused just because of the differing perspectives and longer chapters, but by the end each character was very defined and easy to identify. I think the ending fit even though it wasn't my favorite. Overall though, I enjoyed this book a lot!
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This was an interesting take on different magics--kind of a combination of fantasy and dystopian worlds after the politics of the realm come to light. Although I mostly liked the characters, in particular Vataea, I wish they were older or more developed (yes, I know they're in a YA book...). I wonder if Grace is setting up for a sequel since it does end with a cliffhanger.
This is the second in the Misewa series. I wasn't expecting this particular story from this fictional world, but I liked it a lot. It built onto the first book fairly well and still had me welling up a bit when Ochek is there.
This book is fantastic! I love getting to read about "forgotten" or "silenced" history, and this book delivered that in spades! I saw some of the twists, but definitely not all of them, and that helped keep me engaged for the full book as it is a lengthier piece.
Just like the first book of this series, I was delighted with the way Price was able to work in the storyline of Sense and Sensibility without forcing anything within the mystery's story. I can't wait to read the third book in the series though I'll have to read Mansfield Park as well, I suppose.
I've read four other books by Levenseller, and I have yet to be disappointed! This book definitely lived up to its acclaim as "'the Slytherin romance we've all been waiting for'" as Kerri Maniscalco reviewed. I like that this was a stand-alone book as it seems many fantasy books are now part of series or at least have sequels. Not that I wouldn't appreciate another book in this same realm, but it was refreshing to simply have the whole story housed between these covers.
I've read one of Isabel Ibañez's books before, so I shouldn't have been surprised when this book made me fall in love with Egyptian culture and archeology. The touches of magic seem to be part of Ibañez's signature besides her powerful female characters. I can't wait to continue this series!
Braving the Wilderness: The quest for true belonging and the courage to stand alone by Brené Brown1/23/2024 I've listened to Brené Brown a few times, and this book expanded on what I had heard before. Again, this was an audiobook, but I think that I found it more helpful for this genre. It's hard for me to sit and read an self-help/self-improvement book, but listening while I cleaned or worked in the kitchen was a good balance. It helps of course that her voice is well-suited to audio. Being the teacher looking for strategies, I appreciate the concept of a strong back, soft front, and wild heart which she explains toward the end of the book. Her research stories and interviews are just as informative given you have some time to digest them.
This was my first audiobook because I've never really been a fan. However, this book was super cute and easy to follow, lending itself to the format really well. Zoey follows most of the romantic female lead tropes, but she has a few quirks that really only endear readers to her more.
Kate Khavari has done it again! I loved her first book with Saffron and Alexander, and this second book of the series does not disappoint in character development or mystery plot. I am excited to continue reading this series as it combines my interests of botany and mystery in a beautifully written package.
This was the first in the Saffron Everleigh mysteries, and I loved it! Khavari does a great job of mixing Saffron's knowledge of botany (her field of study) with her newfound desire to solve the mystery affecting the professor closest to her. Besides the well-written mystery, Khavari weaves in sweet romantic tension between Saffron and Alexander Ashton.
I loved this book! The dual perspective between The Villain and Evie is lovely, and I love both of their inner thoughts that readers get sporadically within their chapters. The book is super cozy, so I can't recommend it enough. I'm looking forward to the rest of the story to come out, which isn't supposed to happen for almost another year... I'm also very interested in some of the side characters' stories that will hopefully also come out in the future books (like Kingsley the frog).
I wanted a spooky book for September/October, so that's why I chose Vampires of El Norte for my book of the month. This was an interesting take on vampires as the setting was the chaparral in lower Texas/upper Mexico in the mid-1800s. I liked the two main characters are they're fleshed out pretty well. I feel like the plot was okay but perhaps more anticlimactic than I expected.
This sequel pulls no punches! It has just as much (if not more) action and plot twists as Six of Crows. There are so many moving parts to Kaz's ultimate plan, sometimes admittedly I got lost, but it shows just how much thought Bardugo put into these intricate puzzles. I appreciate the closure the end of the story gives without closing all plot possibilities. I hope Nina finds peace after Matthias (and yes, that part made me tear up a bit).
It's been a while since I've read a book with so much going on! Between the many, many names of the Barrel and elsewhere, this improbable heist has so many working parts and perspectives, you kind of get lost if you're not paying attention. However, I really appreciate the intricacy as it makes for a strong story in this case. I also enjoyed the many perspectives telling the story (even if there were quite a few). I can understand why this has been a favorite of Mrs. Wagner's!
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These are books I've read recently. Please ask me about them!
March 2024
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