A continuation of the Stormlight Archives following four to five main characters with occasional short entries of other character spread out in the book. There‘s so much going on in these books that it‘s hard to summarize… yet at the same time it feels like not much has happened either??🙈 I am enjoying reading these but the books are a huge commitment both time and memory wise. Magic, sword fighting, and adventure!

Life is completely normal for the world until a day when all adults receive a box. In the box is a string, all are different lengths for each person depending on how long you‘re going to live. The book goes through a handful of different characters stories whether they have a long string or a short string or even some that don‘t open the box at all. Was a great read but still left me pondering some at the end!

A most excellent read based on the true story of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, famed WWII Russian sniper with over 300 confirmed kills. Mila‘s life goes from quiet scholar, to the front lines of Odessa, all the way to a press tour in America to bolster US and Soviet relations during the war. Very much enjoyed this read from both a historical aspect and the liberties the author took fictionally.

A dual view story one being from a fox shapeshifter and the other a detective, their lives become intertwined as vengeance and duty bring their stories to the same point. I really wanted to like this book. The writing is absolutely wonderful and at times I really didn‘t mind how slow moving the book seemed to feel. The story was well thought out and everything in the end got resolved but I just wasn‘t super jazzed about it!

A collection of the authors personal patients‘ stories for both their lives and deaths. The author is a hospice nurse who shares a special bond with her patients as she helps ease their pain as they near the end of their life. So many passages in this book had me on the verge of tears AND calling my mom to bawl my eyes out to her after reading about a mother and daughter interaction😭 tough read but shows how important hospice is for patients!

Jinx is personally reassuring me that there‘s better books to read if I‘m unhappy with the one I‘m currently reading😅 a book of short stories, the writing is lovely but I just wasn‘t interested in the stories, other than the first one, that were happening and ultimately didn‘t want to continue the read

Have you ever read a book that drove you to utter rage… the want to throw the book across the room at the injustice against the characters? I am awestruck by this book, it pulled on all my emotions like I was a character right alongside Elizabeth. If you‘ve had this one on the back burner or a TBR do yourself a favor and just pick it up!

Couldn‘t move forward with this one… the stalkerish, murder vibe is not my jam and ultimately felt uncomfortable reading this😅 if you like that kind of genre certainly give it a try!

Goodness I‘m not even 20 pages into this book and I am up in arms for Elizabeth!! Seriously the women before us had such an uphill climb trying to have a career without being belittled by men😠😤

This book had massive potential, the classic orphan recruited to work in the CIA to take on a world power with treasure hunting involved. I will say I was invested in the story but the writing was a bit clunky and I think with a bit of refinement from the author their books will become better! Argylle is pulled from the jungles of Thailand and recruited to work in a top secret team trying to find the famed Russian Amber Room before the Russians do

Gonna probably get a bit of flak for this one…😅 This was my most highly anticipated book this year and I think I was expecting too much from this read. Did it have twists and turns? Yes. Did it stir up emotions and have me on the edge of my seat? Yes. Was it about as predictable as a book could be in the end? Also yes. Unfortunately finishing it felt more like a relief than a triumph. Still would read the series but just fell flat at the end.

I was really excited for this one… gave it seventy pages then threw in the towel. Wasn‘t intrigued by any of the characters or any events that were happening.

Such a fun one! Read very much like a one on one conversation with blunt statements and zero BS. After finding success in bodybuilding, acting, and politics, Schwarzenegger has entered his fourth "act" in life. Using tools and lessons learned over a lifetime of career highs and lows, Arnold is now focusing on bringing forth positivity to social media, continuing environmental initiatives, and motivating others to reach their full potential.

Emily has spent most of her life reading stories of the small Folk and studying them in the wild corners of the world. She finds herself in Ljosland, a far north village to study the elusive Hidden Ones.
Known for her even keeled academic nature, her research is being threatened by her new found fondness for the town, its people, and the faeries that live there. Really liked the beginning of this one but the end left something to be desired

Is there anything better than a cozy chair, a purring cat, and a good book???🥰🥰

Sequel to The Lost World. Journalist Edward Malone is requested to attend the South America expedition anniversary by Professor Challenger. However scientists have discovered Earth is going to intercept a poisonous belt of ether in space! Will the expedition team and the world be able to survive the poison or is it doomsday?!

This was my third try reading this book however that‘s not an indication that this book is hard to read. This book is a huge commitment seeing that the books within the series are of similar if not longer in length. With that being said if you are a fantasy reader you should not sleep on this one. Written from myriad of perspectives from scholar to slave to high prince, the world they live in is on its way to great changes.

Letter format from young journalist, Edward Malone as he takes part in a whirlwind adventure to S America with the esteemed Professor Challenger. Challenger believes to have seen prehistoric beasts previously and is sent with a team to prove his outlandish claims. They find a volcanic plateau in the middle of the Amazon that houses more than just the proclaimed Stegasaurus and Pterodactyl… Will they survive to show truth to the original claims?

A love letter from the author to Føroyar and its' people after spending a year away from his London home to experience life and death on the islands.
Mentioning much about everyday Faroese life which includes shepherding, ornithology of the MANY bird species that nest there, and yes hunting whales, hares, and birds. All makes up the beautiful and centuries old culture that makes the Faroe Islands seem like a place from the past.

Jason, a physics professor finds himself in one moment making his family dinner to being abducted and shoved into a parallel world that is not his own. He finds out that a version of himself has created a way to access the multiverse where he both exists and doesn‘t in trillions of different parallel worlds. This book was brilliant and the butterfly effect/Schrödinger‘s cat vibes made for an epic read!

An interview from a journalist with renowned Robopsychologist Susan Calvin who worked for U.S. Robots. Stories are individually told from the beginning of the use of robots as Nannies to the powerhouse Machines that run the world, Dr Calvin has been there every step of the way. An interesting take on societies‘ reliance and yet aversion to robots. Are robots built to protect humans from themselves? Who knows 🤷🏻‍♀️

My January pick held out to be the top dog of 2023! I constantly think back on that book and will be reading it again in the near future. What was everyone else‘s favorite from last year?🙂

A quick read including the household pets Harold the dog, Chester the cat, and the new addition Bunnicula the bunny. However this is no ordinary bunny and Chester is hellbent on finding out once and for all why this bunny is so strange! Cheeky and spooky!

I really liked the world in this book but the story felt lacking somehow. The characters were involved in another series by the same author and even though this is the start of a trilogy, I think I would have appreciated the read a little more if I had read the other series first. There are four London‘s: Red, White, Grey, and Black each varying in amount of magic present within its‘ people and land however the magic seems to be wavering…

The true story of Stéphane Breitweiser, an art thief who stole over three hundred paintings, statues, and ceramics from museums beginning in the 90's. He stole not for the resale value of the pieces but instead made his own gallery in his attic room free of security and the ability to intimately study and interact with the pieces. The book very much reads like a fictitious story which made it very easy to follow and was absolutely fascinating

Wow. This book was overwhelming… From becoming an actress to encouraging eating disorders, Jennette‘s mother was the guiding light in her life. Once her mom passed away from breast cancer, the author has to face not only her mental health problems but that her mom was a major component in the start and continuation of unhealthy habits. A coming of age story that I couldn‘t put down even though it was a tough read.

I actually enjoyed this book and I‘m not sure if it‘s because Aelin is barely involved or it was the new characters and location. It‘s one people think you can skip but I definitely would not! Chaol is sent to Antica in the hopes the world renowned healers can fix his spine injury so he can walk again and possibly help raise an army to bring back to Adarlan.

Violet begins her second year as a dragon rider at Basgiath after surviving her first year and the War Games. Determined to save not only Navarre citizens but those outside of its protections, Violet and her squad band together to steal books, survive interrogations, and fly into unknown lands to protect the continent. Ends with an epic battle and a huge cliffhanger per usual. The writing can be better but as a friend says who cares it‘s candy🤣🥰

Is it just me or is this series just not all that exciting… the ending made me FINALLY want to actually see where the books are going but I still catch myself zoning out while listening. Also the side characters stories are way more interesting than Aelin‘s IMO. Is there something wrong with me??

A concise guide of 33 laws to apply to one‘s business and relationships both personal and professional. Written by a young entrepreneur who‘s started up many multi-million dollar companies and has one of the world‘s top podcasts interviewing renowned CEO‘s, scientists, and celebrities. A great read for those with their own business, mangers, or anyone looking to improve relationships!

I‘ll be honest I‘m not usually one to throw the towel in on a book, but I gave this one a good ol college try. I have been doing a 12 book challenge for people‘s recommendations and I feel so bad because the person that recommended this was very excited about it. Was told it was like Narnia for adults but the read felt over the top juvenile which is what ultimately led me to a DNF

Aelin and her court are desperate to bring back magic to the realm to overthrow the king and his demonic army. Book hashes out many plans to obtain certain objects to help in their endeavor. Still having a hard time being excited about this series but it‘s going somewhere… just not in this book 🐌😴

An Outlander-like take on the war between Ireland and England in the early 1900s. Anne, who‘s present time is 2001, suddenly finds herself in 1920s Ireland after attempting to spread her grandfathers ashes. She meets unexpected people and finds herself in a precarious situation being whisked out of her own time. I liked the twistiness of circumstances within the book but found my mind drifting a lot in the middle of the book. Strong finish though!

This was a thrilling but tough read. The subject matter ended up much heavier and darker than I anticipated😅 Alex is pulled from her drug hazed life in LA and becomes the Dante of Lethe one of the secret societies of Yale due to her ability to see the dead. Afier the disappearance of her mentor and a sudden homicide, Alex finds herself investigating occurances than the other houses want to keep covered up and will do anything to keep it that way

There‘s… A LOT to this book, thankful for four days of camping to get me through this chunker. Vis a 17 YO orphan finds himself suddenly in the midst of some of the Hierarchies‘ most powerful leaders. He‘s enlisted to attend the countries most prestigious school for upcoming leaders, but his adopted father has other duties for him to look into while attending. However he himself has many secrets he holds only to himself that could get him killed.

Death positive and LGBTQ+ centered novel with exponential main character growth. Wallace finds himself at his own funeral only to be brought to a tea shop in the middle of nowhere to come to terms with dying and find his purpose in death. Book was a little slow moving in parts but definitely gives the warm and fuzzies now that we‘re going into fall.

This book was such fun! Got VERY fantastical towards the end but that certainly kept me on my toes! I loved the hodgepodge of characters and their questionable pasts that somehow all brought them together. A famous lady pirate is pulled from retirement with a job she couldn‘t refuse.

The definition of a slow burn romance story😅 quite wordy but ever engaging and eloquent. The classic romance of the Bennet sisters along with Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley

This was honestly a tough read. The characters were so frustrating sometimes and often I would say aloud “what are you thinking 😫😫” With that being said I adore this author and her writing. The book pulls you in and you find yourself hooked on a story that you are really struggling with. Also found a new interest in the Dust Bowl! A coming of age story for mother and daughter and fighting for what you really believe in.

Much much better than the book before😅 We‘re on our way to redemption for the series! Magic makes a much bigger appearance in this book and Celaena‘s journey takes her away from lackluster characters and into a more interesting environment! Book definitely ended with a lot of things up in the air so I‘m sure book four will be just as action packed.

Yikes was this book a drag… I listened to it twice since I got to the end the first time and didn‘t realize what was happening 😱 I know the series gets better but this one just wasn‘t for me

Wowza. Plowed through this in two days and was wholly unprepared for the last thirty pages. I‘m not usually one for psych thrillers but this was one that I couldn‘t put down!

Sixth installment of the Red Rising series. Focused more on the war between Darrow and the falling republic and the revitalized society of Golds. Friendships were rebuilt and also destroyed. Allies were gained and lost and many surprises around every corner. I thought this would maybe the final novel in the series but there will definitely be another book to tie everything up!

Novel following an American girl‘s life on stage starting as a circus performer after losing her family to world famous Falcon opera singer. I‘ll be honest this book rambled and I had little interest in the main character‘s journey. The writing was beautiful at times but the author doesn‘t use quotations which cannot be ignored and caused much confusion throughout the read.

Absolutely stunning read🖤 a story of a mother and daughters estranged relationship, the cancer that brought them back together, the grief after the mothers passing, and the Korean food that was their love language before and after death.

This is #jinxcat‘s PSA for those who love a little romance and a little fantasy to just go read the book🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻. That‘s all🤩🤩

A comprehensive guide to all humans for one‘s own death and those around you. Reflecting on the authors experience as a palliative care nurse and her own loss, Sallie Tisdale goes over what death can look like, how to pick a healthcare representative, and that grieving is not a linear line but one‘s own journey!

Novel based in the 1960s where the Allies did not win WWII. The US is split in three; a Japanese west coast, a Nazi Germany east coast and a lawless middle, the Neutral Zone. The story follows a handful of characters all influenced by the I Ching, a fate oracle and a book called The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, which shows another world where the Allies did in fact win WWII. Not crazy about the writing style but a pick nonetheless.

I find myself in the minority who have read this book…I was definitely enjoying it for about the first half as I learned the characters and different species of beings within the novel. Super wholesome relationships within the arc. However I felt like there really wasn‘t much of a storyline past getting to know the characters. There were MINOR bits of action within the book but for the most part this book fell completely flat for me.

Picked this one up interested in the Scottish folklore aspect. I‘m not really one for thrillers so I think that‘s where this book kind of fell for me… Leigh returns home after her father has died only to come back during October when the Sluagh rule the island that she is from. After the war they have become more violent, leaving the inhabitants wondering if they can continue living on the island they call their home.