I've been gone from the community for awhile. Life has been... intense.

As for the series tagged, I enjoyed the premise & liked the characters. Not life changing but definitely entertaining.

Entertaining. Action-packed, interesting characters.

Maybe the timing is wrong but I cannot get into this one. It does seem like an original concept but I'm just not feeling the characters and is not messing for me. I may try again another time but, meh, maybe not.

I absolutely adore this series! The world, Vasya, the other characters. I'm only sad that the series is done but hoping for more from KA. I didn't mean to finish it tonight but forgot how much is at the end with the Russian names information and such. Trickery, I tell you! 😁

My least favorite in the series. Imho it felt disjointed and honestly not that interesting. I think there are more coming in this series so maybe I will get a satisfying ending before parting with the characters.

Another solid addition to the series. I absolutely enjoyed it.

I flew through the first in the series, then this one. I'm moving on to the next and still as anxious to see the story through. I like the arc Feyre's character had taken and am rooting for her and her entire squad.

I didn't actually expect to like this series as much as I do. The world being what it is these days, YA fantasy has become my sweet spot. I still delve into other genres but I keep wandering back into this territory. No, don't expect groundbreaking and original but do enjoy it for the entertaining work it is and the fiercely independent female main character.

Patrick Rothfuss is one of a very few writers imho that can release a book that is this massive yet not leave me feeling like the editor didn't don their job taking out excess. I am engrossed in Kvothe's world every moment I'm in it. Kvothe has become one of my favorite characters, taking a place among characters like FitzChilvary in Robin Hobb's, (another master of massive books done well), Farseer series.

Waiting for the next one...

Though the exact way this particular dystopia unfolds may feel unlikely, it does open the mind to the many ways a regime could choose to terrorize and effectively wall off any given sect of its citizens.

I would've liked to have had more detail on numerous characters and the inner workings of the resistance. The final chapters needed expanded upon in order to give depth and believability to the story.

Good book but not great imho.

The youngest girl in this photo is my 3rd great grandmother.

As for the book...

TW: Incest, sexual violence

I loved the premise of following multiple generations of a family of witches but I was not impressed with this particular execution.

I don't consider myself prudish but the sexual encounters were almost all violent. I despised the casual use of the term rape for consensual sex, even if violent.

The book was too long, needed editing

I feel like I've been reading this book for so long! At this point I'm nor sure where it's going but I'm too heavily invested to give up now. Cool, rainy, Autumn day so should be great for reading!

Possibly very unpopular opinion: it was just ok imho. I would've enjoyed it much better if the whole book were from Aunt Lydia's POV.

It felt like the book was simply a ploy to unite two certain characters. Honestly, it felt like fanfic to me. I understand the desire to have the two characters team up but it didn't feel organic. My guess is she's giving the show fans what they want, (or maybe need before the next season).

Triggers;:Violence, domestic abuse
Beautiful, wild and dangerous, Alaska can be your heaven and your hell. It is also most about battling your own demons and your family's. But, having had several losses of my own lately, the losses moved me.

Idk what the point was in a few decisions but overall, I recommend it. I care about the characters, their lives and will think about several of them for awhile as they seem to have settled into my head.

At first I didn't think I liked this one as much as the first in the series but then I found I didn't want to put it down. Enjoying this series and looking forward to the next book!

I was unsure about this one with the historical setting and zombies but I enjoyed it so much that I didn't want to put it down. It drew me in right away and I cared about the quirky characters and their misadventures.

Also some deep themes about racism and our society. I'm looking forward to the next in this series.

It took me a few chapters but after I really got into it I didn't want to put it down. I love the complicated characters, sometimes the heroes make huge mistakes, sometimes the villans are all too human.

A couple of character comebacks are a bit too convenient for my taste.

I am anxiously awaiting the next in the series.

Hail Reaper!

Delightful rendering of Russian folklore. It's a slow burner but I enjoyed that the author didn't rush the tale. No romance to be found, (yay!), just a headstrong girl becoming a woman. Of course, no one believes that she not only sees but speaks with the guardians that keep everything running smoothly. They think her a witch when it is made plain she is different. The priest brings fear with his words and fear is powerful when weaponized.

I was hoping for answers as to why Auri lives as she does, the answers are not in this book.

What you do get in this book is an intimate look into Auri's current day to day life. It is a beautiful character study. If you need a novella to get you out of your own head for a bit, this should do it. That being said, the book is not for everyone. You need to be able to give yourself over to Auri's simple tasks, not look for plots that aren't there.

Trigger warnings:
Violence
Rape

I've seen some rave reviews for this book but in an unpopular opinion, I didn't like it. The beginning was interesting, but beyond that it fell flat for me.

The author is female, but it honestly felt, (to me), like what men would do if they were women and given this new power. I'm not implying women lack the capacity for violence or cruelty, simply that the application didn't feel like a natural progression.

I wanted a change of pace with something different and this one delivered!

I enjoyed the relaxed pace that allows the tale to unfold naturally and unrushed. If you're looking for fast-paced action, this is not going to be a good fit but if you want to take some time and get to a few interesting characters and be walked through the making of a hero then check out this book.

Meh

I didn't love it. For me, it was just ok. Felt too long yet not finished, which I guess doesn't make sense. A lot of repetition. I didn't feel Mare's character showed much development, especially compared to other characters.

In the epilogue I expected a bit more of time to have passed and a peak at the new world.

Question for all the library readers out there!

I, of course have my local library card but have wondered if it's worth it to get a non-resident card from a bigger library. Waitlists for popular titles can be ridiculous for my local library but is that any better at a bigger library? I appreciate any feedback you can offer!

It felt rather predictable for me in large part, although I still enjoyed it. It also seems rather far fetched that both brothers are so obsessed with Mare. I like that she kept the fight in her instead of succumbing to her circumstances. She became quite adept at manipulating Maven. Not my favorite in the series but it will move the story forward.

I need to review the earlier books, I read them in quick succession, now I have to refresh myself on each book! Also; serious book hangover.

Satisfying ending but you'll likely be battle weary getting there. I like the characters, Manon is my favorite. I like Aelin's confidence and the fact that she is a fighter but also enjoys the finer things. I appreciate that this series actually addresses menstruation, one of the first I've read that does.

Character development! Great book, interesting characters.

I cared more about the Blood Shrike story than most of the rest in this one although I did get invested in the Cook's storyline.

Also, I'm hoping the last book will give Keris' full story.

I've had a traumatic couple of months and am having issues with sleep. A shoutout to characters and worlds that reading opens to us. When I am having trouble sleeping, this is one of my go-to favorites. Chapter 8 and 9 are everything!

Trigger warnings:
Domestic abuse
Animal cruelty

Just ok overall for me. Some parts I loved but others were quite difficult.

How I miss Jon Stewart's voice on the national stage! Jon's ability to see through the bullshit and shine the spotlight on it is simply unparalleled. I listened to the audiobook and it was great. It made me want to take the entire journey with Jon and the staff again. I did seek out YouTube for the Crossfire interview and a few other things.

What a fascinating woman Beryl Markham was! I look forward to reading her biography. She dared to carve out her own life at a time when she was given a quite narrow definition of what a woman's life is. Overall, this is a pick, with few reservations. I would've preferred less attention on her love life, but I suppose that was a large portion of her life and needed to understand her choices.

I love both Obamas even more after reading this book. I'm thoroughly and finally convinced Michelle will never run, it is not who she is. I will say, however, that the next democratic president needs to find a way to involve her. She would thrive at heading up a group dedicated to policy directly affecting education for undervalued young people, especially young women of color. I can't wait to see what Malia and Sasha do.

Interesting and informative regarding our Appalachian roots and the ongoing struggle to drag our region forward. This book made me miss the area in which I grew up. I'm not that far away, being now in northeast Tennessee but miss southeastern Kentucky something fierce sometimes. The coal mines have been all but gone for years now, having taken most everything else with them. The corporate influence and continued greed is all too evident there.

Such a satisfying read in so many ways! Maggie is such a badass and deeply flawed, but you will be rooting for her. She slays monsters, even if some are in human form. All the while she must be wary of tricksters. Looking forward to the next book in this series!

Even though I saw it coming a mile away, the getting there was still worth it. Likeable and hateable characters. Mare has to learn to survive at court after being lowborn. Can she trust anyone? Probably not. But she will learn to fight for her survival after joining forces with the Red Guard as a spy.

Listened to this audio book over several days of cleaning. Meticulously researched, thoroughly explained. Rachel traces the drift away from recognizing the costs of war on a human level as well as a monetary one. Also covered in this book are alarming facts about military privatization and the state of our nuclear weaponry and the handling of it. I learned a great deal and need Rachel to write more books!

Surprisingly, I actually found the second book in the series better than the first. Anxious to read the next one.

Definitely worth the read!

Enjoyable first book of this series. Memorable and likeable characters. Definitely a pick for me with a few eye rolls for the double love triangle, (love square?). That being said, you will definitely root for Elias as well as Laia. Already borrowed the next in the series, trying to wait until tomorrow to start it...

I've always liked Katy Tur and her snarkiness. She not only shares her journey through the craziness of the 2016 presidential campaign but much of her personal history. She is funny, smart, snarky and has a foul mouth. I adore her even more! I can't believe how many details of the election cycle I had forgotten! (Blocked out?!?)

If you are choosing between hard copy or audio, go audio. Katy is a great narrator, no big surprise.

I enjoyed this one much more than the previous book in the series. That being said, I actually feel like the villains are more fleshed out than the good guys. The good guys are all, "too good," in that none of them have bad habits or personality flaws. DK never seems to miss an opportunity to remind us how hot the MC is, which always takes me out of the moment and into an eye roll.

In short, good book, some DK typical flaws but also his flair.

Seems like I saw a lot of good reviews for this one but for me it was just meh. Just never sparked my interest, took me awhile to finish because I kept going to the other books I've been reading instead.

Definitely not my favorite Hobb series butt I am glad I finished it, as I found this last book the best of the series. I'd give this one 3.5/5.

EDIT:
As for the quote, I should've verified but apparently it was not Hemingway. I can't seem to find a specific origin for the quote, although it does seem to be a summary of a Leonard Cohen song lyric.

Sorry for any confusion my being hasty may have caused.

⭐⭐⭐
Continuing the series as I still want to know what happens but struggling through it a bit. Not sure how I feel about the story premise at this point but the execution remains just ok.

Buster just wonders when it's time to go out. It's currently 11° here so I'm not anxious to leave my electric throw as yet.

Definitely not among my favorite Hobb series. Still, I did come to care about some of the characters. Usually, I enjoy detail but in this series I felt numerous times that Hobb became so encumbered in detail that I found myself skimming some pages. I suppose I'll finish the series to find out what happens but I feel more like I want to see it through rather than getting lost in this world.
⭐⭐⭐

Read completely out of order but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. This one gives you lots to think about as you read. At the moment I find myself contemplating the way we shape ourselves and possibly people and events around us by which parts of ourselves we decide to hold on to our let go as we journey through life.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

As with all Hobb's series set in this world, I enjoyed every moment. I read the series out of order, (after The Farseer Trilogy I actually skipped to Fitz and the Fool), but am happy to have went back to read this trilogy. I think I may buy these books so I can revisit these characters.
⭐⭐⭐⭐☄

😢😢😢😢

To give a detailed review I'd have to make the whole review a spoiler. It broke my heart. Read it.

Feels like this book is pointing to a harsh goodbye...
I can only hope not... I'm not ready!

Thanks @erzascarletbookgasm #FestiveBookishBox

This year has been about finding my way through life again. I lost my mom the day after thanksgiving last year. Reading has been crucial to finding my way. I've dived into fantasy and had adventures with dragons, and then groped for understanding the state of the world these days with political and philosophical works. I'm finally starting to look forward to the start of the new year.

Lots of women learning what power they possess and how to use it in this book. Etta is one of my favorite characters in this series. You definitely want her on your side. Every woman in this book is on her own journey and even if the plot didn't knit their fates throughout, I'd want to know each of them. I'm looking forward to finishing this series, though I'll have to wait until my library hold comes through!

⭐⭐⭐⭐☄☄