Audio. The whimsical tone of this book made it difficult for me to keep up with as an audiobook. As such, may have rated differently. It‘s a cozy show book, with a Studio Ghibli type atmosphere. Enjoyed hearing about the Otherworldly places; though the characters went through them too quick to fully appreciate them. The romance felt forced throughout, unnecessary. Even with the ending twist - which was well placed.

Oh my gosh. Collin‘s does it again. I can‘t with this book. This has got to be my favorite of the series now.
Haymitch‘s backstory brought in so much Everything. Although it‘s the final chapters that, like the openings focus, propaganda is everything. That was what hit me the hardest, political-wise. How the story is relayed is everything. The number of times I froze staring at a page, numb from what I just read.

Audio. Jamaican island inspired story against dragon rider colonization? Amazing. The aspects of such were well written. The characters themselves, the sisters, were great apart. Together, I got lost to where the plot was going when they were split between their islands. First half was difficult to stay focused with, though the closing twists had me stop in my tracks. This was a fun listen and I‘m intrigued how the sequel will go about it all.

As with most cozy fantasy stories, this story has interesting prospects. Though it still fell flat to me; Maybe that‘s because the romance didn‘t feel fully developed. He fell for her because she was the first to show him “real kindness”. The writing was pretty funny in moments, great one-liners. The ending twists raised eyebrows gladly, which brought my struggling to read since halfway, up to par. Mostly enjoyed this read.

Oh My Gosh. So many emotions by the end of the book I don‘t know where to start. I laughed out loud. I screeched. I cried. I screamed. ALL OF IT.
Yeah, Diem is problematic but that‘s okay. She‘s just coming into feeling confident in who she is. Luther is allowed to be angry with what is going on without being angry at her. Luther is top tier husband material, my word. This is the most agonizing slow burn I‘ve ever read. I -hated- loved it so much

Randomly saw it on Fable and became interested. So I kinda went in blind. Not a bad read, not world altering. I liked the creative essence of the story. Demons who feed off of hate possess Ku Klux Kln members when the movie Birth of a Country rolls out. So Maryse goes out to hunt them. The switch she takes near the end was nicely explained. Not much felt like it could‘ve been expanded on. Little here and there. Not scary horror; grotesque.

Holy Kindred. This book was incredible!! Loved it more than the first one. This books slow burn felt like it was flaying me alive. Interesting take that, as it‘s stated, this book is about self-acceptance. Which really poked through; Diem is struggling with keeping who she was while finding her New self. That‘s a lot to process, yet I think it was portrayed very well. The political process of this world is just getting better and better. LOVED IT

I‘m confused as to what I just read. The opening chapter was magnificent. premise was nice; oldest daughter of Romeo/Juliet tries to navigate. Then she falls in love at first sight. The whole murder mystery was ok, just wasn‘t enough to take up the plot. Which had like 2-3 things going at once. Was disjointed. Rosie felt like a coin flip on how she feels about being forced to marry. The whole romance here was all over the place.

Audio. That probably should‘ve been read. This is a migrant story based on the authors real life story. That itself is incredible to take on. The story felt down to earth, which is nice, though it took me researching the book to find out the secret of the doors. I bet I‘d enjoyed it more if I got that crucial concept earlier on. This still feels like an important story to absorb, as it takes a part what being on the run as a refugee can be about

This is exactly why the title says it is. Now what I was not expecting is that this is an account more so on how the author herself searched for Marty, the actual creator of the rape kit. The book was written from her point of view, so that took some getting used to. Otherwise, the education was well put, with reference at the end. The second half was nice to look through on how the future of the tape kit continues. That it‘s still relevant

Didn‘t hate it, didn‘t love it. I‘m confused on how to rate this short book. It takes place during the FMC day in the pool. One day. Yet it reminisces upon past years. The storytelling is unique, fascinating in an odd way, though it doesn‘t go deep. As of such, I just don‘t know how I feel about this slow around the bush way that we find out this great family is falling apart.

Audio. The narrator was amazing. This is an YA Island horror story, and It helped with the narrator having a Jamaica accent. Otherwise, the story felt a little all over. Couldn‘t tell if the focus was on the romance triangle or on the mystery-horror aspect. Being a Riordan Presents, I was looking forward to learning about the Caribbean islands mythos. Didn‘t get anything like that. Just a “thing” in the Forrest making deadly deals with mortals.

I‘m in awe of the way this book spaced out its secrets. Like, I knew something was off and got distracted by other secrets by the time the first one was given an answer. I‘m impressed the way this books romance is given a strong foundation, though doesn‘t go far. This is quite a slow burn; where he totally falls first because of how she‘s not afraid to tell him how she feels. Love Luther. Diem grew on me, slowly.

I can‘t with this author 😂 These books are just so much fun to read! You just don‘t know what‘s going to happen next. Dory gets abducted - alongside a lion who tried to kill her - and then escape to an alien planet. That itself is a story. Then we have two aliens become her mate simultaneously?? Who are totally different personalities?? Hilarious. Though it‘s also the reason it‘s not a 5 star read - threesomes or love triangles aren‘t my thing.

Complicated story for having no full out plot, a bit disjointed. I enjoyed the outlook on what it takes to look outside the satellite. Though the six cosmonauts are forgettable. The plot itself was split, so I don‘t know where that was going. There were many good quotes and mentions of looking down on the earth from above, though, that saved the story to me.

This book takes apart Nazi Germany theology in a more biteable sense. It does share comparisons to today‘s rise in fascism ideology, though its main focus is on Germany and its surrounding countries.
This helped get the statistics across. Specifically the us versus them now feels more understandable of how something as that sounds worked for Hitler. I learned more about how that worked. I now feel more knowledgeable on the how it got there.

This likely affected my review, yet it really bothered me that I swear I‘ve read half this story before years ago.
Otherwise, this was a decent book. I wish there was a little bit more connection between what happened with the Knight at the end and earlier in the story. It was a n ie twist, though it felt disjointed. The end and beginning just felt like totally different stories

This feels like one of those “I support women‘s wrongs.” While I don‘t like how June took her life, the writing of Kuang is so fluid it‘s hard to dislike their story. No, I don‘t like June. She did a not good thing, though I don‘t think she was treated a fair way either. The fascinating part of this book is how Kuang writes the book into this exploration of the publishing industry. How unfair it is to those seen as revolutionary writers.

This final book of the Giver Quartet really brings the previous books disjointed plot lines together. The story kept with the general theme of the others. With a focus more on how to separate a need from a want. Obviously this was written for younger people than myself, so the writing felt simplified to me. But that‘s just part of the magic of these books. Anybody can - and should - read this series. I got so much nostalgia from reading it.

Coming down from reading the Hunger Games, I feel let down. It felt flat, learning of Snow when he was a teen. There were tidbits to connect the Hunger Games trilogy, though not enough to keep me engaged. I wish there was more of a connection of Snow of them and Snow of the trilogy. Felt like a totally different person, on a way that I don‘t see how he changed so much. Let alone everything with Lucy Gray. Who wass so much more interesting.

That was incredible. I‘m shook at the ending. I loved this story for its prose.
Just to get it off my chest, this is not history; yet the retelling of the legend of Xishi.
The way this story is told… it‘s just *chefs kiss* beautiful. So romantically tragic, all the way through. I cried when the mission came to an end. I don‘t have the words to express how much I loved this story.

I had been really hyped for this book, so I feel really let down. Especially considering this was likened to throne of glass. For reading of a woman who argues to be allowed to be a warrior, in a world where woman are forbidden from doing so - or risk bringing the end of the world. Everything felt glossed over, to the point I couldn‘t care about when they got together or other characters got hurt.

Audio. Being audio may be what‘s affecting my grading. Struggled staying focused. Incredible autobiography of a black free man being taken into slavery. Solomon Northup learns ways to survive being a “dumb slave” while actually being an educated free man. Just this point, and how it brought up, was a lot to take it. Which was the same for a lot of the story. The story is slow going, and it matches with its publishing year (1841).

Oh. My. Stars. I can‘t even. This book was stressing me the hell out so much. Yet enjoyed it soooooo much.
The first half of the book was really just hopping along various islands looking for some answers. So much happens there. Then the second half has a different plot going for it. But it flowed decently. Loved how much more open Violet and Xaden are around each other. TAIRN AND ANDARNA MY LOVLEYS!! My hearts 🖤💛 RIDOC 💙
That ending, man.

This is a simple book for anybody to understand. It takes 20 points, that felt significant, from the time of Nazi Germany and related them to today. The points are clear and concise, with just enough detail and historical context to understand. It‘s small, and pocket sized, for your connivence. For being originally written in 2016 (with updated points of 2020), there are incredible points that are comparable between Germany then and America today.

I loved the Giver in HS. Only recently did I find out there were more books to this quartet. This book is not a sequel, but a continuation of a theme. In this world, the people of this place do not care for others. They steal and argue. This notion of taking other‘s creativity as their own, under their control, was a hard hitting theme. I do wish there was more describing the village, though, as this story was more character based.

Audio. Very well composed historical work on the ship The Wager. Which I did not know a lot about prior to. Just knew this was toted as an amazing book. Which I wholeheartedly concur with. These men went through incredible odds of life and death. The story was dark some point, filled with hope in others.
What I found entertaining was the story of the Pearl with the movie Pirates of the Caribbean.

Conflicted. I like the originality of the story, yet it still felt flat to me. I wanted to learn more about the world around Teia. Teia went back and forth in desire, which, sure, is morally gray, though I didn‘t feel it from her. I would‘ve like to get more of her inner thoughts about where she was going. Same with the element bending. That ending twist was really well placed. This is still a fun book to read, especially as a debut

This final book felt both rushed and confusing. There‘s so much going on; honestly could‘ve been spread out a bit more to make another book. There‘s so many plot lines connecting here. This book brings the horrors of war more up to the front. More violence and death. More grief and trauma. Katniss is still a child, used by both governments. She is not a reliable pov, but that‘s what makes her so compelling
The Hunger Games is easily its own genre

This was a difficult book to read, for many reasons. The writing style was so difficult for me to keep up with. Really struggled with understanding what was happening. All the changing terms and multiple peoples names. First half was slow then it got so fast. Premise of a lower Red literally becoming a higher Gold to take down the system was so compelling.
I don‘t know if I‘ll read more. I‘m intrigued, but not invested.

I never read through book 2 and 3, but I‘ve watched the movies. Rare of me to say that. In this case, I was surprised by how in depth the touring of the Capitol was explained. Katniss is still a child, so those moments of PTSD are well funded. Same with how she is being used by the rebellion. I find that interesting; she‘s not really siding with them. She‘s just trying to survive her world.

Audio. This is an incredible cast of characters and setting. This sequel is about the fallout of the previous books fall from their style of the hunger games-esqu trials to be the best.
I love Nya so much. Still a favorite. My heart goes out to Xio after everything in the first book. All of this series has my heart.
Almost five stars, except for the closure. Great LGBTQ representation and romances.

"Men are not created equal; we all know this. There are averages. There are outliers. There are the ugly. There are the beautiful. This would not be if we were all equal. A Red can no more command a starship than a Green can serve as a doctor!"

Interesting graphic novel. This is a story about a girl trying to fit in to her prep school where she doesn‘t think she does belong. I was impressed with how in depth it went through that theme. Especially with a ghost who wants to stay with Anya to be sure she gets the life the ghost never did. End resolution felt like it was over too fast for something of this magnitude. Then again, maybe that works better for those struggling with fitting in.

I am SO conflicted over how I feel about this book. Maybe partly due to be so excited for this sequel after the incredible first one. I miss enraged Zetian.
I liked how it was handled that this 18 year old peasant girl does not understand how to run a government. Let alone in tandem emperor style with someone who knows practically everything. Now if only that guy wasn‘t a power hungry misogynist jerk

I just couldn‘t. Made it to about 60% through. Did get better the further in, just didn‘t get interesting enough to stay with it. It was all over the place. Liked the political atmosphere more, and wished it went that way more than this odd form of attraction.
Movie was better. (What an odd thing to say)

This is a short little handbook compiling what is know about the white shark in modern times. Specially the white shark, not like Skokal‘s other handbook. A lot of the information is basic, some of which is a bit newer. This was written with simple terms so anybody could understand a shark. Nice end appendix has references. Some more diagrams explaining the data he was talking about would‘ve been a nice addition.

Oh My Gosh I can‘t believe this was a book I wasn‘t into as a teen. I tried and didn‘t finish it - though I watched the movies - when it first came out. I‘m throughly impressed and can totally see how Collins practically invented this new dystopian genre. No notes besides - maybe this is because I know what‘s coming - that it would‘ve been nice to see more behind the reasoning why Pres. Snow doesn‘t like Katniss. We barely see him.

Loved the plot and all its crazy plot twists come the end. Pretty sure this romantasy had things backwards - not sure if good or bad. There was so much hidden throughout the story, where the ending revelations were so good. Romance was so much yelling at each other and lying. Did not like at all. This is a dark feminine rage of “how dare they think they can control what‘s mine”. She‘s just as violent as they are; it doesn‘t bother her.

4/5⭐️ This was a fun story about an indigenous woman lying about herself to land a job. Then continuing to lie to keep said job. I could understand the fake it till you make it. What I had trouble with, as my usual, is the falling in love at first sight and pinning afterwards for so long. I also don‘t like workplace romance most of the time. I felt so bad for Dan with how much Ember lied to him; again and again. Some reasoning made sense, most no.

4/5 ⭐️ Audio. So that might be why the story was hard to follow at times. Otherwise, this was an adorable little fun book to follow along these ragamuffins. Sweet, no high stakes, story where a misunderstanding is really just that which changes the perspective. This is a found family trope for those of an aunts and uncles level. I wish there was more of those little parts to get their each 1v1 connections.

For children‘s book of the year (Barnes and noble), I expected more. It just fell flat for me. The themes of the story (power, greed, love) borderline older understanding. Surprised by the amount of death in this book. Though I guess that‘s part of the overall theme; that even through all these hardships and evil, life is still worth living for in joy. That was nice. The fantastical creatures came by overwhelmingly. Story felt over stimulating.

I adore this series so much. This final book followed up with the same writing style and prose. Of which, now being older myself reading these, it‘s interesting that the story never seems to evolve. Which helps a lot with all these twists, but not with getting deep into it. In tune to this final one, I liked how the questions of morality came up, wanting a simply life, though felt a missed opportunity for taking it in depth.

Audio. The writing style took a bit to get used to, yet once it got there the theme really stuck. Slow narrative, but it works with this theme. Short stories to bring one back to nature. The books points basically take Native American gratitude teachings and reapply them to today‘s desire for buying stuff. What impacted me was the chapter on rain. How water connects us all. How rain is different for every item it falls upon.

Debut local author novel. I really tried. DNF around 40%. The story plot line itself is amazing - what if bugs, specifically the honey bees - were the guardians of the earth and they were just done with humans destroying the earth? The writing style is all over the place, seemingly written without edits.

Debut novel. This was so addictive I have no words. Could NOT put this down. Incredible political twists for romantasy. The fmc fell a bit flat at times for personality, though the mmc was just *chefs kiss*; asking Vassa what she needs in order to be okay. Grumpy/sunshine where he is sunshine who falls first. Slow burn romance. Reid fighting Vassa over that blanket scene is stuck in my head. Almost Kaan level snark given right back to his woman.

This book definitely deserved book of the year from Barnes and noble - hopefully more places think similarity. This story had my attention from page 1. The story felt familiar, yet so different. Read like a short book, yet the story felt fleshed out. I loved this story, with Jim‘s varying views on the world around him as a slave. He was a very compelling character. My only complaint is that the ending like 10 pages closed things down too fast imo

Asar is incredible (such a dog dad), might like him over Raihn. I adore Mische so much. Guess happiness does hide darkness. Kinda repetitive. In sense that each level of the Underworld was pretty much the same; slight differences causing these two to know each other more. Would‘ve loved a bit more distinct pieces for each section visited. Nothing too exciting till the final location. Slowwww burn. Despise the sun god. Again; THAT ENDING.

Audio. This second book feels like it was more written for kids than the first was. This was written halfway as the author speaking to the reader, which I‘m not a fan of. The story of Roz going home from the factory to the island was well rounded, enough worry to have deeper concepts. Though it felt too quick for something happening to have a full impact.