Look at Nevernight by Jay Kristoff – it’s a freaking work of art! 😍
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My reading was pretty great in January. I read a butt-tone of stuff and in diverse formats and genres, so that was cool. Here’s a lil look at my reading life that kicked off 2016:
-Locke & Key, vol. 6: Alpha & Omega- by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez
-Welcome to Night Vale: by Joseph Fink & Jeffrey Cranor
-Batman: Dark Victory- by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale
-ASOUE, book 1: The Bad Beginning- by Lemony Snicket
-The Riftwar Saga, book 3, A Darkness at Sethanon- by Raymond E. Feist
-Catwoman: When in Rome- by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale
-The Last Stormdancer: by Jay Kristoff
-ASOUE, book 2: The Reptile Room- by Lemony Snicket
-The Sandman, volumes 1-4: by Neil Gaiman
-Praying for Rain: by Jay Kristoff
-Modern Romance: by Aziz Ansari
So, overall I read: four novels, seven comics/graphic novels, two novellas/short stories, and one audiobook. That sounds like a successful reading month to me. Hopefully, this can carry on throughout the rest of the year :D
The Sandman, vol. 5: A Game of You, by Neil Gaiman -book review
Aaaaand we’re back with more Sandman, this time featuring weird dreamscapes, the perils of childish boredom, and witchcraft. Yay.
When I first began reading this volume, I was confused and uncomfortable. You just get thrown in with this new lot of people and are left trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Gaiman writes so many characters in this series that seem insignificant when you meet them but then pop up later to play a major part in the plot or get their own side-adventure. I swear, if any of those serial killers from Doll’s House gets their own sub-plot, I’m gonna neck it. The discomfort came from all those messed up nightmares the Cuckoo was giving people. Gaiman really knows how to play at people’s nerves; and props to the artistic team for the gruesome imagery.
I laughed a little when Morpheus first showed up as Matthew was explaining the issue with Barbie. Surely, Dream will help when there’s an issue with dreams. This is his forte, you know? I mean, what good is a dream god that doesn’t intervene when there’s danger in the dream world? So Matthew asks what he’s going to do about it and Morpheus just goes: “Haha, nothing,” I laughed. He’s come quite a way in that he can appreciate mortals a little more and says ‘thank you’ when people express their concern about him instead of shrugging them off. BUT he is still an unsympathetic Endless that doesn’t care about the supposedly petty feelings of people. He seemed entirely unconcerned with the Cuckoo and I just know she’s going to be back to be a thorn in someone’s side.
I’m not sure if or how the events of this volume are going to play into the greater plot of the series but I’m interested in getting back to Morpheus and the dream land. Also- real quick- that part where Morpheus tells Nuala she did the right thing in interfering and she’s just beaming as he walks away is so cute. I hope everything works out for her.
Overall rating: 3.5/5 stars.
I love comics. Today I’m reading this massive edition of “The Sandman” by Our most beloved writer, Neil Gaiman.
If you don’t know much about comics, this is where you should start. Some people say “Watchmen” is the epitome of comics. I’ve read Watchmen and I prefer this one. This is a work of genius.
#library #book #books #bookish #currentread #currentlyreading #bibliophile #booknerdigans #reading #reads #read #booklove #goodreads #lovelybooks#dessert #booklion #bookstagram #bookoftheday #instagood #literature #vscobooks #booklovers #bookclub #bookblogging #bookblog #igreads #comics #comic #coffee #kindle (at Mocca Coffee Lounge)
Mid-year book freakout tag
- Best book of 2017 so far? It’s such a toss up between Hammer of Thor and Noteworthy but I think Imma go with Noteworthy. I mean, I knew HoT was gonna be good but this one just enveloped me with good vibes.
- Best sequel? Hammer of Thor. So good. Alex Fierro is amazing. I need Ship of the Dead.
- A new release you haven’t read yet but want to? Patrick Ness’s new book, Release, sounds so good but I have to get through his other books first, damn it!
- Most anticipated releases for the rest of the year? Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan, Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff, It Devours! by Joseph Fink & Jeffrey Cranor, The Silver Mask by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare, One Punch Man vol. 12, Attack on Titan vol. 22, The Defenders vol.1 to name a few. Oh, also, John Green’s new book.
- Biggest Disappointment? I was so hyped to finally get my hands on the Illuminae audiobook but it was just a bit of a drag. How could you do me like this, Jay?
- Biggest Surprise? I don’t know why but The Pulse, the continuation of Alias and Jessica Jones’s story, exceeded expectations. I guess I was worried that since this series wasn’t going to be in the MAX comics that Jessica would be different some how but I was wrong. It was great.
- Favourite new author? Riley Redgate, man. Gotta watch out for her future stuff.
- Newest fictional crush? Jennifer Walters. If you don’t have a crush on She-Hulk, you’re wrong.
- Newest favourite character? Again, I love Jen, but Alex Fierro is just such a great addition to the Magnus Chase series and really elevates it. She kind of made HoT for me.
- A book that made you cry? I have only ever cried once while reading a book. I got a little choked up towards the end of The Rest of Us Just Live Here but no tears were shed.
- A book that made you really happy? Re-reading Scott Pilgrim always makes me happy. Also the Fantastic Four.
- The most beautiful book you got this year? We Awaken is really stunning. Also Spider-man/Human Torch, purely because it’s got both mah boys on the cover.
- What books do you need to read by the end of the year? The Gunslinger is a priority. I want to finish the Sensational She-Hulk series, the Lee and Kirby run on Fantastic Four, and the remaining American Gods stories (Monarch of the Glen, Black Dog, and Anansi Boys).
- Who is your favourite book community member? Rick Riordan’s twitter gives me life. Also Jess for going through this tag with me in the first place :D
Kings Rising: by C.S Pacat -book review
This is the third and final book in C.S Pacat’s Captive Prince trilogy, a gripping erotic fantasy series set in a homo-normative society. The great thing about this series is how much better it gets as the books progress. Book one was okay, book two was good, but book three was fantastic.
From page one this book was playing with my emotions. We go from a bloody battlefield to a torture cell, there’s betrayal in the air and I was hesitant to keep reading, not because the story wasn’t interesting but because I was afraid. Afraid for Damen and Laurent and the fragile state their relationship was in at the beginning of the book. I understood where Laurent was coming from in wanting to keep his distance with Damen- after all, this is an exceptionally difficult situation he’s been put in- but at the same time I wanted to take him by the shoulders and shake him. Just let Damen in, goddamn it! The tension did make for some awesome scenes though; one such being the sword fight between the two. Not to mention the satisfaction gained when they finally came together (both figuratively and literally).
The position of Damen as the king of Akielos gave him power that he’s lacked throughout the series and it’s great, and also heartbreaking, to see him in that hard leadership role. The progression of the Akielon/Veretian alliance was entertaining and gave promise to the possibility of the two nations being allied when our boys got restored to their rightful thrones. The okton was a highlight for me. From watching the two sides come closer together to seeing Damen in his natural element and him and Laurent playing in the high-stakes games, it lifted my- and the character’s- spirits.
The plot twists in this book wouldn’t stop coming. First we have a a baby that’s apparently Damen’s. Then we learn Jokaste was secretly doing everything in Damen’s best interest the whole time and the baby is apparently not Damen’s. Then the Regent proves to be as disgusting and despicable as I thought and reveals that he sexually abused Laurent. Then the innocuous Lady Loyse turns out to be in cahoots with Laurent and clears Damen’s name. Then we finally learn what the deal with Govart was and that the Regent orchestrated the death of his brother. What thrills.
The ending was almost too good to be true- if you overlook the fact that Damen got stabbed. I think we were all ready for a bittersweet ending, where Damen and Laurent were kings of their respective countries and maybe saw each other once in a blue moon, knowing they couldn’t be together and putting the good of the people before their own happiness. But that’s not what happened! They’re gonna be together forever, baby. This is a series that has put the characters and my emotions through so much but we can all leave it with smiles on our faces and contentment in our hearts.
Overall rating: 4.5/5 stars.
ASOUE, Book 1: The Bad Beginning By Lemony Snicket - book review
Okay, so after years of this being every person on the planet’s beloved childhood series, I finally read book one of A Series of Unfortunate events. This series has received countless praise and I wasn’t disappointed. Lemony Snicket’s ability to captivate his readers in an instant is a real strong point in this book, given how short it is. The introduction of the Baudelaire children let us know the core traits of the characters in a succinct and entertaining way.
Violet, Klaus and Sunny all felt like well-thought, fleshed out characters that could stand to lead a thirteen-book series. Of the three, I’d have to say my favourite so far is Violet but I’m interested to see the other siblings have their moments to shine in future books.
Count Olaf was far more menacing than I thought he’d be. I vaguely remember the movie and Jim Carey playing him, so I was expecting something of a goofball stooge on his part, but instead we got a man that embodies all the worst traits an adult could have. His abusive nature towards the Baudelaire siblings (and the fact that no one else could/would see his true colours) made him especially terrifying.
However, despite the memorable characters, the strongest aspect of this book was Snicket’s writing. His ambivalent voice all throughout the book was both humerous and added much to the tone and impact of the novel. The way he would break with the story for random vocabulary lessons or to address the audience directly was what gave The Bad Beginning a notable quality, not found in other books. Snicket is almost like a character himself in the story.
I’ll admit that when the book told us we could leave, choosing to believe that Count Olaf’s plan had been foiled and that Violet, Klaus and Sunny would all get to live with Justice Strauss happily ever after, I was tempted to close the book. But alas, I am a masochist and continued to read. I’m excited to move onto book two and see what other miserable mishaps Snickets has planned for the Baudelaire orphans.
Overall rating: 4/5 stars.
ASOUE, book 2, The Reptile Room: by Lemony Snicket -book review
This second instalment of ASOUE brings even more woe to the lives of everyone’s favourite orphans, Violet, Klaus and Sunny- this time including snakes! My thoughts on this book are much the same as they were with the first: it was witty, gripping, heart-wrenching and overall well-written. But let’s delve into the specifics of this novel, shall we?
It’s a real credit to Snicket that he has such a distinct narrative voice. You could smack open one of his books, read any line, and you’d touch your nose and say, “that’s Lemony Snicket.” He imposes himself even more so in the story in this book than in the previous one- I swear, half the text in these books are vocabulary lessons and reminding the reader that everything’s going to go to hell. I’ll never read the phrase, “meanwhile, down at the ranch”, the same way again.
The characters continued to shine, with the Baudelaires showing even more of their strengths and weaknesses. Violet’s position as the eldest child is more significant in this novel, as she feels the safety of her siblings as her responsibility and really took charge when things went sour. Klaus really needs to stop telling villains how he’s going to stop them before he does it. Like, for real. Sunny, as always, is great. Just give me an entire book following the misadventures of Sunny.
With Uncle Monty and Mr. Poe both being oblivious to the Count Olaf glaring right at them, I think it’s safe to say that we can trust the incompetence and dismissiveness of adults in this series. Sorry kids, you’re on your own. Also, Count Olaf has gone from menacing child abuser to full-blown serial killer in the span of one book and it doesn’t look like he’ll be seeing the error of his ways any time soon. Even if we put that guy behind bars, he seems the type to pull an El Chapo and tunnel his way out of there.
As I said before, Snicket makes it very clear, repeatedly throughout the books that this is not a happy story and nothing but misery awaits the Baudelaires in the future, but that doesn’t mean I don’t hope for them and feel for them when bad things happen. The books live up to their title and truly are a series of unfortunate events.
Overall rating: 4/5 stars.
This Shattered World: by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner -book review
This is the sequel to These Broken Stars and book two in the Starbound trilogy. This Shattered World is a companion novel, following two new characters, Flynn and Jubilee, however the plot from the previous book comes into play, so don’t assume you can read these books in any order.
Okay, first thing’s first (I’m the realest): this books was leagues better than These Broken Stars. Book one wasn’t a terrible book by any means- it had an intriguing plot and the last third of the book was incredibly gripping- but there were too many things left unexplained for the conclusion to be satisfying. I wasn’t enthralled by either of the leads and the course of their romance was predictable. This Shattered World was everything good about These Broken Stars (the world building, the sci-fi aspects, the brutality) but without any of the flaws that brought down my overall enjoyment.
When I first began reading I disliked Flynn purely because he was antagonising Lee and we’re with Lee when we start off, so we’re cheering for her and not this douche canoe that kidnapped her. BUT he did begin to grow on me the more we saw his peaceful nature and resolution to end the war on Avon. The world would be much better off if people adopted more of a Flynn-escque mentality. Jubilee was more engaging for me, personally. Her raw determination was quite inspiring and I couldn’t help but want everything to work out for her, purely because she’s worked so hard and, damn it, she deserves to be happy!
Here’s where things get complicated. As much as I liked the characters, there was always this wall keeping me from completely loving them and I think that’s purely because we didn’t get to know them as people. Like, I can easily say that Lee is strong and brave, and Flynn is resolute and kind but that’s about it. We don’t know who they are when they’re at ease; we only see them in this high-pressure situation. We don’t know their likes, their dislikes, their favourite foods, what they do in their spare time because all they are are their roles: the soldier and the rebel. However, this fact is known to the authors as that’s what stops Lee from giving in to her feelings for Flynn. She never says she’s in love with him because she hasn’t gotten the chance to know him outside of a war zone. So, I found her answer that she wanted the chance to see if she could love him in a normal setting very realistic.
To me, this is a prevalent problem with romance (particularly in YA fiction), that two characters will meet in the midst of some supernatural disaster, fall madly in love, and be sure in that relationship when all they know of each other is learned in snatched conversations while they battle demons or invade government agencies. I mean, what about after they’ve defeated the demons or taken down the oppressive government? All the adrenaline and life-threatening situations that fueled that passion are gone. Can that couple survive the mundaneness of day-to-day life? Just some food for thought.
Overall I thought this was an excellent instalment in the series. The progression of the plot and advancement in the sinister activities of the villainous forces have only increased the stakes. I await for book three to fall in my hands with bated breath.
Overall rating: 4/5 stars.
ASOUE, book 3, The Wide Window: by Lemony Snicket -book review
In this instalment of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, the Baudelaires find themselves living with a reclusive relative, over-looking a giant lake. As is expected, things do not go well.
I finally know where that weird house from the movie came from- for the longest time I thought that was the Baudelaire’s home.
This book followed much the same plot as the first two novels: the three siblings are sent to live with a distant relative, Count Olaf shows up, Mr. Poe is useless, bad things happen, Olaf is found out and the Baudelaires are sent to live with someone else. It’s not that I dislike repetitive plots, it’s just that I find them boring. This book still had the same clever, witty writing as the previous two but I was never truly worried about Violet, Sunny or Klaus, since I knew the rhythm of the series. I knew Count Olaf’s plans would be foiled again, and he would escape and we’d play the same old game all over again. I would really enjoy it if the series tried something else- put the siblings in a different situation: maybe they loose faith in Mr. Poe and run away to live in the woods. Maybe they join a crew of misfit street orphans. Maybe they get separated in a large city and have to find each other. Maybe they could do anything else but the same old schtick.
As I said, this book was still enjoyable but a little variety would make the whole thing a lot better. I am also interested to know when the greater plot of the series will be kicking in: who were the Baudelaire’s parents? How did that fire get started? Will they survive until Violet becomes of age? (Well, I know they do, since we get a few flash-forwards from Snicket’s narration, but still).
Overall rating: 3.5/5 stars.