tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25693755801127183922024-03-13T15:53:35.026-07:00Book Talks by The Library LadyBook Talks, reviews, and reading recommendationsShayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.comBlogger616125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-80721107599773783042023-12-17T12:05:00.000-08:002023-12-17T12:06:39.316-08:00At the Speed of Lies<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i></i></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1670187337l/61779991.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="200" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1670187337l/61779991.jpg" width="133" /></a></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>At the Speed of Lies</i></b></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>by Cindy L. Otis</b></span></span></p><p><br /></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10658859" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-57659700760770686852023-11-12T12:24:00.000-08:002023-11-12T12:24:12.463-08:00Counting by 7s<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1396225872i/15937108.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1396225872i/15937108.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Counting by 7s </i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">by Holly Goldberg Sloan</span></b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10638762" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-61125836188451346362023-10-22T11:13:00.008-07:002023-10-22T11:13:57.957-07:00I Kill the Mockingbird<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1380963917i/18465605.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1380963917i/18465605.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>I Kill the Mockingbird</i></b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>by Paul Acampora</b></span></span><br /></div><div><br /> <br /><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10626662" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-84483738615682732092023-10-08T11:30:00.000-07:002023-10-08T11:30:07.737-07:00Jane & Edward<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1661354482i/61358660.jpg" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="519" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1661354482i/61358660.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Jane & Edward</i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>by Melodie Edwards</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In a modern retelling of Jane Eyre, Jane is the child of a literature professor who died when she was young, forcing Jane to enter the foster system. Years later, Jane leaves waitressing to become a legal assistant to Edward Rosen. The two bond and the story parallels the original tale by Charlotte Brontë.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Final thoughts: Decent retelling with little name drops and Easter eggs from the original story. My biggest problem is the logic issue with how Jane becomes a wealthy woman. It makes absolutely no sense and shows the author doesn't understand college textbook publishing.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 3.5/5<br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10618818" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-65773271434790181772023-09-05T20:03:00.001-07:002023-09-05T20:03:21.239-07:00Amari and the Night Brothers<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1592365756i/53240817.jpg" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1592365756i/53240817.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Amari and the Night Brothers</i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>by B.B. Alston</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">A few months ago, Amari's brother disappeared and there has been no word what happened to him. After yet another visit from the local police, Amari received an odd briefcase from her brother. In it is a very ugly suit and a pair of goggles. Those goggles show Amari that there is a world all around her that she never knew existed.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Supernatural creatures are real and they live in and amongst regular humans.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">With this briefcase also comes the invitation to spend the summer training at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. While Amari is interested in the bureau and its history, she's much more interested in finding out what happened to her brother. She wants to pass the training but only to help her get her brother back.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But her particular gift is illegal and there are many who don't want her to succeed.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Final thoughts: Harry Potter knock off with a great lead character and a decent plot structure but with poor world-building and too many things inserted just to be cute.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 3/5</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10600328" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-40251579085461332522023-06-27T16:30:00.018-07:002023-06-27T16:32:59.413-07:00Enter the Body<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1655742784i/61322634.jpg"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1655742784i/61322634.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Enter the Body</i></b></div></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>by Joy McCullough</b></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Under the stage, beneath the trap door, the women of Shakespeare's plays wait to be called up to die again in yet another retelling of their stories. But on this day, three of the women take the time to tell their stories and maybe even change the narratives.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Cordelia, Ophelia, and Juliet share their sides of the stories for which they are famed, while also showing that they are more than what one man put on the page.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Final thoughts: This is a sometimes glorious and sometimes draining read, but the worst of it is the inaccuracy. This is meant to change the course of the lives of the women that Shakespeare created, and I get that. What I don't get is changing the ages of characters. For a fan of The Bard, getting Hamlet's age so terribly wrong is practically a sin. In the play, Hamlet was approximately 30 when his father died, but he is referred to a boy in this book and written like a teen who couldn't become king because of his age (and totally forgetting that Denmark has an ELECTED monarchy, regardless of age). Ophelia is also portrayed as a teen and both of these ages are not only inaccurate, but those errors affect the story McCullough is trying to tell. Let's also add in that McCullough states Ophelia would never have been able to marry Hamlet even though, in the play, Gertrude specifically mentioned that she had hoped Hamlet would marry her. Confusing Rosaline and forgetting that she is a cousin of the Capulets makes the very ending a little incestuous. This might be an interesting addition to the reading list for an Advanced Placement Literature course, but it relies heavily on knowing the original plays and may not be accessible to those who are unfamiliar with Shakespeare's tragedies.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rating: 2/5</div></span><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-20725473752118445882023-06-20T21:37:00.021-07:002023-06-20T21:43:32.577-07:00The Gravity of Lies<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1683558997i/60853557.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1683558997i/60853557.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Gravity of Lies</i></b></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: center;">by Dorothy Deene</div></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Skye Lark Perry has never had a normal life. Ever since her uncle died, she and her mother have gone from place to place, shelter to shelter, and have even spent more than a few nights in their car. For the past three years, all Skye has known is that she has to take care of her mother because her mother can't seem to take care of her.</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Skye is homeschooled so that she can go to various auditions around Los Angeles, which are booked by a not-so-trustworthy "agent". The few jobs she gets are the only money coming in for her and her mother and she knows starvation far too well.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When the opportunity comes for her to be in a small reality TV show, which is designed to find the next cast members for a new drama, Skye is forced to participate. While she's not eager to be there, she is eager for the opportunity to possibly find her father, a person about which she knows nothing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With twists and turns, Skye finds that her life may be something she never thought possible.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Final thoughts: </b>Clunky and stuttering narration plus a lack of any real chemistry among the characters makes this a difficult read at times. The twists about Skye's life are just very strange and hard to track. It was unbelievable both in plot and in relationships among the characters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Rating: </b>2/5</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.</div></span></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-77351397517883858102023-06-18T12:12:00.005-07:002023-06-20T21:43:48.191-07:00Their Vicious Games<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1666714487i/62919174.jpg" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1666714487i/62919174.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Their Vicious Games</i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>by Joelle Wellington</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">After a small mistake has the very large consequence of having all of her college acceptance letters revoked, Adina Walker is forced to compete in The Finish, an annual set of games sponsored by the Remington Family. Winners are guaranteed a full ride to any school she chooses and the power of the Remington name behind them for the rest of their lives. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But The Finish has never been discussed beyond a few rumors and Adina has no idea what she's getting in to. Additionally, this year The Finish has an extra goal of finding the wife for the future head of the family and that means that the stakes are much higher.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's not just about school anymore. It's life or death.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Final thoughts: Interesting premise with a combination of <i>The Hunger Games</i> and the movie <i>Ready or Not</i>. It's a slow and awkward start to the book but once it gets going, it's a real ride. Will not be surprised if this gets made into a movie or Netflix series.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 4/5</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10557182" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-24959366074896390472023-05-28T11:30:00.004-07:002023-05-28T11:30:33.654-07:00Chosen<div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1642784623l/60175515._SY475_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1642784623l/60175515._SY475_.jpg" width="133" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Chosen</i></b></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>by Shade Owens </b></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>TL;DL: </b>Avoid this book. It's a blender version of <i>Hunger Games, The Handmaid's
Tale, 1984, Brave New World</i>, etc... and it's only the stuff that floated
to the top after the blender was off for a day or two. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Rating</b>: 1/5</span><br /></p><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10544269" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-25731314713448689382023-04-30T12:43:00.004-07:002023-04-30T12:43:39.634-07:00Simon Sort of Says<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1653605376i/61030596.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1653605376i/61030596.jpg" width="133" /></a></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Simon Sort of Says</span></i></b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">by Erin Bow</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Simon O'Keefe and his family have just moved to Grin and Bear It, Nebraska, which is a National Quiet Zone in America. There is no Internet, no WiFi, no cell phones, and no microwaves. The town is the location of a giant satellite dish that is studying sounds an phenomena from space.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Where most people might struggle with this type of drastic change in lifestyle, Simon finally feels like he will be OK. Simon has spent the last two years dealing with the looks, the stares, the pity, and more from everyone who sees him. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Simon was the only survivor from his 5th grade class after a mass shooting. Even though the school and the people in it did everything right to keep themselves safe, Simon's class was the one the shooter found and Simon was found later buried under the bodies of his classmates.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So getting away from all that infamy is exactly what Simon needs. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Finding friends and learning how to be a kid again may now be possible. Or maybe not. His new friends have their own quirks and plans that might bring him attention all over again.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Final thoughts: I hate that this book had to be written at all, but it seems to do a decent job dealing the aftermath for a survivor of something so horrible. No one can ever really know what it's like for these survivors, but this does help develop a little empathy and understanding.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 3.5/5</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10526398" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-39666340736406738002023-04-23T12:49:00.004-07:002023-04-23T12:49:55.449-07:00The Comeback<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://netgalley-covers.s3.amazonaws.com/cover274304-medium.png" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="255" height="200" src="https://netgalley-covers.s3.amazonaws.com/cover274304-medium.png" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>The Comeback</i></b></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>by Lily Chu</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ariadne "Ari" Hui is a Chinese Canadian working her way up the ladder at a prestigious law firm that her dad helped her get into. She's devoted to her job and works constantly to get ahead. But two things suddenly get in her way. First, her clientele are reassigned to the new caucasian associate who was literally just hired. Second, her roommate's cousin, Jihoon, comes to stay at their apartment after a "breakup" and Ari starts to fall in love. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hopes of becoming more than friends get dashed when she finds out that he's an "idol". He's one member of a worldwide phenomenon K-pop group and people have figured out where he's been hiding. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now Ari has to choose what is more important to her: her life in law and her reputation or her possible future with one of the members of Starlune and all of the baggage and fame that comes with it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Final thoughts: Too much tell with not enough show. No real chemistry between Ari and Jihoon. And it feels like she's being very honest with her reservations, while he never listens but blames her for running.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 2/5<br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10521881" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-32094004575092397842023-04-21T07:44:00.003-07:002023-04-21T07:46:30.818-07:00Not Your Ex's Hexes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1665470960i/60784601.jpg" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="261" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1665470960i/60784601.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Not Your Ex's Hexes</span></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>by April Asher</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">TL;DL - Enemies to lovers trope romance with some good moments but inconsistent writing and characterization.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 3/5<br /></span></p>
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<iframe src='https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10520801' height='208' width='504'frameborder='0' marginheight='0' marginwidth='0' scrolling='no' allowfullscreen></iframe>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-39236701132763870152023-04-21T07:22:00.005-07:002023-04-21T07:22:30.603-07:00The Neighbor Favor<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1664245474i/61111295.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1664245474i/61111295.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Neighbor Favor</span></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">by Kristina Forest</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">TL;DL - Cute BIPOC romance with some hidden identities and secrets. Decent read.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 3/5</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><br /></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10519260" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-41476154036201943892023-03-29T18:19:00.010-07:002023-03-29T18:20:58.280-07:00A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i></i></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1660143379i/59441717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1660143379i/59441717.jpg" width="133" /></a></i></span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon</i></span></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">by Sarah Hawley</span></b></span></p><p></p><p><br /></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10506450" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-57816186179972047792023-03-09T19:16:00.001-08:002023-03-29T18:21:12.116-07:00Sleep No More<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1649171275i/60753741.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="229" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1649171275i/60753741.jpg" width="132" /></a></span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sleep No More</span></i></b></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Jayne Ann Krentz</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">TL;DL - The paranormal and psychic combine in this 80's style police procedural. Some good ideas and some very awkward writing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 3/5<br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10493110" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-13713062268799047202023-02-22T19:24:00.004-08:002023-02-22T19:24:38.009-08:00Bookish and the Beast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581364475i/49392936.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="518" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581364475i/49392936.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Bookish and the Beast</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>by Ashley Poston</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p><p>TL;DL Retelling of Beauty and the Beast filled with references to books and movies of the past. Tropes are poorly used and characters aren't realistic.</p><p><br /></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10483361" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-30430955057560325882023-02-12T11:19:00.005-08:002023-02-12T11:21:20.919-08:00A Thousand Heartbeats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1657736409i/59314662.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="530" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1657736409i/59314662.jpg" width="133" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">A Thousand Heartbeats</span></b></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">by Kiera Cass</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">TL;DL - Enemies to lovers romance with some decent moments but too much telling instead of showing and some major logistics/consistency errors with time and travel.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 3/5</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10476743" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-34962283388070869432023-01-01T10:55:00.001-08:002023-10-08T11:33:56.280-07:00The Do-Over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d1w7fb2mkkr3kw.cloudfront.net/assets/images/book/lrg/9781/6659/9781665941075.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644258928i/51035594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644258928i/51035594.jpg" width="132" /></a></div></span></b></i></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Do-Over</span></b></i></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">by Lynn Painter</span></span></b></i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's February 14th and Emilie is determined to have the absolute best Valentine's Day ever. It's the 3-month anniversary of dating her perfect boyfriend and he's perfect because he literally checks off all the items on her "perfect boyfriend" list. It's time to tell him the L-word.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Things start off a little awkwardly at home, but she won't let it worry her. She drives to school, gets distracted, gets in an accident, and is forced to accept a ride in the truck of the guy she hit.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But she's still going to make this day work.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Then her scholarship is revoked due to a mathematical error. She has to deal with the school mean girls. And her perfect boyfriend kisses his ex in the parking lot. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Day ruined.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">To make it all much worse, she gets home after school to find out that her dad, stepmom, and half-brothers will be moving to Texas and leaving her behind. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So she goes to her grandma's house to cry and sleep only to wake up in her bed at her dad's house and it's all starting again. It's her own personal Groundhog Day.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Through the many repeated Valentine's Days, Emilie learns more about herself, the people around her and about the boy whose truck she kept crashing into. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Nick is nothing like she thought and everything that she might need.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Final thoughts: </b>Total cotton-candy book with fluff and strangeness. The only fully built characters are Emilie and Nick; the rest of the characters are one-day only versions of themselves with no real depth. Nick is awesome and there is some chemistry between him and Em. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Rating:</b> 3.5/5</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10450457?autoplay=false" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-91806931051604132802022-12-07T21:12:00.002-08:002022-12-07T21:12:24.870-08:00Dirty Lying Faeries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1641783808i/58724725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="254" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1641783808i/58724725.jpg" width="127" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dirty Lying Faeries</span></b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">by Sabrina Blackburry</span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">After getting into an exclusive party with the help of her best friend, Thea has been exposed to a little too much fae influence, which causes her to start the change into a fae changeling. Her change was a mistake, but she's taking to it pretty well for someone who didn't even know that the fae really existed.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It helps that she's bonded to the Lord of the Winter Court, Devin, and he's going to do everything he can to make sure her accidental change works out well, especially because she is now his Lady.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But someone out there is not fine with Thea's change and has been actively shutting down all similar changes and opportunities for hundreds of years. Thea, Devin, and other friends (and enemies) must work together to stop the "rotting one" from destroying all fae forever.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Final thoughts: There are some great moments here but the whole story is pretty disjointed and incomplete. The world building is nice and fairly well-done, but that building comes at the sacrifice of a fuller story. Additionally, the title just doesn't match the content of the book itself. It just doesn't fit. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 3/5</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10435310?autoplay=false" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-56527024375075001922022-11-25T18:20:00.006-08:002022-11-25T18:20:53.445-08:00Me and Banksy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562575247l/45138582.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="271" height="200" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562575247l/45138582.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Me and Banksy</span></b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>by Tanya Lloyd Kyi</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><br /></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10427468?autoplay=false" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-45650491640644234342022-11-20T20:11:00.000-08:002022-11-20T20:11:31.359-08:00Into Every Generation a Slayer Is Born<p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1639201745l/58313981.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="200" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1639201745l/58313981.jpg" width="133" /></a></span></i></b></div><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Into Every Generation a Slayer Is Born:</span></span></i></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">How Buffy Staked Our Hearts</span></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>by Evan Ross Katz</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Uberfan Katz has written an amazing background book about <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>. Just over half of the book goes into depth on each season of Buffy, followed by the rest of the book breaking down the relationships both on and off of the set, accusations about Whedon, and (most importantly) the show's impact on individuals and culture as a whole.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">There are a number of real issues in television culture that are covered from LGBTQ+ issues to the lack of POC. Those issues are discussed in both the positive as in Tara and Willow's relationship to the negative as with the "bury your gays" trope. There is an entire section devoted to the depiction of POC in the show and the lack of representation there. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But most of the book is about the positive impacts of this show on the people who watched it when it first came out, the people who are watching it now, television as a whole, and what it all means to people. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 4/5</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10423900?autoplay=false" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-86633373839578751482022-11-05T21:16:00.003-07:002022-11-05T21:16:29.221-07:00When Life Gives You Vampires<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644252353i/60342128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644252353i/60342128.jpg" width="133" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">When Life Gives You Vampires</span></b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">by Gloria Duke</span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">After a night that she doesn't remember, Lily awakens to discover that she's now a vampire. Apparently made undead by accident, Lily and her maker, Tristan, must navigate vampire politics and try to avoid being killed permanently.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Between her BFF and font of all fiction vampire lore giving her advice, a work colleague who suddenly seems to really hate her, a backstory that Tristan refuses to share, and a master vampire threatening her, Lily has quite a bit to learn and she must learn it in just a few days.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Final thoughts: Messy. No chemistry and the constant use of the phrase "obvi" is extremely frustrating by the end. This could have been cute but it just doesn't gel.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 2/5</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10413724?autoplay=false" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-81109909016100479912022-10-27T22:14:00.003-07:002022-10-27T22:14:30.705-07:00Big Bad<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1645390921l/59863641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="200" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1645390921l/59863641.jpg" width="133" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Big Bad</span></span></i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">by Lily Anderson</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In an alternate dimension Sunnydale, the skies over the town are permanently dark and the vampires and demons rule the newly named "Demondale". As the Trio work together to try and help Warren ascend, a teen girl appears and Warren ends up in pieces around the room.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The teen girl is Buffy and she's determined to destroy all demons in all dimensions.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's up to Jonathan, Andrew, Anya, Angelus, Spike, and Drusilla to try and save their dimension and all the demons and vamps who live there. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">With all of the various characters from the Buffyverse making appearances, they must work together to stop the slayer.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Final thoughts: This is mediocre fanfic that's jammed up reference after reference, which takes away from actual storytelling. Pretty much every demon and vamp who Buffy fought over seven seasons are at least mentioned in this novel. The ending doesn't feel like it fits in with the character who we've grown to love over seven seasons. Those who don't know the Buffyverse and/or aren't fans won't get into this and those who are fans may just be distracted by the references without being able to enjoy the plot.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 2/5<br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10408151?autoplay=false" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-1651759143783513302022-10-12T22:44:00.005-07:002022-10-16T22:58:10.049-07:00Bring Me Their Hearts<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1517258945l/35144326.jpg" width="133" /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Bring Me Their Hearts</span></i></b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>by Sara Wolf</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Three years before, Zera was killed by bandits who also killed her parents. A witch who was near took Zera's heart from her and then reanimated her as a Heartless. After avenging her parents' deaths, Zera stays as the servant of the witch her "saved" her, unable to go far from her heart in the witch's lair.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">For the past three years, Zera and two other Heartless have served the witch and been her thralls.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When all signs point to the king preparing for a new war against the witches, a plan is hatched to give Zera the ability to leave her small home, travel to the city, and try to capture the heart of the young prince, Lucien.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Literally.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If Zera can kill him, take his heart, and help to turn him into a Heartless, her heart and the hearts of the two other current thralls will be returned to her, allowing her to be human once more.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Getting to the city is easy. Convincing everyone that she's not a monster will be much harder. Capturing the heart of the prince, could be the most dangerous thing Zera has ever tried to do.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Final thoughts: This one had a nice concept but was a slow build. I almost gave up a few times at the start because I was struggling to get into it. However, once I was in I was all in. Zera is fascinating and many of the other characters are fleshed out well. Lucien was great and I felt for him by the end. There was an obvious twist early on but it actually was revealed to all of the characters early so it didn't bring down the book much. My biggest complaint was the cliffhanger so I'm off to read the next book.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 4/5</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10400246?autoplay=false" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569375580112718392.post-48112816385107760512022-09-27T21:04:00.000-07:002022-09-27T21:04:25.235-07:00Becoming a Queen<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1652108491i/59541753.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="518" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1652108491i/59541753.jpg" width="130" /></a></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Becoming a Queen</span></span></b></i></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">by Dan Clay</span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Mark has always been sure of two things: he is gay and his older brother loves him no matter what.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What Mark isn't sure of is how he will feel wearing a dress. He feels like he will love it with all of his heart but he's not sure that anyone else will. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Luckily, Mark's brother supports him 1000% with the encouragement to, "Be yourself! Your full sequin-y self.”</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Just as Mark is starting to find his footing and figure out who he may be, tragedy strikes and he must start to find himself all over again.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Final thoughts: Poignant, sad, sometimes depressing, and sometimes frenetic, this book has a real 'voice' and is a solid story. Some of the moments were a little odd and others just didn't always read well, but the overall story is well done. This book can be very raw and real and there should be some trigger warnings somewhere, but it's worth the read.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rating: 4/5</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="208" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/10388587?autoplay=false" width="504"></iframe></div>Shayanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879934256520656522noreply@blogger.com0