tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60589622854073076502024-02-02T10:26:28.183-05:00Rambles from My LibraryYA and fantasy/sci-fi book reviews and recommendations from the pen of a young writerFina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-18345443546023948362020-05-12T06:00:00.000-04:002020-05-19T13:26:45.950-04:00Mini-Review Whirlwind: Audiobooks, a New Favourite, and a DisappointmentHey everyone! <script async="" data-pin-hover="true" data-pin-tall="true" defer="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>
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First, I want to apologize for my long absence from this blog. I don't really have much of an excuse, seeing as I'm stuck in quarantine with nothing else to do. But I've been planning something really<br />
exciting that I hope to reveal soon, so keep your eyes peeled for that!</div>
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In the meantime, it's time for a reading wrap-up! I've recently discovered the joy of audiobooks, and have been listening to those quite a bit, as well as reading e-books and physical books.<br />
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I have several mini-reviews to bring you today, so let's just get right into them!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. <i>Bone Gap </i>by Laura Ruby, narrated by Dan Bittner</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQrpx7HpmcHZ4kG1LHHKVqDTbeu_mzoL4TvuVkXBvjUSq4DJ8Upd-ucgGjNjUVM07V0vrAa56Ffl8I_7DKvPpp7YzXkaZRFp8vabbjUyODnOWGdsatiw9lp11RW7jbPP2Wzh8bvj9PGg/s1600/18806240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQrpx7HpmcHZ4kG1LHHKVqDTbeu_mzoL4TvuVkXBvjUSq4DJ8Upd-ucgGjNjUVM07V0vrAa56Ffl8I_7DKvPpp7YzXkaZRFp8vabbjUyODnOWGdsatiw9lp11RW7jbPP2Wzh8bvj9PGg/s200/18806240.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">This book was a delight. Wonderfully weird and atmospheric, with great characters. Despite the lack of any real solid plot, I greatly enjoyed this book. Bittner's narration was excellent and kept me hooked from the first chapter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Recommended for ages 16 and up. There are several instances of mature language, as well as some sexual comments, and one sex scene (not extremely graphic, but more descriptive than other similar scenes in YA.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. <i>My Plain Jane </i>by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kMrsv8RHIs1hKdhE0xXD7-M6-ZYbKIOtxT3Fd5fEWf2JPYlpRLgfNDDQEX0-DIY2GyF9_YQ7Z_gF7ALQ26mp77tTRoT99YqRrCiZ19R53kxBXj-SwPv2uFZBb5LzfaIrw3tn4uJNiV4/s1600/36301023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kMrsv8RHIs1hKdhE0xXD7-M6-ZYbKIOtxT3Fd5fEWf2JPYlpRLgfNDDQEX0-DIY2GyF9_YQ7Z_gF7ALQ26mp77tTRoT99YqRrCiZ19R53kxBXj-SwPv2uFZBb5LzfaIrw3tn4uJNiV4/s200/36301023.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My Rating: </b></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">This book, much like the first, <i>My Lady Jane, </i>was plain fun to read. This story is a fractured retelling of Jane Eyre, and I adored it. There were some A+ literary references, the characters were fun and quirky, and the writing was easy to read and enjoyable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Recommended for ages 13 and up. Despite a few vague sexual comments, and one or two mild curse words, this book was very clean. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. <i>Magonia </i>by Maria Dahvana Headley, narrated by Therese Plummer and Michael Crouch</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u5lFNz4KKbH6UaIu3IFavZfX8jRU_qfzCbSpgXYWn5pP66-2O8Y-lvQFwBePKInnw3wSifIqkWc_5Dfb_igj14m8i1pYnZGGYJ-29NVRJF1y_xKzwEQNlzUedPSDLkl4mBRLtbB2lp4/s1600/21393526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="236" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u5lFNz4KKbH6UaIu3IFavZfX8jRU_qfzCbSpgXYWn5pP66-2O8Y-lvQFwBePKInnw3wSifIqkWc_5Dfb_igj14m8i1pYnZGGYJ-29NVRJF1y_xKzwEQNlzUedPSDLkl4mBRLtbB2lp4/s200/21393526.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My Rating: </b></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★</span></b><br />
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This book was incredible. The audiobook narrators were freaking amazing, and it was hard to stop listening at times. The story was so wonderfully weird and whimsical, and the characters were fabulous as well. I loved Aza's relationship with her family, and I also got super invested in the romance, which is so rare for me, especially in YA novels.<br />
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Recommended for ages 15 and up. There are a few sexual comments, a reference to porn, and some mature language. Two female characters are lesbian and married. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. <i>There Will Come a Darkness </i>by Katy Rose Pool</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKejVKMBl4pEcqTe6e6PW8eh9uUH0Dydzig22OV9lfNg7cvziVem4xhVxkjEaY-GohevFnzyZqDo6yw4akIirxaEdhHef0iu0YgY0_qNP_t5Ikn98WPCophPfQsAOPju_a1nnBR31Z65I/s1600/twcad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKejVKMBl4pEcqTe6e6PW8eh9uUH0Dydzig22OV9lfNg7cvziVem4xhVxkjEaY-GohevFnzyZqDo6yw4akIirxaEdhHef0iu0YgY0_qNP_t5Ikn98WPCophPfQsAOPju_a1nnBR31Z65I/s200/twcad.jpg" width="134" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My Rating: </b></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★</span></b><br />
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Trust me, no one is more disappointed than me about my dismal rating for this book. I was super excited to read it, but it quickly became a struggle to get through. You can read my review on Goodreads for more of my thoughts, but suffice it to say -- between some truly annoying point of view characters, obnoxious romance, and cringy dialogue, this didn't end up being the book for me.<br />
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Recommended for ages 15 and up. There are quite a few instances of innuendo, as well as some cursing. There is a fair amount of violence and descriptions of blood and wounds. Characters drink alcohol. One character is implied to be gay. Two minor characters are gay and married.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. <i>Navigating Early </i>by Clare Vanderpool, narrated by Robbie Daymond, Mark Bramhall, and Cassandra Campbell</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggA0N_iDnCSxJmh3C6M6ibwt_JgqgfmcHg2c1pHhLQ2Tp8XGtvtxHRjtR-Zwvr_uPWNdv97uSA5GOaNnr-Z8Zdqz0tAlYRtIYRrxr3oCg-1GOR-CrRMuBokrxjs0yhnBWom6J7I14vOPk/s1600/13642663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggA0N_iDnCSxJmh3C6M6ibwt_JgqgfmcHg2c1pHhLQ2Tp8XGtvtxHRjtR-Zwvr_uPWNdv97uSA5GOaNnr-Z8Zdqz0tAlYRtIYRrxr3oCg-1GOR-CrRMuBokrxjs0yhnBWom6J7I14vOPk/s200/13642663.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My Rating: </b></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★</span></b><br />
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This book was an endearing, sweet story. It definitely lacked any real sense of plot, and some of the plot occurances seemed a far stretch to me, but overall I thought it was a sweet and enjoyable story with loveable characters.<br />
The audiobook narrators were fairly good; however, some of the characters' accents were rather grating.<br />
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Recommended for ages 9 and up. There are scenes of peril, some alcohol use and smoking (by adults), and some talk of death and war.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>6. <i>The Summer I Learned to Fly </i>by Dana Reinhardt</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbu0nZJW8CXpjIVUq8OhtnMqcMaMe1QXD2fQccZTvsZ2IYCJW1yKfpLbXgMGMIbBZWYt1OdkdqNh27-sJOWutbI4-I35b1MlyVPqzfzmx_jVWf48BGMcDJsuvYFcSZP9dmiQrNa6oZyY8/s1600/9578513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="261" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbu0nZJW8CXpjIVUq8OhtnMqcMaMe1QXD2fQccZTvsZ2IYCJW1yKfpLbXgMGMIbBZWYt1OdkdqNh27-sJOWutbI4-I35b1MlyVPqzfzmx_jVWf48BGMcDJsuvYFcSZP9dmiQrNa6oZyY8/s200/9578513.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My Rating: </b></span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★</span></b><br />
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This was another sweet, plotless story, but also a joy to read. I loved how quirky the setting was, and the characters were wonderful. Reinhardt's writing was smooth and enjoyable to read, and I'll definitely be looking into reading more of her work.<br />
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Recommended for ages 12 and up. There is an off-page motorcycle accident, resulting in injury. A few swear words. Characters smoke.<br />
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<b>And that about wraps it up! Have you read any of these books? Or are you planning on reading any? Let me know in the comments!</b><br />
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Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-21779471679100617632020-04-25T06:00:00.000-04:002020-04-29T11:58:50.625-04:00My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, & Brodi Ashton [Spoiler Free Book Review]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>My Lady Jane [The Lady Janies, #1]</i></span><script async="" data-pin-hover="true" data-pin-tall="true" defer="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>
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by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton</div>
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<b>Genre: </b>YA historical fantasy</div>
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<b>My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★</span></b></div>
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<b>Description:</b></div>
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Sometimes history gets it all wrong. </div>
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This is the story of Lady Jane Grey, in a way that it's never been told before. </div>
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<b>Overall Thoughts</b></div>
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This book was, in a word, fun. It wasn't world changing. It didn't really make me think, or impact me in any great way. It probably will be forgotten a few decades down the road. But oh boy was this book just a heck of a good time.<br />
It's lighthearted and fluffy, which makes it a perfect read for right now.<br />
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<b>The Characters</b><br />
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These characters were not deep. They weren't incredibly complex. But they were still fun to read about, you know, as in the sense that Marvel movies are still fun to watch. The characters aren't particularly well developed, but no one honestly cares very much, because they're still fun characters.<br />
That was definitely the case here. I liked all the major characters, though I did have issues with one character's obsession with girls. It wasn't a huge part of the story, though, so I was able to ignore it.<br />
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<b>Plot/Pacing</b><br />
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The plot for this book is absolutely ridiculous, true to a comedy form. It also has some elements of history woven in, so some of the events do align with real historical events.<br />
The pacing is great; the book sucks you in and keeps you hooked through simple prose and a fast-moving plot.<br />
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<b>Worldbuilding/Writing</b><br />
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The writing was not phenomenal, but that's not what I was expecting. It's a fun, light hearted comedy, and that's what the writing reflected.<br />
The worldbuilding was a mashup of actual historical worldbuilding and the random addition of shapeshifting, which just added another layer to the already ridiculous (in the best way) plot. I thought it was fun.<br />
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<b>Content</b><br />
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Recommended for ages 15 and up.<br />
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A few mild swear words. I don't recall any extremely offensive words being used.<br />
There's some violence, but more along the lines of cartoon violence than anything else. Nothing extremely graphic.<br />
In terms of sexual content, there are quite a few instances of sexual jokes/innuendo. Descriptions of women's bodies (in a sexual manner.) Kissing. Numerous instances of nudity.<br />
A very brief sex scene, without much description (it's more implied).<br />
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Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-50722589659541268442020-04-21T06:00:00.000-04:002020-04-21T06:00:01.775-04:00Top Ten Tuesday: YA Titles That Would Make Great Band Names<i>Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme originally created by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html">The Broke and The Bookish</a> and currently run by <a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/">That Artsy Reader Girl</a>.</i><br />
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Hi all, it's Tuesday again! I'm so excited to be able to say that this post is the 100th post published on Rambles from My Library! I'm thrilled that this blog has come so far since its beginnings, and I'm looking forward to its continued growth in the next few months. :)<br />
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This week's prompt is "book titles that would make great band names." I'm excited to share my selections with you all! I've linked my reviews to any of the books that I've read, so you can check those out if any of the books seem interesting! I'll also link each book to Goodreads so you can read more about them, so I won't spend too much time talking about each one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYj7S2bfCzCm32cyG1imq3hlwZyRrFyAZgf_L7rUnSaypOa6f9P-eiceklYP_fgFajftQwkqs_mPEsXNxOqLeA8B6aSQKDD3ZWAtXvb7pCGUZehbD3r16ipYmD_Tyfe2j1D0eR5-NGYz4/s1600/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYj7S2bfCzCm32cyG1imq3hlwZyRrFyAZgf_L7rUnSaypOa6f9P-eiceklYP_fgFajftQwkqs_mPEsXNxOqLeA8B6aSQKDD3ZWAtXvb7pCGUZehbD3r16ipYmD_Tyfe2j1D0eR5-NGYz4/s320/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com+%25281%2529.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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Without further ado, let's get into the list!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. <i>The Raven Boys </i>by Maggie Stiefvater</span><script async="" data-pin-hover="true" data-pin-tall="true" defer="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBTbXE05ISqW4JQLXUJuPX8r1DtgNuMQXV8XG9vS_uRwDUy5vPk2ybH5q_u_mfGIwuu0pvmxaAWbJEwfGazaZKlfRn31tDCXLqJhglfuFSX6FeP9FGYF0joWT99dqq_l04SJkSC1OLMY/s1600/ravenboys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBTbXE05ISqW4JQLXUJuPX8r1DtgNuMQXV8XG9vS_uRwDUy5vPk2ybH5q_u_mfGIwuu0pvmxaAWbJEwfGazaZKlfRn31tDCXLqJhglfuFSX6FeP9FGYF0joWT99dqq_l04SJkSC1OLMY/s200/ravenboys.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17675462-the-raven-boys?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=xkc1QA9141&rank=1">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-raven-cycle-by-maggie-stiefvater.html">My Review</a></span><br />
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Honestly, when I sat down to come up with titles for this prompt, this one was the first. I mean, just think about it: it's a perfect band name.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. <i>The Outsiders </i>by S.E. Hinton</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWfgUhUXQaZ0fDJZlvZ0aoGPlpQyDuYIcjWOBwnuaSveK9IlrJYb9B7dHwFpwYgpbsJxwoJesJ2yGQDaPZB9FzpUSzmgMqhm5_mdGB6sWu12Pu6gosvfEJ6aFeSWG93KTIL73m3L0spY/s1600/outsiders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="292" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWfgUhUXQaZ0fDJZlvZ0aoGPlpQyDuYIcjWOBwnuaSveK9IlrJYb9B7dHwFpwYgpbsJxwoJesJ2yGQDaPZB9FzpUSzmgMqhm5_mdGB6sWu12Pu6gosvfEJ6aFeSWG93KTIL73m3L0spY/s200/outsiders.jpg" width="122" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231804.The_Outsiders?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=njb3Ai3B4h&rank=1">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/12/contemporary-reads-wrap-up-everything.html">My Review</a></span></span><br />
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I love this book so much, and I can definitely see why it's become such a classic YA novel. The characters are amazing. And it also has a great title. Win-win all around. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. <i>Renegades </i>by Marissa Meyer</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeCzDJ1DkoloQXzL2LUUO0orp1heD8LrrJSFZAa6COUlD7GUffr4mFLIUQGOoEPaDCW9GHIdWclzK37Pt3Hz1zt5qmdkKFA96oGRkOaIU5sSnAMnLeyeUbq-V6ikzu_g4x7nBAj2ss7k/s1600/28421168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeCzDJ1DkoloQXzL2LUUO0orp1heD8LrrJSFZAa6COUlD7GUffr4mFLIUQGOoEPaDCW9GHIdWclzK37Pt3Hz1zt5qmdkKFA96oGRkOaIU5sSnAMnLeyeUbq-V6ikzu_g4x7nBAj2ss7k/s200/28421168.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28421168-renegades?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=UqmFNXZLgk&rank=1">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/05/renegades-renegades-1-by-marissa-meyer.html">My Review</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Hey, it works, right? I could see this title being a band name super easily. </span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. <i>The Diviners </i>by Libba Bray</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlk86y4HzrTRPDSqUmNnoncgR9R-TszqfUcHQ_TRkfrIDjS4iuGkz_0W1traTbeclBit5CUEhDaisUiTZAIRPqNlIcI3M4se1zDG8QqQynxS13ARMDuXRsfpNSTUkvpFFFEcvesvMr9g/s1600/diviners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlk86y4HzrTRPDSqUmNnoncgR9R-TszqfUcHQ_TRkfrIDjS4iuGkz_0W1traTbeclBit5CUEhDaisUiTZAIRPqNlIcI3M4se1zDG8QqQynxS13ARMDuXRsfpNSTUkvpFFFEcvesvMr9g/s200/diviners.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7728889-the-diviners?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=9N5Er6KrWg&rank=1">Goodreads</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">This is a book that I really want to read, but I'm also a wimp when it comes to scary stuff in books, so I'm getting my brother to read it first. XD </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. <i>Navigating Early </i>by Clare Vanderpool</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRgHNWP8AzIBK7qvKwSr1UIjySiu3VFDYwLZtOD2ZvKAjmO4ReepvjVA5dkvuql4lJSlpw9S3gOfkuexAz0MFRnu47sDOwLBkTK8Lsy6U1gzFzZIE93CS3u9QgjFd-0H6Mkj0sbcxpQ4/s1600/13642663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRgHNWP8AzIBK7qvKwSr1UIjySiu3VFDYwLZtOD2ZvKAjmO4ReepvjVA5dkvuql4lJSlpw9S3gOfkuexAz0MFRnu47sDOwLBkTK8Lsy6U1gzFzZIE93CS3u9QgjFd-0H6Mkj0sbcxpQ4/s200/13642663.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642663-navigating-early?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=x5h71hi2DX&rank=1">Goodreads</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">This book's title sounds like one of those instrumental bands that have really nice, calming music. </span><br />
This is also on my TBR, and I'm excited to get around to it!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. <i>Firefight </i>by Brandon Sanderson</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImL03Z4FQsBtbw7V_sVkWMTG4kn6zeUnsSfV8PoMxpOtEjqfhWN9cr5YJf9f-9px6HsLUjOGgU_NdzssnfygU4EqlVkRqRJhbG3IiDttf79Ex_SG5jAvkHf6cv4_qa05GVDj7ZU-cXQk/s1600/firefight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImL03Z4FQsBtbw7V_sVkWMTG4kn6zeUnsSfV8PoMxpOtEjqfhWN9cr5YJf9f-9px6HsLUjOGgU_NdzssnfygU4EqlVkRqRJhbG3IiDttf79Ex_SG5jAvkHf6cv4_qa05GVDj7ZU-cXQk/s200/firefight.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15704459-firefight?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=DzHDytLusc&rank=1">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/05/firefight-reckoners-2-by-brandon.html">My Review</a></span></span><br />
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Yeah, I'm sort of cheating on this one. Because, you know, Firefight is an actual band name. Already. (No, I haven't listened to any of their music. I just know they're a band. XD)<br />
But hey, if it's already a band name, of course this title would make a good one!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">7. <i>Heist Society </i>by Ally Carter</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fGFlK5L-uodQdETI03sgTS2TlyywKK_vlneyACvxAPkd0p3WVaXMtO4G-XVS-9bG2g3AQLSmkEZUMsRwp_v9MoXOd2kXb6Zm2LuIS5z1WiQfz7WvnH-j0W_vPHyfNH1Q-x9jUm7q0rU/s1600/6574102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fGFlK5L-uodQdETI03sgTS2TlyywKK_vlneyACvxAPkd0p3WVaXMtO4G-XVS-9bG2g3AQLSmkEZUMsRwp_v9MoXOd2kXb6Zm2LuIS5z1WiQfz7WvnH-j0W_vPHyfNH1Q-x9jUm7q0rU/s200/6574102.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6574102-heist-society?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=OLuXiIxbSV&rank=1">Goodreads</a></span></span><br />
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I picked this book up on a whim and still haven't gotten around to reading it, but you have to admit, the title does sound a lot like a band name, doesn't it?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">8. <i>Paper Towns </i>by John Green</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88R6ZG5ArDYI6PvsoJt8XK7m9v14s5pUhARMhNjcpbblH7KqWPr8KMvDbI8ezXXWFwAoCgRxJe7n50hGBUx4h9TDVU9J5K1xU_rPuVlQK4D-2sOgUx4SaGMfssD1LJQkKethj8mFqAps/s1600/6442769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88R6ZG5ArDYI6PvsoJt8XK7m9v14s5pUhARMhNjcpbblH7KqWPr8KMvDbI8ezXXWFwAoCgRxJe7n50hGBUx4h9TDVU9J5K1xU_rPuVlQK4D-2sOgUx4SaGMfssD1LJQkKethj8mFqAps/s200/6442769.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6574102-heist-society?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=OLuXiIxbSV&rank=1">Goodreads</a></span></span><br />
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The only reason I own this book is because I found it for super cheap, and now I'm obligated to read it. :P<br />
The title has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">9. <i>Sweep </i>by Jonathan Auxier</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzlK9Y8cmkGQJxPZ_CHcejUAB_9_Z81zHKOTo6eTg9Ap3DQs_iW2ubEMksE5mIMdVYs1w2o_9t24KJK0weBt-WEWnNypqxqxNCcqJyYxQury-EGiLtg-yFq7MMrP9k9khKzB4yHaJD7k/s1600/sweep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="268" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzlK9Y8cmkGQJxPZ_CHcejUAB_9_Z81zHKOTo6eTg9Ap3DQs_iW2ubEMksE5mIMdVYs1w2o_9t24KJK0weBt-WEWnNypqxqxNCcqJyYxQury-EGiLtg-yFq7MMrP9k9khKzB4yHaJD7k/s200/sweep.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37811512-sweep?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=h2lmnRZC9z&rank=1">Goodreads</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">My brother pointed out that a band name like Sweep would fit perfectly with some 1980's band names, so here you go. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Plus, it's an amazing book and I just want more people to read it, okay?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">10. <i>All the Crooked Saints </i>by Maggie Stiefvater </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTcEyIcQR2hek3Zs7388MijzVaq8DGrccUCk0paC6ovFvkkwHF9qMQ5efK_oWomCK3OOLusU6GJ7jRv8PxMJuTHXWymaGBN7Kd8lda8cqlElZ2vtqXb7mciZngiqKCI1SXnIshztXps8/s1600/atcs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTcEyIcQR2hek3Zs7388MijzVaq8DGrccUCk0paC6ovFvkkwHF9qMQ5efK_oWomCK3OOLusU6GJ7jRv8PxMJuTHXWymaGBN7Kd8lda8cqlElZ2vtqXb7mciZngiqKCI1SXnIshztXps8/s200/atcs.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30025336-all-the-crooked-saints?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=Z5S12kdbpl&rank=1">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/11/all-crooked-saints-by-maggie-stiefvater.html">My Review</a></span></span><br />
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Yes, I know I have two Stiefvater books on this list. Sorry not sorry. It's not my fault her books have such great titles!<br />
Also, this book is criminally underrated and needs more love, so if you haven't read it, please go check it out!<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Alright, bookworms, now it's your turn! <b>Have you read any of the books on this list, and what did you think of them? (No spoilers, please!) Are there any YA titles you think would make good band names? Let me know in the comments! I'm excited to hear your thoughts. </b></span><br />
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Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-57902765120639918762020-04-20T06:00:00.000-04:002020-04-20T06:00:05.277-04:00Elantris by Brandon Sanderson [Spoiler Free Book Review]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Elantris</i></span><br />
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by Brandon Sanderson</div>
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<b>Genre: </b>Adult high fantasy</div>
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<b>My Rating: </b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★★</span></div>
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<b>Description:</b></div>
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Elantris was a city of gods, a place of magic and miracles. People came from all across the world to experience the healing and power of the Elantrians. </div>
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Anyone could become an Elantrian. They could be taken at any time, raised to a god-like state. They lived in their city, harmonious and peaceful for eternity. Eternity ended ten years ago. </div>
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<b>Overall Thoughts</b></div>
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I never expected anything less than awesome from a Cosmere novel, and this one definitely did not disappoint. The beginning was somewhat slow, but it picked up and soon I couldn't put it down. I loved the political aspect of the novel, as well as the whole "fantasy world post-apocalypse" concept. </div>
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<b>The Characters</b></div>
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There are three major POV characters: Raoden, a prince who is forced into exile in Elantris; Sarene, Raoden's betrothed, and Hrathen, a high priest of the religion spearheading an invasion into the free states of the world. </div>
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I liked all three of them. Raoden was very much a hero-type character -- well meaning, optimistic, and kind. I loved seeing him step up into a leadership role throughout the course of the novel, and I liked how much he cared about his goals and the people he served. </div>
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Sarene was great as well, suspicious, quick-witted, and smart-mouthed. There were moments when I wasn't sure that I would like her too much, but overall, I really liked her. She had to make some really difficult decisions throughout the novel, and I really admired how she was able to make those decisions. </div>
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Hrathen was fascinating. He's the villain of the novel, but he's so much more than just a mustache twirling evil mastermind. He's logical, driven by wanting to serve his God. He also wants to<i> avoid </i>bloodshed and death, which was such an interesting twist on a villain, and not one that I've seen too often before (most villains are more on the murderous psychopath side of things.)</div>
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There were some great side characters, too. I especially liked Ashe, Sarene's Seon (basically a servant, but if a servant was a floaty ball of light.) I thought that his personality was great (and hilarious, at times.)</div>
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<b>Plot/Pacing</b></div>
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The plot was definitely slow paced near the beginning. This seems to be a trademark with a lot of adult fantasy novels, but it is worth pointing out. It's way more politics centered than anything else, so if you're looking for an epic fantasy war story -- this isn't it. I like reading about politics in fictional worlds, though, so I was intrigued.<br />
After the first 200 pages or so, the pacing picked up, and by the end was breathtakingly quick paced.<br />
There were some good plot twists, as well. I felt that the reveal for some of the plot twists was slightly less than spectacular, but the twists themselves were good.<br />
I felt like the plot did leave several major loose ends, as well, so it's definitely apparent why Sanderson has talked about writing a sequel to this book in the future. </div>
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<b>Worldbuilding</b><br />
<b><br /></b>The entire concept of the world is that it was once full of magic, but now magic is basically a plague. I loved that concept so much, so of course, that part of the novel especially intrigued me. I loved the politics of the world as well -- both socially and religiously.<br />
But -- magic plague, guys. Magic. Plague.<br />
It's brilliant.<br />
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<b>Content</b></div>
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Recommended for ages 15 and up.<br />
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Swearing is mostly made up swear words/phrases. There may have been one or two minor real world swears.<br />
Sexual content is limited to a few sexual references and comments, including a reference to "the wedding night". Characters flirt with each other. There may have been one instance of kissing, but I can't recall for sure.<br />
Violence is... definitely the most disturbing part of the novel. In this storyworld, obviously there are people who can't die. No matter how gruesome their wounds. Which can... obviously get disturbing at times. A man is clubbed in the head. A brief description of the scene after a battle, with gruesome injuries described (not in detail). A character witnesses a human sacrifice. Mentions and descriptions of blood and wounds.<br />
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Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-66932194049890353412020-04-16T06:00:00.000-04:002020-04-17T11:50:47.306-04:00YA Books to Keep on Your Radar in 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It was only very recently that I actually started keeping track of new book releases. Which was both a good thing and a bad thing, I guess. A good thing in that <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/03/top-ten-tuesday-spring-2020-tbr.html">my TBR</a></span> wasn't overflowing with new books, and a bad thing in that... I was never up to date with current releases. Ever. </div>
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But I do try to keep up with current releases now, so fortunately (unfortunately?) I'm excited for some book releases this year. And mildly curious about others. </div>
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So not all the books on this list are ones that I will 100% for sure will pick up, but they're ones that look interesting enough to me that I could see myself reading them. And of course, some are ones that I am desperately looking forward to and need to have in my hands right now --</div>
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Ahem. Sorry. Okay, let's just get into it. </div>
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<i style="font-size: x-large;">Unravel the Dusk [Blood of Stars, #2] </i><span style="font-size: large;">by Elizabeth Lim</span><br />
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<b>Genre: </b>Fantasy<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>July 7<br />
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I read and enjoyed<span style="color: red;"> </span><i><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/11/spin-dawn-blood-of-stars-1-by-elizabeth.html">Spin the Dawn</a></span> </i>last year, so I'm excited to pick up the sequel (and the conclusion to the duology!) this year. And just look at that gorgeous cover!<br />
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<i style="font-size: x-large;">All the Stars and Teeth </i><span style="font-size: large;">by Adalyn Grace</span><br />
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<b>Genre: </b>Fantasy<br />
<b>Release Date: </b>February 4</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I'm really excited to read this book, and I have no excuses since it released a month ago now! It's about a princess, pirates, and mermaids, and just sounds really fun. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I really hope it's better than the <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/01/to-kill-kingdom-alexandra-christo-review.html">last pirate/mermaid book</a></span> I read! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Incendary </i>by Zoraida Cordova</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Genre: </b>Fantasy</span><br />
<b>Release Date: </b>April 28<br />
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I've been interested in this book since before the cover was revealed. It looks interesting -- apparently, it's a fantasy loosely based on the Spanish Inquistition, and has something to do with a girl who can steal memories? It sounded cool, anyway, so it makes the list.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Clap When You Land </i>by Elizabeth Acevedo</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Genre: </b><span style="font-size: small;">Contemporary</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Release Date: </b>May 5</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">This author is one I've heard a lot about, but I've never picked up one of her books before. I do think that this one looks interesting, though -- it's about two girls, who find out that they're half-sisters when their father dies in a plane crash. It's a novel in verse, which I've never read before, but I'm still really curious about this one. (The cover might have something to do with it.)</span></span><br />
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<i style="font-size: x-large;">Harley in the Sky </i><span style="font-size: large;">by Akemi Dawn Bowman</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Genre: </b><span style="font-size: small;">Contemporary</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Release Date: </b>March 10</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a contemporary novel about a girl who runs away from her family's circus and joins a rival circus company. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I want to read it just because of the circus aspect. I know, I'm so shallow.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes </i>by Suzanne Collins</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Genre: </b><span style="font-size: small;">Dystopian</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Release Date: </b>May 19<b> </b></span></span><br />
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I'm looking forward to this with a mixture of hope and trepidation. When I found out that this Hunger Games prequel was going to focus on President Snow, I was... very worried. I'm sure many of you feel the same way. Regardless, I'm going to read it. But I'm not going into it expecting I'll love it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Enigma Game </i>by Elizabeth Wein</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Genre: </b><span style="font-size: small;">Historical fiction</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Release Date: </b>May 26</span></span></div>
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I don't know anything about this book. Except that it's by Elizabeth Wein, the author of <i><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/12/code-name-verity-code-name-verity-1-by.html">Code Name Verity</a></span>, </i>which is a fantastic book. But let me find a description so I can tell you something about it.<br />
Okay, so it centers around an enigma machine that is smuggled into a small town, and the people who end up finding it. And it's based during World War 2, like many of Wein's other books. It looks interesting, so I'll be keeping my eye on it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Kingdom of Back </i>by Marie Lu</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Genre: </b><span style="font-size: small;">Historical fantasy</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Release Date: </b>March 3</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/09/romanov-by-nadine-brandes.html">Historical fantasy</a></span> is such an interesting genre, and when I found out about this book, I was instantly curious. It's about Nannerl Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's older sister.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've heard mixed opinions about this book, but I'm still very interested in reading it at some point!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Other Side of the Sky </i>by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner</span><script async="" data-pin-hover="true" data-pin-tall="true" defer="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Genre: </b><span style="font-size: small;">Fantasy</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Release Date: </b>September 8</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm literally only interested in this book because Amie Kaufman (who co-authored <i><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/09/illuminae-illuminae-files-1-by-amie.html">The Illuminae Files</a></span></i>) also co-authored this book. It seems to be about a forbidden romance between a goddess and human prince, and some politics thrown into the mix. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Silence of Bones </i>by June Hur</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Genre: </b><span style="font-size: small;">Historical mystery/thriller</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Release Date: </b>April 21</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">This book looks so interesting! I do admit, I didn't really pay close attention to it when I was first looking at the releases scheduled for 2020, but once I read the description, I was intrigued. It's about a girl named Seol who is indentured to a police bureau, and has to help a young inspector with his investigation of a murder. It's a historical novel that takes place in Korea, which makes me really curious, as not much historical fiction seems to focus around Eastern countries and cultures. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Thorn </i>by Intisar Khanani</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Genre: </b><span style="font-size: small;">Fairy tale retelling</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Release Date: </b>March 24</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a re-release of an older title, but it looks fun!<a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/08/saturday-scribblings-ya-retellings-of_17.html"> <span style="color: blue;">I'm all here for fairy tale retellings</span></a><span style="color: blue;">,</span> and a retelling of one of my favourite lesser known fairy tales -- The Goose Girl -- just intrigues me all the more. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Fable </i>by Adrienne Young</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Genre: </b><span style="font-size: small;">Fantasy</span></span><br />
<b>Release Date: </b>September 1<br />
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I have not yet read any of Adrienne Young's books, but they all look so fascinating, so this one is going on the list! <i>Fable </i>is about a girl whose powerful father abandons her on a remote island, and her quest to regain her place at her father's side. It looks really cool, and I'm interested in reading it!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Night Spinner </i>by Addie Thorley</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Genre: </b><span style="font-size: small;">Fantasy retelling</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Release Date: </b>February 11</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Someone said <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/08/saturday-scribblings-ya-retellings-of.html">'literary retelling'</a></span> so I'm here and present. This book is supposed to be a loose fantasy retelling of Victor Hugo's <i>The Hunchback of Notre Dame, </i>and even though I've never read the book (or watched the Disney movie) I'm still very curious!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">And a few that don't have covers revealed yet:</span></span><br />
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<b><i>Rhythm of War [The Stormlight Archive, #4] </i>by Brandon Sanderson </b>- not YA, but my most anticipated book for this year! I'm so excited to read this next installment in <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-way-of-kings-stormlight-archive-1.html"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">The Stormlight Archive</span> </span></a>series, and to get to revisit this world and characters again!<br />
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<b><i>Untitled [Dreamer, #2] </i>by Maggie Stiefvater - </b>I haven't even read <i>Call Down the Hawk </i>yet, but I'm already hyped for this book. I'm weird, I know. But ever since I read <i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-raven-cycle-by-maggie-stiefvater.html">The Raven Boys</a>, </i>I have become a die-hard fan.<br />
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<b>And that about wraps it up! Are you interested in any of the books that are on this list? Do you have any anticipated books that are coming out in 2020? Let me know in the comments!</b></div>
Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-84885720281503683172020-04-14T06:00:00.000-04:002020-04-14T06:00:05.830-04:00Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Enjoyed but Hardly Ever Talk About<div>
<i>Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme originally created by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html">The Broke and The Bookish</a> and is currently run by <a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/">That Artsy Reader Girl</a>. </i></div>
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It's Tuesday again! I want to apologize for how few posts I've managed to get up in the last little bit -- you'd think I'd have extra time for blogging now that I'm stuck indoors, but apparently not! :P Know that I am not wasting away the time on Pinterest -- I've been focusing intensely on my fiction writing in the last little while, juggling two WIP novels and a short story. It's been fun. :)<br />
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But on to this week's prompt! I honestly thought I was going to have trouble coming up with the books for this week -- books I enjoyed, but rarely talk about. I'm a very excitable reader, who loves shoving her latest fave onto anyone who will listen. </div>
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But when I started making this list -- surprise, surprise -- I came up with ten books <i>easily. </i>Apparently I'm not quite as excitable as I thought. :P</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. <i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/12/code-name-verity-code-name-verity-1-by.html">Code Name Verity</a> </i>by Elizabeth Wein</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZ2McT2Hk3klt3nmyb9BcGpXvcouwXliDEj5xWcQMD9n6uOYTZuZTezcgMO-wlqU8OBwXOeb2gUJuuybcF5M98aBP1frr-GKWyGYfKDPN5SaLlPhWNqmclBK1AOz8QFc8NtqbHdLe9f8/s1600/code+name+verity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZ2McT2Hk3klt3nmyb9BcGpXvcouwXliDEj5xWcQMD9n6uOYTZuZTezcgMO-wlqU8OBwXOeb2gUJuuybcF5M98aBP1frr-GKWyGYfKDPN5SaLlPhWNqmclBK1AOz8QFc8NtqbHdLe9f8/s200/code+name+verity.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<b>My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★★</span></b></div>
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<b>One Sentence Description: </b>A British operative in Nazi-occupied France is captured and forced to reveal Allied secrets. </div>
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I don't know why I don't talk about this book more, since I genuinely did enjoy it. I guess it just doesn't fit with any of the topics I've really focused on here. Maybe I should do a historical recommendations post? (Let me know in the comments if you'd be interested in something like this!)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. <i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/01/six-of-crows-book-review.html">Six of Crows</a> </i>by Leigh Bardugo</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvVGqKbsrcQAE-5zUdtNWcwzPvqXNVYRjPhqxfCiOBL6weZ_BElIlEEcfnaq74qoINOqPPjY9Nw4azIA65DcoihRN1KbLAEjQ80dQmv9W48kmlY6aRyGtidY3jco5xsNndKqhaqHtxB8/s1600/six+of+crows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvVGqKbsrcQAE-5zUdtNWcwzPvqXNVYRjPhqxfCiOBL6weZ_BElIlEEcfnaq74qoINOqPPjY9Nw4azIA65DcoihRN1KbLAEjQ80dQmv9W48kmlY6aRyGtidY3jco5xsNndKqhaqHtxB8/s200/six+of+crows.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<b>My Rating: </b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★★</span></b></div>
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<b>One Sentence Description: </b>Six dangerous outcasts, an impossible heist, small chance of success. Or survival.<br />
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I was as surprised as anyone when I realized just how little I actually talk about this book. Because I did like it. A lot, actually. I have no idea why it doesn't come up in my conversation more often. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. <i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-last-of-2019-mini-reviews-for-well.html">Wild Bird</a> </i>by Wendelin Van Draanen</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtE1RrrKd9QZtuUHv8ueSKF9asnIMapGfqYBeugCabgSXMFcvPHys1t_yzgTEfsUhfgZ5-HH2POzZWjqlN3oDo9HtTZa1325wiFQgb9Ld-A41hyAkY7_tt-msvvKRhng2C8D3cq0HFy20/s1600/wild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtE1RrrKd9QZtuUHv8ueSKF9asnIMapGfqYBeugCabgSXMFcvPHys1t_yzgTEfsUhfgZ5-HH2POzZWjqlN3oDo9HtTZa1325wiFQgb9Ld-A41hyAkY7_tt-msvvKRhng2C8D3cq0HFy20/s200/wild.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<b>My Rating: </b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★★</span></b></div>
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<b>One Sentence Description: </b>As Wren's behavior and addictions spiral out of control, her parents send her to a wilderness rehabilitation camp.<br />
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This is definitely an underrated book! It's not something I would immediately pick for myself to read, either, so I'm really glad my book club forced me to pick it up, because I adored it. I thought it handled its subject matter really well, and I loved the female friendships in it as well. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. <i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/05/steelheart-reckoners-1-by-brandon.html">Steelheart</a> </i>by Brandon Sanderson</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHddcpOrfrQPXUqiRW90g6IGiwDBbErDzjYXCRHbp31MOH3oilnBdm-7yMHg8D8Frv77OfZxkvRnDtcVzhjXHLH7vVbsIY53DfjfQBtn6eP9BgTg0I0vsWAM9knOiMOlSdvNCVb_YPb0/s1600/steelheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHddcpOrfrQPXUqiRW90g6IGiwDBbErDzjYXCRHbp31MOH3oilnBdm-7yMHg8D8Frv77OfZxkvRnDtcVzhjXHLH7vVbsIY53DfjfQBtn6eP9BgTg0I0vsWAM9knOiMOlSdvNCVb_YPb0/s200/steelheart.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<b>My Rating: </b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★★</span></b></div>
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<b>One Sentence Description: </b>A strange new star rises in the sky, and normal people develop superpowers. But this isn't the beginning of a superhero story -- it's the beginning of the apocalypse.<br />
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I actually know why I don't talk about this one too much -- it's because Brandon Sanderson's other books are so much better. :P But <i>Steelheart </i>is actually really good, though it does have its flaws (and books 2 and 3 should not have been written, in my opinion). But a superhero dystopia is a really interesting concept, and the first book displayed this splendidly (along with some great plot twists).</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. <i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-sun-is-also-star-by-nicola-yoon.html">The Sun is Also a Star</a> </i>by Nicola Yoon</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71vGkZBE5GMVHNYrJP5Jub3Fq7RtKyt0jQ6hQk4al-xyJ8PEu-ZENELTJLGP_kUYBOrSfYBUGj0eW0YXCkmDoI0xCs95WpL1j6B_6q2-Hafz8J_sZh4rgMnxlzRlhYhceX06CoQ2ZrfM/s1600/28763485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71vGkZBE5GMVHNYrJP5Jub3Fq7RtKyt0jQ6hQk4al-xyJ8PEu-ZENELTJLGP_kUYBOrSfYBUGj0eW0YXCkmDoI0xCs95WpL1j6B_6q2-Hafz8J_sZh4rgMnxlzRlhYhceX06CoQ2ZrfM/s200/28763485.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<b>My Rating: </b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★</span></b></div>
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<b>One Sentence Description: </b>With twelve hours until her family is deported, Natasha isn't looking for friendship, and definitely not love. But then she meets Daniel, and everything changes. Can you fall in love in a single day?<br />
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I read most of this book in a single day (so the same amount of time the story takes place over!) and I loved it. The ending actually had me close to tears. Was it because I was feeling particularly emotional that day? Maybe. But I do think it's a great book, and I really should recommend it more often.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>6. <i>Inkheart </i>by Cornelia Funke</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmN4javHozgfJSWkWe1x0V91RhK0zpTQvm7m7fCGz0dXEDaqkECYllr1UGfIf78z8xwDB2SOVAMTFmTaDCZ3R1hGjEQEvHweL9-JRFwRDpGWu5yV3rDVAF_0x1Xilwh9jNE5CTiNB9lM/s1600/inkheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmN4javHozgfJSWkWe1x0V91RhK0zpTQvm7m7fCGz0dXEDaqkECYllr1UGfIf78z8xwDB2SOVAMTFmTaDCZ3R1hGjEQEvHweL9-JRFwRDpGWu5yV3rDVAF_0x1Xilwh9jNE5CTiNB9lM/s200/inkheart.jpg" width="137" /></a></div>
<b>My Rating: </b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★★</span></b></div>
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<b>One Sentence Description: </b>Meggie's father has the ability to read characters out of stories -- with dire consequences.<br />
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This is a childhood favourite that I'm pretty sure stands the test of time. <i>Inkheart </i>is a story about every book lover's dream -- what if fictional characters could come to life? And it's fabulous. The audiobook narrator also does an amazing job. :)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>7. <i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/12/contemporary-reads-wrap-up-everything.html">Eliza and Her Monsters</a> </i>by Francesca Zappia</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlCm_pM34TyoQ-hZhKF5ZJpmshfEtgbiFjOZuAOTanv66LSuOyC8q4rrIORAz7SXCZgFNlvD0-nLARr0q64W37cY427rXpEg7nuFUfarKKjHnaJT_5IY4slBwyxs461nRccBmFQFVngI/s1600/eliza%2526monsters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlCm_pM34TyoQ-hZhKF5ZJpmshfEtgbiFjOZuAOTanv66LSuOyC8q4rrIORAz7SXCZgFNlvD0-nLARr0q64W37cY427rXpEg7nuFUfarKKjHnaJT_5IY4slBwyxs461nRccBmFQFVngI/s200/eliza%2526monsters.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<b>My Rating: </b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★</span></b></div>
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<b>One Sentence Description: </b>Online, Eliza Mirk is LadyConstellation -- the anonymous creator of the popular webcomic, <i>Monstrous Sea. </i>IRL, her life is falling apart.<br />
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I really enjoyed this book. It's another contemporary that I don't talk enough about. Eliza's passion for her story was really relateable for me, since I'm also a storyteller (though I don't think I'd have the patience to draw a webcomic!) I also really appreciated the anxiety rep in this story and thought it was very thoughtfully written.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>8. <i>The Screwtape Letters </i>by C.S. Lewis</b></span></div>
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<b>My Rating: </b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★★</span></b></div>
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<b>One Sentence Description: </b>A senior demon writes letters to his nephew instructing him how to capture the soul of a young man.<br />
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I know <i>The Chronicles of Narnia </i>is the series that makes C.S. Lewis's books famous, but honestly? I enjoyed <i>The Screwtape Letters </i>more. I think that the whole idea of it was superb, and Lewis is a genius storyteller -- using the most unreliable narrator possible in order to showcase so much truth. I thought it was a brilliant story, and I loved it a lot. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>9. <i>Sense and Sensibility </i>by Jane Austen</b></span></div>
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<b>My Rating: </b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★★</span></b></div>
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<b>One Sentence Description: </b>The Dashwood sisters Marianne and Elinor are very different from each other, but draw closer together through the trials of love and heartbreak.<br />
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I think this was my favourite of Jane Austen's books. I loved Elinor and Marianne's relationship -- sisters in fiction so rarely have good relationships, so I enjoyed seeing theirs grow and develop. Plus, Captain Brandon was amazing. <3</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>10. <i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/02/mini-review-between-shades-of-gray-by.html">Between Shades of Gray</a> </i>by Ruta Sepetys</b></span></div>
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<b>My Rating: </b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★★</span></b></div>
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<b>One Sentence Description: </b>Lina's family is forced into a Soviet work camp during a dark period of Lithuania's history.<br />
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This is another hard hitting book about World War 2. This book focuses on a dark period of World War 2 that not many people know about -- Stalin's concentration camps. It was a really impactful book, and I'm interested in picking up more of Sepetys's books. I guess that historical fiction must not be something I talk too much about. I should change that.<br />
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And that about wraps it up! <b>Now it's your turn! What books did you enjoy but hardly ever talk about? Have you read any of the books on this list, and if so, what did you think of them? Let me know in the comments!</b><br />
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Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-37364687350584131802020-04-07T06:00:00.000-04:002020-04-07T22:28:32.811-04:00Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Bought/Borrowed Because of the Premise<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;">Ten Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme originally created by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html" style="color: #3f8587; text-decoration-line: none;">The Broke and The Bookish</a> and currently run by <a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" style="color: #3f8587; text-decoration-line: none;">That Artsy Reader Girl</a>.</i><br />
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Hello again, Tuesday! I must say, this week's prompt was pretty fun to put together. I decided to go with books I bought or borrowed because of the fantastic premise. Because, let's face it, sometimes an amazing premise can be the deciding factor in book buying.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmq_8vrLY5LJemZFvCeN-am3S_BlNA5C2TKNGgIR0KQyuenzzUv5Neb1tlmiLd6D7B5_CNn1O85IMjkDG6epzpI4pKVuMdfJM_oyEL3-FF4doxIhBuTQxZtSKdCMEUhmyPA00towhHTW8/s1600/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmq_8vrLY5LJemZFvCeN-am3S_BlNA5C2TKNGgIR0KQyuenzzUv5Neb1tlmiLd6D7B5_CNn1O85IMjkDG6epzpI4pKVuMdfJM_oyEL3-FF4doxIhBuTQxZtSKdCMEUhmyPA00towhHTW8/s320/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com+%25281%2529.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. <i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/09/illuminae-illuminae-files-1-by-amie.html">Illuminae</a> </i>by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHiN9Xgskpdx2Yq2yIn61E5NjGMT3xEhm1Lkt9ci4BKK2Qz404phwGAut8T1we-o5CuqMh6kcI2ZNAD3oSkkxHHrGH2YGmMYZDxx39g1DakBSzsOKYjNv8nOIKpQohX8tKRT90o8kYZw/s1600/illuminae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHiN9Xgskpdx2Yq2yIn61E5NjGMT3xEhm1Lkt9ci4BKK2Qz404phwGAut8T1we-o5CuqMh6kcI2ZNAD3oSkkxHHrGH2YGmMYZDxx39g1DakBSzsOKYjNv8nOIKpQohX8tKRT90o8kYZw/s320/illuminae.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<b>Bought or Borrowed? </b>Borrowed<br />
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<b>Status: </b>Read, loved<br />
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<b>Thoughts: </b>I'm so glad that I borrowed <i>Illuminae! </i>All I really knew about it going in was that was a young adult science fiction novel, told in a multi-media format. And I loved it. In fact, I'm planning on buying the entire trilogy in the near future, because I can totally see myself reading these books again. They're also addictive to read, and while 600+ pages does seem like a lot, the pacing is so superb that it flies by almost without you noticing.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. <i>Fawkes </i>by Nadine Brandes</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXT_9miIWzpkp4x_SmZuBXkKskFlBT8wq4rUPUF9Q79LTTZbUX-ckkPHPfcuLMsKGYi759ZICkuqpc0mgFSAsSpk9qZhGc5eTmA8dovse_yb4nVL-Fmrv7Gne0SqemDbegLM2q-0fMEss/s1600/fawkes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXT_9miIWzpkp4x_SmZuBXkKskFlBT8wq4rUPUF9Q79LTTZbUX-ckkPHPfcuLMsKGYi759ZICkuqpc0mgFSAsSpk9qZhGc5eTmA8dovse_yb4nVL-Fmrv7Gne0SqemDbegLM2q-0fMEss/s320/fawkes.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<b>Bought or Borrowed? </b>Bought<br />
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<b>Status: </b>Read, enjoyed<br />
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<b>Thoughts: </b>I bought <i>Fawkes </i>for two reasons. One, I wanted to read <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/09/romanov-by-nadine-brandes.html">a book by Nadine Brandes</a>. And two, I thought the premise -- a historical fantasy reimagining of the Gunpowder Plot -- was fascinating. It didn't disappoint. While I do feel like the book has its problems, it's overall a fantastic, engaging story that definitely lives up to the premise.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. <i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/10/this-savage-song-monsters-of-verity-1.html">This Savage Song</a> </i>by Victoria Schwab</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l6CS07bPsOjGCU0LCg3zwXI4Ol1eHk9y7zX2dwj1HFjvApCY0hTPYinnLgv7az6jqamJ-7eAAzqkZBAm6dsBOV-1VavSoDg9wxC3Xn0IyuB20f4VCv6hH3O0AY5VhbCCkIEW-J_cydA/s1600/savagesong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l6CS07bPsOjGCU0LCg3zwXI4Ol1eHk9y7zX2dwj1HFjvApCY0hTPYinnLgv7az6jqamJ-7eAAzqkZBAm6dsBOV-1VavSoDg9wxC3Xn0IyuB20f4VCv6hH3O0AY5VhbCCkIEW-J_cydA/s320/savagesong.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<b>Bought or Borrowed? </b>Bought<br />
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<b>Status: </b>Read, loved<br />
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<b>Thoughts: </b>All of Victoria Schwab's books have amazing premises, but this one especially intrigued me. Basically, I knew there were monsters, and two teenagers on opposite sides of a conflict -- one a human, the other, one of the monsters. And I knew there was something to do with music.<br />
Imagine my utter joy when I found out that one of the main character's plays a violin -- a skill that is vitally important to the plot!<br />
This is one of my all time favourite books, and I just want everyone to read it because it's fantastic.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">4. <i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/10/sky-without-stars-system-divine-1-by.html">Sky Without Stars</a> </i>by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkpqf1TNnJf_bOnMOf6b2UAD1DBvgrohWwh96rmg1q5KvBok10EknHdv7quztd0H4OK7jPyFtJ8dSVYRGm_JOsNZ5mYBpz-X6p0KZ6_QC6EZHiyEeQRG4EOrYz3bFaB1bE8k96LA6wIc/s1600/34513785._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="306" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkpqf1TNnJf_bOnMOf6b2UAD1DBvgrohWwh96rmg1q5KvBok10EknHdv7quztd0H4OK7jPyFtJ8dSVYRGm_JOsNZ5mYBpz-X6p0KZ6_QC6EZHiyEeQRG4EOrYz3bFaB1bE8k96LA6wIc/s320/34513785._SY475_.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<b>Bought or Borrowed? </b>Bought<br />
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<b>Status: </b>Read, okay<br />
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<b>Thoughts: </b>I bought this half because of the cover, and half because<i> Les Miserables </i>in outer space totally sounded like something I would love. While I didn't hate this book, it did leave a lot to be desired. Part of that might be because of my high expectations -- after all, <i>Les Miserables </i>is one of my favourite ever stories, and so I probably came to the book with unrealistic expectations for it.<br />
But it did disappoint me, and that makes me sad, because I really did want to love this book.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">5. <i>Strange the Dreamer </i>by Laini Taylor</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqEm8YbIEf8emaQdluevcZgwVd692pn3pBRvJGBEHQRB-eJ8S57y6pNr_5W7B3pQHvHECBLFTXRTb-Z8sY136Mzb31hXpkcnzhQmQuVKRViO2rtVwJgRvCanWn4IV9Ysf-s-ADDBdIAw/s1600/strange+the+dreamer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqEm8YbIEf8emaQdluevcZgwVd692pn3pBRvJGBEHQRB-eJ8S57y6pNr_5W7B3pQHvHECBLFTXRTb-Z8sY136Mzb31hXpkcnzhQmQuVKRViO2rtVwJgRvCanWn4IV9Ysf-s-ADDBdIAw/s320/strange+the+dreamer.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<b>Bought or Borrowed? </b>Bought<br />
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<b>Status: </b>Unread, better be amazing<br />
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<b>Thoughts: </b>What I know about it as of right now: there's a lost city, a librarian, and something about forgotten gods. And magic. <i>Sign me up. </i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">6. <i>Daughter of Smoke and Bone </i>by Laini Taylor</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8MQUr3Z34QnCHf55YDDIkASg4kym9gnJDlH8jvjaWqzB58e0yeY2ojflVYaVEGFZdJxoNlYdfRHSZDeS9SSzHmgi8XDEZ8T1pwCuq1DN42jcJXHWN0tMiA-bigncVOFdnbWrAgHszTQ/s1600/daughter+of+smoke+and+bone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8MQUr3Z34QnCHf55YDDIkASg4kym9gnJDlH8jvjaWqzB58e0yeY2ojflVYaVEGFZdJxoNlYdfRHSZDeS9SSzHmgi8XDEZ8T1pwCuq1DN42jcJXHWN0tMiA-bigncVOFdnbWrAgHszTQ/s320/daughter+of+smoke+and+bone.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<b>Bought or Borrowed? </b>Bought<br />
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<b>Status: </b>Unread, please be worth my money<br />
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<b>Thoughts: </b>Another Laini Taylor book (why do so many of her books sound so amazing?) that I'm really hoping will be awesome. All I know about it right now is that there are angels and demons and an angel and a girl raised by demons fall in love... and I know there's more to it than that, but that's all I know.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">7. <i>Cinder </i>by Marissa Meyer</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pi4TjeqieMfwq5enLKVy61pUDA79AM-mCZkkWgMiz3DQcg7EdDMmi_b5vzxDHkpao35tEZoEnvQR4TCr6KggaDQSH6mHGLjF-WCfFT5UQf_Q_-PK_ksXa6VT5PHJoiwmONBRXzdaEt0/s1600/cinder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="228" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pi4TjeqieMfwq5enLKVy61pUDA79AM-mCZkkWgMiz3DQcg7EdDMmi_b5vzxDHkpao35tEZoEnvQR4TCr6KggaDQSH6mHGLjF-WCfFT5UQf_Q_-PK_ksXa6VT5PHJoiwmONBRXzdaEt0/s320/cinder.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<b>Bought or Borrowed? </b>Borrowed, then bought<br />
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<b>Status: </b>Read, loved<br />
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<b>Thoughts: </b>I've read this series... close to three or four times? So that should give you some sense of how much I enjoyed it. This was one of the first YA books I ever read, and I borrowed it because of the fantastic premise -- what if Cinderella was a cyborg?<br />
And from there, I was sucked down the rabbit hole of The Lunar Chronicles fandom, and then the wonderful world of YA.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">8. <i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/05/everless-everless-1-by-sara-holland.html">Everless</a> </i>by Sara Holland</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZxugEgqgH5L_jPoN9p03JbS_OYjqp2zvE8DnQaQkszzHTNCSL618qu-Zgcedj0f-mS-J6W8qbEX_x_pdFJ10eUzR649LNNgjqcuDFkynk-BgJdjZQP0VLwp8Zm2hsUgKFFbEsgnvQhk/s1600/32320661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZxugEgqgH5L_jPoN9p03JbS_OYjqp2zvE8DnQaQkszzHTNCSL618qu-Zgcedj0f-mS-J6W8qbEX_x_pdFJ10eUzR649LNNgjqcuDFkynk-BgJdjZQP0VLwp8Zm2hsUgKFFbEsgnvQhk/s320/32320661.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<b>Bought or Borrowed? </b>Borrowed<br />
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<b>Status: </b>Read, enjoyed<br />
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<b>Thoughts: </b>This book was great. Not the best, by any means, but genuinely enjoyable. The execution of the premise was by far the best part about it -- blood equals time equals money. The politics of how time is used in the world and the whole <i>idea </i>of being able to use your own time as currency was absolutely fascinating. I didn't enjoy the second book as much, but <i>Everless </i>was fully satisfying.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">9.<i> <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-cruel-prince-folk-of-air-1-by-holly.html">The Cruel Prince</a> </i>by Holly Black</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysejXzkUNKq_rsCU_j6PWcsPkAYVfyzLqv5g_QAqwi-ch42uTSj7CFmKinv_MlD5MCAhj_K81Bfcfe1hyh6ETVcX3Wt0IIuvP1M53-lSRe7hgMihKf-yLiJG-FsIYl9Kd7O9Lh65Pkhw/s1600/cruel+prince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysejXzkUNKq_rsCU_j6PWcsPkAYVfyzLqv5g_QAqwi-ch42uTSj7CFmKinv_MlD5MCAhj_K81Bfcfe1hyh6ETVcX3Wt0IIuvP1M53-lSRe7hgMihKf-yLiJG-FsIYl9Kd7O9Lh65Pkhw/s320/cruel+prince.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<b>Bought or Borrowed? </b>Borrowed<br />
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<b>Status: </b>Read, hated<br />
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<b>Thoughts: </b>I don't want to sound mean, but I don't really know how else to say it... <i>The Cruel Prince </i>is one of the worst books I've ever read. I liked the premise a lot -- a human girl living in the faerie realm<br />
-- but the execution was not my favourite. I never connected with any of the characters, and combined with a slow plot and some very sketchy morality (don't even get me started on the abusive relationships in this book), it just ended up not being a book I could enjoy at all.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">10. <i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-darkest-minds-darkest-minds-1-by.html">The Darkest Minds</a> </i>by Alexandra Bracken</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwexrvefS3H8uI8ZmvbqKnc8hwOKY9FKE85hkbQyM5elxLLN830J44UuxJMNDG1ryrR-zTv0R6s9hUR6g8DpAINWqNNcWo8E7urcAUaloQIQ48uqa-LKmkzeoWTCvz1om_lneV-FLkE8/s1600/10576365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwexrvefS3H8uI8ZmvbqKnc8hwOKY9FKE85hkbQyM5elxLLN830J44UuxJMNDG1ryrR-zTv0R6s9hUR6g8DpAINWqNNcWo8E7urcAUaloQIQ48uqa-LKmkzeoWTCvz1om_lneV-FLkE8/s320/10576365.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<b>Bought or Borrowed? </b>Bought<br />
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<b>Status: </b>Read, didn't like<br />
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<b>Thoughts: </b>I loved the idea of a superhero dystopia of the sort that <i>The Darkest Minds' </i>premise gave me. But the book never lived up to it, despite the cool idea. Instead of being an interesting dystopian, it ended up being one long superhero road trip. Which... wasn't what I was really hoping for. So while this wasn't the most awful book I've ever read, it definitely left much to be desired.<br />
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<b>And that about wraps it up! Bookworms, now it's your turn! What are some books that you bought or borrowed for the premise? And what did you think of them? </b><br />
<b>Let me know in the comments!</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG58yZqjR21pQAcs50Qr3WKhJJEJ5p0LQ__1AOWADwoxlpX6tLvxHea6iNHt3VDkCvaKTMhefG5u3sqNLSN9l7Wya_X7I__-KjcC4i9FQ1WsQlc281X7W0VI4SwlZhw_dkcgOs3lqq0sQ/s1600/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG58yZqjR21pQAcs50Qr3WKhJJEJ5p0LQ__1AOWADwoxlpX6tLvxHea6iNHt3VDkCvaKTMhefG5u3sqNLSN9l7Wya_X7I__-KjcC4i9FQ1WsQlc281X7W0VI4SwlZhw_dkcgOs3lqq0sQ/s320/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-79163659625369658982020-04-03T06:00:00.000-04:002020-04-03T09:43:40.807-04:007 Things That Will Make Me Stop Reading Your Book BlogI'll admit it -- I haven't been blogging for very long. I started Rambles from My Library in early 2019, and have only been seriously blogging since May of 2019. Since then, my blog and blogging style has gone through numerous changes, including a complete redesign and several different book review formats. I can't say I'm doing everything right. I can't say I'm an expert.<br />
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But I have noticed a few things during my time as a book blogger, working with my own blog and reading other book blogs across the internet. I've noticed several mistakes bloggers make in their blog design, writing, and quality that will make me, personally, stop reading. I'm sharing these mistakes, not to make anyone feel bad, but to help out new bloggers who may be making these mistakes (I know I made a few!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKWStrrmpZiAjdaVvpO0tnOzoB6ZEcdiq5nIGBn4EBKb0ssqLNXGWHeucIJ_BS1oMYFbFXQRFbSLkQIHutGwhBiUUl12EjCcntsi9c0-2h47NBXd7acead_odHN4xXP5TMiuHucALs4g/s1600/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com+%252816%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKWStrrmpZiAjdaVvpO0tnOzoB6ZEcdiq5nIGBn4EBKb0ssqLNXGWHeucIJ_BS1oMYFbFXQRFbSLkQIHutGwhBiUUl12EjCcntsi9c0-2h47NBXd7acead_odHN4xXP5TMiuHucALs4g/s320/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com+%252816%2529.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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But, just in case, a quick disclaimer: <b>I am not trying to make any bloggers out there feel bad. I am not trying to call out any specific bloggers. I'm speaking about the book blogging community in general, not about any specific people or blogs. </b><br />
Okay! Without any further ado, let's get into it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDSuJgs8RZS-pymBdZBpblb05Zf3KbF9zxQCOJVevj3FfqmpnRUecPMAQWZmqsk3Kbb2DLKIYPpUnTLyjtWxgDSYVHaFfjvLKOAmhj-XAlxE1QAWRSiB4LzCqPRoQJis9P2Rf5M_dxhs/s1600/Add+a+heading.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDSuJgs8RZS-pymBdZBpblb05Zf3KbF9zxQCOJVevj3FfqmpnRUecPMAQWZmqsk3Kbb2DLKIYPpUnTLyjtWxgDSYVHaFfjvLKOAmhj-XAlxE1QAWRSiB4LzCqPRoQJis9P2Rf5M_dxhs/s400/Add+a+heading.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Blog headers are <i>so </i>important! When I first started my blog, I went for a very simple header, just my blog name typed in a plain font, with a description underneath. And while this header was fine, it wasn't attractive. And attractiveness is key when trying to stand out from the crowd. </div>
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A simple line of text, or a small, easily overlooked header is not a good idea. Your header should reflect your brand, your niche, your unique style. </div>
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On the other side of the spectrum are the blog headers that are just <i>too much </i>-- too many colours, too complicated a design, illegible fonts, or just too big. Try to strike a balance between plain and fancy. </div>
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I used <a href="https://www.canva.com/">Canva</a>, a free graphic design website, to create my blog header.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWICgUTx_G7ZBj2ItfFnKVHRM-T2xH3ipUOi0fKWyTCpxWeAalFv_IW9YW5jqBLakzpWGOpmzOR0H6OfTRELyjQ0edc_B9qh6PZLjwHgicxh-T_FL3exellEAlWDeysGO1T3WdgqNMP5w/s1600/Add+a+heading+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWICgUTx_G7ZBj2ItfFnKVHRM-T2xH3ipUOi0fKWyTCpxWeAalFv_IW9YW5jqBLakzpWGOpmzOR0H6OfTRELyjQ0edc_B9qh6PZLjwHgicxh-T_FL3exellEAlWDeysGO1T3WdgqNMP5w/s400/Add+a+heading+%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yes, I know, we're all guilty of one or two typos. I know I am. But if your blog posts are riddled with glaring errors, or, worse, if your blog title or description have typos in them -- this is a huge turnoff for me. </div>
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Remember, if you want to drive traffic to your blog, you have to treat it as a professional endeavor. Yes, one or two typos are fine on occasion, but please spell-and-grammar check your work before pressing "publish".</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgneOGDOdKmp5qkdR6ZEBmYPdHF2Whj0pH_fIhygWLl5e3IHwSw4GjRSoTQRe8366ab7DIPT8Hbf3IEEZbfNtJG5g79_sldSdNjnc14UYP3L2qqdrpMpa_WRZZVPmDYLZfjsczARen7A/s1600/Add+a+heading+%25284%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgneOGDOdKmp5qkdR6ZEBmYPdHF2Whj0pH_fIhygWLl5e3IHwSw4GjRSoTQRe8366ab7DIPT8Hbf3IEEZbfNtJG5g79_sldSdNjnc14UYP3L2qqdrpMpa_WRZZVPmDYLZfjsczARen7A/s400/Add+a+heading+%25284%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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This goes right along with the blog header problem. No reader likes to try to decipher white text on a black background, or try to sort through a mess of colourful text in the post itself that clashes with the blog theme. </div>
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Please, be nice to your readers and choose a few key, corresponding colours to use on your blog in your posts. Stick to the theme. Not only will it help to cement your brand, but it's much easier on the eyes. I went with an orange, white, and teal theme for my blog. </div>
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And please, whatever you do, don't use a black background for your posts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTqr1P7SnTAxmKrcMP_1vf51TacjGsaSAOAKpxAOjcAjyv2Rlve8jIfEhB8Li-5j_nb9-urTh4mA9yefob5azaBLS2Hv7v6JaYHA7iba9fJNPNx05MzgYBYPFT9RnQroPa_taVNzfOjI/s1600/Add+a+heading+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTqr1P7SnTAxmKrcMP_1vf51TacjGsaSAOAKpxAOjcAjyv2Rlve8jIfEhB8Li-5j_nb9-urTh4mA9yefob5azaBLS2Hv7v6JaYHA7iba9fJNPNx05MzgYBYPFT9RnQroPa_taVNzfOjI/s400/Add+a+heading+%25282%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is very book blog specific, but this <i>always </i>drives me crazy. I totally understand if you want to blog about your other interests -- by all means, go for it! But create a separate blog for those interests, and keep your book blog... book related.<br />
I personally won't follow book blogs that have a lot of non-book related content, and I'm sure others who read book blogs are probably the same. It's nothing personal, I just don't want my Blogger reading list filled up with posts I have no personal interest in reading.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Qki15b18A-ORf_CBSVEqMv4E9XsraJuH0lheDgs3DbigydpgKtcJdGJdIbl6i9oprfmv4g13MSS44aK7hJ7vt66oU5CVhD30xpAiBGOXNXFIc4KsyEIuNSe1NY52WK4wCFjmS6HcpVc/s1600/Add+a+heading+%25283%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Qki15b18A-ORf_CBSVEqMv4E9XsraJuH0lheDgs3DbigydpgKtcJdGJdIbl6i9oprfmv4g13MSS44aK7hJ7vt66oU5CVhD30xpAiBGOXNXFIc4KsyEIuNSe1NY52WK4wCFjmS6HcpVc/s400/Add+a+heading+%25283%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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If the home page of a blog is cluttered with a million different posts, icons, and multiple sidebars, it's just too much for my eyes. I tend to prefer blogs with a single sidebar and a less jumbled home page. I also prefer if the graphics on the blog are clean and easy on the eyes, as opposed to dark, grainy, or cluttered graphics.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9S9Kzk7lNYPB0lGJ0296sBk6ZOyQGZBKNdYGfCdqI4T-QH-nt57v6cYZzlT7deJsd56GItS3z9Kw7i913IyT1Kfaekf9C-3RKE7mvkpzNDZY9iXnfrYiLjAA7CDfXRCinjCOmmYwxMi0/s1600/Add+a+heading+%25286%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9S9Kzk7lNYPB0lGJ0296sBk6ZOyQGZBKNdYGfCdqI4T-QH-nt57v6cYZzlT7deJsd56GItS3z9Kw7i913IyT1Kfaekf9C-3RKE7mvkpzNDZY9iXnfrYiLjAA7CDfXRCinjCOmmYwxMi0/s400/Add+a+heading+%25286%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I totally get the fear that some bloggers get about using images (copyright law is a big deal). But there are loads of places to get free stock clip art and photos to spruce up your posts. And if you're making book lists or reviewing a book, please include images of the book(s) cover. It just makes the whole blog look more appealing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqIdQPfHvowziIwmCHKlT4doy-R96tORMw_nR1kscFt6mnezWHLwmSR7di4k5WEU1_zGlr8pzZOdtW_LT7OgPnINVx-3Cp27tVyLzvThGtbN_jlCqinGs2dvyjajX1AcuzzM-22XJUjU/s1600/Add+a+heading+%25285%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqIdQPfHvowziIwmCHKlT4doy-R96tORMw_nR1kscFt6mnezWHLwmSR7di4k5WEU1_zGlr8pzZOdtW_LT7OgPnINVx-3Cp27tVyLzvThGtbN_jlCqinGs2dvyjajX1AcuzzM-22XJUjU/s400/Add+a+heading+%25285%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is probably one of the biggest turnoffs I have with book blogs and blogs in general. Yes, you can talk about your opinions. You don't have to sugarcoat your feelings. But at the same time, we don't need any more hate in the bookish community. We don't need bloggers who are very obviously rude or hateful towards a certain author or a certain group of readers (we're reviewing books, not people). While yes, we can be sarcastic, and yes, we don't have to like the same books, and yes, we can talk about our feelings about these books -- we can still be civil. After all, we are adults here, right?<br />
Along the same lines, an excess of profanity will make me quit reading a blog. This might be just me, but profanity in blogs and reviews comes across as rude and angry. That may not be the tone the author of the blog is going for, but that's just how it comes off to me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4ZWt1RR2j6P_WsmBTrtIu2GjiNAfiWwHHRhV5JJJbHgB8qh9qgu0EMMEgpNLdAbpZ12ffIw6c55zX7p1WP4foEVWFp3LHx3AI6LtuqJs_BiszuKSVqr8ptz_yexMXmbffIdH2_HVXVQ/s1600/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com+%252817%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4ZWt1RR2j6P_WsmBTrtIu2GjiNAfiWwHHRhV5JJJbHgB8qh9qgu0EMMEgpNLdAbpZ12ffIw6c55zX7p1WP4foEVWFp3LHx3AI6LtuqJs_BiszuKSVqr8ptz_yexMXmbffIdH2_HVXVQ/s320/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com+%252817%2529.png" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pMOk48bxy55IY65AwUs8Tbq3sjKTYGVpVkEwlvWC5TKkMk0uB-BakAliy6IjSLML6wBBuS2vzQfG1tzVsnkDxtEDtPfOYJa4FegerWm-Ssq0paRCDcWtxWu1PJJv0UUzB10bgvbn71k/s1600/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com+%252818%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pMOk48bxy55IY65AwUs8Tbq3sjKTYGVpVkEwlvWC5TKkMk0uB-BakAliy6IjSLML6wBBuS2vzQfG1tzVsnkDxtEDtPfOYJa4FegerWm-Ssq0paRCDcWtxWu1PJJv0UUzB10bgvbn71k/s320/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com+%252818%2529.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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Well, I hope that this post was helpful and/or informative! <b>Please comment down below with your thoughts (please keep it civil). And if you have any questions, feel free to ask! I'm not an expert by any means, but I'd love to be able to help if you need it! <3</b></div>
Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-77101182702346333442020-04-01T06:00:00.000-04:002020-04-01T06:00:03.076-04:00March Wrap-Up + April TBRWell. <script async="" data-pin-hover="true" data-pin-tall="true" defer="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script>
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This month was wild. </div>
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I can't believe how much the world has changed in such a short amount of time. In my province, everything non-essential has been shut down. Schools are closed. And most of us are now trapped at home, with nothing to do. </div>
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Well.</div>
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Except us readers. We have the advantage of being able to go places without leaving the comfort of our living room couch. Or our beds.</div>
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I hope you all have been staying safe and practicing social distancing! And washing your hands. *shakes finger* That is very important.<br />
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Alright, but enough about that. I'm sure you've heard more than enough on the news and social media to keep you occupied and anxious for a good long while. So instead, let's talk about books! Get our minds off of the craziness of the world right now for a minute. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>~ Read of the Month ~</b></span></div>
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<b><i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/03/letters-to-lost-by-brigid-kemmerer.html">Letters to the Lost</a> </i>by Brigid Kemmerer </b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★★</span></b></div>
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I have so many feelings about this book. It's a beautiful, heartbreaking, and hopeful book that deals with grief, guilt, and not judging people by their appearances. I highly, highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>~ Other March Reads ~</b></span></div>
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<b><i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/03/sorcery-of-thorns-by-margaret-rogerson.html">Sorcery of Thorns</a> </i>by Margaret Rogerson </b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★</span></b></div>
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<b><i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/03/a-study-in-charlotte-brittany-cavallaro-review.html">A Study in Charlotte</a> </i>by Brittany Cavallaro </b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdogCG9ewwZJOHlxxypbuTBrQ_k02nQTzbFsg2PhnnEMIuNOW9tf0WIfLkRg5xkDEz_neIcg8_Dj4ClTf-cFBf1iqQjijbgK20IuyK13i5ZuZcL7ybluj-B64kKd1zJDDAKB7YeKvwVc/s1600/studyincharlotte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdogCG9ewwZJOHlxxypbuTBrQ_k02nQTzbFsg2PhnnEMIuNOW9tf0WIfLkRg5xkDEz_neIcg8_Dj4ClTf-cFBf1iqQjijbgK20IuyK13i5ZuZcL7ybluj-B64kKd1zJDDAKB7YeKvwVc/s200/studyincharlotte.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/03/because-you-love-to-hate-me-spoiler_28.html">Because You Love to Hate Me</a> </i>by Various Authors, edited by Amerie </b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★</span></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Best of March Discussions</span></b></div>
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🕮<b> <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/03/unpopular-opinions-book-tag.html">Unpopular Opinions [Book Tag]</a></b></div>
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🕮 <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/03/top-ten-tuesday-fantasy-books-all-the-feels.html" style="font-weight: bold;">Fantasy Books That Will Give You All the Feels</a></div>
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🕮<b> <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/03/books-i-bought-for-cover.html">Books I Bought for the Cover</a></b></div>
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🕮<b> <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/03/rapid-fire-book-tag.html">The Rapid Fire Book Tag</a></b></div>
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🕮<b> <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/03/books-that-are-200-worth-hype.html">Books That are 200% Worth the Hype</a></b></div>
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🕮<b> <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/03/top-ten-tuesday-books-with-one-word.html">Best Books with One Word Titles</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">April TBR</span></b></div>
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I only managed to read two of my five March TBR books. I am disappointed in myself. I'm currently reading both <i>Throne of Glass </i>and <i>Thirteen Reasons Why </i>(both on my March TBR) but I highly doubt I'll be able to finish them before the end of the month, and so they'll be included in next month's wrap-up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsg4bvKJSjDTRWqESH57SIdJEqQoNABXmNLjUTUdHtZoZsT4GA28tQybSyPTxCLClnzzfdZEr8N8PIr0vJK-KdygeYz-I2RHn7xVRICBmNGzGDsbWG-GevQZ_JCL9S2DHza9DOFB0EGE/s1600/13reasonswhy.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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsg4bvKJSjDTRWqESH57SIdJEqQoNABXmNLjUTUdHtZoZsT4GA28tQybSyPTxCLClnzzfdZEr8N8PIr0vJK-KdygeYz-I2RHn7xVRICBmNGzGDsbWG-GevQZ_JCL9S2DHza9DOFB0EGE/s200/13reasonswhy.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nCmqn1OlOgcD0PrATeD2QD5LcQ1R5tPEAbU8DDVmldtxd5QHM-KyXF3F7JV8Vsz6S8tMntHwj3li9gXYihJY17_S7ZZykcQwdQ_ZP6NNNg1eNSvtZUdaSL5JSIj4ZDhHoTsTtBunlx4/s1600/throneofglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nCmqn1OlOgcD0PrATeD2QD5LcQ1R5tPEAbU8DDVmldtxd5QHM-KyXF3F7JV8Vsz6S8tMntHwj3li9gXYihJY17_S7ZZykcQwdQ_ZP6NNNg1eNSvtZUdaSL5JSIj4ZDhHoTsTtBunlx4/s200/throneofglass.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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What am I planning to read this April? Let's get into it.</div>
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<b><i>The Archived </i>by Victoria Schwab</b><br />
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I'm so excited to read this book. Partially because it's written by Victoria Schwab, and partly because it looks so delightfully creepy.<br />
I don't know a lot about it, but I do know that it has something to do with a library... where human bodies are cataloged and stored on shelves. So yeah. Very creepy, but I have a feeling it's going to be good!</div>
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<b><i>An Ember in the Ashes </i>by Sabaa Tahir</b><br />
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I've been meaning to read this book for a while, and I'm putting it on my TBR to give me a much needed prod to actually get around to it.<br />
This is the first in a YA fantasy series that I believe is loosely based on the Roman Empire. </div>
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<b><i>There Will Come a Darkness </i>by Katy Rose Pool</b><br />
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I totally cover bought this one. It's beautiful, and I really hope that the inside lives up to the outside. It's another YA fantasy series (a duology, I believe?) that has something to do with the end of the world.<br />
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<b><i>My Lady Jane </i>by Cynthia Hand, Jodie Meadows, and Brodi Ashton</b></div>
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This book looks funny, and funny is what I need right now. Though since this is a reimagining of the history of Lady Jane Grey, maybe it won't be quite as funny as I was anticipating.<br />
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<b><i>The Night Gardener </i>by Jonathan Auxier</b><br />
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A creepy looking book by one of my favourite middle grade authors! Jonathan Auxier has a way with words, and I'm looking forward to reading another one of his books. </div>
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<b><i>Elantris </i>by Brandon Sanderson</b><br />
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If you've been following my blog for a while, it's probably pretty obvious why I have this book on my list. I'm a huge fan of Brandon Sanderson's work, especially the Cosmere, and so I'm trying to read every Cosmere book that is currently released. <i>Elantris </i>is next on my list!<br />
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And that about wraps it up! <b>What have you read this March? Any recommendations? And what are you planning to read in April? Let me know in the comments!</b><br />
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Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-17132028907051959032020-03-31T06:00:00.000-04:002020-03-31T06:00:04.233-04:00Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Signs That You Might be More Obsessed With Books Than You Think<i>Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme originally created by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html">The Broke and The Bookish</a> and currently run by <a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/">That Artsy Reader Girl</a>.</i><br />
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It's Tuesday again! Wow, that week passed quickly. It's been a little bit crazy the last little bit, what with everything that's been going on. But I've finally started to settle down into a new kind of routine, which is nice. Normalcy is nice.<br />
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Onto this week's Top Ten Tuesday topic! Today, the prompt is <b>ten signs that you're a book lover. </b>I had a lot of fun coming up with my answers for this prompt (I got to use the beautiful gift of humor. Though I may or may not be that funny.)<br />
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<b>Sign #1 - You spend good portions of your weekends reorganizing your bookshelf.</b><br />
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Yeah, totally not guilty of this one. But seriously, have you <i>seen </i>all the incredible ways you can organize your books?! If only I had more shelf space.<br />
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<b>Sign #2 - If you accidentally tear a page in your book, your heart does a mini freak out. </b><br />
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Please. Tell me I'm not the only one. </div>
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<b>Sign #3 - You use anything and everything at hand that might work as a bookmark. </b><br />
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Sticky note? Sure. Receipt? Go for it. Pen? Oh yeah.<br />
Because heaven forbid you have to search around for an actual bookmark. </div>
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<b>Sign #4 - Your current read distracts you from other tasks (oh look at that, you burned the spaghetti sauce. Again.)</b><br />
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Raise your hand if you've ever done this. *silently raises both hands* I'm notorious in my household for the fact that I cannot keep track of things that are cooking. It usually has something to do with books. Or, you know, Pinterest. </div>
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<b>Sign #5 - You watch far too much Booktube</b><br />
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I got sucked into the wonderful realm of Booktube a few months ago. And I'm well and truly addicted. It makes me kind of want to start my own Booktube channel even though I <i>know </i>I don't have time for that. *sigh*</div>
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<b>Sign #6 - You spend an inordinate amount of time looking for books to add to your already overwhelming TBR. </b><br />
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Because you can never have too many books to read. Right? <i>Right? </i>*glances at overflowing Goodreads TBR* </div>
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<b>Sign #7 - You read multiple books at the same time. </b></div>
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This is a given. Who reads just one book at a time? Why not two or three or four or ten?<br />
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<b>Sign #8 - Going to the bookstore is your idea of a great outing.</b><br />
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My mom took me book shopping for my nineteenth birthday, and you can bet I loved it! Used bookstores are amazing, magical places. <3</div>
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<b>Sign #9 - You love the smell of books</b></div>
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I love the smell of new books. That's why I love Chapters so much. There's a coffee shop in my local Chapters store, and the smell of coffee combined with the smell of books is heavenly.<br />
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<b>Sign #10 - 90% of your conversations revolve around books</b><br />
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Tell me I'm not the weirdest, geekiest young adult who's ever existed.<br />
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That about wraps it up! <b>Can you relate to any of this? What are some nerdy bookworm things you do? Let me know in the comments!</b><br />
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<b>Also, if you liked this post, be sure to subscribe by email to get updates on my latest blog posts, or <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/rambles-from-my-library-20380965">follow me on Bloglovin'</a>! </b></div>
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Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-67886459859823325552020-03-30T06:00:00.000-04:002020-03-30T13:35:13.933-04:00Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer [Spoiler-Free Review]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Letters to the Lost </i></span><br />
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by Brigid Kemmerer </div>
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<b>Genre: </b>YA contemporary romance</div>
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<b>My Rating: </b><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★★</span></div>
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<b>Description: </b></div>
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Ever since her mother, a famous photographer, died, Juliet Young has left letters on her grave. They're personal, private. </div>
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That is, until Declan Murphy, working in the cemetery for court-ordered community service, finds one of Juliet's letters. And writes back. </div>
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What happens next will change both their lives. </div>
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<b>Overall Thoughts</b><br />
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This book is beautiful and heartwrenching and hopeful all at the same time. I loved every minute of it. I loved the characterization and the writing style and the plot. I've always had mixed feelings about the young adult contemporary genre -- I either love the books, or there's something that takes away from my overall enjoyment of an otherwise good book. That was not the case with <i>Letters to the Lost. </i><br />
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read.<br />
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<b>The Characters</b><br />
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I love the cast of this book so much. You have Juliet, who's mourning the loss of her mother and dealing with that grief as she struggles with school and relationships. She makes a lot of mistakes, like judging people on face value, but I loved how much growth she experienced over the course of the book.<br />
Then there's Declan, who is working in the cemetery for his court ordered community service. His struggles with guilt and depression felt genuine and honest, and I loved his personal growth as well.<br />
The secondary characters were excellent. I want to thank Brigid Kemmerer for creating some excellent parental figures in a YA book -- Juliet's dad, Rev's parents, and Frank all felt very genuine and real and human, which is more than I can say for a lot of YA parental figures.<br />
I can't really get into a discussion about every single character in this book, but just know that they're all amazing.<br />
(And sidenote, I loved the portrayal of a Christian character in a piece of secular media in a way that doesn't make me angry. In fact, I would say that Rev is one of my favorite portrayals of a Christian character in media.)<br />
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<b>Writing/Plot</b></div>
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Something I found very interesting about this book was the fact that although it's a first person, dual perspective book, the chapter headings don't tell you who's narrating the chapter. A few times early in the story, I had to do a doubletake when I realized that it wasn't Juliet's POV that I was reading (or vice versa.) But once I was into the story, it wasn't confusing at all.<br />
I liked how every chapter starts with one of Juliet's or Declan's letters to each other, and I loved seeing the way their relationship develops through those messages.<br />
The plot was well-paced and compelling. This book is definitely character driven, but the plot events hold up well and helped to structure the book.<br />
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<b>Content</b><br />
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Recommended for ages 15 and up.<br />
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TRIGGER WARNINGS: References to physical abuse. References to a suicide attempt.<br />
There is some swearing. Not too much as I can recall, though.<br />
A few sexual references. At one point in the story, a character finds a photo of two people in bed (with the implication of sex.) An instance of nudity.<br />
There isn't any horribly violent content that I can recall.<br />
A character smokes. </div>
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Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-55654716712398048152020-03-28T06:00:00.000-04:002020-03-28T09:39:56.385-04:00Because You Love to Hate Me [Spoiler-Free Review]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Because You Love to Hate Me </i></span><br />
By Amerie (editor), Renee Ahdieh, Soman Chainai, Susan Dennard, Sarah Enni, Marissa Meyer, Cindy Pon, Victoria Schwab, Samantha Shannon, Adam Silvera, Andrew Smith, April Genevieve Tulcholke, Nicola Yoon<br />
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<b>My Rating:<span style="background-color: white;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Description: </b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">13 stories of villainy from 13 well-known YA authors. </span><br />
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<b>My Review</b></div>
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The problem with a short story anthology, honestly, is that everyone is going to find at least one story that they don't like. The opposite is also true, of course, but I feel like the mixed ratings for this book on Goodreads may have something to do with the fact that everyone has different opinions on every single short story in the book. So rating the whole book is hard because, well, I had different opinions about every single short story in this book. It was a mixed bag for me, honestly. </div>
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But without further ado, let's just get into it.</div>
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<b><i>The Blood of Imuriv </i>by Renee Ahdieh </b></div>
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My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★</span></div>
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This story started out strong, but the rest of it never really lived up to its killer opening. While the concept itself was intriguing, the execution was lacking, and I wish the author had spent more time on the parts of the story I was actually interested in (the main character can see nightmares?? Gimme more.)</div>
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CW: Descriptions of blood, violence. Minor swearing? </div>
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<b><i>Jack </i>by Amerie </b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">My Rating: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394;">★★</span></div>
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This was just a story. Nothing really stood out to me as special, and the end twist was shocking (not in a good way) because there was little to no foreshadowing for it. </div>
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It wasn't the worst story in the anthology, but it definitely wasn't my favorite. </div>
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CW: Violence, references to cannibalism. Reference to kissing. </div>
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<b><i>Gwen and Art and Lance </i>by Soman Chainai </b></div>
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My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★</span></div>
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The idea of a story being told entirely through text messages (or IMs, or whatever it was) was very interesting to me. </div>
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But it quickly grew confusing, and the storyline, while halfway interesting, never really had a proper arc, and so lacked meaning. Gwen's character was interesting (in a twisted sort of way). She's manipulative and will do anything to get what she wants. However, overall, this story didn't really stick with me. </div>
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CW: Sexual references. Some language. </div>
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<b><i>Shirley and Jim </i>by Susan Dennard </b></div>
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My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★</span></div>
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At this point in the anthology, I was starting to worry that I'd be reading 300+ pages of 2-star stories. And then came along this gem. </div>
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I loved it! A Sherlock Holmes retelling, with both Sherlock and Watson being recast as female, it was well-written, engaging, and had an excellent story arc. The character of Moriarty was fascinating as well, and I love what the author did with his character in her retelling. </div>
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CW: Kissing. Potential minor swearing?</div>
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<b><i>The Blessings of Little Wants </i>by Sarah Enni </b></div>
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My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★</span></div>
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This story was fairly solid. Though that said, I keep forgetting that I even read this story... my thoughts keep blanking when I see this title, and then there's the moment of realization: oh, that story. So it wasn't very memorable. </div>
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But the characters were interesting, and the plot and writing were both solid. I wish the end had had a little more foreshadowing, but it was a fairly good twist. </div>
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CW: Violence, descriptions of blood. </div>
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<b><i>The Sea Witch </i>by Marissa Meyer </b></div>
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My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★</span></div>
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I loved the concept of this story! It's a sort-of Little Mermaid retelling, focusing on the backstory for the Sea Witch. The writing was good, and the characterization and character arc (descent into villainy) was actually very well done. </div>
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CW: Nudity, kissing, descriptions of blood. </div>
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<b><i>Beautiful Venom </i>by Cindy Pon </b></div>
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My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">TRIGGER WARNING: Rape</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I liked this story. It casts the character of Medusa in a new light and shows her backstory and what caused her to become the way she is. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I found it very interesting, and at the same time very sad. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">There were a few places where I felt that I needed more explanation, which is why this is only rated 3 stars. But it was well-written and Mei's character was excellent. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">CW: See trigger warning. Sexual jokes. References to sex. Some violence. </span></div>
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<b><i>Death Knell </i>by Victoria Schwab </b></div>
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My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★★</span></div>
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So... *guilty face* I may have picked this book up just because I knew Victoria Schwab had written a story for it. </div>
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Yeah. I know. Sorry not sorry. </div>
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But this story was everything I wanted it to be and more! I knew going in that I was going to love it (because I have loved every book I've read by Victoria Schwab.) The writing was beautiful, simple and elegant. Third person, present tense for the win! I also loved the characters and the character arcs and ahh just everything about this story. </div>
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CW: A flashback to a kiss. </div>
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<b><i>Marigold </i>by Samantha Shannon </b></div>
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My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★</span></div>
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This is another story that suffers a bit from the lack of foreshadowing. It's about faeries, and a girl who has been traded to the faeries in exchange for the queen's daughter. Her brother and her lover go in search of her. </div>
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The writing style didn't appeal to me hugely, and like I said before, lack of foreshadowing took away from my enjoyment of the end. But it was still a decent story, just not the best. </div>
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CW: Implied off-page sex and a few references to sex. Some swearing? Gun use. </div>
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<b><i>You, You, It's All About You </i>by Adam Silvera </b></div>
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My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★</span></div>
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This is one of the few pieces of writing that I've read that's written in second person (you did this, you did that.) It was an interesting narrative choice, and I feel it worked very well. </div>
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The foreshadowing for the end was done very well. </div>
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The reason that this isn't a four star is because there was one thing that kept getting brought up, but that stretched my suspension of disbelief. </div>
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CW: Drug use, kissing. </div>
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<b><i>Julian Breaks All the Rules </i>by Andrew Smith </b></div>
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My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">This story was not enjoyable for me at all. The writing style really grated on me (I hate it when the POV character talks to the reader, especially if they're trying too hard to be quirky). It was also just a little bit too disturbing for me.</span></div>
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CW: Violence, drug and alcohol abuse, nudity, a brief mention of a couple having sex, sexual references. The main character is a psychopath, and his thoughts are disturbing to read. Profanity. </div>
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<b><i>Indigo and Shade </i>by April Genevieve Tulcholke </b></div>
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My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★</span></div>
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This was a very interesting take on Beauty and the Beast. The end was shocking, and also really emotional. I liked it a lot. There's not really much else I can say without spoilers. </div>
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CW: Kissing, sexual references, violence. Maybe some profanity? </div>
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<b><i>Sera </i>by Nicola Yoon </b></div>
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My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★</span></div>
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I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. I found it really interesting and original. </div>
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CW: Violence. There might have been profanity?</div>
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Overall, I'm giving this anthology 3 out of 5 stars. But if you liked Victoria Schwab's writing, you should read it just for <i>Death Knell. </i>Because <i>Death Knell </i>made the whole book worthwhile. </div>
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Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-84092308970022271652020-03-26T06:00:00.000-04:002020-03-26T06:00:09.786-04:00Unpopular Opinions Book TagI've seen this tag <i>everywhere </i>in the online book community, so even though it's a few years old, I'm going to give it a try anyway. :) This tag and the tag questions were created by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYfgq8HgDc0">The Book Archer</a> on YouTube.<br />
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<b>1) A popular book or series you don't like</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>The Maze Runner </i>by James Dashner and <i>The Cruel Prince </i>by Holly Black. Both of these books get a ton of hype in the bookish community, but I just... didn't connect with either story? You can read my reviews to get a better idea of why I didn't like them, but basically... <i>The Maze Runner </i>was juvenile. The characters changed to fit the plot, and there were multiple (very bad) plot holes. <i>The Cruel Prince </i>was slow, and I never rooted for any of the characters. I also hate that the fandom ships Jude and Cardan, since it's such a toxic relationship.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysejXzkUNKq_rsCU_j6PWcsPkAYVfyzLqv5g_QAqwi-ch42uTSj7CFmKinv_MlD5MCAhj_K81Bfcfe1hyh6ETVcX3Wt0IIuvP1M53-lSRe7hgMihKf-yLiJG-FsIYl9Kd7O9Lh65Pkhw/s1600/cruel+prince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysejXzkUNKq_rsCU_j6PWcsPkAYVfyzLqv5g_QAqwi-ch42uTSj7CFmKinv_MlD5MCAhj_K81Bfcfe1hyh6ETVcX3Wt0IIuvP1M53-lSRe7hgMihKf-yLiJG-FsIYl9Kd7O9Lh65Pkhw/s200/cruel+prince.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7tzO_AN5mEUIBhiB0hTJpPAuVuWPHLY3saeEGDTYtyiH6vTD9Kfp_ZgED0Egs8FzmwAu4i3l_A5CTHlliHRiALP5iRc16_DZPLSpHCBrwCdxCxN1egQtL0lBwnZk7tWudh9ZLd854fg/s1600/mazerunner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="298" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7tzO_AN5mEUIBhiB0hTJpPAuVuWPHLY3saeEGDTYtyiH6vTD9Kfp_ZgED0Egs8FzmwAu4i3l_A5CTHlliHRiALP5iRc16_DZPLSpHCBrwCdxCxN1egQtL0lBwnZk7tWudh9ZLd854fg/s200/mazerunner.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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<b>2) A popular book or series everyone else seems to hate but you love</b><br />
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I honestly could not think of one. Books that are hated... oh man, this is going to sound mean... but books that are hated are generally hated for a good reason. The only series that comes close is <i>The Safe Lands Trilogy, </i>which seems to get a lot of hate for the way it included tough topics and was marketed as Christian Fiction. I haven't read these books in years, so I have no idea if I'd still like them if I read the series again, but I guess I'll go with that.<br />
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<b>3) A love triangle where the main character ended up with the person you did NOT want them to end up with OR an OTP that you don't like</b><br />
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Oof. Will I name names? I know I'm going to offend <i>somebody </i>no matter what I pick. 'Cause I do have a few, unfortunately. To keep things civil, I'm going to go with a less well known YA series, <i>Inkworld. </i>I won't give too much information about the third book, <i>Inkdeath, </i>but Meggie did not end up with who I wanted her to end up with. It confused and disappointed me when I read it (granted, I read the book a long time ago, so my opinions might have changed, but... I don't think it's likely.)<br />
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<b>4) A popular book genre you hardly ever reach for</b><br />
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Romance. I like a good romance subplot as much as the next person, but straight-up romance is something I hardly ever reach for.<br />
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<b>5) A popular or beloved character you don't like</b><br />
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Tobias from <i>Divergent. </i>I hate him, honestly. Sorry. He's just... really not likeable? I don't know what else to say.<br />
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<b>6) A popular author you can't seem to get into</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Veronica Roth. I've tried a few of her books now, and I've always come away unsatisfied. <i>Divergent </i>had a good plot, but I didn't like the main characters, and while I liked the main characters in<i> Carve the Mark, </i>the plot never really started. So I guess maybe her books just aren't for me.<br />
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<b>7) A popular book trope you're tired of seeing</b><br />
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The "everyone's a couple" YA trope. You know, where literally every major character is in a relationship by the end of the story? Yeah, I'm tired of seeing it. More platonic friendships, please!<br />
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<b>8) A popular series you have no interest in reading</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The <i>A Court of Thorns and Roses </i>series by Sarah J. Maas. I am planning on reading <i>Throne of Glass, </i>but I've heard that ACOTAR has a lot of sexual scenes in it that are... quite graphic. I know that I don't like reading these scenes, so I'll just avoid the series entirely. (Disclaimer: I have nothing against people who are fine with reading these books and scenes. They're just not something I, personally, like reading.)<br />
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<b>9) The saying goes: "the book is always better than the movie", but what movie or TV show adaptation do you prefer more than the book?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>The Lord of the Rings. </i>I did like the books, but the movies are so much more enjoyable and magical for me. The characters feel so much more real in the movies than in the books, too.<br />
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I'm not going to tag anyone in particular, but if you're reading this and haven't done this tag already, consider yourself tagged! <3<br />
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And that's all for my unpopular opinions! <b>What are some unpopular opinions you have? Let me know in the comments!</b>Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-45390316793331280502020-03-24T06:00:00.000-04:002020-03-24T10:50:58.372-04:00Top Ten Tuesday: Fantasy Books That Give Me All the FeelsI'm so excited to do this week's Top Ten Tuesday! I honestly had a hard time picking what to do for today's topic -- genre freebie, which means a lot more thinking on my part, and then narrowing down the millions of options I now have. But in the end, I decided to go with a topic I know really well -- fantasy books. And more specifically, fantasy books that give me <i>all the feels, </i>whether those be happy feels or sad feels or any other kind of feels.<br />
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Basically, the fantasy books that have stayed with me.<br />
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For the sake of ease, I'm not including Harry Potter on this list. First, because I include Harry Potter on pretty much all of my lists, and it's starting to get embarrassing. (Am I <i>that </i>obsessed?) And two, because I want to talk about some fantasy books that at least some people <i>haven't </i>heard of. And I'm pretty sure the entire Internet knows who Harry Potter is.<br />
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So, without further ado, let's get started!<br />
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<b>1. <i>Mistborn: The Final Empire </i>and <i>The Hero of Ages </i>by Brandon Sanderson</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Okay, <i>The Well of Ascension </i>did give me some serious feels as well. But the first, and especially the last books in the trilogy were an emotional rollercoaster, and I am not ashamed to say that I cried (actual tears) at the end of <i>The Hero of Ages. </i><br />
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<b>2. <i>This Savage Song </i>and <i>Our Dark Duet </i>by Victoria Schwab</b><br />
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Victoria Schwab's writing in these books was. So. Beautiful. Every time I think about these books, I want to re-read them to experience them all over again. The emotions I felt while reading these books are just more than words can express. The characters and the character arcs and the hope despite the darkness just hit me right in the feels.<br />
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<b>3. <i>The Raven Cycle </i>by Maggie Stiefvater</b><br />
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Oh, look, it's my newest, latest, and greatest obsession! But this series also hits you in the feels. Repeatedly. With a sledgehammer.<br />
The end of <i>The Raven King, </i>especially, was amazing and beautiful and also a freaking gut-punch.<br />
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<b>4. <i>The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, </i>and <i>Oathbringer </i>by Brandon Sanderson</b><br />
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I know, I know, I can't stop talking about these books. I'm sorry. <strike>Not sorry</strike>. But these books are so, so good! I can't stop recommending them to anyone and everyone who will listen.<br />
The characters are so lifelike and real, and some of the scenes (in all three books) gave me chills. Or made me tear up. Or made me outright laugh.<br />
Which I consider to be an amazing thing.<br />
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<b>5. <i>Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster </i>by Jonathan Auxier</b><br />
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My mom actually read this aloud to me and my brothers a few years ago, and I remember distinctly the part where I was actually starting to tear up listening and had to turn away so no one would see me crying over a kid's book. :P<br />
Auxier has a gift for writing children's stories that are timeless, and his books are criminally underrated. <i>Sweep </i>is my favorite of his stories, though I have yet to read <i>The Night Gardener. </i><br />
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<b>6. <i>The Scorpio Races </i>by Maggie Stiefvater</b><br />
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I still can't get over the ending. It was so perfect. I'm going to start getting into spoilers if I say any more, but suffice it to say that Maggie Stiefvater knows how to end her stories <i>well. </i>And with tears. I won't say whether they're the happy variety or the sad variety. You can find out for yourself when you <i>go read this book. </i>*gentle push towards Overdrive because you shouldn't break quarantine for a book*<br />
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<b>7. <i>The Return of the King </i>by J.R.R. Tolkien</b><br />
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It was the movie that made me cry first. Then the book. Well. Technically they only both made me tear up, but it still counts. The <i>ending, </i>though! You know those endings that are... not sad exactly... but still make you cry so hard? Like the end of the <i>Les Miserables </i>movie? That's what the ending for this is like, too. And so even though I like the movies better, this book still makes it onto my list.<br />
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<b>8. <i>A Monster Calls </i>by Patrick Ness</b><br />
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Does this even count as fantasy? *quickly Googles* Well, Wikipedia says it is, so I guess I'm rolling with it. I love this book. It's a really quick read, but it stays with you. And yes, it nearly made me cry. Most of these books nearly made me cry. If I read it again, I probably will cry.<br />
This is a book about a boy whose Mom has terminal cancer. There's a monster, and fairy-tale like stories, but at its core, this is a story about grief. And it handles it beautifully.<br />
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And that about wraps it up! <b>Bookworms, now it's your turn! What are some fantasy books that you cried over (or laughed over)? Have you read any of the books on this list? Let me know in the comments!</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-86791857597137188222020-03-23T06:00:00.000-04:002020-03-29T17:56:40.853-04:00Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Sorcery of Thorns</i></span><br />
by Margaret Rogerson<br />
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<b>Genre: </b>YA high fantasy<br />
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<b>My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★</span></b><br />
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<b>Description:</b></div>
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Elisabeth has lived her whole life as an apprentice in the Great Library of Summershall. She is charged with the task of keeping the grimoires -- magical books created by sorcery -- safe. And keeping the outside world safe from them.<br />
But when an accident occurs and a grimoire escapes, Elisabeth is dragged into a centuries old conspiracy, alongside one of her greatest enemies -- a sorcerer.<br />
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<b>Overall Thoughts</b></div>
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A fun, enjoyable book, but nothing super special. It's still worth a read if Victorian fantasy or books about books are things you like, but overall, there are probably more unique stories out there.<br />
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I was pretty conflicted with my feelings over this book by the time I finished <i>Sorcery of Thorns. </i>On one hand, I loved the magic, the whole concept of librarians being guardians of monstrous books, the Victorian setting, and Silas (who, let's be frank, is the best character in the whole book.)<br />
On the other hand, I couldn't connect with the main character, Elisabeth, who felt very bland and stereotypical. As a result, I couldn't get on board with the romance. I also feel like the plot wasn't the most original out there, but it would have been fine had the main character been more relateable.<br />
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<b>The Characters</b></div>
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The characterization was a bit all over the place. </div>
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Elisabeth, the main character, was overall very bland. I couldn't connect with her character voice at all, and though she did have her moments, overall I couldn't really ever root for her as a character because I just... didn't... care all that much. She was like a number of YA female protagonists I've seen over the years, so she doesn't stand out as anything special. Without giving anything away, I also feel like she didn't end up being that relevant to the completion of the story goal, so I'm not sure why she was the main character at all. </div>
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Her love interest (not really a spoiler, guys) Nathaniel, was okay. I liked his personality, and he had a few really awesome pieces of dialogue. I think I would've liked him a lot more if he didn't have this weird obsession with Elisabeth. I mean, come on, dude, you could do a lot better than her! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And then there's Silas. Who was, by far, my favorite character. He's the butler, which should tell you... literally everything you need to know. He was great. Truly. I literally was reading the book for him at some points. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Plot/Pacing</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There's not really much to say in regards to plot. It starts out interesting, but soon devolves into a more stereotypical fantasy storyline. Which I would be fine with, if the characters were interesting enough to outshine the plot itself. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The pacing was good, however, for the most part. There was a portion of the book where I literally put it down in the middle of an action sequence and didn't pick it up for three days, but that was less of a pacing problem than the fact that I just wasn't rooting for Elisabeth at all. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b>
<b>Worldbuilding</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'm happy to say that the worldbuilding was really fun. I loved the whole idea of the Great Libraries, and the grimoires and Maleficts and literally everything to do with the libraries. I adored the concept, and I loved the way it played out on page. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The sorcery element was not my favorite, but I still enjoyed it. It's a soft magic system, so there weren't many rules explained on page, and it seemed very typical fantasy magic overall. I still thought it was fun, though. (I call the weirdest things fun. The sorcery in this book literally involves trading away years of your life to demons. *shaking my head*)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Content</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Recommended for ages 14 and up. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING: A character is implied to have some form of PTSD, which results in nightmares. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Violence is not well-described, but there are several fight scenes and descriptions of blood and wounds. Several descriptions of monsters that could be disturbing for some readers. Some grimoires are made by binding body parts to them which... is exactly as gross as it sounds like. Characters use magic and swords to fight. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sexual content is limited to kissing and a few vague references. One kissing scene is pretty sensual and drawn out, with one of the characters starting to undress the other character. They are interrupted before it goes too far. One male character mentions that he "fancied" another male character at one point. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Swearing is limited to some mild curse words. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Characters drink alcohol.<br />
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Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-80348901365506747372020-03-21T06:00:00.000-04:002020-03-29T17:58:32.777-04:00A Study in Charlotte [Charlotte Holmes, #1] by Brittany Cavallaro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>It's been a crazy couple of weeks, you all. With the threat of COVID-19 now so close to home, I really hope you all are staying safe and healthy. Social distancing isn't easy, but it is necessary to keep this disease from spreading. </i></div>
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<i>Stay safe at home, everyone. And remember to wash your hands frequently! </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBHV_zygKcdo7JX9k-fbBLKSnmQvcdDT80zORtWIE1sZiir9i5s97RyeWUWDm-nh8L-Toix6OzHBSaohLDGOi8wCjYBAhLlUslZTbGVzh9tp07pB0x_vNqILbTW-0lAQNKqg7kH-45aw/s1600/studyincharlotte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBHV_zygKcdo7JX9k-fbBLKSnmQvcdDT80zORtWIE1sZiir9i5s97RyeWUWDm-nh8L-Toix6OzHBSaohLDGOi8wCjYBAhLlUslZTbGVzh9tp07pB0x_vNqILbTW-0lAQNKqg7kH-45aw/s320/studyincharlotte.jpg" width="212" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>A Study in Charlotte [Charlotte Holmes, #1]</i></span><br />
by Brittany Cavallaro<br />
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<b>Genre: </b>YA mystery<br />
<br />
<b>My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Description:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Going to school in Connecticut wasn't Jamie Watson's idea. Not only is he going to be moving within driving distance from his estranged father, but Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the descendant of the famous Sherlock, who has inherited both his renowned intellect and caustic personality. It's awkward, and things just get worse when a Sherringford student ends up murdered. And it looks like Jamie and Charlotte have been framed.<br />
Now, it's a race against time to find the killer and clear their names... before anyone else ends up dead.<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Overall Thoughts</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I liked this book. It's not a new favorite, but overall, I thought it was a great story, and I enjoyed reading it.<br />
I had heard mixed things about <i>A Study in Charlotte </i>before I ever picked it up. In fact, I avoided it for the longest time because of some of the things I'd heard regarding content. While those warnings were definitely founded (this is not a book I would be recommending to young teens) it was still a good story and I genuinely enjoyed reading it.<br />
<br />
<b>The Characters</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The characters were great. I enjoyed Jamie's narration of the events, and even though I tend not to like first person, retrospective, I did enjoy it in this book. I feel like the style worked really well for the story, especially since Jamie had a very unique and recognizable character voice and personality.<br />
Charlotte was also a very interesting character. I can't say that I <i>liked </i>her all that much -- she's not a very likeable person, overall -- but as a character, she was well-developed and interesting.<br />
The other characters were all over the place. I feel like a lot of the secondary characters got sidelined, without too much development. I also feel like several adults in the story sometimes didn't feel quite genuine/real/whatever -- their reactions didn't exactly seem human. But overall, those were really small portions of the book, and I still liked the characters overall.<br />
<br />
<b>Plot/Pacing</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The mystery was fairly slow moving in terms of how the pieces were put together. I did like how active Charlotte and Jamie were in the plot -- they made the decisions, and those decisions propelled the plot forward. There was no "oh boy, we stumbled on this clue by accident, ha ha, how cool is that" stuff happening, for which I was very grateful.<br />
The pacing of the book, however, was well done. I was never bored, despite the length of the chapters, and the writing style kept me engaged throughout the story.<br />
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<b>Content (potential spoilers)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Recommended for ages 16 and up.<br />
<br />
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Drug abuse, sexual assault, rape, references to suicide.<br />
<br />
Violent content includes a fist fight between two characters. Gun use. An explosion occurs at one point. Characters are poisoned. At one point in the story, a girl is attacked and it's found that a plastic jewel has been shoved down her throat. References to rape and sexual assault, which could be triggering to some readers.<br />
Sexual content includes kissing, several instances of innuendo and a few references, as well as mentions of rape and sexual assault (as discussed above.)<br />
Swearing includes several (maybe ten or fifteen) uses of the f-bomb, as well as other offensive language.<br />
Drug abuse is discussed, and a character takes drugs (recreationally) at one point in the story. Discussion of drug dealing. A character smokes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpZwFRS_cJT5MlLK4z489CLKwI0XgAFG1-NZAo5K2QgAX1ntfMDZvGfUhuf0PXN0YSF3VFbMhmTqpNx_F31TAv1KN3DYLO-eCY1fGBEF0RlXPabb-FWpGwl4aSNJlQfe8qBNXZVEyRNs/s1600/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpZwFRS_cJT5MlLK4z489CLKwI0XgAFG1-NZAo5K2QgAX1ntfMDZvGfUhuf0PXN0YSF3VFbMhmTqpNx_F31TAv1KN3DYLO-eCY1fGBEF0RlXPabb-FWpGwl4aSNJlQfe8qBNXZVEyRNs/s320/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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<br />Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-78775849999931996992020-03-18T06:00:00.000-04:002020-03-19T13:40:05.889-04:00Books I Bought for the CoverMost of the time, I consider myself good about not buying books solely because they would look good on my bookshelf. I like taking the time to really research a book, what other readers are saying about it, etc. before I even consider picking it up from the bookstore.<br />
<br />
But sometimes, it is hard to resist the pretty covers. I'm sure some of you feel the same way, right?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzQB80T22vfNtR3nbBbBX9lCDIcAIsi9UuwzsLB6piRmuIgSI7Zs3xIB5W4DMyfMywlxfvW2ZHsr8uTB1Dg9Hua0FzyTx2hdMrDuOS42SpVBqZJPDiqdyJFBwu5YlWiJEkXh-veKUxrA/s1600/Things+I+hate+in+fiction.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzQB80T22vfNtR3nbBbBX9lCDIcAIsi9UuwzsLB6piRmuIgSI7Zs3xIB5W4DMyfMywlxfvW2ZHsr8uTB1Dg9Hua0FzyTx2hdMrDuOS42SpVBqZJPDiqdyJFBwu5YlWiJEkXh-veKUxrA/s320/Things+I+hate+in+fiction.png" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@jasonhk1920?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Jason Wong</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/books?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></td></tr>
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<br />
So today, I'm going to be talking about books I actually did buy for the beautiful cover. I haven't read all of these books yet, so this isn't <i>really</i> a recommendation list, but if one of these books looks interesting to you, by all means, check it out!<br />
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<b>1. <i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2019/10/sky-without-stars-system-divine-1-by.html">Sky Without Stars</a> </i>by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendall</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmcwwpMk5e5QuKLCA2-y5Op-oPQk8xjbOOhfHTNHJSXgvlpCwYfJwzm8JQ8efnST3TEKKTZiyF4erkvKf_l-tfL0DhegScDVmpiQkxxIEsb7VfiJjVWxkGp3RygooPC7VOAS9dCyTA0k/s1600/sws+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmcwwpMk5e5QuKLCA2-y5Op-oPQk8xjbOOhfHTNHJSXgvlpCwYfJwzm8JQ8efnST3TEKKTZiyF4erkvKf_l-tfL0DhegScDVmpiQkxxIEsb7VfiJjVWxkGp3RygooPC7VOAS9dCyTA0k/s320/sws+image.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excuse the glare off my bone-white skin. :P</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
What I knew before I bought it:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>It's a <i>Les Miserables </i>retelling in the vein of <i>The Lunar Chronicles</i></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
This is one of two books on this list that I've actually read. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it, either. It was a fun, enjoyable book, but definitely not a really worthy retelling of <i>Les Mis. </i>I still want to try book 2, <i>Between Burning Worlds, </i>when it releases this year, however.<br />
<br />
<b>2. <i>The Girl the Sea Gave Back </i>by Adrienne Young</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6q6Ez_LPvmhjXJxaaWUhZbfEDfS_bfGZ4ehIzpkJw8fEtMzG9r2s7vo43R4QgTQBLpMhiymWvVgFPkmM9-pi1lPD_e7nXaECUdTLsmepV7jDvPiCHUSl0sNoy3vG1cSb1X4WE1fZMZg/s1600/IMG_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6q6Ez_LPvmhjXJxaaWUhZbfEDfS_bfGZ4ehIzpkJw8fEtMzG9r2s7vo43R4QgTQBLpMhiymWvVgFPkmM9-pi1lPD_e7nXaECUdTLsmepV7jDvPiCHUSl0sNoy3vG1cSb1X4WE1fZMZg/s320/IMG_0272.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">© 2020 by Rambles from My Library</span></td></tr>
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<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
What I knew before I bought it:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>It's a Viking-inspired fantasy novel</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm still incredibly excited to read this book! It seems right up my alley, and the cover definitely doesn't hurt. I bought the hardcover edition, and it was so worth it for the gorgeous inside cover. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Beautiful, right? I hope the story inside lives up to the fantastic cover!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>3. <i>There Will Come a Darkness </i>by Katy Rose Pool</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaA40iWGYpVCo7-s1uOSqM50tuIMphymAV4BxLlKA9GvRo2xpI_Nbzw6uE5vhReqaRCFiFWT4FDuF-rI0tQHU9hJVHgtSyCG6LLEOZJxjJTzkdghYLoFWe5zEczlDKeOPA2ceNrxsRCc/s1600/IMG_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaA40iWGYpVCo7-s1uOSqM50tuIMphymAV4BxLlKA9GvRo2xpI_Nbzw6uE5vhReqaRCFiFWT4FDuF-rI0tQHU9hJVHgtSyCG6LLEOZJxjJTzkdghYLoFWe5zEczlDKeOPA2ceNrxsRCc/s320/IMG_0273.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© 2020 by Rambles from My Library</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
What I knew before I bought it: </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>There are six alternating points-of-view </li>
<li>And something about the world ending (oooo)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
This book was a total impulse buy, but the cover on Goodreads doesn't do the real one any justice. My photo probably won't either. I'm really excited to read this book, both for the cover, and the amazing title (my inner fangirl adores it.)</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>4. <i>Sorcery of Thorns </i>by Margaret Rogerson</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcevQEDse0Yrrr4zXX-wSj7s1cwNR3HXAJLD_lvEaTuuCnionk1bQBJW6WE3c7VoDzmZY_c8jnVa_wTTD9t2KZsJYJn48vbVNfCcH1RAqaFJbBI84Bm6NtdMxhCDiRQHQUzvOx1IlZUkE/s1600/IMG_0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcevQEDse0Yrrr4zXX-wSj7s1cwNR3HXAJLD_lvEaTuuCnionk1bQBJW6WE3c7VoDzmZY_c8jnVa_wTTD9t2KZsJYJn48vbVNfCcH1RAqaFJbBI84Bm6NtdMxhCDiRQHQUzvOx1IlZUkE/s320/IMG_0270.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">© 2020 by Rambles from My Library</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
What I knew before I bought it:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Fantasy library!</li>
<li>It's a standalone novel</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
This book is actually next on my TBR (after <i>The Raven King, </i>of course), and I'm really excited to read it! <i>Sorcery of Thorns </i>has been incredibly hyped up ever since it released, and I'm hoping it lives up to that hype. But I'm not going into it with any expectations based on the hype. Only my own based on the fact that there's a LIBRARY, and it's Gothic fantasy, and it just looks super incredible. Yeah, okay, I may have unrealistic expectations. Update: I've finished it, and I have <i>opinions. </i>Keep your eyes peeled for my review!</div>
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<b>So, bookworms, have you read any of these books? Have you ever bought a book solely for its cover, and if so, what did you think of that book? Let me know in the comments! I can't wait to chat with you all. </b><br />
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<a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/20380965/?claim=ez4k5b97c59">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>!Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-70034011543366526902020-03-17T06:00:00.000-04:002020-03-17T06:00:01.877-04:00Top Ten Tuesday: Spring 2020 TBRTop Ten Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme originally created by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html">The Broke and the Bookish</a> and currently hosted by<a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/"> That Artsy Reader Girl</a>.<br />
<br />
TBR planning is both a wonderful thing and a horrible thing for me. Wonderful because who doesn't like picking out new books to read? Horrible because I have to pick some books over other books, and that makes me sad.<br />
<br />
Regardless, TBR planning is something I've been trying to be more purposeful about, so this Top Ten Tuesday is absolutely perfect for me. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvmLAXBznPAxlAcMwNutjtOlZ8LGp4wTwX3HgBZETaGn7EKiBZ9JjqxWdJU_Pwy7fqqJPmSBhW7P6sUrhCFJ-gwYNbYIsUixzSvybJAFQ0gI0wjDaHNYTs0F_2Oa2qSKzE4_wB3wXJow/s1600/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvmLAXBznPAxlAcMwNutjtOlZ8LGp4wTwX3HgBZETaGn7EKiBZ9JjqxWdJU_Pwy7fqqJPmSBhW7P6sUrhCFJ-gwYNbYIsUixzSvybJAFQ0gI0wjDaHNYTs0F_2Oa2qSKzE4_wB3wXJow/s320/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com+%25281%2529.png" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "san francisco" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "ubuntu" , "roboto" , "noto" , "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@kaunglay1?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Aung Soe Min</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "san francisco" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "ubuntu" , "roboto" , "noto" , "segoe ui" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/book?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
So, some books that are lined up on my TBR for this spring? Let's get into it:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ix0SjtqVi3mA-mK-Y3AZ52gHf6B9F0yQywxnBB7v1frFjTud2FrfKCjMZghau4DEepCDgXLe7AN4x8kqQKPXqbHTysYnkm7F0EiwLHMIgxQo7VpDEPEZoLk81oG3e7BZJcMVr8dEE14/s1600/throneofglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ix0SjtqVi3mA-mK-Y3AZ52gHf6B9F0yQywxnBB7v1frFjTud2FrfKCjMZghau4DEepCDgXLe7AN4x8kqQKPXqbHTysYnkm7F0EiwLHMIgxQo7VpDEPEZoLk81oG3e7BZJcMVr8dEE14/s200/throneofglass.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Y0_oCoSibAkaWvKD0sBkdLlBIsNZdbF53X5W2d2jYWoAYxojm0-O0d-0NgqyNpGc9p_U9AC_m69pJjbOL6EucKZd82E-rHkyuyxugTJXfliBUveguX-tkKqxkVtG1Ds4dlbv60yfRv4/s1600/13reasonswhy.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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Y0_oCoSibAkaWvKD0sBkdLlBIsNZdbF53X5W2d2jYWoAYxojm0-O0d-0NgqyNpGc9p_U9AC_m69pJjbOL6EucKZd82E-rHkyuyxugTJXfliBUveguX-tkKqxkVtG1Ds4dlbv60yfRv4/s200/13reasonswhy.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTloZPyI9wU33dLVATg0EDs3qP3mlrkmmReEh9fWjnetoTg4DoJ51zna29C7-ojW33TQebJkfrA7VEJkZCbKn1oCz7TVhXroW83WHKZjl5ZROi_a72ZpPWlXhNbBu-p1b3n0ynL1CrOk/s1600/nightcircus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTloZPyI9wU33dLVATg0EDs3qP3mlrkmmReEh9fWjnetoTg4DoJ51zna29C7-ojW33TQebJkfrA7VEJkZCbKn1oCz7TVhXroW83WHKZjl5ZROi_a72ZpPWlXhNbBu-p1b3n0ynL1CrOk/s200/nightcircus.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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<b>1. <i>Throne of Glass </i>by Sarah J. Maas</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I want to read this book just to have an opinion on it. :) It's a series that everyone seems to have an opinion on, one way or another, and I'd like to see what I think of it myself.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>2. <i>The Night Circus </i>by Erin Morgenstern</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I want to read this for various reasons. Mostly because I've heard the writing is phenomenal, and I adore good writing in the books I read. Also, magical circus? Yes, please.<br />
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<b>3. <i>Thirteen Reasons Why </i>by Jay Asher</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I'm reading this book kind of as an assignment from my Mom. Apparently even when you graduate from homeschool, you can still get assignments from your teacher! :P This is a very controversial book, so I'm interested to see what my opinions on it are. And so is my Mom. :D<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08m0PxoaPBSNKMWSIGChfrVqX3BozE5j8qJ-dvZU3C6Gf3QjSxQ1fgRUygnVYIewwS-0KYgocJ9dnS_-WBcVlL0wC_AfibA0wectVDVs_CHL4K7LsIEJKp6tx9BXnKfznDloCr0TDhQA/s1600/ember.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08m0PxoaPBSNKMWSIGChfrVqX3BozE5j8qJ-dvZU3C6Gf3QjSxQ1fgRUygnVYIewwS-0KYgocJ9dnS_-WBcVlL0wC_AfibA0wectVDVs_CHL4K7LsIEJKp6tx9BXnKfznDloCr0TDhQA/s200/ember.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovcSX2UQ5jQnBInLdnWnvYItrDxphLIOTUQB1p2zApzMbTjEqleqpy-6-J_aRMtaq49k-qdpgR9bc2k5hQkeVh2iqndYc1wwO92zVE1gRHdfPGKpFH4HKJkv83dEqmh-3-z9AeSvX4Fk/s1600/jackaby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovcSX2UQ5jQnBInLdnWnvYItrDxphLIOTUQB1p2zApzMbTjEqleqpy-6-J_aRMtaq49k-qdpgR9bc2k5hQkeVh2iqndYc1wwO92zVE1gRHdfPGKpFH4HKJkv83dEqmh-3-z9AeSvX4Fk/s200/jackaby.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmOu4sWClrQNuJkQrKHzmQTnszSztaNUQGoLYMd-Kpcynv2D5gr7zFQ-8ffSObTPdsVq6cwz5YxMJSZuHZADfSXRARAZh_pj5J5QxY3ZStV9EQFwk3T00thNy_rd28NuQaMwBST_K8-c/s1600/archived.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmOu4sWClrQNuJkQrKHzmQTnszSztaNUQGoLYMd-Kpcynv2D5gr7zFQ-8ffSObTPdsVq6cwz5YxMJSZuHZADfSXRARAZh_pj5J5QxY3ZStV9EQFwk3T00thNy_rd28NuQaMwBST_K8-c/s200/archived.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<b>4. <i>An Ember in the Ashes </i>by Sabaa Tahir</b><br />
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I want to read this because... reasons. It just looks like my kind of book.<br />
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<b>5. <i>Jackaby </i>by William Ritter </b><br />
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I get serious Doctor Who vibes from reading the back of this book, so of course I want to read it! Anything to get the bad taste of "The Timeless Children" out of my mouth.<br />
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<b>6. <i>The Archived </i>by Victoria Schwab</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Do I even need to explain why I want to read this one? It's by Victoria Schwab. Of course it's on my TBR.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6t45tFkQRizUbaSCyjcCdn7VO0-fbKIGehp0_JrGc1qtx1SYl4bGHZwlGuf7YOYDJ05L76ZQUQB-G3G0aFzhjwmeq70W2HXdAf3z5ZbooY6YyMdHFbxrGW_EcBM6sMhSCn9F_FN95HA/s1600/findingaudrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6t45tFkQRizUbaSCyjcCdn7VO0-fbKIGehp0_JrGc1qtx1SYl4bGHZwlGuf7YOYDJ05L76ZQUQB-G3G0aFzhjwmeq70W2HXdAf3z5ZbooY6YyMdHFbxrGW_EcBM6sMhSCn9F_FN95HA/s200/findingaudrey.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YnOVHhqsppH9a_WZfXSZpQAO1nVyVlJia6VE4XxV5c2wj0AeTgr9jO4EEWFIAyAtTjlS4fr9_sxlltpVHXGBQBFGG9eG4tTPcJLAnwzqx_1_oBJ4irgPh6wND5DdsMOGW0uU5qtkcAA/s1600/starsight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="266" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YnOVHhqsppH9a_WZfXSZpQAO1nVyVlJia6VE4XxV5c2wj0AeTgr9jO4EEWFIAyAtTjlS4fr9_sxlltpVHXGBQBFGG9eG4tTPcJLAnwzqx_1_oBJ4irgPh6wND5DdsMOGW0uU5qtkcAA/s200/starsight.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhn6nqR4s84tkNG_YmcAsnW2-LwZ5AlP7us0myBXyzs94WYhxGTcJziYc6ugCr9mzxdBn_truH8WwgHcF6zmAX3EBZokwJUANUZtI4Smba8rZ0IRffZsCOzCE8LhHD64adXgBmiJuVlA/s1600/gtsgb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhn6nqR4s84tkNG_YmcAsnW2-LwZ5AlP7us0myBXyzs94WYhxGTcJziYc6ugCr9mzxdBn_truH8WwgHcF6zmAX3EBZokwJUANUZtI4Smba8rZ0IRffZsCOzCE8LhHD64adXgBmiJuVlA/s200/gtsgb.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
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<b>7. <i>Finding Audrey </i>by Sophie Kinsella</b><br />
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So this is... not my usual genre. But who cares? It looks like a fun story, and I got it brand new at Chapters for incredibly cheap, so bonus points for that!<br />
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<b>8. <i>Starsight </i>by Brandon Sanderson</b><br />
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It has become my mission to read every book Brandon Sanderson has ever written. So of course I have to read this one.<br />
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<b>9. <i>The Girl the Sea Gave Back </i>by Adrienne Young</b><br />
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Norse. Inspired. Fantasy. I love it already.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKejVKMBl4pEcqTe6e6PW8eh9uUH0Dydzig22OV9lfNg7cvziVem4xhVxkjEaY-GohevFnzyZqDo6yw4akIirxaEdhHef0iu0YgY0_qNP_t5Ikn98WPCophPfQsAOPju_a1nnBR31Z65I/s1600/twcad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKejVKMBl4pEcqTe6e6PW8eh9uUH0Dydzig22OV9lfNg7cvziVem4xhVxkjEaY-GohevFnzyZqDo6yw4akIirxaEdhHef0iu0YgY0_qNP_t5Ikn98WPCophPfQsAOPju_a1nnBR31Z65I/s200/twcad.jpg" width="134" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdS_DH5f6Mj7M62sUGXg8RN4UH5N6N9SYMCIgwJwokiMJ1Xfmtm6fhhAy1gcn0ANadzjfV4W5ojQnLmV3Z6C3m7G7Itb53a8Jo6yXszvwOTNG9WFIgPJqxU2YLqsgRYAjy0F7jHVeTrs/s1600/myladyjane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdS_DH5f6Mj7M62sUGXg8RN4UH5N6N9SYMCIgwJwokiMJ1Xfmtm6fhhAy1gcn0ANadzjfV4W5ojQnLmV3Z6C3m7G7Itb53a8Jo6yXszvwOTNG9WFIgPJqxU2YLqsgRYAjy0F7jHVeTrs/s200/myladyjane.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxXcBxi70GRTM-6ND9CYLY9lkMq8_FGWEF3mUaTr4Ab-13XPE0LiOHlozz07enElJjRRlHINHgQUxsHSL7ENDL1Hcj3_tLg7HYtwCAjd7hltLqP0C5vgBCDBSo2-rBMHjmQ_7drqqvB8/s1600/elantris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="294" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxXcBxi70GRTM-6ND9CYLY9lkMq8_FGWEF3mUaTr4Ab-13XPE0LiOHlozz07enElJjRRlHINHgQUxsHSL7ENDL1Hcj3_tLg7HYtwCAjd7hltLqP0C5vgBCDBSo2-rBMHjmQ_7drqqvB8/s200/elantris.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
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<b>10. <i>There Will Come a Darkness </i>by Katy Rose Pool</b><br />
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It was the cover + the book trailer that sold this book to me. I want to read so bad. End of the world stakes, an epic title, six people standing against the forces of evil... give it to me now. After I finish the three books I'm already reading.<br />
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<b>11. <i>Elantris </i>by Brandon Sanderson</b><br />
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Please refer to point number 8 in case you're wondering why I want to read this book. Also, Cosmere.<br />
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<b>12. <i>My Lady Jane </i>by Cynthia Hand, Jodie Meadows, and Brodi Ashton</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
It just looks so <i>funny</i>. And I need more funny books in my life, as so many I've read recently have ended in (happy, but also sad) tears.<br />
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Will I read more than just that in the spring? Probably. Hopefully. But these are the books I'm for sure going to try to get to, so there's that. <b>Bookworms, let me know what books you have planned to read this spring! And if you don't do TBRs (I get it, I really do), what's a book you're looking forward to reading soon?</b>Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-16013339805168823812020-03-13T06:00:00.000-04:002020-03-13T06:00:03.886-04:00Rapid Fire Book TagI found this book tag on <a href="https://bookishhedgemom.com/rapid-fire-book-tag/">The Bookish Hedgemom</a>'s blog, and it looked like a lot of fun, and so I thought I'd give it a try! The Rapid Fire Book Tag was originally created by<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-46EzDWdSY&feature=youtu.be"> Girl Reading</a> on her YouTube channel.<br />
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<b>E-book or physical book?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Physical book, every time! While I do like the idea of e-books, and I do read e-books occasionally, there's nothing that can compare to the experience of reading a physical book.<br />
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<b>Paperback or hardback?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Paperback! Hardbacks are beautiful, but paperbacks are so much easier to read, and frankly, far less painful to hold in one hand (while the other hand is occupied with a mug of tea.) I especially love the floppy sort of paperbacks.<br />
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<b>Online or in-store book shopping?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
In-store! Especially in used bookstores. It feels like I'm treasure-hunting, and I love it so much more than just picking out a book on Amazon.<br />
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<b>Trilogies or series?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Either. I honestly don't have much of a preference. (Though I will say, if a series has sixteen books, I would hope those sixteen books all add something to the story and aren't just there to take up space.)<br />
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<b>Heroes or villains?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Heroes! A few years ago, I totally would have answered villains, but now, I'm all for reading about heroes. People who aren't necessarily perfect, but are actively trying to better themselves and help people... these are the characters I can admire and root for.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A book you want everyone to read?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>The Way of Kings </i>by Brandon Sanderson. Seriously, everyone needs to read this incredible, incredible book. The characters and the plot and the worldbuilding and the themes are all so amazing and perfect and I just love this book so much.<br />
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<b>Recommend an underrated book?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>This Savage Song </i>by Victoria Schwab isn't exactly underrated, but I do feel like it gets overlooked in comparison to Schwab's adult books. However, <i>This Savage Song </i>is an amazing, gorgeously written story with wonderful characters and just the right amount of scary.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The last book you finished?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>We Need to Talk </i>by Celeste Headlee. This is a nonfiction book about the power of conversation and how to become a better conversationalist. It was a great, overall quick read that I'm very glad I picked up.<br />
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<b>The last book you bought?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I... can't really remember exactly what the last book I bought was. I think it might have been <i>There Will Come a Darkness </i>by Katy Rose Pool.<br />
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<b>Weirdest thing you've used as a bookmark?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I've used post-it notes before, as well as random papers and notes that I have lying around. Basically the closest thing that comes to hand.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Used books: yes or no?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Yes, yes, and yes! Used books are some of my favorite things for so many reasons. Number one, they're much cheaper. (The price of new books makes my bookworm heart cry.) Number two, they're way more environmental. (Those books didn't end up in the landfill! Whoo!) Plus, I've found some really interesting things inside used books. Everything from notes about the book itself to a random photo of a random person. It's interesting, if nothing else. :P<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Top three favorite genres?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Fantasy, science fiction, and young adult.<br />
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<b>Borrow or buy?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Buy. I love borrowing books (I mean, I work as a librarian, why would I be against borrowing books?) but there's something about owning books that makes me happy.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Characters or plot?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
If I had to choose, characters. But plot is important, too, guys. No excuses for a weak plot! *shakes finger*<br />
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<b>Long or short books?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Either works for me! Some of my favorite books are over 1000 pages, and sometimes I struggle to get through a 300 page YA novel. It depends on the story, the pacing, and the author's writing style for me, more than the length of the book.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Long or short chapters?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Short chapters all the way. I like being able to quickly read a chapter between other tasks, plus the story feels like it's moving faster if there are lots of short chapters (a book I can think of off the top of my head that has really good short chapters is <i>Vicious </i>by V.E. Schwab.)<br />
And long chapters can drive me crazy. (I'm looking at you, Wylan's POVs in <i>Crooked Kingdom.</i>)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Name the first three books you think of:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>Crooked Kingdom </i>by Leigh Bardugo<br />
<i>This Savage Song </i>by Victoria Schwab<br />
<i>The Way of Kings </i>by Brandon Sanderson<br />
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<b><br /></b><b>Laugh or cry?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Both. If a book makes me laugh or cry, I know it's a new favorite. But if I had to choose, probably cry. The ending of <i>The Hero of Ages </i>by Brandon Sanderson had me crying the most I've ever cried reading a book, and it's one of my favorite books of all time. That and <i>The Book Thief. </i>Which also made me cry.<br />
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<b>Our world or fictional worlds?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Fictional worlds, of course. I'd love to be able to go to Middle Earth, or explore Roshar. Though I would think twice before visiting Panem. :P<br />
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<b>Audiobooks: yes or no?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I like the idea of audiobooks, but I tend to zone out of them. It's more my fault than the fault of audiobooks, though. And I do love audiobooks if they're full cast. :)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Do you ever judge a book by its cover?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Yes. Sadly, yes. I know it's something we're always told not to do, but I'm infinitely more likely to pick up a book if it has a pretty cover.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Book to movie or book to TV adaptations?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Book to TV because I'm holding out hope for a <i>Stormlight Archive </i>TV series. I also really enjoyed the <i>A Series of Unfortunate Events </i>Netflix adaptation.<br />
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<b>A movie or TV show you preferred to the book?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>The Lord of the Rings. </i>I've talked about this before on here, but basically, I enjoyed the story more. I felt closer to the characters, and fell in love with Tolkien's world through those movies. The books are good, but they're very dense, and honestly not enjoyable to read.<br />
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<b>Series or standalones?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Series in general. Though I do love a good standalone if I'm in the mood for one.<br />
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And now for the tags! I tag:<br />
<br />
Mem at <a href="http://musicmysterymiddlearthandmitochondria.blogspot.com/">Music, Mystery, Middle Earth, and Mitochondria</a><br />
and<br />
Lee at <a href="https://arachnereads.blogspot.com/">Arachne Reads</a><br />
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And if you think this tag looks like fun, go ahead and consider yourself tagged! <b>Bookworms, let me know some of your answers to the questions in the comments! I'd love to chat with you all! :) </b><br />
<br />Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-6639424361915144502020-03-12T06:00:00.000-04:002020-03-12T14:30:43.248-04:00Books That are 200% Worth the HypeI love hype. Hype is amazing. I love it when people get so crazily excited about a book or movie or TV show that they just can't keep it to themselves. I love it when someone finds something they love and hype it up because they love it so much. It's incredible.<br />
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But you guys all know that sometimes the hype can be misleading. Some books are waaayyy overhyped. That doesn't make them bad books, but it can be disappointing when you were expecting something awesome and got something "okay" instead.<br />
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That being said, here I am, hyping up books. Specifically, I'm hyping up books that have already been hyped significantly, but that I believe are worth the hype. Take my opinions with a pinch of salt, obviously. I don't want to be the one to overhype a book for you. :P<br />
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<b>1. <i>Skyward </i>by Brandon Sanderson</b><br />
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I see this book hyped up a <i>lot, </i>which is both a happy and sad thing for me. Happy, because yes, this book is amazing and totally deserves ALL THE HYPE. And sad, because even though it's a great book, <i>The Stormlight Archive </i>and <i>Mistborn </i>aren't nearly as hyped, even though (in my opinion) they're both even better.<br />
That said, <i>Skyward </i>is a fantastic book, with some truly epic characters, friendships, and themes.<br />
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<b>2. <i>The Raven Cycle </i>by Maggie Stiefvater</b><br />
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Man, does this series get hyped! It seems like hardly anyone has negative opinions about it, and now that I've (finally) read it, I understand why. This series has a beautiful writing style, compelling characters, and an intricate storyline that grabs you from page one and doesn't let you go until the end. I highly recommend this series.<br />
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<b>3. <i>The Book Thief </i>by Marcus Zusak</b><br />
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<i>The Book Thief </i>is a beautiful, heartwrenching story that deserves all the praise and hype it's ever received. This is one of my all-time favorite books, and for good reason! <br />
With a beautiful writing style and fully realized characters, this novel stands out from many other historical fiction novels set during World War 2.<br />
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<b>4. <i>Harry Potter </i>by J.K. Rowling</b>
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Yeah, some people say that Harry Potter doesn't deserve the hype. I'm obviously not one of those people, but I do recognize that this series has its flaws (as do all.) However, this series is still a wonderful, magical story that I feel everyone should read at least once in their life. Trust me on this one.<br />
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I'm almost positive I missed a few books that should be on this list, but for now, I'm going to leave you with these. Just know that there may be a part two to this post in the future. :P<br />
<b>Bookworms, tell me your opinions! What are some books that you think are worth the hype? </b>Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-43678995202175724292020-03-06T06:00:00.000-05:002020-03-31T21:08:32.444-04:00The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater [Spoiler-free Series Review]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The Raven Cycle [The Raven Boys; The Dream Thieves; Blue Lily, Lily Blue; The Raven King]</i></span><br />
by Maggie Stiefvater<br />
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<b>Genre: </b>YA paranormal<br />
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<b>My Rating: <span style="color: #0b5394;">★★★★★ </span></b><br />
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<b>Description: </b>A group of teenagers spend a year searching for a dead (or not) Welsh king in a small Virginia town.<br />
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<b>Overall Thoughts</b><br />
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Allow me a moment to fangirl. This series is one of the most hyped up YA series ever published, and now I see why.<br />
My only regret? That I didn't read them sooner.<br />
<br />
I knew from the moment I finished book one that this series was going to be a new favorite of mine. I also knew that my reviews for each individual book would start to get repetitive. Constantly screaming the words "amazing" and "incredible" at you for four consecutive reviews sounds like a good way to bore you all to death. I didn't want to do that, so I chose instead to do a series review.<br />
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This review will cover the entire four-book series (excluding the short stories) and will be 100% spoiler-free. You're welcome.<br />
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<b>The Characters</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The characters. Ah, the characters. There are certain stories where you can't pick a favorite character because they're all so amazing, and this is one of those stories. (Though, if hard-pressed, I'd probably say Gansey is my favorite. But only if very hard-pressed.)<br />
I love how nuanced all of them are. Maggie Stiefvater excels at writing characters who subvert stereotypes, and <i>The Raven Cycle </i>is a perfect example of this. By the end of the series, it's like reading about a group of old friends, and I loved that so much.<br />
I also love how real even the very minor characters feel. Steifvater gave them all very interesting personalities and quirks, and even when they didn't get a lot of page time, they still felt like real people.<br />
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<b>Plot/Pacing</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The main plot of the series is weird. But like, a good kind of weird. Basically, it follows a group of teenagers searching for a dead (or not-so-dead) Welsh king who was supposedly buried in Virginia. It's not one of those "fate of the world" plotlines that's so common in YA (and especially fantasy) and that was surprisingly refreshing. It was compelling even without the fate of the world stakes, which I loved. Sometimes stories don't <i>have </i>to be about saving the world; they can be about saving a town, or a person, and that was one thing I loved about the plot for this series. It was never about the fate of the world.<br />
As for the subplots... they were hit and miss with me. (I'm mainly referring to the romance subplots, as the rest of the subplots tangle so much with the main plot that it's hard for me to separate them.) I really liked the main romance subplot, and did like another one that was introduced in book two (I think? I could be wrong) but there was another one (introduced much later in the series) that I... didn't really like? I was kind of upset because I liked these two characters as friends, and the subplot kind of ruined that, so yeah.<br />
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<b>Writing </b><br />
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Maggie Stiefvater knows how to write. Her style is compelling, original, and atmospheric, something that carries through all of her books. The writing in this series was exceptional, and kept me flipping pages.<br />
I also really liked the small-town vibes Henrietta gave me. It was great.<br />
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And now for some thoughts on the individual books:<br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">The Raven Boys </i>- My personal favorite. This book introduced me to all of these awesome characters and it just makes me so happy thinking about it. :)<br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">The Dream Thieves </i>- My personal least favorite. Not because it wasn't good! No, no, it was still really good, but it did feel very separate from the other books' plots, and kind of random because of that.<br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Blue Lily, Lily Blue </i>- I loved it. The whole thing with the cave in this book was so cool.<br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">The Raven King </i>- The ending. Was. So. Perfect. This book is the guilty one that had that subplot I didn't like... but hey, everything else was perfect. So I'm not complaining too much.<br />
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Recommended for ages 16 and up.<br />
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TRIGGER WARNINGS: References to an attempted suicide. Some references to a character's parent's murder.<br />
There's... swearing. Quite a bit of it. It's not <i>awful </i>(or maybe I'm just used to it? I don't know) but there's definitely some there, including many, many uses of the f-bomb between all four books. So that's something to watch out for.<br />
There isn't actually a ton of violence, but there are a few fight scenes, as well as some descriptions of blood. Several murders, and while none are described graphically, there were descriptions of the events, which could be disturbing. Several characters use guns.<br />
Sexual content includes several crude jokes and references to sex. A few descriptions of a female character's body (not graphic by any means.) References to crushes between a boy and a girl, and to a crush between two boys. Kissing between a girl and a boy, and two kissing scenes between two boys.<br />
Characters drink alcohol underage. Some references and scenes with drug abuse.<br />
I don't normally address spiritual content in books (I don't feel that it's necessary) but this book does feature plotlines that heavily rely on pyschics -- including the use of tarot cards, palm-reading, etc. which I feel could deter some readers. So just know that there is a lot of this in the series.<br />
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<i>This is my Review of the Month for the review collection on <a href="https://lovelyaudiobooks.info/book-review-link-up-march-2020/">LovelyAudiobooks.info</a>.</i>Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-70684221091728207602020-03-03T06:00:00.000-05:002020-03-08T17:30:49.125-04:00Top Ten Tuesday: Books with One Word Titles<i>Top Ten Tuesday </i>is a weekly bookish meme originally created by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html">The Broke and the Bookish</a> and currently hosted by <a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/">That Artsy Reader Girl</a>. This week's topic is <b>Books with One Word Titles. </b><br />
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I don't feel like this post needs much introduction, since I'm basically just going to be rhyming off the various books that I've read and loved with one word titles.<i> </i>And (of course), I'll tell you why I think they're amazing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCctD0qMgqz0C7VvxcQCJn0fa8mAOcr0JEInvOTno8WdJx_ZYMdpDNObWZPfulQKkqf9wuYo93D-LEuF0iAkNowmWp99mcmliD0uBEtNu8N5NqP_OpwFER6-rNi3tMSTHpQ9yiLRAxTU/s1600/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCctD0qMgqz0C7VvxcQCJn0fa8mAOcr0JEInvOTno8WdJx_ZYMdpDNObWZPfulQKkqf9wuYo93D-LEuF0iAkNowmWp99mcmliD0uBEtNu8N5NqP_OpwFER6-rNi3tMSTHpQ9yiLRAxTU/s320/ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b>1. <i>Vicious </i>by V.E. Schwab</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4sUILO3ZFJl_c1yWAnt9b0x7K1lOpUp_Op5OJzodnPmju2NSotF222GCBb-_e3JAhYf9onzfNI79Z6r4gUc7nHSk9txViX6-SdBt2yk6drnbCvR3tdLtcC6WCujQpCSqGjuj8Kv0IRc/s1600/vicious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4sUILO3ZFJl_c1yWAnt9b0x7K1lOpUp_Op5OJzodnPmju2NSotF222GCBb-_e3JAhYf9onzfNI79Z6r4gUc7nHSk9txViX6-SdBt2yk6drnbCvR3tdLtcC6WCujQpCSqGjuj8Kv0IRc/s200/vicious.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
I was <i>so </i>hyped to read this book, and I'm so glad it lived up to my expectations! V.E./Victoria Schwab is quickly becoming one of my auto-buy authors, since I've adored 90% of all her books that I've read. (Though I've yet to pick up <i>A Darker Shade of Magic. </i>For shame.)<br />
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<b>2. <i>Sweep </i>by Jonathan Auxier</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzlK9Y8cmkGQJxPZ_CHcejUAB_9_Z81zHKOTo6eTg9Ap3DQs_iW2ubEMksE5mIMdVYs1w2o_9t24KJK0weBt-WEWnNypqxqxNCcqJyYxQury-EGiLtg-yFq7MMrP9k9khKzB4yHaJD7k/s1600/sweep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="268" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzlK9Y8cmkGQJxPZ_CHcejUAB_9_Z81zHKOTo6eTg9Ap3DQs_iW2ubEMksE5mIMdVYs1w2o_9t24KJK0weBt-WEWnNypqxqxNCcqJyYxQury-EGiLtg-yFq7MMrP9k9khKzB4yHaJD7k/s200/sweep.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
A middle grade story with beautiful writing, incredible characters and themes, <i>Sweep </i>is a wonderful story for literally anyone who enjoys a good book! Even for those of you who don't normally read middle grade (or don't like it) I would still recommend picking up <i>Sweep, </i>because even though it's marketed as middle grade, I feel that it would appeal to a much wider readership.<br />
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<b>3. <i>Winter </i>by Marissa Meyer</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8C1PlDFixswrQ0axHDbJV7FLELauzdluh7jVi3sQrd-lkVJXCQ4eUouGOCdcEah6MApnFUzaJiFaGRN4IhUacEXOJL_MutGu-lDTfM4reuAMrZRuYK6VaUTlFpaK620vDs84cRVWGQT8/s1600/winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8C1PlDFixswrQ0axHDbJV7FLELauzdluh7jVi3sQrd-lkVJXCQ4eUouGOCdcEah6MApnFUzaJiFaGRN4IhUacEXOJL_MutGu-lDTfM4reuAMrZRuYK6VaUTlFpaK620vDs84cRVWGQT8/s200/winter.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
I will always have fond memories of this series, as it was one of the first series' I read when I was first getting into reading YA. Plus, I have a thing for retellings of any sort, and dystopian retellings? Those are incredible.<br />
Out of all of the books, <i>Winter </i>was my favorite. It retells the story of Snow White, and centers on my two favorite characters in the series.<br />
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<b>4. <i>Skyward </i>by Brandon Sanderson</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDeB3RLCBn_pLXin53KCkw2QU0e3zeQyN9angQ8ewvqVtrlqXmjY9shIKVdyWtLS1Ew2PLeuJ5taZPDm-rWh302JNlwdBOmvzNvwhy95H6NOZXGJ8PMVuGhLZiojKuogv_9ODRuqVtYw/s1600/skyward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDeB3RLCBn_pLXin53KCkw2QU0e3zeQyN9angQ8ewvqVtrlqXmjY9shIKVdyWtLS1Ew2PLeuJ5taZPDm-rWh302JNlwdBOmvzNvwhy95H6NOZXGJ8PMVuGhLZiojKuogv_9ODRuqVtYw/s200/skyward.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
This is my favorite of Sanderson's YA novels. It's a wonderful story, with great worldbuilding, a compelling plot, and a wonderful friend group. Plus, it has a sentient spaceship and a character named Doomslug. Come on. You know it sounds awesome.<br />
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<b>5. <i>Oathbringer </i>by Brandon Sanderson (It totally counts as one word...)</b><br />
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I might possibly be cheating with this one? I mean, "Oathbringer" is <i>technically </i>not a real word... but it's a single word... so I counted it on this list.<br />
Plus, since it is part of my all-time favorite high fantasy series, I felt the need to include it here. This is the third book in the ongoing fantasy series <i>The Stormlight Archive. </i>The books are enormous (clocking in at over 1000 pages each) but the themes and the depth of character development -- as well as the stunning plot and worldbuilding -- make this series worth every page.<br />
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<b>6. <i>Gemina </i>by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff</b><br />
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I read <i>The Illuminae Files </i>last year, just before I first started this blog. I enjoyed them a lot, and the more I think about them, the more I remember how good they were. I may have to look into reading them again soon (this time on audiobook, because I've heard it's full-cast, and I adore full-cast audiobooks.) Out of the trilogy, the second book, <i>Gemina, </i>was my favorite. If you like sci-fi adventures, rogue AIs, sarcastic leads, and pulse-pounding plots, you should totally check out this series!<br />
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<b>7. <i>Fawkes </i>by Nadine Brandes</b><br />
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The story of Guy Fawkes is one that has always interested me. So when I heard about this book -- a historical fantasy novel based around the Gunpowder Plot -- I knew I had to pick it up. I wasn't disappointed. This book is fantastic.<br />
Brandes's other historical fantasy, <i>Romanov, </i>is also good, though not quite as good as <i>Fawkes. </i><br />
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<b>8. <i>Wonder </i>by R.J. Palacio</b><br />
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I've been wanting to read this book for forever, but I could never find a used copy anywhere (yes, I know I could've just bought it off Amazon. Shh.) A friend of mine lent me a copy last summer, and I absolutely loved it! I enjoyed how Palacio used multiple perspectives throughout the novel, and how each character views every other character differently through their points-of-view.<br />
It's also a beautiful story about family, friendship, and kindness.<br />
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<b>9. <i>Captives </i>by Jill Williamson</b><br />
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This is a book I read ages ago, and I'm not sure if I would still like it as much if I read it again now. However, I have read the whole series three times total. Could small Fina really have had such poor taste? So yeah, it makes the list. I enjoyed them when I read them. I'm interested to read them again and see how my opinions have changed. This book was really interesting because even though it's technically Christian fiction, it deals with a lot of heavier topics -- drug addiction, STDs, teen pregnancy -- that most Christian fiction tends not to explore very often.<br />
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<b>10. <i>Inkheart </i>by Cornelia Funke</b><br />
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A childhood classic. I haven't read <i>Inkheart </i>in years, but I have such fond memories of it that it makes this list easily. Plus, the whole idea of book characters coming to life? I love it!<br />
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And, for fun, here's a few books with one word titles I'm super excited to read this year!<br />
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<b><i>Elantris </i>by Brandon Sanderson</b><br />
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<b><i>Legend </i>by Marie Lu</b><br />
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<b><i>Caraval </i>by Stephanie Garber</b><br />
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<b><i>Ultraviolet </i>by R.J. Anderson</b><br />
<b><br /><i>Vengeful </i>by V.E. Schwab</b><br />
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And that about wraps it up! <b>Now it's your turn! What are ten (or five or fifteen or three hundred) of your favorite books with one word titles? Have you read any of the books I mentioned here, and what did you think of them? Let me know in the comments!</b>Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-53974139066027436522020-03-01T16:42:00.002-05:002020-03-01T16:56:44.335-05:00February Wrap-Up + March TBRHi all!<br />
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So this is a new sort of post I wanted to try out. Monthly wrap-ups. Talk about the books I read this month, maybe the movies, TV shows, stuff that happened, etc...? Sure, why not?<br />
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So, February. I don't know about you guys, but for me, February just... disappeared? I mean, it feels like Valentine's day was three hundred years ago and also like March shouldn't quite be here yet, so I have no idea what happened to the normal progress of time over this month. It's all wibbly-wobbly.<br />
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I've been busy, what with reading and <strike>not</strike> writing, and obviously the crazy day-to-day of being a public librarian. I also reorganized my bookshelf and unhauled a bunch of books I can't see myself reading again, and it's nice to see some new space opened up on my shelves!<br />
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<b>~ The Books ~</b></div>
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<i>Murder on the Orient Express </i>by Agatha Christie</div>
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My first ever Christie novel, and the first mystery I've read in a long time where I haven't guessed the ending. I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style, but the mystery was A+, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Christie's novels in the future. I was slightly (okay, more than slightly) annoyed by the fact that my copy (bought second-hand) had a page ripped out, but hey, things like that happen. Still not happy. </div>
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<i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/02/havenfall-sara-holland-review.html">Havenfall</a> </i>by Sara Holland</div>
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I freaked out when I found out that I'd gotten approved to read this book on Netgalley. It was a fun, light fantasy novel that reminded me a lot of some of the fantasies I used to read when I was younger, so it was nice and nostalgic. I've had mixed feelings about Holland's books in the past, but I'm glad I read this one. </div>
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<i><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/02/mini-review-between-shades-of-gray-by.html">Between Shades of Gray</a> </i>by Ruta Sepetys</div>
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An impactful, honest historical fiction about a dark period of World War 2 that is often overlooked. This book didn't sugarcoat anything, and the horrors that these people faced during the war was heartbreaking to read about. But I'm very glad I read this book, and I will definitely be checking out Sepetys's other novels.</div>
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<i>The Raven Cycle </i>by Maggie Stiefvater (<i>The Raven Boys; The Dream Thieves; Blue Lily, Lily Blue; The Raven King; Opal</i>) </div>
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And I spent the rest of the month reading the entire Raven Cycle from beginning to end. This series was absolutely amazing, and has definitely made its way onto my list of all-time favorite books. The characters and the writing, especially, made me fall in love with this series. I'll be posting my series review for all of the books (excluding <i>Opal</i>) in the next couple of days, so keep your eyes peeled!</div>
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<b>~ The Movies ~</b></div>
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It was kind of an all-over-the-place sort of month for movie watching. I finally watched <i>The Return of the Jedi </i>and <i>The Phantom Menace </i>this month, both for the first time, which concludes my watch-through of all the Skywalker Saga movies (excluding <i>Rise of Skywalker, </i>which I have no intention of ever seeing. </div>
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Unpopular opinion time: I've come to the realization that I am not a Star Wars fan. I'm sorry. I know it's a really popular movie franchise, and I gave it my best try, but... it's just not for me. </div>
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I also re-watched both <i>Les Miserables </i>(2012) and <i>Newsies </i>(1992), two of my all-time favorite musicals (and movies.) <i>Les Mis </i>had me in literal tears this time, which honestly was not surprising in the least. </div>
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<b>~ TV Shows ~</b></div>
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<i>Doctor Who: Season 12 </i></div>
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I'm not quite finished with the series yet (still a few more episodes to go) but my Whovian heart is crying. While this season is far, far better than Series 11 (which I have permanently erased from my personal Who canon) it still lacks the Who-ness that I came to love so much in the first ten seasons. Much sadness. </div>
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<i>The Mandalorian</i></div>
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On the upside, I watched a Star Wars thing I actually liked! Along with <i>Rogue One </i>and <i>Solo, The Mandalorian </i>is one of the few Star Wars projects brought to screen that I actually genuinely enjoyed. The Child is adorable, and the Mandalorian's character is excellent. </div>
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<i>Locke and Key Episode One</i></div>
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And I don't think I'll be watching any more of this one! This show is apparently really popular right now, as it ranks number 6 on Netflix's top TV shows. And honestly... it wasn't very good. At least not for me. I mean, if you like it, that's perfectly cool! But it just... wasn't for me at all.<br />
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<b>~ March TBR ~</b></div>
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<i>The Night Circus </i>by Erin Morgenstern<br />
I've heard so many good things about this book, and I'm really excited to finally get around to reading it!<br />
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<i>Sorcery of Thorns </i>by Margaret Rogerson<br />
A fantasy standalone that features a library and magical books? Yes please! I'm actually currently reading this, and so far, the library aspect is really fun and interesting, though the main character is... less than awesome at present.<br />
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<i>A Study in Charlotte </i>by Brittany Cavallaro<br />
A modern Sherlock Holmes retelling with a female Sherlock! I'm really interested to finally read this book. Hopefully the mystery isn't as predictable as some of the mysteries I've read lately.<br />
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<i>Throne of Glass </i>by Sarah J. Maas<br />
Ha. Ha. Ha.<br />
So this book is super popular, and people seem to either <i>love </i>it (as in, a little weirdly obsessed with it) or <i>loathe </i>it (as in, I would set this book on fire). Am I interested to see which camp I fall into? A little bit.<br />
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<i>Thirteen Reasons Why </i>by Jay Asher<br />
I smell controversy.<br />
This book is on several banned books lists, and is the subject of intense controversy over its subject matter -- people seem very divided on whether this book handles the topic of suicide well or not. I'm interested to see my own thoughts on it.<br />
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Will I read more than this in March? Very likely. But those are the ones I have planned for sure, so expect reviews in the next few weeks!<br />
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<b>~ Best of February Discussions (In Case You Missed Out) ~</b></div>
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<b><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/02/fictional-couples-i-actually-ship.html">Best Fictional Couples</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/02/ya-romance-tropes-that-need-to-stop.html">Romance Tropes That Need to Stop (Part 2)</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/02/over-hyped-andor-overrated-books-in-my.html">Overhyped YA Novels</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/02/some-rambly-thoughts-on-clean-fiction.html">Some Thoughts on "Clean" Fiction</a></b></div>
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Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-48463237435574286912020-02-27T06:00:00.000-05:002020-03-09T12:16:16.342-04:00Liked Harry Potter? Try These Books!You know when you finish a really good book? You close the cover, reopen the book, read the last paragraph again, close the book again. You feel slightly disoriented, coming back to the real world after being so engrossed in the storyworld for so long. And then you get up, go about your day, and, eventually, try to find another book to read.<br />
Maybe you're like me, where as soon as you read an excellent book, you scramble trying to find a book that's similar to it in terms of characterization, conflict, and content. You want to feel the same way you did when you put down that last book.<br />
Well, this post is going to be the first in an ongoing series where I'll take one popular movie, book, or TV show, and give reading recommendations based on that movie, book, or TV show.<br />
You might notice that some of these books don't seem to be very similar to the books I'm comparing them to. And that's the point. I don't want to recommend that, after you read <i>The Hunger Games, </i>to go and read <i>Divergent. </i>First, because they're really not that similar. And second, because most of us aren't looking for carbon copies of the book we loved anyway. We want something unique, but something that gives us the same feeling that that one book did.<br />
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Alright. With that very long introduction out of the way, let me get into today's topic -- books you should read if you like the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.<br />
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<b>Middle Grade </b><br />
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These are books that may appeal to Harry Potter fans who read (or are willing to read) within the Middle Grade age group.<br />
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<b>1. <i>Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard [Peter Nimble, #2] </i>by Jonathan Auxier</b><br />
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<u>About the book: </u> Sophie Quire's whole life could be contained within the four walls of her father's bookshop. But when two strangers show up at the door looking for a rare (and dangerous) book, Sophie is thrust headfirst into an adventure of the kind she has only ever read about.<br />
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A combination of quirky characters, engaging writing, and a magical storyline, <i>Sophie Quire </i>is a wonderful book for anyone who loves the atmosphere of Hogwarts and the wonder of the Hogwarts Library (because yes, like the title suggests, this book is also <i>about </i>books.)<br />
And you don't need to read the first book in order to read this one! Out of the two, <i>Sophie Quire </i>was my favourite, and I highly recommend it.<br />
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<b>2. <i>The Screaming Staircase </i>by Jonathan Stroud</b><br />
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<u>About the book:</u> The Problem - ghosts now walk the streets of England's towns and cities. The solution - hunters to fight them. The catch? Only children can see the ghosts.<br />
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If you loved the darker side of Hogwarts Castle -- ghosts, poltergeists, and Death Day Parties alike -- this book might be just your cup of tea. With creepy worldbuilding, a death-defying group of teenage ghosthunters, and a haunted mansion, this is definitely the sort of story Harry Potter fans might love. Check out <a href="https://ramblesfrommylibrary.blogspot.com/2020/01/screaming-staircase-lockwood-and-co.html">my review</a> for more of my thoughts.<br />
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<b>3. <i>Artemis Fowl </i>by Eoin Colfer</b><br />
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<u>About the book:</u> Artemis Fowl - twelve-year-old millionaire, genius, criminal mastermind - quickly gets pulled in over his head when he kidnaps a fairy and finds out just how dangerous the Fair Folk can be.<br />
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A quick disclaimer that I read this book four and a half years ago, and that my opinions on it may have (probably have) changed since then. However, this book does have a lot of Harry Potter-esque vibes, from what I remember. An underground magical world, stolen magical artifacts, and an evil mastermind of a protagonist make this book a fun ride all around.<br />
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<b><br /></b><b>4. <i>The Raven Cycle </i>by Maggie Stiefvater</b><br />
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<u>About the book:</u> Five teens seek out the grave of a Welsh king rumored to be sleeping somewhere in the Virginia mountains.<br />
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I'm working through the last book in this series right now, but I love it so much that I'm very confident in recommending it now anyway. This series has some similarities to Harry Potter, while being a little darker and more than a little creepier.<br />
Maggie Stiefvater's characters and writing style make this book what it is. She's a master of writing engaging, intricate books with loveable characters and a lyrical writing voice that keeps you hooked from page one and doesn't let you go until the last sentence. Keep a lookout for my spoiler-free series review, which should be up within the next week or so.<br />
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<b>5. <i>The Rithmatist </i>by Brandon Sanderson</b><br />
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<u>About the book:</u> Joel has always dreamed of being a Rithmatist. But when a string of murders sweeps through the city - killing Rithmatist students - things become a lot more complicated.<br />
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Chalk drawings and geometry combine to create a unique and thoroughly engaging magic system in <i>The Rithmatist</i>. The mystery in this book was excellent and intriguing, as was the worldbuilding. Be warned, however -- this book ends with loose ends and somewhat of a cliffhanger, and so far there has been no news about whether Sanderson intends to release a sequel or not. With that being said, <i>The Rithmatist </i>is a compelling story in its own right, and definitely deserves a place on this list.<br />
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<b>6. <i>The Harper Hall Trilogy </i>by Anne McCaffrey</b><br />
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<u>About the book:</u> Mellony's father didn't share her dream of Mellony's becoming a Harper, and tried to crush her love of music. With no choice but to flee, Mellony discovers a group of wild fire lizards, and teaches nine of them to sing. Now, she's no longer alone.<br />
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Full disclaimer: I have not yet read these books. But my brother has, and I trust him when he says it's got a lot of similarities to Harry Potter. He also loved them (all but the third book, actually) and he's almost never wrong about what books are good.<br />
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<b>7. <i>Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children </i>by Ransom Riggs</b><br />
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<u>About the book:</u> A family tragedy sends sixteen-year-old Jacob to a remote island off the coast of Wales. There, he investigates the ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, and discovers that they may have isolated themselves on the island for a reason. Something lurks in the shadows.<br />
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It's been a long time since I read this book, but as I recall, it did have a few similarities to Harry Potter. A school for magically talented children, for a start. This book is much darker than Harry Potter, though, venturing towards horror. It's also (as should be clear from the title) weird. But if weird's up your alley, definitely put this book on your tbr!<br />
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That about wraps it up for now! I hope you've found at least one book on this list that appeals to you!<br />
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<b>Bookworms, let's talk! What books have you read that are similar to Harry Potter? Have you read any of the books on this list, and what did you think of them? Let me know in the comments! I'm excited to hear your thoughts!</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058962285407307650.post-49971265416209223342020-02-25T06:00:00.000-05:002020-02-25T07:49:01.446-05:00Some Rambly Thoughts on Clean Fiction (In My Honest Opinion)I've been thinking about the concept of "clean fiction", especially in the last couple months. More recently, Kasey Giard, who runs the awesome YA/MG book blog <i>The Story Sanctuary, </i>wrote <a href="http://thestorysanctuary.com/using-clean-in-book-reviews/">this post</a> about how clean fiction has apparently become a dirty word in the book review world. And that got me thinking about clean fiction again.<br />
And you know what happens when I start thinking: I start writing about it.<br />
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So, first off, let's get definitions out of the way. Which means I need to define what clean fiction <i>is. </i>And just like that, there's my first obstacle.<br />
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Everyone's got a different definition of what makes a book "clean". To one person, it might be a book without any graphic violence, zero profanity, and squeaky-clean, not-even-kissing romance. To another, a few swear words might be okay. To yet another, "clean" might be anything and everything without graphic sexual content.<br />
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Books I define as clean are books that contain some violence, but nothing overly gory. A few swear words are okay, as well as kissing and a few vague sexual references. Your definition is probably different. That's okay. That's not the purpose of this post.<br />
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A few years ago, finding clean books to read was really important to me. I don't like reading sexual content in books (it makes me feel gross), so I try to avoid books that contain a lot of sexual situations. When I was first exploring the YA genre, looking for clean books seemed like a great idea. And it was. The "clean book lists" and "clean YA recommendations" helped me muster enough courage to break into a genre I knew nothing about. Those recommendations made me way more comfortable than just picking a book off the shelf at random and hoping for the best.<br />
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So there's a point in the favor of clean fiction. It helped my reading tastes grow.<br />
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These days, however, I'm more likely to do exactly what my younger self wouldn't. I'm more likely to pick up a book that might not be considered "clean". I'm more likely to grab a book off the shelf just because it looks interesting. Because I came to a pretty obvious conclusion -- not all books that aren't labeled as clean are full of content that will make me uncomfortable. In fact, most of them don't! I'm okay with profanity and violence in the books I read, as well as implied sexual content (but nothing on-page and graphic, please!) So while the term "clean" helped me a lot with finding books to read when I was younger, it actually ended up limiting some of my reading choices as I got older.<br />
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That's not to say the term "clean" is bad! It really isn't. In fact, it's really helpful. I view it almost like a movie rating category, but for books. A "clean" book would most likely fall under the "G" or "PG" rating, in my opinion. Having a term that can be easily searched is helpful for parents, teachers, and readers who are trying to find books that are age-appropriate.<br />
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But I do believe that the term "clean" can be vague. As I said before, everyone has their own definition of what makes a book clean. Some people would not consider <i>The Lunar Chronicles </i>a clean read because it includes profanity and violence. Some people would be absolutely fine with labeling <i>The Lunar Chronicles </i>as clean (myself included!) So I do feel that it helps to be more specific about what exactly makes a book clean or not, with notes about violence, language, and sexual content. Reviews that use the word "clean" do need to go into more content specifics instead of just generically labeling a book "clean" without giving an explanation.<br />
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Alright, now I want to quickly address the controversy surrounding the use of the word "clean" in book reviews.<br />
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When I looked it up, I was shocked to see just how much of a controversy it was. Before I read Kasey's post, I had no idea that the issue even existed. But apparently, it is a big deal, and as such, I have to address it (because I'm like that.)<br />
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The complaints I've seen vary from concerns about the vagueness of the term (which we've already discussed) to heated comments about how labeling some books "clean" makes an assumption that other books are "dirty" and that the people who read those books are also "dirty". I don't really agree with the position that labeling a book "clean" is offensive, and here's why.<br />
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To start with, I don't think that most book reviewers automatically consider books that aren't clean "dirty". In fact, I've never used the word "dirty" to describe any book I've ever read, and I don't think I ever will. I'm pretty sure a lot of book bloggers are in the same boat. A lot of my favorite books (<i>The Book Thief, Vicious, </i>and <i>Mistborn: The Final Empire </i>among others) aren't books I would consider to be "clean", but I definitely don't consider them to be "dirty"! They're wonderful stories, and I enjoyed reading them, and I encourage other readers to read them all the time. But I'm also not going to shove a copy of <i>The Final Empire </i>at an eleven year old child and tell them to read it. Basically, it's about age-appropriateness.<br />
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I also quickly want to touch on the idea that the label 'clean' assumes other books to be dirty, and assumes the people who read these books are, too. This is so, so wrong. I'm not going to speak for everyone who has ever used the term clean, because I'm sure there are people out there who use the term in a snobby, judgemental way. In fact, I know there are. But the vast majority of people using the term aren't like that. They just want to find books or help other people find books that they can read without getting uncomfortable with the amount of profanity, violence, or sex. They want to find books they can safely give to their kids without having to worry about sketchy scenes and gore.<br />
But people who read books that aren't labeled "clean" aren't "dirty" people!<br />
I don't think there should be any judgement about what you like to read. I may not want to read the books you do, but that doesn't mean I don't respect your right to read those books. Just because I won't read them doesn't mean I'm judging you for reading them.<br />
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Man, that got long. And rambly. Really, really rambly.<br />
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I hope that this post was informative and made at least some sense. :P I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments!<br />
<b>What do you think about the term "clean"? What do you think about clean books in general? Let me know in comments! (And please, keep your comments polite. We are allowed to have differing opinions, but that doesn't mean we need to be mean about it.)</b>Fina W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07973009271547325798noreply@blogger.com0