REVIEW: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee - Erin

The Gentleman’s Guide To Vice and Virtue

by Mackenzi Lee 

Hardcover, 513 pages

Published June 27th 2017 by Katherine Tegen Books

ISBN (ISBN13: 9780062382801)

Received In Owlcrate Book Box

About:

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores. 

Rating:

Where to start…..

Well we have an 18th century European tour (road trip) taken by Monty, his best friend Percy (who he has a major crush on, and yes they’re both boys), and Monty’s little sister Felicity. On their tour they lose their chaperone, get attacked by highway men, steal something valuable, get kidnapped by pirates, and learn more about themselves and each other that bond them for life.  At first I didn’t think I’d like this book. I don’t think I would have picked it up myself if it had not come in my book subscription box. I’m glad I did read it though. The book is fast passed, light, and silly. It’s full of drunkin shenanigans, adventure and growing up. There is gay romance, which you don’t see often in books set during this time period. There is a young girl who decides to go against the norm of society and learn about things she shouldn’t. The book touches on the topics of homophobia, epilepsy, racism, PTSD, alcoholism, and parental abuse. Bet you didn’t see all those coming! At first I really disliked our main character, Monty. He was obnoxious, self-centered, a drunk, and a flirt. As the story went on though you find out more about his backstory and you watch him grow up. He is a very different character at the end of the book, which I loved. Percy is hiding a dark secret that also comes into play with Monty changing. I loved tough little Felicity. I hear that the second book in this series is going to be centered around her. 

This book is filled with adventures, complex relationships, and a lot of sass. The characters are flawed but more realistic that way. It’s a silly book but if you suspend your disbelief a little I think most people will enjoy the ride. 

*Book photo and review are owned by Erin. To see her personal blog click her signature above^*

REVIEW: American Gods by Neil Gaiman - Valeria

Rate:

3.5/5

Goodreads Description:

Now a TV Series produced by FremantleMedia North America available internationally on Amazon, exclusively through Prime Video and starring Ricky Whittle, Ian McShane, Emily Browning, and Pablo Schreiber.

Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life.

But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow's best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and a rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself.

Life as Wednesday's bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined. Soon Shadow learns that the past never dies...and that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing - an epic war for the very soul of America - and that he is standing squarely in its path.

Review:

It was loaded but in a good way. 

The whole book felt a bit weird to me but I kind liked it. 

The book talks about a topic people often look over and while the writting was interesting and made me want to keep reading, I also felt very numbed out which is what made it weird. I simply kept nodding off and getting very lost in thought and then coming back and continuing to read wondering what was going to happen next which is a first to me. I feel like when I typically nod off on a book, its because I dont like it, yet there I was going back. One of the things I kept wondering was if the show was going to be better for me and ever after I finished the book, I still don't know if I should watch the show anymore of not. 

Author Spotlight: Devils Within by S. F. Henson + Interview

S.F. Henson was born and raised in the deep south. She graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Animal Science, which she put to great use by attending law school. Her law degree has gotten some mileage, though, giving her the experience to write about criminals and other dark, nefarious subjects. She lives beside a missile test range in Huntsville, Alabama with her husband, dog, two oddly named cats, and, of course, the missiles that frequently shake her house.

Title: Devils Within

Genre: YA Survival/Psychological Issues

Author: S.F. Henson

Publisher: SkyPony

Publication: October 31 2017

Cover Rating: 3/5

Goodreads | Amazon

Devils Within by S. F. Henson is the story of Nathaniel Fuller and how he murdered his White Supremacist father when he was just fourteen years old. When I heard about this book and it's very unique plot I knew I had to read and review it. The concept was just something so new and fresh to the YA Genre and after reading the book I think the author did a wonderful just with its construction.

Nate was a very complex character. He was an older teenager with a criminal record for killing his father. One would think that a dead White Supremacist would bring a lot of questions about the father and the community he loved in but no. It only hrough questions about what kind of kid can kill their own parent. Nate is painted as this horrible kid that learned all of these horrible racist teachings on his own. It was disgusting to see just how easily a child was blamed instead of taking an honest look at his circumstances and how he was raised.

After all the legal proceedings and a few years serving time in both jail and a psychiatric hospital, Nate is being freed and sent to love with his uncle. A man he never knew existed. His uncle isn't a very forgiving man which leads the readers to wonder why he even bothered to step up and offer his home to Nate. Nate is thrown back in to society and he is scared. Scared that all the screwed up things his father brainwashed him with will just pop up at any random moment. Scared that he will never be able to be normal. He is given a new chance at life but what happens if his mind won't let him have that chance? What happened if the people who worshipped his father find out where he is? And what happens if he befriends someone who he was taught to hate?

I'm just glad Nate had a chance to change the horrible person his father trained him to be. He still has a long road ahead of him but I think he can do it. It's so horrible when a parent pushes their negative views onto their child without giving them a chance to make their own choices later in life. Then to have people believe everything the media says and having them build Nate up to be the monster was horrible to watch. Nate now has the chance to move on. I'm glad his 'aunt' changed her tune and I'm glad he will have a stable family system. 

This book was crazy and I am very glad I got a chance to read it. Nate's story will be something that sticks with me for a very long time.

Overall, I gave the book 4.5/5 stars.

QUESTIONS:

1. What was the inspiration behind Devils Within?

2. If someone had told you that you would be an author someday, would you have believed them?

3. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

4. If you were given 3 wishes, what would you wish for?

5. Are you currently working on any new books?

ANSWERS:

1. Devils Within was inspired by real events. I read an article about a ten year old boy who killed his father, the leader of a white supremacist group in California, and it stuck with me. The boy had suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his father and finally couldn't take it anymore. The idea for my main character, Nate, sprung into my head. A boy who grew up surrounded by hate and is determined to break away from it, whatever the cost. 

2. I probably never would've stopped jumping up and down in excitement! I've wanted to be an author since I was four. As a kid, I absolutely believed it would happen one day, (I also believed that along with being author I'd be an astronaut/lion tamer/prima ballerina/veterinarian, so take that with a grain of salt). Of course with adulthood came crushing self-doubt and piles of rejections and that belief started to waiver. Fast-forward to today when the dream is actually coming true and adult me still can't quite believe it's happening (but child me is pumping her fist and saying "I knew it!").

3. Easy, chicken fingers. I pretty much each chicken fingers for most meals now, so this would be an smooth transition!

4. Such a tough question! (Here's where you'll figure out that I'm incredibly practical). I would wish for the ability to teleport (think of all the extra sleep!), telepathy (never guess what an editor wants again!), and telekinesis (accio chicken fingers!). 

5. I have a case of the SNIs-shiny new ideas. A couple different stories are floating around in my head that I'm trying to get onto paper, but nothing concrete yet. One of theme is slowly becoming more opaque, though, so I hope to have something down soon!

Where I've been and what to expect in the future

Are you guys tired of these posts from me yet? Yeah, I am too. She here's the deal. The past few months have been rough on me. Life in general is always rough on me considering the things I've been through and go through/deal with daily. But these past few months just sucked the life from me. It started with my sister being sick. She had to go to a ton of doctors to try and figure out the problem and i helped her out a lot by watching her kids and being her moral support system. By the time I got home I was exhausted and didn't read. I couldn't read while I was babysitting either due to children demanding my love and attention. After that I was dealing with a lot of home issues. I won't get into too much of that but it was killing me. So on to health. I currently have 3 tooth infections. Cannot afford a dentist so that's been messing with me a lot. I sleep a lot because of it. Then a few weeks ago I decided to go an crack my tailbone. I thought I would get some reading done considering I was bed bound for a while but nope. I slept or watched AHS. Then this past week we lost our other bunny, ScooterPie. So, yeah, with all that happening I am eternally behind on Author Spotlights and just life in general. If I owe you a spotlight you can email me and see when we can schedule you in, beadnread@gmail.com. otherwise I will be emailing everyone in order of

REVIEW: The Gatekeepers by Jen Lancaster - Erin

The Gatekeepers 

by Jen Lancaster  

Hardcover, 448 pages

Expected publication: October 10th 2017 by Harlequin Teen

ISBN (ISBN13: 9780373212613)

Received From NetGalley In Exchange For Honest Review

About:

Anyone passing through North Shore, IL, would think this was the most picture-perfect place ever, with all the lakefront mansions and manicured hedges and iron gates. No one talks about the fact that the brilliant, talented kids in this town have a terrible history of throwing themselves in front of commuter trains, and that there's rampant opioid abuse that often leads to heroin usage.

Meet Simone, the bohemian transfer student from London, who is thrust into the strange new reality of the American high school; Mallory, the hyper-competitive queen bee; and Stephen, the first generation genius who struggles with crippling self-doubt. Each one is shocked when lovable football player Braden takes his own life and the tragedy becomes a suicide cluster. With so many students facing their own demons, can they find a way to save each other—as well as themselves?

Inspired by the true events that happened in the author’s home town.

(Goodreads)

Rating: 

I gave this book 4 stars, despite many issues that I had with it, because in the long run if you stick with the story until the end, it really is a good suicide prevention novel. It should end up being right up there with “13 Reasons Why”. I also gave it a little more lean way since it was based on true events. 

First off, the problems I had with the story. I really didn’t care for any of the characters. I know it is how they were raised and the pressure that was put on them and such, but OMG, they were all for the most part stuck up brats! I wanted to smack most of them. I also realize that they’re teens and this is how teens act but wow. Just wow. I thought after the 2 deaths mentioned in the beginning of the book that people would start acting to stop the trend, but no. It took over half the book and 2 more deaths for the kids to step up. It took a (spoiler alert for the rest of sentence) near fatal car accident cause by drugs for the parents to react, and even then they were still more worried about themselves and the town being upper class and everyone being elite then their kids dying. I just couldn’t believe it! I know I’m not “upper class” but wow! The people in the book were just cold. Is this really how the upper class elites live? It made it hard for me to connect to parts of the story because of this. 

Now for the good things in the novel. The book it’s self was well written. It was an original perspective on a nationwide issue.  They eventually cover all the aspects of teen suicide including: warning signs, depression, alcohol, drugs, survivors guilt, and the grieving process. There are times where some of the kids try to reach out for help which gave the story a bit of a new view. I feel like usually you don’t see that part until after the person is already dead in most books. One kid tells his girlfriend that he’s having trouble with drugs and could use help. He gets ignored because she’s too busy (which made me mad) but it does lead to more happening in the story and probably does sometimes happen in real life. This book focuses on the extreme pressure these teens are put under to succeed. They must get the best grades, must get into the best schools, must date the right people, must win every sporting and academic event, must be skinny and look perfect. In some ways I can see many teens relating to this. Everyone is under some kind of pressure, maybe from parents, maybe from peers, maybe from school or work, or maybe from the media. The book, to me, makes it hard for regular people to feel bad for the characters though, even though we can understand them. One student thinks he bombed an interview to the elite school he “has” to get into with early admissions. I’m sorry but normal teens are more worried about getting into college in general and most don’t worry about early admissions. At least that’s how it was in my middle class school, and yes we did have some students who went off to Harvard, Yale, etc. I do give this book a lot of credit when it came to the support group that the teens make. I feel that the “Gatekeepers” group should be something that every school looks into making. Everyone can use at least a little support sometimes. 

Over all I think this book will be useful to a lot of people. It has inspired me to look into potential programming for the library I work at that might be able to help people, like the gatekeepers did. The characters weren’t my favorite, but it was well written and dealt with a tough topic and there for earns a 4 star rating despite it's flaws.    

*To view Erins personal blog please click her signature above^*

Blog Tour: Never Say Die by Anthony Horowitz

Are you looking for a new, amazing series for your son(or daughter) to get lost in? It can be hard trying to find books that are suited for younger boys. The Alex Rider series by the amazing Anthony Horowitz is packed full of action and adventure that your young read will absolutely love! Never Say Die is the 11th installment to this series so you can be sure to get plenty of reading material when it comes to these books!

Title: Never Say Die( Alex Rider #11)

Genre: YA Action/Adventure

Author: Anthony Horowitz

Publisher: Philomel Books

Publication: October 10th 2017

Cover Rating: 5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

Here are links to the first book in the series, Stormbreaker, Anthony Hororwitz's website and his Twitter if you find yourself interested in purchasing the series.

REVIEW: It's Not Like it's a Secret by Misa Sugiura - Valeria

Rate:

3/5

Goodreads Desciption:

Sixteen-year-old Sana Kiyohara has too many secrets. Some are small, like how it bothers her when her friends don’t invite her to parties. Some are big, like that fact that her father may be having an affair. And then there’s the one that she can barely even admit to herself—the one about how she might have a crush on her best friend.

When Sana and her family move to California she begins to wonder if it’s finally time for some honesty, especially after she meets Jamie Ramirez. Jamie is beautiful and smart and unlike anyone Sana’s ever known. There are just a few problems: Sana’s new friends don’t trust Jamie’s crowd; Jamie’s friends clearly don’t want her around anyway; and a sweet guy named Caleb seems to have more-than-friendly feelings for her. Meanwhile, her dad’s affair is becoming too obvious to ignore anymore.

Sana always figured that the hardest thing would be to tell people that she wants to date a girl, but as she quickly learns, telling the truth is easy… what comes after it, though, is a whole lot more complicated.

Review:

About the first 40-60% of the book was enjoyable at first but then slowly I started to grow bored of it. I don't know what exactly happened. At this point of the month I have started to read average after average book and that could've been the reason. At this point in the year, I have read a shit ton of books and when that happens, I start to see a pattern and books become predictable. Shit starts to happen for Sana and towards the last half it is almost as if the author remembered that Sana needed to have a moment of growth and have her have problems in her life and added everything to her storyline. After that she tried to resolve them all and it all just jumbled together. It felt as if I was trying to watch a movie and the signal kept going amiss. 

Now the last thing that really fucking irked me, SPOILER ALERT

Cheating. Let's just... that's not cute. Sure the characters are like madly in love and they didn't have the heart to break their partners heart and they couldn't stay away from their loved one any more but really. Must you cheat. Like, for some people reading these types of plots its like awwww they are finally together. Like no... That's a douche thing to do.

Recommend it?

Eh....

Author Spotlight: All the Wind in the World by Samantha Mabry - 4 stars

Samantha was born four days before the death of John Lennon. she grew up in Dallas, playing bass guitar along to vinyl records in her bedroom after school, writing fan letters to rock stars, doodling song lyrics into notebooks, and reading big, big books.

She spends as much time as possible in the west Texas desert.

Title: All the Wind in the World

Genre: YA

Author: Samantha Mabry

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Publication: October 10th 2017

Cover Rating: 4/5

Goodreads | Amazon

All the Wind in the World by Samantha Mabry is a beautifully written western novel. That is the best way I can describe it. There are deserts, horses, maguey plants(used to make tequila), poor living conditions, fear, pain, love, hate, life and death. This novel contained things that I never thought I would enjoy in a book. I am not huge on horses or farms or anything that has to do with the things in this book. But, somehow, I ended up enjoying the story more than I thought I would.

Our main character is Sarah Jac. Her are her 'cousin' James are living the life of migrant workers. They hop from farm to farm cutting plants to make a little bit of money to save for their big plan. They aren't really cousins but they pretend to be in order to keep each other safe from jealous, angry workers. Jealous and anger make people do some pretty crappy things. After an incident at their last ranch, Sarah Jac and James end up at a new ranch, The Real Marvelous. But there are problems with this ranch. Problems that involve curses and death. Lots of death. 

The world this book takes place in is our world but not at the same time. I had a problem telling whether this was a future or past world. There was no technology but the way Sarah Jac would describe things, especially Chicago, made it seem like the world was ending. Droughts and small wages and poor living conditions. But at the same time when she was describing life with her grandmother it seemed like the book was from the past. 

In the end, I did struggled to read this book, but only because some of the scenes were hard to get through. There was so many sad and painful things that the people in this book went through just to make a few pennies. Knowing that people actually live like this every day was pretty hard to swallow. Aside from that, the ending was very difficult. Sarah Jac was hurt and ready to accept death. James did some pretty horrible things. But somehow, both of them ended up in a pretty decent situation after some pretty terrible events.

Overall, I gave the book 4/5 stars.

1) If you could bring any of your characters to life, who would you pick and why?

There’s a character in A Fierce and Subtle Poison named Rico. He’s one of Lucas’ best friends, and he curses a lot and drives a scooter. I’d like to meet him, I think. We’d get in trouble together.

2) Tell us 5 random facts about yourself:

I’m an amateur welder (I make/hope to make furniture). I used to be a yoga teacher, but I’m still not very limber. I’d rather be in a hammock strung up between two trees more than anyplace else in the world. My favorite food is birthday cake, like a big white sheet cake with super-sugary white icing and super-sugary purple and red icing flowers on it. If I have a pattern, I can knit and/or crochet almost anything.

3) Where did the inspiration for All the Wind in the World come from?

The inspiration for All the Wind in the World came from several sources, but two main ones: far West Texas, where it’s dry and rugged and beautiful, and an old(ish) film called Days of Heaven, which is romantic and sad and rugged and beautiful.

4) If a future version of yourself went back in time to when you were a teenager and told you that you were going to be a great author, would you have believed her?

Oh…maybe? I had high hopes for myself! I knew I wanted to do something great and creative and that was meaningful to people. But I was teenager, I wanted more than anything to play bass in a famous rock band and tour the world. So, I thought I might become a great bassist, not so much a great author.

5) Are you currently working on any new books?

Sort of? I have a couple of things cooking: a ghost story set in San Antonio and a tale about bandits. Both are in very, very rough, though and exist mostly just in my head still.

Author Spotlight: There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins - 1 star

Hi, there! I'm Steph, and I wrote Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After. I also edited (and contributed a short story to) a romantic holiday anthology called My True Love Gave to Me and its companion anthology, Summer Days and Summer Nights. My next YA release is a horror novel called There's Someone Inside Your House, which will be released Fall 2017.

Title: There's Someone Inside Your House 

Genre: YA Contemporary Thriller-ish with High School setting

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Publisher: Dutton

Publication: September 26th 2017

Cover Rating: 5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins was one of my top 10 most anticipated book releases for 2017. It was supposed to be this really awesome thriller/horror story and I was SO ready for it. Sadly, I was greatly let down by every. single. part. of this book. What happens when a super fluffy, Young Adult Romance author tries to write a thriller/horror book? Well, that part is scarier than the actual book.

Our main character is Makani, the new girl in town. She was sent to live with her grandmother to 'help her out' but in reality she was sent to live there because she did some stupid, super teen-angst filled, thing that got her in a lot of trouble. She has settled well into her new life. Then the murders start. And this little girl thinks everything is about her and her past. She also has the audacity to start a VERY sexual relationship in the middle of all of this chaos. Big let down is the understatement of the year.

The overall plot and romance aspects of this book were beyond pointless and frustrating. The murderer's reason behind killing people? SO STUPID. The loner/rebel dude ending up with the 'new' girl with a shady past? UGH!!! Is there a stronger word than cliche? The shady past of the new girl? WTF even was that? The only part I even remotely liked was the grandmother and MAYBE the best friends. They were kind of fun.

All in all, the author needs to stick to writing her romance stories. This book could have been good but the fact that I feel it was a rip off of the movie Scream AND the annoying romance really KILLED it for me. I will still read the author if she goes back to fluffy books but never again will I make this mistake.

Overall, I gave the book 1/5 stars.

Author Spotlight: Warcross by Marie Lu - 5 stars!

I write young adult novels, and have a special love for dystopian books. Ironically, I was born in 1984. Before becoming a full-time writer, I was an Art Director at a video game company. Now I shuffle around at home and talk to myself a lot. :)

I graduated from the University of Southern California in '06 and currently live in LA, where I spend my time stuck on the freeways.

Title: Warcross

Genre: YA Sci Fi

Author: Marie Lu

Publisher: Putnam

Publication: September 12th 2017

Cover Rating: 5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

Warcross by Marie Lu is a fantastic Sci-Fi story about Emika Chen and her struggles with life in a futuristic world not too far off of where we currently are. She is a self taught hacker and she makes money to pay the bills by being a bounty hunter, catching criminals that usually commit crimes in Warcross. What is Warcross? It is a virtual world where you can fight other people while attempting to steal the other teams Artifact. The game is played through a pair of glasses and almost the entire world is in on the craze.

Warcross is having their yearly tournament and somehow, while Emika is watching it, she glitches the game and everyone can see her. She is afraid that she will be going to jail now but the exact opposite is what really happens. Her idol, Hideo Tanaka, the very young inventor of the Warcross teachnology, has a job offer for her. A very interesting job offer, with high stakes and high pay. Which is perfect considering she was struggling to pay her bills. From there we are taken on a really fun journey through the Warcross tournament and possibly straight into Hideo Takana's arms.

If you are a gamer or just like reading books about gamer stuff then this is totally for you. No, it is NOT Ready Player One and I AM GLAD! I am so tired of people comparing every game-related book to that one. This book stands on its own as so much more than just a gamer book. It has some really deep meaning to it and I just completely loved it.

The ending of the book was surprising but also not. I kind of guessed who Zero was but I didn't guess the Hideo part. So many people wish for world peace but to what extent are you willing to go to achieve that world peace? That is the question I felt was floating around at  the end. I cannot wait the read the next book to find out what happens with EVERYTHING. This book was insanely good!

Always remember, it's not just a game. It's a way of life.

Overall, I gave the book 5/5 stars.

Review: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee - Valeria

Rate:

4/5

Goodreads Description:

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

Review: 

If you are in the book universe you know that this was a highly anticipated read for which I had so many high hopes. Now the book didn't disappoint buuuuut it also wasn't the world's best book like everyone was dishing. The ending really made the book the best part for me. It was incredibly fucking cute and gave me all sorts of feels, making me forget any sort of complaint that I had over this book. Now there are things that some might cringe at, myself included but to be honest I think that the author handled the way that people were back in the day without being OVERLY offensive and created a love story that didn't seemed forced but rather flowed naturally. And I say forced because I will come out and say it. To me I have read some LGBTQ+ stories out there that are written by authors almost in a way that seemed like they forced themselves to write a love aspect to their characters. Like

if you aint feeling it, neither will you characters or readers.

Lee on the other hand is as in love with the characters as they are with each other and therefore. I ship them.

Recommend it?

Yup

REVIEW: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin - Valeria

Rate:

5/5

Goodreads Description:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” So begins Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen’s witty comedy of manners—one of the most popular novels of all time—that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues. Renowned literary critic and historian George Saintsbury in 1894 declared it the “most perfect, the most characteristic, the most eminently quintessential of its author’s works,” and Eudora Welty in the twentieth century described it as “irresistible and as nearly flawless as any fiction could be.”

Review:

My first Jane Austen book! I do wish I had actually gone the physical book route because I went with the audiobook and it all seemed to go so fast. To me this was the type of book that you had to turn the pages at your own pace. That being said, I really enjoyed this book anyways but for I fact I will still have to go back and physically go through the book because it felt a little fast and like things didn't stick. It made me so happy to finally meet Mr. Darcy and all these characters that are frankly iconic. Now, the characters just seemed to opposite of me in every way, very self absorbed in a way that just made me roll my eyes. In any other book this would've been a massive turn off but blissfully, I really though of how things where back in the day and how women didn't really have a choice in many matters during that time. Before I continue to read another Jane Austen novel, I will attempt to revisit this one in the near future.

Recommend it?

If you like classic romance.v

Author Spotlight: Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust - 4.5/5 stars

Melissa Bashardoust (pronounced BASH-ar-doost) received her degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley, where she rediscovered her love for creative writing, children’s literature, and fairy tales and their retellings. She currently lives in Southern California with a cat named Alice and more copies of Jane Eyre than she probably needs. Girls Made of Snow and Glass is her first novel.

Title: Girls Made of Snow and Glass

Genre: YA Fantasy

Author: Melissa Bashardoust

Publisher: Flatiron

Publication: September 5th 2017

Cover Rating: 4/5

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It is finally time for me to sit down and write me review for Girls Made of Snow and Glass. I have been sitting on this review for a few weeks now and I think I am finally ready to brave it. 

Lynet is our first main character. She is the sixteen year old daughter of the king of Whitespring Castle. A place where is it always cold and snowy. Lynet's mother died during child birth so the only mother she has ever known is her step-mother, Mina. Lynet loves Mina with a fierceness but what happens when her step-mother can't love her back? And what happens when your father couldn't bear to live without his wife so you were made to be her likeness. 

Mina is our second main character. We get to see flashes of her life from before she became queen and that helps us learn about her story and why she is the way she is and why she does the things she does. Her father was a great Magician when she was a little girl and this got her shunned by the towns people. People would call on the magician to help solve their problems but after he was done they would go back to shunning him and his daughter. Fear is a mighty strong force, my dear readers. But Mina's story goes a lot deeper than just fear. It contains agony, betrayal and, worst of all, emptiness. 

There is a little bit of romance in this book. The relationship is F/F between Lynet and a court appointed doctor. The relationship is pretty cute and there are a ton of obstacles for the girls to get through but in the end, things end up where they should be. I really loved how they empowered each other. I also love that Lynet offered to send the doctor back to her home area because she didn't like Whitespring. It showed a huge level of maturity on her part.

So, instead of the normal Snow White retellings, we get this magical story of bravery, feminism and the ability to forgive someone even when they hurt you the most. It shows us that even if your heard is made of glass, you can still love. And even if you are just a clone, made of snow, you are still a person, you are still you. 

I think the only part of the book that I didn't enjoy was what happened to the king. I know what happened to him was probably just going along with the original fairytale but there really was no need to bump him off. Him and Mina didn't have the best relationship as he could not let go of his dead wife, but he didn't need to be taken out of the picture entirely. 

In the end, I truly, truly, truly adored this book. It had a happy ending for both the villian and the heroin and you never see that. Ever. I loved the strong, empowering female vibes and the diversity of not having a prince to come save the day. I hope the author writes more feminist fairytale retellings. I would definitely read anything she would write.

Overall, I gave the book 4.5/5 stars.