Tag: bookreview

Reviews

REVIEW | Gazelle in the Shadows by Michelle Peach

bookishluna6 Comments

BookReview12:17

* I received this book from the author’s publicist for free in exchange for an honest review.*Gazelle in the Shadows

Description

In the mid 90s, Elizabeth Booth is a young British college student studying Arabic at Durham University. With some travel and work already under her belt, she excels at her studies and is sent to Damascus to immerse herself in the language. Taken aback by the generosity and kindness of the people there, she easy slips into a life in the ancient city. She has friends, her studies, and even a handsome boyfriend. But things aren’t always what they seem. Soon, in a world where mistrust and disloyalty are commonplace, Elizabeth finds herself navigating a web of lies, betrayals, and even murder involving MI6, deadly terrorist factions, and the shadowy Syrian secret police. – goodreads.com

 

What I Liked

One thing I first noticed about this book was the main character. Now this may sound like a really dumb statement given it is the main character, but bare with me. When you first meet the main character she is kinda annoying and just very short cited. She doesn’t really think too far into the future. I will say I really liked when she grew as a character. She started using her head and really started to evaluate what was truly important to her.

Another thing I liked was the fact that the author pulled from her own life experiences and mixed it with fiction. You can really tell in her writing that she was not just researching places and doing her homework. Her experiences really bleed through the pages and it makes the atmosphere more realistic. Sometimes you can just tell when someone just researches, the story isn’t bad, but it is just flat. This was not flat.

 

What I Didn’t Like

Like I said earlier the main character was really annoying. At times I found myself saying “What are you doing?!”, it was bad. For me it is really hard to tolerate. But, as you can see from the previous section this was address via character growth, thankfully. It was just a bit difficult to deal with at first.

Overall Thoughts

Overall I think this was an enjoyable read. There was suspense, adventure, and at times violence. Once again the character growth is great and you see her grow from a pretty much clueless individual into someone who really starts to value the things in her life.  I also liked that this was not a thriller once again set en Europe of North America. It was really enjoyable having another setting.  I think if the description intrigues you in anyway it is worth checking out.

4stars

Divider

Author Links

Michelle Peach

Website: http://www.michellepeach.com

Divider

Book Information

Publication Date: April 20th 2018

List Price: $11.50

ISBN: 9780692112762

Pages: 316 pages

Divider

SignOff12:17

Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Reviews

REVIEW | Caleb’s Window by John J. Siefring

bookishluna3 Comments

BookReview12:17

* I received this book from the author for free in exchange for an honest review.*Caleb's Window

Description

Born in the village of Easkey, Ireland just before World War II, Cara Brannan dreams of becoming a nurse and starting a new life in America. Her mother, an Irish suffragette, encourages Cara to set goals and be fiercely independent. She moves to Dublin and begins nurses training at Saint John’s Hospital, forging friendships and encountering obstacles as a young single woman. Then she meets Aiden Whyte. Like-minded, Cara and Aiden join forces, marry, and journey to the States as newlyweds.

Welcoming their son Caleb into the world, Cara embraces motherhood. As a new mother and nurse in New York City, she struggles, facing class conflict, gender discrimination and career barriers, as well as loneliness. Cara endures because of her strength of character, compassion, and an irrepressible joy of life.

As Caleb comes of age, it’s his turn to carve out a place for himself during the late 1960s—a time of turbulence, protest, and incredible change. He finds New York to be a challenge but filled with opportunity.

Caleb’s Window will quietly move into your heart and mind, remaining long after you turn the final page.–goodreads.com

What I Liked

The first thing I really noticed about the this book was the characters. His characters are so strong and really drive the narrative. First we have Cara who is strong, brave, and just a very great character. She really is is stubborn when it comes to what she wants and I admire that about her. Later on we meet Caleb and he too is a very definitive character. I really wanted to have even more time exploring his story.

The authors writing was done very well. Not only was the plot great, but it for flowed very nicely. I really liked how the story was character driven, but not forced for the sake of growth. The plot felt genuine and like the characters would actually do the things that they did.

I also really liked that this story was not just about Cara or Caleb, but it was generational and a lot of world events were covered and discussed. I thought that really added to the story since you get to see the affect choices had later on down the road.

What I Didn’t Like

The one real fault I had with this book was the last section of the book just seemed to go a tad bit to quickly. While, it was not so fast that the story was lost, but it was just so fast. I wanted more time and to explore the story a bit.

Overall Thoughts

Overall I have to say that this was a wonderfully written book. The author really has talent when it comes to writing. The story was filled with emotion and I found myself drawn to the characters. This book is a great book if you are looking for a generational story dealing with some major historical events such as WWII.

4stars

Divider

Author Links

John J. Siefring

Amazon Link: amazon.com/John-J.-Siefring

Divider

Book Information

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Publication Date: February 12th 2018

List Price: $10.99

ISBN: 9781984032195

Pages: 274 pages

Divider

SignOff12:17

Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Reviews

Review & Blog Tour | Keeper of the Bees by Meg Kassel

bookishlunaLeave a comment

Keeper of the Bees*I received this book from the publisher for this book tour, which was Organized by YA Bound Book Tours. My options and review are my own and honest.

Description:

KEEPER OF THE BEES is a tale of two teens who are both beautiful and beastly, and whose pasts are entangled in surprising and heartbreaking ways.

Dresden is cursed. His chest houses a hive of bees that he can’t stop from stinging people with psychosis-inducing venom. His face is a shifting montage of all the people who have died because of those stings. And he has been this way for centuries—since he was eighteen and magic flowed through his homeland, corrupting its people.

He follows harbingers of death, so at least his curse only affects those about to die anyway. But when he arrives in a Midwest town marked for death, he encounters Essie, a seventeen-year-old girl who suffers from debilitating delusions and hallucinations. His bees want to sting her on sight. But Essie doesn’t see a monster when she looks at Dresden.

Essie is fascinated and delighted by his changing features. Risking his own life, he holds back his bees and spares her. What starts out as a simple act of mercy ends up unraveling Dresden’s solitary life and Essie’s tormented one. Their impossible romance might even be powerful enough to unravel a centuries-old curse. Add to Goodreads

Before I Begin

I just want to let all my readers know that this is the second book in a companion series, you do not need to read the first novel first one to enjoy this one. The bonuses to reading a companion series!

What I Liked

First off I have to say how much I love the authors writing style. It flows so nicely and because of this I often found myself reading for longer than I had planned and one time I was actually late seeing one of my friends. Ooops! Even though the story takes place in our world her writing was magical and that really added to the setting and the over all feeling of the novel.

While the setting and feeling of the novel were wonderful, I also liked how Kassel wrote the characters in this novel. I often read books where internal tension is more surface and there just to move a plot, in Kassel’s novel that is not the case at all. The characters have true tension within themselves and go a lot further than a surface issue. It entwines itself around the core of the character. It is present throughout the novel and not just when it helps the plot, for that I am thankful.

The last point I would way I absolutely adored about this novel was the fact that it was unique from a lot of things I have read. The way she incorporates magic, curses, and aspects of ancient/historical events to aid in a timeline, which I really appreciated. It added more to the story than just saying he was ancient or centuries old. It makes his life and age more tangible because of it.

What I Didn’t Like

The one thing I did not like, which I know many will not have an issue with is that sometimes the story just felt like it was too last. This did not happen throughout the novel. It only happened one or two times and didn’t last long at all. I know that this wont bug many people, I think it only bothered me because I was liking it so much honestly.

Overall Thoughts

Overall, I really liked this novel. I know I will be picking up the companion novel to this in the near future. Between the writing, characters, and use of magic this book really came to life for me. Every time I picked up this novel I fell into what felt like a new world. I would highly suggest this book to anyone who enjoys reading paranormal or a cute romances with a twist.

4stars

Books in the Companion Series

black bird of the gallows.jpg

Divider

About the Author

Meg Kassel is an author of fantasy and speculative books for young adults. A graduate of Parson’s School of Design, she’s been creating stories, whether with visuals or words, since childhood. Meg is a New Jersey native who lives in a log house in the Maine woods with her husband and daughter. As a fan of ’80s cartoons, Netflix series, and ancient mythology, she has always been fascinated and inspired by the fantastic, the creepy, and the futuristic. She is the 2016 RWA Golden Heart® winner in YA and a double 2018 RITA® finalist for her debut novel, Black Bird of the Gallows.
Website: http://megkassel.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/megkassel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seemegwrite/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megkasselauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8353652.Meg_Kassel

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Meg-Kassel/e/B0756Q8N2L/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1524085261&sr=1-1

Divider

Book Information

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Publication Date: September 4th, 2018

List Price: $17.99

ISBN: 9781640634084

Pages: 304 pages

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase Link: Entangled Publishing

Divider
*I received this book from the publisher for this book tour, which was Organized by YA Bound Book Tours. My options and review are my own and honest.

YA Bound Book Tours

SignOff12:17

Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Reviews

REVIEW |Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women & Witchcraft Edited by Tess Sharpe & Jessica Spotswood

bookishluna

BookReview12:17Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women & Witchcraft
* I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Description

A young adult fiction anthology of 15 stories featuring contemporary, historical, and futuristic stories featuring witchy heroines who are diverse in race, class, sexuality, religion, geography, and era.

Are you a good witch or a bad witch?

Glinda the Good Witch. Elphaba the Wicked Witch. Willow. Sabrina. Gemma Doyle. The Mayfair Witches. Ursula the Sea Witch. Morgan le Fey. The three weird sisters from Macbeth.

History tells us women accused of witchcraft were often outsiders: educated, independent, unmarried, unwilling to fall in line with traditional societal expectations.

Bold. Powerful. Rebellious.

A bruja’s traditional love spell has unexpected results. A witch’s healing hands begin to take life instead of giving it when she ignores her attraction to a fellow witch. In a terrifying future, women are captured by a cabal of men crying witchcraft and the one true witch among them must fight to free them all. In a desolate past, three orphaned sisters prophesize for a murderous king. Somewhere in the present, a teen girl just wants to kiss a boy without causing a hurricane.

From good witches to bad witches, to witches who are a bit of both, this is an anthology of diverse witchy tales from a collection of diverse, feminist authors. The collective strength of women working together—magically or mundanely–has long frightened society, to the point that women’s rights are challenged, legislated against, and denied all over the world. Toil & Trouble delves deep into the truly diverse mythology of witchcraft from many cultures and feminist points of view, to create modern and unique tales of witchery that have yet to be explored.

 

 

What I Liked

Both Tess Sharpe and Jessica Spotswood did an amazing job editing this short story collection together. I can honestly say that I enjoyed every single short story that I read. Normally, in a short story collection there are one or two duds that just lay flat or I disliked the authors writing style, but that is far from the case with this collection.

This collection of stories that revolves around witches was amazing for multiple reasons. The first being that each author had their own view of what a witch was. You can see that these authors come from different backgrounds and have heard myths from their cultures about witches. I loved this. Not only did I get to read about witches, but I got to read about different interruptions on what a witch is.

On top of there being different takes on what a witch is the stories in this collection are not just modern, but also some are written in the past. Being a history lover myself I loved that some of the stories were from along ago when in the United States were just colonies. Even if history is not your thing I feel like you would love those stories anyway due to the plots of the stories themselves. Even though these stories are short I felt connected with the characters I rooted for them.

What I Didn’t Like

The only fault I have with this collection is the fact that it ended. I wanted the book to keep going and going.

Overall Thoughts

I adored this collection of short stories so much. I have to openly admit that this short story collection has truly been a winner in my eyes. There was not a single short story that I did not love. All the authors writing was wonderful and the varying takes and time periods that their stories took place in were all done so well. Each story was its own and was wonderful.  I even loved that there was LGBTQ+ elements to this collection.  I know that I am going out to the store and buying this collection when it comes out in stores. I will be rereading it and annotating it so much. I highly recommend this collection of you love reading stories about witches from long ago to modern times.

5stars

Divider

Editor Links

Tess SharpeTwitter: https://twitter.com/sharpegirl

Website: http://www.tess-sharpe.com

Jessica Spotswood

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessica_shea

Website: http://jessicaspotswood.com

List of Contributing Authors

  • Brandy Colbert
  • Zoraida Córdova
  • Andrea Cremer
  • Kate Hart
  • Emery Lord
  • Elizabeth May
  • Anna-Marie McLemore
  •  Tehlor Kay Mejia
  • Lindsay Smith
  • Nova Ren Suma
  • Robin Talley
  • Shveta Thakrar
  • Brenna Yovanoff

Divider

Book Information

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: August 28th 2018

List Price: $18.99

ISBN: 9781335016270

Pages: 416 pages

Divider
* I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

SignOff12:17

Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Reviews

REVIEW |Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

bookishluna7 Comments

BookReview12:17Anna KareninaDescription:

Acclaimed by many as the world’s greatest novel, Anna Kareninaprovides a vast panorama of contemporary life in Russia and of humanity in general. In it Tolstoy uses his intense imaginative insight to create some of the most memorable characters in literature. Anna is a sophisticated woman who abandons her empty existence as the wife of Karenin and turns to Count Vronsky to fulfil her passionate nature – with tragic consequences. Levin is a reflection of Tolstoy himself, often expressing the author’s own views and convictions.

Throughout, Tolstoy points no moral, merely inviting us not to judge but to watch. As Rosemary Edmonds comments, ‘He leaves the shifting patterns of the kaleidoscope to bring home the meaning of the brooding words following the title, ‘Vengeance is mine, and I will repay. –goodreads.com

What I Liked

I liked that the story followed not just one person or one couple, but a mixture of couples who were connected, but dealt internally with different worries and moral issues. I felt that even though this was written so long ago, a lot of the ways these characters felt were relatable. I can see who people still talk and discuss this novel and it has held up to the test at time.

Also, this translation of Anna Karenina was done wonderfully. It kept the air of being a classic and used a lot of words that remind me of the time period, but they made it readable. I was not reading at a very slow pace, but it was not fully modern. They found a great balance.

What I Didn’t Like

At times I felt that I would have rather have read this story individually instead of intertwined, but it in no way ruined the story for me. I would say going over the spark notes and getting a list of of names (DO NOT READ THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS THERE BECAUSE OF SPOILERS) because having a running list is helpful because they sometimes use their proper names and then nicknames that seem to have no relation in english, they might in the texts original language of Russian.

Overall Thoughts

Overall I felt that this was a very wonderful book and it was very thought provoking. If you are interested in a soap opera type of book with deceit , betrayal, and scorned individuals this is a book for you. This is a wonderful and timeless novel, that is a commitment. I am very glad that I finally read this novel.

3stars

Divider

Book Information

Publisher: Vintage Classics

Publication Date: January 5th 2017, originally published in 1878

List Price: $18.95

ISBN: 9781784871956

Pages: 963 pages

Divider

SignOff12:17

Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Reviews

REVIEW | Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent

bookishluna13 Comments

BookReview12:17

Lying in Wait* I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Description

My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it.

On the surface, Lydia Fitzsimons has the perfect life—wife of a respected, successful judge, mother to a beloved son, mistress of a beautiful house in Dublin. That beautiful house, however, holds a secret. And when Lydia’s son, Laurence, discovers its secret, wheels are set in motion that lead to an increasingly claustrophobic and devastatingly dark climax. -goodreads.com

What I Liked

 

Liz Nugent is well on her way to becoming one of my favorite authors. Not only did I love Unraveling Oliver, I also think she did an amazing job while writing Lying in Wait. In this novel I felt that I was utterly shocked and surprised throughout, even with knowing who killed Ammie Doyle right from the description. I would never have thought it was possible, but Nugent has pulled it off.

I was so engaged in this novel I read the last 75% without pulling it down. I needed to know what would happen next. I think a main part of this was due to the fact that the story she has woven has so many aspects. When you think there is just one thing happening, there turns out to be so much more. She ties that characters and their together so well, so much more than I would have originally thought. Seeing this and the plot progress in such a suspenseful manner really kept me engaged.

Nugent uses multiple points of views to tell her story. I thought that was a very wise choice and it was executed very well. At first I was confused by the amount of voices and I could not really see how they were related, but soon enough it was made clear. Once these were firmly established and the plot “took off” each point of view distinct and added something essential to the story.

Another thing I really loved about this was the fact that the “monster” is so much more than I originally thought. But, I wont say anymore because I don’t want to spoil anything.

 

What I Didn’t Like

One thing I noticed and mentioned earlier was that this novel is told in many different perspectives. This was also done in her novel Unraveling Oliver, which I loved, but for some reason I found to have a bit more difficulty with this novel. But, as soon as the novel truly got going each voice was distinct and was no longer an issue. So this issue resolved itself quickly.

Overall Thoughts

Overall, I think this is a great thriller. It kept my on the edge of my seat to the point I binged on the last 75% of this book. The writing was done very well, the use of multiple perspectives was spot on and the overall plot was great. If you like thrillers or think you want to try a thriller out, I would highly suggest Lying in Wait.

5stars

Divider

Author Links

Liz Nugent

 

website: http://www.liznugent.ie

Twitter: @lizzienugent

Facebook: facebook.com/liz.nugent.399

Divider

Book Information

Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press

Publication Date: June 12th 2018

List Price: $26.00

ISBN: 9781501167775

Pages: 320 pages

Divider
* I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

SignOff12:17

Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Reviews

REVIEW | The Plastic Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

bookishluna1 Comment

BookReview12:17

The Plastic Magician (The Paper Magician, #4)* I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Description

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg returns to the enchanting world of The Paper Magician.

Alvie Brechenmacher has arrived in London to begin her training in Polymaking—the magical discipline of bespelling plastic. Polymaking is the newest form of magic, and in a field where there is so much left to learn, every Polymaker dreams of making the next big discovery.

Even though she is only an apprentice, Alvie is an inventor at heart, and she is determined to make as many discoveries—in as short a time frame—as she can. Luckily for her, she’s studying under the world-renowned magician Marion Praff, who is just as dedicated as Alvie is.

Alvie’s enthusiasm reinvigorates her mentor’s work, and together they create a device that could forever change Polymaking—and the world. But when a rival learns of their plans, he conspires to steal their invention and take the credit for it himself.

To thwart him, Alvie will need to think one step ahead. For in the high-stakes world of magical discovery, not everyone plays fair… -goodreads.com

Before I get into the nitty-gritty of this review I would like to point out that this book is a spin-off of another series. The series is called The Paper Magician Series. Since it is a spin off you can read it without reading the others, but you might miss out on a few things.

What I Liked

This book was enthralling, I could not put it down. I remember very vividly that when I first picked this book up I read for a few hours without even trying. For some reason reading for hours on end is starting to become difficult, I am not sure why. Anyway, I was very much pulled into this world. Charlie N. Holmberg does a wonderful job of creating and sculpting this world and her characters. While the world is well established in her previous books, this spin off does not leave you in a spot where you don’t understand the world around the characters, another bonus. Her world and her magic are refreshing and different.

One things I really liked about the main character was that she was not impulsive or quick to action. I felt like the character thought about what she did. For me, I love that in books. I often find myself put off by characters who just mindlessly jump into action and only seem to pull off things due to luck. So this was a very refreshing thing to have thoughtfulness as a trait in a lead character.

What I Didn’t Like

The one thing that got me was that I want not really surprised by anything in this book. While I did very much enjoy the story and characters I never had the moment where I said to myself, “NO WAY!” It was predictable. But, this can also be a plus for some. Some people why don’t like surprises or enjoy when they are right when predicting an outcomes to a book or a plot twist. This is very much a readers preference and does not make the story itself less enjoyable. Even though I was able to predict a few things it did not in anyway make me not enjoy the ride. In fact, I really enjoyed it regardless.

Overall Thoughts

I would say that this book is unique, it has a great with a magic system that for me was very different from books I have previously read. It was a fun book filled with adventure, relationships, magic and bonus had a great main character that I felt like I could relate to on some level. I would say that if you find the description or any of the things I said interesting you should give this book a read.

Divider

Author Links

Charlie N. Holmberg

hhttp://www.CharlieNHolmberg.com

Twitter: @CNHolmberg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnholmberg/

Instagram: cnholmberg

Divider

Book Information

Publisher: 47North

Publication Date: May 15th 2018

List Price: $14.95

ISBN: 9781542047913

Pages: 236 pages

Divider
* I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. SignOff12:17

Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Reviews

REVIEW | Live Lagom by Anna Brones

bookishlunaLeave a comment

BookReview12:17

Live Lagom: Balanced Living, the Swedish WayI want to note that I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review. My review is honest and all thoughts are my own.

Description

An inviting exploration of “the new hygge“: the Swedish concept of lagom–finding balance in moderation–featuring inspiration and practical advice on how to find a happy medium in life, home, work, and health.

Following the cultural phenomena of fika and hygge, the allure of Scandinavian culture and tradition continues in the Swedish concept of lagom. From home design and work-life balance, to personal well-being and environmental sustainability, author Anna Brones presents valuable Swedish-inspired tips and actionable ways to create a more intentional, healthy lifestyle. Instead of thinking about how we can work less, lagom teaches us to think about how we can work better. Lagom at home is about finding balance between aesthetics and function, focusing on simplicity, light, and open spaces. Health and wellness in lagom is a holistic approach for the body and mind–including connecting more in person, caring for self, managing stress, keeping active, and embacing enjoyment in daily routine. Live Lagom inspires us to slow down and find happiness in everyday balance.

What I Liked

First off I want to say that this book is set up and organized in a wonderful way. It has chapters based off of home , work, environment, and many more. It  is great because if you ever feel like you need a refresher in a given area after your initial read you can go right to that. I think it is great because it facilitates the opportunity to work on only what you need to work on and focusing on that instead of having a very broad topic that makes it difficult for the reader to apply is to a specific part of their life.

Another thing I liked about this book was the fact that it was realistic. The book gave practical advice and was to the point. No where in this book did I find ideas or tips that were far out there. It is created in a way that people will actually be able to adapt it into their daily lives at their own pace. Another bonus is that the information was portrayed in a way that read nicely. There was not time while reading this that I wanted to put it down because I was bored, hated the writing, or felt it was too fake/cheesy. This book found the perfect between life/lifestyle advice and being meaningful.

What I Didn’t Like

One fault I did find with this book was that at times I felt like the book made this transition seem easier than it actually is. Changing your lifestyle and finding a balance takes a lot of work and dedication. That is why I stress that this is at your own pace. Take small or big steps to transition into the lifestyle you want. It is your journey, you determine the best way for you.

Overall Thoughts

I think that Live Lagom by Anna Brones is a great introduction to balanced Swedish living. There are little tips, facts, recipes, and great visuals to give you a true sense of what she is talking about. It gives great insight into how you can evolve the different aspects of your life. Overall I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. I know that this book is one I will be keeping and referencing from time to time.

Divider

Book Information

Publisher: Ten Speed Press

Publication Date: December 26th 2017

List Price: $16.00

ISBN: 9780399581342

Pages: 224 pages

More Info

Author Bio

Divider

SignOff12:17

Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Reviews

REVIEW | Wonder Woman: Warbringer By Leigh Bardugo

bookishlunaLeave a comment

Book Review

18302455Description

Daughter of immortals.

Princess Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mortal. Diana will soon learn that she has rescued no ordinary girl, and that with this single brave act, she may have doomed the world.

Daughter of death.

Alia Keralis just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted by people who think her very existence could spark a world war. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together.

Two girls will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. Tested beyond the bounds of their abilities, Diana and Alia must find a way to unleash hidden strengths and forge an unlikely alliance. Because if they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

What I Liked

I have been reading Wonder Woman comics since I was a young girl. I vividly remember having a very large bind-up of “The Best of Wonder Woman” or something very similar to this and running to my basement to look at this strong woman standing up for what is right. Most of readings have revolved around Diana being older and had already left her home so it was wonderful to see her as a young teenager. While she was shown in this different way, she kept her personality and her resolve.

I also enjoyed the characters Leigh Bardugo created. While Diana is a powerful and awe inspiring character I loved that she made just as strong and wonderful characters that Diana travels with. Now, I have to say that when I was reading this story I came across these illustrations.  I really encourage you to check them out, they really shows how awesome and unique each one of them is. I found myself connecting with them and feeling like I was just another friend in their group, which I personally find difficult.

Last, but not least this book was nearly impossible to put down. I was buddy reading this book with my friends Amy and Lia, you should really check them out, and all three of us ended up finishing the book way ahead of schedule. I had to force myself to put this book down and go to bed I was so involved in it.

What I Didn’t Like

One thing I did not like was that some of the actions taken by a particular individual, if you read the book you should know who I am talking about, made no sense and seemed to kinda come from no where. While I can find a reason for their actions, it seems pretty far fetched.

Overall Thoughts

This was a very fun and fast paced read. I think it is well worth picking up from your local library or from the bookstore. The characters are fun, you get to dive a little bit into greek mythology, and you get to go on an epic adventure. I don’t know about you, but I read to learn something new or go on adventures to far off lands. Leigh Bardugo’s Wonder Woman: Warbringer was nothing short of an adventure.

Book Information

Publisher: Random House Children’s Books

Publication Date: August 28th 2017

List Price: $18.99 (Amazon.com)

ISBN: 978-0399549731

Pages: 384 pages

Sign Off

Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Reviews

Review | The Last Girl by Nadia Murad

bookishlunaLeave a comment

Book Review

18302455

*I received this book through blogging for books  in exchange for an honest review.*

Description

Nadia Murad was born and raised in Kocho, a small village of farmers and shepherds in Iraq. A member of the Yazidi community, she and her eleven brothers and sisters lived a quiet life. Nadia was in high school and had dreams of becoming a history teacher and opening her own beauty salon.

On August 15th, 2014, when Nadia was just twenty-one years old, this life ended. ISIS militants massacred the people of her village, executing men old enough to fight and women too old to become sex slaves. Six of Nadia’s brothers were killed, and her mother soon after, their bodies swept into mass graves. Nadia and her two sisters were taken to Mosul, where they joined thousands of Yazidi girls in the ISIS slave trade.

Nadia would be sold three times, raped, beaten, and forced to convert to Islam in order to marry one of her captors. Finally, she managed a narrow escape through the streets of Mosul, finding shelter in the home of a Sunni Muslim family whose eldest son risked his life to smuggle her to the safety of a refugee camp. There, surrounded by bereaved and broken Yazidi families, Nadia decided to devote her life to bringing ISIS to justice.

As a farm girl in rural Iraq, Nadia could not have imagined she would one day address the United Nations or be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. She had never been to Baghdad, or even seen an airplane. As a slave, she was told by her captors that Yazidis would be erased from the face of the earth, and there were times when she believed them.

Today, Nadia’s story–as a witness to ISIS, a survivor of rape, a refugee, a Yazidi–has forced the world to pay attention to the ongoing genocide in Iraq. It is a call to action, a testament to the human will to survive, and a love letter to a lost country, a fragile community, and a family torn apart by war.

What I Liked

The Last Girl has to be one of the most thought provoking books I have read all year. When you think about genocide and all the gruesome things that go along with it many individuals feel like that was something of the past. Something that ended in WW2 when the Nazi were defeated. But, that is not true. Many people in recent years have watched the news and heard of the horrible things that ISIS has done to individuals, communities, and towns. But, not many people hear a first hand account in detail. This is what this story does.

Throughout this book I was constantly writing notes in the margins. I was making constant connections to how the Nazi’s treated the Jews. I was heart broken hearing about what she and her loved ones went through and I just am ashamed that it happened less than five years ago. This book truly is an eye opener. It does not sugar coat things, but tells you how it was.

Not only did this book give me a better and more in-depth understanding the events over seas, it also exposed me to a culture I had not idea existed. I personally love learning about other cultures and beliefs, since I was a young girl I would read books on these subjects. I really appreciated that not only did Nadia tell us about what happened to her, but also told us about her people, her family, her community.

One thing I wish to make clear is that this book does not hold back. Nadia Murad does not hold back and is very vocal about what has happened to her. If anything in the description of this book makes you uncomfortable, please be aware it is discussed in the book. This includes discussing genocide, rape, living as a refugee, and more.

Overall Thoughts

While this book does discuss difficult topics and for some can be too much, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is one of the best books I have read in a while that has opened my eyes and has taught me so much. I have already recommended it to many of my friends and family. I suggest you pick up this book if you are interesting in reading a first hand account about the actions of ISIS, want to read about a strong woman, or learn more about the world around you. It is written very well and is one of the most personally influential books I have read this year.

Book Information

Publisher: Tim Duggan Books

Publication Date: November 7th 2017

List Price: $27.00

ISBN: 9781524760434

Pages: 306

More Info

Author Bio

*I received this book through blogging for books  in exchange for an honest review.*

Sign Off

Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads