Queen of Books: November 2018

Sunday, 18 November 2018

Weekly Recap: 11/12 - 11/18

Weekly recap is where I update you on my life, reading and watching. Plus any posts I have done or will do.

Another week has gone by. Last week was a little bit more chill for me as I didn't have as much work to do but now I have a lot. I feel like the professors give you a couple of days break and then pile on all the homework at once.

Thanksgiving is coming up this coming weekend so I'm going home and I'm super excited, though I have a lot to do before then.

Now, let's get into recapping.

New Books

Purchased:

Library:

Received for Review:

Monday, 12 November 2018

Weekly Recap: 10/29 - 11/11

Weekly recap is where I update you on my life, reading and watching. Plus any posts I have done or will do.

So much has happened since I last updated you guys. Halloween has passed and I dressed up as Toni Topaz from Riverdale, though I didn't really do anything special. I did watch a couple Halloween movies in October which was fun. And I watched some Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and the original Sabrina the Teenage Witch (which I'd never seen before and is the cutest and best show ever!)

I have also been doing a lot of work for college as the homework load is insane! I haven't quite caught up on reading yet but I am getting there!

Now, let's get into recapping.

New Books

Purchased:

Library:

Received for Review:

Saturday, 10 November 2018

MINI REVIEWS: MYSTERY, THRILLER AND HORROR EDITION

Idea from here!

Mini reviews are going to work differently from my normal reviews. I follow a different format for my normal reviews which is a lot easier when I have a lot to say. Mini reviews are for books that I didn’t enjoy as much as I wanted to or I don’t have a ton of stuff to say. This way, it is a lot more pleasing for you all. I don’t have to rant about what an insufferable brat a character is or just write random stuff and you won’t actually read it because it is so boring. This is going to be an ongoing thing on my blog.

This is the mystery and horror edition with a couple of books that I've read and don't really want to write full reviews of.

Let's dive in.

#1: Tangled Webs

Rating: 3 Crowns

Author: Lee Bross

Genre: Young Adult/Romance/Historical Fiction/Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Release Date: June 23, 2015

Pages: 305

Edition/Source: Library

Summary:

London, 1725. Everybody has a secret. Lady A will keep yours—for a price. This sumptuous, scandalous YA novel is wickedly addictive.

Lady A is the most notorious blackmailer in the city. With just a mask and a gown to disguise her, she sweeps into lavish balls and exclusive events collecting the most valuable currency in 1725 London—secrets.

But leading a double life isn't easy. By day Lady A is just a sixteen-year-old girl named Arista who lives in fear of her abusive master, Bones, and passes herself off as a boy to move safely through the squalor of London's slums. When Bones attempts to dispose of his pawn forever, Arista is rescued by the last person she expects: Jonathan Wild, the infamous Thief Taker General who moves seamlessly between the city's criminal underworld and its most elite upper circles. Arista partners with Wild on her own terms in the hopes of saving enough money to buy passage out of London.

Everything changes when she meets Graeden Sinclair, the son of a wealthy merchant. Grae has traveled the world, has seen the exotic lands Arista has longed to escape to her whole life, and he loves Arista for who she is—not for what she can do for him. Being with Grae gives something Arista something precious that she swore off long ago: hope. He has promised to help Arista escape the life of crime that has claimed her since she was a child. But can you ever truly escape the past?

Tangled Webs was an interesting historical fiction, mystery novel. I was drawn to it by the cover and had seen it a lot. I ended up liking the main character but could have done without some of the other characters who weren't as well developed.

18th Century: I loved how this book was set in the 18th century which is something you hardly ever see with YA books. Plus, it's very early 18th century which is so exciting and I loved the historical fiction aspect.

Lady A: I loved Arista's secret identity and how she wore a feathered mask who trades secrets and blackmails the rich.

Arista: I loved Arista and how she showed so much growth throughout the novel and how she had so much strength despite things that she went through. She's very fierce but also kind-hearted. Arista was my favorite character in the book.

The Romance: I did not enjoy the romance as it was very insta-lovey and I don't like that trope in YA books. It just seemed to happen too fast for my liking.

#2: Survive the Night

Rating: 3 Crowns

Author: Danielle Vega

Genre: Young Adult/Thriller/Horror

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: July 7, 2015

Pages: 263

Edition/Source: Library

Summary:

We're all gonna die down here. . . .

Julie lies dead and disemboweled in a dank, black subway tunnel, red-eyed rats nibbling at her fingers. Her friends think she’s just off with some guy—no one could hear her getting torn apart over the sound of pulsing music.

In a tunnel nearby, Casey regrets coming to Survive the Night, the all-night underground rave in the New York City subway. Her best friend Shana talked her into it, even though Casey just got out of rehab. Alone and lost in the dark, creepy tunnels, Casey doesn’t think Survive the Night could get any worse . . .

. . . until she comes across Julie’s body, and the party turns deadly.

Desperate for help, Casey and her friends find themselves running through the putrid subway system, searching for a way out. But every manhole is sealed shut, and every noise echoes eerily in the dark, reminding them they’re not alone.

They’re being hunted.

Trapped underground with someone—or something—out to get them, Casey can’t help but listen to her friend’s terrified refrain: “We’re all gonna die down here. . . .” in this bone-chilling sophmore novel by the acclaimed author of The Merciless.

Survive the Night is an interesting book. Yes, it is cheesy and the ending is a little bit predictable but it is still fun and good for a scare.

Casey: I really liked her even though she wasn't treated that well in the book. I still liked her bravery and independence.

Shana: Shana was so manipulative and pushed Casey to do things she didn't want to do. It bothered me so much throughout the whole book.

#3: The Lies They Tell

Rating: 3 Crowns

Author: Gillian French

Genre: Young Adult/Thriller

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: May 1, 2018

Pages: 304

Edition/Source: Library

Summary:

Everyone in Tenney’s Harbor, Maine, knows about the Garrison tragedy. How an unexplained fire ravaged their house, killing four of the five family members. But what people don’t know is who did it. All fingers point at Pearl Haskins’s father, the town drunk, who was the caretaker of the property, but she just can’t believe it. Leave it to a town of rich people to blame “the help.”

With her disgraced father now trying to find work in between booze benders, Pearl’s future doesn’t hold much more than waiting tables at the local country club, where the wealthy come to flaunt their money and spread their gossip. This year, Tristan, the last surviving Garrison, and his group of affluent and arrogant friends have made a point of sitting in Pearl’s section. Though she’s repulsed by most of them, Tristan’s quiet sadness and somber demeanor have her rethinking her judgments. Befriending the boys could mean getting closer to the truth, clearing her father’s name, and giving Tristan the closure he seems to be searching for. But it could also trap Pearl in a sinister web of secrets, lies, and betrayals that, once untangled, will leave no life unchanged . . . if it doesn’t take hers first.

The Lies They Tell was an interesting mystery/thriller. I liked how it had a lot of character development for the main character which made it more enjoyable.

Writing: Her writing is so atmospheric and character driven, so much so that I almost felt like I was in the book. I really liked how immersive it was.
Pearl: I enjoyed Pearl's character and her family aspect with her father.
Reese: Reese is Pearl's best friend and I enjoyed his character even though he was completely oblivious.

The Story: I thought the story was a little too similar to other thrillers which I didn't like and thought it was really repetitive.

Tristan: I did not like Tristan, and I don't think we were supposed to. Tristan was creepy and manipulative which was scary and I did not like.

Sunday, 4 November 2018

SEPTEMBER + OCTOBER '18 WRAP-UP

So, it's the end of the month and that means another wrap-up!

I decided to combine September and October into one post cause I never got around to wrapping up September.

It's already November and I am still getting adjusted to college. I'm slow, sorry. I want to share my bullet journal but I haven't decided how yet so stay tuned. I have watched a lot of television these past two months as you can see down below. I am still working on reading more.

Join my book club: here.

Anyways...

Time to talk about the books I read this month.

PHYSICAL BOOKS

The first book I read was Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco. This is actually a reread of a book I love. I love the setting, the characters and the plot line which is complete with a twist that basically no one could have seen coming. I rated this 5 Crowns once again.

The second book I read was Ms. Marvel Volume 3 by G. Willow Wilson. I love this comic book series. Kamala (Ms. Marvel) is so relatable with her real life teenage problems and I loved being able to connect with her like that, despite obviously not being a superhero myself.

The third book I read was Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco. I love this series a lot and I loved seeing the development of the characters. Audrey Rose is so independent which is hard for a woman in this era but she does it so well. Also, a school setting! I love it! I also loved how it was about Dracula who I don't know too much about so it was cool to read about him and the legend. I rated it 5 Crowns.

The fourth book I read was The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I loved this book a lot and I read it so I could see the movie but I unfortunately, did not end up seeing the movie as I did not have time. I liked how she wrote about the black lives matter movement which is such an important movement and the issues that the characters go through are real life problems. I rated it 4 Crowns.

The fifth book I read was Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely. I have put off reading this for awhile even though it was one of my most anticipated books for the year (I even requested an ARC of it though I didn't end up receiving one). I ended up really enjoying it. I loved the characters and the whole mystery aspect. Also, most of the characters are morally grey which is something you don't see all too often in YA novels. I rated it 4 Crowns.

The sixth physical book I read was Dread Nation by Justina Ireland. This book was so good! I did write a full book review of it so check that out! The setting was so new and different and the characters were all amazing. I loved how much representation there was in this book and I loved the female empowerment. I rated it 4 Crowns.

The eighth physical book I read was The Turncoat by Donna Thorland. I am taking a US History course in college so this was perfect to read even though it isn't all fact. I loved this book and how fun and easy it was. Fun Fact: At some point in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Aunt Hilda is seen reading this and laughing and I totally understand. I rated it 3 Crowns.

The ninth physical book I read was Caraval by Stephanie Garber. This was another reread of a book that I love. I wanted to listen to the sequel which I have on hold from the library. I love this book a lot though I know some people don't. I think I liked the characters even more the second time around but I feel like the plot was better the first time cause this time I knew about all the plot twists but regardless it was a fun time. I rated it 5 Crowns.

The tenth physical book I read was Tangled Webs by Lee Bross. I have seen this so many times and I wanted to try it. I went into it with no expectations but I thought the blurb was interesting. I liked Arista, the main character, but I didn't feel connected to any of the other characters which made me disappointed. I rated it 3 Crowns.

The last physical book I read was The Lies They Tell by Gillian French. I read a summary of this and I like thrillers so I wanted to read one for Halloween. I did not enjoy this as much as I thought I would. It isn't as much of a thriller. It is more of a mystery with a couple thriller aspects but I feel like I would have liked it better if it was a full thriller. I rated it 3 Crowns.

AUDIOBOOKS READ

The first audiobook I listened to was One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake. This is the sequel to Three Dark Crowns. The story progresses in this one and seems to get darker throughout the series. The characters develop beautifully and I found myself loving this book. The first book was really hard to get into so I'm proud that I enjoyed the second book more. Thinking about writing a review so I don't want to say too much. Also, I loved the narrator who read this book which was probably part of the reason that I ended up enjoying it so much. I rated it 4 Crowns.

The second audiobook I listened to was The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh. I have been meaning to read this for a long time and I finally got around to it and I have to say that I loved it so much! It was such a compelling story that sucked you in from the very beginning. I know the story it is based on which made me love it even more. I will be writing a full review on this so stay tuned. I also loved the narrator and am listening to the sequel as well. I rated it 5 Crowns.

ARC'S READ

NONE

REVIEWS IN MARCH:

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Book Review

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland Book Review

WEEKLY WRAP-UP:

DISCUSSIONS/OTHER:

Book Playlists: To All the Boys I've Loved Before

August '18 Wrap-Up

Favorite Villains and Anti-Heroes from Books

FAVORITE COVER OF THE MONTH:

NEW FICTIONAL BAE'S:

Thomas Creswell from Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Max from Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely

Khalid from The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

NEW FAVORITE FEMALES:

Audrey Rose from Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Pity from Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely

Starr from The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Jane from Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Katherine from Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Shahrzad from The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Arista from Tangled Webs by Lee Bross

NEW FAVORITE BOOK RELATIONSHIPS:

Thomas and Audrey Rose from Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Pity and Max from Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely

Khalid and Shahrzad from The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

TV SHOWS I WATCHED THIS MONTH: