When in doubt, just chuck them all in at once! Here's some stuff I read a while ago, so nothing is fresh in my mind. Bleh.
Dearest by Alethea Kontis
This follows Friday as she becomes embroiled in an enchantment where seven brothers are all turned into swans by day. Can she find a way to break the curse with just a needle and her wits?
I really enjoy this series and I like how seamlessly the many different fairy tales are woven together into a fun story. I liked Friday and the brothers as well. A good, well-written fairy tale retelling. Definitely want more from this author!
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
When Kady and Ezra's planet is invaded and they must escape or die, they had to put aside the petty problem of just having broken up. But far from being safe on the escape ships, they are surrounded by lies, half-truths, and a whole different set of problems. Will they come out alive?
This story gripped me from the very start. I love the format, the fun files and emails and schematics that fit like pieces of a puzzle together into a strange and unexpected whole. This is definitely a story that will get your heart pounding and have you questioning everyone's motives throughout. The ending threw me for a big loop. Definitely need to get my hands on the next book.
Calamity by Brandon Sanderson
Things are looking bleak for David and his broken team, after Prof gave in to his epic powers. It would seem that nothing can stop him in his desires for power. But David refuses to give up and will go wherever and do whatever is necessary to save his friend.
I have really loved this series. It's fast-paced and exciting and funny. It has surprises around every corner and I definitely didn't expect the ending. I think I felt a little let down after all the build up, but perhaps I expected it to be, well, epic. Anyway, enjoyed the series, I would definitely read more about this world.
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
In 1945, there was an epic tragedy involving the Wilhelm Gustloff - a ship full of people hoping to escape the advancing Soviet army. This book tells the story of this disaster from the viewpoints of four very different young people.
This was a very painful story to read. It's hard to read about stories that you know are about disaster or tragedy, especially of this scale. I had absolutely no idea about this piece of history, as I think most people don't. It's surprising and sad how lost their stories are. I am glad to have learned more about it, would like to read historical accounts of these people. I did find that the one Nazi was kind of a caricature of badness. Just an all-around rotten person. Mind you, he didn't seem to notice he was evil, but I found him hard to believe. Anyway, I recommend it, just to get a taste of what happened in this very much ignored historical event.
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Showing posts with label woodcutter sisters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label woodcutter sisters. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Mini Reviews 21
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Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Micro Reviews: Finishing Up 2013, Part 2
Part 2 of the last of my 2013 books (see Part 1 here). Enjoy!

The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margot Lanagan
Disturbing, depressing, horribly sad, but gorgeously written and so believable I wanted to visit Rollrock Island. Sort of.

Transparent by Natalie Whipple
I distinctly remember enjoying this book and the different "powers" people have in it. But for the life of me, I can't remember much of what actually happened :)

Earthbound by Aprilynne Pike
This book made me think "what is going on?" a few too many times. I'm pretty sure I ended up skimming the last half. Now I don't remember a thing about it.

Hero by Alethea Kontis
Love, love, love Saturday. She's such a cool heroine. Also, I love the fairy-tale mash-ups going on in this series.

Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Fascinating story, though I wanted to smack Lulu upside the head a number of times. The plot was a bit difficult for me to swallow, because it's something I'd NEVER do, but I have to give Forman props for wonderful writing and characters that kept me reading.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth
The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margot Lanagan
Disturbing, depressing, horribly sad, but gorgeously written and so believable I wanted to visit Rollrock Island. Sort of.
Transparent by Natalie Whipple
I distinctly remember enjoying this book and the different "powers" people have in it. But for the life of me, I can't remember much of what actually happened :)
Earthbound by Aprilynne Pike
This book made me think "what is going on?" a few too many times. I'm pretty sure I ended up skimming the last half. Now I don't remember a thing about it.
Hero by Alethea Kontis
Love, love, love Saturday. She's such a cool heroine. Also, I love the fairy-tale mash-ups going on in this series.
Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Fascinating story, though I wanted to smack Lulu upside the head a number of times. The plot was a bit difficult for me to swallow, because it's something I'd NEVER do, but I have to give Forman props for wonderful writing and characters that kept me reading.
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Despite many angry responses, I found
the surprise ending rather believable for Tris. The rest of the story,
however, I had some trouble swallowing. End of the Divergent series.

Blackout by Robison Wells
Blackout by Robison Wells
Another crazy adventure story, complete with x-men powers and cliff-hanger ending.
A wonderful and satisfying ending to one of my favorite fantasy series (and heroines) ever. Can we get more Elisa please?
Completely insane virtual reality
plot with a surprising twist I never saw coming. Some parts a little too
unbelievable with some writing that grated my nerves, but intriguing
enough that I want more.
An interesting look at what happened to Willem over the course of a year. Made me dislike him slightly less :)
Flavia de Luce up to more antics at home, always with mad crime-solving skills up her sleeve.
Intense, interesting, and
extremely well-written story about a serious lack of heroes in a world
of superpowers. While I guessed some twists, others caught me by
surprise.
Wonderful story of friendship
and romance, with a heroine who sticks to her guns and seizes what she
wants in a time when women didn't get to do that much.
Whew! I'm so relieved to be done with 2013 books!
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
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Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Retell Me a Story Book Review: Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
Welcome to another day of Retell Me a Story fun! In case you've missed out on anything so far, check out the welcome and giveaway post, a guest post from Nikki of BookPairing, a list of new and upcoming retellings, a guest post from author Diane Zahler and a review of one of Diane's fairy tale retellings, a fun Robin Hood guest post by Suey of It's All About Books, and a fabulous guest post by author Marissa Meyer. And up now is a review of a mash-up of several fairy tale retellings!
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Publication date: May 2012
Pages: 320
Source: Library
For: Fun!
Sunday's grown up in the shadow of her six older sisters, but she's found solace in her writing. But, because the things she writes has power, even this seems to be stolen away. When she meets a talking frog, something finally good seems to happen to her life. At least, it seems so until that frog is transformed back into someone her family despises.
Things I Liked:
The sheer number of fairy tale details going on was my favorite part. I adored how many different stories you could pick out in the lives of just one family. I loved the beginning, how Sunday told about her family and her friendship with the frog. I love how deeply fairy tales impacted this story and just how unique each twist was on the original. Sunday was an interesting character, as were all her sisters that I wish I'd gotten to know more of. It's definitely a unique twist on fairy tale retelling.
Things I Didn't Like:
I was not enamoured of the romance. I thought that a few days in the company of a friendly frog should not necessarily inspire true love. Also, I think things got a confusing for me with how many different stories and weird things were going on near the end. Most were explained by the end, but I was just confused a few too many times with what seemed like random strange things happening to Sunday or Rumbold. Still, I was entertained and enjoyed the journey.
Read-alikes:
Princess of the Midnight Ball and Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor:none
mrg-factor:none
v-factor:->->
a few violent or disturbing scenes
Overall rating: ****
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Publication date: May 2012
Pages: 320
Source: Library
For: Fun!
Sunday's grown up in the shadow of her six older sisters, but she's found solace in her writing. But, because the things she writes has power, even this seems to be stolen away. When she meets a talking frog, something finally good seems to happen to her life. At least, it seems so until that frog is transformed back into someone her family despises.
Things I Liked:
The sheer number of fairy tale details going on was my favorite part. I adored how many different stories you could pick out in the lives of just one family. I loved the beginning, how Sunday told about her family and her friendship with the frog. I love how deeply fairy tales impacted this story and just how unique each twist was on the original. Sunday was an interesting character, as were all her sisters that I wish I'd gotten to know more of. It's definitely a unique twist on fairy tale retelling.
Things I Didn't Like:
I was not enamoured of the romance. I thought that a few days in the company of a friendly frog should not necessarily inspire true love. Also, I think things got a confusing for me with how many different stories and weird things were going on near the end. Most were explained by the end, but I was just confused a few too many times with what seemed like random strange things happening to Sunday or Rumbold. Still, I was entertained and enjoyed the journey.
Read-alikes:
Princess of the Midnight Ball and Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor:none
mrg-factor:none
v-factor:->->
a few violent or disturbing scenes
Overall rating: ****
What's your favorite mash-up involving multiple fairy tales?
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
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