A Court Of Thorns And Roses(A Court Of Thorns&Roses,#1)

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 Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

❀

Magical…



What else is there to say? It was… I am not even sure what to say. I love SARAH J. MASS , I love her writing, and I have read a few of her books. I have heard great things about A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES , and it had been on my to-read list for some time. Considering my experience with SARAH J. MAAS books since I discovered it, I should expect to fall in love again. A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES is a book that I want to talk about to everyone, or at least to anyone that will listen. Once again, I was taken on another wild ride when I am sure that SARAH J.MAAS cannot surprise me anyone, where I cannot fall in love with her books even more. A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES was unlike any of her other books that I have read before, and that's what I loved about this story, it was unique. You cannot help but fall in love with the story. My only regret is that I did not start this series earlier.



The characters, the story. There was not anything in the book that I did not love. I did not want to put the book down. I wanted…no, I needed to see what would happen with Feyre. The magical kingdom that SARAH J.MAAS created, all the descriptions had me wishing that it was real so that I could go there. I know that Feyre did not want to be there at the beginning, but as time passed, I could tell that she enjoyed it, considering that she did not even want to go when Tamlin sent her away. I loved the connection between Feyre and Tamlin and how developed it developed into a relationship, making their relationship more realistic. I was surprised that she fell for him, considering how she acted with him in the beginning, even when he was a gentleman with her. I do wonder if Tamlin liked her start, although she killed his friend. I loved reading the scenes between the two of them, especially the ending. I cannot help but wonder what is going to happen with them next.



Rhysand, I do not know what to think about him. He is another character that I seem to have a love/hate relationship with. Like Feyre, I hated him when I first met, and I figured he would be one of the characters that I wouldn't like. I had no idea how wrong I would end up. I have a strong feeling that he has stronger feelings for Feyre that he is revealing, considering everything that he has done for her. I know that he made a bargain with Feyre, but I just have a feeling that he developed feelings for this through it all. I have this strong feeling that there might be a love triangle forming in the next few books. The way Rhysand left it makes me curious to see what will happen next. It makes me wish that I had the next book in the series so I can start reading. It's official, and I will be reading all the books that SARAH J.MAAS writes. I am blown away. I still cannot get the book out of my mind.



Extraordinary.

Clap When You Land.

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CONTAINS SPOILERS

Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people...



In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal's office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.



Separated by distance - and Papi's secrets - the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered. And then, when it seems like they've lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.



Papi's death uncovers all the painful truths he kept hidden, and the love he divided across an ocean. And now, Camino and Yahaira are both left to grapple with what this new sister means to them, and what it will now take to keep their dreams alive. 

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Heartfelt. Lyrical. Real.



Beautifully written. This is a story that you will not forget, a story that you will be recommending to your friends. I did. I have read book by ELIZABETH ACEVEDO before and so far CLAP WHEN YOU LAND is my favorite of hers. When I heard about this book, I had a feeling that it was going to be an emotional book but did not guess how emotional it would be. I cried with both Camino and Yahaira and mourned the loss of their father along with them. CLAP WHEN YOU LAND is real, everything that both of the girls went through is real and can happen in real life. Having the story told from both of their point of view, making it more real and that way I got to know each of them better. I liked them both, and I liked how the two of them bonded when they met. I wasn’t sure if they would be, due to the situation, considering she was a result of their father’s affair. I did not think that the two of them would connect because of what happened.



CLAP WHEN YOU LAND was a beautifully written story about family, grief, loss, and loss. It was clear how much Camino and Yahaira loved their father, even after finding out that he had another family. I loved how lyrical this book was, which made the girl's expression much more real. I could not get enough of this book. I read until I reach the ending, and afterward, I wanted to go back and re-read again. CLAP WHEN YOU LAND was filled with a lot of feelings, emotions and I found myself feeling every single one of them. I felt as I was there with them. It was… I am not even sure if I can explain all the emotions that went through me while I was reading the book. I think that CLAP WHEN YOU LAND is a book that everyone should read. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.



Be ready… for an emotional ride.

Fairest Of All (Villians,#1)

   

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CONTAINS SPOILERS

The tale of the young princess and her evil stepmother, the Wicked Queen, is widely known. Despite a few variations from telling to telling, the story remains the same—the Queen was jealous of the girl’s beauty, and this jealousy culminated in the Queen’s attempt on the sweet, naive girl’s life

Another tale far less often spoken of is the one that explains what caused the Queen to become so contemptuously vile. Still, some have attempted to guess at the reason. Perhaps the Queen’s true nature was that of a wicked hag and her beautiful, regal appearance a disguise used to fool the King. Others claim that the Queen might have hated the girl for her resemblance to the King’s first wife. Mostly, the Queen is painted as a morally abhorrent woman who never loved another being during the course of her miserable life.



In fact, the theories about exactly what cause the Queen’s obsessive vanity and jealous rage are too numerous to catalog. This book recounts a version of the story that has remained untold until now. It is a tragic tale of love and loss, and it contains a bit of magic. It is a tale of the Wicked Queen…

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Magical.



As a kid, I loved Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs , I must have read it and watched the movie multiple times. It always seemed magical to me. Of course, as I am sure many others, I hated the wicked queen. When I came across FAIREST OF ALL and saw that it is told from Wicked Queen’s point of view, I could not help and be curious and decided to check the story out. I was always curious about her, wondering if she was always this evil or if there was a reason behind it. Now that I have read FAIREST OF ALL , I see the Wicked Queen in a completely different light. It was not what I was expecting, and I could not help but feel sorry for her. In my mind, I had never seen her as anything but evil who tried to kill Snow White. I loved this twist to the Snow White tale and that it was told from the villain’s point of view.



I loved how sweet she was in Snow White at the start; it was clear how much she loved her. While reading it, I could not help but wonder what happened to the Queen to make her hate her. Now that I have read the story, it is clear that she never hated her, but it was as if something came over, and she could not seem to stop her. Yet, even when she was trying to kill Snow White, I had noticed her hesitation, and there was a part of me that wished she realized that before it was too late. I do wonder if there were a chance she would not change if it weren’t for her husband’s death or if she kept ignoring the mirror. I do wonder if the mirror had a significant impact on the Queen’s change. Because of the mirror, she changed and seemed to push everyone close to her, away, including Snow White.



I loved the relationship between the Queen and the King while he was alive; it was clear how much they loved each other. I could not help but smile at how they were with each other when he came home. The three of them were happy. My heart not only broke for Queen, but for Snow White, not only did she lose her dad that day but her mother as well. FAIREST OF ALL was a beautifully written retelling, and I cannot seem to get out of my mind. Now I am eager to read the rest of the books in this series. If you love fairy tales and would like to see one from a different point of view, be sure to check out.

Normal People.

 

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CONTAINS SPOILERS

At school Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other. He’s popular and well-adjusted, star of the school soccer team while she is lonely, proud, and intensely private. But when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her housekeeping job at Marianne’s house, a strange and indelible connection grows between the two teenagers - one they are determined to conc

A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years in college, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. Then, as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other. 

❀

 

I have no words. I am still going through the motions even though I finished the book last night. I heard about NORMAL PEOPLE for a while, especially since the show came out on Hulu. I watched the first episode before reading the book, and it became clear to me that it is a book that I needed to read. Once I started to read it, I did not want to stop. If it weren’t for my fall semester starting this week, I would have read it all day. I am not sure if I can even begin to explain the emotions that are going through me right now. NORMAL PEOPLE is the book that I wish I read it sooner when it came out. I wish I knew about it earlier but did not hear about it until the show came out. I love books about real life, about friendships, relationships. NORMAL PEOPLE was one of the most realistic books that I have read this year. No matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to get the story out of my mind. This is a story that I will never forget.




Connell and Marianne, I was not sure what to think about their relationship. I am not sure if what they had should even be considered one. I could tell that they cared about each other, as they got to know each other, but how much did they care about each other? It seemed as if their relationship mostly consisted of sex, at least in the beginning. Besides, Connell did not want anyone to have what was happening, that they were together. It was if he was ashamed. It had me wondering if Connell cared about Marianne at all or if he pretended that he did. As time passed, the two of them seemed to go back and forth to each other. No matter what was going, who they were dating at the time, they always went back to one another. I noticed how protective Connell got over Marianne, the way they acted if one of them was dating someone else. I realized that over the years, they have fallen in love with each other. I was waiting for them to admit to one another, to recognize that the two of them belonged to each other. Their relationship was real. They had their difficulties, and it felt real. I am curious about what happened to them afterward.



That ending, I am not sure how I felt about that ending. I went back and forth between liking it and not. There was a part of me that felt that it wasn’t a complete ending, that there should be more. It’s an ending that has you wondering what happens next. What happens with Connell and Marianne. NORMAL PEOPLE was the first novel that I read by SALLY ROONEY and I am eager to check out the rest of her books. NORMAL PEOPLE was real, or at least it felt real. What Marianne and Connell went through, dealt with, is something that can happen in real life. Those two are the characters that others can connect with. Now that I have read the book, I cannot wait to watch the rest of the TV Show. I would highly recommend giving this book a chance.

House Of Earth And Blood (Crescent City,#1)

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CONTAINS SPOILERS

 

Bound by blood.

Tempted by desire.
Unleashed by destiny.

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.



Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.



As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it. 

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Magical. Thrilling. Mysterious.



There are a lot more words that I could use to describe this book, which would take pages. When I found out that SARAH J.MAAS had a new series coming out, I was excited and could not wait to read the book. I have read the first four books in her Throne Of Glass and fell in love with the series. HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD , how do I even begin to explain all the emotions that I am going through? Even though I loved Throne of Glass, I am in love with Crescent City more, at least so far. I have read a few adult fantasy books and series in the past, but nothing like this one. HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD is a book that will have turning page after page. The first few pages of the book are a bit confusing and slow, but it does not take long until everything starts to make sense. It will not take long to get hooked to the story and the characters, afterward you will have a hard time putting it down. I had forced myself a few time to put this book down. As the book progressed, the harder it got me to put the book down, I wanted to see what happened. There was always something happening, keeping you reading late into the night.



Bryce. She is a character that you start-up and not sure about her, not sure if you will end up like her or not. By the end of the book became a favorite character. Out of all the characters in the book, she developed and changed the mos. Bryce went through so much. She lost her friends and her best friend. I cannot even imagine walking on the scene that she walked on when her friends were murdered. I felt her horror, her grief. I know that at first, she was not sure that she was hallucinating due to drugs, but I do believe that it hit her fast, that it was real. I hoped that she would be to find out the truth about Danika and her friend’s murder. The truth was far from what I was expecting. I felt as I should have, but even I did not see that twist coming. I loved the friendship that she had with Danika, the way that the two of them looked out for each other. Their friendship reminded me of my best friend and I, always looking out for each other. Their friendship is the one that will always be there. Even afterward, Bryce still tried to protect her best friend, look out for her.



Bryce and Hunt. I loved their friendship and their relationship from the start. I loved that they did not fall in love from the beginning, but that it developed into it. Their relationship was real. At first, I wasn’t even sure if they liked each other, the way the two of them were always fighting with each other. Of course, Bryce did not make it easy for Hunt, giving him an attitude half of the time. It did not take long to see how much the two of them cared about each other. I wanted them to realize it and be together. However, it seemed as something kept getting in their way. I am eager to find out what happens to them next. Ruhn was another character that I had mixed emotions when I started reading the book. I was not sure if he cared about Bryce or not, or he just pretended to because she was his sister. It did not take long to find out how wrong I was, and by the middle of the book, he became one of my favorites. I hoped that Bryce would see and forgive him.



The last few chapters were my favorites. I read it until I reached the end and afterward wanted to go back and re-read them again. I can still picture it all. I found myself going through the motions for a while after reaching the end. I do feel like ending dragged on for a little bit. Yet, I am blown away and not sure if I can wait a year to see what happens next, might end up re-reading the book again. HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD might had a long wait at the library, but it was worth every single page. Even if you had never read a book by Sarah, you would fall in love with HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD . Be ready to be blown away.

The Vineyards Of Champagne.

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 CONTAINS SPOILERS

Deep within the labyrinth of caves that lie below the lush, rolling vineyards of the Champagne region, an underground city of women and children hums with life. Forced to take shelter from the unrelenting onslaught of German shellfire above, the bravest among them venture out to pluck sweet grapes for the harvest. But wine is not the only secret preserved in the cool, dark cellars...

In present day, Rosalyn travels to Champagne to select vintages for her Napa-based employer. Rosalyn doesn't much care for champagne--or France, for that matter. Since the untimely death of her young husband, Rosalyn finds it a challenge to enjoy anything at all. But as she reads through a precious cache of WWI letters and retraces the lives lived in the limestone tunnels, Rosalyn will unravel a mystery hidden for decades...and find a way to savor her own life again, inspired by the hope and defiance of the women who toiled to bring in the grape harvest during the war. 

  ❀

Engaging. Mysterious.



This past year, I have read a lot of historical fiction, making it one of my favorite genres to read. Anytime that I read historical fiction, I feel as if I learn something that I was not aware of before. I had never read anything by JULIET BLACKWELL before coming across THE VINEYARDS OF CHAMPAGNE . The title and the breathtaking cover is what captured my attention when I came across the book. I feel as both the title and the covers have a mysterious look to them, will have you wondering and picking the book up. Once I read the summary of the book, I was hooked to the story and knew that it would be a book that I would enjoy. It did not take me long to fall the love with this story. I love that VINEYARDS OF CHAMPAGNE had a mystery aspect to the story, which is another genre that I love. Like Rosalyn and Emma, I was curious about those letters about what happened to them. I was eager to see what Emma and Rosalyn will discover. I love reading the letters that were written during that time.



I felt terrible for Rosalyn, to what happened to her husband. From all of the characters in the books, Rosalyn is the one that changed the most in the book. In the beginning, she kept to herself and did not seem to trust many people. I was glad that she started to open up to others. I love the friendship that she developed with Emma. With everything that Rosalyn went through, with her husband dying, she needed someone like Emma by her side. The two of them made a good team together. The friendship that the two of them had, the way how they were for each other, and how they joked around, it reminded me a lot of some of my friends. The friendship that the two of them had, I knew that it was the type of bond that would last for years to come. I love that the story went back and forth between the present time and the past. However, I do wish that there were more past chapters then the present chapters, more of the history behind the letters. I did enjoy the mystery behind the letters and trying to discover, along with Emma, Rosalyn of what happened to them.



There were a few slow parts in the book. However, it was an enjoyable book to read, and I felt as I learned so much while reading VINEYARDS OF CHAMPAGNE . Now that I have read her book, I am eager to check the rest of her books out. VINEYARDS OF CHAMPAGNE is a story about friendship, hope, love, and second chance. I would highly recommend this book for historical fiction fans.

Scythe(Arc Of A Scythe,#1)

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Thou shalt kill.

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.



Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own. 

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I have heard about SCYTHE a while back. I had noticed that it had few good reviews about the series. I would have read it sooner, but my Library had few holds on this book. SCYTHE was unlike any YA Fantasy book that I have read before. Every page and every chapter had me craving for more of the story. I wanted to see what would happen with Citra and Rowan next, and I was eager to find out which one of them would end up being Scythe. I never imagined that Scythe, the death could take on apprentices. I knew that neither Rowan nor Citra wanted that role. Then what person would want to be responsible for causing the death of another one? I loved the unique name that they came up with for ‘Death,’ Scythe. There were a few slow parts in the book that I felt dragged on a bit. However, the rest of the book was impossible to put down, and as a reader, you found yourself eager to see what happens, who would win. You found yourself transformed into the world of Scythe.



Scythe Faraday is a character I knew I should not like. He killed others for a living. However, it was almost impossible not to like him. It was clear that he grieved the ones that he had to kill. I know that it was not typical for Scythes. What he had done for Citra and for Rowan, it was clear that he cared about them more than he should have. I found myself hoping that Scythe Faraday was not dead. Now, Scythe Goddard, I hated. He was the type of character that I had always imagined the ‘death’ being like, where he had no feelings for whom he killed and how he had done it. Considering he did all of his as mass killings, it was clear that he did not care, that he enjoyed what he was doing. When Scythe Goddard started training Rowan, I was afraid for him, and I was afraid that he might turn into the same murderer. I saw certain changes in him as time passed, but I was hoping that the old Rowan would come back.



That ending. Of course, it was not what I had expected to happen. I am eager to pick up the next book and see what happens next. I have a feeling that SCYTHE will be a series that I am going to fall in love with. If you love YA Fantasy, and wanting to read something a bit different, be sure to check out SCYTHE .

Beyond The Point.

 

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In this powerful debut novel set at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, three women—a nationally-ranked point guard, the granddaughter of an Army general, and a rebellious Homecoming Queen—are brought together in an enthralling story of friendship, heartbreak, and resilience.



Duty. Honor. Country. That’s West Point’s motto, and every cadet who passes through its stone gates vows to live it. But on the eve of 9/11, as Dani, Hannah and Avery face four grueling years ahead, they realize they’ll only survive if they do it together.



Everyone knows Dani is going places. With athletic talent and a brilliant mind, she navigates West Point’s predominantly male environment with wit and confidence, breaking stereotypes and embracing new friends.



Hannah’s grandfather, a legendary Army general, offers a stark warning about the dangers that lie ahead, but she moves forward anyway, letting faith guide her path. When she meets her soul mate at West Point, the future looks perfect, just as planned.



Wild child Avery moves fast and doesn’t mind breaking a few rules (and hearts) along the way. But she can’t outpace her self-doubt, and the harder she tries, the further it leads her down a treacherous path.



The world—of business, of love, and of war—awaits Dani, Hannah, and Avery beyond the gates of West Point. These three women know that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. But soon, that adage no longer rings true—for their future, or their friendship. As they’re pulled in different directions, will their hard-forged bond prevail or shatter?

   ❀

A heartfelt, compelling story.



I had no idea how emotional this book would be. I knew that it would be emotional but did not realize how much. My emotions are still all over the place after finishing the book. BEYOND THE POINT is not a story that I will be able to forget. It is a story that I recommended for my friends to read. I love historical fiction, and I love books about friendships. BEYOND THE POINT has one of the best bonds that I have read in a while. Dani, Hannah, and Avery went through so much together. Despite their difficulties through the years, in the end, they were still there for each other. The three of them were meant to meet, to become friends, and to have the support of each other. I believe that they would not make it as far as they had if they did not have each other. They needed each other, especially after what happened with Hannah. That beginning, I do not think I have words how it made me feel. It started with suspense, and the start of the book will keep you on turning the pages. I loved how the book was broken up with them starting West Point, to graduation and beyond. The title makes complete sense once I read the book. I am still having a hard time believing that BEYOND THE POINT was her debut novel. It was astounding.



Hannah. Avery. Dani: I loved the friendship between the three of them. Their friendship reminded me of some of my best friends. However, the three of them went through so much more together. I cannot even begin to imagine what Hannah went through when she was deployed in Afghanistan. I had never been there, but I read, I heard so much about it. I cannot even begin to imagine the emotions that she was going through while she was there. I enjoyed that the book was written from each of the character’s point of view. Avery, Dani, and Hannah were so different, and it was interesting to learn more about each of the characters. I loved them all, don’t think that I would be able to pick a favorite one if I was asked to. Reading about each of their stories, the emotions, the descriptions made me feel as I was there with them. I imagined myself there. It was real. BEYOND THE POINT was one of the most realistic historical fiction that I have read this year. I am curious about what happened to them after if the three of them remained such good friends.



Hannah and Tim they were my favorite couple in the book. It was clear how much in love with each other. Reading about the two of them together, it had put a smile on my face every single time. I feel as it was love at first sight, even if it wasn’t. I cannot imagine being apart from someone I love during deployment, and I think that would be one of the hardest things that you can experience during the war, because you never know what might happen. BEYOND THE POINT is an emotional book, and I found myself crying multiple times through the book. Yet it is a book that you will fall in love with and will not put down until you reach the ending. If you love historical fiction, a book about friendship, love, and courage, be sure to check this book out.

Catwoman:Soulstealer(DC Icons,#3)

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  CONTAINS SPOILERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the Bat's away, the Cat will play. It's time to see how many lives this cat really has. . . .

Two years after escaping Gotham City's slums, Selina Kyle returns as the mysterious and wealthy Holly Vanderhees. She quickly discovers that with Batman off on a vital mission, Batwing is left to hold back the tide of notorious criminals. Gotham City is ripe for the taking.



Meanwhile, Luke Fox wants to prove he has what it takes to help people in his role as Batwing. He targets a new thief on the prowl who seems cleverer than most. She has teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and together they are wreaking havoc. This Catwoman may be Batwing's undoing. 

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I did not know much about Catwoman before reading this book. However, I love a book that deals with superheroes. One of my favorite authors, SARAH J.MASS wrote the book, and it looked at the type of book that I would enjoy. I did not know what to think when I picked up, mostly because I don’t know much about Catwoman, so I did not have anything to compare it to. It did not take me long after I started reading the book, which I will love, this book. CATWOMAN: SOULSTEALER had everything that I love about fantasy, superheroes books. CATWOMAN: SOULSTEALER is unlike other books that I read about superheroes because Selina was not a superhero but a thief. However, she had a reason behind why she went into a life of crime, a way to save her sick sister, Maggie. Anytime that she was doing that, stealing. I would find myself hoping that she would not be caught, because once she did, there would be no saving Maggie. I did wonder why she did not get a job instead of stealing. There is no mistaking how much she loved Maggie, considering how much risks she took for her.



I wondered from the start if Luke would figure out that Holly was Catwoman. Also, I wondered when she figured out that Luke was Batwing, and if her feelings for him would change. I knew that eventually it would be discovered that Holly was Catwoman and that she was behind all those robberies, and that it would not end well for either for them. However, it did not end the way that I thought it would and was a surprise for me. I was hoping that the two of them could be together; it was clear the connection that the two of them had. I know that Selina wasn’t expecting that to happen to fall for Luke. I did not think it would happen either, considering how she acted when she first met Luke. Their feelings to each other came as a shock to both of them. I loved reading the scenes between the two of them, and I was eager to see if anything else would happen between the two of them.



I love the friendship that developed between Selina, Harley, and Poison Ivy. Their friendship was not something that I was expecting when they teamed up. I did notice that Poison Ivy and Selina had more bonds that Selina and Harley. I do feel that the only reason Harley agreed to help her because Selina promised that she would free The Joker. The friendship, in general, was unexpected from neither of them. I do feel that they needed that, a friend. I am curious what happened to them after the book ended, if they kept on being friends and what happened with Harley. CATWOMAN: SOULSTEALER did not have a lot of action through the book, though I did feel that it had enough effect. I could not put the book down, and by the time that I did, hours have passed since I started reading. This was the fourth book that I have read by SARAH J. MASS , and I am in love with her writing style, her characters.



Be prepared for a magical, thrilling ride!

Shadow & Bone(Shadow & Bone Triology,#1)

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                                                     CONTAINS SPOILERS

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.



Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.



Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart. 

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SHADOW AND BONE is a series that I heard others talking about for some time. I wanted to read it and had on my to-read list, and finally had a chance to read it. After reading SHADOW AND BONE , I am blown away by the story, the magical world that LEIGH BARDUGO created. It did not take me long to finish the book because I had trouble putting the book down; I could not. I am from Russia and loved the fact that it took place in Russia, which is not something you often see when it comes to fantasy books. I was hooked to the book from the beginning and spent hours reading the book, until reaching the end. There was always so much happening in the book, and as a reader, you were eager to see what will happen next. There were twists and turns that you did not see coming, causing you to keep on turning the pages. SHADOW AND BONE is a book that you cannot help but fall in love with.



Alina and Mal: I was hoping that the two of them would find a way to each other. You can tell from the start that their bond was special. However, at first, I was not sure if Mal felt the same way about Alina as she thought about him. I was happy to find out that he did. I do wonder what will happen with two of them in the next book if the two of them will remain together, or will something or someone tear them apart. Darkling, I like him at first, and I was sure that he was trying to help Alina, at first. I did question his motives; just way, he acted with her. Even if Alina would not admit, he favorited her over everyone else, and I did wonder if it is because he liked her or if there was another reason behind it. I did get a feeling that there was something not right about Darkling, that he was not quite a good person. I had no idea how off I was about him. I am worried about him and the effect he may have on Alina, considering the connection that the two of them have.



The Grisha universe, I was amazed by the whole world. It seemed magical, and it made me want to go and travel there myself, to explore it. Despite the world being made up, reading about it while reading the book, it felt real to me. There were a few characters that I fell in love with, which I am curious about what will happen with them in the next book. Once I reached the ending of SHADOW AND BONE , I wanted to pick up the next book in the series right away, I wanted to see what happened with everyone, what challenges they might have to face next. I was blown away by this magical world. SHADOW AND BONE was the first book that I read by the author, and now I am eager to check out the rest of her books.

Let Me Hear A Rhyme.

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CONTAINS SPOILERS

In this standalone novel, Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he is still alive.



Biggie Smalls was right. Things done changed. But that doesn’t mean that Quadir and Jarrell are okay letting their best friend Steph’s tracks lie forgotten in his bedroom after he’s killed—not when his beats could turn any Bed-Stuy corner into a celebration, not after years of having each other’s backs.



Enlisting the help of Steph’s younger sister, Jasmine, Quadir and Jarrell come up with a plan to promote Steph’s music under a new rap name: The Architect. Soon, everyone in Brooklyn is dancing to Steph’s voice. But then his mixtape catches the attention of a hotheaded music rep and—with just hours on the clock—the trio must race to prove Steph’s talent from beyond the grave.

Now, as the pressure—and danger—of keeping their secret grows, Quadir, Jarrell, and Jasmine are forced to confront the truth about what happened to Steph. Only each has something to hide. And with everything riding on Steph’s fame, together they need to decide what they stand for before they lose everything they’ve worked so hard to hold on to—including each other. 

 

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Powerful.



I have wanted to read LET ME HEAR A RHYME since it came out last year, unfortunately, my library did not have it at the time. Now that I have read it, I see why there were so many good reviews about this book. It was a powerful and memorable book. LET ME HEAR A RHYME is a story that will have you thinking while you are reading. A couple of years ago, I read MONDAY’S NOT COMING , which I fell in love with instantly. I had a feeling that I was going to love this one as well. I did not enjoy LET ME HEAR A RHYME as much, but I still loved the story, the characters. The way that characters spoke sometimes, it was a little hard for me to understand what they were trying to say. However, I loved the story in general, and I loved the relationships between the three characters. It is incredible how much the three of them loved Steph that they wanted the world to know about his music. One of my favorite parts about the book, the fact that the lyrics were included in the book, some of it is still stuck in my head.



I loved the name that Quadir, Jasmine, and Jarell came up with for Steph, to promote his music. The Architect, isn’t that catching? I know that if I heard a name like that, I would be curious. Of course, I could not help but be curious, how long they would be able to keep it up. How long would it take until it was discovered that Steph was dead? I know if it were me, if Steph kept missing the appointments for his music, I would be curious, and I would wonder what is going on. I got to say, and they were able to keep a secret for longer than I thought they would be able to get away with. I loved the fact that they didn’t give up, that they found a way, to keep on promoting his music, to try and get him a record deal. Having a story told from multiple points of views, it made the story so much more interesting, considering how different the three of them were, a chance to get each of them better. I loved all the characters; however, my favorite from everyone was Jasmine.



The mystery surrounding Steph’s murder, had me turning on the pages until the end. Like Jasmine, I wanted to find out who killed Steph and why. Did he get into some trouble, or was there something else? I felt that none of them would get any closure, not until they found out what happened to him. LET ME HEAR A RHYME is unlike any book that I have read before, and it is one of the things that I loved about it. It was real. I could never imagine how it was during that time, yet I felt as if I could as I read the book. A highly recommended book.