Month: June 2019

Reviews

Little Fires Everywhere Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on Little Fires Everywhere Review

*MAJOR SPOILERS*

34273236Little Fires Everywhere is about the Richardson family and how from the surface they look like the quintessential family but when you delve a little deeper it seems that looks aren’t everything.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I honestly found it a little bit tedious at the start, sure the fire was a compelling introduction to the story but the plot took a little while to get established for me. But let me just say that the way that Celeste Ng wove the story together left me in awe!

I love that each family member really got a time to shine and develop within the book. Except for maybe Mr. Richardson who isn’t that big of an influence to the overall plot, though he still does have his moments. I would have to say that Izzy is probably my favourite of the Richardson’s. We don’t see a lot of her for like three quarters of the book; she is just painted by her family members as the weird, crazy one without an explanation as to why. But, when we finally did get to explore her background and the reasoning’s behind the way that she acts I was impressed. Even though she is only 15 she has a clear sense of right and wrong and isn’t afraid to call her family out on their skewed point of view. She understands how privileged she is but doesn’t accept that her privilege makes her better than anyone else.

Mia was definitely the most intriguing character for me though. Again we don’t get a lot of prior information about her and why she chose to move around so much with Pearl and why they decided to settle down in Shaker Heights. I like how compassionate and empathetic she is, especially after Lexie’s abortion and helping Bebe with her case. I loved finding out about her history with her family and Pauline Hawthorne and the Ryan’s.

Bebe’s case and how it eventuated was a plot line that I honestly didn’t see coming but it fit perfectly in the scope of the book. It was a way to show exactly the type of people that these characters are and the ethical and moral conversation that it starts was enlightening.

This book was a journey from start to finish. There wasn’t really one main focus to the story, it was all of the characters revolving around each other and seeing how they intersect and how based on one decision or action everything can completely change. The way that everything unfolded first with the fire and then backtracking and explaining the family dynamics and weaving all the differing storylines together was beautiful!

⭐️4.5/5 A slow burner!

Book Lists

5 Mystery/Thriller Books Update

by amyleighreads5 Comments on 5 Mystery/Thriller Books Update

This year I really wanted to branch out from fantasy and get into some other genres and mystery/thrillers always interested me, I just never picked any up. So back in February I posted 5 mystery/thriller books I wanted to read in 2019 and I thought since we are now in mid-June I would give an update on what I’ve read and some of my thoughts on these books!

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

I liked the twists and revelations that occur in the book as well. I am not really an avid reader of mysteries or thrillers so all the tropes are relatively new to me. I enjoyed the steady progression of suspense and the flashbacks really helped to establish Anna’s frame of mind and why she is so adamant in finding out the truth. It definitely kept me intrigued and eager to read on and see what was going to happen next. I couldn’t predict any of the plot points so I was definitely surprised when the truth was finally uncovered.

My Rating: ⭐️4/5 stars

40389527

The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware

The overall tone of the book was very dark and foreboding and also very cold, be it the weather or the house and even Mrs. Warren. I finished this book in basically one sitting and I was swept into this story by Ruth Ware’s immensely detailed and descriptive prose. I loved every second of this book. The mystery elements really kept me on my toes; the pacing was perfect and the plot twists… OMG! I did not see anything coming and I was very much surprised and satisfied with how this book ended!

My Rating: ⭐️5/5 stars

36373481

Never World Wake by Marisha Pessl

This book was super obscure and very interesting! I liked the slow buildup of tension throughout the plot and how things started unraveling as the storyline progressed. I didn’t really know what to expect from the premise but I enjoyed the direction the book went with.

My Rating: ⭐️4/5 stars

91tzv+xgssl

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendriks & Sarah Pekkanen

I love how we are always misdirected in this book. It says it in the blurb to not make assumptions about this love triangle but of course I thought Vanessa was just another alcoholic housewife whose husband has left her and moved on to greener pastures. I was so invested in the storyline that I almost forgot that it was a thriller and when that first plot twist hit me I was thrown.

My Rating: ⭐️4/5 stars

34189556

Reviews

Grey Sister Review

by amyleighreads1 Comment on Grey Sister Review

35530652AMAZING!

Grey Sister takes place about 4 years after everything happened in Red Sister and Nona is now around 15 years of age and has just entered Grey Class. The Church Inquisitor descends upon the Convent of Sweet Mercy with alliances being formed and friendships strained.

It’s like Mark Lawrence has just pushed everything through to another level. I like that we started on familiar grounds at the Convent with Nona attending classes with some of her friends but also some new faces that prove to be not quite fond of her. But then there is also a huge change with Nona being forced out of the Convent by the Inquisitors and having to make her way out in the Empire all alone.

Nona is such an enigmatic character. She is super interesting and very unpredictable, which makes her so entertaining. I am very much invested in her as a character and I have loved to see her grow up over the course of the series so far, but still have so much to learn. I thought the addition of Keot was a fascinating touch. I liked how he sort of made Nona think hard about what is right and wrong and how far she would go in regards to killing people. He contrasted very well with her character and I enjoyed the banter between them.

 I am intrigued by Zole still. She really played a minor role in this book but was still very much present throughout the course of the plot. She essentially lied for Nona during the trial with the Nuns about what happened with Joeli and she seemed to form a closer bond with Nona whilst still kind of maintaining her distance and neutrality. I immediately knew from those scenes that Zole would venture out after Nona when they forced her out.

The political machinations that are going on in the Empire, especially where Sherzal is concerned kind of bores me a little. I am not a huge fan of politically centered fantasy; though I appreciate how it furthers the plot I am much more interested in the magical, mysterious, adventurous side of the story. Though let me say Abbess Glass never fails to disappoint me in her political maneuverings!

The stakes were always very high, keeping me on the edge of my seat during my read. I loved every moment of this book and I am so ready to dive right into Holy Sister ASAP!

⭐️5/5 That cliffhanger OMG!!!

Book Lists

Anticipated Releases (Second Half of 2019)

by amyleighreads4 Comments on Anticipated Releases (Second Half of 2019)

This weeks Top 10 Tuesday prompt is my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2019!

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (Expected Publication Oct 1st ) –  I have loved every book I have read from Leigh Bardugo so I am highly anticipating this read! The premise sounds very engaging and I am interested to see how she can take on different genre than the usual fantasy that I’ve read from her.

43263680

Dark Dawn by Jay Kristoff (Expected Publication Sept 3rd ) – I have been loving the Nevernight Chronicles so far! I binged both books last year and I have been itching to find out what will happen next, especially after that massive twist at the end of Godsgrave.

23264672

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware (Expected Publication Sept 5th ) – I read The Death of Mrs Westaway earlier this year and absolutely LOVED it! I have since not read another Ruth Ware. I know she has a few back list books for me to one day peruse through but I wanted to try another of her new releases before I start any of her other books!

40489648

Supernova by Marissa Meyer (Expected Publication Nov 5th ) – I am so invested in this series! I love the whole premise, I think the characters are all very distinctive and entertaining and there is just so much action and schemes. The storyline has gotten more intricate over the course of the book with so much more at stake and I feel like this ending is going to go out with a bang!

42771754

Vow of Thieves by Mary E Pearson (Expected Publication August 6th ) – I fell in love with Dance of Thieves when I read it back in January! The storyline was fantastic, especially with all of the history of the town and the family and all of the secrets that really kept me intrigued and eager to read on. I really made a connection with these characters and I was highly invested in their missions. Definitely a step up from the Remnant Chronicles in my opinion and I very excited to continue on with the sequel!

34196663

Reviews

Spinning Silver Review

by amyleighreads4 Comments on Spinning Silver Review

ssA unique twist on the classic Rumpelstiltskin tale!

Miryem is the daughter and grand-daughter of moneylenders. Her grandfather is very successful in this business but her father unfortunately isn’t so much. Free to lend and reluctant to collect, he has loaned out most of his wife’s dowry and left the family on the edge of poverty–until Miryem steps in. She quickly turns their troubles around and makes a reputation for herself. One day she boasts of being able to turn silver into gold and is overheard by a Staryk, one of the magical men who live in the forest and who rape and plunder for gold.

This was very immersive! I could see the foundations of the original story there but it was completely turned on its head which made me more invested. I didn’t quite know where the story was going to go next or how it would circle back to the original but boy did it!

Miryem was a little forgetful as a main female protagonist to be quite honest. I liked her initiative and her ability to trade up and earn more money for her family but there wasn’t much other than that that really swayed me to her. I much preferred Irina’s drive and her cunning as opposed to Miryem. Though I thought the two contrasted well with each other.

I like the way the story unfolded. It took me a minute to get situated into the plot, I was a little bored at first, but the action and the intrigue definitely picks up and kept me engaged. The whole storyline with Irina & Mirnatius was so very compelling. I loved the banter between the two and to see Irina evolve as a character from the forgotten daughter of a Duke to a Tsarina was wonderful to read. I really dismissed her as an insignificant character at the start of the book but she really bloomed and caught me off guard with her calculating ways.

I didn’t really know what to expect from this book but it took me by surprise. It was a bit of a slow start but I was ended up really enjoying the storyline and the setting. The Staryk’s and their magic was very unique and I liked the fact that there was the Chernobog to oppose their might. You didn’t quite know who to barrack for in the situation and it made it a lot more interesting because of it!

⭐️4/5 Slow build into a fantastical tale!