April 2020 – Page 2 – Amy Leigh Reads

🔱The Heroes of Olympus Series Reread🔱

April 23, 2020April 16, 2020by amyleighreads1 Comment

12517455 I just recently finished the second book in this series The Son of Neptune and I loved it! Granted there were a few instances where things worked out a little too easily for our demi-gods but overall I was highly entertained! I think what I really loved most about this book is that Percy is back. Though I did love how the first book showcased all new characters and then incorporated the older characters I just have always loved Percy and having his voice back as one of the main POVs just felt really nostalgic. This book once again follows Rick Riordan’s tried and true formula for these books, where we establish a goal, a quest is granted and somehow they make it back in time to stop something catastrophic happening. Some of the roman aspects of the camp were a little jarring but along with Percy we are able to find out all about their way of life and how it contrasts quite starkly with Camp Half Blood. This was a really great continuation of the story line and that ending has me itching to continue on with the series ASAP!!!

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Reviews

Vengeful Review

April 22, 2020April 20, 2020by amyleighreads1 Comment

40139338._SY475_ It had been quite a few years since I finished Vicious so it took me a little bit to get situated into Vengeful.

Marcella is an interesting character. She is very self-aware which is something I enjoyed about her. She isn’t naïve at all and has quite a blunt, straightforward personality. She utilises her assets in a way that ultimately benefits her. After she becomes an EO she became quite ruthless and cutthroat and really dropped all of her inhibitions and strove towards her goals.

I have to say I wasn’t a fan of how Victor evolved in this book. All of his previous morals went right out the window and I really didn’t think it was necessary for him to kill the other EOs who couldn’t help him. He was previously my favourite of all the characters because of his goal to stop Eli and now because his motivations are quite selfish I’m finding I am not enjoying his character as much as I once did.

I enjoyed the fact that we get to see a lot of Eli’s history in this book. I think it was kind of skated over in Vicious and his reasons behind the decisions he makes and the impact that his past had on his future. I found myself becoming a little empathetic towards him after learning about all of the hardships he has had to face in his life, even after everything he has done. I remember I hated Eli in the previous book so to have both main characters switch roles for me was a little strange.

I’m not sure about June yet; I don’t quite understand where her connection to Sydney comes from. Sure they talked and texted for 3 years but her need to protect Sydney and even lie to Marcella about her made me intrigued. Where did she come from and why is she so hell-bent on finding Victor?

I liked the time jumps and the countdown; it definitely had me eager to read on. I did find myself more interested in Marcella’s plot line above everyone else. The other characters for the first 100 or so pages felt quite repetitive and stagnant. Once the pacing picked up I was very much invested in the plot and anticipating what was going to happen next!

⭐️3/5 stars I liked it, didn’t quite love it as much as Vicious!

Wrap Ups

Stay Home Reading Rush Wrap Up

April 21, 2020April 21, 2020by amyleighreads1 Comment

I didn’t quite manage to finish all of the books on my TBR and did end up reading a book that didn’t fit any of the prompts, but I figure I went with the spirit of the readathon and just stayed inside all weekend and read a few books that I actually ended up really enjoying!

The first book I completed was Harry Potter and the Philosphoer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling! This kind of fit the prompt of read a book set somewhere you wish you could go, because like who wouldn’t want to visit Hogwarts?!

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The next book I completed was The Last Town by Blake Crouch. Purely because I had just marathoned the first two books in this series and wanted to continue on with the last book as soon as possible. This doesn’t fit any of the prompts but I did really enjoy the book!

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And then the last book I didn’t actually end up finishing during the readathon I only got about half way through and that is Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. This was going to be for the prompt read a book in the same room the whole time which I did end up doing, unfortunately didn’t enjoy this story as much as I hoped I would!

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Updates

📚Physical TBR Update📚

April 20, 2020April 20, 2020by amyleighreads3 Comments

I was going through my physical TBR over the weekend and I realised that I only had 13 books in my entire collection that I haven’t read yet. When I first got back into reading around 4 years ago I tapped into Booktube and literally bought every popular or hyped book that was being discussed. I also watched countless top ten favourite fantasy videos and bought a lot of books on those lists as well, until one day my collection had grown to over 300 books! For the last 2 years the number of unread books on my shelves has been between 30-40 books and I have somehow whittled it down to the last 13. I’m going to put this down to my library and forcing myself not to buy each and every book out there that is hyped and actually pick things I know for sure I am going to enjoy! I would really love to get the number down to 0 and maybe start rereading a few books/series in my collection that I haven’t read in years now, as well as picking up any new releases that interest me throughout the year!

Reviews

The Hand on the Wall Review

April 17, 2020April 10, 2020by amyleighreads1 Comment

45240918 The Hand on the Wall continues straight off where The Vanishing Stair finished off. Stevie has solved the case and she now knows who Truly Devious is and who was behind Iris and Alice’s disappearance. At least, she thinks she has. After the latest tragedy with Dr Fenton it’s hard to concentrate on the past but she has a feeling that everything that is happening in the present has a connection to the past.

I liked that Stevie really maintains her curiosity and conviction throughout the series. Her commitment to the school and the mystery over the deaths both past and present really kept me engaged in the story line.

Some of David’s actions came across a little strange. After his beat down at the end of the last book and his subsequent disappearance felt a little off and weird. When we are given an explanation I didn’t quite find it believable in a way. His dad was always this imposing figure in the background during the course of the series and I’m not quite sure what his purpose was. He isn’t really present for a lot of the book and I don’t really think that whole plot line was necessary.

Once again I really enjoyed the camaraderie between all of the other students at the school, especially between Janene and Stevie. Their friendship I thought was quite special; Janene is so supportive of Stevie and understands her limits and Stevie even though she is all wrapped up in the mystery and unravelling the clues she will still always show up when Janene needs her.

The almost manic nature of Stevie’s thoughts mixed with the building anticipation over the course of the plot kept the pace quite fast. I was definitely surprised when Stevie explained who was behind everything and I was very much satisfied with the conclusion.

⭐️4/5 a solid ending to a very entertaining series!!