Amy Leigh Reads

Words of Radiance Update

August 29, 2018November 21, 2018by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment

Unfortunately life has gotten in the way and I won’t have time to finish Words of Radiance by the end of this month. I am currently on page 535 and I am loving every word! I will continue to read on throughout the rest of this month and continue on through to next month but I just don’t have the time to sit down and read this 1000 page tome and give it the attention it deserves.

I am in love with Brandon Sanderson’s writing style and the world’s he comes up with are so epic and expansive it’s amazing to me. The characters are so well developed and the descriptive nature of his writing really makes the action leap out of the pages. Already so much has happened and I’m a little less than half way through… I have so many thoughts and theories so far and I am looking forward to continuing on in this series over the course of the next few months.

Book Lists

Book Releases I’m Anticipating

August 28, 2018November 27, 2018by amyleighreads3 Comments

These are the top 5 book releases of the second half of 2018 that I am eagerly anticipating. I cannot wait to get my hands on these books and I am excited to be continuing on in some of my favourite series.

The 1^st book I’m excited to be released is Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake. I believe this is the third and final book in the Three Dark Crowns series that I also read earlier this year consisting of Three Dark Crowns and One Dark Throne. This is a dark, atmospheric fantasy series that I flew through when I read them. I loved the characters and their growth and the twists and turns that occur are very entertaining to read. Released September 25^th 2018

The 2^ndbook I cannot wait to read is Wildcard by Marie Lu. I read Warcross earlier this year and absolutely loved it. Emika as a character was one of my favourite female protagonists I’ve read this year, she’s clever, she’s street savvy but also tenacious and persistent. I enjoyed the gradual relationship she shared with Hideo and after that cliff-hanger at the end I can’t wait to get stuck in and see what happens next. Released September 17^th 2018

The 3^rd book on my list is Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor. I actually have Strange the Dreamer as one of my top 10 books of 2018 so far, so I am excited to jump straight back into that world and continue on in the story. Strange the Dreamer is lyrical and whimsical and different than anything I’ve read before. Released 2^nd October 2018

The 4^th book I am anticipating for the second half of this year is Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas. This is the seventh and I think last book in the Throne of Glass series. I just finished Tower of Dawn and that really catapulted me right back into the story and hyped my back up for this series. I loved reading Throne of Glass and I can’t wait to see how Aelin works her way out of her current predicament and we finally get the outcome of the war. Released 23^rd October 2018

The last book on my list that I can’t wait to get me hands on is Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare. This is the third book in the Dark Artifices series and oh my goodness have I been waiting. Lord of Shadows really broke me emotionally after that ending and I honestly don’t know what is going to happen next. How Emma and Julian and the rest of the Blackthorns are going to deal emotionally as well as the ramifications felt throughout the rest of the clave. This is probably my most anticipated book of 2018 and I’m excited that the release date is getting closer and closer. Released 4^th December 2018

Reviews

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda Review

August 27, 2018November 21, 2018by amyleighreads2 Comments

*Non Spoiler Review*

Oh Simon…

51YD0qrSr6L._SX328_BO1204203200_ This book follows Simon a 16 year old boy who is gay but hasn’t told anyone yet. Another boy in his grade finds out and makes thinly veiled threats about outing him unless he sets him up with one of Simon’s best friends.

This was a very fast paced, fluffy, feel good kind of book. However, there was also an undercurrent of emotional turmoil and anguish. I thought it was very well written and really evoked the frustration and confusion that Simon was experiencing at the time.

I loved the dialogue and the conversations used in the book, I thought it was witty and humorous and kept me thoroughly entertained. The characters were very well thought out and there was a depth to all of them, they all served a purpose in the novel and really added layers to the narrative. I also enjoyed the pop culture references and the use of music to help evoke how Simon was feeling.

There were times when Simon kind of got on my nerves, just a little too self absorbed but I think we definitely see him grow and realise his flaws and work towards being a better person which I appreciated. I also loved how he came into himself towards the end of the book especially when he finally shows how comfortable he is in his sexuality.

I liked the mystery aspect that Becky Albertalli added with the emails between Simon and Blue. I think it really allowed Simon to open up and express himself and show the softer, true side of him that he doesn’t really show to the world. It also was a fun way for the reader to try and dig through the list of characters to try and figure out who Blue is.

I also thought Simon’s sisters were fantastic. They were really supportive of him throughout this transition period in Simon’s life and the fact that they didn’t treat him any differently after he came out and just accepted him for the person he is really showed how much they love and trust him.

All in I thought it was a great book; I actually finished it all in one sitting so it is a very quick read. I loved that we see this in Simon’s perspective as a young gay man and how difficult it is for him in today’s cyber society and in a social environment like school.

⭐️4/5 stars a fun, quick, important read!

Book Lists

Booktube made me read it….

August 24, 2018November 27, 2018by amyleighreads1 Comment

*A little spoilery*

Today I thought I’d do a fun little post about 5 books that I read this year because of booktube. These books I had either seen a bunch of people do reviews on, or everyone put them in their TBR’s the same month, or they would be in everyone’s top favourite books of all time or something along those lines and I was curious enough to pick them up and give them a read.

The 1^st book I read because of booktube is The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. I didn’t hate this book, but I also didn’t love it. Jude just wasn’t a favourite character of mine; I didn’t find her to be likeable throughout the novel. Some of her choices she made just didn’t sit well with me and the relationships she formed Locke and Cardan just seemed a bit odd and cringey, especially after they made her life hell for so long. I much preferred her older sister Vivi, I loved that she rebelled from her father Madoc and how she tried to pry her younger sisters out of the world of Faerie and give them a normal life back in the mortal world. I did enjoy the ending however and I am curious as to how the series will be continued so I will be reading on. ⭐️3/5 stars

The 2^nd book I read was Turtles All the Way Down by John Green. When this book first came out I seen it everywhere and everyone was raving about how good it was. I don’t read a lot of contemporary books but I was strolling through a bookstore one day and the title jumped out at me and so I immediately picked it up and proceeded to read it. I thought the plot was actually very captivating and original, I thought it was fast paced and entertaining. Aza as a character was very relatable and real, it was as if I could feel what she was going through and her anguish and pain was bleeding through the pages. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book and I am glad that I bought into the hype and read it. ⭐️4/5 stars

The 3^rd book I read because of booktube was Graceling by Kristin Cashore. As fantasy is one of my all time favourite genres I regularly peruse YouTube for lists of fantasy favourites and Graceling would always make an appearance in those lists. I picked it up with not really any expectations, I just wanted to get into a good fantasy book as I was craving one at the time and I absolutely loved it. I thought the premise was amazing, people being gifted with different graces I just thought that was really creative and it was very engaging throughout the plot. Katsa, as a female protagonist was deadly, powerful yet still very feminine and graceful (lol) she was a joy to read and this book really caught me by surprise. ⭐️4/5 stars

The 4^th book that booktube made me read was The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton. Another book that I didn’t love but I also didn’t hate. Again it was just because I couldn’t quite gel with Camellia. I thought she was terribly naïve throughout the first half of the storyline and kind of put me off her as character. I did think she progressed throughout the story line and started to read between the lines of what was going on at the palace. I thought the premise of the book was interesting and original, how everyone is born grey and the Belles are the beautiful colourful young girls who have the ability to transform other’s appearances to follow beauty standards and trends. ⭐️3/5 stars

The 5^th book I read because of booktube was Scythe by Neal Shusterman. Again at one stage in the booktube community it seemed like everyone was reading Scythe at the same time and raving about how good it was. I gave in and read it and of course I loved it like everyone else! I just thought it was so clever and refreshing. The premise of this book is just so thought provoking and it’s structured so well that I honestly didn’t know what was going to happen next. There are so many twists and turns and political machinations in the Scythedom and I highly enjoyed my time reading this book! ⭐️4/5 stars

Reviews

Tower of Dawn Review

August 23, 2018November 21, 2018by amyleighreads2 Comments

*Spoilers Ahead*

Oh my goodness, I am blown away. The intricacies in the storylines and how they have been woven together throughout the whole Throne of Glass series is simply masterful. I don’t know why I hesitated so long before picking up Tower of Dawn as it is simply 9781408887974 amazing.

Tower of Dawn follows the story of Chaol and Nesryn as they arrive in Antica to forge an alliance with the Khagan the most powerful ruler in the Southern Continent and to visit the legendary Torre Cosme to heal Chaol from the wounds he received in Rifthold.

The complexity of this book really surprised me. I didn’t realize all that was be gained by Chaol and Nesryn whilst in Antica. I honestly thought it would just be more focused on the political intrigue that the Khagan and his children brought forth as the main plot point of the story. Sure it delved a little deeper into the dynamics of this incredibly powerful family and we learnt a lot more about them but the main focus was really the character growth that we witness throughout the course of the book, in particular Chaol, Yrene and Nesryn.

Chaol is wounded, he’s grief stricken, and guilt ridden and strong beyond measure, watching his character grow throughout the course of this book was spectacular. His narrative is so intimate as we watch him overcome his personal demons as he fights off the demons that have latched on inside of him in his wound. The transition from the man he is when he is wheeled off that boat by Nesryn to the man who walked aboard the vessel to sail back to Erilea with Yrene by his side was so well thought out, genuine and heartfelt. I loved him as a character and I have definitely been swayed, as he wasn’t really a favourite of mine in the rest of the series.

I thought Yrene was also a delight to read. Her strength and resilience in the face of danger is really something to be commended. We see her grow from being timid, yet quietly assertive to being the commanding, powerful tenacious woman that she is meant to be. Seeing the slow build up of their romance through the course of the book was also great. It wasn’t rushed at all and we could really feel the genuineness of the relationship spilling out through the pages.

Nesryn was kind of in the background for the first half of the story for me. I had inklings about her and Sartaq from the first night he followed her to the Torres Tower and I thought he was a good match for her. She is so used to being disciplined and in control and he really counteracted all of that as the carefree, cocky prince. I enjoyed seeing their relationship build and seeing Sartaq’s backstory unfold at Altun and their adventures and discoveries they found during their time there and how it drew them together was worth the read.

This story was full of adventure, heartaches, plotting and revelations and it had my heart pounding the whole time. It was thrilling to read, and seeing the plot points all align together from the last six books in this series was expert. I applaud Sarah J Maas and I am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series later this year!

⭐️5/5 stars nothing more to say!