2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion
ARCHIVE 2018
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Samantha's Personal Challenge
2018 Reading Statistics
Genre/Type
Biography/Memoir:
Classics: 2
Contemporary:
Fantasy: 19
Graphic Novel/Comic books/Manga: 6
Historical Fiction:
Horror: 16
General Fiction:
Literary Fiction:
Mystery: 1
Nonfiction: 1
Dystopia/Post-Apocalyptic:
Poetry: 6
Science Fiction: 3
Short Stories:
Romance: 5
Length
Short (<250 pages): 29
Medium (250-500 pages): 20
Long (501-800 pages): 9
Very Long (>800 pages): 1
Author Gender
Female: 32
Male: 27
New to Me or Repeat Author?
New to Me: 28
Repeat: 31
Series or Standalone Book?
Series: 36
Stand alone: 23
Re-read?
Yes: 14
Format
eBook: 14
Hard or paperback: 43
Audiobook: 0
Source
I own: 24
From library: 31
Borrowed: 4
Total books this year:
January - 4
February - 3
March - 5
April - 9
May - 9
June - 2
July - 6
August - 2
September - 3
October - 4
November - 11
December - 1
Edgedancer by Brandon Sanderson
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Unlike Brandon Sanderson, Lift isn't necessarily my favorite character. With this in mind, I can see why this story was necessary for the Stormlight Archive. There are details and ideas in this story that I could see are relevant to what is going on with the main storyline. If I enjoyed Lift's character, I would've rated this book a lot higher. For me, I didn't really think it got interesting until about halfway through. It was easy to get through and nice to see the tie-ins to the main storyline. Not a horrible book by any means, but I'm not sure if I'll read it over and over again like I am with the thicker 1,000+ books in the series.
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
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This was an interesting story. I was aware of the basic premise of the book, but also knew there were mixed reviews about it. Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was much shorter than I'm used to, so the plot wasn't as complex, but it was what I was looking for. The characters are pretty diverse and easy to relate to, even in the short amount of time you spend with them. The only reason I took a star off is because there were just a few moments where some vulgar language appeared and it really came from nowhere. Honestly, I have no problem with using foul language in a book if that is the tone of the book/character. In this book, it completely came out of nowhere and stood out like a sore thumb. It only happened a couple of times, but it was enough for me to take off a star. Overall, I'd say give it a try. It's short enough that even if you don't like it, you won't have wasted much time on it. If you do enjoy it, then it was worth the read.
Samantha wrote: "I'm going to do the same thing I did last year. I significantly lowered my reading goal because I didn't come close last year. I'm hoping to surpass it this year. We'll see what happens :) ..."Good luck with your new goal Samantha but above all I wish you a very happy reading year!!
Good luck Samantha! I like your reviews are you trying to review every book you read or just the ones you love? I hope you have a great year reading.
Oh man, I like your statistics chart. You could make some cool graphs out of that at the end of the year! I like statistics, nerd alert.How many are you aiming for in 2018? 25? I went and looked at your profile. Honestly, I think it's much more satisfying to meet and then surpass a goal than always trailing behind one that's set too high.
Blagica wrote: "Good luck Samantha! I like your reviews are you trying to review every book you read or just the ones you love? I hope you have a great year reading."Hey Blanca! The goal is to review every book. Last year, I started up a blog, but fell a little behind. So I'm just trying to get back in the habit of reading and reviewing books and hoping to start up the blog again *cross fingers*
Jakob wrote: "Oh man, I like your statistics chart. You could make some cool graphs out of that at the end of the year! I like statistics, nerd alert.How many are you aiming for in 2018? 25? I went and looked ..."
Thanks Jakob! I got that statistics idea from someone else. It would be cool to see it all graphed out. I might put it in my journal at the end of the month/year :) I wanted my reading goal low this year because of exactly what you said. I put it too high last year and felt bad for not reading as much. At the track I'm on now, I'm betting I'll be able to hit my goal this year :)
Susy wrote: "Samantha wrote: "I'm going to do the same thing I did last year. I significantly lowered my reading goal because I didn't come close last year. I'm hoping to surpass it this year. We'll see what ha..."Thank you for the luck Susy :) Wishing you the best this year as well!
Samantha wrote: "Thank you for the luck Susy :) Wishing you the best this year as well! "Thx Samantha! :)
becoming. by Renaada Williams
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Now, I'm not really a poetry person. I didn't even have poetry as one of my reading genres because it's something I'm usually not even tempted to pick up. A friend of mine told me she really enjoyed this book and said it was a quick read. So, I figured why not? Now after reading it, I want to purchase a copy for myself. I found that a lot of the poems were inspirational for me and also made me feel like my life story has been understood by someone else. I didn't rate it 5 stars because I didn't think it was the best thing ever, BUT I would recommend it to others for sure. I think I read it in a half hour, so it really is a quick read :)
The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
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Like I said above, I'm not really into poetry, but I really liked this collection. I really liked how it was broken down into four sections, which were all related to one another. It was thicker, but I got through the book in two days (I'd probably say it was about 3 hours total). I felt like the poems really hit a vulnerable, real part in all of us women and it's a perspective that should be heard. The reason I took off a heart was because I wasn't totally into the first part because it talks about her break-up. I'm happily married to my husband, who I've been with for almost 10 years, so it was hard for me to identify with her on that. I could definitely see how other women would connect with her journey in terms of the break-up though. Overall, go check it out :) I know I'll be checking out more from this author myself.
Samantha You are making great progress keep up the great books!
Blagica wrote: "Samantha You are making great progress keep up the great books!"Hahaha it isn't nearly as much as I wanted at this point, but I am glad that I'm at least reading :) Thank you for the encouragement!
Akarnae by Lynette Noni
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I heard about this book series from LittleBookOwl and thought I would give it a try. I've been looking for something similar to Harry Potter with the whole school setting and dealing with magic. This did not disappoint! I totally fulfilled my need for another magic school and with a badass female main character. This book was obviously mainly focused on world-building, but it was done in a great way. I was hooked right from the beginning and I cannot wait to see what other adventures are ahead!
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
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When it comes to my rating, a more accurate representation would be 3 stars for the first half and 5 stars for the second. Averaging it all out comes to 4 so here we are.
I don't remember what I gave Throne of Glass, but I remember being interested in the whole competition, not necessarily Celaena. I was intrigued enough that I wanted to read this book. The first half was a little hard to get through because there just isn't much going on. After finishing the book, I see that she was just building up the information you needed to follow what happens in the second half, but it was slow. A lot of it is focused on Celaena and I just don't like her as a main character. She's a bit off-putting to me and maybe it's because she's an assassin that she is the way she is, but it's been hard to connect with her. When we get halfway through the book, things really start picking up. For everyone who's read the book, you know exactly which part I'm talking about. From halfway on, it was really action-packed, filled with emotion, and interesting events just one after the other. I wish the whole book would've been that way. There was a twist? at the end, but it was something I had figured out earlier so I don't know how big of a twist it was really meant to be. The ending seems a little typical compared to a few other YA fantasy books I've read, but I've heard that the third book is the best out of the first three, so I'll give it a shot.
Overall, I can see why people have given up on this series at the beginning. It's a slow buildup that most fantasy readers are not used to. Celaena's character development is barely noticeable in these first two books and she's the one who needs the biggest transformation of them all. We'll see what book 3 has in store and maybe it'll be the turning point of the series.
Hi Samantha, I did not enjoy Crown of Midnight for all the reasons you identified. Plus I’m just not convinced about the romance or Chaol. I see why it was done but meh!. I heard that Heir of Fire is no better but I’ve bought and am trying to convince myself to read it. But if it is like the beginning of Crown of Midnight, a whole heap of nothing and then try to build me up for the next book, I’m out. But honestly, I’m not all that eager hearing some of the reviews for the later books.
June wrote: "Hi Samantha, I did not enjoy Crown of Midnight for all the reasons you identified. Plus I’m just not convinced about the romance or Chaol. I see why it was done but meh!. I heard that Heir of Fire ..."I'm actually kind of into the romance between Celaena and Chaol, but I can see how she's going to drag that out, if she goes that route. I actually thought (view spoiler). I think book 3 is gonna be my last strike too. If it doesn't win me over by the end of that book, then I'm just going to leave it be and move on to different series that I know I want to read.
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
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After reading the first book, I was hoping to learn more about Jack and Jill's world because it sounded interesting to me and that's exactly what this book delivers! We get some background about the environment they were born into, how they got to their world and what happened while they were there. I absolutely loved this book! I heard that the third one continues from where book 1 left off, so I'm very much excited to continue with the story now that I know what the history is with these two!
You are doing great! Hoping March is a great month for you.
Blagica wrote: "You are doing great! Hoping March is a great month for you."Thanks! I hope so too <3
Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann
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When I started this book/poetry collection, I had no idea what it was about. I was really curious about the title and just went with it. I felt that it could have a huge impact on some people, depending on what they're going through. For me, I felt a bit disjointed from her. Her story seemed to go by so quick that I didn't really have time to let her feelings sink in. Half of the book is her not dealing with her emotions about her decision, which is completely understandable, but also a big reason I probably felt disjointed form her. Not a bad collection, by any means, it just didn't hit me as hard as I would expect it to.
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
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I basically have the same feelings towards this book as I did for The Sun and Her Flowers. I really connected with the first part because I very much lived through those same experiences. I disconnected a bit when she talks about the relationship because it's just a different experience than what I've had and it's been so long since I've gone through a break-up. I would like to say here though that just because I didn't connect with it doesn't mean I didn't find it beautiful. I think these words could really help someone in a similar situation or just help others be aware of what a person goes through during a break-up (a.k.a. someone like me). The last part was also good as well. I like when Rupi talks about femininity and embracing being a woman. "Girl power" has been a really big thing the past couple years, significantly more noticeable in my opinion, and I really think Rupi's words reflect the direction this movement is going with. Nothing about man-hating, more on women loving themselves because there's just so little love we've been giving ourselves. Overall, it doesn't take much time to read, so it doesn't hurt to read it. You may find a poem/some words that will really leave an impact on you.
Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire
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I am really loving these books for the interesting worlds we're going to and the fun adventures we're having with the characters. I would have given the book 5 stars, but had to knock it down for a couple of reasons (which kind of go hand-in-hand).
There has been a lot of criticism about the fat representation in this book and I agree that it's poorly represented as well. Luckily, most of the book is focused on the adventure, but when Cora (who is narrating the story) starts talking about how she's fat, it seems like too much and simplifies her into being a person who only thinks about how other people have called her fat and that's all she is. Which leads me to my second issue with the book (as well as my problem with the first book).
It seems like the person who is mainly narrating the story (Nancy in the first book and Cora in this one) are extremely boring compared to the people surrounding them. All Nancy wants is to be still, that's it. Cora can only talk about how she's fat and how people treat her about being fat, that's it. They're extremely one-dimensional which sticks out when surrounded by these other characters that seem so vibrant. It doesn't bother me enough that I don't like the books. I am actually considering buying these books for my shelves because I love the worlds that are displayed in this series. It just needed to be put out there that the series isn't perfect, but is completely enjoyable.
Lirael by Garth Nix
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Now, to give you a little background about my history with this series before I dive in with this review. I first read Sabriel in middle school when I was just browsing the shelves. I didn't know anything about it, but was attracted to the dark cover. Absolutely loved it. So, I bought a boxed set (or got it as a gift, more likely), and read Lirael once in high school. Since middle school, I've read Sabriel at least 5 times and love it every time. But then I get to 705-page Lirael, and I get stuck because it's so long and life is so busy. Meaning I've never even read the rest of the books in the series!
So, here we are today and I've finished Lirael. I'm leaning more towards 4.5 stars on this because I loved Lirael's parts so much. With Sam, I didn't necessarily like him, but I saw him as the youth he is and that he had some growing to do in this series. The pacing seemed different from other books, kind of like those trilogies where it's all one story plot for book 2 and 3, but they can't fit it all into one book, so it's stopped in the middle at the end of book 2. It was just different for me because I had 150 pages left of the book, usually where the main climax is at and the characters were just trying to travel to their destination. Which is why I knocked off about a 1/2 star.
Honestly, I love this book and Sabriel because it's different from anything I've read before. I've read a lot of fantasy and I feel like this has that familiar feel of a journey, but is it's own thing - it's own world. I completely recommend this series if you like something a little darker, but easy to read. If you're looking for something for your kids to read (middle-school/high-school) that is appropriate, but not childish, I recommend this. If you're an adult looking for a great adventure on the darker side that's easier to read than adult fantasy, I recommend this series. It's great for all ages!
Sorry to get back to you so late Kristin! I would recommend the Seanan McGuire series - definitely been a fun, quick read. I’d also recommend Akarnae and the Abhorsen series, but they are YA, so they’re simpler than adult fantasy (obviously). The Akarnae series (can’t remember the actual name of the series) I haven’t heard much about, but what I have heard is great. I’ve heard it only gets better with each book (there’s four out at the moment). The Abhorsen series seems to be one of those that you either love or don’t care for. So I recommend trying Sabriel. If you love it, keep going. If you didn’t care for it so much, then it may not be for you. With the poetry, I really loved becoming. I also really enjoyed the sun and her flowers, but poetry is probably more about being relatable than anything.
Edgedancer isn’t really something that should be read on its own. I would think it would be pretty confusing. And I didn’t really care for Ask me why I got here, but again, that’s poetry, so it’s different for everyone.
Accidentally Compromising the Duke by Stacy Reid
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Historical romance is my cup of tea when I just want to breeze through a book. This one was recommended by one of the BookTubers called Tea Hags. I thought I would give it a try and I was not disappointed. It has the cold-hearted appearing guy who actually gave all of himself to someone else and was heartbroken and the female heroine who stands up to him and won't let him hide in his shell. I really felt some strong emotions when reading this story and didn't want to just rush through to get to the fun parts. I genuinely wanted to read the entire story. I will definitely be continuing this series <3
A book is a dream that you hold in your hand. Looks like you have had some awesome dreams this year. I hope that April brings you many more five star reads.
Wicked in His Arms by Stacy Reid
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Stacy Reid is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance authors. I love how she writes serious topics with her characters to make them more relatable and give an actual reasoning behind their actions (or non-action). I also love that I'm able to breeze through them in a few hours so I can binge read them as fast as I can!
The Duke's Shotgun Wedding by Stacy Reid
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I've been on a Stacy Reid read-a-thon and thought I would give this series a shot, especially since this book was only a little over 100 pages. My biggest problem ironically turned out to be the reason I was attracted to this book - the page count. Right from the beginning, I felt like the story was rushed and that I just didn't have enough time to get to know the characters and for what I would think the characters to get to know each other and actually fall in love. I didn't have too much of a problem with the story overall, with a slight exception of the female mc slapping the male mc. Personally, I don't think physical violence in a relationship, no matter how warranted the repercussion may be, is something that should be seen as part of a healthy relationship. People who find issue with domestic violence might be more triggered or upset about it than I was.
Overall, it was a quick story. After starting the second book in this series, I've found that it's going over a relationship that is already established at the beginning of the first book, which was disconcerting. I would say if you want to give this series a try, start with book 2, then read book 1 (this one). I feel like that would have a more natural flow than the current order. If anyone does do this, let me know!
My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 1 by Emil Ferris
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The artwork is what brought me to reading this graphic novel and honestly, that's the only reason you need to read this. It's absolutely beautiful and I love how you can see every single line she made on paper. My favorite pages are the magazine covers <3.
I rated this 4 out of 5 because I felt like there was just too much going on, for me at least. You are basically following the life of the main character, who is 10 years old, and it really is every aspect of her life: from home, to school, to relationships, her neighbors, their lives, and her dreams. I would say considering how much information is in it, it was done well. I just felt the plot could have been streamlined a little bit more. Or maybe if I went in knowing it was going to be an encompassing look at her life, I would rate this a 5.
Overall, I did love the stories told in this volume and I do feel connected with the characters, especially Karen (the main character) and Deezy (the brother). You never see things from Deezy's perspective, but you get hints and glimpses of what is going on in his life and his head, which is done really well. I will be reading the second volume when it comes out later this year :)
The Irresistible Miss Peppiwell by Stacy Reid
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This book was better than the first one in the series, in my opinion. I felt like the relationship between the two was built up rather than just flung together and they had good chemistry together. While reading it, I kept wondering why this wasn't the first book in the series and the first book made the second in the series? It wasn't until I got to the end of this book that I realized the stories overlap (it includes the marriage of the main characters from book 1). I still think it would've been better to switch them though. I felt more was explained about their family situation in this book that would've been easier to understand in the first one.
For some reason, there was one sitituation that probably lasted only a chapter that really bothered me. The FMC is kidnapped and almost raped by a suitor who's obviously not a gentleman (not the MMC). That's not necessarily my problem though. My problem is that the MMC comes to save her and she immediately wants to sleep with him in order to get rid of the previous man's touch on her. At first, I thought she just wanted him to comfort her - absolutely understandable - but then they're taking their clothes off and that just bothered me.
Without disclosing too much, I'm a survivor of sexual abuse and rape, so I have a little background on being in that situation. I wasn't rescued like this character was. Even though I wasn't rescued, I can tell you for sure that I would not be thinking about sex right after the encounter. Immediately afterwards, I didn't want anyone to touch me - including my own family. In the story, it would be a little more understandable if the police were called or they were trying to find the guy and (after about a day or two) want to unwind from it all, then that would seem ok. I just didn't think it was realistic to think she wanted to do it RIGHT after being assaulted.
Now, I know I wrote a lot about this (and the scene is really short), but I really liked the other 98% of the book. So, I don't want this to discourage anyone necessarily. Just be aware going into the book that this comes up and that her reaction to this situation is not necessarily realistic. Although, this opinion is based off of my own personal experience and maybe it is possible that someone else went through the same situation I did and reacted differently. It's hard to say, but those are my thoughts on it.
I do want to try book #3 in this series, but I don't know about #4. It depends on how the 3rd one goes. I do have to say though, I absolutely LOVE her other series (Married by Scandal). I'm just finding it hard to get through this particular series.
The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells
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I picked this book up on a whim and I'm so glad I did. I'm surprised I didn't have to read it for school at some point. I love the suspense throughout the book, as well as all the philosophical talking points you could have about a variety of topics. I could read this book multiple times and look at a situation differently than the last reading. For only being 104 pages, there's a lot in there to think about without it being difficult to read, like most classics tend to be.
If I were to compare it to another book that is widely read, I would say it gives off a The Most Dangerous Game vibe for me. If you loved that story, you'll love this one as well. Definitely would recommend to anyone and everyone, especially people who want to start reading classics, but don't know where to start.
Mary's Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lita Judge
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I'd say this is closer to 4.5 rather than 4. All I knew going into this was that it was about Mary Shelley's life. Before this book, I didn't know anything about her background, AT ALL. While reading this, I was wondering how much, if any, liberty the author was taking with her life in order to make a story. It wasn't until I got to the end and read all the wonderful notes in the back that I realized that it was as true as a historian can get when writing a story on someone's life. I liked how the author put in all those details in the back of the book and listed all the sources to the lines of poetry she wrote throughout the book.
At the beginning, I was thinking this would be about a 3 story read because I wasn't too crazy about her going after a married guy (I know, it's facts, but it still unsettled me). The more I read, however, the more intrigued I became and the deeper I dove in. It's a quick read (took me an hour) and it's really informative about Mary Shelley and how she came to write Frankenstein.
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
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I really enjoyed reading this classic. I typically don't read adventure stories, but I do enjoy action and this has a bunch of action in it. Even though it's a classic, it's written in a way you can easily comprehend it. Although, I did get tripped up on the sailor vocal every once in a while, but not enough that it slowed down my reading or understanding of the story. It was a fun read and I could definitely see middle school/high school kids reading this book and having a fun time with it.
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb by R.L. Stine
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I read this book when I was a kid a couple times and as an adult, I couldn't remember what happened in it. Now I know why. It took FOREVER for the book to actually get to mummies and even then, it wasn't what you'd expect. As a tween, this would probably be a decent scary book, but as an adult, it wasn't enough mummies and too much kids wandering around getting lost. This is one of those books where it's only scary for a certain age demographic, which isn't bad, but is good to be aware of going in.
The Diviners by Libba Bray
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I went into this book expecting a supernatural, scary mystery and this book definitely delivered on that! It took a while to get through the book, purely because I had to wait for a library loan to be available. Thanks to the Dewey's 24 Readathon, I had an excuse to dedicate a lot of time to this book. I found myself liking a lot of the characters and really interested in their story lines. The creepy factor was definitely there and I'm excited to read more from this series! If you're looking for something creepy with a nice mystery, this is the place to go!
I do want to forward you though, I found Evie to be quite annoying for the first half of the book, BUT she does kinda veer off the annoying path for the second half of the book. I was thinking of knocking off a little bit for her, but honestly, the rest of the book is so good that it deserves 5 stars. Just be aware of it going in and you'll be jake ;)
“Reading brings us unknown friends” While the warm weather is coming I hope you make some new friends in May! You are doing great keep it up!
Swept Away by Toni Blake
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I'm in a love/hate relationship with this book. Parts of this book got me really emotional and other parts of this made me extremely pissed off, in a bad way. So, If I had to break down the rating scale, I'd do it like this:
Romance scenes: 4
General plot: 4.5
Characters' problem-solving/conversations: 1.5
So, that averages out to about a 3, so we're gonna go with that.
Honestly, I really liked the general plot to this story. It was a little convenient how they meet in the beginning, but when you look beyond that, it was pretty good. I got to about the 60% mark and that's where it started to hurt. Because now they're a couple and they're both doubting themselves. But it's not your typical mc doubting - it's to the extreme. They'll see each other multiple times for the remainder of the book and neither one can just talk about what's going on with how they're feeling. It was so frustrating to read. If I didn't have to read this for a challenge, I don't think I would've finished it for that alone. I knew how it was going to end about 35% of the way through, but I was curious about how things would develop between the two. It took me 3 library renewals to finish this almost 400 page book. Which for a romance book, it pretty sad because I can normally finish a 400-page romance in a few days. and it took me...almost 2 months. So....do with that as you will.
Obsidio by Amie Kaufman
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As a finale, I'm feel like it tied things up as well as could be done. I don't know what I was expecting going into this, but I thought it would have more action like the first two did. For the first half of the book, I could engage with it while I was reading. The problem was when I put the book down. It would take me a while to want to pick it up again. I was expecting to read this book in one day, maybe two. But instead it took me a week. I wouldn't say it was boring. I thought everything had its place in the story, especially to help you understand what's going down for the second half.
I was wanting more of the supernatural, fantastical elements that the first two had. Instead I got real-life horrors that are happening now, but set in outer space. While it made sense for the story, it's not what I look for in my reading. I'm trying to escape from the real world. This is different for everyone and it's probably a good thing for teens to see and understand that the "bad guys" in life are not always as black and white as they seem.
Overall, I only knocked it down a star because the action didn't really happen until the second half of the book. Otherwise, I feel like it was a good conclusion to the trilogy as a whole.
Bird Box by Josh Malerman
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I really loved this book. It kept me hooked from page 1. I didn't want to put it down, but when I had to, I thought about it. This book brings up some interesting questions about what people would think about in this world and different ways they handle it. It's only 260 pages, so it's not going to take much time to get through. I believe it took me about 4 hours. There are a few graphic scenes, but they're short. Honestly, ever since I read American Psycho, I don't think anything can gross me out anymore. So, if you're not into gore, this story really doesn't have that much in it. Give it a whirl - I don't think you'll regret it ;)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
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*old review*
GAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! I love this series so much <33333333 I read the books multiple times when they first came out, but as time has passed, I've watching the movies more and more because it takes less time to watch the movies than read them (especially as the books get bigger). When Alan Rickman passed away, I wanted to re-read the books again, to remember all the little details that the movies left out or changed. I'm so glad I'm doing this! There were little details that made the wizarding world so real to me! The Harry Potter series is one of a very few that I can really feel myself in that world and it feels just as new as the first time, no matter how many times I read it. I just LOVED experiencing it all over again <3
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
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Just absolutely love this series <3 I forgot how annoying Gilderoy was, but it was enjoyable to go through this journey again. I found little tidbits of info that I didn't notice the previous times I read the book, which is always fun. Even as an adult, I find myself just easily thrown into this world. Love it!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
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After re-reading the first three books of this series, this one is my favorite of the three. You can tell that there are some darker times coming as the tone starts to become a little darker. It still has its light-hearted moments and made me chuckle a few times. I found myself endearing one character more than I have in the past. I think re-reading the books as an adult has changed my perspective a little bit on some of the characters. Thoroughly enjoying this re-read and looking forward to the rest to come.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
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I truly loved this book. I'd probably honestly give it 4.5 stars because I felt the magic system wasn't clarified enough, but everything else was wonderful. I felt a strong emotional pull for all the characters on both sides of the issue. There was a lot of action in it, which kept me reading and wanting to know more. I felt like there were some scenes that I expected to play one way, but they didn't, which was nice for a change. I was looking for the cliche and it wasn't coming up nearly as often (but I do admit, there are a couple in there). Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be reading the next one to come out!
Attack of the Jack-O'-Lanterns by R.L. Stine
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This is my first time reading this book and I wish I had read it as a kid. As an adult, I was actually pretty hooked and got a creepy vibe off of what was happening. I know as a kid, it would've been just the right amount of scare. The ending isn't really my thing, but it tied everything up nicely, R.L. Stine style. Definitely recommend it if you're in middle/high school and looking for something scary.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
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It has been a long time since I've read this book, so I was anxious about getting to it this time around - wondering if it would hold up after all this time. I'm relieved to say that it did. I love how the books get so in depth about what school life is like. In the movies, they only have so much time, so they focus on the overall main plot. In the books, you have all the time in the world to focus on their class schedule an sneak in those lovely little details that major fans can enjoy. This is definitely the book that goes full dark first and just has me pumped to read the rest! Although, I do have to say I'm a little worried about the 5th book. Anyone who's read it before probably knows why...
“I have always imagined paradise will be a kind of library.” I hope you find a corner in Paradise with some great books!! 32 books is fantastic keep it up. Congrats on completing your goal!
2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Emperor's Soul (other topics)The Emperor's Soul (other topics)
Binti (other topics)
Binti (other topics)
Small Spaces (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Brandon Sanderson (other topics)Nnedi Okorafor (other topics)
Katherine Arden (other topics)
Natasha Trethewey (other topics)
Ada Limon (other topics)
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Books Read:
Edgedancer ♥♥♥
Every Heart a Doorway ♥♥♥♥
becoming. ♥♥♥♥
The Sun and Her Flowers ♥♥♥♥
Akarnae ♥♥♥♥
Crown of Midnight ♥♥♥♥
Down Among the Sticks and Bones ♥♥♥♥♥
Ask Me How I Got Here ♥♥♥
Milk and Honey ♥♥♥♥
Beneath the Sugar Sky ♥♥♥♥
Lirael ♥♥♥♥
Accidentally Compromising the Duke ♥♥♥♥
Wicked in His Arms ♥♥♥♥
The Duke's Shotgun Wedding ♥♥♥
My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 1 ♥♥♥♥
The Irresistible Miss Peppiwell ♥♥♥♥
The Island of Dr. Moreau ♥♥♥♥♥
Mary's Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein ♥♥♥♥
Treasure Island ♥♥♥♥
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb ♥♥♥
The Diviners ♥♥♥♥♥
Swept Away ♥♥♥
Obsidio ♥♥♥♥
Bird Box ♥♥♥♥♥
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ♥♥♥♥♥
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ♥♥♥♥♥
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ♥♥♥♥♥
Children of Blood and Bone ♥♥♥♥♥
Attack of the Jack-O'-Lanterns ♥♥♥♥
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ♥♥♥♥♥
Homeland ♥♥♥♥
The Passage ♥♥♥♥♥
The Redbreast ♥♥♥♥
The Witch Family ♥♥♥
Firestarter ♥♥♥♥
I'm Thinking of Ending Things ♥♥
Annihilation ♥♥♥♥
The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher ♥♥♥♥♥
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ♥♥♥♥♥
Piano Lessons Can Be Murder ♥♥♥♥
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ♥♥♥♥♥
Black Mad Wheel ♥♥♥♥
The Haunting of Hill House ♥♥♥♥♥
Heart-Shaped Box ♥♥♥♥♥
Preludes & Nocturnes ♥♥♥♥♥
The Doll's House ♥♥♥♥♥
Dream Country ♥♥♥♥
My Best Friend's Exorcism ♥♥♥♥1/2
The Screaming Staircase ♥♥♥♥♥
The Hellbound Heart ♥♥♥♥
Season of Mists ♥♥♥♥
A Game of You ♥♥♥1/2
The Grownup ♥♥♥♥♥
The Eye of the World ♥♥♥♥♥
Bright Dead Things ♥♥♥♥
Native Guard ♥♥♥♥♥
Small Spaces ♥♥♥♥♥
Binti ♥♥♥♥
The Emperor's Soul ♥♥♥♥♥