YHS Class of 2023 discussion

Frankly in Love by David Yoon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the story of Frank Li, a Korean American senior in high school. His parents emigrated to the United States from Korea before Frank and his sister, Hanna, were born. Frank's parents are traditional, and would prefer he date (and marry) a Korean or Korean American girl.

I loved this quote from the book, which is a metaphor about Frank Li's identity and life:

"Nothing is just any one single thing. in fact, what starts out as one thing can turn out to be something completely different.

If you press hard on oobleck, it feels like a solid. Same if you strike it. You can even run across a big trough of oobleck...But there's the weird thing about oobleck: if you gently pass your fingertips through, it yields just like liquid.

SO...
If walls of oobleck block your way,
don't punch and slap and kick all day.
Just hold your breath and close your eyes
and simply ease yourself inside.
Walk slowly through the dark, don't fear
For someday you'll be far from here.




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The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I think the best novels are at once inevitable and unexpected. If they fail to feel inevitable, what truths they may contain lose their luster. And if they fail to surprise you, well... that's just boring. I don't know that I've ever read a book that balances these opposing forces as flawlessly as does The Remains of the Day.

Ishiguro's story is, on its surface, painfully dry. Stevens, an elderly butler whose best days are behind him, goes on a road trip, ostensibly to try and re-enlist the support of his former coworker Miss Kenton to help him run the hall more smoothly (he's been slipping up). Perhaps making the story seem so boring on the surface is the first and even the most fundamental ruse Ishiguro employs. Where better to hide so many surprises?

The novel of course proves to be about much, much more: the death of the old ways in England, the decay of the British Empire, the rise of Nazi Germany, duty, loyalty, dignity, love. Stevens as a narrator glides between these topics in a manner I found completely engrossing, and yet this narration never feels contrived. Rather, it serves continuously to build Stevens into a startlingly authentic character.

There's not a whole lot of action, so if you're usually in need of that, this may not be your favorite. But if you thrive on wit and wistfulness and psychology and sadness, you may wind up adoring this as much as I did.



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An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People by Debbie Reese

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the young adult adaption of the adult book. I definitely recommended this to teens and adults. One of the points that stuck with me throughout the book was the fact the authors do not italicize words from Indigenous languages. They mention this in the prologue, which I read right before I started reading American Dirt which has been the center of a lot controversy and italicizes all the words that are not written in English. So, I guess you can say that reading this book helped me become a more enlightened and critical reader.

The organization of the book was somewhat confusing—otherwise I would have given 5 stars.



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So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I started reading this book over the summer and finished it after learning more about it on my favorite podcast, By the Book. You can listen and learn more about that podcast at https://bythebookpod.com/. I also follow the book's author, Ijeoma Oluo, on Instagram.

My interpretation and experience of this book is influenced by my identity as a white, middle class, cis gender woman. I appreciated how each chapter was based on questions like, "What is racism?" "Why am I always being told to "check my privilege?" and "Why can't I touch your hair?" I found the chapter on "I just got called racist, what do I do now?" particularly enlightening. I see how defensive fellow white people can get when this issue arrises. I think Oluo does a fantastic job pointing out how people's actions are racist without demonizing or writing them off FOR ETERNITY. We can be anti-racist and racist. We need to take responsibility when our actions hurt others, and we can learn and do better. People aren't EITHER/OR.



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In a Perfect World by Laura Kasischke

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Well, this is certainly an odd time to be reading this book that was published in 2009, but seems to lay out the current state of affairs. I'll get to that in a moment. Kasischke tells the story of Jiselle, a 38 year old bachelorette who meets a widowed pilot, Mark, and marries him 3 months into their relationship WITHOUT EVER VISITING HIS HOME OR MEETING HIS THREE CHILDREN.

The world is reeling from the spread of a mysterious disease dubbed the Phoenix Flu. No one is sure how the disease is spread or how to cope with its symptoms. Some think POSITIVE THINKING will prevent the disease (sound familiar in October 2020?). There are food and fuel shortages and regular power outages.

Despite all of this, Kasischke tells a beautiful story about the power of motherly love, even when the children are not biologically your own. That's the real romance of this novel.

I enjoyed the book, and read it quickly. I'm giving it three stars because it was a little messy toward the end and a few inconsistencies. For example, Jiselle cuts one of her step daughters' hair and a couple of paragraphs later is contemplating the girls' "long" locks.



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The Loners

I rated this book four out of five stars because I really enjoyed it! This book is about a group of high schoolers trapped inside their high school who are all affected by a terrible virus. I love the setting, and all the gangs and characters are so relatable. I liked that there were so many plot twists, but it was a little too fast-paced for my taste. I think hardcore sci-fi lovers will adore this dystopian themed book, which is part of a larger series.

Evey wrote: "The Loners

This book is about a group of high schoolers trapped inside their high school who are all affected by a terrible virus. I love the setting, and all the gangs and charact..."

Thanks for sharing! It's a strange time to read dystopian books, but I can't get enough. I just finished another book about a mysterious virus infecting thousands of people and causing supply shortages. Not so fictional right now, huh?

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As I have worked over the past year to develop my understanding of the history and role of race in our country, one of the greatest sources of astonishment for me has been frequent revelations concerning just how close we still are to the Jim Crow era and even to slavery. Yes, more than 150 years have passed since the end of the Civil War, but most of us can still count on one hand the number of generations separating us from a time when people were property in this country. A failure to recognize these enduring tethers amounts to a failure to reckon honestly with the continuing legacy of these abhorrent institutions.

In Kindred, Octavia Butler takes these real but intangible links and solidifies them. Dana, the narrator and protagonist, is a Black author living a middle class life with her White husband in 1970s Los Angeles when suddenly and inexplicably she begins getting sucked back to antebellum Maryland, to the very plantation where her great-grandparents met and conceived her grandmother. With great horror, she soon realizes that these great-grandparents were a slaveowner and a woman he has enslaved, and Dana finds herself confronted with a series of choices between playing matchmaker to an unforgivably shameful and violent union and preventing it at the potential expense of her very existence. It's... a lot.

Which, as a story about one of the most unforgivably shameful and violent periods in human history, is exactly what it needs to be. And yet, despite this intensity, Kindred could be said to have something for everyone. Sci-fi and fantasy? Check. Tender and heartfelt romance (between Dana and her husband)? You got it. Historical period drama? Of course. There's even a touch of humor, although it's generally of a sardonic and cynical variety. If anything, this is where I feel the narrative lacks a bit. There are missed opportunities to draw further parallels with modern America, to hold some of our complacent notions of racial progress up to a much needed critical mirror.

But I admit it's presumptuous of me to expect more here. Overall, I am extremely grateful to Butler for this powerful story and for the questions it poses to each of us about how much of our humanity we can truly take credit for and how much is a matter of our good fortune at having been born into more humane times.



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MonsterWalter Dean Myers

My rating: 3.5/5 stars.

This was a very interesting book to read at this time as we talk about race and the role it plays in America. This novel is about a young black kid named Steve Harmon who is on trial for a robbery that escalated into murder. Steve is just a 16-year-old kid who is now facing 25 years to life in this intense and thought-provoking novel.

I really liked how the author used suspense during this book. Reading this book I couldn't stop turning pages wanting to know what the verdict to Steve's trial would be. Even at the end of the book when you know the verdict there is still some question as to whether he is innocent or not. Something that also really struck me about this book was the importance of making good decisions. In the book, Steve would have never been in any trouble at all if he hadn't gotten caught up with people he knew were gang members and criminals. One thing I didn't like that much about the book was the way it is written. The main character, Steve is very into film and so the book is supposed to be the movie he is writing while in jail. While I found this writing style fairly unique I also thought that it made the story harder to follow and the story definitely had less character development than other books I have read. The other thing was that it was slightly boring at times. It took place mainly in a courtroom so there were times when the book was a little slow to read.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and when I actually sat down and read it, I flew through it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Hate U Give or anyone who likes to read books about law and order. It made me question some things in my own life and I hope that anyone who decides to read this book will also enjoy it as much as I did.

Chronicles of Pelenor Trilogy Collection: by Meg Cowley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book is about three different characters and how they are all connected. One of the main characters, Harper, believes she is a normal human and lives in the human part of her world, unaware of another place thats full of magic. One day she finds a stone that teleports her to this magic place called Pelenor where she meets a group of thieves who she follows. This jumpstarts the plot and things continue from there. I liked the world building in this book, you can really see the contrast between Harper's world and Pelenor. It felt like the author could have done something to make the book more memorable, there are a lot of slow parts that aren't really important to the story that I think could be cut out to make room for more of the story line. I think people who like fantasy and romance will like this book.



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After reading Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give over the summer I was so excited to find out that wasn't her only book. I think that this is an extremely important novel to read in this day and age as we see the ongoing pandemic of racism in the United States.
On the Come Up is an incredible book that takes place in the same setting as The Hate U Give (Garden Heights). I think Angie Thomas used some interesting ways to create some cross overs between the two books which I really enjoyed. The main character is a teenage girl called Bri who is dreaming of pursuing a career of rapping. Her family is not wealthy. They can barely pay the rent or the gas bill. She lives with her mother and brother who are both working hard every day to bring food to the table which makes Bri feel guilty. Her dad, who was murdered and a legendary rapper known as The King of the Garden, is Bri's biggest inspiration and she thrives to be more like him.
I honestly tried to think very hard about what I didn't enjoy about this book and couldn't find anything. (Maybe except for the fact that I would have loved a sequel!)
This is a page-turner that will make you laugh and cry all at the same time. You will follow this heroine on her way to achieve her dreams as she faces racism and sexism along the way and tries to break away from all of these stereotypes while also trying to create music people will enjoy. This captivating book is filled with lessons about friendship, love, and accepting change.
I think anyone would love this book as it is a fast read and an incredible one too! If you are interested in fiction books and loved The Hate U Give then this is definitely the book for you!

Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I liked this book, it had some great detail, the characters were not what you would expect from an adventure book and the horror theme and mystery drew me in. I didn't like how short the book was and the beginning was odd, so don't be discouraged by the first chapter or so and read the stuff before the story it is interesting. I'm not completely sure who would like this book, maybe people who like stories that don't focus on getting to the beginning and people who like brief moments of descriptive language. While this book is pretty good, there is some unsavory language that you maybe not like. So people who are easily disturbed by images presented by this book might not like it.



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Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This novel was incredibly intriguing as well as hard to put down. The novel is written by and features an author and mountain climber named Jon Krakauer. He was hired by Outdoor Magazine to write an article about climbing Mount Everest as well as how much of a commercialized business the climb has become. Instead of just writing about the climb by interviewing people he chooses to climb Mount Everest and finds himself climbing during the most deadly season on Mount Everest ever. He writes about his experiences in a thrilling, ever-changing, and heart-wrenching plot in the novel Into Thin Air.

There are many reasons why I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars but the primary reason is the integration of the history in such an intriguing and dynamic plot. I typically don't enjoy reading personal narratives or nonfiction novels like this due to the fact that they tend to be slow or dry. But this novel is the exact opposite and the integration of history about the discovery and expeditions of Mount Everest definitely adds to that. It's able to give a non-mountaineering reader and those who climb a more in-depth understanding of what has gone into the expeditions and successful and unsuccessful summitings of Everest. But this background information is primarily a composition of dates and facts but these are tied together with personal accounts that reveal harsh realities of certain aspects of climbing Everest. Like how brutal and competitive the climb still is and for some people it's all about summiting it, and not bothering to help others along the way.One thing that I didn't really enjoy about the book is that sometimes all of these facts and historical background were overwhelming to me as a reader. But this only happened in the beginning and was beneficial to my understanding of the story it just caused a slow start to the novel.

Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the layout and overall delivery of the story. Each chapter started off with a date, time, location, and elevation along with a little sketch to give the reader an idea of what may happen in the coming chapter. This ties back into the fact that all of this book is based on Jon’s note and journal entries. But the thing that really made me enjoy this novel was Krakauer's use of literary elements in combination with Jon's detailed notes to put together a truly thrilling novel. I think the two literary elements that drew me in the most were his use of suspense and imagery. The combination allowed me as a reader to feel as if I was on the side of the mountain right next to Jon.

I really enjoyed this book and it was rated to put down while I was reading it. It made me think about how difficult and challenging life can be. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced, thrilling novel or has enjoyed any of Jon Krakauer’s other novels.




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Majesty by Katharine McGee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is definitely a 5/5! It's about how the Queen of America learns to deal with grief while in the public eye, and about how that grief and outside factors influence the fate of the country and society. I loved how it picked up right from the end of the previous book. McGee did a great job developing the characters in this book, and I really enjoyed how she used the end of the previous book to influence how the characters grew. However, my favorite part was the end. I loved how Beatrice grew during the end and where the book led us, even with the decision that Jeff made at the end. My least favorite part is the character arc of Daphne. I felt like she was going to get a redemption but then something happens that made me hate her again. I wish that a different choice had been made, even though it was the set up for a third book (hopefully). I think that this book is definitely more "girly" than most boys would like but I still think that everyone would enjoy seeing how America would be if it was a monarchy. I would however say that it should be for a 12+ audience.



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Majesty

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Rating: 3/5 stars.
The goldfinch is about a boy named Theo, and he is remembering his childhood in New York. He is with his mother, and they go into the art museum. The building explodes, and his mother is killed in the explosion, along with many others. Before the explosion, he spots a girl with an older man, presumably her uncle or grandfather. After the explosion, he sees the man as he is dying, and he gives him a ring and directions on where to bring it. He also motions for Theo to take a painting as he leaves, a painting called 'The Goldfinch'. Although this may seem like it is spoiling a lot of the book, this is just the foundation of the story. The rest of the novel drags on for over 700 pages. I enjoyed the characters of the book, and I found their dynamics interesting- but I don't think they were resolved well and the characters often left the more interesting settings too early and stuck in the places that dragged on (mostly Las Vegas) for well too long. Donna Tart is clearly a good author, and the book is written well, but Theo was a frustrating main character. As the book continues, and Theo comes back to New York from Las Vegas, you think his character might change- but he continues to make poor decisions, and his bad judgement sends him into a spiral that it seems he won't be able to get out of. He is also still addicted to drugs from his time in Las Vegas, and he still is in possession of the goldfinch painting that he knows could get him sent to jail. I do like the end of the book, although it seems to wrap up unrealistically, at least Theo is saved from himself. The main detraction from the book is its length; I am not opposed to long books, but this one felt as though it could've wrapped up at 400 pages instead of 700. I would still recommend this book, as long as you are okay with slower moving plots and some parts of the book that don't really contribute to the end result of the book. I would more highly recommend another shorter book by the same author, which is actually why I picked up this one: "The Secret History". In the end I enjoyed the book, and for the most part I didn't want to put it down, but the infuriating main character and his poor judgement and the way the book lingers too long in some places makes it a less enjoyable than her other books.



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Neal Shusterman

My rating: 3 out of 5

I enjoyed The Toll by Neal Shusterman but did not love it. I would give it a three out of five. The genre of the book is science fiction. It takes place in a dystopian future where everyone is immortal and the only way to die is to be gleaned by a scythe. The book features more than five character's stories that end up being intertwined. It gives a strong and interesting ending for all of the characters and the series itself. It picks up after a large accident that results in thousands of deaths most of which are scythes. Two of the most important young scythes have disappeared. The Tonist's have a new prophet who is on a quest to help the world. The Tonists are a group of people who believe in the ideals of the mortal world. The thunderhead has stopped talking to the world leaving people in panic and the scythedom has a new leader. Whether or not the leader is good or bad will be up to you.

I thought this book was good because it kept the story going and the author continued to develop the characters introduced in the first two books. I really like how he wrote in a character that made you rethink society's normative on gender. I think he did a really good job of making his characters relatable for everyone. I don't mean that you could relate with every character but I think there is at least one character everyone can relate to. My personal favorite was Scythe Anastasia whose real name is Citra. She was a strong and courageous woman who was a strong leader. I also thought Shusterman did an incredible job making me think about the different ways our society functions and acts. He made me think about how things could be different in a good or bad way. I didn't like how complex the character's stories got when they started to mix together. I felt a little lost at some points in the book because there wasn't any background for some of the events until later in the book. I also loved but hated how he ended the book. He gave it a really nice ending but not one I expected which is what I loved about it. I would have ended it differently which I think is part of the reason why I didn't love the ending, especially for certain characters.

I think this book would be good for fans of science fiction and dystopian. I also would recommend it to people who enjoy complex storylines. I would not recommend this to someone who needs things to be super clear throughout the whole book. I really think this would be a good book for someone who likes to think about ways society could be different and what it could look like in the future.

Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA by Amaryllis Fox

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I would rate this book 4.5 stars! It was incredibly interesting and explores the life of a woman who grows up to become an agent in the CIA. It details her childhood, her various relationships and trips that all led her to undertake the incredibly daunting task of protecting everyone in the United States. It shows her journey within the CIA as an agent and how it changes her life. I specifically loved the amount of detail she was able to put into every scene! She explains the fine intricacies of the Agency and how much work is put into every mission. She takes in depth about the emotions she experiences in every stage of her life meaning you get to know her deeply as a character. The one problem I had with this book is that the plot is a little all over the place, this is a true story so obviously her life may not follow the traditional curve of climax and falling action. The book was still incredibly interesting and since there was this lack of plot it always kept you guessing. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to lean more about spies and foreign affairs, and what goes on behind the scenes in the government!



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My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'd give the book a 4/5 star rating. This book is about a summer romance in Italy, when a family gets a college student for a summer abroad to help out the dad and his research. The student goes on adventures, makes friends and most importantly finds someone. The story goes on about history, music and much more, you really get time to love the characters. I really liked the setting of this book because everything seemed so pretty, the way the author describes places in the novel, made where it took place seem so quaint and etherial. I didn't like that it took a while to get into the book, the beginning is a little boring but once it gets going I really loved the plot. I think if you like travel and romance novels then you'd really like this one.

Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut is a book written partially as an autobiography and partially centered around a fictional author named Kilgore Trout. In the book, something Vonnegut calls a timequake occurs. Everyone on the planet is transported 10 years into the past (2001 to 1991) and is forced to relive every second of that 10 years without any freewill.
This book was written in a way contrary to any book I had read in the past and I really liked it. The book was all over the place and was full of small chapter-long tangents that were almost (but not quite) unrelated to what was going on in the book. I definitely think that this might be something that someone could very easily hate and while I liked it I can see where some people might get annoyed at how the tangents didn't really help move the plot along, even though I think that they added an extra spice to the story. Honestly though, at some points, it was a little confusing and hard to follow which is something that I didn't like that much.
I think that this book would appeal to readers who enjoy dark comedy. This book is hilariously vulgar in some places but the reason for the vulgarity was to add to a very complex and interesting message. But not only is there an interesting deeper meaning it's also just genuinely funny. Timequake was such a good book and I really enjoyed it.



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The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I rate this book a four out of five because it is a very interesting book and I really liked the story, but it was a hard and slow read.
The Silmarillion is essentially a prequel to The Hobbit, or There and Back Again and to The Lord of the Rings, It is about the beginning of Middle Earth and the original inhabitants, it tells the story going up to the end of LoTR although it does not go into much detail regarding the other books.
I really liked how this book gave more background to the world that Tolkien created. So instead of only having the world building that we are given in the Annals at the End of The Return of the King we now have how the world of Middle Earth came around.
One thing I didn't like about the book was that it took a long time to read and it was very difficult to read it, not in terms of how smart I am or anything, it was just difficult, I cant find any other way to describe it.
Well Im not sure if anyone in my class would enjoy it, but really anyone who read through the Annals at the end of The Return of The King would probably enjoy it.



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As a story of adventure, Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea seems a bit dated. However, even though it is told as a tale of adventure, there is more to Verne's famous story.

The science in Twenty Thousand Leagues, especially considering the time it was published, is amazing. We got a sort of psychological account of Captain Nemo, but I would have liked more backstory on how he got to be the man our protagonist meets. What were his accomplishments before he became the recluse we see in the story? Still, it was an easy read and, since I'm now scuba diving in Honduras, quite timely! 3.5 stars

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: A Trilogy in Four Parts

The answer to the big question… is 42. The novel “A hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy” is a piece of science fiction mastery and is well renowned for its cometic style of writing and its thrilling plot. Written by Douglas Adams this hilarious story has worked its way into one of my favorite books that I have ever read making me rate it four stars. The novel is about Arthur Dent and his friend Ford Prefect. The story starts with Arthur waking up to his house being demolished for a bypass to be built. After a quick squabble with Mr. Prosser, the person in charge of making the bypass, Ford and Arthur decide to go to the pub early that morning. After a few pints, Authur realizes earth as he knows it might be suffering the same fate as his house is on the intergalactic scale. The novel “A hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy” is quite cometic and funny and is bound to give you a couple of moments where you embarrass yourself snickering allowed. The book always has a light-hearted spin on darker situations that Arthur gets himself into such as (Edited out spoilers). And as icing on the cake, the plot is not bad for a 5 hour read simple and to the point. One of the few things I thought was mildly unlikeable about the book was the short and abrupt ending, though it is easily forgiven due to the sequels. After reading “A hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy” I have to recommend it to people who like satire and humor. The novel felt less of science fiction but more of an outrageous string of jokes. Though past the jokes, it is quite fun to read, and if you enjoyed it like myself there are more books in the series to subdue your hunger. Overall, the book works as a stand-alone, and as an introduction to a larger story, in my opinion, I think people who seem interested in the novel should give it a try and figure out why 42 is so important.

Bear Town by Fredrik Backman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Bear Town is a hockey town nestled deep in the wilderness and over the past few years, it has slowly been losing a grasp on the outside world. The junior ice hockey team that is housed in this small town is one of the best in the country and they are hoping to win the final and be declared the best junior team in the country so that they can build a better hockey academy and bring life back to the town. But it is the incident that happened between the star player on the hockey team and a girl in the town that no one expected and that causes a major effect on the outcome of the hockey team.

My favorite part about this book was the plot. Throughout the book, I was intrigued and stimulated by the action and twists around every corner. My only gripe about the book is that there are lots of different characters and it was kind of hard for me to follow who was who throughout the story. Most of the characters and family groups are explained in the beginning so make sure to pay extra attention. This book will appeal to people who like sports, adult fiction, and teen drama. Finally, I would give this book a 4/5 star review. I liked everything that the book had to offer but I was held back a little bit due to the vast number of characters and family groups in this read.




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Circe by Madeline Miller

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My rating for Circe by Madeline Miller is definitely a 4.5/5!

This novel is a thrilling tale of Circe, the daughter of Helios. Unlike most takes on greek mythology, this story zeroes in on a goodness that not as many readers may be familiar with, I myself included. But after reading a few pages I was hungering to know more about the neglected goddess who suddenly realizes that despite her mortal likeness she may have a secret that could ruin even Zeus. Circe is an enticing novel not only because of the figurative language carefully spun into each sentence but how Miller illustrates how time is completely irrelevant in the lives of the gods. Each year is more like a month to Circe, and allows the reader to intake so much more as they adventure along with her on her winding journey through an unending life. I never read a book with writing such as this, and while Miller keeps so much of her writing as internal thoughts of Circe the book is intriguing throughout and not once loses its pace. I felt like a shadow following Circe around from the imagery which Miller uses to describe not only the mythical settings, but who the goddess meets and the complicated feelings she encounters.

The only problem I encountered with this book was the lack of suspense and cliff hangers. While the pace of the writing was consistent and the quality of chosen words was impeccable, I longed to worry more for the safety of the characters. Some of the best books I've ever read include clear climaxes but as a result of gods living forever Circe's experiences sometimes seemed to anticlimactically drift into one another. But other than the rare chapters that seemed to drag their feet, all in all I quite enjoyed the book.

I believe that anyone who is interested in greek mythology would love this book! It links many familiar names and stories together to show how sewn together the gods and their ancestors are. The novel is a well done fantasy, but also teaches the reader more about greek mythology and the stories it encompasses. I think that men and women would both enjoy this book, but that it may appeal more to women because of the themes of motherhood and female independence. But overall, this novel is critically acclaimed, deserves all its praise, and is one not to miss.



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We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


We Were Liars is about a family, the Sinclairs and their seemingly perfect life. The narrator is a young girl named Cadence who brings us along key moments of her and her cousins lives. At first the Sinclairs are described as a beautiful and flawless family but eventually the truth comes out after years of unravelling. Throughout the story you get a mild sense that something isn’t right with how Cadence is telling it. Even with this suspicion, the ending is still shocking.

I would give We Were Liars a ⅘ rating. The author, E Lockhart, did a wonderful job writing this book and creating the rising action. By going into detail with the setting, characters and plot she created a realistic atmosphere. While most of the information given to the reader was helpful and created more suspense, some of it felt non important to the final plot. The ending is powerful but leaves several questions unanswered. I think that this book would appeal to many. There is a sizable aspect of mystery for those who enjoy it along with interesting characters. As long as the reader is fine with a lot of (engaging) buildup, it is a book I recommend.



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These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I am generally one to enjoy a good thriller, but I'm pretty picky about which ones I consider good. These Shallow Graves was one of them. It's historical, following the story of Jo Monfort, a girl in high society about to end finishing school and be married off to a bachelor of similar status. This is the opposite of what Jo herself wants; she idolizes Nellie Bly and wants to become a reporter. However, she doesn't harbor hope that that will happen until her father is found dead in the upstairs study. Police ruled it as a suicide, but more and more seems off to Jo, so she decides to investigate. While looking for clues she meets Eddie Gallager - a reporter at her father's newspaper - whom she convinces to help her in her investigation. But very soon, it becomes apparent that Jo is risking everything she has in pursuit of the truth.

The best thrillers and mysteries are ones that keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end, exactly how I felt reading this book. Donnelly is great at using suspense in her novels; I never knew what was going to happen next. I was impressed at how interwoven each element was, and that you didn't really know how it all fit together until the end. Another interesting bit was that it was narrated by Jo. I don't want to give away anything, but at some points in the book, I questioned whether the author had created a wonderfully masked unreliable narrator, which only added to the uncertainty you feel while the story unfolds. That being said, I found a few elements of this book (especially the romance subplots) a bit cliché. Some people like clichés, but I am not one of them. Thankfully, there weren't many.

Even with that, I had an overwhelmingly positive experience reading this book. I would recommend this to anyone who likes mysteries, a good thriller, or enjoys historical fiction. Although I should mention if you like historical fiction but not mysteries, this isn't for you. However, if you do decide to read These Shallow Graves, I hope you'll like it as much as I did.



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This quarter I read "No Summit out of Sight" By Jordan Romero. It is Jordan Romero's auto biography about his journey of being the youngest person to climb the Seven Summits. The Seven Summits are the seven highest peaks on each continent (there's actually two for Australia so Jordan climbed 8). Romero climbed Kilimanjaro at 8, Denali at 11, Everest at 13, and at 15 had climbed all (8) of the Seven Summits!

I enjoyed this book because even though the person writing his own story had done something incredible, it was written super humbly. He taught through his story more than he exaggerated accomplishments. The main reason I adored this book though was the setting. I am someone who loves the mountains and travel, so when the setting is mountains across the globe, and the story includes travel, it is hard for me not to enjoy. I think Jordan did a great job providing specific imagery in his text because not only had he been to these rare places, but he also gained important meaning from each peak. That shines through into the text.

I rate this book a four because it was very enjoyable, engaging, and smooth to read. If you are someone who likes biographies, books about athletes/public figures, and are wanting a smooth, easy to digest book, this ones for you. However, If you enjoy more challenging and/or unrealistic books, I don't think you'll enjoy this read.

American Royals
American Royals is a very intriguing book about if George Washington became king instead of president. This book has four perspectives, the future first Queen, Beatrice, Beatrice's younger sister, Samantha, Samantha's best friend, Nina, and Daphne, an aristocratic girl who dated Samantha's twin brother, Jeff. I love the different perspectives in the book because it seems to fill out this world. It felt more real to read about different characters and read about their experiences in the same situations. One thing I didn't like about this book was the fact that that the different perspectives were so far apart, so it took a minute to remember what was going on. Overall I really loved this book. This book will appeal to people who like drama, fantasy, love, and coming of age stories.

Adam Silvera

"They Both Die at the End" is an alternate universe where you receive a phone call 24 hours before you die, and this simply was the story of Mateo and Rufus trying to make the most of their life before their last day is over.

Initially, the title of this novel is what drew me in, and I'm glad it did. Silvera conveyed Mateo and Rufus' emotions beautifully, everything I read felt raw and genuine. I felt as if even though I was preparing myself for the end, that still didn't make things any less surprising. All the small details that Silvera included just made it easier to fall in love with this piece. Even though death shadowed over Mateo and Rufus, they lived their last day to the fullest, occasionally leading me to forget their upcoming fate.

This emotional rollercoaster of a book left me eager to pick the book up whenever I had the chance, and with the format, it's quite a digestable read as well. What I'd thought would leave off on a depressing tone, instead ended on a bittersweet one. Adam Silvera did a wonderful job finding a perfect balance to leave this novel on, and even left some room for readers to look for closure.

While I'm fond of the idea of this book, I'd love to see some other ways it could be executed. If you enjoy fiction or romance novels, I'd suggest this to you. One downfall I could see with this piece, is the predictability of it all. Though that's what you sign up for when you start this book, I wouldn't recommend reading this piece if that would greatly annoy you! I'd rate this book 3.5 stars.

Never Quit is a true story of how an Alaskan store clerk became an accomplished Special Operative. This true story goes over an action packed mountain rescue mission. Throughout this operation Jimmy is forced with many intense firefights with his team of PJs against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. He is placed in the worst possible position in which he is forced to leave his teammates behind when his helicopter is shot from the sky. This true story shows how a simple boy from common begins is faced with life altering choices and goes on to become an American Hero.

This book had amazing character development that built mainly upon friendship and leadership. the author started from the beginning by talking about the main characters work ethic and background which allows the reader to be able to connect deeper with the character when he is put into hard situations. The things I didn't like were the excessive background that could have been replaced with more in-depth action scenes. I think the people that would enjoy this book would be athletes, someone with a goal, or someone who just wants to read a really good story. I rate this book a 4 out of 5 because of the great storyline and character development. It losses a star because of the excessive background which I talked about above. That is my review of Never Quit by Jimmy Settle.

My Rating: 4/5

The Perks Of Being a Wallflower is about a freshman boy named Charlie who is grieving the loss of his best friend due to suicide and he becomes very close friends with a group of seniors. I liked that it was written in a letter format. It's like Charlie is writing to you about his life and he tells you all these stories, it makes it more personal. I also like the themes in the book, it touches on the importance of close family and friends, living wild and free in high school, and homosexuality in the '80s. An aspect I didn't love about the book was that some of the characters were super annoying. It was hard not to just skip over their parts completely but I suppose that's fairly realistic. I think people who have been through loss would really enjoy this book, it's very relatable in that way. I also think people who are fond of the '80s would be amused by the novel.

*and in that moment I swear we were infinite.

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin, transports you into a world of mystery, a world of strange societies and stranger magic, yet it's a world that feels strangely similar to our own. This book takes place in a world called "The Stillness", a world where sudden extreme geological phenomena are not only expected but even controlled by some people. There, it follows the stories of 3 separate girls, each trying to survive in the difficult circumstances of this world. Overall, I think this book is great, as it not only delivers on excellent fantasy worldbuilding and action, but also touches on important issues, such as racism, transphobia, homophobia, and abuses of power. The depth Jemisin took in her magic system is incredible, and its interconnectedness to the story really shows just how good and experienced an author she is. However, I feel that the majority of the book is extremely heavy, because of the worldbuilding and deep subject matter, so I would not recommend this to anyone looking for a quick or easy read. I think sci-fi and fantasy fans of heavier work, such George R.R. Martin or Frank Herbert, would severely enjoy this book, as would anybody looking for a challenging, yet enjoyable book that's not afraid to be exposed to difficult issues.



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Educated by Tara Westover

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Educated by Tara Westover is a memoir about the author’s life, growing up in a survivalist, anti-government family. She and her siblings were not to attend school, mainly spending their days doing dangerous work in their father’s junkyard or Tara helping her mother, a healer and midwife, and all of them preparing for the “End of Days.”

I really enjoyed this book because of the complex characters and the themes they helped reveal. Tara faces many challenges that often come down to having to decide whether to pursue knowledge and make her own choices or to obey and satisfy her family. This leads to an important concept of conflicts in identities, where on one hand she wants to learn and become independent and on the other, she thinks she must be loyal to her family and a good Mormon daughter. Conflicts also intensify with abusive but also loving family members (her father and one of her brothers seem to be bipolar). Tara must learn to protect herself (both physically and mentally) and start to trust herself and her decisions. Another element that made this book great was the incredible and intense imagery Westover adds to her writing. It gave clear pictures into the story and took the writing to another level.

Some things that I thought could be done differently in this book were to make the timeline of events throughout the story more clear and to remove unnecessary repetition. Additionally, it seemed like some things did not completely add up and some of the information sounded exaggerated or not totally accurate (she does try to point out places where there were conflicting memories and uncertainty of what actually happened). Of course, however, she is looking back to write this and no one's memory is one hundred percent accurate. With some of these minor changes, I believe the book would become even better.

I think Educated would appeal to most people who read memoirs, especially those who liked The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls or other books similar to that. If you are looking for a powerful story about someone with a very crazy, traumatic childhood, finding their own path in life, this book is for you!



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One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My rating 4/5 stars

One of Us is Lying is about five kids who one day ended up in detention. One of the kids gets up to get a glass of water but after he starts drinking it he gets an allergic reaction and dies. This book is about how someone in that room killed the boy by putting peanut oil in his water. The story switches between each of their perspectives and you get to see how this is affecting each of the kids in that room. As the book progresses the kids who were in that room begin to work together to try and find out who did it and prove themselves innocent.

What I really liked about this book is how the author let the reader see from the perspective of each of the characters by switching between the characters. This aspect of the book really helped me as a reader to see how they were taking this and how this was affecting their lives. I also really like it because you get to see what each of the kids feels about the other kids and who they think did it. I really liked this book but if there is one thing I wish the author did was add a perspective of who was behind the killing. Even though the book showed in detail all the student’s perspectives, I wish that the author added the people behind the killing a perspective for the readers to see too! I think that this book is for people who love suspense, mystery, and cliff hangers. But I think that in general, this book is a really good book that will keep you on the edge of your feet!




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We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My rating: 4 out of 5 stars.


This is a historical novel that begins in the spring of 1939 in Poland. This true story features a large Jewish family (the Kurcs) living in their Polish hometown of Radom. As Hitler's power grows and his armies come closer to the family's hometown, the Jews in the city that try to continue on as normal as if their life wasn't about to change forever. Eventually, they couldn't ignore the threat to their lives any longer as the Germans pounced on the town, killing hundreds. Soon, the family gets torn apart and thrown in all different directions across the globe. Even in the darkest time period in modern history, the family never lets go of hope.

What I loved about this novel is that it gives the reader a feeling that they are right inside the story, next to the characters. You can smell the fear and feel the heartbreak. The imagery is incredible and the intense emotions weaved into the plot makes it easy to relate to and empathize with the characters. I can't say that there's any part of the novel that I didn't enjoy.

If you're someone who likes books that revolve around historical events, have a lot of action, aren't painfully long, and a little romantic, you'll love this book.




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Countdown to Valkyrie: The July Plot to Assassinate Hitler by Nigel Jones

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is one of the best books i've ever read just because I love to read about war stories and learn about history through a detailed story. The book is about Valkyrie which was the closest attempts to assassinate the German dictator Adolf Hitler in 1944 after the failed attempt in 1943. The plan was carried out by a German by the name of Count von Stauffenberg who was not a fan of the German ideas or plans because he realized how bad it truly was. The plan was to detonate 2 bombs inside a briefcase that would be planted next to the dictator at a meeting in a bunker. The meeting was with a lot of the top ranking axis power leaders and government officials so the plan was to detonate the bomb next to Hitler and kill him and wound or kill some of the other officials. Read the book to find out the flaws to the plan and why it failed.

I really liked this book because I love to read about history and learn about how popular and famous events unfolded and ended. Since this book is Non-Fiction my favorite part about it was the detail that all of the events were explained and how much you really could feel the tension of all of the situations. I also really loved the theme of this book and how action packed it was and how much you could feel for all of the people involved in it and it changed their lives. The imagery was also phenomenal in this book because it involved the pictures from all of the events and showed you the aftermath of all of the destruction of the German government. The final reason that I liked this book was the style in which the book was written by telling stories of the people involved and how their lives changed in the process.

One of the reasons that this book was not 5/5 stars was because of the pacing of the book sometimes there would be a bunch of events at once and then there would be a lot of unnecessary explanation. Another reason that this book was not 5/5 was because of some of the events were very poorly explained and they were not carried out very well. But overall this was a phenomenal book that I very much enjoyed which says a lot because it is hard for me to find books that I like to read.

Anyone that loves history would love this book because it was one of the largest events of WWII and it was explained in remarkable detail. People who also like reading about war and learning about some of the big events from WWII would also love this book.



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City of Thieves by David Benioff

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is one of the best books I have read, and I would recommend it to anyone over 15 years old. This book is a true story and the main character is David Benioff's grandfather. It beginnings with the author telling us about how he knows his grandfather killed 2 men in a knife fight, and he wants to find out the story, and from there is hard to put it down. It takes place in Russia during WWII, and is basically the book is about Lev (David's grandfather) going to prison and meeting a friend there. They get out and go on some crazy life threatening adventures. One of many reasons I like the book is that it keeps you on the edge of your seat, and thats why its easy to read for hours.If you like a book with suspense and want a book you can read for hours then this is the book for you.



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w.goodreads.com/book/show/7747374-i-a..." style="float: left; padding-right: 20px">I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


If I had to rate this book I would give it a 9.5/10. It is the first out of 7 books in the series. The story is about a group of 10 kids and their guardians (cepan) who are from the planet Lorien. When their planet is attacked, they have to flee to earth where they are hunted by the rival aliens, the Mogadorians. Throughout the series, you are brought throughout their struggle to defeat the Mogadorians and save their planet. But the catch is they have special powers to help them achieve this. One thing I really liked about the book is how the author introduced new characters cleverly and in times of desperation. One thing I didn't love about the book was that it took a long time to get into good action. I think that people who like intense action and science fiction would enjoy this book.



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The Loop by Ben Oliver

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I rated this book 4/5. This book is about a young boy named Luka Kane who is put in jail for an unknown crime. In this jail everyday is the same until they turn 18 and are transferred. His routine is the same until one day the jails electric systems shut down and he and his fellow inmates are free. Luka must then make it back to civilization and reunite with his family. One thing I really liked about the book is the setting, this is because the book is set in a distant future where people are divided into different classes based on cybernetic implants. This creates this cool futuristic society that still feels natural and plausible. Something I didn't like about the book however is that the dialogue felt bland and boring, this was fine however as there isn't a ton of important dialogue in the book. The people I feel like would enjoy this book are Sci-Fi fans and people of adventure books filled with plot twists and atmosphere.



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Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Girl in Pieces by Kathrine Glasglow is an outstanding universal novel that gives you insight into a teenage girl's life struggling with mental health and trying to stay on two feet. Charlie Davis is a seventeen-year-old girl whose father died when she was young, and a mother who has taken drinking as a coping mechanism. Charlie made many poor decisions that gave her a scarring mindset which sadly leads her into a psych house where she was being watched 24/7. After being released, Charlie finds a job in Arizona washing dishes and a studio apartment that she can barely afford, and meets a new friend Riley who she sparks interest in. With the constant temptation to drink and injure herself, Charlie struggles to keep her head above water and start a new "normal" life in Arizona.

I love this book for many different reasons because Charlie's character goes from rock bottom to getting back on her feet and becoming a responsible woman. Katherine Glasglow does an amazing job showing us Charlie's perspective and mental health issues. She goes into detail in specific areas to give readers the most accurate representation of what's going on in Charlie's brain. There wasn't anything I didn't like because of how realistic and beautifully written this book was. Lastly, I think would enjoy reading this book because you gain perspective and knowledge especially if you struggle with mental illness or are curious about what it's like and how teens cope with it.



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A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book was a really enjoyable read, I'd rate it 4 stars. The book is a fantasy adventure retelling of beauty and the beast, following two protagonists and switching povs each chapter. Rhen is the crown prince of Emberfall and Harper, a young woman from modern day Washington DC with cerebral palsy who was dragged into the world of Emberfall due to her intervening with another woman's kidnapping. Harper must learn to trust Rhen and together they can save the kingdom of Emberfall and undo his curse.
I enjoyed the romance writing actually which isn't something I usually like. It felt like a sort of slow trust rather than 'oops well they're in love now haha'. The two leads worked well together when push came to shove, even with their very distrusting beginnings.
I didn't really like the 'not like other girls' energy at the beginning. It felt like Harper being strange and new was a bit too hammered in and just felt like it was bashing on any other lady who got dragged to Emberfall. I really doubt most women would be ok being kidnapped, even if it's not as violent as how Harper was brought there.

I think this book would be liked by people who are ok with violent and gorey descriptions, are ok with romance, and want a pretty straightforward fantasy read.



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Red Rising

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Red Rising, by Pierce Brown is about Darrow, a Red Helldiver, who lives in a mining colony. As a Helldiver, he works deep in the mines with a large, hand-shaped, molten drill. After the Sons of Ares enlist him to help them free his fellow Reds, he has to infiltrate the Society and attempt to destroy it from the inside.

I liked the setting but I didn't like how the plot was a little slow in the beginning. I enjoyed the second half of the book more, where it becomes more of a survival book, with a new setting.

I thing fans of sci-fi and survival would enjoy this book.

Chaos Rising
This story follows a member of the Chiss species, known for their blue skin and glowing red eyes. His name is Mitth'raw'nurodo, but he is often known as his core name, Thrawn. This book uses an interesting aspect of having some chapters being "Memories" chapters, taking place in the past. Star Wars books have been some of my recent favorite reads, and Timothy Zahn has been one of my favorite authors in that area. Zahn uses suspense in a way that most other authors don't, as he doesn't even tell the reader everything, instead letting the reader discover it along with other characters. Within Star Wars, Thrawn has been one of my favorite characters, and Zahn always does a great job writing with him. I feel like people who enjoy science-fiction books, as well as people who like more nuanced plots.

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is my book club's selection for November 2020. The book covers 3 days during the 1918 flu pandemic and tells the story of a handful of women in a maternity ward; it is a story of pregnant women with the flu and the doctors and nurses who are there to care for them.

What I love about the book is how much you can come to know and love characters over the course of these 3 days. The same phenomenon happens between the women within the hospital room.

Those who enjoy historical fiction, opinionated characters, medicine, or Ireland might like this.

Reading the book gave me a feeling that childbirth was extremely dangerous. I think modern medicine, improvements in nutrition, and other advances have likely helped pregnant women and newborns. But, women have been giving birth for a long time without the aid of doctors. I wonder if others picked up on this, too?



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The Cruel Prince
I would rate this book a 4/5 stars. this book is about a fantasy world where the main characters parents get killed and then the man who killed them take the children into a completely new world where they are considered the lowest of the low class. human. The person who "adopted" them tries to make it so people treat them the same way as everybody else but it doesn't work. they cant use magic and they live very short lives. I liked the setting because it was very interesting and the main character had compelling goals and was more interesting than most main characters in this kind of book. I didn't particularly like the pacing in some parts because it was a little slow but it wasn't too bad for most of the book. the kind of person that would like this book are people who typically like fantasy.

Airman
I would rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. This book is about a made-up nation off the coast of Ireland called the Saltees. This book takes place in the 1890s or so. The book follows a young genius named Conor who is growing up on the Saltees and is very close to the king. He and his mentor are studying flight to one day create a flying machine. However, there is a plot to kill the king that Conor tries to intervene with. I won't say anything more. (no spoilers) I really liked that the book is fast-paced and exciting. However, I think that this book would probably be best suited for younger readers, and maybe I'm a bit too old of an audience, but I still enjoyed this book quite a bit!

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I rated Catcher in the Rye a 4/5. It is a coming of age story detailing 16 year old Holden Caulfield's experiences over the course of just a few days after he was expelled from Pencey Preparatory school. While the time period covered by the story is very short it's jam packed with major narrative events and kept me involved in the unraveling story. The beginning of the book is easily the slowest part and only escalates from that point on. I personally liked the writing style J.D. Salinger used in this book and think it's a defining aspect of the story's narrative but could see others not feeling the same. The book does a great job of putting the reader in the mind of an unpredictable rebellious protagonist and allows the reader to experience character development alongside the main character. One thing I didn't love about the book was the ending. The ending is somewhat abrupt because of the large gap in time between the books climax and resolution and leaves the events in-between up to the reader to interpret themselves. Catcher in the Rye is a staple coming of age story and likely up your alley if you liked books such as TKAM.



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Everything, Everything|
Nicola Yoon

I rated this book 5 stars
This book is about a girl who is allergic to the outside, she has been stuck in her home with her mother. She has a caregiver more like a babysitter when her mom is gone. One day a boy named Olly moved in next door. And the rest of the story is a mystery for you to find out. I like this book because it keeps you on the edge of your seat, you want to keep on reading more. It felt like you were in the book watching it all happen. The only part of the book I didn't like was the ending. I think everyone will like this book, anyone under the age of 13 might not like this book, but I think boys and girls will love it.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption

I would rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Unbroken is about a man named Louis Zamperini. As a boy, Louis joined the track team. He became very involved and enjoyed it a lot. So much that he went through Qualifying for the Olympics and made it. But before he could run in the Olympics, the city it was supposed to be held was bombed by Hitler and the Germans. Now the draft for WWII was about to begin. Louis had been interested in planes since he was a child and decides to join the Air Corps.

One day, while Louis and some of his crewmates were on board their plane doing a test-flight in Hawaii, the unexpected happens. A Japanese fighter plane shoots their plane down into the sea. Louis and his crew-mates are presumed dead, but he is able to survive for 47 days on a life raft. But after washing up ashore on an island, they are captured by the Japanese and brought to their war camps. The story then goes on to tell Louis' story in the POW camps, and how he endures the greatest tests of will.

I enjoyed this book so much because it was great to follow Louis and all the adventures he went through. It was also inspiring to hear how he went through so much, and could still manage to keep himself together. If he could go through nothing as many have, I'm sure there are things that would be much easier than what he had to do. The only negative comment about the book that I would have is that at a couple of points in the book, the plot becomes very slow. At these points, it's hard to keep reading, but it's worth it.

I would recommend this book to anyone. It's an amazing story that needs to be heard by anyone willing to have a great read.

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is about a 15-year-old kid named John Smith who is a member of ten Loric children and Loric animals that can change into different animals who escaped the planet Lorien when it was under attack from another alien race called the Mogadorians. John is number four of the ten and they can only be killed in numeric order from a Loric charm that was put on them. John is always on the run moving from place to place with Henri (John’s caretaker), the cépan’s job is to watch him over and train him and his powers. John has powers that many would dream of and discovers each one as you read the book.
I enjoyed how Lore created tons of gritty suspense throughout the book. The intense fights, near-death moments, plot unraveling, and quick transitions all made the suspense for the reader skyrocket. Every chapter ended on a cliffhanger that made me always want to read more. I also really enjoyed the characterization throughout the book. Lore expressed each character’s complex personality and role in the plot to have intriguing situations and growing moments. Although I thoroughly enjoyed this read, however, I didn’t like how it was hard to picture certain characters and settings in my head due to the lack of descriptive language.
This book was phenomenal, I give it a 5 out of 5 stars because of the suspenseful moments, loveable characters, and intriguing plot. This book appeals to the Sci-fi action group of people, even if that is not your preferred genre this book might still be worth a try. If you did enjoy this book, lucky for you, it’s part of a series!




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