Sniffing A Book

Author:  Rick Riordan Read:  11/26/2017 Pages:  423 Rating:  5 Format:  physical Response:  The Ship of the Dead is the third and final book in the Magnus Chase series. In it, everyone is racing across the worlds in the "Yellow Banana" to stop Loki from setting sail and ending the world. They make some surprising allies along the way as they fight many giants. The book flows in a way that makes it hard to put down. Even though the ending was perfect, it was bitter sweet to have the series end, and to say goodbye to the characters. Alex and Magnus are adorable, and while the angst wasn't unbearable like it easily could have been, it was the perfect blend of teenagers figuring out their feelings mixed with adventure.

Author:  Rick Riordan Read:  11/6/2017 Pages:  471 Rating:  5 Format:  physical Response: The Hammer of Thor  is the second book in the Magnus Chase series by Rick Riordan. This novel introduced us to Alex, and all the awesome snark they brought to the group. Together with Sam, they go on the hunt for Thor's hummer. They run into a few bumps in the road along the way that help them in the long run. In the end they have to fight a familiar face that they were hoping to avoid and didn't realize they fell directly into the plan of a mad man. This was a very fun book to read. It took you on adventures that you didn't see coming, which is what Riordan is best at in my opinion. It's like a slide of hand through the whole book and it was a great trip.

Author:  Leigh Bardugo Read:  10/29/2017 Pages:  376 Rating: 5 Format: physical Response: Wonder Woman: Warbringer brought the action I was expecting, as well as a healthy dose of badass from the female leads. Diana starts this adventure before the Justice League is formed, where is young and an outsider among her some of her own people. Diana travels to modern NY where she is both hilarious and adorable. Through the book Diana and Alia avoid death and fight their way to Alia's ancestors grave, Helen of Troy, to break the Warbringer cure. But they learn along the way that not all heroes are good, and monsters are better left dead. Diana and Alia make one hell of a team throughout their exploit. I personally loved this book and how strong the female characters were written. I will definitely be reading this one again!

Author:  Seanan McGuire Read:  9/23/2017 Pages:  189 Rating:  3.5/5 Format:  physical Response: Let's start this off with this book was good, but not great. I definitely expected more after how much I loved Every Heart A Doorway, and how it left me with all the feels afterward. Down Among the Sticks and Bones  did not leave me the same way. I probably won't read this again as it was kind of boring. A lot of the book is them growing up, and the only time something *really* happens is when they first go through their door and when and why they leave at the end. Everything else felt like filler. Not to mention the descriptions of their life. So much descriptions. I would prefer to have dialog personally, so all of the descriptions about their life was tedious to me. If you want to know how Jack and Jill became who they were, it's a decent book, but it'll just gather dust on my bookshelf now. I hope the next book has more that happens in ...

Author:  Kiera Cass Read:  9/29/2017 Pages:  278 Rating:  3.5/5 Format:  audio Response:  The Crown  is the 5th and final book in  The Selection  series. There is so much angst in this book it's hard to read at parts. Iko, aka Erik, and Edlyn are adorable though, and despite the angst, I ship them. Eadlyn continues through this book determined to find a husband, and is willing to settle when she can't be with who she loves. Banishing Kile so he could be, ultimately, happy was the perfect end to them. It was both selfish and selfless and perfect all at the same time. Henry is still adorable, and even more perfect when he gave up his chance with Eadlyn so she and his best friend could be happy. Throughout, I laughed and nearly cried (gotta keep it together at work!). Marid was a dick and I loved the ending with him being put in his place. As Eadlyn becomes queen, she tries so damn hard all the time. I liked this book, but...

Author:  Kiera Cass Read:  9/23/2017 Pages:  342 Rating:  4/5 Format:  audio Response:  The Heir is the 4th book in The Selection series. To be honest, I skipped the first three books in the series. This one was on sale on Audible, and I'm not above a buy one get one free. Also, I read enough of the description to know that I could skip 1-3 and still be able okay to know what's going on. The Heir  picks up years later when Eadlyn is old enough to have a selection of her own. Eadlyn is not someone you typically like for a main character, she's your typical disconnected princess who's spoiled and entitled. But the fact that she tries SO hard to be perfect at everything while dealing with internal conflicts and self doubt was so endearing that I wanted her to to be the best future Queen, without a husband by her side. She agree to the selection to help her parents, while she has no intention of finishing it with a wedding. But...

Author:  Diana Gabaldon Read:  9/21/2017 Pages:  870 Rating:  3/5 Format:  audio Response: Voyager  was an exciting third book in the Outlander series by Diana Gabladon. It was full of adventurous from start to finish. But it was also far fetched in a lot of ways. A lot of the story line was not believable as far as coincidences go. I still have so many questions on how things came to be. Like how does Young Ian go from not a good sacrifice because he had sex, to having more sex, and then being the sacrifice? And how did Jamie convince the French soldiers to follow him as their leader? And how did Jamie find Clare so easily after being taken by the English? I honestly would've preferred if the rest of the book was spent looking for each other and then book 4 was looking for Ian. That would've made a lot more sense and would've cut down on the mini quests they had. It felt like Gabaldon was just looking for more obstacles to throw in t...

Author:  Rick Riordan Read:  9/20/2017 Pages:  414 Rating:  4/5 Format:  physical Response:  The Dark Prophecy  was a great follow up to the Hidden Oracle. Apollo continues on his mission to find the oracles of the world. There are 5 total, so I can only guess there will be 5 books to match. This book was exciting and kept me entertained the entire way through. Though there were instances of humor, it wasn't as memorable as the first book (unless it involved Leo). Apollo/Lester has started to grow as a human so the tone is a tad more serious and less naive then The Hidden Oracle . I hope the next 3 books compare. I'm also curious who the final emperor will be. Two have been reveled and it'll be interesting if the final one is named in the next book, what the final 2 books will be like. Will New Rome and Camp Half-Blood join in to fight? Will there be a massive fight somewhere? Or will it be a quiet war that never involves the m...

Author:  Rick Riordan Read:  8/30/2017 Pages:  376 Rating:  5/5 Format:  physical Response: The Hidden Oracle is the first book in Rick Riordan's newest series The Trials of Apollo. It follows Apollo after he was cast out of Olympus by his father Zeus, sent to Earth to live as a mortal and complete trials for a half-blood that claims his service. He gets off to a rough start when he lands in a dumpster, and then as he struggles to adapt to not being handsome, or having any of the powers he was so used to. It was fast paced and fun the whole way through. It was nice to have Apollo basically normal. Riordan didn't make the story complete itself too easily by letting Apollo have the answers to everything, which was nice. It gave a little suspense to the book as you tried to figure things out along with Apollo and Meg. Apollo also brought the appropriate level of humor to the situation as he learned the world did not in fact revolve around ...

Author: Seanan McGuire Read: 8/20/2017 Pages: 169 Rating: 4.5 Format: physical Response: Nancy comes back from her adventures to be sent to a school that is full with other children that have gone through similar adventures, though hardly ever to the same place. All each of them want, is to go Home - to the place they belong the most - in their stories. When Nancy arrives at the school, tragedy strikes and it's up to Nancy and her new schoolmates to find out who's responsible. Every Heart A Doorway  was a very cute book. It was short, but that didn't stop the story from feeling complete. The characters were interesting and easy to keep track of, which is always a plus. It would've been nice to have an additional couple of chapters for what happens after, but even without that, it was still a decent ending. After finishing this, I'm even more excited for Down Among the Sticks and Bones,  also by Seanan McGuire. From what I understand, th...

Author: Kazu Kibuishi Read: 8/12/2017 Pages: 192 Rating: 3.5 Format: graphic novel: physical Response: Emily and Navin move with their mother to their great-grandfather's house who went missing many years before. It's a creepy old house from the first moment you see it. There was a weird Indiana Jones moment when the amulet showed up after Emily activated it with her hand and blood. The story has a weird combination of robots and magic, but it kinda works for the book. The only flaw this book had was that one of the main points was forgettable. I'm not sure how the monster got away with the mom, but it obviously isn't that big of a deal. As the first graphic novel I've ever read, I was satisfied with it for the most part. It was cute and easy to finish in one sitting. 

Author: W. Bruce Cameron Read: 8/12/2017 Pages: 319 Rating: 4.5 Format: physical Response: Toby's first life isn't eventful other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It shows the cold truth of what happens to dogs that are "unadoptable". His next life is his main life where he's Bailey. Bailey's human is a little boy named Ethan who he loves and stays by his side until the end. In each life, Bailey tries to learn what a dog's purpose in life is. It's not until he finds Ethan in one of his next lives, that he really understands his purpose. It's a cute book that'll make you cry and genuinely feel for the characters. I was so upset when Ethan was in danger and Bailey tried to go back and save him, and Cameron had me worried for a couple of minutes. I felt Bailey's anger when she bit the human hurting her boy, and I felt Ethan's grief at the end of Bailey's life. It was so sweet and perfect that I do...

Author: Rick Riordan Read: August 10, 2017 Pages: 516 Rating: 4.5/5 Format: physical Response: As a final book in the Heroes of Olympus series, it was a good conclusion that tied up the lose ends very well. We met Pegasus, which I've been waiting for since The Lightning Thief. 10 books ago. It was well written and action packed. A lot was foreshadowed or you just knew what was going to happen... to an extent. Team Leo and Calypso and Nico and Will all the way. Nico has had some of the best character development over the course of this series, and The Blood of Olympus just pounded home the feels for him. While the first 4 books were okay for the most part, I would highly recommend the series if only so you can get to The Blood of Olympus.

Author: Diana Gabaldon Read: 8/9/2017 Pages: too damn long (743 pages = just shy of 39 hours) Rating: 3.75/5 Format: audio Book Description: 20 years later Claire Randall returns to Scotland with her full grown daughter. It's there with Brianna and Rodger, that Claire tells them the truth of the events that led up to Brianna's birth. Including an ancient circle of standing stones, a love that crosses time, and about Jamie Fraser. Her story picks up where Outlander left off, with the Pairs court and Charles Stuart  to contend with, Jamie and Claire are in a race to change history. Response: I picked this book up right after I finished Outlander and was extremely confused about the time jump to the 1960s and how we got there. It's eventually explained after a couple of chapters, but it would've been nice to just continue on from Outlander and save, what could've been a realization that Clarie's telling the story, for the last f...

Welcome to my vacation wrap up! I was really optimistic of what I could get through during my vacation, but alas, I hardly got anything read. I was able to finish The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle*  while I was poolside in Vegas. It was extremely relaxing to drink some lemonade, read, and munch on snacks. On the plane home, I got through about 25% of The Dark Prophecy . When I got home I spent a lot of time sleeping, so I didn't get as much completed as I had hoped. It seems I wasn't able to fully sleep while I was away so I caught up on a lot of that, as well as got a lot of the spare bedroom/library/movie room/office unpacked. I have not been able to get the bookshelves up yet though, which I'm a little sad about. Eventually I'll have those done and I can do a tour. Those are my main excuses for not getting nearly enough reading done this week. I had 11 days , I should've been able to get through more than just 1.25 books. I did just pick up a new book w...

Author: Victoria Aveyard Read: 7/28/2017 Pages: 444 Rating: 4/5 Format: audio Book Description: Hunted by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Newblood fighters to join in the struggle against the crown. But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. Response: In the first book Mare is trying to figure out what she is, as well as revenging her brother's death. The second book has less uncertainty and focuses on finding Newbloods. It kept me interested like Red Queen, even if it had parts that were slow and felt like they didn't have real purpose at times other than to fill the page. The Mare and Cal scenes had purpose and were perfectly implanted in the story. The ending stabbed my heart with a piece of metal and I'm not sure how the Aveyard will make up for it. The last comment I have is that Maven is more psychotic in this book, and the leash sc...

Author: Anna Kendrick Read: 6/30/2017 Pages: 271 Rating: 4.5/5 Format: physical book Book Description: Even before she made a name for herself on the silver screen starring in films like Pitch Perfect , Up in the Air , Twilight , and Into the Woods, Anna Kendrick was unusually small, weird, and "10 percent defiant". At the ripe age of thirteen, she had already resolved to "keep the crazy inside my head where it belonged. Forever. But here's the thing about crazy: It. Wants. Out." In Scrappy Little Nobody, she invites readers inside her brain, sharing extraordinary and charmingly ordinary stories with candor and winningly wry observations. With her razor-sharp wit, Anna recounts the absurdities she's experienced on her way to and from the heart of pop culture as only she can - from her unusual path to the performing arts (Vanilla Ice and baggy neon pants may have played a role) to her double life as a middle-school stude...

I don't want to say I failed my vacation TBR goals, but I did not do as well as I had hoped. I know I'm *technically* a few days into September already, but I'm not officially starting it until the 6th at 8:30am PST as that's when I'm officially back at work (boo). I'm a little hopeful as a couple of these I'll be listening to at work (no shame).   Voyager by Diana Gabalden: My goal is get this finished by the 10th. I have 28 hours to go. Wish me luck.  The Dark Prophecy  by Rick Riordan: I'm about 25% of the way through it currently. I'm hoping I can finish it up in the next couple of days.  City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare: If only I could actually finish this in September.  City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare: I really just want to finish the series so I can move on with my fiction life.  The Art of Racing in the Rain  by Garth Stein: It's really not that long of a book, and it's one I can finish while at work. I only...

Author: Victoria Aveyard Read: 6/20/2017 Pages: 383 Rating: 4.5/5 Format: Audio Book Description: This is a world divided by blood - red or silver. The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power. Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime. But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has ...

Author: Rick Riordan Read: 5/29/2017 Pages: 586 Rating: 3/5 Format: Physical book Book Description: Annabeth is terrified. Just when she's about to be reunited with Percy - after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera - it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and leo fly in on the Argo II , she can't blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon figurehead, Leo's fantastical creation doesn't appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck with reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace. And that's only one of her worries. In her pocket, Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving command: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find - and close - ...

Hey everyone! I was officially on vacation as of Friday at 4:30pm PST, but today is my first day of *actual* vacation! I have so many big goals of books to finish while I'm on vacation, but honestly if I just finish a couple, I would be extremely happy. But I think all of these are doable since I have a grand total of 11 days away from work. So here we go on my very lofty To Be Read on vacation goals! The Trials of Apollo The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan: I have been reading this for the past week in between unpacking. I really want to finish this before I leave for my trip on Sunday, which I think is manageable since it's not too long and it's been fun and easy to read. The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan: This is the second book in the series for the Trials of Apollo . I just got it so I'm hoping I can bust these two out back to back. City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare. I now own both of them and I really just want to fly through...

Hello! August is my Birthday Month, so I went a little insane and bought myself a couple of books. I'm so excited to read all of these. My first stop was Powell's since it's on my way home from work, which is very convenient, but also inconvenient for my paycheck. I ended up going on a payday with a friend from work, so I had no self control, especially with her helping me pick out books. Most of the books I buy from there are used, and cheaper, which is nice. 3/4 of the books I bought this time were used and reasonable prices, and the one that was new wasn't that much of a jump from the used books, so I'm happy with my purchases. *For those of you who don't know what Powell's is, it's like a Boarders, which I'm assuming is like a Barns & Nobel (I've never actually been in one before). The only real difference that I know of, is that Powell's will buy your books and then resell them used. City of Bones  by Cassandra Clare  I ...

Author: Cassandra Clare Read: 5/27/2017 Pages: 424 Rating: 3/5 Format: Physical book Book Description: The Mortal War is over, and Clary Fray is back in New York. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And - most important of all - Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend. But nothing comes without a price. Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side - along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. When Jace begins to pull over from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace. Response: It was the book...

Author: Lauren Graham Read: 5/25/2017 Pages: 209 Rating: 5/5 Format: Audio Book Description: In her first work of nonfiction, the beloved star of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood recounts her experiences on Gilmore Girls - the first and second times - and shares stories about life, love, and working in Hollywood. This collection of essays is written in the intimate, hilarious, and down-to-earth voice that made her novel, Someday, Someday, Maybe a New York Times best seller . "This book contains some stories from my life: the awkward growing up years, the confusing dating years, the fulfilling working years, and what it was like to be asked to play one of my favorite characters again. You probably think I'm talking about my incredible achievement as Dolly in Hello, Dolly! As a Langley High School junior, a performance my dad called 'you're so much taller than the other kids.' But no! I'm talking about Lorelai Gilmore, who, back in...

Author: Diana Gabaldon Read: 3/24/2017 Pages: 850 Rating: 4/5 Format: Audio Book Description: The year is 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon - when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach - an "outlander" - in a Scotland torn by war and raiding boarder clans in the year of Our Lord . . . 1743. Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life . . . And shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire . . . And between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives. Response: Thanks to Audible, I was able to get through this terrifyingly long book. I just want to r...

Author : Michelle Moran Read : 7/30/2017 Pages : 429 Rating : 5/5 Format : physical Book Description : At the dawn of the Roman Empire, when tyranny ruled, a daughter of Egypt and a son of Rome found each other... Selene's legendary parents are gone. Her country taken, she has been brought to the city of Rome in chains, with only her twin brother, Alexander, to remind her of home and all she once had. Living under the watchful eyes of the ruling family, Selene and her brother must quickly learn how to be Roman - and how to be useful to Caesar. She puts her artistry to work, in the hope of staying alive and being allowed to return to Egypt. Before long, however, she is distracted by the young and handsome heir to the empire... When the elusive 'Red Eagle' starts calling for the end of slavery, Selene and Alexander are in grave danger. Will this mysterious figure bring their liberation, or their demise? Response : This book was hard for me to get...

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick Read: 7/29/2017 Pages: 391 Rating: 4/5 Format: physical Book Description: Nora has never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment. After a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life. - goodreads Response: This was my book for "read a book in 1 day" and "read a ...

Author: Trevor Noah Read: 2/21/2017 Pages: 304 Rating: 4/5 Format: Audio Book Description: The compelling, inspiring, and comically sublime story of one man's coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed. Trevor Noah's unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of the Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents' indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of the South Africa's tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won b...

Author:  Daisy Goodwin Read:  7/28/2017 Pages:  468 Rating:  1.5/5 Format: audio Book Description:  Cora Cash goes to England to find a husband. She's rich and beautiful and *falls* (literally) into a marriage with the Duke of Wareham, Ivo. However, he's withdrawn and secretive, and the English social circles hold traps and betrayals. Response:  I'm only giving this book 1.5 stars because I basically hated it, but I *did* finish it. The only reason I did, was because I was determined to cross it of my 2017 TBR List. The American Heiress  felt like it had no plot, while there were so many missed opportunities for one. While Goodwin had a "love triangle", it was poorly used and executed. The "love triangle"  between Cora, Teddy, and Ivo was not only painful to read and obvious who Cora would choose, but only really emerged the last few chapters of the book. It was a pathetic excuse for drama. The characters didn'...

Hey everyone! This week starts BookTube-A-Thon over on YouTube, but there will also be things going on on Instagram as well. I'll be participating, and while I'm not a fast reader, I'm hoping to be able to get through 3 full books and maybe get some others knocked off my TBR list. Wouldn't that be nice haha. BookTube-A-Thon is being hosted by Ariel Bissett and there are video challenges and reading challenges (from what I've gathered). I will be participating in the reading challenges, which can be mixed together, or done separately. It starts at 12 am July 24th (whatever time zone you're in) and goes until  July 30th. Challenges: 1. Read a book with a person on the cover 2. Read a hyped book 3. Finish a book in one day (this one's going to be a hard one for me) 4. Read about a character that is different than you 5. Finish a book completely outdoors 6. Read a book you got because of the cover 7. Read 7 books I know I'm personally not goi...

Author: Cassandra Clare Read: 2/20/17 Pages: 592 Rating: 5/5 Format: Physical book Book Description: To save her mother's life, Clary travels to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that by doing so she is breaking the Law, which could mean death. Even worse, Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by Shadowhunters who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight. Luckily, Clary finds an ally in the mysterious Sabastian, who holds a strange attraction for her. As Valentine musters a demon army, can Downwoulders and Shadowhunters put aside their ancient hatred and work together? And can Clary harness her newfound powers to help save them all - whatever the cost? Response: It was very good! Another book I finished in a couple of days between reading at work and at home. There was so much going on all the time there was never a dull moment. Max dying / being murdered by Sa...

Author: Daisy Goodwin Read: 02/13/2017 Pages: 404 Rating: 5/5 Format: Physical book Book Description : "They think I am still a little girl who is not capable of being a Queen." Lord Melbourne turned to look at Victoria. "They are mistaken. I have not known you long, but I observe in you a natural dignity that cannot be learnt. To me, ma'am, you are every inch a Queen." In 1837, less than a month after her eighteenth birthday, Alexandrina Victoria - sheltered, small in stature, and female - became Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. Many thought it was preposterous: Alexandrina - Drina to her family - had always been tightly controlled by her mother and her household, and was surely too unprepossessing to hold the throne. Yet from the moment William IV died, the young Queen startled everyone: abandoning her hated first name in favor of Victoria; insisting, for the first time in her life, on sleeping in a room apart from her mother; r...