Unfinished Buisness

Hello readers! I’m coming at you from the past and it was SO HOT today. It was actually annoying. As I was gazing upon my lovely bookshelves trying to decide what books to do mini reviews of I realized there are many books that I have started but have yet to finish. So, (sorry not sorry) I am changing the post. I will tell you how far I got in the book, why I put it down, and what I think of it so far.

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro 

Read: 125pgs out of 336

I put this book down because the language was too strong. The main character, Charlotte, is the descendant of Sherlock Holmes. She befriends Jamie, the descendant of John Watson and together they investigate copy-cat murders that are taken straight from a Sherlock Holmes novel.

 The murderer is also making it seem like Charlotte and Jamie are the culprits. I was actually really enjoying the characters as they had such a likeness to their predecessors. Unfortunately, I don’t think I will be finishing this novel.

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

Read: 138pgs out of 448

This one was just not what I was looking for at the time. I had just come off of a long fantasy reading streak and was not in the mood for another one. I put it down in place for a contemporary but am now itching to pick it back up again

. What I read I have to admit is too complex to explain properly. It is definitely a high fantasy novel and takes some time to comprehend the world. I’m still not sure I understand every aspect of it so I’ll insert the inside cover synopsis.

The night Quin Kincaid takes her Oath, she will become what she has trained to be her entire 

life. She will become a Seeker. This is her legacy, and it is an honor.

As a Seeker, Quin will fight beside her two closest companions, Shinobu and John, to protect the weak and the wronged. Together they will stand for light in a shadowy world.

And she’ll be with the boy she loves–who’s also her best friend. But the night Quin takes her Oath, everything changes.

Being a Seeker is not what she thought. Her family is not what she thought. Even the boy she loves is not who she thought. And now it’s too late to walk away.

Son by Lois Lowry

Read: 226pgs out of 400

Most people don’t know this but the modern classic, The Giver, is part of a quartet. I ran across the rest of the series in an adorable book shop in North Carolina. At the time I didn’t realize they had an order to them. They simply said “Companion Novels” so, I bought two

. It turns out, I bought the second . . . and the fourth. Son is the fourth. I didn’t even realize this until I reached a certain part and was like, when did that happen? It now sits on my shelf, waiting for me to buy the third book.

The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks

Read: 125pgs out of 608

I told myself when starting this book that I was going to go halfway and then take a break. Halfway was a little harder to reach than I thought. Don’t get me wrong, the book is really good. There are just so many words on each page and I had just bought some new books I was dying to read. I love Brooks choppy writing style with short sentences. I want to finish this book. I will finish this book.

Currently Reading: Champion by Marie Lu

Next Post: Undetermined 

Books That Were WEIRD

For the record, I started this blog post yesterday but after trying to finish it before bed with an awful headache I decided it was best to just finish it today. So as promised: Books that were WEIRD.

The Love That Split the World by Emily Henri

             

                Magical Realism? Sci-fi? I don’t know how to categorize this book. All I know is that Native American legends told by an old woman only the main character, Natalie, can see, romance, and parallel universes made for a very interesting read. I really enjoyed this book and found that the concepts presented to be very original. The fact that the main character had a Native American heritage and was adopted made for a side of young adult fiction that we don't usually see. I was pleased that there was the story of Abraham and Isaac accurately told in the book. While most of the content is somewhat clean I was disappointed to read that in the last five pages of the book there is a line that talks about God's love for us and says he loves us "f****** well." It was very odd and I didn't appreciate it at all.

Language: Severe, everything else was moderate but for the F at the end

Alcohol/drugs: Several teens (not the main character) get drunk at a party and there are terrible 

consequences.

Violence: 2

Sexual Content: Some kissing, a short make out scene that doesn’t go too far, skippable.

Spiritual Content: This part is a bit tricky. As a sci-fi/fantasy novel there are some very weird concepts about life, death, and spirituality. All different ways of thinking are discussed and Natalie contemplates God and who or what he is. What I saw was a very lost and confused soul who wanted to have faith but struggled with believing in anything. It was very sad to read at times. In conclusion, the book had many spiritual aspects I just can’t summarize or categorize them properly.

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

This was a stunning sci-fi survival book. The world building was done excellently and everything was easily pictured. A young war hero, Tarver, and the daughter the most powerful man in the universe, Lilac, crash onto a deserted planet after a star liner malfunction that causes the whole ship to plummet. Their journey as they navigate this eerie planet is well written. As their relationship changes it makes for even more drama to add to their plight. The romance was not original or creative and escalated way to quickly for my liking. The part of this book that was so weird was something you don’t discover until the end. Lilac starts seeing and hearing strange things as they trek to the star liner wreckage. It gradually builds towards the part when you discover what it is and when you do, you’re just like. . .what??

Language: Moderate

Alcohol/drugs: none

Violence: 5

Sexual Content: intimacy is referenced once with no more description that the mention of nudity briefly

Spiritual Content: None

You’ll Like it Here (Everybody Does) by Ruth White

                I read this middle grade book several years ago and absolutely loved it. Here’s the synopsis:

                While Meggie and David Blue are from another planet, they're a lot like Earth kids, with similar hopes and dreams. But, they also have GROSSLY UNIQUE qualities, such as blue streaks in their hair that pop up randomly and language skills that sound like nothing on this planet. The story takes these alien kids, along with their mother and grandfather, by accident, to a far planet in which the society is not only oppressive but hostile to individual freedom. People are kept submissive through drugs and brainwashing. The Blues, who have spent time in free societies recognize the upside-down-ness of this world. They're almost helpless to do anything, but do what they can, plan their escape, and vow to help others.

               

             This adventure story was so entertaining and well-paced. The story as a whole was very strange but in the best way possible.

Language: None

Alcohol/drugs: They use drugs on people to keep them submissive as the synopsis says

Violence: None

Sexual Content: None

Spiritual Content: None

I made a tag on Instagram inspired by this post. Link is in the side bar, go and check it out!

Currently Reading: Truth Be Told by Justine Johnston Hemmestad and Entertaining Angels by Emerald Barnes

Next Post: Mini Reveiws

Mind. Blown.

Mary E. Pearson is probably one of the best writers of all time. The Kiss of Deception intrigued me from first page. That momentum never slowed throughout the rest of this book. The main character is a girl named Lia who is about to be married off to a prince she has never met. Sounds pretty cliché at first right? Wrong. From there it builds itself into something so complex you are pulled into the story and can't find your way out. Not that I wanted to. I could've stayed in that world forever.

(Please, I always read casually in our garden)

This was a book shrouded in secrecy. I loved that some things weren't completely explained, which, instead of annoying me, it made me even more interested. Pearson chose the right things to leave unexplained and did a beautiful job of immersing you in this political fantasy without feeling like you were being info dumped. I found myself really enjoying the political aspect of this world.

The thing that made this book was the plot twist. It. Was. Fantastic. I didn't even realize what was happening at first. I literally put the book down and looked it up on YouTube, thinking I had made a mistake. Then I re-read parts of the book to assure myself it was real. But it was the best thing ever. I realized Pearson had woven the story so deceitfully. She relied on how she thought readers would respond to certain cues and used that against them. Genius. Just Genius.

I liked Lia as a main character. I know some people said she annoyed them as first but I didn't experience this. I related to her personality and think I would've made the same decisions in a lot of the situations. Maybe that means that I'm annoying to some people…

I could go on and on about this book. I loved everything about it. But as it’s now almost 12:30 a.m. I think I should wrap things up for my sake and the family’s. My final thoughts are this: Get the sequel on my shelf already and read this book immediately.

 Stay alive, frens.

P.S.  If you got that reference I love you so much rn

P.P.S. I love you anyway 

Language: Mild

Alcohol/drugs: Visitors drink ale and hard cider in a tavern

Violence: 3

Sexual Content: A supporting character has a child out of wedlock, there is some mild yet romantic kissing, and talk of ways to flirt with men in the tavern.

Spiritual Content: The Fantasy world they live in believes in gods and the have temple-like places to worship. They pray and sing holy songs called Remembrances throughout the book although this is mostly done by supporting characters.

Currently Reading: The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks

Next Post: Books That Were WEIRD