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I Even Funnier (I Funny, #2)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
As Jamie Grimm prepares for the regionals in the Planet's Funniest Kid Contest, he must continue to deal with typical middle school problems like figuring out girls and relationships, his friend's problems, and tutoring his cousin who also happens to be the class bully.

I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series, possibly because I saw the more slice of life nature of the book. Some stories start and end early while others for running threads that last longer. Holding it all together is the comic contest. The fun illustrations help make this book a very fast read.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/03/book-review-i-even-funnier-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
The Crownless King
The Crownless King
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book was interesting and like nothing like what I thought it would be from the description. I have not read the first book in the series and it did not affect my enjoyment of this book. However, I will be going back to read it as I want to know how the story started.
The Crownless King captured my imagination, and I had a hard time putting the book down. I thought the characters were strong and courageous and they had some twists that I did not see coming. So that made it even better for me. I also enjoyed the diverse character backgrounds and the relationships that developed between certain characters (I have no idea how to say more without giving spoilers!
  
The Elite (The Selection, #2)
The Elite (The Selection, #2)
Kiera Cass | 2013 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
9
7.9 (31 Ratings)
Book Rating
194 of 235
Kindle
The Elite ( The Selection 2)
By Kiera Cass
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In America Singer's world, a bride is chosen for the prince through an elaborate televised competition. In the second book of the Selection series, America is one of only six girls left in the running. But is it Prince Maxon - and life as the queen - she wants? Or is it Aspen, her first love?
 

Honestly loved this book the last few chapters had be so emotional I think any book that brings your emotions out has to be a 5⭐️. We see America go through all sorts of emotions in this book, I don’t really trust Macon but hell they make a cute couple.
  
Retribution Falls (Tales of the Ketty Jay, #1)
Retribution Falls (Tales of the Ketty Jay, #1)
Chris Wooding | 2009 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
World building (0 more)
Lots of focus on Frey, Jes, and Crake too little on the rest of the crew (0 more)
This book was good. There are some rough spots here and there which does start to iron out in the next books as his writing style develops. I'm slightly glad this wasn't my introduction to the Katy Jay crew as it didn't really have many of my favorite people (Silo, who does become more prominent as the book series goes on, and Harkens who has a great overall character arc) so I'd recommend you read this book last or later as a way to answer questions you had that the other books didn't quite get into. (I read it 3rd). Frey is the least likable in this book.
  
City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2)
City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2)
Cassandra Clare | 2008 | Paranormal, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
8.4 (37 Ratings)
Book Rating
City of Ashes is the second book in the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. It continues the fantastic world building that Cassie started in City of Bones. You delve further into the Shadow World and the politics of the Clave, although it still takes place solely in New York City. Some people have difficulty immersing themselves in the City of Bones because the pacing isn’t fast enough for them, but there are some good action sequences that might make this second book more appealing. I personally have not experienced that lack of engagement, but I appreciate the world building and that may cause me to approach the story from a different perspective.

As much as I loved the first book, you can see a marked improvement in Cassie’s writing even by this second book. There is a particular scene in which the setting is described so vividly that you can easily imagine the location building around you in your mind. Immersive world building is always very important to me in books, especially fantasy series, so I cannot recommend this series enough. Although it is the earliest of her writing, you cannot miss out on all of the details she provides about the world. You go on the journey with Clary as you both learn about Downworlders, the Clave, and demons.

City of Ashes further develops the relationships and connections between the characters. You can feel how much they care for one another and it’s really authentic. Although I’ve read this series before it has been a while since I delved into the series that started it all. I am being reintroduced to favourite characters and realizing just how much they’ve grown over the course of the numerous novels that Cassie has written. As I re-read interactions and laugh at witty lines, I fall in love with the characters all over again. I remember what it is that made me care for them in the first place, not just their strengths but their vulnerabilities.

There’s not much else I can say without discussing plot points or spoiling things from this or the first book, so I would just end it with – please, if you’re hesitant, give this series a chance. I would highly recommend it and in my opinion, it definitely needs to be read prior to reading Cassie’s newest series, the Dark Artifices. As incredible as the world building is in that series, it’s adding to the lore that has been built and evolved over the course of ten novels. It won’t be as impactful if you don’t have the foundational knowledge before you read the Dark Artifices.