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A Court of Mist and Fury
A Court of Mist and Fury
Sarah J. Maas | 2016 | Young Adult (YA)
9
9.3 (54 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well, from the beginning, this book sure was a ride of emotions and plot events. I kept thinking that in the first part of the book the plot wasn’t moving, there was nothing happening. But now, after I have finished the book, I know that there were some very important events going on.

One thing I have learned about Sarah J. Maas and her characters is that she is never very nice to them for very long. But this causes me to feel sorry for them, to want them to be happy, thus showing that it is a good book to get me so emotionally involved. I knew this fact in Thorne of Glass and was expecting it in this series, but maybe not so early on. It defiantly shows that she has evolved as a writer and has become much more confidant.

Speaking of evolving, these characters did a bunch of it throughout this book and in between the first and second. While some characters (Feyre) transitioned over time, especially after all those nasty things she went through in the first book, I felt like others (Tamlin) had changed much too quickly. This defiantly could be explained at the span of three months that was between the first book and this one, but it still seemed abrupt and more like a plot device. Unquestionably for the plot. But I think it worked out well for the story arch that we are continuing to follow, one that is getting impressively complicated.

Feyre’s evolving rivals those of Alien, Lysandra, or Maven from Thorne of Glass. I know I keep bring this series up, making comparisons, but I just wanted to say how happy I was that Sarah J. Maas didn’t abandon her character evolving pattern. It makes each of her books so much more fun to read than others, some of which the characters don’t evolve enough to really see much of a difference. The evolving keeps me guessing at what the characters might do next, and that makes for a good book.

Sarah J. Maas also isn’t one to shy away from putting two people together to fall in love then having them change their mind. But, I liked Tamlin in the first, but not enough to completely ship them and wanting it to continue into the next book. I was hoping she would pull out one of those ‘I loved you but I don’t love you anymore’ moves. Because there are many relationships in this book that affect the plot, I won’t give any spoilers on it. Sorry if I implied it and you caught on, but really it was only the first 50 pages that might have been mildly ruined.

Bad things to say. Hmm. You know, there really isn’t much I have to complain about. I wish that Tamlin didn’t become so easy to hate right off (sorry, but once again only the first 50 pages), that we couldn’t see more of Feyre’s transition to becoming a high fae, her powers thereof, and watching more of these lovely relationships evolve as each person becomes closer, friends or otherwise. Other than those though, I don’t have much else to say.

At the time I am writing this review there is still three weeks left until the next book comes out, so once again I have to distract myself with others until I can get it. Sigh.

Wait, why did I wait so long to read it? Oh that’s right, so I wouldn’t be in the waiting position like I am now!

Also, a warning for younger readers, this book does become NC-17.
  
The Sparrows of Unity
The Sparrows of Unity
Sen Jayaprakasam | 2019 | History & Politics, Young Adult (YA)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
What I liked best was the basic idea of two groups who wanted to better the world. (0 more)
What I didn't like was the fact that I kept questioning exactly how the Unity was planning on achieving their goal (at least I think it was the Unity) (0 more)
Honest Review for Free Copy of Book
The Sparrows of Unity by Sen Jayaprakasam was an interesting book to say the least. The first chapter was very interesting and grabbed my attention right away. I wanted to keep reading it, and was instantly hooked. Each chapter was titled with the character's name who was going to be telling that section of the story. I understand the need to change the point of view in a story like this but it is still a little jarring, so the titles helped a lot amd was considerate of the author. It says that this is only the first in the series and I hope the following books offer more explanation and detals.

The book opers with Lacy meeting her father who is Current in jail. She has believed her father to be a murderer her whole life and that her and her mother have been running from what he did. Now she is visiting him because of a message she found in her mother's journal that she read after her mother died in a car crash. Before he mysteriously disappears her father tells Lucy the truth about him and her mother.

Lucy ends up warking with Rit, Si, and Anna after they all see one of their teachers attacked and killed. The four teens all follow clues to race acros Britain while trying to stay one step ahead of the attackers, who are now trying to kidnap them. Along the journey they discover it is the Unity who are follawing them and trying to prevent them from reaching the other Sparrows. The four teens believe that once they get to the end of the Sparow's Path they will be safe from the Unity. Once they reach the end they can't help but to wonder if they just accidentally lead the Unity to the Sparrow's safe-house?

What I liked best was the basic idea of two groups who wanted to better the world. The idea that they were going to make the world better by eliminating racism, homophobia, and other foms of prejudice was interesting because this is not usually the goal of such groups in books. I liked that people were indirectly trying to make things better for everyone. It also helps that the puzzles where interesting and well thought out. What I didn't like was the fact that I kept questioning exactly how the Unity was planning on achieving their goal (at least I think it was the Unity). It talked about using fear and scare tactics but other than that it wasn't well explained. The ending was also very confusing with so many people either pretending or thinking that they were something they actually were not.

The target readers for this book would be teens and young adults. Anyone older may still enjoy this book for a quick read but it lacks the depth that I believe many adults would probably enjoy in a book. However, the following books in the series may make up for that and as a whole hold the attention of adults as well. I rate this book 2 out of 4. I found it to be a little dull frequently, with the teens just avoiding capture. Also it got very confusing towards the end and started to lose me. While the first chapter did get me hooked it did not last. After finishing the book I am still unsure as to the belonged to which group.


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The Probability of Miracles
The Probability of Miracles
Wendy Wunder | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry
10
7.6 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
If you read a lot of books like I do, you know by now that you can't always trust what the back cover says. Someone comes up with a way to make even the crappiest book seem like it is the most well written, entertaining piece of literature you'll ever see. Well...I can happily say that the back cover of Wendy Wunder's book does not lie, especially the part that says, "...will leave readers laughing and crying with each turn on the page."
This book tells the story of Campbell, a 16 year old dying from cancer. Her mom, in one last effort to save her life, decides to move the family the family to Promise, Maine. A town that is said to produce miracles by the truck load. The book follows Cam through her journey in Promise and lets the reader watch her slowly realize that miracles can and do happen, even if they aren't the miracle you came looking for.
I won an ARC of this book on First Reads and am I ever glad I did! I will be sure to suggest it to anyone who is willing to listen!
  
Worlds Apart
Worlds Apart
James Riley | 2018 | Children
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I Can’t Imagine the Possibility of Fans Being Disappointed by this Book
With the fictional and non-fictional worlds now separate, Owen finds he has lost his imagination, not that he can imagine how that would be a problem. However, when Kara shows up and takes him 5 years into the future, he sees how things have devolved. Meanwhile, Bethany’s fictional half is enjoying her new life until her father is shot by a mysterious ray gun. What is Nobody’s plan doing? Can Owen and Bethany stop him?

If this isn’t making sense to you, don’t jump in here. This is the final book in the series, and it builds on everything that came before it. However, fans who have read the previous four books in the series will be delighted. We get another wild, fast paced ride. Almost all the characters we’ve met along the way are back for this book as well, and I loved seeing them all again. The climax is wonderful and wraps up the series well. Along with the fun and some meta laughs, we get some interesting thoughts on the importance of both imagination and reality.
  
What a wonderful book for young children who have siblings. I loved this book, and while my children are older now, I so wish I had had this book when they were younger. This book is well written by the talented hands of Tracey Madder and is full of eye catching color and characters to really grab the attention of your young ones.

Tora Fright's story of forgiveness is a wonderful message for kiddos and adults alike. It has more than one message wrapped up in sweet Tora's story and it is so worth the read. I found myself turning to God more than once while reading this book, and thanking Him for the gentle reminders.

If you have young ones in your life, children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, then I highly recommed this book with 5 stars, especially if they have siblings, as patience, kindness and forgiveness are all woven into this story. I am looking forward to checking out the other Tora Fright books and seeing what other lessons she learns!
 
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale Blog Network and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
  
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Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Touch in Books

Apr 9, 2019  
Touch
Touch
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Detective Inspector Charlotte Savage is investigating rape cases where the women were drugged and then dumped. When one of those victims, a student, who was supposed to be headed back home, is found dead, the case starts to change. When a second body turns up much like the first, DI Savage is none too happy. Now another girl has been reported as missing. Can Savage find her before it's too late.


I read Touch because the author was doing a Q&A with our group here A Good Thriller. I usually enjoy these types of books, but there was something about this book that just made it not as good as I was expecting. I enjoyed the story line, but there were a lot of characters and that detracted from the story. I think I counted at least eight different detectives or police officers involved, not to mention crime scene investigators and coroners. Then there were the different suspects in the case and the person who did the crime. He gave each of his victims another name. So it was all a little confusing.
  
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The Change 3: Paris: A City of Fools
The Change 3: Paris: A City of Fools
Guy Adams | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Odd and more intense than previous books
This third book, again in a different city to the previous ones, is set in central Paris. A group of people have made a life for themselves in the catacombs and tunnels underneath the city, largely safe from the strange monsters and beings that have taken over the city.
Loic, the main PoV character, is a former street child who has quite easily adapted to life under the streets, scavenging for food where he can. The main threat they face is the Impressionists, a race of paint-monsters who roam the streets and tunnels rounding up the people they find.
This book is more focused on people who have made a life for themselves following The Change (still a mystery, but safe to assume that weird things can happen now), rather than those struggling to come to terms with it.
It is quite an exciting tale of rescue, bargaining and trying to evade some very strange, but very Parisian, enemies who are never as they seem.
This book, for once, is fairly self-contained and has an ending and was a good short read.