Discussion Post: Why I Think Audiobooks Are The Best Way to Reread

Hi Everyone,
In case you missed it a week ago when I talked about the new audiobooks to my wishlist, June is Audiobook Month. As many of you probably know I am a huge fan of audiobooks. I'm an audiotory learner and so listening to books is great for me. On top of that I can listen to them at work, on long walks, on public transportation, and while doing housework. Which are things I both love and hate. But in general, I think there are just certain books who are perfect in audio format.

But some of the best audiobooks are rereads. I really don't like rereading physical books. I have done it before but when it comes to rereads I would much rather listen to the audiobooks. I really think that audiobooks are the best way to reread a book. And just in case you haven't experienced this joy I decided for this month's discussion post, to explain that to you.

1.) You Can Experience the Book Faster.

I'm not a very fast reader. It depends on the book and what I am up to but in general it takes me about 4-5 days to finish a book. But when it comes to audiobooks I can listen to them in 2-3 days, that is if I actually hunker down and listen to them. Partially this is because you can alter the speed and read at 1.25 or in rare cases 1.5 speed but this is also because you can listen anywhere. It really is a super helpful way to read more books.


This is a good thing for reading in general but it's even better for rereads. Say that the book you have been waiting two years for, the sequel to that book you loved, comes out a week and you want to refresh your memory on what happened. You can read the whole book and nothing else, or you can listen to the audio while you're at work and be ready for the next book. I choose the latter.

2.) Doesn't Take Reading Time Away From Other Books

This sort of goes hand in hand with what I just said about reading books faster, but when you are listening to an audiobook you can still read physical books or e-books. I'm the kind of person that is almost always reading two or three books, one of them is an audiobook. And because of this I can keep my audiobook for rereads and have my other reads be new releases or upcoming ARCs.

Now this is particularly important for rereads because if you are taking the time to read something again then it means you can't read something new. But if you're doing it on audio you can have your cake and eat it too. So many times I've thought I wouldn't be able to reread a book because I had review books I needed to prioritize but this way I don't have to worry about that. Everyone wins, especially me.

3.) Gives You a New Perspective

One of the things that I love about audiobooks is how they set a very specific tone for the book. It establishes the atmosphere of the book because the narrator can do certain things like speed up their voice during really thrilling scenes or build the suspense with dramatic pauses. It makes you feel the tone of the book so much more that way.

And for rereads this has an even bigger effect. You can see the book in a whole different way just because of the narrator. There has been times where I started reading a book and I liked it but as soon as I picked up the audio and got the tone of the book it was like a whole different story. A good narrator can make you see things in a totally new light. And when you are rereading a book isn't that what you want? And if they are really good and the audio is good enough, it's like you are experiencing the book for the first time. Plus presumably you liked it before but maybe you'll love it this time.

4.) Immerses You in the World

Again, this goes hand in hand with what I just said about giving you a new perspective. Because just like that one, this is all about the narrator being able to set the scene and create an atmosphere for the book. A really good narrator is able to do that in such a way that you are able to forget about the real world or your location and you are transported to wherever the book takes place. If I am being entirely honest that rarely happens to me when I'm reading a book but when I am listening to an audio it almost always happens. It's like I'm there, I can see the sights, hear the sounds, smell the smells, feel the feels. I am immersed in that world.

Now again, this is even more beneficial when you are rereading a book. It's like a more extreme reaction to the book. And when you are experiencing a book again you want that stronger reaction because then you will appreciate the book as much if not more. It's happened to me many times where I loved the book so much more on audio because I was able to feel immersed in the world. It almost ruins the actual reading of the book for me (more on this later), but it's honestly a good thing for me. Plus when you are rereading a book it's usually because a sequel is coming out and being able to reimmerse yourself in the book helps you jump right into the next one.

5.) Helps You Reconnect With The Characters in a Different Way

You can probably tell that one of my favorite things about audiobooks is the narrators. A lot of what I have been talking about here is how a good narrator is able to create the scene and pull you into a book. But a great narrator is also totally able to embody the character. There are certain books and certain narrators where I have just thought, that person is that character. MacLeod Andrews is David Charleston, Steve West is Sean Kendrick, Elizabeth Evans is Celaena Sardothian. These narrators become the characters so much that you can't help but connect with them because it's like the character themselves is talking to you. This is even more amazing if you have a full cast or multiple perspectives, that narrator becomes the character.,

This too is even more heightened for rereads. In these cases you already met and probably connected with the character. So when it comes to rereads you can just let go and allow them to soeak to you in their tone and their way. Sometimes this can happen so much that I can no longer read a book because I will have the narrators voice in my head. I'll hear the dialogue in their tone and inflections. It's like they have embodied that character so much that I can't experience them any other way. And while this is a good thing, often I'll be like "it's not the same" and I'll just get the audio. But in the case of rereads it really does help you jump back into the characters head which is super helpful.

There you have it, all the reasons I think that audiobooks are the best way to reread anything. I am currently doing my own audiobook reread of This Savage Song. I'm really enjoying it. There Plummer is definitely able to set the tone of the book and immerses me in the world of The Monsters of Verity. She is also able to embody Kate Harker, she's so perfect for Kate. I'm not sure she gets August just right but still it's really good. I'm so ready for Our Dark Duet, I just need to finish this audiobook.

What do you think? Do you like listening to audiobooks on rereads? What are some of your favorites? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

On Rereads: Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine and Jackaby series by WIlliam Ritter

On Rereads is a monthly feature on My Thoughts Lit where I talk about the books I reread during the month. It's an opportunity to share some new thoughts on a book I read before and usually to prepare for a new release. For the foreseeable future I plan to do one reread a month so I want to share my thoughts on these books the second time around. This a little bit late for July but I've been super slow on my rereads lately (and well reading on the whole but shhh!!!)

All the amazing books are coming out in the next couple months, amiright? In particular, there are some great sequels and series enders coming out in February, many of which are on my most anticipated books of the year. So to prepare I am reareading the books in their series. As usually these are my audiobooks for the month. But here is my thoughts on these rereads....

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
(Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

I love this series so much, you guys! It constantly surprises me but how complex and engaging it is. I had an ARC of the second book in the series, Paper and Fire, which I read over the 4th of July weekend so in preperation I of course had to read the first book in the series to refresh my memory. And as usually with my rereads, I listened to the audiobook.

Usually with rereads I am excited to read them because I forget little details about the book and I need a refresher but that was not the case with this book. I remembered so much about this book. I mean, I may have remembered too much. There were moments where I wanted them to just go right to the exciting and action-packed parts at the end of the book. It also made the book a little less mysterious. But that doesn't mean the book was ruined. Honestly, I liked it just as much as I did the first time around. It's such an atmospheric and complex book with so many different elements that I did pick up a few things that I may have missed the first time around.

But I think that maybe that was because I loved the audiobook. I was so excited to listen to it because the world is so atmospheric and that usually translates really well to the audio format for me. And it was absolutely the case here. The book had a really great immersive quality with the audio format. Not to mention that this is a book with a diverse cast of characters and the narrator did a good job establishing them. Some of the accents weren't perfect but he did a good job with the characterizations, especially with Jess.

On the whole, this was a great reread. I'm so glad I took the time to listen to the audiobook and refresh my memory before I read Paper and Fire. Mostly, I'm just glad for the time to get back into this world and experience it again.

The Jackaby Series by William Ritter

Jackaby -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)
Beastly Bones -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

I mean you all probably know that I am super obsessed with this series if you have been around awhile. Both Jackaby and Beastly Bones were on my favorites of the year lists last year and the year before. I expect no different for Ghostly Echoes which I am about to start tonight.

So naturally I needed to have what is becoming my annual reread of Jackaby. And while I did still really love it, I laughed and was thoroughly entertained, I'm not sure three years in a row is the best thing to do when it comes to a mystery. Some of the suspense was lost as I remembered so much of the book that I wasn't as impressed with the plot development. It wasn't just me seeing the foreshadowing and clues anymore, it was me just going through the motions. But none of the charm was lost. So much of this series is about the humor and fun which was not lost in my reread.

In contrast, with Beastly Bones I remembered very little of the book. There is just something about second books that I just forget all about them. I of course remembered the big stuff but not the little details so it was a really nice refresher before Ghostly Echoes. I also think on that note, that much of the storyline from Ghostly Echoes was introduced in the beginning of Beastly Bones so it will have a good flow within the series for me.

Plus I do really like the audio for this series. I think Nicola Barber does a fantastic job with the series. She totally gets the tone and humor of the series. From the absurdity that is Jackaby, to the effervescence and inquisitiveness that is Abigail, to the sarcasm and exasperation of Jenny. She even does a great job with Charlie and Hank Hudson. I'm a big fan of her as an audiobook narrator and this series on the whole.

Have you read Ink and Bone or The Jackaby series? Did you reread in preparation for their sequels? Have you done any rereads lately? What books? Do you like doing rereads or not? Tell me why. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

On Rereads: Fantasies with May Sequels

On Rereads is a monthly feature on My Thoughts Lit where I talk about the books I reread during the month. It's an opportunity to share some new thoughts on a book I read before and usually to prepare for a new release. For the foreseeable future I plan to do one reread a month so I want to share my thoughts on these books the second time around.

I usually try to do a few rereads a month to prepare for upcoming sequels. I had four on my list for May but I honestly only got to half of them. I'm still trying to decide if I want to push the ones I didn't read to June or to just say


The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
(Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

I loved this book when I read it last year. I was so impressed by the world, the plot, and especially the characters. I fell helplessly in love with Shazi, adored Khalid, and totally ship them. I was excited for the sequel, The Rose and the Dagger, to come out so I decided to reread this one to refresh my memory.

And boy did I need a refresher. This was, I think, the first book I read that was set in a high fantasy world inspired by the Middle East with magic that slowly came into the book but it wasn't the last. They all tend to blend together after awhile and so I needed to be reminded of the plot of the book. I honestly forgot so much. Well except how amazing Shazi is, that I remembered. And I loved the story again. Even though I knew how it would go, I still felt like the stakes were high and there was a lot of exciting moments.

But that being said, I didn't love the audio for this one. I have such a hard time with certain female narrators and what I assume is the way that they try and create atmosphere. The narrator here was one of the examples of what I don't like. She was just entirely too breathy for me and I even speeding it up didn't help much.

But I am really glad that I reread it. It was a great refresher for the series and I was able to dive right into The Rose and the Dagger knowing what had led to that point.

The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury
(Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

Hilariously, so this is going to be the total opposite of what I said above. Well except for this first point. I absolutely loved this book when I read it originally. I have it 10 stars and it actually pulled me out of a reading slump when I read it last winter. So with the sequel/companion coming out at the end of this month I was excited to reread it.

And yes, I do still like the story but I think this is a case where I should not have reread. For one thing, I remembered a lot of details about this book. It's not a super complex story. The main plot is about the character learning about the way things really are and then there is a bit at the end that will set up future books. One of the things I liked about this book this the first time was the mystery and the big reveals. Not having that here kind of made the story not as exciting.

There is also a lot of world-building. Like a lot, a lot. The first time around I really liked the way that this book combined religion, history, and politics to create a complex and engaging world. But this time I just wanted the plot to kick in. It just felt like a lot of exposition. It may have just been a case of timing. Good timing the first time around and bad timing this time around.

But despite the fact that I did like the audio. I felt like the narration did a good job of setting the tone of the story. There was a lot of mystery and confusion with it and the internal conflict of the characters were evident in their thoughts and manner of speech. If you are reading this for the first time and are a fan of audiobooks I would recommend this one.

Have you read the The Wrath and the Dawn or The Sin Eater's Daughter? Did you reread in preparation for their sequels? Have you done any rereads lately? What books? Do you like doing rereads or not? Tell me why.  Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

On Rereads: The Raven Cycle by Maggie Steifvater

On Rereads is a monthly feature on My Thoughts Lit where I talk about the books I reread during the month. It's an opportunity to share some new thoughts on a book I read before and usually to prepare for a new release and sequel. For the foreseeable future I plan to do rereads every month so I want to share my thoughts on these books the second time around.

All the amazing series conclussion are coming out this spring, amiright? So to prepare I am reareading the books in their series. In particular this month's rereads which are The Raven Cycle books. I can't believe The Raven King is coming out tomorrow! *hyperventilates* I have been waiting a year and a half for this book. I' mean, I've had it preordered for a year. I'm so excited and nervous. So I listened to the first three on audiobook to prepare. So here is my thoughts on these rereads....

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Steifvater

The Raven Boys -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)
The Dream Thieves -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)
Blue Lily, Lily Blue -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

I cannot put into words how good this series is. I love it on paper and I love it in audio. It's one of those series that defies genre characterization. Is it contemporary? Sure, maybe. Is it fantasy? Probably. But what subgenre? Supernatural? Maybe. But dubtful. Magical Realism? Most likely. But either way, it a beautifully written and atmospheric read with great character-driven moments, a insanely well-plotted story and  so much magic.  I love the way that the magic is coming in more and more as the series develops and I can't wait to find out what Maggie has in store for us in the final book. It's a series too that fits so well as an audiobook. The atmosphere of the series works great in the audio format and it makes for such an immersive listen

In particular, I love the characters in this series. I just love them so much. It is a series that is full of complicated and likable characters. The main cast of characters is probably five, well there are four people with perspectives. Actually, there are a lot of people with perspectives. Anyway, I digress. It's a large group of people in this book and they're all fantastic. My favorite is probably Ronan. He will never not make me laugh. Then Adam, who is adorably melancholy. (The Pynch feels were super strong in my reread). But I also love Blue and her fiestiness, and Gansey and his determination and kindness. The narrator of the audiobook does a great job with establishing each character. I love Adam's southern drawl that he ineffectively tries to stiffle. I love that you can hear the sneer in Ronan's speak and feel the sass in Blue's. I felt like the characters were coming to life.

But my favorite thing about this series is how well-plotted it is. Maggie does what I like so much with series where each book is self-contained with it's own antagonist and resolution but it builds up the larger story at the same time. But it is by no means boring, there are tons of surprises. I mean I remember the first time I read The Raven Boys and the twists just destroyed me. I did not see them coming. And here even though I did know they were coming, they didn't affect me any less. For one thing, I was kicking myself for not figuring some of them out way earlier. The clues are right there for us. Maggie does a great job of establishing those hints throughout the book. So when I was reading it this time I was picking up on those things. But also, I forgot so many specifics about the plot. I definitely needed a refresher so this was good.

And before I wrap this up, I have to rave about the audiobook for a second. I listen to my fair share of audiobooks and this one was really fantastic. It definitely became a new favorite, So much of my enjoyment of an audiobook comes down to the narrator. Which is often a personal preference. But I was a huge fan of Will Patton's narration. I think he did a great job of characterizations with the different accents and tones for the characters. Plus I think he also did a great job in establishing the world and tapping into that atmospheric nature of the writing. I'm expecting my copy of The Raven King to be a little delayed but I'm no longer mad because I loved the audio so much I plan to listen to it.

Have you read the The Raven Cycle? Are you dying for The Raven King? Did you reread in preparation for their series conclusions? Have you done any rereads lately? What books? Do you like doing rereads or not? Tell me why.  Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

On Rereads: The Winners Trilogy by Marie Rutkowski

On Rereads is a monthly feature on My Thoughts Lit where I talk about the books I reread during the month. It's an opportunity to share some new thoughts on a book I read before and usually to prepare for a new release and sequel. For the foreseeable future I plan to do rereads every month so I want to share my thoughts on these books the second time around.

All the amazing books are coming out in the next couple months, amiright? In particular, there are some great sequels and series enders coming out in February, many of which are on my most anticipated books of the year. So to prepare I am reareading the books in their series. As usually these are my audiobooks for the month. But here is my thoughts on these rereads....

The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkowski

The Winner's Curse -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)
The Winner's Crime -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

I am such a fan of this series. It's without a doubt one of my favorite YA Fantasies without magic. I love the world which seems to be loosely based on Ancient Greek culture. the characters, and plot development. The characters in particular are my favorite part of this series. Kestrel is always a character I think of when I want to mention "strong female protagonists" that are decidedly feminine. She doesn't want to be a soldier, she doesn't want to be a wife, she wants to be a musician or a strategist, a leader. I love Kestrel for that.

These books are so well-plotted with amazing plot twists and big reveals. One of the things I found really interesting the first time around is the amount of dramatic irony that came from seeing both sides of the story. I remember thinking how great it was that in a conflict you were rooting for both sides to win. But the second time around, while it was interesting to see that again, I did find myself kind of annoyed by the lack of communication and conflict that it caused. But I am really glad I reread it in preparation of the final book in the series. I think I could have gotten by without the refresher but it was fun to check back in with this world.

But as far as the audio goes, I didn't love it. So much of my enjoyment of an audiobook comes down to the narrator. Which is often a personal preference. Some of my favorite narrators could not work for you and vice versa. Unfortunately Justine Eyre, the narrator here, is not one of my favorites. She is just too breathy and raspy for my taste. Now sometimes that worked. I loved the way she varied the accents based on the cultures and I thought Arin's and the accents of the Herrani were fine, but her accent for Kestrel and the Valorians I did not enjoy. And so much pf what I love about this series is Kestrel so the fact that I hated the sound of her voice was problematic.

Have you read the The Winners Trilogy? Did you reread in preparation for their series conclusions? Have you done any rereads lately? What books? Do you like doing rereads or not? Tell me why.  Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

On Rereads: The Reckoners and A Darker Shade of Magic

On Rereads is a monthly feature on My Thoughts Lit where I talk about the books I reread during the month. It's an opportunity to share some new thoughts on a book I read before and usually to prepare for a new release. For the foreseeable future I plan to do one reread a month so I want to share my thoughts on these books the second time around.

All the amazing books are coming out in the next couple months, amiright? In particular, there are some great sequels and series enders coming out in February, many of which are on my most anticipated books of the year. So to prepare I am reareading the books in their series. As usually these are my audiobooks for the month. But here is my thoughts on these rereads....

The Reckoners Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson

Steelheart -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)
Mitosis -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible)
Firefight -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

I am so freaking obsessed with this series. It will always hold a special place in my heart for being my first Brandon Sanderson book. The rest is history but this is the book that started it all. So with Calamity coming out I knew I needed to reread the first books in the series to refresh my memory.

It was honestly a really great choice because these books are so well-plotted with amazing plot twists and big reveals that I was reeling from even the second time around. I remembered a lot of the big stuff but small details had escaped me. Rereading it allowed me to come up with these super harebrained theories about how it will all end. I started Calamity a few days ago and one of my theories has already been proven wrong but this is Brandon Sanderson so I shouldn't be all that surprised.

But what I really liked about this reread was the audio. MacLeod Andrews, the narrator, is a genius. Steelheart is one of my all-time favorite audiobooks and he is a big part of that. Like all really good narrators he does a fantastic job of creating different characters. I love the way he creates David's awkwardness and humor, Megan's jaded snark, and Prof's turmoil and gruff caring. Plus Cody and Abraham! GAH! I had never listened to Firefight before so I was really excited to here the narration for it and wow, was it amazing! I'm reading Calamity but I like the audio so much that down the line I may listen to it too.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Scwab
(Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

This book, ugh, you guys. It's so good. It was my favorite book of 2015 and quickly became a new favorite when I read it last year. It's so freaking amazing. The world is so complex and compelling, the characters are interesting and likable, and the plot is so freaking engaging. I'm super excited for A Gathering of Shadows coming out in less than a week!

Usually with rereads I am excited to read them because I forget little detail about the book and I need a refresher. And that definitely happened here but I remembered a lot more than I thought I did. But because I knew what was coming I felt like I had less patience for the exposition. Now don't get me wrong, I love the world building here but I spent a lot of the beginning thinking "when are Kell and Lila going to meet? When are they doing to Red London? I HAVE FEELINGS!"

But I think that maybe that was because I didn't totally love the audiobook, which made me kind of sad. I was so excited to listen to it because the plot of this book is so amazing and engaging. But the audio slowed things down a little too much for me. The speed was just too even keeled. This is an action-packed book and the narrator had the same tone during exciting action scenes as it did for easy-going explanations. I like my narrators to set the tone for the book and this didn't really do  that for me. And I didn't love the different voices for the characters. Kell was good, Rhy was fun, the voices for Holland and the Danes was not great, but Lila did not work for me at all. It wasn't bad, I just didn't love it.

But despite the fact that I didn't love the audio, I am really glad that I reread this one. I am now totally ready for A Gathering of Shadow. I need more Kell, Lila, and Rhy in my life. *prepares to have mind blown and feels destroyed.*

Have you read the The Reckoners trilogy or A Darker Shade of Magic? Did you reread in preparation for their series conclussions? Have you done any rereads lately? What books? Do you like doing rereads or not? Tell me why.  Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

On Rereads: A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

On Rereads is a monthly feature on My Thoughts Lit where I talk about the books I reread during the month. It's an opportunity to share some new thoughts on a book I read before and usually to prepare for a new release. I'm planning to reread 25 different books during this year so for the foreseeable future I plan to do one - three reread a month so I want to share my thoughts on these books the second time around.

This month I'm starting off slow because I also have a monthly audiobook that I am trying to read so I only have one reread planned for the month and I already read it. It was actually one of my first books I read this year because I listened to it while I drove home after New Years.

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray
 (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

You all probably know that I do themed months here on My Thoughts Literally. This month's theme is time/dimensional travel. I had a library hold on Ten Thousand Skies Above You, the second book in this series and it worked out perfectly because it fit this month's theme. So to prepare for that book, I reread this one.

As usual, I listened to the audio this time around and I'm really glad that I did. The audio for this one was really fantastic. This series is about the main character travelling to different universes within their own consciousness. This takes her to different places as well. The cool thing the narrator did was use different accents for the different worlds so it helped keep things clear and was totally immersive. And yes, some of the accents, like the Russian one, was a little over the top and did get old it was really entertaining.

Plus it was a great refresher for the series. I remembered the basics of the plot but little details escaped me. Details that did in fact come into play in the second book. Plus this was just as good the second time around. It's definitely hard Sci-Fi with a lot of science but it's interesting and addresses a lot of different themes that have to do with time travel or taking over a different person's consciousness. It was a really great read and I'm glad I listened to it again.

That's my one reread for this month. It feels weird to already be posting this. It's usually one of my last posts of the month, not the first. But oh well. Have you reread any books lately? Have you read A Thousand Pieces of You? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

(P.S. If you have read A Thousand Pieces of You then definitely check back tomorrow for my review of Ten Thousand Skies Above You)

His Dark Materials Reread: Joint Review of The Golden Compass withBritt from Please Feed the Bookworm

Hi everyone, and welcome to the first point in His Dark Materials Reread with me and Britt from Please Feed the Bookworm. If you didn't get a chance to see me December TBR, Britt and I decided we wanted to do a reread of the series because it had been awhile since we had read the books after we heard that BBC is making a TV show out them. So the reread was born! We have a bunch of great stuff planned including these joint review, mood board, and more.

But first things first, the review. Britt and I both decided to listen to the audiobook because we like them and this one is a full cast, which is a cool concept. And because both of us have read the books before we decided to something a little different. Instead of a traditional review we're just going to have a conversation about our thoughts. We often talk about the books we read (we have similar taste and read a lot of the same books) so now we're just including you all in the convo. Hope you enjoy.

Title: The Golden Compass Series: His Dark Materials #1 Written By: Phillip Pullman  Published: April, 1996 by Knopf (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible) Synopsis: When Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon decide to spy on a presentation her uncle, the commanding Lord Asriel, is making to the elders of Jordan College they have no idea that they will become witnesses to an attempted murder, and even less that they are taking the first steps in a journey that will lead them into danger and adventure unlike anything Lyra's unfettered imagination has conjured up.  Though she has been raised at the college in an atmosphere of benign neglect that has allowed her to become a half-wild child of the streets, Lyra soon finds herself apprenticed to the elegant Mrs. Coulter, and in possession of a strange device called the alethiometer, a "golden compass" that reads not true worth, but truth itself.   But truth is a precious commodity, and before long Lyra and Pan are running for their lives, the object of an obsessive hunt by mysterious forces who have been stealing children for dark purposes that no one understands. Lyra will need all her street-learned wiles if she and Pan are to survive.

This is a reread, so how long has it been since you first read the book? 

B: I read this waaay back when I was in the 6th grade. The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe was my favorite at the time and a librarian pointed me in this direction. Only the first book was out at the time. 

C: Really! I wish I had read it as a kid. But I always wonder if I would have liked it as much if I read it then. Like I think a lot of the themes and stuff would have gone right over my head. It’s been seven years for me. I read it after college. A friend recommended it because she knew I liked fantasy. 

What did you think about the book when you read it the first time? 

C: I was loved it. I felt like it was such an interesting and complex fantasy and I of course loved the characters. I read it at a time when I was just getting back into "kids books" and it made me kind of realize that there is some great stuff that I missed as a kid. So I started reading a lot more MG and YA around that time. The rest is history I guess. 

B: It gave me the exact same feeling as Narnia. That was and has since been my measure of a good book. I loved this alternate universe that was so like our but so different and who doesn't love the idea of having a Daemon?! 

Good segue to the world and the world-building. Thoughts? 

C: I agree with Britt. I love the alternate universe stuff. It’s like out world but only a little different. That’s so key with fantasy for me. I need it to feel like a place like this could maybe exist, as crazy as that sounds. But I also want things to be completely different at the same. Daemons are a good example of that. I loved the idea of having a daemon. And now now knowing what they are and why they have them is so cool. 

Speaking of daemons, what form do you think yours would take? 

B: I would love to have an elephant but I feel that would be rather impractical. I will go with an Ocelot. It is a type of jungle cat that is cunning but also has this really pretty coat. Although it is small it can be mighty aggressive which pretty but sounds like me in a nutshell. 

C: I would maybe want mine to be an owl but I think it would probably be something uncool like a sloth or a skunk. I jokingly say that’s what my spirit animal is. 

What’s your favorite part of the book? 

B: I don't know why but I have always even fascinated with Lee Scorsby, the aeronaut. He pilots this awesome airship which is like a crazy cross between a plane and a hot air balloon. He kinda babbles a bit but I think he's great. I also love hearing the Gyptians tell the tale of Lyra’s parentage 

C: Lee Scorsby is so steampunk! I get it. For me it’s the part with the armorer bears. For one thing, I just love them so much. I also think it’s such an interesting culture and characters. But I also love when Lyra outsmarts the king of the bears by using the knowledge she learned throughout the book. It’s such classic Lyra. It’s so rash and reckless but ingenious at the same time. 

Do you have a least favorite part? 

C: I’d say the part with the Gyptians. There is some good stuff like discussions about the character’s histories and the larger world, plus implications that come in later but in general I think it drags too much. Especially during the reread when I’m waiting for the action-packed stuff I know is coming. I found myself anticipating what comes next when Lyra’s with the Gyptians. 

B: I agree with Cassi on this one. Usually I love backstory but this portion drrraaagggeeeddd. Def because we knew what was about to go down. That's the thing about rereads, you find some parts to be a bit inconsequential. I also don't like the part where they find the severed child. It hurts my heart everytime.  

C: So true! I liked the backstory but I knew it already so I was waiting for the action. 

What about the characters? 

C: I love Lyra. She’s so fierce. I love that she says what she thinks and what she wants and that it gets her into trouble but it also is her biggest strength. That was me as a pre-teen. I was always running my mouth like Lyra. But my favorite character is Iorek Byrnison. I want an armored bear so badly! Imagine how amazing that would be! 

B: *See Cassie's above explanation about Lyra.* I was also a bit of a smartass child. This is why Cassi and I are friends we might be the same person in some ways. I'm going to go with Lord Asriel as my second favorite. He is so intelligent and I find him quite dashing. 

Can talk about Mrs. Coulter? She’s such a great villain. 

B: I have such a hatred for Mrs. Coulter. Usually I like or at least respect the plight of the Villians but not in this case. She is just an evil woman and that damn monkey of hers is just as wicked 

C: The monkey! He’s the worst. Mrs. Coulter is someone that I love to hate. Cunning and charismatic but so devious. There are moments when I’m thinking “you are such a liar” but I also understand why people would follow her and listen to her. That’s the mark of a good villain to me. 

What did you think about the audiobook?

C: I love the fact that it’s like a radio play with different narrators for every character. The girl playing Lyra is so perfect. She’s sassy and precocious. I didn’t love Pan at first but the more I listen the more I think it works for him. I also really like that Phillip Pullman narrates the part that isn’t dialogue. I always like when authors narrate their own books, it makes me think that the tone of the book is spot on. Although I think he was a little calm during some the action scenes. I usually like when you the narrator talks faster during those parts because then I get all amped up. He doesn’t do that and sometimes I missed it. But towards the climax he did pick things up. 

B: Oh Lyra is literally perfect in this book. I also really loved the voices the Gyptians were given. There not Egyptians per say but more along of lines on like Gypsies so I feel there speak was on point. I did NOT know that this was Phillip narrating so that is just awesome. The full cast absolutely adds so much to an already amazing book. I don't think one narrator could do this book justice so I'm pleased they choose to do it this way. The only person who's voice I wasn't a fan of was Iorek. I wanted him to sound….not so bear-ish, even though he is indeed...a bear. 

C: I felt like that about Iofur. I wanted him to be more bear-like. Like a deeper more gravely voice. But I guess he’s trying to be human so it works. 

So this was a reread, did you get more out of the book? Notice things you missed the first time? 

B: I get a little bit more each time. Cassi and I spoke about how we were able to appreciate some of the more mature themes as we got older too so I'm looking forward to that as well. 

C: I think like with most rereads, I realized how well-plotted the series. Like there are little things in this book that come in later in such a big way. And there were so many moments where I was thinking like, “I know what that is,” or “I know why that is happening!” I always love that as someone who likes solving twists. I also think I was really critical about some things, especially with characters like Mrs. Coulter and the larger themes too like the religious stuff.

Still excited for the rest of the books? 

B: Pshaw! Of course even more so now. The second and third books are even better! 

C: YES! I love how the series escalates. And I’m super excited for Will.

Yay! Thanks for chatting with me about the book Britt. I hope you all enjoyed it. Come back throughout the month for more His Dark Materials Reread related stuff. And of course, head over to Please Feed the Bookworm to say hey to Britt if you haven't already.

Have you read The Golden Compass? What did you think? Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

On Rereads: Science Fiction Series Ending in November and December

On Rereads is a monthly feature on My Thoughts Lit where I talk about the books I reread during the month. It's an opportunity to share some new thoughts on a book I read before and usually to prepare for a new release. For the foreseeable future I plan to do one reread a month so I want to share my thoughts on these books the second time around.

I wanted to reread six books in October which was a little optimistic although I did reread five in November! What! I mean I didn't read as many new books but that's cool. I got to reread The Lunar Chronicles and the Starbound Trilogy by the end of the month. The fact that I had a drive to Upstate to New York to see my family for Thanksgiving definitely helped with that. I could have squeezed in a book I hadn't read but I didn't want to and these next two months that's what I want to do. But here is my thoughts on the audiobooks for....

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Cinder -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)
Scarlet  -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)
Cress -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

I was both excited and nervous for the final book in this series, Winter, to come out. I'm such a fan of this series. It is one of my all-time favorite retellings, not to mention an all-around science fiction series with amazing characters and a thrilling plot. So with the final book coming out I had to marathon the whole series to refresh my memory and also experience it all together.

Once again, I really felt like this is a series that gets better and better as it goes on. Rereading it you can see how good Marissa Meyer's plotting is. Things mentioned in the first book come back in a big way in the third and final book. I was so glad I reread it too because I forgot so many details, especially in Scarlet. Plus I got to once again fall in love with these characters and swoon at the romantic moment.

But what I really liked about this reread was the audio. Rebecca Soler, the narrator does an absolutely brilliant job bringing these characters to life. She got Cinder's snark down perfectly, plus Thorne's charm, Scarlet's toughness and French accent, and Cress' awkwardness. Plus her Iko was just so spot on. I loved it so much that when I was reading Winter, I missed the audio and downloaded it so that I could listen to it too. Her Winter (the character) narration? Brilliant!

The Starbound Trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

These Broken Stars - (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)
This Shattered World - (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

This series, ugh, you guys. I'm so obsessed. It might be my all-time favorite YA Science Fiction novel. It's so freaking amazing. These Broken Stars was one of my favorite reads of 2014 and I was a little nervous about rereading because what I loved so much about it was the mystery and the crazy plot twist but it was just as brilliant and emotional the second time around. That is the mark of a great read if you ask me. Then with This Shattered World, I wasn't totally blown away the first time I loved it. Honestly, the second time it was even better. Reading them back to back I was able to understand more and see more connections which made it so fantastic.

I also really loved these audiobooks. I like they have different narrators for the different perspectives and I think they captured the mystery and adventure with this series. I particularly enjoyed Jonathan McClain who narrated for Tarver, who I think captured his humor and fun personality, as well as Donnabella Mortel who narrated for Lee Chase in This Shattered World because she captured her toughness and vulnerability.

Now I am ready for Their Fractured Light, the last book in the series. I'm as usual excited and nervous about how it all end but I totally trust Aime and Meg to bring the feels and the mindblowing twists. Marissa Meyers totally did in Winter. These are both great Science Fiction series. I would definitely recommend them if you haven't read them yet.

Have you read the The Lunar Chronicles or the Starbound trilogy? Did you reread in preparation for their series conclussions? Have you done any rereads lately? What books? Do you like doing rereads or not? Tell me why.  Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

On Reread: Finishing School Series by Gail Carriger

On Rereads is a monthly feature on My Thoughts Lit where I talk about the books I reread during the month. It's an opportunity to share some new thoughts on a book I read before and usually to prepare for a new release. For the foreseeable future I plan to do one reread a month so I want to share my thoughts on these books the second time around.

Remember how I said I was going to reread The Finishing School series and The Lunar Chronicles by the end of the month. HAHAHA, that was funny. I don't know what I was thinking. I behind on my TBR to begin with so what males me think that I will be able to do twice as many rereads than I have ever done. It was very optimistic and I totally failed at that. But I did get a chance to finish one of those series so here is my thoughts on the audiobooks for....

Finishing School Series by Gail Carriger

Etiquette and Espionage -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

I read this series a year ago and it was right about that time that my interest in steampunk really started taking off. I remember absolutely loving the world of this book.Gail Carriger is a master of combining fantasy and science fiction with magical creatures inhabiting a world of technology and for lack of a better word, robots. The contrast is so interesting and there is so much conflict. I also adore the boarding school here and it was great to experience that again.

But what really struck me during my reread is how much stuff from this book comes into play during the rest of the series. When I first read it, I didn't find the plot very interesting because it felt like a lot of setup. But knowing where the story was going, I saw the clues and hints that I missed the first time. I found it so much more complex this time around and very impressed with Carriger's writing and the fact that she clearly planned this whole thing out really well.




Curtsies and Conspiracies - (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

With Curtsies and Conspiracies it was much the same as Etiquette and Espionage. I loved the world so much and the exploration of the supernatural with the steampunk. I noticed during this book that it seems to be that I remember so little about middle books. I forgot a lot about the plot of this book and found myself thinking, "is this the book where this happens?" One thing I do I remember is loving all the information about vampires the first time around. Plus the conflict here is also really cranked up and so this time around I also found it much more complex because I saw the big picture more and where things were going.

I also found in this case that I really enjoyed the audiobook in this series. There are a lot of different people from different places and the narrator does such an amazing job doing a French accent, a Scottish accent, even a Cockney accent. I loved the characterization and the personality she gave to each character it fit so well. The only one I didn't like was Vieve. I love her as a character but I found her voice grating and I wanted her to be less involved so I didn't have to hear it. But then I felt bad because I love Vieve. In general I did find that I loved the audio and think Moira Quick is a fantastic narrator.

Waistcoats and Weaponry - (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

Waistcoats and Weaponry was when I really fell on love with this series. I loved the way things were developing and felt like this time around there was less exposition and more actual plot development. There is also a ton more conflict and things are more political here. But despite the fact that this was my favorite book the first time around, it was a bit of a disappointment during my reread. It's not that I didn't like it, I just didn't get anything new out of it and with rereads that is a lot of the point.

But the thing that I did love about this book is the character development. I have gotten so attached to these characters after three books and therefore this one is much more of an emotional read. I remember getting hit in the feels for the first time in this book and it definitely happened again. The fact that I like the characterization during the audio made that even worse.

Now I am ready for Manners and Mutiny, the last book int the series. I'm really excited to find out what happens with the characters, especially Sophronia. It comes out next Tuesday at which point it will magically get delivered to my kindle so I can start reading. I won't be able to continue with the audio though. I am however considering continuing with this series. This is technically a prequel series. The series Carriger originally wrote is the Parasol Protectorate, which is I think 30 years after this series and involves a few characters. I'm liking the world so much I may not want to let it go.

Have you read the Finishing School Series? Have you done any rereads lately? What books? Do you like doing rereads or not? Tell me why.  Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

On Reads: Fantasy First Books with Fall Sequels

It's already October? When did that happen? I had a great month reading in September though. I read some really great books. If you didn't see my recap yesterday  check it out here. In August I unveiled a new monthly feature where I talk about a few of the books that I got to reread. With so many series enders and series continuations happening this fall and winter I decided I needed some refreshers before I done back into the series. For the foreseeable future I will be doing one reread a week so I thought I would do a new feature I'm calling On Rereads. They will be mini reviews where I talk about the books I reread and any different impressions I may have had after reading them a second time. This month I read three first books in a series in preparation for their sequels.

Jackaby by William Ritter -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

I absolutely loved this book when I read it last year. I thought it was incredibly fun with an engaging plot full of mystery, a atmospheric world full of fantasy, and likable characters full of humor. It still does. The second time around I was not at all disappointed by this book. It was just as fantastic and enjoyable.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the audio on this one. Nicola Barber does this boook justice which was a big concern of mine. But she captured Abigail's enthusiasm, Jackaby's snark, and Charlie's mystery. She also captured the supernatural world and I felt like I could perfectly visualize New Shoreham and all the characters. My only criticism is that because I knew how it was going to end it didn't have as much mystery and usually I'm okay with that but this time I didn't really pick up some extra plot points that I missed the first time around. But on the whole it was a fantastic read.

I was so glad I read this before Beastly Bones. It reminded me how much I liked the characters and how fun this series is. I picked up a few references from the book that I may not have noticed if I had not reread Jackaby.

The Young Elites by Marie Lu- (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

This was another favorite book of 2014 and another really anticipated sequel. I cannot wait for my copy of The Rose Society to get here. I need more Adelina and her descent into madness. I seriously love how dark this book is and it was just as dark the second time. I didn't forget how ruthless these characters are and it didn't affect me any less. Neither did that climax. I didn't sob as much but the anticipation killed me. But that being said the dramatic irony sort of made it so that I didn't like the characters as much. I held a few of them at arms length knowing what they would do so that was a change I didn't like the characters as much.

But I did really like the audio in this case. I knew that the world is influenced a lot by Italian/Renaissance history and that was so much more obvious with the audiobook. The narration was fantastic and the way they pronounced the names and certain words really helped to immerse me in the world. And I really love this world and magical system so that was great.

I wish I had waited a little bit before I read this though. I now need The Rose Society so badly and I still have to wait two weeks. Three from when I finished my reread. I need book two like... yesterday.

The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson - (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

It should come as no surprise to you that I love the Mistborn series if you have been here for awhile. Mostly I am obsessed with this world. The Alloy of Law is not my favorite in the series but it's a fantastic series that's more like a police procedural. I had completely forgotten so many elements of the mystery so it was great to reread and refresh on that note. One thing I didn't forget about is the characters. How much do I love Wayne? SO MUCH! And Ranette. And Marassi. And Wax. Ah, they are all so fantastic.

I didn't listen to all the audiobooks for the first three Mistborn novels but I did listen to a bit of them and the narrator is fantastic. They use the same one for this one which is nice. He gets the world so well and I can immerse myself in it along with his voice.

But now I am so ready for Shadows of Self. It comes out next week and I am starting the preview from Netgalley today. I cannot wait for more crazy hijinx, more mystery-solving, and more allomancy and feruchemy. But mostly more Sanderson because obviously!

Have you done any rereads lately? What books? Do you like doing rereads or not? Tell me why. I hope you like this new feature. I'm hoping to do it once a month or when I finish a reread of a series. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!