ARC Review: Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Title: Invictus Written by: Ryan Graudin Published: September 30, 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Time flies when you're plundering history. Farway Gaius McCarthy was born outside of time. The son of a time-traveling Recorder from 2354 AD and a gladiator living in Rome in 95 AD, Far's birth defies the laws of nature. Exploring history himself is all he's ever wanted, and after failing his final time-traveling exam, Far takes a position commanding a ship with a crew of his friends as part of a black market operation to steal valuables from the past. But during a heist on the sinking Titanic, Far meets a mysterious girl who always seems to be one step ahead of him. Armed with knowledge that will bring Far's very existence into question, she will lead Far and his team on a race through time to discover a frightening truth: History is not as steady as it seems.

I was so excited to read this book the moment I learned about it. Not only did I really like Ryan Graudin’s Wolf by Wolf series plus it’s a book about time traveling pirates. And despite a really slow start I ended up loving this book.

One of my favorite thing about this book was the characters. If the three books I have read are any indication, Ryan definitely knows how to build an interesting cast of characters. First off, this is a book with a diverse cast who had a lot too them. It’s a book with multiple perspectives and it worked so well because every character was so likable and interesting. The main character her is Farway and while he fit the lovable rogue trope that I typically find amazing, he was far from the most interesting character here. That fell to Eliot who was a mystery that I waked to unravel. The other really fantastic was Imogen who was fun and quirky plus super sweet and smart. But every character had a lot to them.

But the best part about the characters was the relationships. Like a lot of books like this, this was mostly about family and found families. When you have any kind of team that is a natural thing. But it definitely worked her. The characters, and the book, was at it’s best when everyone was working together to achieve something. Plus the real heart of the book was how they interacted and engaged. I was kind of surprised by how much the plot revolves around that family aspect, but what surprised me the most was how that was when the book started to get good. And of course I have to mention the romances. My cold romancephobic heart even melted a little bit by the end when it came to those relationship. They were sweet and subtle, which frankly is how I like my love. But it’s just one more example of how Ryan handles relationships so well.

In addition to all of that, this book also had a fantastic plot. There was a lot going on here. I mean it’s a book about time traveling pirates, so already you have a good idea about what is going to happen. It was completely action-packed and full of daring heists, narrow escapes, and tons of adventure. More then once I was on the edge of my seat wondering how our heroes were going to get out of one scrape or another. And while it definitely built to a thrilling conclusion there was definitely a slow start here. It took about half of the book to really hook me. I think maybe because there was just a lot going on here and we had to wait for all the cards to be laid out before it really got interesting. And when it did get good, but was it good.

Finally, I want to talk about the world building of this book. I read plenty of genre fiction including my fair share of time travel stories. One thing that I found interesting was that while this was a book that made a point of focusing on the details of the historical era, it didn’t bog the reader down in details. If you are not a huge fan of time travel I think you will still like this one. It’s got science fiction elements but it didn’t overwhelm the reader with talk about science or paradoxes even though they were definitely a part of the plot and world of the book. It just all worked together to develop an interesting setting(s) for a larger story which I appreciated.

All in all, I think Invictus was a fantastic read. Whether you are a big fan of science fiction and time travel or not I think you will enjoy this book with great characters and a thrilling plot.

I give Invictus by Ryan Graudin 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. I would definitely recommend this book. It's pitched as Doctor Who meets Firefly which I can totally see. If you like science fiction or just want to try it for the first time I think you will enjoy this book.

Have you read Invictus? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Cold Summer by Gwen Cole

Title: Cold Summer Written by: Gwen Cole Published: May 2, 2017 by Sky Pony Press (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Today, he’s a high school dropout with no future.  Tomorrow, he’s a soldier in World War II.  Kale Jackson has spent years trying to control his time-traveling ability but hasn’t had much luck. One day he lives in 1945, fighting in the war as a sharpshooter and helplessly watching soldiers—friends—die. Then the next day, he’s back in the present, where WWII has bled into his modern life in the form of PTSD, straining his relationship with his father and the few friends he has left. Every day it becomes harder to hide his battle wounds, both physical and mental, from the past.  When the ex-girl-next-door, Harper, moves back to town, thoughts of what could be if only he had a normal life begin to haunt him. Harper reminds him of the person he was before the PTSD, which helps anchor him to the present. With practice, maybe Kale could remain in the present permanently and never step foot on a battlefield again. Maybe he can have the normal life he craves.  But then Harper finds Kale’s name in a historical article—and he’s listed as a casualty of the war. Kale knows now that he must learn to control his time-traveling ability to save himself and his chance at a life with Harper. Otherwise, he’ll be killed in a time where he doesn’t belong by a bullet that was never meant for him.

This sounded like a really interesting book that is totally up my alley. I'm a sucker for time travel books and books set during WWII, plus I love the idea of the book exploring PTSD. And while this was an interesting read, it never took things to the next level.

As far as the plot goes, it was interesting but a little basic. To be entirely honest I'm not entirely sure what the main plot of this book was. I didn't even really know what it was building to until it was over. I think maybe for me this was probably a case of less is more, or more is less. because there was a lot going on here and none of it got much of the attention it really deserved.

One of those things in this book that I wish had a little more attention was the time travel aspect. It was really interesting, and a unique time travel story, but I felt like it really only touched the surface. Some of the more interesting things about this book was why and how the character was able to travel back to the future. But I wanted to learn more about that and see more about it but the author didn't give that to me. I would say that this aspect of the story is what I would call the world-building. And this world-building where they leave you with a lot of questions because it's trying to show instead of tell but only ends up info-dumping the basic info. I liked the time travel I just wanted more.

That is also how I felt about the historical aspects of the story. I like time travel so much, I think, because I like historical fiction. I like bringing a modern character into a historical period for their take on the time. And I was really excited about the World War II story. I was interested to see a stark and serious take on what it was like to being in battle. And yes, there were some of those aspects but it felt like it was only in the beginning. Mostly these parts were few and far between and I wanted more.

But this book is pitched as a Time Travelers Wife kind of a story, so of course we have to talk about the romance. This is probably the part of the book I am most torn about it. I mean I liked it, so I guess that should be a good sign because I don't always like romances. It was definitely cute. I think the thing I liked was that it's subtle. It's a subtle kind of romance. Not quite a slow burn, but not fast or instalove either. I honestly didn't know how I felt until the end when I wanted things to go a certain way. I guess that's a good thing. The romance did what it was supposed to do, it hooked me.

But I may have liked the romance because I liked the characters. They weren't anything extraordinary, but they were likeable. The book alternates perspectives between Harper and Kale. I think at the beginning I liked Kale better. He was the one travelling back in time and I found myself wanting to read his chapters more. But then as the books when on I actually grew to like Harper. I think she had pretty good development as she was getting acclimated to her new life and relationships. But in general I liked them both even though there wasn't much character development.

All and all this is an interesting read but I think it just had too much going on. It's a short read but I kind of wish it was a little longer so that we got more from the time travel and historical elements.

I give Cold Summer by Gwen Cole 7.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. If you are a fan of YA romances and are looking for a Time travel romance then pick this one up. But if you are looking for a complex time travel adventure there are probably other books that will be more up your alley. I do think that it was a little too little going from a lot of different things for me.

Have you read Cold Summer? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken

*** This is the second book in a duology. If you have not read Passenger be careful of spoilers. Also read those, they're great. ***

Title: Wayfarer Series: Passenger #2 Written by: Alexandra Bracken Published: January 3, 2017 by Scholastic (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: All Etta Spencer wanted was to make her violin debut when she was thrust into a treacherous world where the struggle for power could alter history. After losing the one thing that would have allowed her to protect the Timeline, and the one person worth fighting for, Etta awakens alone in an unknown place and time, exposed to the threat of the two groups who would rather see her dead than succeed. When help arrives, it comes from the last person Etta ever expected—Julian Ironwood, the Grand Master’s heir who has long been presumed dead, and whose dangerous alliance with a man from Etta’s past could put them both at risk.  Meanwhile, Nicholas and Sophia are racing through time in order to locate Etta and the missing astrolabe with Ironwood travelers hot on their trail. They cross paths with a mercenary-for-hire, a cheeky girl named Li Min who quickly develops a flirtation with Sophia. But as the three of them attempt to evade their pursuers, Nicholas soon realizes that one of his companions may have ulterior motives.  As Etta and Nicholas fight to make their way back to one another, from Imperial Russia to the Vatican catacombs, time is rapidly shifting and changing into something unrecognizable… and might just run out on both of them.

I really loved Passenger and was so excited to read the next book in this series. And this book was another thrilling and action-packed read with great characters.

The biggest strength of this book is definitely the characters. I absolutely connected with the main characters in the first book in the series and in this one I was completely invested in seeing them succeed. Both Nicholas and Etta are strong, resourceful, and compassionate. They are the kind of characters that have strengths and weaknesses making them complex and well rounded. They spent most of the book apart which meant very little romance and I kind of loved that. Not only did I want them to get together but it made me appreciate them apart and allowed for some good character development.

This book also had a good combination of plot-driven and character-driven. On the one hand there was a ton of action in this book. It was full of thrilling escapes, fight scenes, and surprises. There wasn't a ton of action in Passenger but Wayfarer made up for that in stride. At the same time there were a lot of character based moments where the choices and motivations of Etta and Nicholas influenced the story and how it developed. It wasn't quite a Hero's Journey but it had those aspects in addition to the action based moments. For someone like me who prefers plot-driven reads Wayfarer struck the right chord.

Unfortunately however I didn't love the world building in this one. Passenger was one of those time travel stories that focuses more on the historical fiction aspects of the world building and I kind of wish that Wayfarer had done that as well. But the plot took more of the focus and that was kind of to he detriment of the word building. Now don't get me wrong, I think it's okay if there is more of a focus on the time travel aspect but if that's the case then there needs to be clear rules and understanding how all of that works, and that didn't happen here. A lot of the time it came off as confusing and muddied the book for me. I wish there was more explanation to the world.

Or maybe that was just because of the pacing of the book. This was a very fast-paced read, and it may have been too fast. It moved from moment to moment at such a breakneck speed that I almost didn't register what was happening now before it moved on to the next. I found myself kind of confused at times and even had to reread whole pages and sections because it moved too quickly. It did all build to a thrilling conclusion but when it was all over it didn't feel satisfying in the way I thought it would be. I know this series is only a duology but I feel like there's more. Or maybe I just want more.

This book wasn't perfect but I did rally enjoy it. It's a thrilling action-packed read with great character moments and exciting ending despite the fact that the world and pacing was a little confusing.

I give Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. If you liked Passenger you will enjoy the second book in this series. It's not a perfect time travel series but it's definitely a really good one that I think fans of historical fantasy will enjoy.

Have you read Wayfarer? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stoping by and HAPPY READING!

Podcast Review: The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Title: The Girl From Everywhere Series: The Girl from Everywhere #1 Written by: Heidi Heilig Published: March 3, 2016 by Hot Key Books (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: It was the kind of August day that hinted at monsoons, and the year was 1774, though not for very much longer.  Sixteen-year-old Nix Song is a time-traveller. She, her father and their crew of time refugees travel the world aboard The Temptation, a glorious pirate ship stuffed with treasures both typical and mythical. Old maps allow Nix and her father to navigate not just to distant lands, but distant times - although a map will only take you somewhere once. And Nix's father is only interested in one time, and one place: Honolulu 1868. A time before Nix was born, and her mother was alive. Something that puts Nix's existence rather dangerously in question...  Nix has grown used to her father's obsession, but only because she's convinced it can't work. But then a map falls into her father's lap that changes everything. And when Nix refuses to help, her father threatens to maroon Kashmir, her only friend (and perhaps, only love) in a time where Nix will never be able to find him. And if Nix has learned one thing, it's that losing the person you love is a torment that no one can withstand. Nix must work out what she wants, who she is, and where she really belongs before time runs out on her forever.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

I'm really excited for this review because in addition to having a written review for you, I also have a podcast review! If you haven't been following Please Feed My Bookworm Thoughts, it is the bookish podcast I have been doing with Britt from Please Feed the Bookworm. This is our first ever review so check out down below to listen to our thoughts or visit us on Soundcloud. But be warned, the second half of the podcast does have spoilers. The written review is spoiler free though.

The Girl From Everywhere was one of my most anticipated 2016 debuts. It sounded like an absolutely amazing exploration of time travel and family. And it was good. Just one more on a list of great time travel books coming out recently. However while I loved the character moments, the general plot development didn't always work for me.

My favorite thing about this book was probably the more character-driven moments. For one thing, I really liked Nix as a main character. She was a great combination of strength and vulnerability making her a complex character that I was rooting for. She’s smart, resourceful, and tough. I like how much people rely on her and treat her as an equal but that she makes mistakes and isn’t perfect. But my favorite characters were the secondary ones, especially those on the ship. Kashmir was great, Bee was fun, even Rotgut. And then there was her father, who I surprisingly loved. He had really great development throughout the book. But better than that, the relationships between Nix and the other characters were really fantastic. I particularly liked how she and her father related to each other and how that developed throughout the book. Even the romances were great and kind of refreshing. Some readers might get annoyed with the love triangle but for me it worked. But that was probably because there really weren't many romantic moments. It was just the start of something, maybe.

The setting and historical aspects too were really interesting. Most of the places that they traveled was really interesting, and there was a great combination of history and mythology that I really appreciated. But the bulk of the story took place in 19th Century Hawaii and the author did a great job of developing that setting. I read this book as part of my pirate month and you had not only really great sailing and high seas elements of this story but the tropical island really came alive. There was beautiful coastlines, waterfalls, jungles. It made me want to go to Hawaii more then I already do. There were also some subtle political intrigue and interesting historical moments which I honestly knew very little about. This had me looking up and researching Hawaiian history because I needed to know what actually happened and that to me is the mark of great historical fiction.

But as much as I liked the historical elements, the time travel stuff didn't totally work. I think I could have used a little bit more of those aspects. I like my time travel to have clear rules and yes, there were specific rules and the way they actually traveled was interesting, but it just was a much smaller part of the story than I was hoping for. I like my time travel to for lack of a better phrase, to go big or go home. Here the time travel was more of an undercurrent. I was thinking there would be more conversation of the butterfly affect and other aspect of time travel but here it was more subtle. They didn't even really talk about or explain the consequences of travelling through time until two-thirds of the way into the book.

However, when that time travel stuff did kick in, it was a fantastic read. It did have a bit of a slow start to me with quite a bit of exposition before getting into the heart of the story, but in the end the plot was incredibly intricate. Things came full circle and little things from earlier in the book came back in a big way during the climax. I saw a review from Alex at The Book Buzz where she called it a heist and that is so accurate. The heist elements were so brilliant and definitely my favorite part despite it not totally connecting with the historical elements. And that may have been because that was the big finish. I was definitely on the edge of my seat during the last 15% of the book. And while this is the first book in a series, I really appreciate that this one had a clear ending with exciting prospects of what will happen next.

All in all, a good read that had great characters who interacted in fantastic ways, and interesting historical settings that combined history and mythology perfectly. Despite the slow pacing and the fact that it took me awhile to get into it, finished really strong with a conclusion that brought things full circle.

I give The Girl From Everywhere 8 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. I would recommend to fans of historical fiction or anyone looking to try time travel for the first time. But I would also recommend this book to readers who like more character based stories that explore family relationships. That was the best part of this book to me.

Have you read The Girl From Everywhere? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. And don't forget to check out the podcast down below for more of my thoughts and learn what Britt thoughts of the book. Especially if you read the book because we have spoilery thoughts in the last 20 minutes. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!
 

Book Review: The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry

Title: The Love that Split the World Written by: Emily Henry Published: January 26, 2016 by Razorbill (Penguin Group) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Natalie Cleary must risk her future and leap blindly into a vast unknown for the chance to build a new world with the boy she loves.  Natalie’s last summer in her small Kentucky hometown is off to a magical start... until she starts seeing the “wrong things.” They’re just momentary glimpses at first—her front door is red instead of its usual green, there’s a pre-school where the garden store should be. But then her whole town disappears for hours, fading away into rolling hills and grazing buffalo, and Nat knows something isn’t right.  That’s when she gets a visit from the kind but mysterious apparition she calls “Grandmother,” who tells her: “You have three months to save him.” The next night, under the stadium lights of the high school football field, she meets a beautiful boy named Beau, and it’s as if time just stops and nothing exists. Nothing, except Natalie and Beau.  Emily Henry’s stunning debut novel is Friday Night Lights meets The Time Traveler’s Wife, and perfectly captures those bittersweet months after high school, when we dream not only of the future, but of all the roads and paths we’ve left untaken.

This book was compulsively readable and addicting. I had heard nothing but great reviews so I made sure to get a copy as my debut for time travel month. I honestly was a little nervous about reading it because of all the love but there was no reason to be worried. This book lives up to the hype. It is beautifully written with great characters and so much mystery.

The thing that first struck me about this book is the characterization. Emily Henry does a fantastic job creating complex and realistic characters that you cannot help but relate to. I instantly felt for Natalie. She's curious, inquisitive, and introspective. As curious about herself as she is in the world around here. She struggles with her identity and a lot of that has to do not only with the fact that she is adopted but it's more than that. I was honestly so invested in her exploration throughout the book. I love a good coming-of-age story but it is made all the more interesting because this is a character who I can connect with. But Natalie was not the only great characters. The romantic lead, Beau was pretty great too. He had just as much exploration of identity as Natalie. He is just as uncertain about himself and his future as she is. And while their romance was a little on the insta-lovey side their connection was clear and I liked seeing them explore it. I also loved the relationships between Natalie and her best friend, her parents, and her siblings. They were all so realistic. You could tell that she cared so much for her friends and family and that they all cared for her. It was all these relationships that gave it the Friday Night Lights vibe for me. The book was just so full of complex characters who related to each other in real and honest ways.

But there was so much more to this book than that. I would maybe categorize it as Magical Realism. It sometimes reads like a contemporary but there is also this really amazing fantasy world. Throughout the book there is Native American mythology and stories that help build out that fantasy world. It was absolutely amazing the way that these were incorporated into the plot and mystery of the books. It really made things so interesting. But there is also some really fantastic elements that give this book it's The Time Traveler's Wife vibes. There's this whole time travel and dimensional travel concept that made this book so complex. At times it did get a little bit on the confusing and scientific side of things but it was still really interesting. In general it just added a new dimension to the world and plot of the book. Throughout the story I was definitely engaged to see how it would all be connected and to learn more about the world. It was such a creative and complex world.

All of this combined to create a mysterious and well-plotted book. Things really build to a thrilling ending. I spent most of the book curious as to not only what was going to happen but why it was happening. And yes, there were some elements of the book that I predicted but in general I was captivated by the plot development and the twists. It slowly gave the reader clues as to what was happening and where it was all going. When it finally built to the ending I was on the edge of my seat needing to know how it was all going to end. And while I didn't totally love the conclusion and ending for personal reasons and questions relating to time travel paradoxes it still packed a really big emotional punch. The ending definitely hit me right in the feels and left me reeling in the best possible way.

But I honestly think my favorite thing about this book was Emily Henry's writing. I don't often talk about writing style or prose in my reviews because it's not really something I pay much attention to unless it is either not what I enjoy or totally blows me away. With this book it was the latter. I seriously loved the writing. It's subtle yet there is a beauty within these words that just captured me and took me away. Without even realizing it I was devouring these words and feeling the affect of them on me. There is a lot to unpack here with the themes that the author addresses and she handles them with care and seriousness that make them relatable and impactful. Whether it is identity, familial relationships, love, or even gender and race. It makes you think without being preachy. All of this added to make a book that had me captivated and engaged from beginning to end.

On the whole, The Love That Split the World is a fantastic and captivating book with complex characters, an interesting fantasy world, and gorgeous writing. I was surprised by how much I loved this book. You may be seeing a lot of hype around this one at the moment and for me it absolutely lives up to it.

I give The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry 9.5 out of 10

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. For one thing, this cover is absolutely gorgeous. It is a book I want to have on my shelves. But it's also gorgeous on the inside too. Fans of coming-of-age stories will enjoy Natalie's exploration of her identity and fans of fantasy and Magical Realism will love the world building and mystery.

ARC Review: Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor

Title: Into the Dim Series: Into the Dim #1 Written by: Janet B.Taylor Published: March 1, 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: When fragile, sixteen-year-old Hope Walton loses her mom to an earthquake overseas, her secluded world crumbles.  Agreeing to spend the summer in Scotland, Hope discovers that her mother was more than a brilliant academic, but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. Trapped in the twelfth century in the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hope has seventy-two hours to rescue her mother and get back to their own time. Along the way, her path collides with that of a mysterious boy who could be vital to her mission . . . or the key to Hope’s undoing.   Addictive, romantic, and rich with historical detail, Into the Dim is an Outlander for teens.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed by my opinion. ***

I saw Into the Dim as Read only on Netgalley and I snagged a copy because it sounded interesting and it fit my theme for the month. I liked Into the Dim but on the whole it was just an okay read. Definitely an interesting book with some interesting and engaging parts but some moments that didn't quite work for me.

Probably my favorite thing about this book was the time travel aspects. I've been reading time travel books this month and they usually fall into two different general concept as to how a person travels back in time, science or magic. In Into the Dim, there was not only the need for technology but also something mystical involved to travel back in time which was cool. It was definitely an interesting and creative concept which was cool especially considering this was not my first or even fifth time travel book this month. It still kept things fresh and interesting. And while I love time travel books, there is always a risk of them getting too complicated and overwhelming. Here it never got too complicated and there even was a lot of set up which I usually don't like but here it worked.

I also really liked the historical aspects of the story too. One of the reasons that I like time travel stories is for they are essential historical fictional books with a little SF/F. Into the Dim did the historical elements so well. It put a lot of emphasis on the time period it took the reader back to which I definitely appreciated. It had real historical figures incorporated with the fictional ones. It was fantastic to seeing the main characters interact with people like Eleanor of Aquitane, Henry II, and their advisors. And even better was the setting. 12th century London really comes alive in Into the Dim with all the good and bad aspects of the era. It doesn't smooth the rough edges at all. It's smelly, there's trash in the streets, and women are not treated very well. But that made the setting all the more realistic and interesting. You can tell that it's very well-researched. The historical aspect and world building was great.

Unfortunately the general plot of the book didn't quite work in the same way that the world building did. It was on the more basic side. I'm a plot-driven reader so I wanted a little more from the general plot of the book. it was interesting enough and there were moments where I was engaged as to where the characters were going and why but it didn't quite blow me away. I think that was mostly because I saw each twist coming a mile away. I usually love a good mystery and here it felt predictable and therefore the characters obtuse at times. And while the ending did have some great action, it took so long to get there. The pacing was a little bit on the slow end with a lot of front loaded exposition. Which I understand for time travel because you have to set up the rules but there wasn't even really much of that at the beginning. But I think what I mostly could have used was a little but more from the mystery to off-set the beginning.

I also don't think I ever really connected with the characters. I don't usually need to love them to enjoy the book but it definitely helps. But I think that the lack of mystery within the book got a bit in the way of my enjoyment of the character. The big reveals didn't hit me so I didn't really find the characters as complex. And that too got in the way of my enjoyment of the main character, Hope. She sometimes came off as a little dense. I mean it made sense for her history and backstory but it didn't quite work in this kind of book. I like when unlikely characters are thrust into situations that they have a hard time handling, that makes it dramatic. But I like to know that they can handle it. I'm not saying that Hope couldn't handle but it just didn't always work for me. I think just in general, I never quite connected with the characters.

On the whole, Into the Dim was a good read despite some things that didn't quite work for me. It had a fantastic world building and setting with great historical fiction elements and engaging time travel aspects despite a simpler plot and characters I didn't really connect with.

I give Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor 8 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. This was an interesting and engaging read but it didn't quite live up to the hype for me. I would recommend it to fans of time travel stories or historical fiction but if you're looking for a complex and emotional story this may not be the book for you.

Have you read Into the Dim? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

January Wrap Up and February TBR

Read in January: Time/Dimensional Travel

It's a new year and the first month of 2016 is over! Time really does fly! This is quiet and approproate statement considering my theme this month was time travel and dimensional travel. The highlight of my month was definitely being blown away by some highly anticipated reads. It was a pretty good way to start the year. I didn't get to read as many books as I had hoped but you know what I'm not going to already panic about meeting goals. It's too early for that nonsense. I read a total of 12 new books this month including 1 reread. That's pretty good. Plus two 10 star reviews and some honestly amazing books.

As far as challenges go, it's a new year and that means new challenges. YAY! I am a little behind for my Goodreads goal of reading 150 books this year, but like I said... too early to panic. I'm on track for my goal for the Debut Author Challenge of reading 25 debuts by starting the year with 2 debuts this month. I'm also on track for the Netgalley/Edelweiss Challenge having read 3 books for that challenge towards my goal of 36. I'm also on track for the TBR Pile Challenge by reading two books for that this month towards my goal of 25 for the year. And finally, a new challenge for me this year, the Audiobook Challenge. I listened to 3 audiobooks this month which is on track for my goal of 30 or more for the year.

The Books

1.) Worlds of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley 
Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]

2.) Truthwitch by Susan DennardRating: 10 out of 10 [My Review]

3.) Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray 
Rating: 9. out of 10 [My Review]

4.) The Borden Murders by Sarah Miller Rating: 7.5 out of 10 [My Review]

5.) Passenger by Alexandra Bracken Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [My Review]

6.) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]

7.) Written in Red by Anne Bishop Rating: 8 out of 10 [My Review]

8.) The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [My Review]
9.) The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson
Rating: 10 out of 10 [My Review]
10.) Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor Rating: 8 out of 10 [Review to Come]
11.) The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry [Review to Come]
12.) A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray [Reread Review]

Other Posts

Crossing Over: Dimensional Travel
Stacking the Shelves: January Haul
Discussion Posts: My Book Buying Ban, I Used to Be Book Prejudiced
Waiting on Wednesday: The Raven King by Maggie Steifvater, The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkowski
Please Feed My Bookworm Thoughts Podcasts: Episode 1 - 2016 Releases

To Be Read in February: Pirates!

In February I'm so excited for my next themed month. I mean it's pirates you guys, who wouldn't be excited? I have review copies of some books I'm really excited to read and there are some new releasescoming out that I have been desperately waiting for. I'm predicting another great month.

1.) The Abyss Surrounds Us by Eily Skrutsie - Add to Goodreads
I got an ARC of this from Netgalley and I;m really excited. It's about space pirates and I heard the romance is f/f which is always exciting for SciFi/Fantasy.

2.) Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys - Add to Goodreads
I'm excited for this historical fiction book by an author that has been on my list for awhile. It kind of feels insensitive to include it during my pirate month but it comes out now and Britt and I are reviewing it together for our podcast.

3.) Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto - Add to Goodreads
This is one of my most anticipated debuts of the year and I'm so excited to read it. It's a dark fantasy Westerm which is totally up my alley.

4.) Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman - Add to Goodreads
This is another exciting debuts. It's going to be a month of debuts. It's historical fiction about Blackbeard and Anne Bonny as teenagers. How cool is that! I'm so excited to read my ARC from Simon Teen.

5.) Calamity by Brandon Sanderson - Add to Goodreads
This is the final book in The Reckoners trilogy and I am anxiously awaiting it despite knowing that it will absolutely destroy me I'm sure.

6.) Rebel Bully Geek Pariah by Erin Jade Lange - Add to Goodreads
Throwing in a random contemporary as a palette cleanser is always a good idea. Plus this one sounds really interesting, it's like the Breakfast Club which I usually enjoy.

7.) The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig - Add to Goodreads
This fit last month's theme of time travel but also this month's pirate theme. I got the UK edition from Netgalley just this week so I'm excited to read it soon!

8.) A Gathering of Shadows by V.E Schwab - Add to Goodreads
So excited! This is the sequel to my favorite book of 2015 and I'm sure this one will be just as wonderful because obviously

So those are the books that I have planned. Like I said I'm trying not to plan out too many reads and keep some backup books in case I have holes in the schedule. I have a few potential or backup books that I may end up reading as well.

Rereads

The Reckoners Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson: Steelheart, Mitosis, and Firefight 
A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab - Original Review

Potential Reads

The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan - Add to Goodreads
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch - Add to Goodreads
A Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop - Add to Goodreads
Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase - Add to Goodreads


There you have it. All the books I plan to read in February and a few potential reads. What are you reading this month? Are there any of the same books on your list? Have you read any of these? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Audiobook Review: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Title: Outlander Series: Outlander #1 Written by: Diana Gabaldon Published: Originally in 1991 by Delacorte Press (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible) Synopsis: Claire Randall is leading a double life. She has a husband in one century, and a lover in another... The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just 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 circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border 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.

Why did I put this book off for so long? I even own a copy that I got a used book sale and I still never read it. Oh right, because there are 8 books in this series and they're all over 800 pages. I have been so intimidated by this series for a very long time. Well regardless, I'm glad I took the time to give it a try because I really enjoyed it. It's a fantastic adult historical fiction with lots of action and some great fantasy elements.

One of the things I really enjoyed about this book is the historical aspects. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. I honestly went into this book expecting it to be more of a fantasy series but it read much more like historical fiction. But maybe that's because the entire book was set in the past and not just a part of it. When you're dealing with a time travel book, like this one, it's usually someone in the present going into the past (or future) but here both time periods are set in the past. The author did a great job of setting the scene for both WWII and 18th Century Scotland. Most of the book was set in 1740's Scotland which was totally fine with me. There was so much drama not to mention it made a period and location I knew very little about which was super interesting. It's always great to explore a completely new period. Plus there were some subtle references and plot points about real history that it seems are going to come up more in later books.

But at the heart of this book, it's a time travel adventure. The setting and that narrative led to a really dramatic plot development. A lot of the book was about the main character finding her place in this society she knew nothing about. That's one of the things I love about stories where characters go back in time. They don't understand the practices of the people but they also try not to say or do anything that will reveal them. Claire unfortunately is not very good at that and actually uses her experience to her benefit which honestly makes this more interesting. But there was also a ton of thrilling action and drama. This is not a book for the faint of heart. There are many cringeworthy and/or adult scenes of violence and sexual content, often at the same time. And while I don't personally love that concept it was historically accurate and made me emotionally invest in the book and the characters.

But these characters didn't really need help being sympathetic and likable. I absolutely adored our main character is Claire. She was just a delight. Claire's such a strong female character. She's smart, resourceful, speaks her mind and can hold her own in a very male dominated world. She was ahead of her time for the 1940's so seeing her in the the 18th century is even more interesting. And then there is everyone's favorite Scot, Jamie Fraser. I get it, he's super dreamy. A real man's man but also a romantic at heart. He did have his moments where I didn't quite agree with him but I'm on board for him and his struggle. Plus Claire and Jamie were so great together. They had some great banter and butted heads in the best possible way. There was also some great secondary characters like the devious Black Jack Randall, the dubious Dougal Mackenzie, the odious Geillis Duncan, and Jamie's sister Jenny who could give her brother a run for his money in the tough and stubborn category. The characters within this series are without a doubt one of the best parts.

I was recommended the audiobook for this series and I honestly really liked it. It's long (32 hours) but very entertaining and the accents definitely help set the scene and the mood of the book. I'm not usually a big fan of heavily accented narration but here it worked. If you are an audiobook fan and are looking to read this series then I would suggest listening to the audio.

On the whole, Outlander was a great read with a complex historical setting, action-packed time travel adventure, and had wonderful characters I totally fell for. If you are at all interested in this series, I would recommend it. I'm glad I finally gave this series a try and am interested in continuing with the series although I'm not sure I will be able to do that any time soon.

I give Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. This is a great read I would recommend it to fans of historical fiction and/or romance. But if you don't like either then still give it a try. There is a lot of action and adventure too. I do want to once again mention that this is a heavy read and I don't mean that from a page count standpoint. There is a lot of violence and sexual content. This is firmly in the adult category. But it is really amazing so if you like those kinds of books, check it out.