Mini Reviews: January Reads

Hi Everyone, It has been a rough winter for me in terms of blogging. You may not have noticed that I barely posted in December, but I basically didn't post anything. I mean I used to post four times a week and in December I only posted four times. And honestly, January was not most better. If you saw my January wrap up you know that I was reading a lot but not doing much blogging. What that means is that I have this massive backlog of books I have not reviewed yet.

It kind of feels like I will never be able to catch up with everything I want to review, but I do have the desire to catch up. So with that in mind, I wanted to post the books I read last month that I didn't review. But full reviews would just get me further behind so instead I thought I would post mini reviews. I usually only do this when I DNF a book but let's try it for books I finished. Here we go...

Title: The Girl King Series: The Girl King #1 Author: Mimi Yu Published: January 8, 2018 by Bloomsbury YA (Amazon / Goodreads)                                                                                           Synopsis: Two sisters become unwitting rivals in a war to claim the title of Emperor in this sweeping tale of ambition, sacrifice and betrayal for readers of Sabaa Tahir and Alwyn Hamilton.  All hail the Girl King.  Sisters Lu and Min have always understood their places as princesses of the Empire. Lu knows she is destined to become the dynasty's first female ruler, while Min is resigned to a life in her shadow. Then their father declares their male cousin Set the heir instead—a betrayal that sends the sisters down two very different paths.  Determined to reclaim her birthright, Lu goes on the run. She needs an ally—and an army—if she is to succeed. Her quest leads her to Nokhai, the last surviving wolf shapeshifter. Nok wants to keep his identity secret, but finds himself forced into an uneasy alliance with the girl whose family killed everyone he ever loved…  Alone in the volatile court, Min's hidden power awakens—a forbidden, deadly magic that could secure Set's reign…or allow Min to claim the throne herself. But there can only be one Emperor, and the sisters' greatest enemy could turn out to be each other.

My Thoughts:

I was super excited to read an Asian-inspired fantasy about two sisters with political intrigue. I picked up a copy of this one at ALA and I had heard some good reviews from blogger friends so I was excited to read this one. It was a good read but it didn't blow me away.

One of the best things about this book was the world. It is a world full of magical and political intrigue, two things that I love in my YA fantasy. The magical system was really cool and we only really scratched the surface with it. I think there is a lot more to learn. As far as the political intrigue I think this honestly was less about the sisters and more about the larger politics of the world, which I was fine with.

I do think however the characters were a little lacking. I enjoyed Lu was probably my favorite of the sisters, which is a surprise because Min is usually the type of female character I enjoy. But Lu just felt a little more flushed out. Min fell incredibly flat for me until the very end.

Speaking of the end, I think this book just had a little bit of first book syndrome. It built to an exciting conclusion with some surprising twists along the way but it took awhile to get interesting.

Title: Space Opera Author: Cathrynne M. Valente Published:  October 4, 2018 by Saga Press (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible) Synopsis: IN SPACE EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU SING  A century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and nearly ended the entire concept of intelligent space-faring life. In the aftermath, a curious tradition was invented-something to cheer up everyone who was left and bring the shattered worlds together in the spirit of peace, unity, and understanding.  Once every cycle, the civilizations gather for the Metagalactic Grand Prix - part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past. Instead of competing in orbital combat, the powerful species that survived face off in a competition of song, dance, or whatever can be physically performed in an intergalactic talent show. The stakes are high for this new game, and everyone is forced to compete.  This year, though, humankind has discovered the enormous universe. And while they expected to discover a grand drama of diplomacy, gunships, wormholes, and stoic councils of aliens, they have instead found glitter, lipstick and electric guitars. Mankind will not get to fight for its destiny - they must sing.  A one-hit-wonder band of human musicians, dancers and roadies from London - Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes - have been chosen to represent Earth on the greatest stage in the galaxy. And the fate of their species lies in their ability to rock.

My Thoughts:

I actually bought this shortly after it came out last fall but I never read it. Then I was looking for a new audiobook I saw this one and thought it might be a good opportunity to read it. Especially because in January I was really loving science fiction books. So I bought the audio and am so glad I did because this was great.

For one thing, this is a weird little book. I feel like only a very specific reader will enjoy Space Opera. It's one of those strange irreverent books which doesn't take it self very seriously and for a reader who is looking for a book that is intense and gripping, they will find this one strange and frustrating. It also plays a lot with sci-fi tropes and pokes some fun at them which I really enjoyed. It was very reminiscent of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It had that same kind of tone.

The other thing that I think made me enjoy this book so much is that I listened to the audio. It was the kind of book that worked so well in an audio format. The narrator did a great job selling some of the jokes that probably would have fallen flat in writing. He also really went for it with some of the accents which added a lot to the characters, who were one of the major things about this book that made it so quirky.

This is definitely my find of read. It's weird and strange but had lots of thrills and so much humor that I could help but laugh at how absurd it was. Definitely one of the strangest books I have read in awhile and I mean that in the best possible way.

Title: Dark Triumph Series: His Fair Assassins #2 Author: Robin LaFevers Published: April 2, 2013 by HMH Books for Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads)                                                                                           Synopsis: I lean forward, pushing my body out past the battlements. The wind plucks at my cloak, buffets against me, as if it would carry me off in flight, just like the birds or the knight's soul. Let go, it cries, I will take you far, far away. I want to laugh at the exhilarating feeling, I will catch you, it whistles seductively.  The convent has returned Sybella to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?

My Thoughts:

I technically read this book in December but I didn't feel like I could review Mortal Heart without also giving my thoughts on this one. I have been wanting to finish this series for quite awhile but with Courting Darkness coming out I finally had the kick in the pants I needed.

Sybella's story was probably the hardest to read of the three. She has a real tortured past and this book did not shy away from that. It showed the reader in heartbreaking detail what Sybella had been through before she arrived at the convent and then thrust her back into the clutches of those people. Because of this she was easy to root for and want to see get justice. But I love that she is still a caring and kind woman. Sybella has a lot of depth and that made this book all the more enjoyable.

This book is also a really great example of what I love in historical fiction. It takes a lesser known location and/or period of time and inhabits it with new and engaging characters. There is a ton of political intrigue and adventure, honestly more than I was expecting, which I loved. Not to mention this is a book that does a great job establishing it's time and place while still feeling important and modern.

I can understand why so many people love this series. It's a fantastic piece pf historical fiction with a subtle fantasy element and great characters. I am excited to see what is next for Sybella and Beast in Courting Darkness.

Title: Mortal Heart  Series: His Fair Assassins #3 Author: Robin LaFevers Published: November 4, 2014 by HMH Books for Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads)                                                                                           Synopsis: Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.  She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has...

My Thoughts:

I already talked about my history with this book above, but I ended up getting the audio for my drive home from Christmas break and I didn't end up finishing it until later into January. Not because I wasn't enjoying it, just because of my reading slump and I wanted to enjoy it.

What was struck me about this book is that it had a lot more fantasy and religious elements than I was expecting. The first two books established the idea of Death and his handmaidens but this book really elaborated on that. We learned a lot more about Mortain and his convent. I found this incredibly interesting and it was a great addition to the final book in the series.

Annith was also a really interesting character. She's someone who has always excelled at everything she has done but never got much recognition for that. Usually I wouldn't like a character who is perfect because they can come off as a Mary Sue but Annith never did. I actually wanted her to get her dues and triumph over the Reverend Mother who was a complex antagonist that I kind of hated.

However, this was not my favorite book in the series. I think that is because I found it a little predictable. Some of the big twists in this book seemed incredibly obvious to me. They didn't have the desired effect on me because of that. Plus I found the ending a little rushed. Don't get me wrong, it was a good read I think I just liked the other two better.

There you have it, mini reviews on the books I didn't review in late December and January. I am not completely caught up with reviews but I am in a much better place. Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading.

DNF Mini Review: Tell The Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan

Well, I have had to mark another book as Did Not Finish. I don't often DNF books. I will power through because I can find something redeeming about the book, or I am just pretty good about picking books I like. But every once in a while a book comes along that I just can't power through and am surprised I didn't like. I probably DNF one book every couple months but it's been awhile, since Decemeber, since I DNF'd something.

So as I am on a bit of a weird cycle with my reading and didn't have much time to read this weekend, I decided to to a quick posts to explain my thoughts on the book I shelved as "DNF" this month. Writing DNF reviews is a tricky subject. I don't want to do full reviews on the book because I don't really have a well-rounded enough view on it. But I also wanted to explain why I didn't quite like the books because I try to be really honest here. So I based this post on Nikki at There Were Books Involved's DNF Q+As. This allows me to explain why the book didn't quite work for me without giving a full review. So here you go, my DNF Reviews

Title: Tell the Wind and Fire Author: Sarah Rees Brennan Published: April 5, 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Source: Netgalley (Amazon / Goodreads)                                                                                           Synopsis: In a city divided between opulent luxury in the Light and fierce privations in the Dark, a determined young woman survives by guarding her secrets.  Lucie Manette was born in the Dark half of the city, but careful manipulations won her a home in the Light, celebrity status, and a rich, loving boyfriend. Now she just wants to keep her head down, but her boyfriend has a dark secret of his own—one involving an apparent stranger who is destitute and despised.  Lucie alone knows of the deadly connection the young men share, and even as the knowledge leads her to make a grave mistake, she can trust no one with the truth.  Blood and secrets alike spill out when revolution erupts. With both halves of the city burning, and mercy nowhere to be found, can Lucie save either boy—or herself?   Celebrated author Sarah Rees Brennan tells a magical tale of romance and revolution, love and loss.

How Much I Read:
24% of the e-ARC

Why it Didn't Work For Me:
*exasperated sigh* I don't know. A lot of really small things. I was really excited to read this book when I first heard about. It's a science fiction retelling of A Tale of Two Cities and involves doppelgangers and dark magic. How cool does that sound? And then when I started reading it, I was into it. The world was fascinating, there was a great opening scene with a lot of mystery, intriguing characters. It was going well. But then I just lost interest. For one thing, the world-building became confusing and over-wrought. There was so much exposition and explanation in the first quarter of the book and I was waiting for some semblance of a plot that was coming very slowly.

But I think the big kicker for me was the characters. I just couldn't connect with them. The main character just felt flat and the secondary characters felt grating. I know that one was meant to be funny and sarcastic but he just felt mean. I didn't want to be around them and that's what may have done it for me. I put it down for the weekend and when it came time to go back I just wasn't interested.

Will I Go Back to It:
Maybe. I am kind of curious about the plot. There was some mystery I have theories about and I find of want the know if I'm right but I'm not really sure. I may try the audiobook. There have been multiple instances where I DNF'd something only to love the audio. And this may work in this format because there is a lot of world-building that can help create the setting in a more interesting way. Maybe if I give it a little more time, the plot will kick in and I will be more interested.

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

Mini Reviews: Comics I've Read Recently- Winter 2016

Well, I see to be a little behind in my monthly reading and after a busy weekend, I haven't been able to catch up. So I don't have a review ready for today. But what I have been reading a lot recently is comics and graphic novels. I'm still pretty new to comics and some of the bigger titles intimidates me . However I thought I would share a few I have read recently and enjoyed.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples 
Vol. 1
(Amazon / Goodreads)
Synopsis: When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe.

From bestselling writer Brian K. Vaughan, Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama for adults.

Collects Saga issues #1-6

My Thoughts:
I am woefully behind on this series desppite the fact that it has been on my list even before I started reading comics. It's up to Volume 9 now and I've only read the first volume. I need to catch up and read the rest of them because this series is so good. The art's really good and it's very readable. Like a lot of comics it has a cinematic feel. It's reads a lot like an action movie with explosions, shoot out, and lots of gore.

But to be entirely honest, this is a very weird comic. The plot is pretty high concept Science Fiction. I mean there are characters who have TV's for their heads and a  tentacled multiple-eyed bounty hunter. But when I got used to it, I really enjoyed that aspect of it. It's unique and engaging and I would definitely recommend it, especially if you are not a huge fan of comics but you like science fiction. But this one is more on the adult side of things. I wouldn't say that if you're not into sex and violence you should avoid this but be warned that there's a lot of that here.

Gotham Academy by Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschel
Vol. 2: Calamity 

(Amazon / Goodreads)

Synopsis: Gotham Academy is haunted!

At the beginning of the term, Olive Silverlock returned to Gotham Academy a shadow of her former self. But thanks to her new friendships and their Detective Club sleuthing, Olive was finally starting to feel whole again.

Then, abruptly, Olive’s mother died—or, she seemed to. In the weeks after the funeral, Olive begins seeing her mother around the school. An Arkham Asylum patient with a deadly dark side, Sybil Silverlock was a powerful and complicated woman. Could her spirit be reaching out from beyond the grave? And if so, is it motherly Sybil who haunts Olive—or her deadly alter ego Calamity?

Plus, the kids hunt a werewolf on campus and Maps teams up with the Academy’s newest transfer, Damian Wayne!

Writers Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher team with artists Karl Kerschl and Mingjue Helen Chen for GOTHAM ACADEMY VOL. 2: CALAMITY. Collects GOTHAM ACADEMY #7-12 and DC SNEAK PEEK: GOTHAM ACADEMY #1.

*** I received an advance copy of this comic from the publisher via Netgalley. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

My Thoughts:

The last time I talked about comics here I talked about Gotham Academy. I read volume 1 last and really liked it so I was so excited to continue with the series. I'm definitely a fan of these characters and my favorite, Maps, got to take a more central role here which was great. But that being said, I did want more with the characters. The first volume I think was more character heavy and while we did get to dive into Olive's psyche a little and spend some time with Maps, I still wanted more. And the art is absolutely gorgeous and is so intricately drawn. It has a real fluid movement to it and that unique flow makes it really fun to read and look at.

 It has the same dark tone as Batman and while characters from his series make a cameo (like Batgirl!), it's really its own unique story. It feels like some of the YA mysteries that I enjoy with tons of suspense and intrigue. I love that it ties in really well with the DC Universe but you don't need to know a lot to follow the story. This is definitely a comic I would recommend to someone who is new to comics but likes Batman.

We Are Robin by Lee Bermejo, Jorge Corona, and Khary Randolph
Vol. 1: The Vigilante Business
(Amazon /Goodreads)

Synopsis: A modern spin on the original teen superhero!

In a Gotham City ravaged by the Joker, Batman alone is not enough to keep the peace—and just one Robin isn’t nearly enough to back him up. Now, teenagers who want to make a difference are coming together in droves and adopting the “R.” They’re not a gang. They’re not sidekicks.

They are Robin.

When Duke Thomas is recruited by the mysterious Nest to join teens from all different backgrounds and walks of life in the Robins, he hopes that they can help him find his missing parents. Instead, they find something much more nefarious—an underground conspiracy that threatens to bring down Gotham.

Now it’s up to these untrained teen vigilantes to save the city from a mysterious evil force. But being Robin is dangerous. Robins die. Will these new heroes face the same fate?

Collects WE ARE ROBIN #1-6 and DC SNEAK PEEK: WE ARE ROBIN #1.

*** I received an advance copy of this comic from the publisher via Netgalley. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

My Thoughts:
I actually picked up We Are Robin because of something that happened in Gotham Academy, I though it might tie in. It doesn't. But I am extremely glad that I did pick this up. It's similar to Gotham Academy in that it ties in to the larger DC Universe but it can be read without much knowledge of it's minutia.

And while it pulled from Batman, it also felt like a really unique and interesting story. And the synopsis is totally accurate. It's a really modern story. Batman usually has a very timeless almost futuristic feel but here it felt very of the time in both the issues it was dealing with and the characters. And I really liked the characters. We only got the barest introduction to most of them but they all have really interesting backstories that I'm excited to explore as the series develops. It was definitely a fun and unique new comic that I would recommend to DC fans.

Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughn, Cliff Chiang, and Matthew Wilson
Volume 1
(Amazon / Goodreads)

Synopsis: From Brian K. Vaughan, #1 New York Times bestselling writer of SAGA, and Cliff Chiang, legendary artist of WONDER WOMAN, comes the first volume of an all-new ongoing adventure.

In the early hours after Halloween of 1988, four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls uncover the most important story of all time. Suburban drama and otherworldly mysteries collide in this smash-hit series about nostalgia, first jobs, and the last days of childhood.

Collecting Issues #1-5

*** I received an advance copy of this comic from the publisher via Netgalley. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

My Thoughts:
And finally, my favorite in the bunch. For one thing it's got amazing art. It has that 80's feel with the bright technicolor which is cool but it's also one of those comics where there is a lot to look at in each panel but it's not overwhelming. It also had really great characters that are fantastic, strong female characters subverting gender norms while they do their thing.

But my favorite part was the plot. Paper Girls is exactly what you expect it to be and nothing like what you expect it to be at the same time. It's very Ready Player One in that it is full of 80's nostalgia and is still very much a science fiction story that you would expect from Brian K. Vaughn. On the whole the plot development is just brilliant. It starts off as a very different story as the girls are delivering papers and then shit hits the fan and it really builds to a conclusion and cliffhanger that had me desperately needing the next book, something comics rarely do to me.

I would without a doubt recommend Paper Girls to everyone. Whether you're a big fan of comics or you just want to try something different. It's a great story and beautifully drawn and I think everyone will get something out of it.

And those are all the comics I have read in the past few months. Have you read any of these comics? What did you think? Do you have any comics or graphic novels that you would recommend to me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Mini Reviews: His Dark Materials Novellas

As December was winding to a close I realized that including rereads I was four books away from my reach goal of reading 150 books in 2015. Now I'm a pretty competitive person and so I suddenly became determined to meet that goal. So when it looked like I wasn't going to finish the book I was reading I spent a day reading some novellas to meet that goal.

So after doing the His Dark Materials reread with Britt from Please Feed the Bookworm I decided the perfect novellas were the His Dark Materials novellas which I have never read. I am so glad I did because they were really fantastic. So here you go, my Mini Reviews of the His Dark Materials novellas.

Title: Lyra's Oxford Series: His Dark Materials #3.5 Author: Philip Pullman Published: October 28, 2003 by Knopf (Amazon / Goodreads)                                                                                           Synopsis: Lyra's Oxford begins with Lyra and Pantalaimon spotting a witch's daemon. Lyra shelters the daemon from the pursuit of a frenzied pack of birds, and then attempts to help by guiding the daemon to the home of an alchemist living in a part of Oxford known as Jericho. The journey through Oxford reveals more dangers than Lyra had anticipated.

My Thoughts:

Well now I want a full length sequel to the His Dark Materials trilogy. There's a reason I don't usually read novellas, they're such a tease. But I don't regret reading this one at all. It was a fantastic addition to the His Dark Materials series.

Lyra's Oxford is just the tiniest taste of life for Lyra after the events of the main trilogy. She's back at Oxford, this time as a student which is fun to see. But things haven't totally slowed down for her if this brief story is any indications. There's a lot of mystery and a little action in such a short period of time. In addition, Lyra's importance within this world has not gone away as well.

It's the same old Lyra just a few years later. It was so great to catch up with Lyra and see her slightly older but I want more. I want more from her, I want to see Will and all the other favorites from the trilogy. Even if it's not a full length novel, maybe a collection of novellas, one from each different world perhaps.

On the whole this was a great little story that had cute woodcut illustrations and extra details to expand the story including a map of Oxford and some info about one of the colleges. Fans of the trilogy should check it out for sure.

Title: Once Upon A Time in the North Series: His Dark Materials #0.5 Author: Philip Pullman Published:  by Knopf (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible) Synopsis: In this prequel episode from Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials universe, Lee Scoresby -- Texan aeronaut and future friend to Lyra Belacqua -- is 24 years old. The story reveals the origins of Scoresby's friendship with Iorek Byrnison as well as Scoresby's aeronautical career.   After winning his hot-air balloon in a poker game, Scoresby finds himself floating north. On the Arctic island of Novy Odense, Scoresby and his dæmon Hester become involved in a deadly plot involving an oil magnate, a corrupt mayoral candidate, and a hired killer who is Lee's longtime nemesis from the Dakota Country. Forming an alliance with one of the island's reviled armored bears, Scoresby fights to break up the conspiracy.  This clothbound volume features the illustrations of John Lawrence, a removable board game on the inside back cover, and the story that offers a glimpse into the origins of the friendship of two beloved characters in the His Dark Materials trilogy

My Thoughts:

There's nothing like an origin story for how two of your favorite characters in a series met and became friends. That's what Once Upon a Time in the North was, a one-shot meeting for characters that we meet in The Golden Compass.

I absolutely adore Iorek Byrnison so I really enjoyed seeing him again was fantastic. He has such an interesting backstory so it was great learning more about that as well. I also really like Lee Scorsby. He sometimes seems out of place in this world so I liked being able to see how he first joined the world. It was also nice seeing how the two met and became fun.

The book is told from Scorsby's perspective and is full of action and adventure that you would expect from the aeronaut and armored bear so even though it was short, it wasn't dull at all. A short and sweet novella that fans of the His Dark Materials trilogy should read.

I also listened to the audiobook for his one and it was a full cast just like the other books in the His Dark Materials trilogy. It was totally fantastic and I'm so glad I listened.

Title: The Collectors Series: His Dark Materials #0.6 Author: Philip Pullman Published: September, 2015 by Knopf (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible)                                                                                           Synopsis: "But the thing is," said Horley, "they didn't know each other at all. Never heard of each other. It wasn't about the makers. Only about the works."  On a dark winter's night in 1970, Horley and Grinstead huddle for warmth in the Senior Common Room of a college in Oxford. Conversation turns to the two impressive works of art that Horley has recently added to his collection. What the two men don't know is that these pieces are connected in mysterious and improbable ways; and they are about to be caught in the cross-fire of a story which has travelled time and worlds.  The Collectors is narrated by Bill Nighy, the Golden Globe and BAFTA award-winning actor whose work on stage, screen, and radio has included Love Actually, the Pirates of the Caribbean series and a multitude of TV, stage, and radio appearances

My Thoughts:

This is the shortest of the three novella at a 19 page e-book and 30 minute audiobook, but it may honestly have been my favorite of the three. Ir was fantastic despite being super short.

How something so short can have this much mystery I will never know but it definitely did. It was atmospheric and interesting with so many of the complex themes from the His Dark Materials trilogy that make the series so interesting. It included things like the multi-verse and even references to some of this characters that you love to hate.

What may have also made it so good was the audiobook. Bill Nighy did a great job narrating. He gave it a real atmosphere and depth despite it's lack of length.

This is definitely worth a read for fans of the His Dark Materials trilogy.

Final Thoughts on The Novellas:

Taking all three of these books into consideration, I'm kind of glad that I needed some novellas to read at the end of the year and that I could take the time to read these. As a fan of the His Dark Materials trilogy, they added to the overall enjoyment of the series for me. They add a lot of color to the series, offering some backstory on a few favorite characters, make a villainous character seem even more devious, and let us catch up with our heroine after the series. If you are a fan of the series I would definitely recommend you check these out.

Have you read any of the His Dark Materials novels? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading.

ARC Mini Reviews: The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy and The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest

Title: The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy: A Handbook for Geek Girls Author: Sam Maggs Published: May 12, 2015 by Quirk Books (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Fanfic, cosplay, cons, books, memes, podcasts, vlogs, OTPs and RPGs and MMOs and more—it’s never been a better time to be a girl geek. The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy is the ultimate handbook for ladies living the nerdy life, a fun and feminist take on the often male-dominated world of geekdom. With delightful illustrations and an unabashed love for all the in(ternet)s and outs of geek culture, this book is packed with tips, playthroughs, and cheat codes for everything from starting an online fan community to planning a convention visit to supporting fellow female geeks in the wild

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

What I Liked: I don't often read a lot of non-fiction and I almost never read self-help books. But I really loved how empowering and helpful this book is towards women of the nerdy or Fangirl persuasion. As a member of this online Internet community, one whose uniting factor is around books, I definitely found a little of myself in this book. If you are looking to break into the nerd girl community or looking to get more involved this book has some great advice for you. Everything from how to interact on Twitter or Tumblr to cosplay it's all there and all interesting. This is also a really fast read. I finished it in a few days and just flew straight through it. The writing was fun and engaging for all ages. You can tell that Sam Maggs has a great love of this community and it's many facets.

What Didn't Work: It was almost too short. The fact that I flew through it was kind of because it felt a little superficial. It was an all-encompassing look at the community but it sort of went with the "know a little bit about a lot of things" format. Now don't get me wrong, that's why I kill at Pub Trivia (which was mentioned in the book) but I was hoping for a little more. I wanted the book to go a little more in-depth. I felt a little bit like this is geared toward fangirl n00bs.

 I give The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs 7.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow/Buy. This would be the perfect gift for that young woman in your life who loves nerd culture and wants to let it take over her life. But if you are already immersed in it you may not get as much out of it. Though you will feel like she's probably talking about you, which is kind of fun!

Title: The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest Author: Melanie Dickerson Published: May 12, 2015 by Thomas Nelson (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: "Swan Lake" meets Robin Hood when the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant by day becomes the region's most notorious poacher by night, and falls in love with the forester. Jorgen is the forester for the wealthy margrave, and must find and capture the poacher who has been killing and stealing the margrave's game. When he meets the lovely and refined Odette at the festival and shares a connection during a dance, he has no idea she is the one who has been poaching the margrave's game. Odette justifies her crime of poaching because she thinks the game is going to feed the poor, who are all but starving, both in the city and just outside its walls. But will the discovery of a local poaching ring reveal a terrible secret? Has the meat she thought she was providing for the poor actually been sold on the black market, profiting no one except the ring of black market sellers? The one person Odette knows can help her could also find out her own secret and turn her over to the margrave, but she has no choice. Jorgen and Odette will band together to stop the dangerous poaching ring . . . and fall in love. But what will the margrave do when he discovers his forester is protecting a notorious poacher?

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

What I Liked: The historical setting. The book takes place in Germany during the Middle Ages and it has a very Tangled type vibe. From the clothing, to the food, to the culture it was interesting and immersive. The retelling angle. I'm not really familiar with the Swan Lake story so I didn't pick up on those references but I loved the Robin Hood angle. The male characters. They were well-rounded and interesting. There were more men than women featured here and that may have been an advantage.

What Didn't Work: The female characters. Being that the book takes place in the Middle Ages the female characters sort of succumbed to the cultural idea of the time saying that the only way for a woman to be happy and successful is with a husband, so I didn't totally love the female protagonist she just didn't come off as the strong female I was expecting. The narrative style. I went into this book thinking it was adult but it is YA and on the younger side. That's find but I just felt like the narrative here was a little basic. There was no poetry or flow to it. The plot. That was the biggest disappointment. Some things worked, like the dramatic irony, but in general I felt like the plot was predictable in a way that I struggled to keep reading. It also reached the climax entirely to soon and I ended up skimming the last fifty pages because I couldn't see how anything else would happen with so much falling action.

 I give The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson 5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Bypass. I think there are much more complex and interesting YA novels set during the Middle Ages. There are definitely more interested fairy tale retellings. Maybe borrow this one from the library if you are really interested in it.

Have you read The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy or The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts.