Monday, January 25, 2016

Discussion Post: I Used to Be Book Prejudiced


Wow, that sounds like this is going to be a much deeper discussion than I planned. But honestly, there is really no other way to put that. I used to be prejudiced against certain books. I judged books without reading them and thought I could definitively say that I didn't like a certain book and or genre because of that. But you guys, I was so wrong.

Now don't get me wrong, being book prejudices can be a good thing. Sometimes there are books that you know you are not going to like. And that's totally okay. There are more than enough books out there in the world and not enough time to read them all. Taking the time to read something that isn't up your alley just because it's popular is just asking for trouble and/or a DNF. We all have different taste in books and knowing what you like and what you don't like can definitely be a good thing. Keep avoiding those books that aren't your thing. But that's not what I mean here. Book prejudices go deeper than that.

We in the YA community are very sensitive to the idea of book prejudices. How many times has there been an article or comment where someone summed up YA as being nothing but sparkly vampire love stories and you turned into The Incredible Hulk because you knew they were so wrong? How about fans of genre fiction being told their favorite author is less than literary because they write "made up stories about dragons and dwarves." That is one that I personally hate and have heard a lot from people. These are book prejudices. You have written off an entire marketing category, an entire genre, an entire author just because they write a certain kind of story.

And as much as I hate when people do this to me, I have been guilty of doing it myself. I haven't read much erotica because the few books I have read, just didn't work for me. So as a rule I just kind of avoid the entire genre. Let's be honest, I avoid romances in general. I just say as a blanket statement, I don't like romances. I did a whole discussion post about it how I'm romancephobic, after all! That's a book prejudice. I also say that I don't like road trip stories. Travel is not a plot device to me and a never ending travel monologue is not enough action for me. Books about people driving around in a car or bus, or god forbid walking, just so they can break out of their comfort zones and learn about the world and themselves aren't my thing. But, that's a book prejudice. I also say all the time that I don't like books that are sad on purpose. I'm already a crier. I don't need some book about cancer, suicide, or first love gone wrong to get my feels and tears flowing. I just need to read that one chapter in Little Women and I will be an emotional wreck. Another book prejudice though.

But that being said, I think in the past year I have made a lot of strides to break down those prejudices and try books that I didn't think I was going to like. In particular YA contemporaries. When 2015 began I was firmly of the belief that I do not like YA contemporaries. I was prejudiced to believe that they are nothing but insta-love triangles about manic pixie dream girls or boy next doors changing how a teenager thinks about the world by kissing them. And sure there are those kinds of stories but that's not all and you know what, some of those books are actually pretty good. There is a lot of deeper things going on with YA Contemporaries. There are some really fun and cute books about first love. There are also a lot of coming-of-age stories with characters finding out who they are and their place in the world. I read one really great book that broke down that barrier and now I am more open to other books within the genre. Some of my favorite books of 2015 were YA contemporaries and removing that prejudice allowed me to read those books.

There are also some pretty good books that are sad on purpose. I used to avoid contemporaries where I was going to cry because I wanted to laugh and be happy when I read about people like me. Having your heart ripped out can be entertaining from time to time as well. That emotion leads to drama and can often be more honest than things that are optimistically happy. It's all about balance, right? Plus if you avoid all the sad books you're really limiting yourself. I avoided most historical fiction set during World War II because I thought all it did was show one aspect of the time period that was sad on purpose and it seemed boring and tired. But I broke down that prejudice too and read some gorgeous, thought-provoking, and emotional books that I loved. I'm still overly cautious about sad books but I have definitely broken down the prejudice and will give those books a try.

I'm glad I broke down those barriers and stopped being so prejudiced against certain genres, settings, and types of books. Because honestly I would have missed out on some really amazing books if I had kept them in tact. The biggest thing I learned is that it's not about the genre, setting, or mood of the story. What it's about is the story itself. Limiting your reading because of your perceived notions about how you think that book is going to make you feel is not really a great idea. I think that's how you get burned out. You stick to a narrow focus of books then it seems like nothing is creative and you're just experiencing the same book over and over again. You can ruin great books and genres that way. Know your tastes and your triggers but break out of your comfort zone, give some books you wouldn't normally read a try. Who knows, you may find one of your new favorite books.

Now I originally planned on listing a bunch of books here that, based on my book prejudices, I thought I wasn't going to like and then actually loved. But this post is already longer than I planned plus I realized that tomorrow's Top Ten Tuesday is a freebie and this is such a perfect topic. So come back then and check out my top ten books I thought I would hate but didn't.

Do you have any book prejudices? Have you broken them and actually liked the books? Do you think it's fair to not read an entire category of books because you haven't liked it in the past? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Friday, January 22, 2016

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.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Crossing Over: Dimensional Travel


It's time for this month's edition of Crossing Over. If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature where I recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA or sometimes Middle Grade book that is similar. It's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. It runs once a month here and I pick the books based on the theme of what I'm reading. So because this is Time Travel/Dimensional Travel month I decided to go with two books that are pretty fantastic and fit the theme. I was considering doing some of the books I actually reviewed this month (specifically A Thousand Pieces of You) but it felt like overkill so I picked a few that I talk about a lot but whatever.



His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
Read My Review / Add to Goodreads

His Dark Materials is a series about a multiverse and dimensional travel. While the first book is a lot of set up, the second book takes us to multiple Oxfords and different worlds where it analyzes how and why things may have evolved based on subtle changes in the world's composition. There is a lot of analysis over power and spiritual ideas about the soul and it's relationship with humanity. On top of that it has some really amazing characters that you will instantly fall in love with including a plucky heroine who speaks her mind, a strong hero that balances her out really well, and a devious villain that you love to hate. This is one of my all-time favorite series because how well-plotted and complex it is as individual books as well as a series. And don't let the fact that it's middle grade fool you, it's super dark and complex. If you haven't read it, you must.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Read My Review / Add to Goodreads

I've been thinking a lot about this book with A Gathering of Shadows coming in about a month. It is a brilliant series about a multiverse and dimensional travel. It takes us to multiple Londons and different worlds where it analyzes how and why things may have evolved based on subtle changes in the world's composition specifically their relationship with magic. There is a lot of analysis over power, magic, and it's relationship with humanity. On top of that it has some really amazing characters that you will instantly fall in love with including a badass heroine who speaks her mind, a strong hero that balances her out really well, and devious villains that you love to hate. This quickly became a favorite series because of how well-plotted and complex it is as individual books as well as a series. It's a dark and complex fantasy. If you haven't read it, you must.


These are both amazing examples of how dimensional travel can go so well. You don't always have to make huge changes to the worlds. Sometimes the smaller more subtle differences make things more dramatic and interesting. But what really makes these series so good is the characters. They're likable and complex with strengths and weaknesses. The two protagonists make an amazing team and balance one another out really well. Plus, let's be real... Lyra Belacqua and Lila Bard are some of my all-time favorite strong female characters. Plus the plot development is top notch with specific plots for each book and larger plot points for the series. I cannot wait to see where things go in A Gathering of Shadows but I know I will love it because Victoria Schwab is a fantastic writer. These are some of my favorite characters and I would definitely recommend them to fantasy or even science fiction fans.

Have you read His Dark Materials and/or A Darker Shade of Magic? What did you think? What fantasy and dimensional travel crossovers do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday: The Winners Kiss by Marie Rutkowski

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

*** This is a sequel so beware of spoilers if you haven't read The Winner's Trilogy. And if you haven't read it you should probably get on that. It's amazing! Here's my review of The Winner's Crime. ****

Title: The Winner's Kiss
Series: The Winner's Trilogy #3
Author: Marie Rutkowski
Published: March 29, 2016 by Macmillan

Synopsis: War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it, with the East as his ally and the empire as his enemy. He’s finally managed to dismiss the memory of Kestrel, even if he can’t quite forget her. Kestrel turned into someone he could no longer recognize: someone who cared more for the empire than for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she cared for him. At least, that’s what he thinks.

But far north lies a work camp where Kestrel is a prisoner. Can she manage to escape before she loses herself? As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover unexpected roles in battle, terrible secrets, and a fragile hope. The world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and Kestrel and Arin are caught between. In a game like this, can anybody really win?

Why I'm Waiting 

I'm super excited for the end of this trilogy. I marathoned the first two books last March and totally loved them. Everything about it is totally unique. And from someone who is a big fan of YA fantasy, that's pretty high praise. But this is a series that doesn't fit into a specific genre at all. The world fields almost dystopia but there is a lot of political intrigue and adventure. Plus the characters aren't your typical protagonists. I love that Kestrel defies societal norms and doesn't want to fight in her militaristic society, she wants to use her mind to win her battles and I love that. Plus Arin is such a great leader. I love this series so much!

But guys, seriously! What's going to happen to Kestrel? Will she be able to talk and strategize her way out of this mess? What's going to happen to Arin? Will he win his home back? Will the two of them  get together again? So many questions and hopes for how this will all end. I saw a few folks on Goodreads and Twitter who got advance copies as part of a blog tour and they really liked the way it all ended so I have high hopes. I just want to read it!



What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting on The Winner's Kiss along with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

P.S. If you didn't hear, Macmillan has said that they will be releasing the original cover for the hardcover and wait to redesign until the paperbacks. I know there was a lot of drama about the new design. I don't want to talk about it but I think Macmillan handled things really well. Here's their statement.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Newest Books toMy TBR

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Sequels to Recent Reads

1.) Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop - Add to Goodreads
I finally got around to reading Written in Red, the first book in The Others series. I'm about halfway into it and really enjoying. enjoying it enough at least to know I'm going to want to read the rest of the books in the series.

2.) Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon - Add to Goodreads
Yeah, ditto with Outlander. I'm about a day away from finishing the Outlander audiobook and really enjoying it. I probably won't read the next seven books in the series for like another five years but that doesn't mean that I don't want to.

3.) A Million Worlds With You by Claudia Gray - Add to Goodreads
This is the final book in the Firebird trilogy. I'm so loving the way this series is escalating and the way the last book ended was such a crazy cliffhanger that I now desperately need this next book.

4.) Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken - Add to Goodreads
Ditto with Wayfarer. Passenger was absolutely amazing. I loved it and the way that it ended was super crazy and the plot twist just blew my mind. I now officially can't wait for the next book in this duology because I need to know what is going to happen next.

New Fantasies


5.) The Dragon Round by Stephen S. Powder - Add to Goodreads
I saw this on Netgalley recently and was like that sounds amazing. I mean the synopsis says that it's a "high fantasy epic that blends swashbuckling adventure with a dark tale of vengeance." Yup I need it! Thanks Simon & Schuster for giving it to me.

6.) Furthermore by Taherah Mafi - Add to Goodreads
I saw a few people snag this at ALA Midwinter and I looked it up on Goodreads (which I did for a lot of books). It sounds really great. A Middle Grade high fantasy adventure. I haven't had much interest in Tahereh's first series but this sounds great.

7.) Daughters of Ruin by K.D. Castner - Add to Goodreads
This is another book that I learned about but scoping out ALA hauls. It definitely sounds like an interesting YA fantasy that I would like. It reminds me a little bit about The Scorpion Rules because princesses of different countries at war are forced to live together.

New Mysteries/Thrillers

8.) Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica - Add to Goodreads
I loved Mary Kubica's debut. It was such a complex mystery. So when I saw that she was coming out with a new one I requested it on Netgalley. Thanks Harlequin for approving my request. I'm excited to read it.

9.) The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas - Add to Goodreads
This was kind of on my radar but then I saw a bunch of people talking about this one during ALA and I got even more excited. Plus it is a mystery that takes place in Western Pennsylvania where I live, which is cool.

10.) Please Don't Tell by Laura Tims - Add to Goodreads
This is a book I knew nothing about until ALA Midwinter. I looked it up and it looks like a really cool debut mystery. I love a good new YA mystery as you can tell.

There you have it. The ten most recent additions to my TBR/Want to Read list. What new books did you add recently? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Monday, January 18, 2016

Book Review: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

Title: Passenger
Series: Passenger #1
Written by: Alexandra Bracken
Published: January 5, 2016 by Disney Hyperion
(Amazon / Goodreads)

Synopsis: passage, n. 
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes. 
ii. A journey by water; a voyage. 
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time. 

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now. 

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not. 

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are play­ing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever

Wow! That book was just stellar! I really loved Alexandra Bracken's first series, The Darkest Minds so I was really excited to see here take on time travel. I was not at all disappointed. Alex has once again blown me away with her creativity, world building, characterization, and plot development.

Passenger is a book that defies genre categorization. That's why I'm sucker for time travel books and this was a good one. I love drama that comes with a person being outside of their comfort zone and within a world unlike their own. That was definitely the case with Passenger. Each location that we were taken to was compelling and interesting and placed the characters somewhere that challenged their perceptions. Fans of historical fiction will love exploration of these locales and the themes of the time. Whether it was being on a pirate ship during the American Revolution, war-torn London, or ancient Cambodia there was so much drama just within the setting of the book. But fans of science fiction and fantasy will love the time travel motifs even though the explanations were a bit front loaded with some info dumps in the beginning.

But what struck me about Passenger is that it's not a very action-packed book. You hear time travel, adventure, treasure hunt through time and you think it's going to be a plot-driven read. Usually I would be complaining about the lack of plot development but there was no lack, it was just very different. What I was expecting to be the main plot was really just the secondary plot. This was a much more character focused kind of book. It was more of a Hero's Journey. A call to action for reluctant characters thrust into an adventure they are both unprepared for and yet perfectly able to handle.

The characterization here did a great job of developing that uncertainty and growth throughout the narrative. I really enjoyed the complex and likable characters of Passenger. Of course that included the main characters of Etta and Nicholas. I was absolutely invested in their struggles and adventures. I wanted them to achieve their goals. Etta is a modern girl with modern sensibilities which makes her tough, smart, and independent. But she's also so uncertain. She doesn't know what she wants for herself and often puts others before herself and would do anything for them. Nicholas was more of a mystery. He's not your typical swashbuckling pirate and rogue. He's also tough, smart, and protective but he wants something more for himself. Unfortunately, he lives in a world that doesn't really allow for him to do that. They were great together too. Not necessarily romantically, although that was cute it was mostly their banter and cooperation. The book also had amazing secondary characters like Sophia who was brash and tough, Rose who is Etta's mom and really complex and mysterious, plus some really great antagonists.

Although keep in mind that the plot and pacing was a little slower but in a good way. This is the first book in a new duology so it had to give us a lot of exposition in the beginning. It had to build the world and set the rules, especially for the time travel elements. And yes, it did have some info dumps that took me out of the larger plot of the story but in the end it was all worth it. In the end this was a well-plotted book where things came full circle and built to a brilliant and thrilling conclusion. There were some really great plot twists that caught me so off guard that when I got to the climax of the book I couldn't put it down. When I finally did finish, it had me reeling and needing the next book.

On the whole this was a really great read that took me on a great adventure with complex characters in an interesting setting. It's a compelling time travel book and a great start to a new series that I can't wait to see where it leads.

I give Passenger by Alexandra Bracken 9.5 out of 10 stars



Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! I had high hopes for this book and I was not disappointed. It was slow burn of a book that really built to something wonderful. I would recommend to fans of time travel books of historical mysteries. It might take a little while for the action to kick in but it's worth it in the end.

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

Friday, January 15, 2016

ARC Review: The Borden Murders by Sarah Miller

Title: The Borden Murder: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century
Written by: Sarah Miller
Published: January 12, 2016 by Schwartz & Wade (Random House)
(Amazon / Goodreads)

Synopsis: Here’s middle-grade nonfiction that reads like a thriller. With murder, court battles, and sensational newspaper headlines, the story of Lizzie Borden is compulsively readable and perfect for the Common Core. 

Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one. 

In a compelling, linear narrative, Miller takes readers along as she investigates a brutal crime: the August 4, 1892, murders of wealthy and prominent Andrew and Abby Borden. The accused? Mild-mannered and highly respected Lizzie Borden, daughter of Andrew and stepdaughter of Abby. Most of what is known about Lizzie’s arrest and subsequent trial (and acquittal) comes from sensationalized newspaper reports; as Miller sorts fact from fiction, and as a legal battle gets under way, a gripping portrait of a woman and a town emerges. 

With inserts featuring period photos and newspaper clippings—and, yes, images from the murder scene—readers will devour this nonfiction book that reads like fiction.

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

I don't read a lot of non-fiction. It's not that I don't like it, it's just not my preference. But every once in awhile I see a book that sounds so interesting I can't pass it up. So when I saw this on Netgalley I grabbed a copy.

The Borden Murders is definitely an interesting read. It's marketed as Middle Grade non-fiction and it does in fact read like non-fiction. It had a read True Crime kind of feel to it as the writer took you through the process of The Murder of Andrew Borden and his wife, then the accusation and trial of Lizzie Borden for the murder. As someone who isn't really a fan of non-fiction, I did find it a little dry at times. There were moments in fact where it even read a bit like a text book. Throughout the narratives there were asides where certain historical things would be mentioned like the fashion of the time or how the house would be set up. While it did add to the context for what they may had been referring too, as a faction fan it took me out of the larger narrative of the story. These were the moments that made me realize why this would be categorized as middle grade. However, as a history fan it was interesting to get that context. I definitely learned something about the period and I always appreciate that.

What kept me reading despite the fact that it is non-fiction was that the subject matter. True Crime kind of mysteries are so interesting that it never felt dull. This really was the trial of the century. Over 120 years later, the murder of the Bordens and acquittal of Lizzie is something still so intriguing. What I liked most about this was that it really did present an unbiased view of the case. It presented all the information and allowed you to come to your own conclusions. Did Lizzie do it? I don't know. I still don't know and that's what was so interesting. You might know that I'm a big fan of mysteries and I love being able to solve them. In the case of this book, it was kind of fun not to have an answer. It kept me questioning and wondering which was really fun. Plus like a lot of True Crime stories, it was more about the criminal justice system. It was so interesting to see that even back then, trials go a very particular way and that it's not even really about innocence but more about could someone else have done it. It definitely makes you think about the criminal justice system.

On the whole, The Borden Murders was a fast and engaging read. I'm not a big fan of non-fiction but this kept me reading from start to finish and with it's honest presentation of the trial and information surrounding the murders it kept me curious and questioning.

I give The Borden Murders by Sarah Miller 7.5 out of 10



Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. If you are at all interested in Lizzie Borden, True Crime stories, or just want a different kind on non-fiction book then check this one out. It was a good read and I'm glad I gave it a try.

Have you read The Borden Murders? What did you think? What are some non-fiction reads that you have enjoyed? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!