Recent Reads

Hey! Yes, it’s been awhile. Life kind of got hectic there for a bit. I’ve still been reading, though, never fear. Here’s what I’ve gotten into lately:

Within the Sanctuary of WingsWithin the Sanctuary of Wings (The Memoirs of Lady Trent #5) by Marie Brennan.
This is the final book in the wonderful Lady Trent series, and it did not disappoint. She visits another remote locale chasing after a legend, and makes another discovery regarding dragons – the biggest one yet by far. It had just the right blend of adventure, honestly human moments, and Lady Trent’s signature acerbic commentary. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and found it a satisfying end to the series. I am a little sad it’s over now, but it went out with a bang. If you’ve loved the other books in this series, have no fears with this final chapter. If you haven’t read the other books, pick up the first one now!
4/5 stars.
 

station elevenStation Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel.
Disaster strikes. The human population is decimated. Governments and infrastructure collapse. Chaos and survivalism rule. But some find that survival alone is not enough. Enter The Travelling Symphony, a group of itinerant actors and musicians who make their way in this post-apocalyptic world by playing classical music and performing Shakespeare. The story jumps around between different time frames and characters, but they all weave together. I loved this book. The writing is so good, and the story draws you in. You have moments of humanity at its worst (violence and cults and bullshit), juxtaposed against humanity at its finest. You get the before and after of civilization, and the joy as a reader of picking up on the little pieces that tie the parts together. It’s so good. And it’s a standalone novel, so you have no excuse not to try it.
4.5/5 stars.
 

A Gentleman in MoscowA Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.
This was a book club read that I probably wouldn’t have picked up otherwise, and that would’ve been a shame, as this was a really entertaining read. Count Alexander Rostov, for crimes of his lineage balanced against action for the revolution, is sentenced to a lifetime of house arrest at Moscow’s eminent Metropol hotel. There begins a decades-long adventure within its walls. The cast of characters is brilliant, Rostov’s narrative wit is perfect, and the backdrop of those tumultuous years of Russian history was an interesting change from my normal sci-fi/fantasy fare. It’s not a quick-paced story by any means. But it is a humorous, and heartbreaking, and satisfying one. Highly recommend.
4/5 stars.
 

Cousins O'Dwyer TrilogyThe Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy by Nora Roberts.
Yes, that Nora Roberts. This series is her attempt at marrying modern day fantasy with Celtic/Irish tradition and her usual romance. With mixed results. I think the idea at the core of this series is good. An evil sorcerer, a good witch, a bloodline tasked with finishing the job centuries later. The cast of characters was fine, if predictable in how they would pair up. There were some good moments that were particularly funny or touching. But overall these books suffered from a slow pace, and a surfeit of telling not showing. There is way more talking about what the characters are going to do then there is the characters actually doing it. Notice that didn’t stop me from reading all 3 books, though, so take from that what you will. If you want an easy, mindless read with a touch o’ the Irish, maybe give book 1 a try.
3/5 stars.
 

Yeah, I’ve been all over the place with books lately! Next up on my list is a Civil War romance, some Norse mythology, and a modern-day YA.

What have you been reading lately?
 

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Book Review: Results May Vary

Results May Vary by Bethany Chase. What if you found out that your husband, than man you’ve loved and been with for 16 years, had an affair- with another man? That’s exactly how this book opens, as Caroline discovers there are sides and secrets to her husband that she never imagined. Her relationship with Adam has been the pillar of her life, since they were high school sweethearts. Understandably, this breach of trust and the realization that maybe she doesn’t really know her husband implodes her world. She has to navigate this new uncertain ground, and figure out what it […]

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Recent Reads

It’s Thursday, and you know what that means: book talk. Here’s what I’ve been reading recently: Frost Arch (The Fire Mage Trilogy #1) by Kate Bloomfield. This is a book I picked up randomly off of Amazon. It tells the story of Avalon, a fire mage struggling to control her power. The world is interesting; it’s set in our world in the far future, with much of the past forgotten. Humanity has branched into two distinct groups: Mages, with extraordinary powers born from (one assumes) mutation; and regular humans, who are nothing but slaves to the Mages. The plot is […]

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Book Review: By Moonrise

By Moonrise (The Chronicles of Sarducia #1) by Jackie Dana. By Moonrise is the first novel by Austin author Jackie Dana. It follows the adventures of ordinary Kate Norton, who finds herself transported to a strange world after inheriting her mother’s ring. Sarducia may seem like a medieval Europe at first glance, but it is a different world entirely. For starters, magic is not only very real, but a bit of a political issue. Everything seems to be a political issue, actually, as Kate finds herself sucked into the turmoil of a country dealing with religious and regal unrest. Figuring […]

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Book Review: A Court of Thorns & Roses

A Court of Thorns & Roses (#1) by Sarah J. Maas. I’m a big fan of Maas’ Throne of Glass series, so I was pretty excited to get my hands on her newest venture. This latest book from Ms. Maas is one part fantasy romance, one part Old English lore, one part Beauty & the Beast, and just a hint of the tale of Persephone. In other words, almost all the things I like best. Ok, so there weren’t any dragons, but I suppose one book can’t have EVERYTHING. ACOTAR (as it’s abbreviated on Twitter) is the story of Feyre, […]

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Book Review: Second Position

Second Position (District Ballet Company #1) by Katherine Locke. Young love has barely gotten off the ground for ballet dancers Aly and Zed when a tragic car accident changes everything. Formerly inseparable, the accident causes a rift, and they find themselves on separate, solitary paths headed in opposite directions. Four years pass. Zed has struggled to find a new life and career for himself outside of ballet. Aly, still the in-demand principal ballerina, finds herself spiraling further into a mental breakdown. When a chance meeting brings them back together, it’s a second chance to work through the fallout of their […]

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Book Review: Defy

Defy (#1) by Sara B. Larson. Defy is the story of Alexa Hollon, a girl with preternatural fighting skills in a male-dominated world and country at war. When her parents are killed, tween Alexa and her twin brother know it’s just a matter of time until the king’s men find them – forcing him into the army and her into a breeding house. So with some quick thinking, they disguise her as a boy and she joins the army, too. However, if you are expecting a Mulan-esque story, you are out of luck. This is it’s own creature. Fast forward […]

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