What I’m Reading Wednesday!

“Priory of the Orange Tree” – Epic. This book is still on hold. Trying to catch up with other stuff.

“Get a Life, Chloe Brow” – Audiobook. Not very far into this one.

“Sex and Vanity” – Print. Not very far into this one, either.

“Gideon the Ninth” – Print. Not very far into this one, but I’m not sure if I like it. There’s a lot to sort through.

Just Finished:

“Spiderman: Miles Morales” collected editions 1-4 – Graphic novels. I love Miles, that’s all there is to it. He’s MY spiderman, and I love his relationship with Ganke, as well as his parents. I have one more volume to read, and then I should be all caught up on his saga at last. 5’s all around!

“The Name of All Things” – Audiobook. This is book is very detailed with a lot of unique world building. The plot is complex, and can be hard to follow. I imagine this book is setting up the third, and final, installment of the series so it’s doing that on purpose. I did like this book more than “The Ruin of Kings” and I am eager to see how it ends. 4!

“Where’d You Go Bernadette” – Audiobook. This is a book that gripped my attention throughout. It’s written in a truly unique style, and I had no idea what was going to happen at any point in the story. It was SO close to perfection, but it didn’t resonate with me enough after the fact to make it a 5…so…4!

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” – Print book. Once I got into this one, I couldn’t put it down. It has mixed reviews and I understand why. There is a lot to unpack in the “Hunger Games” universe inside of this book, and it paints an interesting picture of the lead villain from the series. But I like villains, I like having all of that context and backstory filled in. 5!

“Lock Her Up and Throw Away the Key” – Audiobook. I ended up getting frustrated with this book and skipping to the end. The main character was just too irritating and the plot too frustrating. Very disappointed with this last installment of the series. 3.5.

“The Shadows Between Us” – Audiobook. This book sucked me in. I had a hard time wanting to stop every time I started! The plot isn’t necessarily that unique, but the way the book is put together is. Or perhaps it’s just the reader. For whatever reason, I was engrossed. The book wasn’t perfect, but gripping all the same. 4.

“Chosen Ones” – Print Book. Finished. It’s an interesting and refreshing take on the superhero genre. It wasn’t necessarily a “perfect” story with characters I always loved, but there was a realness and rawness to it that I enjoyed. In the end, it resonated with me a lot, and I was always eager to go back and finish. I have thoughts on the sequel if there is going to be one. 5.

“Wicked as You Wish” – Ebook. This ended up being a disappointment. The world building was cool, so was the plot, but the characters felt hollow and like they were “trying too hard.” None of them felt like people who could pop off the page. There was also a lot of talking about nothing. 3.

“Five Dark Fates” – Audiobook. This book had it’s good moments and its clunky ones. Like most series, the end is almost always the hardest to write. Pieces of it felt too fast or glossed over or unnecessary. But it was good and satisfying all the same. 4

“Too Much and Never Enough” – Audiobook. This is primarily a biography about Fred Trump Jr, and the family dynamics in the Trump family over the years. It was a fascinating look into the history. Of course there was political agenda involved, because it’s a book about Trump (it was anti, for those who are curious) and that was the part I mostly glossed over if only because I’m tired to death of hearing about politics. If you go into this book looking for politics, I don’t feel like a whole new is being said. If you’re going into the book wanting history, that’s where it shines the most. The personal connection of the author adds a layer to the story telling. 3.5

“Temper” – Print. A quick and engaging read. The writing was pretty good, and the story interesting, but something also felt slightly off too. Not quite sure how to explain. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t LOVE it. 3.5

“Frozen Beauty – Print. Quick read. Had some interesting moments to it, but overall it didn’t resonate with me. 3

“The Flatshare” – Audiobook. This was so cute. Parts of it were predictable, and parts of it started that way but the author took the “logical” response instead of the dramatic one. Which I appreciated! Made it more believable. This would make an awesome TV movie, or movie, or maybe a show. I don’t know, it was just really cute. 5

“Check Please! Vol. 1” – Graphic Novel. Cute story about coming of age for a gay college hockey player. A nice light read with enough drama to keep it gripping. 4

“This One Summer” – Graphic Novel. A coming of age story about young teens. A lot of intense topics are covered in a very subtle way that keeps the perspective through the eyes of its teenage protagonists. There is a lot of graphic language and implied graphic content, so parents should be mindful of that when choosing if their teen is ready for it. 4

“Last Tang Standing” – Audiobook. This ended up being really cute. It had predictable moments, but it was a fun read. Light and fluffy. 4

“There Will Come a Darkness” – Audiobook. This was a fun and interesting fantasy book. Unique world setting! 4

“Bloodwitch” – Audiobook. I don’t think I gave this book the attention it deserved as there were a lot of things that still confused me. Either that or I need to remember what happened in the other books again first. The writing was still very magical, though. 4

“The Prince and the Dressmaker” – Graphic Novel. Very cute story! 4

“Seasons of the Storm” – Print. Really cool premise that got a little weird in the middle and dragged, then came back together. 3.5

“A Very Punchable Face” – Audiobook. This is a memoir. It’s randomly funny and full of a lot of deadpan sarcasm. Some of it is shock style comments, and some of it is genuinely entertaining.

“Take a Hint, Dani Brown” – Audiobook. A romance novel, this was a light, fun read. Very steamy. 3.5