TBR TAKEDOWN 2.0 - Wrap-Up

Hi Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

TBR Takedown 2.0 has come to a close. I am very pleased with my results.

4 books finished, 5-ish challenges completed. Oh yeah!

1. A first in a series.
2. A sequel
3. A book that's been on your bookshelf for more than a year.
4. Out of comfort zone.
5. A book from most recent bookhaul.

Completed books:

Burial Rites
By Hannah Kent
Pages: 314
Challenges: 3, 4
TBR: Yes


Not exactly a happy summer book. This follows the events of the last execution in Iceland. The character who is accused of murder is compelling and it was very VERY good.

I read this during a thunderstorm. Perfect mood weather.

4/5 STARS

It's Not Summer Without You (II) By Jenny Han

Pages: 276 

Challenges: 2

TBR: Yes

Review to come. Also not a happy summer book... hmmmm....

4/5 STARS



A Court of Thorns and Roses
By Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 416
Challenges: 1

TBR: Not for this year, but I wanted to read it.

Yeah, remember when I talked about not following a plan. This book. I had nightmares this book would be awful. It wouldn't let me sleep. I had to read it. Thankfully, it was fantastic. Maas's writing is superb.

Review to come.

5/5 STARS



And Then There Were None
By Agatha Christie
Pages: 300

Challenges: 4, 5
TBR: Bookclub 

From a library haul (totally counts, right?). My first Agatha Christie book! What a fantastic, yet creepy, one to start with. Gripping. I hit a point where I had to finish and find out who dunnit. The creepy part of this book is that people are being murdered as the book is read. *shudders* I stayed up until 2am reading this and then couldn't fall asleep. Whoops.

5/5 STARS

Pauper Prince

The False Prince
By Jennifer A. Nielsen

Sage lives in an orphanage. He steals so he can eat. Around him, the kingdom begins moving toward war, though he doesn't know it yet. One day, a nobleman named Connor, takes him away from the orphanage along with three other boys. Connor's plan for them is as treasonous as it it is insane and Sage can't figure out if he's on board or not.

Now this was a fun find. I saw someone reading one of the sequels and I asked to see the book, as I turned to read the insert she grabbed it from me immediately and said, "No spoilers!". Thank goodness she saved me from that because I would have been spoiled for the fun turns this book takes.

In terms of the title, (and my own post title), I fully expected this to be a retelling of "The Prince and the Pauper". Delightfully surprised that it is not and is instead a fresh fantasy story.

Characterwise, I enjoyed each of the people we encounter. At first, I was thrown off by the very rare first person point of view. Normally fantasy is told in third. No matter, 30 pages in I was into the story. I liked Sage. He rebels just enough and we have his internal reasoning so it doesn't come from out of nowhere.

Worldwise, the kingdom is lacking. To be fair, it's a short book, meant for a younger audience, and they spend most of their time at Mr. Nobleman-Connor's digs. We aren't given much of the world. But it was enjoyable all the same.

I think I'd like to continue the series, slowly but surely, and see if the world expands.

4/5 STARS

Classroom: Yes, definitely. It would be a great read-aloud. Some violence, beating-interrogation.

Always Pretty Summer Read

The Summer I Turned Pretty
By Jenny Han

Belly (yes, that's her name) spends every summer with her family and her mom's friend's family at a beach house. Every summer has always been magical, this summer things unexpectedly change.

There's boys in this book! Even better, two brothers, so the reader gets to try and figure out who Belly will eventually fall for.

I devoured this apple-pie book in an evening. Picked it up and next thing I knew, two hours later, I felt all warm and cozy and immediately wanted to pick up book two.

Loveable characters; a wonderful summer world; a plot to keep you turning pages until the end. It's a great summer read. Belly is relateable and makes silly mistakes, but believeable mistakes, ones we can pardon her for. The boys, on the other hand, I am actually torn. They're framed on the surface as "good boy" vs "bad boy" but they aren't really. I think I enjoyed that part of it. I will always choose the "good boy".

They talk about beach reads. This is a perfect one. Enjoy!

3/5 STARS

TBR Takedown 2.0

Hi Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

From July 24 - 31, TBR Takedown 2.0 is happening!  I'll be participating, of course. There are challenges!

Read ....
1. A first in a series.
2. A sequel
3. A book that's been on your bookshelf for more than a year.
4. Out of comfort zone.
5. A book from most recent bookhaul.

As usual, I over set my choices just in case my mood changes. One can never predict the reading mood.



1. Here, There Be Dragons (James A. Owen) will fulfill the first in a series challenge. Currently reading, so if I finish this I'll have to find another. It is not on my TBR.

2. It's Not Summer Without You (Jenny Han) will fulfill the sequel challenge. It is on my TBR.

3. The Archived (Victoria Schwab) will fulfill the book on my TBR for more than a year. It's carried over from last year's TBR. 

4. And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie) - a classic mystery - out of my comfort zone.

Burial Rites (Hannah Kent) - an historical mystery - out of my comfort zone. TBR, yes.

Epic: Legends of Fantasy (John Joseph Adams, editor) - short stories - out of my comfort zone. I've challenged myself to read three. 

5. Heir of Sea and Fire (Patricia K. McKillip) will fulfill the most recent haul challenge. 



This is more than enough to keep me. There are more library books on hold that might come in, and hey, maybe a book that's sitting on my shelf will call to me unexpectedly. I look forward to this unexpected reading journey.

Blue Mysteries

Bitterblue
By Kristin Cashore

A sequel to Graceling, a companion to Fire - though one could read this as a standalone - we follow Princess Bitterblue, now queen, as she struggles to bring order to her kingdom after her father's 35 year tyranny. For years she's been struggling, nothing seems to be changing, and what's worse is that mystery upon mystery begin piling up and confusing her decisions. 

There is something enchanting about the worlds that Cashore creates. I will never not read a book by her and enjoy it thoroughly. Books like these are the reason that I'm a reader. It took me to another world that I wanted to be in. I want to know the people. I want to visit the castle and the city and see the architecture that Cashore describes. I want to see the art that forms a huge part of the plotline.

It is a hefty book, at 563 pages, but I was engrossed the entire time. I do believe you could read this without having read the other two, though having read Graceling will help in the background of a few reappearing characters.

I really, really liked Bitterblue. I got over the weirdness of her name within the first few chapters. She behaved exactly like I would in her position, though, I do not envy her at all. Imagine having to put an entire kingdom back in order after the chaos of a king who not only brainwashed his entire kingdom, but cruelly kidnapped and tortured children, women, and animals. This king was not a nice guy, far from it. In fact, the things he does is sickening. Cashore tackles the darkest corners of humanity carefully.

Po is still one of my top fictional boyfriends. He's funny, loyal, dependable, perceptive, and very intelligent.

Now comes the difficult task when people ask, "Which one was your favourite?" Looking at other reviews, most say they liked this one least. I cannot say that I like it the least, for I was as engulfed in the world, invested in the plot and characters, and was extremely satisfied with the ending. No less than the other two. I loved how mystery upon mystery stacked up - that is the most distinct difference between this story and the other two.

So, instead, I will say that it did not disappoint. And, that I would recommend the entire series. For all young adult fantasy lovers, read read READ this series. It is a must.

5/5 STARS