Burning End

Prairie Fire: The Story of Owen, Book 2
By E.K. Johnston

As this is book two in a duology, this review will be as spoiler free as possible.

See review for book 1 here. 

Return to the parallel universe where dragons exist and they are pests on a grand scale. Siobhan McQuaid is our narrator/bard and Owen Thorskard is our dragon slayer. Together they join the Oil Watch (the branch of military that focuses on dragon maintenance protecting oil rigs).

LOVE this universe. Wouldn't love to live in it. Love reading about it.

Again, I am floored by how tailored this book seems to be for me. Of course, that'd be highly narcissistic - I'd still like to think so.

Siobhan is dealing with injuries sustained from last book - living the nightmare any musician would live: the fear of being unable to play. Johnston does an excellent job of incorporating the hurt that a musician could suffer, but Siobhan's bard-heart refuses to let her stop hearing the music. Interwoven are her descriptions of how she'll interpret scenes or what instruments she'll use to represent people.

Owen remains our stoic hero, and thankfully, not the romantic interest of Siobhan. Too many times in YA there are male/female friendships that inevitably become romantic. I hate that. It's overplayed and it's too easy. The friendship between these two is strong and believable.

There is a dragon in this book that is the Kraken of this dragon world. Let me tell you. Shivers. Chills. Oh, it is glorious and terrifying.

For making a world that I could dive into again and again and not be disappointed:

5 STARS



The Gripe: 

Passing through reviews on this series is that it's titled "The Story of Owen" and this book focuses mainly on Siobhan. My question is: Was it ever really about Owen?

Isn't it about the creation of the story? Siobhan is the author, the chronicler who tells the story. It's as if we are witnessing an author write a best seller. In this case, a composer creating music around a tale that will be passed around.

The title is clever. I refuse to believe that Johnston didn't know exactly what she was doing. To simply expect it to be about Owen, when being told by Siobhan, is a shallow interpretation.

March Wrap-Up

Hello Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

For all the aching and pining for reading, my March went exceptionally well. My want to read something really great is satisfied. The need for reading several really great stories is still there.

I read a total of 6 books! My reading mojo has perhaps returned!

Magic Lost, Trouble Found
By Lisa Shearin
4 Stars

I should have liked this more. The names muddled my brain. I am normally fine with reading fantasy names, but for some reason, in this book, they were very confusing. There's one character that I wouldn't mind only reading about. I may or may not continue this series.Started in February, finished in March.


The Gracekeepers
By Kirsty Logan
4 Stars

The cover caught my eye in bookstores, I had to read this. It was lovely. Quite the opposite of what usual future-society books usually are. Started it in February, finished it in March.


Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
By Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
4 Stars

Not quite what I expected. I really enjoyed it. Thought I'd hated it since I love the story in Pride and Prejudice. It's the same story, keeping most of the same interactions, zombies added within. Hilarious and refreshing. A joyful surprise.


The Search for WondLa
By Tony Diterlizzi
2 Stars

I did not like this. Bookclub book for my best friend and I, it rubbed us the wrong way. Many plot holes, dropped plot points, weird character decisions, unlikeable characters, and mostly it felt incoherent. I will not continue this series, nor read anything else by this author.


All My Friends are Superheroes
By Andrew Kaufman
4 Stars

A palette cleanser from the previous, it's a magical little story. Heartwarming, world twisting, and content.


The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
By Becky Chambers
5 Stars

The star of the month. No contest. Makes you feel ooey-gooey cozy all over, all the while exploring family structures, gender, and the tight bonds of friendship. Remarkably warm. Recommend to anyone wanting a little, lovely Sci-Fi in their life.

 

Intimidating TBR

Hello Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

An intimidating to-be-read shelf can be paralyzing. The inability to choose what book to read next can put one off of reading altogether. Procrastination becomes the vehicle in which to avoid these piles.

I came across this tag and wanted to think through books that have been sitting on my shelves for a while, maybe reminding myself why I originally bought them.

1. A book I've been unable to finish. 

The Wise Man's Fear ~ By Patrick Rothfuss
It's 1000 pages, a honker of a story. The writing is smooth and easy. My fear is that I'll finish the story and have no more since the third of this series is not published yet.

2. I haven't had the time.

The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic ~ Emily Croy Barker
I've had this for a few years now. It's thick. I dont' usually like urban fantasy. There's a guilt with this one, since I purchased it with birthday money.

3. It's a sequel.

Dreams of Gods and Monsters ~ By Laini Taylor
Both the first and second books were loved. I guess going back into the world might be an adjustment and it's been so long that I fear I won't remember what happened.

4. It's brand new.

Serefina and the Black Cloak ~ By Robert Beatty
Brand new. Got this two days ago. 

5. I read a book by the same author, but didn't really like it.

Heir of Sea and Fire ~ By Patricia A. McKillip
This is the second book, after "Riddle Master of Hed" - a classic fantasy. The first book was alright. Nothing special. I mostly read it so I could read this one (the main character hooked me), but now I've lost the will.

6. I'm not in the mood for it. 

Brondings' Honour ~ By Ann Ewan
Every time I look at it I go, meh. Maybe another day. It doesn't help that the cover is disastrously terrible. 

7. It's HUMONGOUS!

The Great Book of Amber ~ By Robert Zelany
To be fair, it's 10 books of a series, bound into one. STILL. It's 1200+ pages.
 

8. It was a cover by and the reviews aren't great. 

The Seventh Miss Hatfield ~ By Anna Caltabiano
I'm a sucker for time travel stories, this seemed up my ally and I loved the symmetry of the cover. Too bad the reviews aren't great, meriting a 2.83 on Goodreads...  

9. The most intimidating of all.

The Count of Monte Cristo ~ By Alexandre Dumas
My best friend and I will be reading this year - I'm still terrified. It's a commitment and a classic.  875 pages. After our foray into massive classics last year with "War and Peace" (Leo Tolstoy), I'm concerned with the level in which I will be entertained.


Now to read some of these!
~ Happy reading ~

Read the Fluff

Hello Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

Long time, no post.

Update: My contract has ended. I'm between jobs. You would think I'd have time to do ALL THE READING. Not so *sigh*

This year started with high hopes. So far, the first books of the year have met me with so-so vibes. I'm neither excited nor put-off of reading. The stories are good, but missing that little something something that puts them over the edge to propel me to the next book. They do not make me excited to read.

The majority of books I'm currently reading are adult. I feel that when I zoom through the YA books I find more loveable, delightful, pockets of sunshine. The reason why I tend to stay away from the adult books. The adult books tend to be less optimistic or coloured in so many shades of grey that my eyes cross, my brain twitches, and I crumple into a heap of mixed emotions unable to form words.

While making readers intelligent, critical thinkers is important, sometimes one needs to shut the brain off. A return back to the fluff.

My line up of next or current reads are a mix of romance and quirky fantasy novels. Not serious in any manner. Laugh out loud moments a-plenty.

So, Dear Fellow Reader, do take the time to break from the serious novels every once and a while. Deviate from the plan. Do not let the TBR restrain you. Read the fluff. Fill yourself with silliness.

~Happy Reading~

Bout of Books 15 - Update

Hello Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

Hmmmm. How do I say this. I did not do well.

I read, most definitely.

Off the plan. Always. 

I'm now in the middle of "Queen of Shadows" and "The Assassin's Blade" by Sarah J Maas. I've read the stories from the magazine though! And finished the graphic novel Saga, Vol 5.*hi five*



Going back to work from the holiday turned out to be more of an adjustment to my sleep than previously though. There were nights where I was going to bed at 8 or 9pm. Fixing

the whole darn thing. Which meant, no reading for hours before bed. Instead, I'd open the book and two seconds later I'd closed my eyes.