Review - The Invisible Library

22. The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman (3 stars)

Just finished this this morning. Hard to describe how I felt about this one. I wanted to keep reading and find out what happened and so overall it was entertaining, but there were also some elements I was less keen on. It was more towards the beginning, I think; perhaps some of the introductions of concepts and the world were a little clunky (best word I can think of right now) and I'm not sure if I overly like stories with alternate worlds and histories etc. I think there are some that I've enjoyed but not my favourite type of story.

Anyway I will be interested to see want you think of it. There is a sequel (of course!) and I wouldn't be opposed to reading it but not right away and would be lower down list realistically. 

Lila 

Review - Graceling

21. Graceling by Kristin Cashore (4.5 stars)

I have deliberated about changing my 4 stars to 5 so have gone for 4.5 here to illustrate that!

You will love this one too. Reminded me a bit of throne of glass series, and a bit of chronicles of ixia books.  Has that type of setting that I love (think I mentioned this in a previous post) but where it's sort of medieval but also fantasy/magical.  What makes people 'different' in this world is referred to as what they are 'graced' with which I thought was a really cool description and although of course we have read lots of books where people have special talents/gifts etc, the way this was handled was still original I thought. 

The characters are great (you will love the main male character I know) and this was a really enjoyable read, that I didn't want to put down.  I have looked up the others in the trilogy.  Turns out the second one (Fire) is described as a companion to this one - I have read the first chapter as is at the end of this one, and already really interested to read it, but does seem to be describing a very different world, so will be interesting to see how the two link together. The third one then is named after a cool character from this first one so excited to read that too:)

Highly recommended!

Lila 

Review - A Touch of Dead

20. A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris (3 stars)

Finally read this, you must have lent it to me so long ago now!

I felt like reading something which I could get into easily, and I also want to try to alternate reading books I have borrowed with other news ones, to gradually give them all back!

So it's been a long time since I read a a True Blood book (and I never quite got to the end of the series so should really read the last couple at some point and see what all the fuss was about how it ended?!) but they are always enjoyable, and was fun to read these short stories and just be reminded of Sookie, Eric, and their world. I still really like how vampires in this world are 'out' and laws have been changed accordingly etc, think is a really cool take on it and also makes an interesting comparison with other groups that people might see as outsiders etc.  

Thanks for the long term loan!

Lila 

Review - Shiver

19. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (3 stars)

A gift from you:)

Another 3 stars but i think I enjoyed this more than the secret fire now I look back at them.  I don't think I have read a book focused on werewolves before (remind me if I have!) so that was interesting, I can't find myself quite as interested in wolf politics, lore etc as vampires (or fae:)! but still an enjoyable read and I think the way the wolves worked and their particular concerns were explained very well here.

I felt maybe this book was aimed at a slightly younger audience than some of the YA we read but I think perhaps I might only say that because is based in and around a high school so also has a general contemporary feel to it as well as the supernatural element

The ending did leave me interested to read the next one, and probably would have started it right away  if had had it at home.  Now I have the second and third ones here so will get it to at some point!

Thanks, ooh and also cool to read this in advance of meeting Maggie Stiefvater at YALC this year.  I think I should try the ravenboys books too before then though:)

Lila 

Review - The Secret Fire

18. The Secret Fire by CJ Daugherty and Carina Rozenfield (3 stars)

Forgot to take a photo before returned your book so had to get this off Goodreads:)

I almost only typed the first author's name here as had forgotten two people wrote it, not good for the second author in terms of potentially losing credit! but does show that the two authors worked really well together to create the different voices but still be coherent. Am not sure if they wrote different chapters each or how they worked but in any case it worked!

I enjoyed this book - I've been thinking actually I might need to revise the stars I give books, as when I read a book that is enjoyable but not amazing I tend to give it 3 stars, but it means that I end up with quite a few books with 3 stars but which are not necessarily that comparable.  I think I feel bad giving anything two stars though!  Anyway, this one was a true 3 stars I think, having said all that!

I enjoyed the two main characters and I was interested to find out more about what happened and therefore motivated to keep reading. I liked the premise of the book as well, and the historical links between the two families. I would read another one but not desperate to see what happens next so it wouldn't take priority over other things on the tbr pile (which is getting so long, I literally have piles of books all over the living room!). 

Lila 

Review - Antigone

17. Antigone by Sophocles (3 stars)

So, as you know, I read this after hearing Pierce Brown talk about it at his event ("so I was out rock climbing with my friends, and reading Antigone":). I have never read anything like this, I don't think, but was interesting to do so.  Is such a short play that only took a long bus ride to read it, but I enjoyed it, especially seeing (at least part of) the inspiration for Eo's story, and how individual actions can make a big statement against leaders etc.  (Pierce also talked at that event about how while they were camping he was looking up at the stars which that played a part too just btw) I also find it cool that can relate to something written such a long time ago.

Lila X