Tag: #mybookishreview

Posted in Book Review Blog

Ice Like Fire Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Ice Like Fire

by Sara Raasch

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $9.99

Hardcover: $17.99

Kindle: $9.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $30.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Before Reading Facts:

Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch was published in 2015 by Balzer + Bray.

Page Count: 512 pages (paperback) 496 (hardcover) 494 (Kindle)

Audiobook length: 12 hrs 48 mins

Chapters: 32

Languages: English (also available in the follow translation: German)

Summary of Book:

“It’s been three months since the Winterians were freed and Spring’s king, Angra, disappeared–thanks largely to the help of Cordell.

Miera just wants her people to be safe. When Cordellan debut forces the Winterians to dig their mines for payment, they unearth something powerful and possibly dangerous: Primoria’s lost chasm of magic. The last time the world had access to so much magic, it spawned the Decay. So when the king of Cordell orders Meira and Theron on a mission to discover the chasm’s secrets, Meira plans to use the trip to garner support to keep the chasm shut and Winter safe–even if it means clashing with Theron. But can she do so without endangering the people she loves?

Mather just wants to be free. The horrors inflicted on the Winterians hang fresh and raw in Jannuari–leaving Winter vulnerable to Cordell’s growing oppression. So when Meira leaves to search for allies, Mather decides to take Winter’s security into his own hands. Can he rebuild his broken kingdom and protect his people from new threats?

As the web of power and deception is woven tighter, Theron fights for magic, Mather fights for freedom–and Meira starts to wonder if she should be fighting not just for Winter but for the world” -Balzer + Bray

Author Biography:

“Sara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then: her friends still cock concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things, and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures. She is also the author of Snow Like Ashes and Frost Like Night. Sara lives in Manassas, Virginia. She can be found on the web at http://www.sararaasch.tumblr.com and on Twitter at @seesarawrite” -Balzer + Bray

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

I had so many emotions brewing within me while reading this novel. It is an excellent continuation to Snow Like Ashes. In this novel, I was genuinely angered. I could not handle the injustice the Winterians were under. I wanted justice for Meira and her people. Those emotions and concern caused me to continue and learn more of Miera and the fate of her people.

I had concerns and felt that something was not going to go in Meira’s favor in the beginning of the novel. Meira wants her people to be safe. However, I knew that something was not going to go her way and she was going to run into some really bad obstacles. Raasch takes the reader on Meira’s journey for justice. I was fascinated with the journey and the descriptions of the kingdoms Meira visits.

By the end of this novel, I knew something big is coming in the third and final part in this series. The ending is satisfying enough but did not give me closer. The finale of Ice Like Fire left me wanting more, so I, of course, had to get the final part in this series, Frost Like Night. I am anxious to see what Raasch has in store for these characters!

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Kate Rudd and Nick Podehl

Rudd returns to narrate the second part of this series and does an excellent job. However in this novel, she is joined by Podehl, and the change from the first novel to this one gives the listening experience a new flavor. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 1.5 speed, so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found 2.0 and 2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. 

Other works by this Author:

Novels:

  • These Rebel Waves

Snow Like Ashes Series

  • Snow Like Ashes
  • Ice Like Fire
  • Frost Like Night
Posted in Book Review Blog

Warcross Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Warcross

by Marie Lu

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $10.99

Hardcover: $18.99

Kindle: $10.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $15.51 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Before Reading Facts:

Warcross by Marie Lu was published in 2017 by G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Page Count: 416 pages (paperback) 368 (hardcover) 366 (Kindle)

Audiobook length: 12 hrs 30 mins

Chapters: 31

Languages: English (also available in the follow translations: Spanish and French)

Summary of Book:

“The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down Warcross players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty-hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. To make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships–only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

In this sci-fi thriller, #1 New York Times best selling author Marie Lu conjures an immersive, exhilarating world where choosing who to trust may be the biggest gamble of all” -G. P. Putnam’s Sons

Author Biography:

“Marie Lu is the author of the#1 New York Times bestselling series The Young Elites, as well as the blockbuster bestselling Legend series. She graduated from the University of Southern California and jumped into the video game industry as an artist. Now a full-time writer, she spends her spare time reading, drawing, playing games, and getting stuck in traffic. She lives in Los Angeles, California, with one husband, one Chihuahua mix, and one Pembroke Welsh corgi” -G. P. Putnam’s Sons

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Warcross was a very interesting novel. I was fascinating with the way Lu portrays her video game background into her writing. This novel is full of futuristic video gaming technology and extremely resonated with me because it reminded me of an early writing project I did. This novel brought the video gaming industry to life in a way that made me want to revisit my own project and make something of it.

I read this novel in a hurry because I was working on finishing it before the release of Wildcard. I had no trouble getting through this novel and enjoyed every bit of it. Lu’s characters are carefully crafted and the chemistry between the characters adds on to the rising tension of the novel. I was nervous and and anxious of the outcome of these characters and shocked at the ending of this first part of their story.

I have mentioned my fascination with Marie Lu’s writing before, and nothing has changed. Al of her novels are amazing to me, and I really enjoyed seeing how different this novel is from The Young Elites series. Warcross is a must read for aspiring authors who want to write stories that incorporate video gaming technology. This story has allowed me to see how a bestselling author successfully did just that, and I recommend this to other writers going down the same track.

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Nancy Wu

Wu’s narration’s is really good if listened to at more 1.25 speed. Her narration at 1.0 speed sounds as if it is slowed down a bit. Wu narrates the novel effectively and in a way that really captivates the story.  I enjoy how Wu captures Emika’s sarcasm and snarky attitude. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 1.75 speed, so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found  2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. 

Other works by this Author:

Novels

Batman: Nightwalker

Legend Series

  • Legend
  • Prodigy
  • Champion

The Young Elites Series

  • The Young Elites 
  • The Rose Society
  • The Midnight Star

Warcross Duology

  • Warcross
  • Wildcard
Posted in Book Review Blog

Girls of Paper and Fire Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Girls of Paper and Fire

by Natasha Ngan

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $17.81

Hardcover: $18.99

Kindle: $18.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $19.95 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Before Reading Facts:

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan was published in 2018 by Jimmy Patterson Books.

Page Count: 400 pages (paperback) 400 (kindle) 400 (hardcover) 

Audiobook length: 14 hrs 23 mins

Chapters: 37

Languages: English 

Summary of Book:

“Lei is of the Paper castle, the lowest class in Ikhara. Even so, rumors of her golden eyes have piqued the King’s interest, and so she is ripped from her home and taken to the opulent palace, a gilded prison, her life now beholden to the Demon King’s every whim.

But as Lei dreams of escape, she does the unthinkable: she falls in love. Her forbidden romance, enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the King’s very reign, will force Lei to decide just how far she’s willing to go to fight for her freedom.

Lush, poetic, and utterly unforgettable, Girls of Paper and Fire is an extraordinary tale, reminding us that pure love and passion can transcend even the bleakest of fates.” -Jimmy Patterson Books

Author Biography:

“Natasha Ngan is a writer and yoga teacher. She grew up between Malaysia, where the Chinese side of her family is from, and the UK. This multicultural upbringing continues to influence her writing, and she is passionate about bringing diverse stories to teens. Natasha studied geography at the University of Cambridge before working as a social media consultant and fashion blogger. She recently moved to Paris, where she likes to imagine she drifts stylishly from brasserie to brasserie, notepad in one hand, wineglass in the other. In reality, she spends most of her time getting lost on the metro and confusing locals with her French.” -Jimmy Patterson Books

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Before anything, I would like to admit that this book was not for me. I did not find myself getting too invested in the story. Now, let me first clarify that I am not saying this is a bad book. It just simply did not fit what I typically like to read. I will explain that in detail how I came about my high rating of the book.

Now, I do not let my taste for books weigh too much in my rating. I already admitted that I did not fall in love with this book, yet I still have it a really good rating. I did that because this is a beautifully written novel. I absolutely loved Ngan’s writing and the way she presents her characters and their world. I praise her writing and her novel for doing such a magnificent job in drawing readers into her world and taking them on a very distinct and unique journey.

Though this book is not one I picked up as soon as it came out, I was very impressed with Ngan. The way she colors her story is amazing and it kept me invested enough to read more. I do admit that I picked this book out after seeing it floating around multiple bookstagram accounts. I found it to look interested and decided to buy it. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves the telling of a rebellious love story.

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Allison Hiroto

Hiroto does an amazing work narrating this story! I had no problem getting into this story, and her narration made the novel all that much more enjoyable. I will say that I recommend listening to the narration at least at a 1.5 speed. The speeds slower than that are too slowed down for me. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 2.0 speed, so one does not miss anything. Normally, I listen to audiobooks at a 1.5 speed while multitasking, but I found that listening to this one at a 2.0 speed was just as good. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found 2.5 and 3.0 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. 

Posted in Book Review Blog

H.J.’s Reads: Snow Like Ashes

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Snow Like Ashes

by Sara Raasch

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $9.99

Hardcover: $17.99

Kindle: $9.99 (Available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $27.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Before Reading Facts:

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch was published in 2014 by Balzer + Bray.

Page Count: 448 pages (paperback) 432 (hardcover) 448 (Kindle)

Audiobook length: 10 hrs 56 mins

Chapters: 31

Languages: English (also available in the follow translation: German)

Summary of Book:

“Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been searching for the chance to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee. Training to be a warrior–and desperately in love with her best friend and future king, Mather–she would do anything to help Winter rise to power again. So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore their magic, Meira decides to go after it, only to find herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics–and to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own” -Balzer + Bray

Author Biography:

“Sara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then: her friends still cock concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things, and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures. Snow Like Ashes is her debut book. It does not feature her hand-drawn pictures. She can be found on the web at http://www.sararaasch.tumblr.com and on Twitter at @seesarawrite” -Balzer + Bray

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

I was very intrigued with this read. I admit that the cover of the book was the first thing to peek my attention. Once I read the summary of the book, my interest was further peaked. I wanted to know more about what what this story had in store for the reader. I was not disappointed! The very use of the seasons and how the author incorporates that into the story fascinated me, and I wanted to know more about the author’s use of the elements in her writing.

I was very interested in the characters and their journey. Raasch’s story telling draws the reader in with her interesting characters and story-telling technique. Snow Like Ash is an excellent beginning to the series. Her world was one I wanted to know more about and was excited to read more in the second novel in the series.

In all, this was the first book I read by this author, and I am very interested to read more works by this author. Her following two books in the series were a great start and I was looking forward to continuing my journey with Meira and Mather. My only regret is not reading this series when it first published and hope more are able to get a chance to read it!

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Kate Rudd

Rudd does a good job in her narration. However, I did not find it to be extremely well done. It was good enough to captivate the story and provide the listener with a good listen. I do admit that I had to listen at a higher than a 1.5 speed in order to enjoy the narration. I recommend listening at a 1.5  speed to really enjoy this narration. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found 2.0 and 2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed.

Other works by this Author:

Novels:

  • These Rebel Waves

Snow Like Ashes Series

  • Snow Like Ashes
  • Ice Like Fire
  • Frost Like Night
Posted in Book Review Blog

Eve of Man Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Eve of Man

by Giovanna & Tom Fletcher

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $15.70

Hardcover: $18.75

Kindle: Not available on Kindle 

Audible: $18.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Before Reading Facts:

Eve of Man by Giovanna & Tom Fletcher was published in 2018 by Michael Joseph.

Page Count: 404 pages (paperback) 404 (hardcover) 

Audiobook length: 11 hrs 29 mins

Chapters: 67

Languages: English 

Summary of Book:

“All of her life Eve has been kept away from the opposite sex. Kept from the truth of her past. 

But at sixteen it’s time for Eve to face her destiny. Three potential males have been selected for her. The future of humanity is in her hands. She’s always accepted her fate.

Until she meets Bram.

Eve wants control over her life. Eve wants freedom.

But how do you choose between love and the future of the human race?

Eve of Man is the first in an explosive new trilogy by bestselling authors Tom and Giovanna Fletcher” -Michael Joseph

Author Biography:

“Giovanna and Tom Fletcher are two of the UK’s most successful authors. Tom is the creator of The Christmasaurus, which was the biggest debut children’s novel in 2016, while Giovanna’s novel, Some Kind of Wonderful, was one of the bestselling women’s fiction titles of 2017. Their books have sold over 1.5 million copies and have been translated into over 30 languages. Their social media platforms have a combined audience of almost 6 million followers. Tom and Giovanna married in 2012 and are parents to two boys, Buzz and Buddy. Eve of Man is their first novel as a writing duo, and the first in a trilogy.” -Michael Joseph

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

I decided to read this book as a part of the Livre D’Amour book club. The title and description of this book had me questioning whether or not I would actually enjoy reading this novel. I am not familiar with the authors and quickly noticed that obtaining this novel was a bit of a challenge. I was fortunate enough to obtain this novel from the Amazon warehouse, however some of the book club members had some trouble locating a copy. My guess is that we struggled to obtained copies since this novel came from a UK based publishing house. However, the hunt for this novel was totally worth it!

This novel was extremely interesting from the beginning. I was so drawn in by the first couple of chapters, and I simply could not put the book down. I wanted to keep reading more and more about this amazing story! The future of humanity the authors create gave me anxiety, and I needed to know what the future held for the human race.

From the very beginning, I followed the rising tension in this story. I was able to follow the curiosity of the characters and became so invested in the story and interested in the secrets they would unravel. This story read like a movie, and the tension and action was well-crafted and portrayed. I enjoyed every bit of this novel and was excited to know that this novel was the first in the trilogy. I cannot wait to see what is in store for these characters.

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Charlotte Ritchie and Josh Dylan

Ritchie and Dylan do an amazing work! Perhaps I am bias because I love their accent so much, but this was one of the most enjoyable narrations I have heard. I had no problem getting into this story and their narration made the novel all that much more enjoyable. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 1.5 speed, so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found 2.0 and 2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. 

Other works by this Author:

By Giovanna Fletcher:

  • Billy and Me
  • You’re the One that I Want
  • Always with Love
  • Dream a Little Dream
  • Some Kind of Wonderful 

Short Stories

  • Christmas with Billy and Me
  • Dream a Little Christmas Dream

Non-Fiction

  • Happy Mum, Happy Baby

By Tom Fletcher:

For Children

  • The Christmasaurus
  • The Creakers
  • Brain Freeze (written specially for World Book Day 2018)

For Younger Readers

  • There’s a Monster in Your Book
  • There’s a Dragon in Your Book

Written with Dougie Poynter, For Younger Readers

  • The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas
  • The Dinosaur that Pooped a Planet!
  • The Dinosaur that Pooped the Past!
  • The Dinosaur that Pooped the Bed!
  • The Dinosaur that Pooped a Rainbow!
  • The Dinosaur that Pooped Daddy!
  • The Dinosaur that Pooped a Lot! (written specifically for World Book Day 2015)
Posted in Book Review Blog

The Young Elites Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

The Young Elites

by Marie Lu

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $10.99

Hardcover: $12.98

Kindle: $10.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $29.95 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Before Reading Facts:

The Young Elites by Marie Lu was published in 2014 by SPEAK.

Page Count: 355 pages (paperback) 368 (hardcover) 370 (Kindle)

Audiobook length: 10 hrs 03 mins

Chapters: N/A (Not separated by numbered chapters) 

Languages: English (also available in the follow translations: Spanish, French, and German)

Summary of Book:

“A decade ago, a deadly blood fever swept through the nation. Most of the infected perished, but some survivors were left with strange markings, rumored to signify powerful gifts for those who possess them. And though their identities remain secret, this group of survivors has come to be called THE YOUNG ELITES.

The Inquisition Axis seeks to destroy them. The Dagger Society aims to find them before they Inquisition Axis. And Adelina Amouteru just wants to be left alone. But two truths will soon surface: ADELINA’S POWERS ARE FAR MORE ORDINARY . . . AND SHE IS NOT TO BE CROSSED” -SPEAK

Author Biography:

“Marie Lu is the author of the#1 New York Times bestselling Legend series, and Warcross. She graduated from the University of Southern California and jumped into the video game industry as an artist. Now a full-time writer, she spends her spare time reading, drawing, playing games, and getting stuck in traffic. She lives in Los Angeles, California, with one husband, one Chihuahua mix, and two Pembroke Welsh corgis” -SPEAK

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

This was a very different read for me. I was warned before starting the novel by a friend who stated that it was “dark.” I was interested just how “dark” this novel was and was very surprised from the very first chapter. The opening chapters made me feel so many different emotions that it took me a while to actually attach myself to the main character, Adelina Amouteru. I could not decide if I liked her or if I should keep my distance from her. I do admit that I was not fully drawn into the story until about twenty to thirty pages in. I believe that that is the result of reading such a different story than I am used to.

I read The Young Elites after having read Lu’s Legend series and Warcross duology. Be warned that The Young Elites is indeed a “darker” novel when compared to Lu’s other novels. However, I do not say that in a negative tone. I loved the difference! I enjoyed reading something different, not only from what I had recently read but also different from the same author.

Marie Lu is an amazing author, and I love all of her novels so far. I may be biased in this review, but her writing simply fascinates me. The Young Elites was not a disappointment whatsoever, and I am eager to read the next part of the series, The Rose Society. I cannot wait to see what more Marie Lu publishes and will anxiously await her next projects.

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Carla Corvo and Lannon Killea

Corvo and Killea do an amazing job in bringing this novel to life. I really enjoy the switching in narration and their voices compliment each other in a way that draws the listener in. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 1.75 speed, so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found  2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. 

Other works by this Author:

Novels

Batman: Nightwalker

Legend Series

  • Legend
  • Prodigy
  • Champion

The Young Elites Series

  • The Young Elites 
  • The Rose Society
  • The Midnight Star

Warcross Duology

  • Warcross
  • Wildcard
Posted in Book Review Blog

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $10.99

Hardcover: $18.99

Kindle: $4.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $23.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Before Reading Facts:

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs was published in 2013 by Quirk Books.

Page Count: 382 pages (paperback) 352 (hardcover) 358 (Kindle)

Audiobook length: 09 hrs 42 mins

Chapters: 11

Languages: English (also available in the follow translations: Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch, and Chinese)

Summary of Book:

“A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of peculiar photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its decaying bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that Miss Peregrine’s children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow–impossible though it seems–they may still be alive” -Quirk

Author Biography:

“Ransom Riggs grew up in Florida but now makes his home in the land of peculiar children–Los Angeles. Along the way he earned degrees from Kenyon College and the University of Southern California’s School of Cinema-Television. His first novel, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, debuted at #5 in the New York Times Best-Seller List.” -Quirk

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

I started reading this novel one Saturday afternoon during Christmas break. I had no work and no school to worry about, so I finally had time to sit down and read a good book. This was that book! I started this book that Saturday afternoon and finished it the following morning after forcing myself to go to sleep. I did not want to stop! I wanted to keep going. This story is amazing; the pictures in the novel bring the story to life in a creepy but fascinating way; and the story is so action packed that one can’t help but keep reading.

This story is so different and unique to anything I read the previous weeks, that I was so into it. I extremely enjoyed every bit of it. I will admit that at one point I tried to pull myself away from the story due to its “unrealistic” nature, but it is that “unrealistic” and unique element that kept me intrigued. I wanted to know more about Riggs’ Peculiar Children and how their existence is portrayed. In the end, I wanted to know more. I wanted more of their journey and am glad there is a continuation of this novel published and ready for me to read.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a novel that reminded me of Marie Lu’s The Young Elites. I read one novel after the next, and they seem to be two series that should be read one after anther. If you enjoy either series but have not read the other, I recommend you do so. Their dark, eerie nature make both series stand out and captivate its readers by their innovative nature.

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Jesse Bernstein

Bernstein’s narration at 1.25 speed is the slowest I will go with this novel. His narration at 1.0 speed is too slow and seems slowed down and as if it were in slow motion. However, his narration portrays the character effectively and helps the listener follow along and be drawn into the story. Overall, Bernstein does an excellent job captivating the story for listeners, I extremely enjoyed reading along. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 1.5 speed, so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found 2.5 to be the best speeds. 3.0 was fast but understandable enough to follow along while reading. If you are looking to get through it quickly 3.0 is the speed I recommend while reading along. 3.5 speed was too fast, and I could not understand part of what was being said. 

Other works by this Author:

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children Series

  • Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children 
  • Hollow City
  • Library of Souls
  • A Map of Days
Posted in Book Review Blog

Scythe Book Review

Posted on by H. J. Ortiz

Scythe

by Neal Shusterman

To purchase this novel or to find more information, you can visit Amazon.

Amazon Prices:

Paperback: $6.71

Hardcover: $18.99

Kindle: $8.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Audible: $21.99 (Not available on Kindle Unlimited)

Before Reading Facts:

Scythe by Neal Shusterman was published in 2016 by Simon & Schuster.

Page Count: 464 pages (paperback) 448 (hardcover) 449 (Kindle)

Audiobook length: 10 hrs 32 mins

Chapters: 40

Languages: English (also available in the follow translations: Spanish, French, and German)

Summary of Book:

“A world with no hunger. No disease. No war. No misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life–and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.

Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe–a role that neither wants. These teens must master the ‘art’ of taking life, knowing that the consequences of failure could mean losing their own. They learn living in a perfect world comes only with a heavy price.

A Printz Honor Book, Scythe is the debut of a thrilling new series by National Book Award-winning author Neal Shusterman” -Simon & Schuster

Author Biography:

“Neal Shusterman is the author of many novels for young adults, including Unwind, which was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers, Everlost, and Downsiders, which was nominated for twelve state reading awards. He also writes screenplays for motion pictures and television shows such as Animorphs and Goosebumps. The father of four children, Neal lives in southern California.” -Amazon

Book Review:

Overall Book Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Let me start by saying that I read this book only because I bought it as a Christmas gift exchange for a friend. It was not my intention to read it, but something about the cover of the book was drawing me in. I bought this book early for my gift exchange, so it stared at me with such a hunger that I just had to pick it up and ‘at least’ peek inside. In the end, my curiosity got the best of me, and I ended up getting the audiobook for it and set off to get through this intriguing book.

I really loved this book! This book was different than what I have read recently. The whole idea of the world Shusterman created is fascinating! I could not put this book down! I finished this novel in two days because I just wanted to keep going and know more about this world and what Shusterman’s characters were in for. His characters, the good and the bad ones, were also interesting. They kept the reader hooked, and by the time I reached the end of the novel, the ending to be very satisfying.

I am so glad I got curious and peeked inside this novel. This was a new type of read for me, and I was not at all upset about it in any way. After reading the first part of the novel, I decided I had to keep a copy for myself and ended up buying a second copy to gift to my friend for our Christmas exchange. I cannot wait for her to read it and the two of us can discuss this amazing novel together.

Audible Review:

Narration Rating: ★★★★★ / ★★★★★

Narration by Greg Tremblay

Tremblay does an excellent job portraying the panic, emotions, excitement, and joy throughout the story. His narration allows readers to continue to listen and keeps the listener invested in the story. Overall, Tremblay does an extraordinary job captivating the story for listeners. For those of us who like to multitask and listen on the go, I recommend listening at a 1.5 speed, so one does not miss anything. For those who are listening while reading the book, I found 2.0 and 2.5 speed to be the best speeds. 3.0 was too fast for me, and I was missing a lot of what the narrator was saying and had to eventually slow down the narrator’s reading speed. 

Other works by this Author:

Novels:

  • Bruiser
  • Challenger Deep
  • Chasing Forgiveness
  • The Dark Side of Nowhere
  • Dissidents
  • Downsiders
  • Dry (with Jarrod Shusterman)
  • The Eyes of Kid Midas
  • Full Tilt
  • The Shadow Club
  • The Shadow Club Rising
  • Speeding Bullet 

Arc of a Scythe Series

  • Scythe
  • Thunderhead 

The Accelerati Series (with Eric Elfman)

  • Tesla’s Attic
  • Edison’s Alley
  • Hawking’s Hallway

The Antsy Bonano Series

  • The Schwa Was Here
  • Antsy Does Time
  • Ship Out of Luck

The Unwind Dystology

  • Unwind
  • UnWholly
  • UnSouled
  • UnDivided
  • UnBound

The Skinjacker Trilogy

  • Everlost
  • Everwild
  • Everfound

The Star Shards Chronicles

  • Scorpion Shards
  • Thief of Souls
  • Shattered Sky

The Dark Fusion Series

  • Dreadlocks
  • Red Rider’s Hood
  • Duckling Ugly 

Story Collections

  • Darkness Creeping
  • Kid Heroes
  • MindQuakes
  • MindStorms
  • MindTwisters
  • MindBenders