{Review} Galatea by Madeline Miller

Page Count: 37

Published On: August 13, 2013

Published By: Ecco

Genre(s): Fantasy, Mythology, Adult, Historical, Retelling, Short Stories

Source: ebook- accessed through Hoopla

Where To Find It: Amazon 

My Rating: 5 stars 

Goodreads synopsis:

In Ancient Greece, a skilled marble sculptor has been blessed by a goddess who has given his masterpiece – the most beautiful woman the town has ever seen – the gift of life. Now his wife, Galatea is expected to be obedience and humility personified, but it is not long before she learns to use her beauty as a form of manipulation. In a desperate bid by her obsessive husband to keep her under control, she is locked away under the constant supervision of doctors and nurses. But with a daughter to rescue, she is determined to break free, whatever the cost...

~~~

Hey, guys!

My friends, Mariana, Alice, Brooke, & Becky, have been urging me to pick up a Madeline Miller book for quite some time, but it just hadn't happened. When I found this short story on Hoopla, I had to check it out. 37 pages? No sweat! 

This was exactly what I needed. This short story was absolutely flawless and so addicting and engaging. If you're a fan of ancient myths, you will absolutely be a fan of this short story. 

Galatea is a retelling of sorts from Galatea's perspective after the events of the story of Pygmalion. This story was just so brilliantly done. Miller really creates such a beautifully complex and intense character that I cannot help but adore. She is so inspiring and her journey post-sculpture life is so inspiring from a young woman's perspective. 

This story is a lovely examination of the impact of society's expectations on women and their overtly controlling and objectifying expectations for "the perfect woman".

This was perfect, powerful, and beautiful. Please read this short story!

Happy reading,

Olivia

~Liv the Book Nerd~
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Song Recommendation

November Reading Wrap Up + mini reviews

Hey, guys!!

November has been a whirlwind of school work and actual work. I've barely had the time to read, but I did manage to finish my favorite book of the year during my Thanksgiving break! I'm so freaking excited to have a few weeks to read and catch up on blogging! Stay tuned for a lot more content!

This month I finished 2 books, a novella, and I'm temporarily DNF-ing a book. 

Here are the lovely books I read!

    

   

~ Percy Jackson and the Singer of Apollo by Rick Riordan

Rating: 3 stars

Page Count: 28 pages

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Publishing Date: November 14, 2017

Format: ebook - Kindle app

Where To Find It: Amazon // Goodreads

This wasn't Rick's best short story, but it was a great example to use for one of my creative writing assignments where I had to mimic the style of another author. I loved revisiting Percy and Grover. I love love love their friendship and the mythology that was incorporated into this piece was so much fun. I absolutely adore Rick's writing and I can't wait to catch up with his Apollo and Magnus Chase series. He's a big literary inspiration for me. 

~ Dumplin by Julie Murphy

Rating: 4 stars

Page Count: 384 pages

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publishing Date: September 15, 2015

Format: audiobook via Hoopla / ebook via Hoopla / physical copy via library

Where To Find It: Amazon // Goodreads

I absolutely adored this book. The characters were so well done and the story was so freaking addicting. I love love love Willowdean. She's such a well rounded and realistic character. I loved reading about her growth and struggles. I really loved the secondary characters in this book. I love how Julie incorporates their own personal friendships with Willowdean. It really added a lovely depth to the story that most authors don't accomplish well. In including each character through their different sort of friendship with Willowdean, it just made it so intriguing and fun to see their growth throughout the book. 

Reading this book was so dysfunctional -- only because I made it that way. I started this book via audiobook and got about 40% through that way, then I read it on my phone via ebook, and then my school's library had it on the shelves, so I picked it up physically, and finished it up via ebook. I don't regret it one bit. All three formats were so much fun. I do recommend any of them.

~ {Temporary DNF} Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Rating: temp DNF (@ 25%/ pg. 118)

Page Count: 471 pages

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publishing Date: June 27, 2017

Format: ebook via Kindle

Where To Find It: Amazon // Goodreads

I was originally excited to read Now I Rise after finishing And I Darken, but after reading KOA, I just didn't think it was the right time for me to pick up this book. It was much slower paced than what I wanted and I just wasn't interested. Radu also began to annoy the heck out of me. I know that Whitney (aka WhittyNovels) really really loves these books. I hardcore trust her opinions, so I'm just going to wait and give it another go sometime.

~ Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass #7) by Sarah J. Maas

Rating: 5 stars!!!

Page Count: 992 pages

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Publishing Date: October 23, 2018

Format: physical hardback - I BOUGHT 5 COPIES OF THIS BOOK GUYS!

Where To Find It: Amazon // Goodreads

I will be writing a complete review for this book after my last final, but I just want to say that this book completely blew my mind. I absolutely adore adore adore this book! I cannot handle how much I loved this book. I already miss the characters so much and I'm just dying for more of Sarah's work. I can't wait for her 2019 releases to come out.

READ THRONE OF GLASS!

Number of Pages Read: 1,522

Favorite November Read: Kingdom of Ash (duh)

Happy reading, guys!
Olivia
~Liv the Book Nerd~
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{Short Stories/Novella Reviews} January-July 2018

Hey, guys!

     Short stories are always kind of awkward to review. Because they are so short and they aren't complete novels, I find it hard to write more than 100 words about my general thoughts. Typically, the novellas or short stories that I read are a part of other series. Because of this, the stories usually follow some aspect of the series that would spoil someone or something. This is why I won't go into too much detail when it comes to summarizing the synopsis and reviewing it. 

What I'll Be Reviewing:

• A Visit to the Impossible Lands by Holly Black (included in the Barnes and Noble edition) 
• The Demon in the Wood (The Grisha Trilogy #0.1) by Leigh Bardugo
• The Mirror and the Maze (The Wrath & the Dawn #1.5) by Renee Ahdieh

~~~

Mini Review #1: A Visit to the Impossible Lands by Holly Black 

I really really enjoyed this little short story. This story focuses on the Roiben and Kaye Fierch. This story takes place both in the mortal world and the fae world. It follows the relationship of Roiben and Kaye and further develops the world that Holly has created. It also shows one of the final scenes of The Cruel Prince from their perspective. 

It was so much fun to get to know Roiben and Kaye in this little story. I absolutely fell in love with their relationship and I really really enjoyed how Holly has further developed her world. I'm so excited to read more about this world. I've had The Wicked King pre-ordered since early-April. I'm just too freaking excited to read it. I'm dying inside. I'm so impatient. 

My Rating: 5 stars

Other Holly Black Reviews:

The Cruel Prince {review}

The Darkest Part of the Forest {review}

Spiderwick Chronicles #1 {review}

Spiderwick Chronicles #2-5 {review}

Bailey's Series Review: The Spiderwick Chronicles #1-5 {review}

The Nixie's Song (Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles #1) {review}

Mini Review #2: The Demon in the Wood (The Grisha Trilogy #0.1) by Leigh Bardugo

Goodreads synopsis:

Before he became the Darkling, he was just a lonely boy of extraordinary power. Get a look into the past that forged a brutal and brilliant leader.

~~~

Oh, my goodness. This was so wild. I absolutely loved being in The Darkling's head when he was a young child. He's honestly so wonderful and I still really love him. I just really want more from him. I'd love to just read all of The Darkling's history. I just loved this novella. I highly recommend that you read this if you adore the Grisha world. 

My Rating: 4.75 stars

Other Leigh Bardugo Reviews:

~ Shadow & Bone {review}

~ Siege and Storm {review}

~ The Tailor {review}

~ Six of Crows {review}

~ Crooked Kingdom {review coming soon!}

~ Language of Thorns {review}

Mini Review #3: The Mirror & the Maze (The Wrath & the Dawn #1.5) by Renee Ahdieh

Goodreads synopsis: 

The city of Rey is burning. With smoke billowing, fires blazing and his people fleeing, Khalid races back to defend his city, and protect his queen. But Khalid is too late to do either. He and his men arrive to find the city in ruins, nothing but a maze of destruction, and Shahrzad is gone. But who could have wrought such devastation? Khalid fears he may already know the answer, the price of choosing love over the people of Rey all too evident.

~~~

Okay, this was free on Kindle, so of course, I had to pick it up. I absolutely adored The Wrath and the Dawn, but I really was disappointed by The Rose and the Dagger. I also wasn't too impressed with The Mirror and the Maze. I was kind of bored and unimpressed. Though the writing was gorgeous, the story was just too short to completely impress me. I absolutely adore Khalid. I love him so much, but I was just bored. It probably doesn't help that it's been a hot minute since I read TW&TD and TRATD. 

My Rating: 3 stars

Other Renee Ahdieh Reviews:

The Wrath and the Dawn {review}

The Rose & the Dagger {review}

Flame in the Mist {review}

I hope you enjoyed this blog post! If you'd like me to write more reviews like this, let me know! 

Happy reading!

Olivia 

~Liv the Book Nerd~

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{Review} Language of Thorns (Grishaverse #0.5, #2.5, #2.6) by Leigh Bardugo

Page Count: 281

Published on: September 26, 2017

Published by: Imprint

Genre(s): YA, Fantasy, Retellings, Anthology, Short Stories

Source: hardback -gift

Age Rating: YA

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 4.75 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

~~~

Hey, guys!

     Back in December, my boyfriend's lovely family gifted me this book for Christmas. I was so excited to read the stories and be re-immersed into the Grisha world. This book totally lived up to the hype and my expectations. The stories were fantastic, the writing was A+ as always, the illustrations were stunning, and the book itself was just amazing. I love these stories so much. I couldn't find anything that I didn't like about this book. It was just straight-up awesome. Cue the excessive gushing and lack of critical analysis. 

     This book was just gorgeous! I'm so in love with the stories that Leigh Bardugo created for this world. Each story was so hauntingly beautiful and the language and imagery that they created were just so imaginative and stunning. I'm so pleased with both the physical look of the book and the actual content itself. The illustrations throughout the book were just so intricately done and the detail that went into their making is just astoundingly beautiful and perfectly reflected the stories and their spooky vibes. Each story was intricately crafted in a way that left you desperately wanting more, yet still satisfied with how their ending was summed up. 

      Each story in this Grisha anthology is inspired by common known and lesser known fairy tales, myths, and folklore. The five stories each represent the five areas/countries in the Grisha universe. The stories are such a fantastic representation of the Grisha world. Each story adds more to the world building and reveals a more in depth look at the history of the world.

Other Grisha Reviews:

• Shadow & Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo
• Siege & Storm (The Grisha Trilogy #2) by Leigh Bardugo
• The Tailor (The Grisha Trilogy #1.5) by Leigh Bardugo
• Six of Crows (The Six of Crows Duology #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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{Review} Soul Siphon (Soul Stones #0.3) by T.L. Branson

Page Count: 23

Published on: October 2017

Published by: Amazon Digital Services

Genre(s): Fantasy, Young Adult

Source: ebook

Age Rating: 14+

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 3 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Alexander Drygo, king of Sunbury, is reeling from the loss of his wife. Despite his best efforts using an incredible power, she is no longer among the living.

When a rival kingdom seeks to take advantage of this delicate time in Drygo’s life, he is thrust into a battle for the future of his kingdom.

Can he save his people where he could not save his queen?

~~~

Hey, guys!

I was sent this novella for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are in no way swayed by others.

      First of all, thank you T.L. Branson for sending me your book. It's definitely going to be one of those series where you get consumed by the intricacies of the world and magic system. I'm definitely going to have to pick up the future additions to the series. 

      This novella follows Alexander Selenius Drygo, the King of Sunbury. Alexander is despondent because of the death of his wife and when his kingdom is attacked by a neighboring kingdom, he must rise from his grief and defeat his enemies to save his people.

      I really enjoyed the basics of this story, however, there were a few things that I felt were lacking. That may be because of the length of the novella/short story, but I do think they could have been included or somehow alluded to in order to fully flesh out the story. 

      First of all, I really did not care for the main character's voice and narration style. I found the way he narrated what was happening to be kind of arrogant and obnoxious. He would constantly switch from first to third person and refer to himself as "the king" which was just annoying. I also really like Alexander's name, but it's quite long and complicated to pronounce. That's to be expected with a king's name though. This novella reminded me a bit like the political vibes of the show Reign and the Throne of Glass book series. 

      Second of all, because this book was not a full fledged book and was a prequel to what is to come, I felt like I was not introduced or immersed into the world that I was introduced to. I felt like I was just dipped into it without enough context. I think that will be remedied in the future additions, but I honestly would want more from the (technically) first piece of the story. It's kind of odd to start with the third novella of a series instead of just starting in the beginning. I also felt like the the magic system that Branson attempted to establish in this short story/novella wasn't fully explored or fleshed out enough in order for me to fully connect to the story and get behind what Alexander is doing.

      Although I don't think that this book is as epic as I would have hoped, I do think it is a promising start to an enjoyable series. I really do look forward to seeing what Branson has in store for readers. 

You Can Acquire A Free Copy of Soul Siphon {here}!

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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{Review} The Demigod Diaries (Heroes of Olympus Companion) by Rick Riordan

Page Count: 244

Published on: August 14, 2012

Published by: Disney-Hyperion Books

Genre(s): Fantasy, Mythology, YA, Adventure, Short Stories, Middle Grade 

Source: Hardback - personally purchased secondhand

Age Rating: MG/YA

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository

Twitter: @camphalfblood

My Rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

What dangers do runaway demigods Luke and Thalia face on their way to Camp Half-Blood? Are Percy and Annabeth up to the task of rescuing stolen goods from a fire-breathing giant who doesn't take kindly to intruders? How exactly are Leo, Piper, and Jason supposed to find a runaway table, dodge a band of party-loving Maenads (who just might be a little psychotic), and stave off a massive explosion...all in one hour or less? With his trademark wit and creativity, Rick Riordan answers these questions and more in three never-before-seen short stories that provide vital back-story to the Heroes of Olympus and Percy Jackson books. Original art, enlightening character interviews and profiles, puzzles, and a quiz add to the fun in this action-packed collection.

~~~

Hey, guys!

     This was the first book that I read for the booktube-a-thon and it really kick started my reading progress throughout the week. This book was an amazing refresher of the Percy Jackson world. I didn't realize how much I missed the world until I read this collection of short stories. 

      I absolutely adored the short stories in this book. I loved hearing about pre-PJ Luke, Thalia, and Annabeth. It was so interesting to read about what they went through before they made it to Camp Halfblood. 

      Leo's story was just flat-out hilarious. I just love his character so much. After reading Leo's story, I just realized that I really miss the Heroes of Olympus books (and the Percy Jackson books, but LEO AND NICO ARE MY FAVORITES!). I just really need to do a reread of all of the books, but I don't have time! I also have other books I have  to read soon, so that's an issue. I remember last year I planned to do a big reread in August, but it never happened. Oh well. 

I'm rambling...Let's get back to this review! 

     I really enjoyed Percy and Annabeth's story as well. I just adore their relationship and I'd read anything about them... their day-to-day --all of the boring little details in their lives. I want it all. I just love them so much. 

     I think this little paragraph needs to be an appreciation moment for Martha and George. They are probably some of the funniest characters in the Riordan books. I love them and they are perfect. Hermes better appreciate. Give them all the rats. 

     Haley Riordan is such a talented writer. I loved his short story and I expect great books from him someday. I loved his serious tone and the insight that he had on the Mist. Alabaster is such a badass and I really want to know more about his character and how he would affect the series and the world. I think Haley was 16 when he wrote the story, but the internet says he's 22 now. That's so crazy! 

     This was such a great refresher of the Percy Jackson universe. I really need to do a huge binge/reread of the books. If anyone would like to do that in December or something, let me know. I'll need the PJ vibes to get me through finals. 

My Riordan Reviews: 

• Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus #5)
• Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase & the Gods of Asgard #1) 
• The Hammer of Thor (Magnus Chase & the Gods of Asgard #2) 
• The Hidden Oracle (Trials of Apollo #1)

Happy reading!

Olivia
~LivTheBookNerd~

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My True Love Gave To Me edited by Stephanie Perkins

Page Count: 321

Published on: October 14, 2014

Published by: St. Martin's Press
Genre(s): Short Stories, Holiday, Fantasy, YA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Print: Paperback

Age Rating: PG

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Twitter: @naturallysteph

My Rating: (overall) 4.5 stars

-individual reviews below

Goodreads synopsis:

If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins. Whether you enjoy celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or New Year's there's something here for everyone. So curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. You have twelve reasons this season to stay indoors and fall in love. 

~~~

Hey, guys!

I managed to nab a copy of this book from my local Books-A-Million when it was put on the $10-&-below shelf. I got a hardback copy for $6! Not only was it a bargain, it made sense to buy it during this time! I have been putting off grabbing a copy of this book just because it’s a holiday-themed anthology. I really didn’t want to buy it and then not read it for months and months because it wasn’t the proper time. Anyway, I really enjoyed the short stories in this anthology.

They were all so nicely done and festive. Each story had these characters that were really compelling…you wanted to know what their story was about. Some were longer than others, but they were just as great as the shorter ones. Each story was completely unique and special. I enjoyed every one of the stories. There were at least 3, however, that have stuck with me as I’ve finished it.

·       ~Rainbow Rowell’s Midnights

·       ~Stephanie Perkin’s It’s A Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown

·       ~Laini Taylor’s The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer

Special Mentions!

·   ~Holly Black’s Krampuslauf

·   ~Ally Carter’s Star of Bethlehem

Not only are these stories written by a few of my favorite writers, but (in my book) they deserve the “best story” label. This is just my opinion, though, so don’t take my word for it. There is definitely a story for everyone in this anthology. I’m really happy with the diversity in this anthology. It wasn’t just Christmas stories. They were a bit of everything! I just really liked this aspect to the book.

I actually rated all of the short stories so that I could get a feel of my full feelings for the anthology. None of them were below a 3-star rating, so that says quite a bit to me. I’m really proud of Stephanie Perkins for starting this anthology. I’m really excited to read Summer Days and Summer Nights, the summer-y themed anthology that was published earlier this year.

·        Midnights: 5 stars

o   This story was the first one that I read (it was the first one, anyway) and it was just the perfect story to get me in the mood.

·        The Lady and the Fox: 4 stars

o   This was so cute, but the ending is kinda weird for me. I wasn’t sure what to think

·        Angels in the Snow: 3 stars

o   I enjoyed the whole aspect of this story. The cat really tied it all together.

·        Polaris Is Where You’ll Find Me: 4 stars

o   This was really cute, but I didn’t like how it ended. It was somewhat satisfying, but not what I wanted.

·        It’s A Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown: 5 stars

o   This was just adorable. Another masterpiece from Stephanie Perkins

·        Your Temporary Santa: 3 stars

o   This was adorable as well, but I didn’t connect to it like I hoped I would. I wasn’t a fan of the narration style.

·        Krapuslauf: 4 stars

o   This was creepy and absolutely loved it. I need to read more books like this short story. The perfect blend of creepy and heartwarming.

·        What The Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth?: 3 stars

o   I’m not sure how I feel about this one either. Not a fan of the narration style and I didn’t really like the characters.

·        Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus: 4 stars

o   I loved the forgiveness in this story. It was so funny and clever. I loved this one.

·        Welcome to Christmas, CA: 4 stars

o   This was pretty cute. I loved the cooking-aspect to this. It was mysterious and kind of magical. I loved the characters, and the ending was so great. I want more from Kiersten White.

·        Star of Bethlehem: 4.5 stars

o   This was the last story that I read from the anthology, and I think it was the perfect ending for this anthology (for me).

·        The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer: 5 stars

o   This was the second story that I read from the anthology, but I’m so glad that I didn’t save it for last. It was so different from the other stories, but very festive at the same time. I love how different Laini Taylor’s writing is. I can’t wait to get back into her books. I’ve put them off for far too long.

      I can't wait to immerse myself in more short stories like these this summer. I'm really pleased with this anthology. I've found some new authors to try out, and I'd call that a success. 


Happy reading and happy holidays!
Olivia
~LivTheBookNerd~

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