{Review} The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young

Page Count: 327

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Published on: September 3, 2019

Format: audio from Libby + physical (bought by me)

Rating: 3 stars

Goodreads synopsis

For as long as she can remember, Tova has lived among the Svell, the people who found her washed ashore as a child and use her for her gift as a Truthtongue. Her own home and clan are long-faded memories, but the sacred symbols and staves inked over every inch of her skin mark her as one who can cast the rune stones and see into the future. She has found a fragile place among those who fear her, but when two clans to the east bury their age-old blood feud and join together as one, her world is dangerously close to collapse.

For the first time in generations, the leaders of the Svell are divided. Should they maintain peace or go to war with the allied clans to protect their newfound power? And when their chieftain looks to Tova to cast the stones, she sets into motion a series of events that will not only change the landscape of the mainland forever but will give her something she believed she could never have again—a home.

~ ~ ~

Hey, guys!

When it comes to Adrienne Young, I cannot get enough of her work. Her style is everything that I love and her characters are always so fascinating. The worlds that she creates are so intriguing and hit all of the points that I desire. I love how she's taken from Norse mythology and made her own set of gods and mythology for her world. Unfortunately, The Girl the Sea Gave Back really fell flat for me.

When it comes to TGTSGB, I was incredibly disappointed. I had attempted to immerse myself into this book three or four times before finally sitting down and listening/reading to it this go around because I was just tired of not knowing how I felt about it. (Also, Alex has been waiting forever for me to finish it. It was time.) Unfortunately, it was just hard to continue after putting down. I found the characters to be incredibly boring and lacking and had the hardest connecting with their stories and trials. I also found that the intense and emotional parts that pertain to the ending just fell flat for me.  I feel like because of the disconnect that I was feeling throughout the entire book, that I had just lost the last of my interest in how the book would conclude.  

To me, I felt like the book lacked the urgent pacing that one would expect of a story that took place over a couple of days. The story is so action-packed and there is so much information thrown at you, but you don't get any sort of semblance of the setting and the characters just lacked depth for you to care about the events surrounding them and happening to them. Also! There was romance in this book, but their chemistry was practically nonexistent? I honestly didn't expect them to shack up? I thought they were just friends connected by fate or something, but I guess that was the romance? That was just hardcore lacking. I was so sad. 

Overall, this book lacked the depth and intensity that Sky in the Deep had. This book felt more like a debut that Sky in the Deep did. I adored Sky. It's probably one of my all-time favorites, but Sea was just not it for me.  

What did you think of this book? Let's discuss!
Happy reading!
Olivia
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{Review} Love in the City by Jen Morris

 

Page Count: 392

Publisher: National Library of New Zealand

Published On: October 5, 2020

Genres: adult romance

Format: eARC from author/publisher

Rating: 1 star

Goodreads synopsis:

Turning thirty has a way of making you take a good, hard look at your life. And I think we all know what any sensible adult does in that situation: tequila shots. Lots of them.

It’s okay, though, because I’ve finally escaped my tiny New Zealand home town and my negative parents. And New York is better than my wildest fantasies. 
​
So is Michael, the sexy single dad who lives in the apartment upstairs. And he’s featuring in my fantasies more and more—even if he’s a grump and I only ever seem to make a dork of myself in front of him. Ah well, a girl can dream.

Anyway, I’ve got a writing career to build, and writing about being single is fun. If that means swearing off men for a bit, that’s fine. I can totally do that. It’s just a tiny crush. 
​
Besides… happily ever afters aren’t real. Are they?

~ ~ ~

Hey, guys,

If you've been following my blog for a hot minute -- or rather if you've been following my Goodreads and Instagram because I've been terrible about updating my site -- you'll know of my unconventional adoration of the romance genre of late. I'm obsessed. Romance has really been what has gotten me through 2020. No regrets. 

I've discovered that I have certain tropes and buzzwords that cause me to want to pick up a romance instantly. One of the concepts that I love surrounds writers. I love reading about writers and learning about how they find inspiration, but also how they fall in love. Naturally, when I was approached to take part in the tour for Love in the City, I wanted to participate because the book sounded like my cup of tea. 

Unfortunately, I really did not like this book. I wanted to DNF within the first 15-20%, but I stuck it out in hopes that the writing and concept strengthened as the novel continued on. It didn't and my one-star rating is the result. 

I had been asked to take part in the blog tour for this book, but as you can see. I backed out because of my rating. 

For me, one of the main things I unfortunately disliked was the writing style. There was so much telling instead of showing. It read like the character's journal and the writing wasn't solid or polished enough for me to genuinely enjoy the writing style. My dislike of the writer's style really caused me to struggle to immerse myself in the story or enjoy the characters. To me (this is just my opinion), the entire story read like draft-level fanfiction stuff. The wording was awkward and strange to read and there were many moments that were supposed to be funny or swoony, but I was just cringing. It was just really two-dimensional and surface level and I couldn't get behind it. 

Another thing that I didn't enjoy was that the main character was just really annoying. She was supposed to be really creative and artsy, but she really didn't use her noggin 100% of the time. The entire conflict surrounding her blog was that she had pitched an idea for a writing series for a large publication, but it wasn't even really set in stone until the end. She hadn't been given the 100% go-ahead to start on the work and she just pinned herself down to a topic that she didn't jive with throughout. She had so many options, but she blatantly refused to actually communicate with the person and company that she desperately wanted to collaborate with. It was completely unrealistic and bugged me to no end. So unnecessary. 

Additionally, she just didn't communicate with anyone around her until it became incredibly difficult to function. It was just so unrealistic and I couldn't handle it. 

Overall, I cannot recommend this book; however, I'd love to discuss this with other readers. I don't think I'm being too harsh because these are my opinions, but I'd love to discuss why you probably think I'm wrong. I love the discussion!

Happy reading!

Olivia

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September & October 2020 Reading Wrap Up

 

Hello hello!

I've really been slacking when it comes to blogging, but I'm finally back with my reading wrap-up for the past two months. In September and October, I managed to read 18 novels, graphic novels, and novellas. I'm really pleased with the books I've read and I've even found a few new favorites. 

Here is what I read these past two months!

An Ember in the Ashes, A Torch Against the Night, & A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir

Ratings:

Ember: 4 stars
Torch: 4.75 stars
Reaper: 5 stars

Publisher: Razor Bill

Format: audio + physical via Libby/Personal Collection

One of the first things I did in September started the Ember trilogy via audiobook through my library's Libby subscription. Not only was I completely blown away by my reread, but I also had to continue bingeing the series up until the beginning of October. Not only is the finale one of my new most anticipated releases, I instantly preordered the book and asked for the release day off from work so that I can sob as I read it in full. It's one of those, guys.

An Ember in the Ashes definitely felt like a debut novel, but I really really loved it. I probably loved it even more than when I first read it in 2016. The audio performance was phenomenal and I was so glad to have the next two books to binge so that I could continue to experience the twists and turns that are the plot of the series. 

Torch and Reaper were just phenomenal, but Reaper was definitely the most awe-inspiring. I am so completely impressed with the improvement to her writing skills, the obvious care, and originality that went into her story. I'm so freaking jazzed to read A Sky Beyond the Storm. 

{click here for the OG 2016 review for Ember}

The Switch by Beth O'Leary

Rating: 3.5 stars

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Release Date: August 18, 2020

Format: audio provided by NetGalley & publisher

What a delightful read! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I adored how it wasn't romance-focused (though I wish it wasn't marketed as such) and I loved the focus on personal growth and change. The characters were so well-written. I absolutely adored Eileen and her part of the story in London. While Lena was really interesting and fun to follow, she definitely didn't capture my interest like her grandmother did. 

This is an excellently written novel. It's character-driven (which I love!) and so witty and smartly written. The banter is so delightful. If you're a fan of British humor, you will love this book. Just know that this really isn't a romance novel like The Flatshare. It's definitely more of a contemporary novel. 

Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

Rating: 4.75 stars 

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: October 27, 2020

Format:  eARC provided by NetGalley + the publisher

Once again, NetGalley has blessed me with one of my most anticipated 2020 releases. This was everything I could have hoped for. Lyssa Kay Adams' books just keep getting better and better. I loved everything about this book. The only reason it isn't getting is a five-star rating is that something (the extra oomph that gets me every time) was just missing. It really was just a me-thing. This book was so freaking excellent. If you haven't picked up any of the Bromance Book Club books yet, I urge you to do so soon. 

The next installment in the series follows The Russian! I'm so freaking jazzed. I've been waiting for his book since I first read the first book in the series. 

Previous Reviews:

Bromance Book Club: {click}

Undercover Bromance: {click}

The Happily Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez

Rating: 3.5 stars

Publisher: Forever

Format: audio borrowed from Libby

I freaking love Abby Jimenez's writing style so much. Her books are so compulsively readable and I adore how she tackles her chosen tropes and makes something new of them. While I really liked this book, it really fell short when it came to the end. As I hit the 60% mark, the pacing just seemed to lag and I really didn't like how the characters began to interact. Jason began to rub me the wrong way and their very very realistic relationship that had developed in the first 200-ish pages just died for me. 

Overall, Jimenez has this really fantastic ability to create likable and realistic characters and relationships. I loved the twists and turns that she took us on when it came to the band-traveling-bits. It was really frustrating at times, but it really made you think differently toward the end. 

{My thoughts on The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez}

Love in the City by Jen Morris

Rating: 1 star

Format: eARC provided by publisher + NetGalley widget

Release Date: October 5, 2020

While I desperately wanted to adore this book -- Hello! It follows a romance writer as she falls in love in New York -- but this was just not for me at all. By the end of the book, I began to skim and I dreaded picking it up to finish it. This was just not well done and I really didn't enjoy a lot of it when it's all said and done.  I'm definitely in the minority when it comes to the reviews on Goodreads. There's definitely a base for those who enjoyed this book, but I definitely did not. 

Full review to be published tomorrow!

A Gathering of Shadows & A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

Rating: 5 stars (both!)

Publisher: Tor

Format: audio (Libby) + physical (mine)

Well, I'm officially a V.E. Schwab stan. I was already a borderline mega-fan, but I didn't think that it was official until I continued on with this series. A Darker Shade of Magic has sat with me for months on months now. I'm so upset that I didn't just binge the series when I could. I had books! Now, I'm so obsessed! 

I'm already planning on rereading soon. I just love love love these books and I cannot recommend them enough. They are PERFECTION! 

Once I finish with my VES backlist, know that I will be raving about all things V.E./Victoria Schwab!

Heartstopper: Volume 1 by Alice Oseman

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Graphix

Format: originally Libby

 (but by some chance, I found a physical copy on my birthday and splurged!)

I've been dying to get my hands on the published copies of Heartstopper to finally support Alice Oseman when it comes to her comic career. (Now I know that I can read it online and support her through there too!) I adore all of Alice Oseman's work. She is such a fantastic writer and I cannot wait to support her work even more.

Heartstopper was absolute perfection. I desperately want the second and third volumes so that I can just have them in my hands. Her writing style and drawing style is everything that I love. I love Charlie and Nick. It was also so great to see Frances again. 

The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young 

Rating: 3 stars

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Format: audio from Libby + physical (bought by me)

When it comes to Adrienne Young, I cannot get enough of her work. Her style is everything that I love and her characters are always so fascinating. The worlds that she creates are so intriguing and hit all of the points that I desire. I love how she's taken from Norse mythology and made her own set of gods and mythology for her world. Unfortunately, The Girl the Sea Gave Back really fell flat for me. 

Full review coming next week!

All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne

Rating: 2 stars

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Released On: September 29, 2020

Format: eARC via NetGalley/publisher & audio via Libby

Trigger/Content warnings for abuse and neglect, emotional abuse, trauma, violence, bombs, child abuse, child trafficking

Another disappointing read. 

When going into this, the synopsis instantly captivated me. I adore a Scottish historical romance. I love an unconventional pairing. I love a hint of scandal and intrigue!

This just did not tick my boxes. However, it isn't because the book is written badly. Not by any means. This book was so freaking well-written. I loved the historical aspects, the unconventional plays on gender and gender expectations for that time period. However, I didn't enjoy the hero of the story and I guess I just didn't jive with the heroine either. I was really wanting to love this story, but I didn't enjoy the way the steamy scenes were written (they felt far too long and drawn out and I didn't like the terms used in them). 

Overall, I just didn't like how the author fleshed out her characters. I'm a very character-focused reader. I love to connect with who I'm reading, but I just couldn't with this book. Ramsey was just not the kind of guy I like.

One quote I liked, however, was: 

"She wept because people were so unkind. Because they preyed upon one another in ways she couldn't begin to imagine, and that fact made her feel helpless and afraid."

~@59% of the novel~

That quote just sums up a good portion of my mental state in 2020... if that tells you anything. 

There were a lot of good moments in this book, but I just didn't really enjoy the main couple as much as I've enjoyed others. 

I do plan on continuing my search for my favorite Kerrigan Byrne novel because I definitely have a couple more queued up for future reading.

Her Accidental Highlander Husband by Allison B. Hanson

Rating: 1.5 stars

Publisher: Entangled Publishing LLC

Release Date: September 28, 2020

Format: eARC provided by NetGalley & publisher

Trigger/Content warnings for domestic physical abuse/assault (on-page descriptions + emotions and flashbacks pertaining to the experience), panic attacks, emotional abuse.

When I picked up this book, I was instantly intrigued by our heroine. She was so strong and I loved how her panic attacks and trauma from her previous marriage were discussed on-page and described. It was very well done. However, I felt like once I got past the first third of the novel, I lost interest and the writing just went downhill. 

I had wanted more from the relationship, but once you hit a certain point, Marian's emotional struggles disappeared (even when she was assaulted AGAIN and kidnapped). During a couple points of extreme stress (moments that would expect to cause a person to experience moments of panic due to their previous experiences), she had no reaction whatsoever and it just seemed really unrealistic that her panic attacks and trauma would disappear once she became slightly more comfortable because of her accidental husband. 

Another issue I had was with the pacing. The middle parts of the novel had some good plot-driving and character developing moments, but it really just felt like a whole lot of nothing. By the time the characters made it to the end of the story, I was incredibly bored, uninterested in what the conclusion could have been, and annoyed with how it turned out. 

This was just not my cup of tea. 

One Year at Ellsmere by Faith Erin Hicks

Rating: 3.5 stars

Publisher: First Second

Release Date: July 14, 2020 (originally published December 29, 2008)

What a delightful graphic novel! I adored Faith Erin Hicks' additions to Rainbow Rowell's Pumpkinheads. Her illustration style has everything that I love. It was so nice to read another one of her books. I really want more from this world and cast of characters. 

This story has everything you need:

- Full-color illustrations

- Awesome, complex characters

- A hint of the fantastical

- Middle-grade friendship

- Spooky, competitive boarding school setting

The Duke & I + The Duke & I Epilogue II &
The Viscount Who Loved Me + The Viscount Who Loved Me Epilogue II by Julia Quinn

Ratings: 

Duke: 3 stars

Duke Epilogue II: 3 stars

Viscount: 4 stars

Viscount Epilogue II: 3 stars

So, I was supposed to be reading the Bridgerton books for the readathon happening over on YouTube and Instagram with Jess from PeaceLoveBooksxo, Kerry, Natasha, Krys, and Alecia (it's called the Binging Bridgerton Readathon), but somehow my hold from my library went through right away instead of the three-week wait that it had told me previously. I didn't expect it, but I've been binging them and I can't stop reading these addicting books. 

I won't be releasing my reviews for these books until after the discussions take place with the readathon group, but I'm eager to post a series review once I've finished all eight books!

Trigger warning for rape and nonconsensual happenings in The Duke & I.

Reading Stats: 

Total Read: 18

September Reads: 5

October Reads: 13

Avg. Rating: 3.58 stars

Genre Break-Down:

YA Fiction: 4

Adult contemporary: 1

Adult contemporary romance: 3

Adult fantasy: 2

Adult historical romance: 6

Graphic novels: 2

What did you read this month? What was your favorite?

Happy reading!

Olivia

Liv the Book Nerd

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{Review} An English Bride in Scotland by Lynsay Sands

Page Count

Published On: June 25, 2013

Published by: Avon

Genre(s): Adult historical romance

Content Disclosure: does contain steamy content

Content Warning: misogyny

My Rating: 2 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

The first in a new historical series set in the Highlands of Scotland, from Lynsay Sands, the New York Times bestselling author of the Argeneau vampire series and countless historical romances.

Annabel was about to take the veil to become a nun when her mother suddenly arrives at the Abbey to take her home… so that she can marry the Scottish laird who is betrothed to her runaway sister! She knows nothing about being a wife, nothing about how to run a household, and definitely nothing about the marriage bed!

But from the moment Ross MacKay sets eyes on Annabel, he is taken with his shy sweet bride… and the fact that she's blessed with lush curves only makes him utter his own prayers of thanks. But when an enemy endangers her life, he'll move the Highlands themselves to save her. For though Annabel's not the bride he planned for, she's the only woman he desires…

~ ~ ~

Hey, guys!

These past few months I've read so many books, I've met my Goodreads goal, and I've discovered new genres and tropes that I adore. One of those genres is historical romance and just the overall romance genre. I've loved diving into the different variations and finding new story types and character types that I adore. I've been a member of the BaeCrate Facebook group for a while, but I hadn't been able to participate in the discussions and buddy reads that they hosted. One of the books discussed on their page was An English Bride in Scotland and the author, Lynsay Sands.  

An English Bride in Scotland is about a young woman who taken from her place in a convent, Annabel. Annabel is taken by her family to take the place of her sister and marry her sister's betrothed, a Scottish laird named Ross McKay. She has no idea what it means to be a wife -- she had been trained to be a nun and commit herself to the church, so when she is taken to her new husband's keep, she is a bit in over her head. Ross McKay is instantly attracted to Annabel. She has a great figure and he's very attracted to her breasts (there is quite an emphasis on this, my dudes). When a strange figure begins to attack Ross and Annabel -- specifically Annabel, they must investigate the attacks to make sure they can continue with their lives. 

While this novel was fairly entertaining, it wasn't my favorite. It lacked the sort of complexity that I look for in my romance reads. It was a pure bodice ripper and that wasn't what I was really looking for. While I didn't expect the most intricate of literature, I did pick this up because of the many positive reviews and recommendations. Specifically, I was drawn to the way others described Ross. According to those who recommended the novel, Ross was very forward-thinking and adored and respected Annabel immensely. While that's true, it wasn't that ground-breaking. There was still quite a bit misogyny that I didn't enjoy -- however, you can't really escape it when you're in the era the novel was written in. That's just how it comes. It was still really annoying and grated on my nerves at times. 

Additionally, there was a massive lack of world-building. The setting was pretty nonexistent and very very hard to imagine. I was hoping for some beautiful Scottish vibes, but I couldn't find it. It was a major let-down.

Like I had mentioned above, there was quite an emphasis on Annabel's assets. Everyone noticed her massive boobs and everyone was just infatuated with them. At first, the subplot and discussions about her body were fun because it was nice to see so much love for a bigger woman, but it quickly turned into a sort of leering, creepy situation that I just didn't like. Honestly, I would have DNF'd this book if the ridiculousness hadn't kept me turning the pages. I was really hoping for more. Maybe a solid plot would appear?

Speaking of the plot, there was one! Huzzah! Now, don't get me wrong, the plot was pretty decent, but the build-up and pacing to actually get to the interesting parts of the story took forever to appear. The pacing -- it wasn't great. The main twists happened toward the end of the novel and the majority of the interesting action didn't occur until the last third of the novel. It was just okay for me. It wasn't all that impressive. 

Overall, this book was long-winded, frivolous, and two-dimensional. I'm all for a long-winded and frivolous read, but this book was not the right kind of long-winded and the frivolity made it more annoying than entertaining. I really hoped for a couple that I could root for and an interesting Scottish setting that I could get lost in. However, this was just so blah for me. I don't recommend it, but I know many people enjoyed this. 

Happy reading and stay safe!

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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{DNF Review} Simmer Down by Sarah Smith

 Page count:  320

Published on: October 13, 2020

Published by: Berkley

Genres: Adult contemporary romance

Rating: DNF

Goodreads synopsis:

In this finger-licking good rom-com, two is the perfect number of cooks in the kitchen.

Nikki DiMarco knew life wouldn’t be all sunshine and coconuts when she quit her dream job to help her mom serve up mouthwatering Filipino dishes to hungry beach goers, but she didn’t expect the Maui food truck scene to be so eat-or-be-eaten—or the competition to be so smoking hot.

But Tiva’s Filipina Kusina has faced bigger road bumps than the arrival of Callum James. Nikki doesn’t care how delectable the British food truck owner is—he rudely set up shop next to her coveted beach parking spot. He’s stealing her customers and fanning the flames of a public feud that makes her see sparks.

The solution? Let the upcoming Maui Food Festival decide their fate. Winner keeps the spot. Loser pounds sand. But the longer their rivalry simmers, the more Nikki starts to see a different side of Callum…a sweet, protective side. Is she brave enough to call a truce? Or will trusting Callum with her heart means jumping from the frying pan into the fire?

~~~~

Hey, guys!

A couple of months ago I was approved to read Sarah Smith's 2020 novel, Simmer Down; however, this reading experience didn't go as expected. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as I anticipated. In fact, I DNF'd it. 

If you've been following me on Instagram and Goodreads, you've probably seen the massive amount of romance novels -- a romance binge if you will. However, Simmer Down just wasn't what I was looking for. I've heard so many wonderful things about the author's work, but I was really let down by this novel. When going into this novel, I was really excited to read about food trucks, Hawaii, Filipino foods, and the promise of a heavy familial influence was really promising. However, when hitting the half-way mark of this story, I began to lose interest. By the 60% mark, I was completely bored and any of my interest in the story had disappeared.

This was just not for me. 

By 60%, I had begun to feel like the romance was forced and the angst and predictable conflict that naturally develops in romances just felt boring and uninspired. Their relationship, unfortunately, didn't really develop as I had hoped. They got together far too quickly, it wasn't even shown on-page, and it just was really frustrating. The moments that you would want from a romance -- the scenes where they begin to actually fall for each other -- were glazed over and their happiness in their relationship was established far too quickly. The angst that could come from the slightly forbidden aspect of their relationship was just nonexistent. The scene that allowed the characters to come into continuous contact was just really unrealistic and the heroine's behavior drastically changed in order to let that scene pan out.

Overall, I didn't like this story. I DNF'd at 60% and I don't plan on picking it back up. I know that this romance will definitely be something that other readers will enjoy, but it wasn't the kind of romance that I enjoy.

Happy reading!
Olivia
~Liv the Book Nerd~
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{Review} Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (The Hunger Games #0.5) by Suzanne Collins

Page count:  439

Published on: May 9, 2020

Published by: Scholastic Press

Genres: YA dystopia, science fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capital, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined -- every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute... and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

~ ~ ~

Hey, guys!

When Ballad was first announced, I was really excited to dive back into the world of the Hunger Games, but really, I was just ecstatic to read more from Suzanne Collins. Her books and style are just so well done and give me so much nostalgia for a simpler time. When I first read the Hunger Games series, I was in middle school and the class that I was in was so much fun. I've never had a classroom dynamic like that since. Additionally, Collins' Underland Chronicles are just freaking fantastic. I definitely want to do a reread soon because they are flawless. Read them.

Surprisingly, Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was genuinely a good read and didn't disappoint. I'm not saying that because it was a nostalgic experience, I'm really impressed with how this book was written. 

There are a lot of readers who were just not happy with how this book was laid out and I can see how their reading experience would lead them to their conclusions. However, I fully believe that everyone reads differently. When I started this book I was purely looking to have my questions answered when it comes to how Snow became so freaking evil, how the Capitol became what it was, and how the war went down initially.  

Snow is obviously malevolent and the bad guy in the original trilogy. There was no way that Collins could escape the actual terror that Snow inflicted upon so many people. But -- hear me out. Reading how his villain origin story developed was deliciously fascinating. When I read this book, I found myself really connecting with Snow. His thought processes were flawed, but his grappling feelings about good, evil, morality, justice, etc. were so fascinating. He seems to be a fairly morally gray character at first, but he really dives deep into his flawed, greedy perspective as the novel develops. It's just so interesting to me! To me, Ballad is fascinating because it's a character study, an examination of how a great nation can fall into evil and greed, and how hardship can cause a nation to be incredibly divided and brainwashed into separatist ideals. 

This book wasn't perfect. There were moments where I felt like things were drawn out too far and the pacing would lag. The romance? -- Shouldn't have happened. However, I enjoyed the dynamic between the two, but I really wish that the book had been broken up between Lucy Gray and Snow's perspective in a sort of dual perspective execution. I feel like it would have really added a sense of complexity to the whole situation. While Lucy Gray was incredibly mysterious and smart, I really wanted a peek into her mind. I have so many questions about her intentions and character development. I would have loved to get a glimpse of her experience in the arena. The parts about the development of the Games and the behind the scenes parts of the Games were interesting, but it grew kind of tiresome and bleh because we weren't in the thick of the action.     

Though the last 40% of the book was a bit slow and the stakes were supposed to be high, but you knew they were pretty low considering you knew Snow would eventually become what he is. But, I still enjoyed so many of the smaller elements. There were so many lovely references to the original trilogy and even more hints toward how Katniss's world became so bleak. I really enjoyed the stepping stones that Collins laid out that led you to discover how so many practices, laws, etc. came to be -- especially in the Capitol and District 12. 

Overall, I really liked this book. It made me incredibly emotional and the analysis that I did while reading this book made me really nostalgic for the original trilogy, really overwhelmed and sad for the world we are in today (because there were so many elements that were far too relevant, and it just made me have even more questions. I would have loved to have a sort of anthology with the history of Panem, the history of the games, and the influence that each of the Games had on Panem's overall culture and way of life. I love Suzanne Collins and I cannot wait to read more from her. 

I definitely encourage you to check this out if you're interested. It's a pretty polarizing read, but I think a lot of HG lovers will find things to take from it.

If you're interested to read my thoughts on the Hunger Games trilogy (2015-reread), I have a full series review up on my blog. If you're interested in reading my thoughts or following a reading vlog where I discuss the books with what I've learned from my last 4 years of college, let me know! I'd love to reread, annotate, and analyze these books. 

Happy reading,

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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{Review} Dark Lover (The Black Dagger Brotherhood #1) by J.R. Ward

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Page Count: 393

Published: September 6, 2005

Published by: Penguin Group

Avg. Rating: 4.2 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

The only purebred vampire left on the planet and the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who killed his parents centuries ago. But when his most trusted fighter is killed—orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate—Wrath must put down his dagger and usher the beautiful female into another world.

Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn’t there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of the Brotherhood and blood frighten her. Yet his touch ignites a dawning new hunger—one that threatens to consume them both… 

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Hey, guys!

This was just not my cup of tea, but I plan on continuing the series until I absolutely loath it. There was something about the characters and the world that was slowly being built that I just want to see what the hype is about.  Considering that this was written in the early 2000s, I think that the story has a lot of promise. I'm surprised that it was so mediocre (especially when the series is so popular and beloved by romance lovers). The number of name-dropped products and outdated technology mentioned was just so bizarre to me. 

Like many other romance novels (especially paranormal romance novels), I felt like this book abandoned or sacrificed the plot and the world-building for the sake of the development of the romance and the addition of smut. The lack of world-building and exploration and description just took away from the romance in my opinion. Additionally, I really didn't like any of the sections that didn't follow the vampires or the main character. The parts that followed the villain were just so boring to me because it felt like there wasn't much at all at stake. 

Overall, it just lacked the depth I would expect from an introduction to a 10+ book series.  I also would have been so more enthralled with the story and the romance if it hadn't relied on the worst tropes: insta-love/attraction, overprotective alpha holes, and badly fleshed out sacrifice. Granted, those tropes can be done really well (and I expected them to be done well because of the hype surrounding the series), but this was just so mediocre and dumb. I hope that the story and world become clearer to me as the series continues on. So many people love the series and were so excited for me to start it, but I'm really wary to even continue reading the series. 

Have you read these books? What do you think of them? Should I continue on with the story?

Happy reading and stay safe!

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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{Review} A Heart of Blood & Ashes (A Gathering of Dragons #1) by Milla Vane

Page Count: 560

Published On: February 4, 2020

Published By: Berkley Romance

Genre(s): Adult romantic fantasy

Source: mass-market paperback personally purchased/listened to for FREE on Hoopla

Where To Find It: Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 3.5 stars

 

Goodreads synopsis:

A generation past, the western realms were embroiled in endless war. Then the Destroyer came. From the blood and ashes, he left behind, a tenuous alliance rose between the barbarian riders of Parsathe and the walled kingdoms of the south. That alliance is all that stands against the return of an ancient evil--until the barbarian king and queen are slain in an act of bloody betrayal.

Though forbidden by the alliance council to kill the corrupt king responsible for his parents' murders, Maddek vows to avenge them, even if it costs him the Parsathean crown. But when he learns it was the king's daughter who lured his parents to their deaths, the barbarian warrior is determined to make her pay.

Yet the woman Maddek captures is not what he expected. Though the last in a line of legendary warrior-queens, Yvenne is small and weak, and the sharpest weapons she wields are her mind and her tongue. Even more surprising is the marriage she proposes to unite them in their goals and to claim their thrones--because her desire for vengeance against her father burns even hotter than his own... 

 

~ ~ ~

 Hey, guys!

I'm really not sure how to review this book... I enjoyed many aspects of it, but there was a lot that I couldn't mesh with. There was so much to unpack on every page and it definitely wasn't the easy read I was looking to start 2020 Tome Topple with... Granted, that isn't a bad thing at all, but I've been reading so many historical romances lately, that this was almost a culture shock (even though I absolutely adore fantasy).

I really wish that GR would implement the 1/2 and 1/4 stars. This book is probably going to get 3.5 stars because there was a lot that I liked, but not enough to give it 4 stars. I wish I had loved this more because it's definitely my jam.

This was recommended to me by the lovely Taylor from BaeCrate and other wonderful members of the BaeClub/BaeCrate group on Facebook. When the blurb mentioned "dragons" and a marriage of convenience, I needed it. This was also my first dip into the romantic fantasy genre. I've read quite a lot of fantasy/high fantasy novels WITH romance, but this novel had a focus on the romance that was being developed throughout. Before, I really didn't think I liked romance-heavy stories, but now I'm converted, and I can't wait to read more. This was a really enjoyable novel, but it had some flaws that I just didn't jive with.

For one thing, I didn't feel like the characters were written as well as they could be. When I was reading or listening, it just felt like they were missing an extra element that would have allowed me to be connected to them or care about what they really did. I wasn't INVESTED. When really lovely characters that I enjoyed got hurt or died, I didn't feel anything at all...which breaks my heart! I wanted to care! Maybe it was because of the different writing style they used, but I couldn't connect with the main couple at all. Whenever I would be on the edge of my seat, the next scene would just lose me. I was bored quite a lot in this book because it would go off on a tangent/info-dump that I didn't want to know about then. I really just wanted a lot more of the characters.

This was a deliciously slow-building romance. I was dying for Yvenne and Maddek to interact and just TALK and hash out their feelings, but they were stubborn as heck -- especially Maddek. Maddek was so hot, but such a stubborn meathead. GRANTED, for the entire book he is grieving for the loss of his parents and struggling to move past the anger and hurt that he's faced because of the lies that are spread about their demise, but holy cow. He can go from being such a sweetheart to a royal dick within a page. I loved it. Yvenne was so stubborn and fit him so well. I loved how she stood up for herself consistently and didn't let the alphaholes step all over her when they thought they knew what was best. She was so wise beyond her years and didn't allow the terrible terrible things that happened to her define how she served her people. She was such a well-developed character. She had her flaws and shortcomings and she wasn't physically able to do all that was expected of her (cue the abuse), but she worked past it to do all that she possibly COULD do. [ Additionally, I loved that Maddek didn't stop her from attempting to push her limits, but when she did push them too far, he would counsel her and help her heal from whatever she did. He didn't know it until it was screamed at him, but holy crap he's such a softy for Yvenne. (hide spoiler)]

ALSO! The side characters were so lovely. I wanted so much more from them. I wish they had been described more -- PHYSICALLY! I have no idea what they look like at all other than vague and general descriptors -- gender, beards, general conversational vibes. I also couldn't keep track of all the names a lot of the time. That's probably on me, but I wish there had been a list of characters or some sort of character art for me to refer to. Someone, please send me all of the fanart. If there isn't fanart, can someone artistically inclined make some? Pretty please?

It's so obvious to me that this author has so much talent and I loved the complexities of her world and the complexities of her characters. There is so much skill that was put into their setting, world-building, and the political aspects that came with such a complex world. However, it was hard to stay immersed if I couldn't connect with the characters. There were so many great lines and conversations, but I felt like the characters were overshadowed by the world and the info-dumping that tended to occur throughout.

I'm excited to read the second book in the series. I really liked how the story developed and progressed. I just wish that there had been more physical descriptions of the book and more character interaction.

The issues that I had with this story, I think, are because of my own preferences. I prefer to read character-based stories. Take it how you will. I'm not trying to bash the book. I really did like it.

Happy reading!

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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