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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{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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