Book Review: The Princess Academy The Forgotten Sisters

I stumbled upon this book a few weeks ago.  I didn't realize that there was a third installment to the series.  I quickly bought it and read it in about 24 hours.  I had just finished a heavier book, so having something nice and light to read was refreshing.

This book follows Miri as she goes to become a tutor for some unruly swamp girls.  It seems an insurmountable task, but she knows that she must succeed because when she does they will own Mount Eskel.  There are lots of twists and turns, and funny moments throughout the book.  It was truly a delight to read.  I am sad that this is the end of the Princess Academy books.

Book Review: The Invasion of the Tearling

The writing in this book is phenomenal. There were a few times where I had to grab a dictionary to look up a word that I didn't know.  It's been a while since something like that has happened to this avid reader!  I loved the challenge.

This is the second book in the Tearling series by Erika Johansen.  The first book was part of my book club book club, but I had to continue the story.  However, I failed to realize that this is part of a trilogy (or more?).  I was 25 pages from the end when suddenly I realized that there was no way this book could end in the span of those pages.  So I looked up, and sure enough book #3 is coming out in June 2016!  Ugh!  I wish I had known.  Needless to say....I have already pre-ordered the next book!  I wish it were out now!  The suspense is going to kill me!  I finished this yesterday and am still reeling at the possibilities of what  could happen.  It's going to be a long almost year!

This book will capture your attention.  More-so than the first book.  There is an element introduced to the story that makes it so much more complex than Queen of the Tearling was.  I don't want to leave spoilers, but just be assured that it is worth your read!

What I don't like about the book is the element of self-harm.  I didn't feel is was essential to the plot to have not one, but TWO self-harming queens in the book.  This is such a touchy subject that I don't understand why the author threw it in there.  Unless she herself struggles with self-harm and views it as a positive thing.  As someone who has self-harmed in the past, I can see how it can be a major trigger for someone else who struggles with it.  This made me very disappointed in the author.

Other than that.....it's a good book!

Book Review: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

I participate in an online book club through a combination of Tumblr and Goodreads.  This month the two books that were chosen were picked because September is banned book month.  The first book was The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.  It was banned due to sexuality in the book.

This is not a book that I would have picked to read, but I ended up really loving it.  In short, the current society is overrun, and women lose their rights.  They become baby factories of sort.  It was eerie to read because the way it occurs is plausible in some aspects.  It sort of reminded me of how Hitler corrupted Germany the way he did for WWII.

Margaret Atwood has a strong grasp on writing.  This book is very eloquent and a joy to ready.  I will say that if you like to read the last sentence of the book before the rest of the book DO NOT do that for this book.  The last sentence of the book left me longing for more.  I finished it days ago, and yet I still can't get it out of my mind.