Book Review: Spelled

For my birthday I was given $25 to spend from my mother-in-law.  Normally I would spend it at the wool gathering, but I missed it this year.  Instead I made a trip to Barnes and Noble.  My son picked this book off the table for me to read.  I loved to cover!  I mean....what girl wouldn't love those shoes?  However, I regret buying this book.

I tried really really hard to like it.  I made it 60 pages in before calling it quits.  It was supposed to be a popular YA novel, but it seemed extremely juvenile.  The first chapter was enjoyable.  There was a lot of play on words.  That is how the whole book seemed to be designed.  It had potential, but I have trouble tolerating the same lame writing over and over.  It just seemed to be a lot of fluff.

It's probably perfect for a 15 year old, but not an adult that likes reading YA novels.  I will be giving this to my niece.

One thing that you should be aware of is that there is a lot of "cursing" in it.  The author made the character swear A LOT, but changed them to fairy tale swears.  I know some parents have issues with variations of swearing, so I figured it was of note to mention.  

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!

Partial Review: The Invasion of the Tearling

I am three quarters of the way through with this book.  I started reading it after we read Queen of the Tearling for book club.  Well, I am a bit frustrated with the direction the author has taken this book.  The queen is now self-harming and it’s becoming a main part of the story.  As someone who has had an issue with self-harming (due to a medication I was on, and has since stopped) I can see this being a big issue for others.  If someone has an ongoing temptation to self-harm this book could be a trigger for them.  I wish the author didn’t make this part of the plot.  

Ok.  Off my soapbox.....