Desirae Clark's Blog, page 3
February 4, 2020
Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
RATING: 3 STARS
Goodreads summary:
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .
A convict with a thirst for revenge
A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager
A runaway with a privileged past
A spy known as the Wraith
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes
Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.
Review:
This book took soooo long to start and it was honestly a bit boring at times. Certain scenes could be shortened and wouldn’t take away anything from the story. I don’t usually mind long books, but they have to be filled with action or at least something.
My biggest problem with these books is that the summary promises so much but the overall execution just doesn’t deliver.
The best thing about this book are the characters and their stories. The flashbacks are honestly far more enjoyable than the present. I’d enjoy this series far more if we got the first book or two only about these characters and their past and then the third book is about the heist. I think that way, we get properly attached and like them far more.
Despite its cliffhanger ending, I’m not going to continue reading the series because I’d rather read books I enjoy. These are too long and just not worth it. It was a bit too bland for my taste.
This was THE MOST recommended book by my followers and I wanted to give it a chance. I wasn’t that big of a fan of the Shadow and Bone but that’s on me. I was a twisted person who shipped the wrong ship. I wanted to give Six of Crows a real chance and read it with an open mind.
But instead, I came to the conclusion that Leigh Bardugo’s books are not for me. Or actually, the Grishaverse. I’m definitely open to reading her books in the future if they don’t take place in this universe. Because Leigh Bardugo can write. She really can. It’s just that I’m not the right reader for these books. But I can absolutely see the appeal they have.
DISCLAIMER:
please take my opinion with a grain of salt. I can definitely see why people love it so much and why it’s so appealing. But it’s just not my cup of tea and that’s okay. It doesn’t make the book any less worthy of publishing. The writing is good and Leigh Bardugo is a great storyteller. I will give her other books a chance because I can see myself liking them. But the Grishaverse is just not for me. It may be for you though 
February 2, 2020
January Wrap Up
rating: 4/5 stars
finished: January 6
review
#2: Forever Summer by Nicole Bea
rating: 5/5 stars
finished: January 9
review
#3: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
rating: 5/5 stars
finished: January 10
review
#4: Sil’s Story (The Lone City #0.1) by Amy Ewing
rating: 3/5 stars
finished: January 18
#5: The Wishing Well (The Lone City #0.2) by Amy Ewing
rating: 5/5 stars
finished: January 18
#6: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
rating: 5/5 stars
finished: January 23
#7: Cupid’s Match by Lauren Palphreyman
rating: 5/5 stars
finished: January 25
#8: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
rating: 3/5 stars
finished: January 29
Reviews for all these coming soon on my blog!
January 31, 2020
Review: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
RATING: 5 STARS
Summary:
Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank’s remarkable diary has become a world classic—a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit.
In 1942, with the Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, the Franks and another family lived cloistered in the “Secret Annexe” of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and surprisingly humorous, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short.
Review:
This is the real diary of Anne Frank. For those who don’t know who Anne Frank is, she’s a teenage Jewish girl that lived during the 2nd world war.
The first entry is written on Anne’s 13th birthday (12 June 1942) after she was given the diary as a gift. Throughout the entries, the diary documents Anne’s life during the 2nd world war. At first, Anne introduces us to her life and her friends. We get a picture of her normal life and the changes that the Germans implemented, such as Jews not being allowed to ride bicycles.
Unfortunately, her family is forced to go into hiding. They escape to Amsterdam where 8 people in total had to share their secret living space. Life in hiding isn’t ideal since they had to be quiet, were unable to leave the house and occupy their time like everybody else. Fortunately, they had people who helped them during that time but life was still very hard.
I was very surprised to learn just how opinionated Anne Frank was. She was stubborn, vocal and while flawed, her words held meaning. Despite not knowing her in real life or being able to relate to her hardships, her writing made me empathize with her. I grew very fond of her and her character.
I loved that she was her own person and while others often criticized her, she didn’t become submissive but rather tried to figure out a way to argument her opinions in a clearer manner. She always tried to better herself rather than let herself be afraid. She even made plans for the future after the war was over.
The diary ends on August 1st 1944. Her family was discovered 3 days later, after which men and women were separated. Anne later passed away during an outbreak of Typhus epidemic. Her sister and mother also died. The only person to survive was Anne’s father.
I don’t regret reading her diary at all. It is very clear that this diary eased some of her pain and was her shoulder to cry on during the hard times.
The book itself has many messages. One thing I’ve learned is that powerful women shouldn’t be silenced. Anne’s story and the story should be enough for us to raise our voice in times of injustice and not blindly follow people in power. It should be a reminder that we must not let history repeat itself. People, no matter their religion, race, sexuality and anything that makes them stand out, have the right to their freedom.
My January BookTube Videos
#2: 2020 Get Ready With Me | Reading, Writing, Doubts
#3: Top 5 Books I Read In 2019
#4 Top 5 Authors of 2019
#5 January Wrap Up |Part 1
Subscribe here: yabookprincess
January 25, 2020
Every Book I Have NOT Read On My Shelf
Because it would take far too long to make a list of all the books in my room (there’s a separate room filled with books that I didn’t count), I decided that I’d just film a video and cross-post it here.
If you’re a BookTuber or Bookstagrammer, feel free to follow me there and subscribe (my username is yabookprincess but you can always click on the links) and let me know you came from here
January 24, 2020
Review: Forever Summer by Nicole Bea
RATING: 5 STARS
Release date: February 24th 2020 (available for pre-order at the time of writing this review)
Summary:
Morrigan Westhaver isn’t convinced anything could make her forget her abusive ex-boyfriend—not even if she travels all the way from her home in Michigan to her father’s ranch in Alabama. Saved text messages and voicemails haunt her life with poisonous words and crippling self-doubt, but she can’t seem to let them go. On the ranch, much to her surprise, she immediately takes to a rescued horse, Stormy, as well as Levy, an attractive ranch hand. Will their understanding and gentle support help her heal, or is the damage too deep?
Goodreads review:
I received a copy from the author. This is my review:
Forever Summer is a lighthearted read that filled my heart with hope for the future and love for its characters. If you’re familiar with Nicholas Sparks or Morgan Matson, this book might be just up your alley.
I laughed, cried and felt joy and cared for the characters as if they were my friends. What I loved about Morrigan was that she didn’t let her dark past win. Instead, in her own way, she fought against her clouded judgment, she let herself be vulnerable and most importantly, she let it shape her into a stronger, wiser version of herself.
Nicole Bea’s writing is beautiful and to the point. She mastered the pacing of this story, making it fast paced but thrilling with every page you read. The way she set the scenes and described the environment made me think at times that I was right there with the characters.
Forever Summer is a gripping read from its first sentence to the last. It’s been a while since I stumbled upon such a promising story with a beginning as strong as this one. This is something I’ve found myself saying multiple times. I love summer books that dive into heavier topics and do it with taste. Nicole Bea really did just that, but delivered so much more.
I loved how at the end, it filled me with hope and happiness, as if I was the one at the ranch, experiencing the therapeutic effects of horses.
I just love this book so much and it’s a well-deserved 5-star read. Without a doubt. Big thumbs up from me.
January 18, 2020
Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
From now on, almost every review I’m posting willl be a short, copy-paste review from my Goodreads. I might add a few notes and thoughts so that you can understand my thoughts a little bit better.
Book #3 in the Harry Potter series.
Goodreads summary:
Harry Potter’s third year at Hogwarts is full of new dangers. A convicted murderer, Sirius Black, has broken out of Azkaban prison, and it seems he’s after Harry. Now Hogwarts is being patrolled by the dementors, the Azkaban guards who are hunting Sirius. But Harry can’t imagine that Sirius or, for that matter, the evil Lord Voldemort could be more frightening than the dementors themselves, who have the terrible power to fill anyone they come across with aching loneliness and despair. Meanwhile, life continues as usual at Hogwarts. A top-of-the-line broom takes Harry’s success at Quidditch, the sport of the Wizarding world, to new heights. A cute fourth-year student catches his eye. And he becomes close with the new Defense of the Dark Arts teacher, who was a childhood friend of his father. Yet despite the relative safety of life at Hogwarts and the best efforts of the dementors, the threat of Sirius Black grows ever closer. But if Harry has learned anything from his education in wizardry, it is that things are often not what they seem. Tragic revelations, heartwarming surprises, and high-stakes magical adventures await the boy wizard in this funny and poignant third installment of the beloved series.
Goodreads review:
This is the first Harry Potter book that really made me go “wow, I can’t stop reading this.” Maybe it’s thanks to the fact that the movie didn’t entirely follow the book and certain details have been eluded but I thought it was the best book by far. I love that we’re getting out of that ‘book for children’ phase. By that I mean that we’re getting a lot more depth to the characters, there’s a lot more world building, background stories and the entire story isn’t shallow anymore. We’re getting into the real stuff where the threat of war and Voldemort on the rise is imminent. I’m getting excited to read it and really dive into the world.
I feel like we’re really getting to see Harry grow up and become more confident in himself and his abilities. It may also be that he has an incredible support system. However, he did receive a lot of special treatment and oftentimes he didn’t even know why. There were too many secrets in this book. Which can lead to it being a lot more enjoyable but when it comes to a friendship, secrets aren’t always good.
I have to note that Hermione’s character bugged me in this book. She was always a clear-cut, good character. And in this book, I got annoyed with her so many times. There were certain moments where I felt disappointed in her because she was such a teacher’s pet. She was a loyal friend and had good intentions. However, she had no right to go behind Harry’s back, even if it was for his safety.
And then we have Ron. Hermione’s opposite. He’s rash and reckless and doesn’t think things through. He doesn’t see the danger and would encourage Harry to not consider it either.
So my feelings are mixed. I enjoyed the overall story but it’s not enough for me to rate it 5 stars.
Rating: 4 STARS
January 11, 2020
FINISHED READING: 2020 EDITION
This list will be updated frequently with every book that I’ve read. If you’re interested in my thoughts, you can check out my Goodreads, follow me on Instagram or subscribe to my YouTube channel.
My goal for this year is to read 40 books, 20 of which I have already decided on and you can check them out here (blog post, video).
Without further ado, let’s get straight into it.
~ JANUARY ~
#1: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3) by J. K. Rowling
rating: 4/5 stars
finished: January 6
#2: Forever Summer by Nicole Bea
rating: 5/5 stars
finished: January 9
#3: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
rating: 5/5 stars
finished: January 10
December 31, 2019
What's Going On With My Books? *Wattpad Update*
This is a post specifically dedicated to my Wattpad readers who may have been wondering what’s going on with my books and their status on Wattpad. Here is everything you need to know. I’ll try to keep this list updated as much as I can so that you can always refer to it if you get confused.
GOOD GIRL DUOLOGY
MY BAD BOY NEIGHBOR
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STATUS: Completed, sample on Wattpad, unavailable for purchase anywhere
My Bad Boy Neighbor was previously published but my publisher and I are parting ways which is why there are no available copies for purchase anywhere. We have some complications unfortunately which is why it’s taking so long but hopefully, I’ll get everything back in 2020 and will post the FULL VERSION back on Wattpad.
MY BAD GIRL ROOMMATE
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STATUS: Completed, online
My Bad Girl Roommate is currently available on Wattpad but since you can’t read the first book, there’s no point in reading the 2nd one… Right? Anyway, I’ll be taking this book down when I start my updating process for My Bad Boy Neighbor because there’s a few plot holes that I missed and the book in itself just feels empty and… not what I want yet.
Future plans: editing and re-writing
VALENTINE SISTER’S TRILOGY
PLAYER’S GAME
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STATUS: Completed, sample on Wattpad, unavailable for purchase
Same thing as with My Bad Boy Neighbor. Previously published, am waiting for the contract termination to be over so that I can upload it back to Wattpad.
SISTER’S GAME
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STATUS: Completed, online
You don’t have to read Player’s Game before reading this book.
Future plans: editing and re-writing
VALENTINE SISTERS #3
STATUS: Coming Soon
Hopefully in 2020
SPRING BREAK DUOLOGY
SPRING BREAK
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STATUS: Undergoing editing, weekly updates
I am re-writing this book and have taken some of it down temporarily. There are chapters available for you to read and you will get more with weekly updates.
SPRING BREAK #2
STATUS: Coming Soon
Hopefully in 2020
CLASS OF BERMUDA TRILOGY
ENTANGLED
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STATUS: Completed – free 11 chapters, the rest are paid
Entangled is the first book in the Class of Bermuda trilogy and it’s a perfect introduction to the characters that come later but you don’t necessarily have to read it in order to read Empowered.
EMPOWERED
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STATUS: Online, In-Progress
Currently writing and hoping to finish in 2020.
CLASS OF BERMUDA #3
STATUS: Coming Soon
STANDALONES
FALLIN’ LOVE
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STATUS: Completed, weekly uploads on Wattpad
I am 2 chapters away from this book being completely up on Wattpad but I already finished it months ago.
Future plans: editing, maybe self-publishing
ONE MORE TIME
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STATUS: Work in progress
PROJECT HALLOWEEN
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STATUS: Completed/Work In Progress
This is a collection of short stories that I started in 2019. I’ll be writing one short story every year for Halloween. So technically it’s completed but also a work in progress as long as I feel like it.
December 1, 2019
2020 READING LIST
Here’s a list of books I want to read in 2020. The year 2019 was mainly focused on reading books I already had on my bookshelf while 2020 will focus more on Wattpad books on my bookshelf as well some other ones.
CHASING RED by Isabelle Ronin
THE QB BAD BOY AND ME by Tay Marley
CUPIDS MATCH by Lauren Palphreyman
THE HEARTBREAKERS by Ali Novak
PAPER HEARTS by Ali Novak
FOLLOW ME BACK by A. V. Geiger
WHAT THE SPELL by Brittany Geragotelis
LIFE’S A WITCH by Brittany Geragotelis
ARROWHEART by Rebecca Sky
CLIQUE BAIT by Ann Valett
I ran several polls on my Instagram (yabookprincess) where I let my followers decide the order of books I should read. I posted several rounds, pitting books against each other until I got a specific order in which I should read them based on the number of votes each book received.
The list is 30 books long but I’m only including top 10 because I still want to have the freedom to read whatever else I want during the year.
SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo
People are really intent on me reading this book an I’m not sure just how much I trust my followers haha the last time they told me to read something (The Raven Boys), I ended up not enjoying it. Maybe it was my fault for having high expectations. It just wasn’t my cup of tea but I can understand why others might enjoy it.
Speaking of books I didn’t 100% like, Shadow and Bone was one of them. Simply because I’m really twisted and shipped the main character with the Darkling. My own fault. That’s why I’m a bit hesitant to read Six of Crows because people got my expectations up.
THE SCORCH TRIALS by James Dashner
About time for me to read this book. I read The Maze Runner YEARS ago and I genuinely do want to read The Scorch Trials but other books just keep getting prioritized.
BLOODLINES by Richelle Mead
I only just finished the last book of Vampire Academy this year (reading the rest way before that) and am looking forward to finally see Adrian happy.
MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs
Watched the movie, can’t wait to read the books.
ASH PRINCESS by Laura Sebastian
AFTER by Anna Todd
Technically, this is a Wattpad book. I bought my own copy but I ended up giving it to a friend and never got around to buying a second copy.
ILLUMINAE by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
STARCROSSED by Josephine Angelini
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE by Laini Taylor
AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir
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This list names 20 books in total but my entire goal will probably be to read 45 books just as I did in 2019.
