M.L. Sparrow's Blog, page 9

We Are Okay

We Are Okay, by Nina LaCour Blurb:You go through life thinking there’s so much you need… Until you leave with only your phone, your wallet, and a picture of your mother. Marin hasn’t spoken to anyone from her old life since the day she left everything behind. No one knows the truth about those final weeks. Not even her best friend, Mabel. But even thousands of miles away from the California coast, at college in New York, Marin still feels the pull of the life and tragedy she’s tried to outrun. Now, months later, alone in an emptied dorm for winter break, Marin waits. Mabel is coming to visit, and Marin will be forced to face everything that’s been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness that has made a home in her heart.My ReviewI'll be honest, I picked this book up because I absolutely loved the cover; it's unique and amazingly beautiful! From the mixed reviews I've heard, I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it though... It's definitely not the sort of thing I'd usually read, or will make a habit of reading from now on, but it was still a very good read and the writing was beautiful yet simple. There was so much emotion in this book and I really felt that I understood Marin and sympathised with her and felt her loneliness.I have to say, I did not see the twist with her Grandpa coming and it really wasn't until about half way through, when things began to unravel and secrets were revealed that I really, really started to enjoy this book. The ending was also very touching and it ended exactly the way I'd hoped. :-) My favourite quotes from 'We Are Okay':' "I came all the way her so that when I talked, you'd be forced to talk back" ''I must have shut grief out. Found it in books. Cried over fiction instead of the truth.''The sharp panic of knowing I was alone.'

Crooked Kingdom

Crooked Kingdom, (Six of Crows, Book 2), by Leigh BardugoBlurb:When you can't beat the odds, change the game. Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.My ReviewThis book... wow. Just wow! I enjoyed Six of Crows (book one), but I absolutely loved Crooked Kingdom. If I could give it more than five stars, I would! This book is full of action, banter and amazing characters. I learned in Six of Crows not to take anything at face value or to try and guess what the outcome would be and it served me well in this book, too. It keeps you guessing right to the very end and you're never totally sure what's planned and what's not, or what's about to happen next.I loved that this book had so many twists and turns, I loved the world-building and the writing style, I loved how action packed it was, but what I enjoyed most were the awesome characters and the way they interacted. Jesper and Wylan were so cute together and I have to say my only disappointment in this book is that there wasn't more romance on their part. Also, the relationship between Jesper and his dad was lovely and I liked the scenes with them all in the hotel with Colm, because it made you remember that these characters, despite the fact they're bad-arses, are still just kids. In this book, it's also possible to see more of a friendship between Kaz and Jesper, though it's strained and I liked seeing evidence that Kaz might actually care for his team. Matthias and Nina were also a sweet couple and I thought they went together perfectly, despite their glaring differences, therefore, the scene at the end almost made me cry... Then there were Kaz and Inej, whose relationship was strange and awkward to say the least, but understandable considering each of their separate issues. Also, I loved that none of the couples emotional problems were solves simply because they 'got together'. At the end Kaz is still Kaz and I liked that the author didn't try to change him. Yes, Kaz softens slightly, but he is still the scheming, immoral character I came to love. And that's another thing I love - Kaz is awful, in any other book he'd be the villain, yet Leigh Bardugo makes us love him and sympathise with him, all the while never trying to hide the awful things he does and the way he thinks. This is the first book I've read that is so unapologetic about a characters major flaws and doesn't try to change them.All in all, an amazing book which I'm sure I'll read again in the not-too-distant-future. For noe, I'm going to buy the rest of Leigh Burdugo's Grisha novels, however, I really, really hope there is more from this world and these characters, because although the story was wrapped up perfectly at the end of this book, I just can't bear the thought that there won't be more from this loveable gang of criminals! My favourite quotes from 'Crooked Kingdom': 'The really bad monsters never look like monsters.' 'He would do his best, but that might not necessarily mean what was best for her.' ' "I've been nothing but kind to you. I'm not some sort of monster.""No, you're the man that sits idly by, congratulating yourself on your decency, while the monster eats his fill. At least a monster has teeth and a spine." ' 'Would she have told you if she was afraid? Is that something you've ever showed sympathy for?' ' "You're not weak because you can't read. You're weak because you're afraid of people seeing your weakness. You're letting shame decide who you are. ..." ' ' "I don't hold a grudge. I cradle it. I coddle it. I feed it fine cuts of meat and send it to the best schools. I nurture my grudges, Rollins." ' ' "You're better than waffles, Matthias Helvar."... "Let's not say things we don't mean, my love." ' 'When the world owed you nothing, you demanded something of it anyway.' 'She had chosen to live freely as a killer rather than die quietly as a slave, and she could not regret that.' ' "Death is a gift you haven't earned yet." '

Ocean Light

Ocean Light, (Psy/Changeling Trinity Book #2), by Nalini Singh Blurb:Security specialist Bowen Knight has come back from the dead. But there's a ticking time bomb in his head: a chip implanted to block telepathic interference that could fail at any moment--taking his brain along with it. With no time to waste, he should be back on land helping the Human Alliance. Instead, he's at the bottom of the ocean, consumed with an enigmatic changeling... Kaia Luna may have traded in science for being a chef, but she won't hide the facts of Bo's condition from him or herself. She's suffered too much loss in her life to fall prey to the dangerous charm of a human who is a dead man walking. And she carries a devastating secret Bo could never imagine... But when Kaia is taken by those who mean her deadly harm, all bets are off. Bo will do anything to get her back--even if it means striking a devil's bargain and giving up his mind to the enemy... My ReviewAs you all know, I'm a huge fan of Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling books, but I have to say I wasn't as excited for this book as I was for others, mainly since I wasn't that intrigued by Bo. But in the end Bo turned out to be my favourite part of this book!This book is a slow burn and I loved watching the relationship develop between Bo and Kaia - honestly, it's how Nalini Singh writes the relationships between characters and there interactions that makes me love her work so much.There wasn't much action in this book, but when there was it was well written and fast-paced and despite being mainly character driven there was an intriguing plot line which was left open for other books. Personally, I'm hoping Malachai or Edison are next because I'm totally crushing on them and I'm so intrigued by BlackSea, the only thing being things suggest Mal will end up with Maine and Edison will be with Sera, but I don't really see it... However, I totally trust Nalini Singh to change my mind with her amazing writing! I whole heartedly recommend this book and all of Nalini Singh's other books, especially this series. :-) My favourite quotes from 'Ocean Light': 'How a man treated his own people didn't necessarily translate to how he treated outsiders.' ' "If you get angry at a woman who knows how to keep a promise, you're not worth her." ' 'He was imperfect and flawed and he made he wrong choices, but he loved her.'

To Kill A Kingdom

To Kill A Kingdom, by Alexandra Christo Blurb: Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever. The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?My ReviewOkay, so it took me a really long time to get into this book. It just didn't hook me, which is a shame because I loved the premise and I really, really wanted to love it.I'm going to keep this short, but here are the reasons I ended up just feeling 'meh' towards this book. - I felt the description slowed the pace and this is from a reader (and writer) who loves description. - I never felt a romantic connection between Elian and Lira. I thought they worked better as friends. - Things appeared to solve and were explained afterwards. - The action scenes were few and far between, which is fine, except I was expecting a lot more from such an epic quest.- The ending... So, why did I continue reading, I hear you ask? The characters were what made me want to keep reading, more specifically Lira. I liked Elian, but it was Lira who I was really intrigued by and I thought her character development was amazingly well done. The author managed to turn her from a murdered into someone who thought about others and her own people, all the while never loosing her kick-arse nature.Also, as a side note, I loved how dark this story was; it's rare to read something so dark and often grim and harsh in YA stories.All in all, I know loads of people loved this book and that's great, but personally I just didn't mesh with it...My favourite quotes from 'To Kill A Kingdom':'... then I'm nothing. Just a princess inheriting a crown instead of earning it.''For a man who denies being at war, he certainly picks his soldiers well.'' "You can't win a war," I tell her. "Someone else just loses." ''Lira can keep secrets but she can't by any stretch of the imagination, keep peace.' '... I won't stand by and watch someone else lose their kingdom just so that I won't be alone when I lose mine.''... she might actually die and my last words to her might be a lie and what a jackass thing that would be.''We are not naive little heirs to be molded as they wish. We are warriors. We are rulers.''By falling for a monster, I have become one for her.'

Six of Crows

Six of Crows, (Six of Crows Series, Book 1), by Leigh BardugoBlurb: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. Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.My ReviewThis book is really good! It's action packed and it has a cast of brilliant characters - honestly, my favourite part of this book was the way all the characters interacted and worked together. Individially, they were also great characters; well-developed and interesting, with pasts that were well fleshed out and made them into the people they were. I also loved that this book kept me guessing, I never knew what was part of the plan and what wasn't, thanks to Kaz keeping his cards close to his chest. The writing was fast-paced and captivating and I loved the depth of the world that this author has created. And then there was that ending... I absolutely loved that last paragraph in Kaz's chapter, it actually sent shivers down my spine! I didn't see it coming and I can't wait to read the next one! Honestly, I'm even more excited about the next story because I want to see how all the characters come together - Nina and Matthias, Kaz and Inez and especially Jesper and Wylan. That really is my favourite part of this book and however much I talk about all the other great aspects, that's the thing I'm always going to come back to, the characters and the bonds between them.The only thing I will say about this book is that none of the characters seemed as young as they were supposed to be. I know they had tough lives and had to grow up fast, but I still didn't buy that they were all supposed to be under twenty.My favourite quotes from 'Six of Crows':' "I'm a business man," he told her. "No more, no less." "You're a thief, Kaz.""Isn't that what I just said?" ' 'Shame holds more value than coin ever can.' ' "When everyone knows you're a monster, you needn't waste time doing every monstrous thing." ' ' "Men mock the gods until they need them, Kaz." ' 'Many boys will bring you flowers. But some day you'll meet a boy who will learn your favourite flower, you favourite song, your favourite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won't matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart.' ' "Nina is everything you say. It's too much." "Mmm," Inej murmured, taking a sip from her mug. "Maybe you're just not enough." ' 'He needed to tell her... what? That she was lovely and brave and better than anything he deserved. That he was twisted, crooked, wrong, but not so broken that he couldn't pull himself together into some semblance of a man for her.' 'They'd come to the Ice Court scurrying like rats. Live or die, they were going out like an army.' 'We are all someone's monster, Nina.' ' "I will have you without armour, Kaz Brekker. Or I will not have you at all." '

Beneath the Scars

Beneath the Scars (Masters of the Shadowlands Series, Book 13), by Cherise SinclairBlurb:Josie doesn’t need any help raising her son. Pregnant at sixteen, Josie learned the hard way about men and their empty promises. She picked herself up and is raising her eleven-year-old son. By herself. And that’s the way she intends it to stay. Unfortunately, her impressionable boy becomes fascinated by the scruffy, intimidating biker who lives next door. The scars on Holt’s face are only the most visible of his wounds. Out of the hospital after being attacked in his own damn house, Holt is coming to terms with the fact that his scars frighten people. Like his now-ex-girlfriend who ran after one look at him. Like his redheaded neighbor who hauled her boy away as if Holt was a serial killer. Fine. He’ll give the pretty bartender all the space she wants. The Shadowlands will bring them together… When Josie starts bartending in the exclusive, private club, she discovers her neighbor is a member. And a Master--a skilled powerful Dom who can make her fantasies come true. Slowly, the firefighter breaks down the walls around her heart, teaching her how to trust. How to love... But when her son’s choices lead to disaster, can their relationship survive?My Review There was never any doubt that I was going to love this book. Cherish Sinclair is my favourite BDSM writer because she gets the balance between character development, plot and hot sex right every time. Her Shadowlands books are my favourites and whenever she has a new one out I have to pre-order it and read it on the day, though I always wish I hadn't read it so fast afterwards, because I want to go back a read it for the first time all over again! Like I said, I knew I'd love this book, but I didn't realise it would be added to my list of favorurites; in the other books Holt was a good character but until Uzuri's book he didn't have that much to do in the stories and I was never particularly intrigued by him until I started reading Beneath the Scars. Let me tell you, he turned out to be an amazing hero! I think I'm swooning just thinking about it! He's calm and laid back, but beneath that is a Dom you don't want to mess with. Also, his interactions with Carson made my heart melt. The only thing I felt that could have been improved was that Holt clearly had a colourful and busy background, but it didn't seem to affect him much and I also wanted to know more.As for Josie, she's a totally new character and I'll admit I wasn't too keen on her at first; people who jump to conclusions about others bug me, but once she admitted her mistake she quickly grew on me and I not only enjoyed her interactions with Holt, but also with her son, the other Masters and the Shadowkittens. Unrelated, but I just have to ask, does anyone else think the model on this cover looks a little like Cersei from Game of Thrones?I also loved that, although the series has moved on from the people trafficking and gone back to less active, mainly romantic storylines, there was still some action and the plot was always moving along nicely. I read this in a day - only interrupted by having to go to work - and I was never bored.As always after reading a Shadowlands book, I'm now desperate for the next one and sad that it won't be out for a while. I've got my fingers crossed that Olivia get's the next book with the sub she met in this one, however, I'm also intrigued by Ghost and I'm still hoping Saxon will get a story... Please, Cherise Sinclair, don't end this series anytime soon!

Brooding YA Hero

Brooding YA Hero: Becoming a Main Character (Almost) as Awesome as Me, by Carrie Ann DiRisio Blurb:Have you ever wished you could receive a little guidance from your favorite book boyfriend? Ever dreamed of being the Chosen One in a YA novel? Want to know all the secrets of surviving the dreaded plot twist? Or maybe you're just really confused about what "opal-tinted, luminous cerulean orbs" actually are? Well, popular Twitter personality @broodingYAhero is here to help as he tackles the final frontier in his media dominance: writing a book. Join Broody McHottiepants as he attempts to pen Brooding YA Hero: Becoming a Main Character (Almost) as Awesome as Me, a "self-help" guide (with activities--you always need activities) that lovingly pokes fun at the YA tropes that we roll our eyes at, but secretly love. As his nefarious ex, Blondie DeMeani, attempts to thwart him at every turn, Broody overcomes to detail, among other topics, how to choose your genre, how to keep your love interest engaged (while maintaining lead character status), his secret formula for guaranteed love triangle success, and how to make sure you secure that sequel, all while keeping his hair perfectly coiffed and never breaking a sweat.My Review Like a lot of readers, I decided to read this book after seeing the Tweets and thought it would be a really fun comedy book to read and it was... for a few pages, until I realised how repetitive it was and stopped finding it funny. I did read this book all the way through, simply because it's a pretty easy read, however, for me it fell short. As I already said, the humour is funny at first, but it then repetitive and the writing, though I know it is supposed to be part of the humour, kinda bugged me. Then there was the failed attempt to call out how feminist and racial issues, which felt to me as if they'd been added in as an after thought to make the book deeper, but instead they fell flat And finally the ending... I'm not really sure what to say about the ending... To me it felt very abrupt, as if the author had just got bored and patched together an ending. I can see on Goodreads that lots of people like this book, but although I loved the concept, I just didn't like the story itself.

American Panda

American Panda, by Gloria Chao Blurb:At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents' master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies. With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can't bring herself to tell them the truth--that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese. But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels?Okay, this isn't actually a review because I don't review books that I don't finish, but I felt the need to explain why I didn't mesh with this book because the reason is partly my fault... I loved the cover, title and premise of this books, especially because I was excited to learn more about Taiwanese culture. However, I don't tend to read a lot of YA contemporary unless it's aimed at the older end of the spectrum, which I assumed this book would be because it is set at University, but I quickly realised the writing was aimed at a younger audience, which is fine, but not what I was expecting.I'm so glad that lots of people love this book and it's made people feel included and understood and there should be more books like this. Maybe I'll give it another go one day, but this time around I just couldn't concentrate on the story because of the writing style.

That's Not English

That's Not English, by Erin MooreBlurb:A lifelong Anglophile, Erin Moore spent holidays in the UK, worked as an editor with British authors and married into an English-American family. So, when she finally moved to London, the last thing she expected was a crash course in culture shock. And the first thing she learned was to take nothing for granted, even the language these two countries supposedly share. In That’s Not English, the seemingly superficial variations between British and American vocabulary open the door to a deeper exploration of historical and cultural differences. Each chapter begins with a single word and takes the reader on a wide-ranging expedition, drawing on diverse and unexpected sources. In ‘Quite’, Moore examines the tension between British reserve and American enthusiasm. In ‘Pull’, her theme is dating and sex; ‘Cheers’ is about drinking. American readers will find out what the British mean when they say ‘proper’ and why it is better to be bright than clever. British readers will discover that not all Americans are Yankees and why Americans give – and take – so many bloody compliments, and never, ever say ‘shall’. (Well, hardly ever.) That’s Not English is a transatlantic survival guide and a love letter to two countries that owe each other more than they would like to admit. My Review This book was both amusing and interesting and had some very clever insights into not only the way British and American speech is different, but also how we are culturally different. These differences are very well explained and I feel like I have a better grasp in American attitudes, as well as understanding better why, as a British citizen, I say things in a certain way. I've never given it much thought before, but reading this book made me examine my own thoughts, reasonings and personality and I found it really interesting!

A Conjuring of Light

A Conjuring of Light, (Shades of Magic Trilogy, Book 3), by V.E. Schwab Blurb:The precarious equilibrium among the four Londons has reached its breaking point. Once brimming with the red vivacity of magic, darkness casts a shadow over the Maresh Empire, leaving a space for another London to rise. Kell begins to waver under the pressure of competing loyalties. Meanwhile, an ancient enemy returns to claim a crown and a fallen hero is desperate to save a decaying world…My Review I really really wanted to love this book - and the two before it - and I'm not entirely sure why I didn't... I mean, I liked them, I enjoyed reading them, but they didn't grip me and I didn't fall in love with them like I'm wanted to.A conjuring of Light is well written and the world building is brilliant. It's action packed and I loved all the characters - especially Lila (kick-ass), Alucard (funny and charming) and Holland (misunderstood hero). Also, the way the characters interact really makes the story. The bond between Rhy and Kell shines through and I loved the friendship between Alucard and Lila, also, the way the three Antari interacted toward the end of the book was great. There are so many threads between characters, which was what kept me reading during the first half of this book when my attention drifted. However, I think part of the reason I didn't love this story as much as everyone else seems to is because, while I loved all the characters separately and also when they interacted together for the most part, I just didn't feel any chemistry between the characters who were supposed to have a romantic connection - Alucard/Rhy, Lila/Kell. Personally, I felt like Lila and Holland had more of a connection than her and Kell, but then that's probably because I love his character and I felt like he deserved so much more than the ending he got. :-( Seriously, I will actually mourn the loss of this characters and I really, really hope he manages to cheat death once again and gets his own book, because (even counting Lila) he was my favourite character and I thought he was the character in this book with the most potential.Also, although a lot happens in this book, and I mean a lot, and although it is beautifully written, I think the authors style of writing slowed the pacing at times, which I believe is another reason it didn't really hook me. This book was so long and unfortunately, I only really got into it once it had hit the half way mark and they were on the boat, but from then I really enjoyed it, so I'm finding it hard to decide on a rating. I'd say the first half was 3 stars, but I couldn't give the second half any less than a 4, maybe 4.5. There are so many parts to this story and they all weave together, to make a story that is interesting and complex, and I can understand why so many people absolutely love this trilogy. Also, I just have to say that I liked how not everything was answered at the end of the book - how Kell's relationship with the king and queen wasn't truly mended and he never found out about his real parents - because the not knowing made it very poignant and made it feel more real. I'll definitely read more from this author though, despite the fact I didn't click with this trilogy for all that it had everything I usually love... My favourite quotes from 'A Conjuring of Light': 'How could a city fall when so many were still fighting?' 'You wanted him to kill for me, die for me, protect me at all costs. Well, Mother, you got your wish. You simply failed to realise that that kind of love, that bond, it goes both ways.' 'It doesn't matter what someone is. Only what they think they are.' 'I've never cared for liars, Luc, and I care even less for fools, so don't make me feel like more of one.' ' "Do you ever get tired of running, Bard?" She cocked her head. "No."Alucard's gaze went to the horizon. "Then you haven't left enough behind." ' ' "Only you would mourn the vessel instead of the sailors.""Well," she said matter-of-factly, "the ship certainly didn't do anything wrong. The people might have deserved it." ' 'But there's a difference between killing for purpose and killing for sport, and wise men know that some must fall so others can rise.' '... you can sit around waiting for a storybook ending, or you can help me write a real one.'