Sarai Henderson's Blog, page 66

Series Review: The World of Solace Series by Jaleigh Johnson

 

This was a wonderful book series by Jaleigh Johnson. The World of Solace consists of three books, although I would love a few more. The Mark of the Dragonfly, The Secret of Solace and The Quest to the Uncharted Lands. All three could be read as stand alone, or read as a series since each book follows their own characters and stories.

The Mark of the Dragonfly
The World of Solace #1
For fans of Frozen , The City of Ember , and The School of Good and Evil , the New York Times bestseller The Mark of the Dragonfly is a fast-paced adventure story about a mysterious girl and a fearless boy, set in a magical world that is both exciting and dangerous.Piper has never seen the Mark of the Dragonfly until she finds the girl amid the wreckage of a caravan in the Meteor Fields.The girl doesn't remember a thing about her life, but the intricate tattoo on her arm is proof that she's from the Dragonfly Territories and that she's protected by the king. Which means a reward for Piper if she can get the girl home.The one sure way to the Territories is the 401, a great old beauty of a train. But a ticket costs more coin than Piper could make in a year. And stowing away is a difficult prospect--everyone knows that getting past the peculiar green-eyed boy who stands guard is nearly impossible.Life for Piper just turned dangerous. A little bit magical. And very exciting, if she can manage to survive the journey.
My Review
The Secrets of Solace
The World of Solace #2
From Jaleigh Johnson, the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller The Mark of the Dragonfly, comes another thrilling adventure in the magical world of Solace.    Lina Winterbock lives in the mountain strongholds of Solace. She’s an apprentice to the archivists, the wise men and women whose lives are dedicated to cataloging, studying, and preserving the objects that mysteriously fall from the sky in the scrap towns.    Lina should be spending her days with books, but the Iron War has changed everything. The strongholds are now a refuge, and the people Lina once counted on no longer have time for her, so she spends her days exploring the hidden tunnels and passages of her home. The strongholds are vast and old, with twisting paths, forgotten rooms, and collapsed chambers, some of them containing objects that have been lost and forgotten even by the archivists.    And in one of the forgotten chambers, Lina discovers a secret.    Hidden deep in a cavern is a half-buried airship like nothing she has ever seen before. She’s determined to dig it out and restore it. But Lina needs help, and she doesn’t know anyone she can trust with her secret.    Then she meets Ozben, a mysterious boy who has a secret of his own—a secret that’s so dangerous it could change the course of the Iron War and the world of Solace forever.
My Review
The Quest to the Uncharted Lands
The World of Solace #3
From the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller The Mark of the Dragonfly comes another magical and thrilling story that takes readers on an exciting new adventure. Perfect for fans of Wrinkle in Time !
 
Stella Glass dreams of exploring worlds beyond her home of Solace, but when her famous parents are sent on a historic mission to the Uncharted Lands, it’s simply too dangerous for her to join them. By order of the king, she is left behind.
 
Missing out on the excitement is one thing, but Stella is devastated at the thought of her parents flying into the unknown. So she takes matters into her own hands. Instead of staying with family as planned, she steals away and—right before takeoff—sneaks aboard the airship.
 
But Stella isn’t the only stowaway.
 
In the cargo bay is a boy who is also desperate to get to the Uncharted Lands. And someone else who’s determined to keep the ship from making it there at all. . . .
My Review

Book Review: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

A book review on this strange and incredible mix of fantasy, sci-fi and ancient Chinese mythology. A wonderful read.

Title: Iron Widow

By: Xiran Jay Zhao

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 391

Release Date: September 21st, 2021

Publisher: Penguin Teen

Rating: ★★★★★

 
Summary from Goodreads:The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn't matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.
When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.​
To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia​. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.

 

Add on Goodreads

 

Review:I really wasn't excepting how crazy this story was and how the author Xiran Jay Zhao was able to weave Mythology and Fantasy together into a wonderful tale.
Zetian is an incredible character. She's strong, vindictive and on a mission, but when she realizes she has a power that rivals the best pilots, she uses that power to fulfill her darkest desire and murder the man who killed her sister in cold blood.
The description of the battles with the giant monsters piloted by powerful humans are amazing. It feels like a mix between Pacific Ridge and the Great Wall of Chine. Its a really interesting paring, but it works so amazingly well. 

Favorite Quote:

“I've been told endless lies since I was born. That I was not kind enough, considerate enough, humble enough, honorable enough, pretty enough, pleasing enough. And if I failed to meet the needs of those around me, I did not deserve to live.

Propaganda. All of it. Propaganda to keep me chasing after the approval of others on my bound and broken feet, as if being a good servant is the only thing I should be proud of.”

I gave this book a solid 5 stars out of 5. This book kept me guessing throughout the whole story. I loved the descriptions and fantasy elements. And lets not forget the cliffhanger at the end. I can't wait for the next installment in this series.

Weekly Menu #517 And The Book Of The Week

 

Another Monday and another delicious weekly menu full of recipes for you to enjoy.

Hello and welcome back to the blog. I know I say this all the time, but its been a week. One of my co-workers stated the other day that weird things happen to me and I'm really starting to believe it.

I was headed to the store on my lunch break and noticed a yard sale sign at the top of my hill on the main street. What caught my attention was the address on the sign. It was my address. I was fairly certain I wasn't havening a yard sale. I texted the husband and it freaked him out a bit as it did I. Was this some kinds of TikTok prank where someone puts up a sign with your address on it and then people show up to your house to try and buy your stuff/steel things? Or does one of my neighbors not know what their address is.

A little while later when I was home, the camera's around the house started going off and I noticed two people wandering up my driveway. They glanced at my husbands mess of car parts and turned around and left. It had begun. Texted the husband again and he decided he needed to come home and take down those signs and find the culprit.

Turns out, the neighbors down the street were having a yard sale and they knew the address was wrong on the signs and still put them up. They then wondered why they weren't having much luck.

The moral of the story is make sure you know your address and you use it correctly. With recent events in this country, sending someone up the wrong driveway could cause a lot of harm... Its also bad for business.

With that story out there, here is the book of the week. Gallant by V.E. Schwab. This author has never let me down, so I'm excited for the read. What are you reading this week?

Lets get to the menu. I know this is what you are here for. Enjoy!
WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls

Kids - Cheese Quesadilla

 

Tuesday

Summer Cob Salad

Kids - Fruit Salad and Cheese

 

Wednesday

Grilled Cheeseburger Wrap

Kids - Birddogs

 

Thursday

Mongolian Chicken

Kids - Chicken Tenders

 

Friday

Fried Mozzarella Sandwich

Kids - Grilled Cheese

 

Saturday

Thai Chicken Salad

Kids - Chicken Ramen

 

Sunday

Leftovers Night

Sunday Confessions #210

 

Hello Sunday and welcome back to my weekly confessions where I talk about what books, movies and food have been gracing the pages of the blog and what's still to come.

Sunday Confessions #209~Weekly Menu #516 And The Book Of The Week~Book Review: The Quest to the Uncharted Lands by Jaleigh Johnson~Book Review: Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo~Life Confessions: Post #5

Weekly Menu #517 And The Book Of The Week~Book Review: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao~Series Review: The World of Solace Series by Jaleigh Johnson~Book Review: A Twisted Faith by Gregg Olsen~Life Confessions: Post #6~Sunday Confessions #211







If you haven't seen the Strange New Worlds/Lower Decks crossover episode from Star Trek Strange New Worlds, you are really missing out. My family watched this episode twice in one day and laughed so much. Even my 10 year old was super into it, and he is hard to please.

72/100 2023 Reading Challenge~54/196 in my Star Wars Legends challenge~59/341 Gilmore Girls challenge~60/100 in my 100 books before you die challenge

Its been another great week on the blog. Talked a lot about my week in the lifestyle post and shared several books that tickled my fancy. Make sure to come back next Sunday to see what's been going on.

Life Confessions: Post #5

 

The lifestyle of a PNW mom, avid reader, exballerina and food lover.

Some weeks come at me like a hurricane and they bring a lot of chaos and emotions that take a while to come down from. 

We are dealing with kitten chaos. Can't keep them in the box, but still trying to cuddle with them since they won't be with us long. Birthday festivities for our youngest son that spanned several days and both sides of the family. Along with the husband going through the motions of job interviews for a job of a lifetime for him, his stress and excitement that comes with all that.

Its just been a lot.

Kitten UpdateThe babies are now 6 weeks and coming up on their time to go to their forever homes. They cannot be contained, bot that I think they should be. Living in a small box that once held a dishwasher is no life, but at the same time, having them underfoot can be a lot. I think the worst part is following them around, cleaning up their messes since they are still learning to use the littler box. 
The worst one is War, the little girl that has a bummed eye. Its swollen and pushing on her inner ear causing her to wobble and fall a lot. So much so that she needs to be held in place when she is using the litter box so she doesn't fall over. Of course you have to catch her in the moment to give her help, so that can be difficult. 
The little dwarf kitten will be going to his home this week also. We will miss Dapper Daniel, but he won't be far at my best friends home, so we will be able to see him again. The boys are happy with this arrangement and would only give that little baby up if they could see him again.
Birthday BoyMy youngest is finally in the double digits and now I'm feeling old. He wanted to go to the Cheesecake Factory for the first time since he is super into cheesecake right now. I've never been and it was a fun experience. We invited some of youngest's favorite people to share the experience with us and it was a blast.
The food was good. I wouldn't say it was super special, but it was tasty and there was plenty of it. It was the cheesecake that we went there for and OMG, it was incredible. All the boys had the widest eyes when the server put a huge piece of cheesecake with the larges Oreo cookie on top of it in front of them. 
We will definitely be going back again.

Book Review: Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo

I never thought I would be reading a book about shark attacks throughout history and how little we actually knew about these vicious fish. This review of Michael Capuzzo's book Close to Shore was really fun to write. Enjoy!

Title: Close to Shore

By: Michael Capuzzo

Genre: Historical Non-Fiction

Pages: 318

Release Date: May 18th, 2001

Publisher: Crown

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:Combining rich historical detail and a harrowing, pulse-pounding narrative, Close to Shore brilliantly re-creates the summer of 1916, when a rogue Great White shark attacked swimmers along the New Jersey shore, triggering mass hysteria and launching the most extensive shark hunt in history.
During the summer before the United States entered World War I, when ocean swimming was just becoming popular and luxurious Jersey Shore resorts were thriving as a chic playland for an opulent yet still innocent era's new leisure class, Americans were abruptly introduced to the terror of sharks. In July 1916 a lone Great White left its usual deep-ocean habitat and headed in the direction of the New Jersey shoreline. There, near the towns of Beach Haven and Spring Lake-and, incredibly, a farming community eleven miles inland-the most ferocious and unpredictable of predators began a deadly rampage: the first shark attacks on swimmers in U.S. history.
For Americans celebrating an astoundingly prosperous epoch much like our own, fueled by the wizardry of revolutionary inventions, the arrival of this violent predator symbolized the limits of mankind's power against nature.
Interweaving a vivid portrait of the era and meticulously drawn characters with chilling accounts of the shark's five attacks and the frenzied hunt that ensued, Michael Capuzzo has created a nonfiction historical thriller with the texture of Ragtime and the tension of Jaws. From the unnerving inevitability of the first attack on the esteemed son of a prosperous Philadelphia physician to the spine-tingling moment when a farm boy swimming in Matawan Creek feels the sandpaper-like skin of the passing shark, Close to Shore is an undeniably gripping saga.
Heightening the drama are stories of the resulting panic in the citizenry, press and politicians, and of colorful personalities such as Herman Oelrichs, a flamboyant millionaire who made a bet that a shark was no match for a man (and set out to prove it); Museum of Natural History ichthyologist John Treadwell Nichols, faced with the challenge of stopping a mythic sea creature about which little was known; and, most memorable, the rogue Great White itself moving through a world that couldn't conceive of either its destructive power or its moral right to destroy.
Scrupulously researched and superbly written, Close to Shore brings to life a breathtaking, pivotal moment in American history. Masterfully written and suffused with fascinating period detail and insights into the science and behavior of sharks, Close to Shore recounts a breathtaking, pivotal moment in American history with startling immediacy.

 

Add on Goodreads

 

Review:I'm not sure how I found myself reading this book about shark attacks in the late 1800's to early 1900's since this genre and topic are not in my wheel house, but here we are. Surprisingly enough, I enjoyed the read and found the topic fascinating. The amount of knowledge we now know about sharks is far more than what they thought 100 years ago, and still we only know a fraction about them. Just to read about how wrong people were back then is wonderfully entertaining in a morbid kind of way, but I love it soo much.I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. Each chapter was a new story about shark attacks, but it stayed within a timeline and moved up the east coast, connecting those stories to each other. The writing was interesting and entertaining, even though writing about this topic over and over had the opportunity to be bland as all hell and it wasn't. A great read if you want to know how we treated sharks and shark attacks over 100 years ago. It helps to put into perspective how far we've come and how far we still have to go.

Book Review: The Quest to the Uncharted Lands by Jaleigh Johnson

The finale to this wonderful book series. I'm excited to review the last story in the World of Solace by Jaleigh Johnson. This has been a wonderful ride and I'm sad its over. Can't wait to see what else Johnson has in-store for her readers. 

Title: The Quest to the Uncharted Lands

By: Jaleigh Johnson

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 352

Release Date: June 13th, 2017

Publisher: Random House

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Summary from Goodreads:From the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller The Mark of the Dragonfly comes another magical and thrilling story that takes readers on an exciting new adventure.
Stella Glass dreams of exploring worlds beyond her home of Solace, but when her famous parents are sent on a historic mission to the Uncharted Lands, it's simply too dangerous for her to join them. By order of the king, she is left behind.
Missing out on the excitement is one thing, but Stella is devastated at the thought of her parents flying into the unknown. So she takes matters into her own hands. Instead of staying with family as planned, she steals away and — right before takeoff — sneaks aboard the airship.
But Stella isn't the only stowaway. In the cargo bay is a boy who is also desperate to get to the Uncharted Lands. And someone else who's determined to keep the ship from making it there at all...

 

Add on Goodreads

 

Review:Another wonderful stand alone in a series that has surprised me at every turn of the page.
Stella is a strong willed character, unwilling to be left behind when her parents embark on a mission to the Uncharted Lands. The mission is dangerous and no one has ever come back after attempting the journey. This is why Stella stows away on the airship. She would rather die with her parents than live without them.

Cyrus has a secret. One that he has kept for a very long time, but when he meets Stella, that secret is threatened. A secret that can change the course of the events on the airship.

Toward the end of the book, when all the events seem to come to a head, Stella takes charge in a wonderful and powerful way. She is no longer a child and stowaway, but a leader and an unknowing savior to the crew of the airship.

Favorite Quote:
"Stella’s heart began to beat very fast as she stood in his arms. Thinking about all the hugs she’d shared with her family, this was yet another new one for her. This was Cyrus. A person she’d known only for a short time, but long enough to know she would cross the world for him."

This book deserves a huge 5 out of 5 stars. If I could give it more, I would. I'm sad this series is over, but glad I was able to look into the mind of Jaleigh Johnson. This world has so many secrets that it still needs to share, but the stories are all wonderful and fulfilling. You have to read this book.

Weekly Menu #516 And The Book Of The Week

 

Hello Monday and welcome back to the weekly menu. A place to share my read of the week and the recipes we will be making. Its going to be a great week on the blog.

Last week was a whirlwind of activity. My youngest had a momentous birthday with lots of celebration and fun times. He seemed to like all the gifts he got this year after everyone really put in a lot of effort to think of wonderful gifts to give my dark and brooding child. I still think his favorite was the sign that says, "Baking, because murder is wrong." He hung it on his wall right next to the picture of his first cheesecake he made. I'm so proud of him and his aspirations. His goal for his life is to own his own bakery with an old fashioned soda bar inside. I absolutely love that for him and will do all that is in my power to help him make that dream come true.

Keep dreaming big, my son.

This weeks read is The Power by Naomi Alderman. I just finished watching the TV series on Prime and although it wasn't as wonderful as I had hoped, I think the book will be far better at explaining everything more in-depth. I'm read to give it a go.

Enough talking. I'm long winded today, I know. Lets get to this weeks menu. Enjoy!

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Creamy Ranch Chicken

Kids - Chicken Tenders and Ranch

 

Tuesday

Pasta Fagioli

Kids - Mac and Cheese

 

Wednesday

Chicken, Rice and Been Burritos

Kids - Cheese Quesadillas

 

Thursday

Greek Gyro Skillet

Kids -

 

Friday

Pizza Bowls

Kids - Little Pizzas

 

Saturday

Summer Cob Salad

Kids -

 

Sunday

Family Dinner

Chicken Tenders

Curly Fries

Rice Crispy treats

Sunday Confessions #209

Hello #Sunday
Its been another hot week here in the PNW, but I'm kind of liking it. Its giving me a chance to close up my home and live like a hermit for a while in the cool darkness of my small cottage.
Lets recap the week.

Sunday Confessions #208~Weekly Menu #515 And The Book Of The Week~Book Review: The Secrets of Solace by Jaleigh Johnson~Book Review: Lolita by Vladimir Nabovok~Life Confessions: Post #4

Weekly Menu #516 And The Book Of The Week~Book Review: The Quest to the Uncharted Lands by Jaleigh Johnson~Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo~Life Confessions: Post #5~
Sunday Confessions #210






Loved the Parmesan Stuffed Bell Peppers.
The Mediterranean one pot meal was delicious, although I had to add chicken for a little more protean.
The Grilled Bruschetta Chicken really hit the spot.
And the French Dips are always a favorite.
All the recipes can be found here, on last weeks menu.


Morgan Wallen - Thinkin' Bout Me

70/100 2023 Reading Challenge~54/196 in my Star Wars Legends challenge~59/341 Gilmore Girls challenge~60/100 in my 100 books before you die challenge

Another great week. Happy reading, friends.

Life Confessions: Post #4

The lifestyle of a PNW mom, avid reader, exballerina and food lover. 
I read this quote last night as I was slowly rocking in my porch swing, watching the sunset. It held so many truths for me.

Yesterday was a day like this. Uneventful, calm, wonderful. The kids seemed to be going with the flow and existing in a calm state of mind. Its very few and far between these days happen and I embrace them fully.

Today, its like the exact opposite. The are wild and rambunctious, loud and crazy. Every little thing has to be screamed and hands are flying. So far, we haven't had any serious altercations, but I can see the exhaustion in their eyes, even though they refuse to rest. How I would give anything to go back to yesterday.

Kitten UpdateAfter the loss of our precious little Hex, the other kittens have taken up the roll of cute little fuzz balls. War is the one I've been giving most my attention to since she is having issues with her left eye. Its all swollen up and her balance is off. She falls all over the place, knocking her head into things. I feel so bad for her. The vet thinks she will have to have her eye removed when she is older. She's blind in it anyway, so its not going to be a huge loss to her.
First City FairApparently, Oregon City has a First City Fair every summer, but I've been oblivious too it. I've lived here almost my entire life and this year was the 12th annual fair. My hubby and I went and took our good friend, Amy. The boys didn't want to go and be near all the people and loud noises. I can't blame them. It was over 90 degrees and in the direct sun most the time. Even though it was just us weird adults, we had a lot of fun. I even ran into a bunch of people I knew running booths. My husband kept rolling his eyes when someone called my name. Its not my fault. Oregon City has a small town vibe even though its not so small. Love it.
Picked up a purple Pokémon hat for Captain Grumpy. He's wearing it, so he must like it. Also found a very small Rubik's cube and had to solve it. Now I can take a cube with me everywhere I go.