January Wrap-Up
It’s that time of the month again. The time of joy and pride or the time of embarrassment and despair. Luckily, the latter is definitely not currently the case with me.
I have managed to set a personal record for most books read in a month – 12!
I’m astonished that I managed to get so much work done and be so many steps closer to finishing my reading challenge (which is to read 45 books this year).
You can see which books I definitely must read this year in a post that I posted in December 2018 – which I regularly update. You can find it here.
So without further ado, let’s get started!
1. A JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEAR BY DANIEL DEFOE [image error]I have already written a review of this book which you can find it here.
Thoughts: I’d have to say that this book wasn’t my favorite out of the three I’ve read about the plague, but it wasn’t the worst either. I loved reading the facts and hearing the stories of people’s struggles but there was something lacking…
Rating: 3/5 stars
2. WORDS IN DEEP BLUE BY CATH CROWLEY [image error]I also already reviewed this book on my blog which you can find here.
My thoughts: it was a really cute, easy book that made me slightly emotional at times. The male main character was a bit annoying at first but then I just realized that it’s one of his quirks and didn’t really mind it that much as the entire story had been way more interesting. I definitely recommend reading this book for yourself because it’s one of those reads that you remember how it made you feel and that makes it even more special.
Rating: 4/5 stars
(it deserves 5 stars but I have implemented a stricter rating system which is not the book’s fault)
(A Court of Thorns and Roses, book #3.1)
[image error]Thoughts: Since I haven’t posted a proper review – nor do I plan to – it might make this a longer review.
I have high expectations when it comes to Sarah J. Maas and her work. She is by far one of my favorite authors and I even got a tattoo of the Night Court symbol on my arm. So needless to say, I absolutely adored ACOTAR (more like ACOMAF) and expected a lot from A Court of Frost and Starlight as well. Simply because we have already established characters and I had been under the belief that Rhys and Feyre are going to take the backseat and let everybody else get some spotlight.
That wasn’t entirely the case and while I loved reading about Rhys (my baby) and Feyre, I had a feeling the story was lacking and that so much more could’ve been done if only the other characters had been more present. I want to read about Nesta, Elain, Cassian, Az, Mor, Lucien, Amren and everybody else.
I get that this is a novella – which, to me, is the same as a longer filler chapter. But that doesn’t excuse it for being so lacking. I had a feeling that it had only been written for the sake of sales and that the author’s heart wasn’t truly into it.
Most of the content was unnecessary and felt like fanfiction rather than a book.I loved the content, don’t get me wrong. The Winter Solstice celebrations warmed my heart. But it could have been better.
I have a feeling that most of the beginning tensions (that I expected would lead to a plot twist or at least something in this book) were only a bridge to the books that would follow in the future. I believe most of it was only to help us as readers understand what the situation was like after the war had passed. I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.
Rating: 3/5 stars
4. FLIGHT OR FRIGHT BY STEPHEN KING AND OTHERS [image error]Thoughts: The concept was very interesting but I’m not a big fan of horror or short stories for that matter. I was hoping that this book would change my mind about it but I just found each story hard to get into and for some, I wanted to be longer. I know Flight or Fright could be enjoyable for the right reader. Unfortunately, that was not me.
The book is a collection of short stories by different authors regarding flying. They were supposed to be scary and could vary from anything supernatural to normal causes. I had expected quite a lot from it simply because it was edited by Stephen King (the king of spook). I was a bit disappointed.
Rating: 2/5 stars
5. BEFORE I FALL BY LAUREN OLIVER [image error]Thoughts: I loved the movie but this book has to be by far my favorite book I’ve read in January. I adoooored this book. I can’t even tell you how good it was or how many things it made me feel. The way it had been written, the main character’s development, attention to detail – everything! I had been living for this book.
I’m not going to lie, it had been hard for me to start this book because I picked it up a couple of years ago and got distracted by other – fancier – books that had just come out at the time. I had always told myself that I’m going to return and finish it, but had always been putting it off. A big mistake.
I received some more motivation after watching the movie – a masterpiece in itself – and fell in love.
I 100% recommend this book to everyone. I don’t want to spoil anything and therefore will refrain from telling you what it’s about. Just read it.
Rating: 5/5 stars
6. THE DREADFUL TALE OF PROSPER REDDING BY ALEXANDRA BRACKEN [image error]II posted a review on my blog which you can read here.
Thoughts: This is my first book by Alexandra Bracken. Despite having had Passenger and The Darkest Minds on my bookshelf for years, this was somehow the first book I picked up.
And it was great. The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding reminds me of old fairytales that let your imagination run wild. This book is unlike anything I’ve read so far and it’s a good kind of different.
Rating: 4/5 stars (more like 4.5)
7. THE ISLE OF THE LOST BY MELISSA DE LA CRUZ(Descendants, book #1)
[image error]Thoughts: For those who don’t know, these books are companion novels to Disney movies called Descendants – or the movies are companions to the books. I honestly don’t know at this point but I know that they’re related.
It’s a good book but clearly intended for younger audience – which is something I kept in mind while reading so I didn’t let it sway my opinion. I mostly paid attention to how the book made me feel, how invested I was in the characters (without keeping in mind of the movies) and how all the plot twists and tensions resolved.
Needless to say, the book was lacking on all fronts. Even the movies had me more interested in the characters. The only good thing about this book was that I had listened to the audiobook version narrated by Sophia Carson – the actress who plays Evie, Evil Queen’s daughter.
The story had been boring and disappointing. The characters and their struggles seemed pointless and they didn’t appear to be as bad as they should have been – seeing as they grew up surrounded by evil all their lives, not to mention were motivated by their parents to do bad deeds.
I don’t know how to explain properly but this book was just… bad.
I loved the writing of the author and I think it had potential. But it wasn’t executed properly.
Will still read the next books to see whether or not it improves and because I’m curious.
Rating: 2/5 stars
8. INSTANT WICCA MAGICK: 17 POTENT SPELLS FOR LOVE, MONEY AND HEALING
Thoughts: It was a lovely, short introduction to Wicca and while it only scratched a millimeter of the surface, I quite enjoyed it.
Rating: 4/5 stars (debated rating it 3 stars but it made me feel something I couldn’t quite put a finger on and that’s why I decided against it)
9. THE DARK DESCENT OF ELIZABETH FRANKENSTEIN BY KIERSTEN WHITE [image error]Thoughts: This book gives the reader exactly what it promises in the title – the dark descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, our main character.
While reading this book, I felt miserable dread running down the spine several times. It’s a dark and gloomy re-telling of Victor Frankenstein and his creation of the monster, but told through the eyes of Elizabeth, Victor’s loyal companion.
The gist is that Elizabeth’s first priority is to survive. She had always been expendable in the eyes of the people who took her in and saved her from poverty. These people were Victor’s parents. They took her in (but never officially adopted her) to be Victor’s friend. Because she hadn’t been officially adopted, they could always get rid of her which meant she had never truly been safe.
Seeing Victor as her salvation, she made herself inexpendable to him, often overlooking a lot of his creepy qualities and actions. Victor’s a downright psychopath and did many vile things even when they were children. Things that brought nightmares to Elizabeth. Things such as killing animals and hurting his sibling.
Elizabeth tries to hide from the terrible truth until her time comes and she realizes that sooner or later, she’ll have to face the boy who’s her salvation and downfall. The boy who insists that she doesn’t belong to anyone but him.
So without saying, this book sounds and is pretty interesting. Looking back at it, I think I would rate it higher than I did at the time. The story was quite good but I wish the beginning wasn’t so slow and that the rest of the book picked up a bit as well.
All in all, I do recommend you to read this book and see for yourself whether or not you like it.
Rating: 3/5 stars (more like 3.5 now that I think about it)
10. HEXED BY MICHELLE KRYS(The Witch Hunter, book #1)
[image error]Thoughts: This book is the queen/king of potential. So much potential, so many ways in which the story could go, so many plot twists that could be in this book. Instead, it is a pile of hot mess and annoying characters.
In author’s defense, this book had been published in 2014. Back then, cliches, cheerleaders, bad boys and all that had been wildly popular in YA. I would know, I wrote my very own books that had all that.
And the truth is, my 15-year-old self would have been living for it. Yet, the 20-year-old reader in me saw the flaws and was unable to fully focus on the story itself.
The main character was an annoying cheerleader who presumably had the 3rd highest GPA of her school (or was it class?). But honestly, she had been slow and quite stupid. Most of her whims were annoying and her story could have been a little longer.
There were scenes that held so much importance to the book – scenes that could have changed the character entirely and contributed to the development. Instead, they were cut short and easily forgotten.
I would back this up by writing proper examples but they’re quite important spoilers.
I won’t be reading the 2nd book because I don’t feel any attachment to the characters or the world and don’t really feel the need to see how things resolve.
But I would love to check out the author’s more recent work because I do feel like she’s good and very capable. It’s just that I’m a bit too old for this book and very aware of how things worked 5 years ago. Still, I believe you can grow as a writer and that’s why I’m not opposed to checking out more of her books.
Rating: 2/5 stars
11. LAST SACRIFICE BY RICHELLE MEAD(Vampire Academy, book #6)
[image error]Thoughts: Last Sacrifice was a charming and lovely end to a series. I adore Vampire Academy and this book wasn’t disappointing at all. Except for the fact that I felt there was something missing to the ending but then I quickly dismissed that because there’s still a spin-off I have to read.
So technically, the series isn’t over yet and there’s still time for unresolved things to resolve themselves. Meaning, I want Adrian to be happy. He’s my baby and I feel so overprotective when it comes to him.
The book did seem to drag on a bit in certain parts but only because I was so impatient and wanted to know how the situations would be resolved. I lived for the drama but while this book was enjoyable, it wasn’t my favorite in the series and didn’t seem as good as some of the other ones.
Yet I still loved the writing and the characters. Richelle Mead knows how to write a good story, I’ll tell you that.
On a different note, I do have a confession to make. I love Rose Hathaway – she is and always will be one of my favorite female characters.
The other ones are Alex (from the Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentrout), Celaena (from Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas) and maybe even Tessa (from The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare).
Rose is so brilliant, funny, badass and strong. She makes the books what they are – her sass and wit is what makes the stories so read-worthy. I can’t even begin to explain just how much I love her.
All I have to say is: Great job, Richelle Mead. Great job!
Rating: 4/5 stars
12. THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE BY NEIL GAIMAN [image error]Thoughts: It’s an interesting story. Somewhat different from what I’m used to and I can’t quite put my finger on it. I think this is the only book I can’t really write a review for which is so strange. But once you read it, I believe you’ll understand what I mean.
Rating: 3/5 stars
[image error]And that concludes my January Wrap-Up. I’m so proud of myself for reading so many books this month and can only hope I’ll read more in February.
Thank you for reading!
Connect with me:
