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R7: SS "Taking 1-4 The Team" (14)
Sunshine✰✰✰ wrote: "I will read 
"I love this series, and the spinoff Bloodlines. Enjoy!
Julie wrote: "I'm going to read 
"Love this!
Sandy wrote: "Sunshine✰✰✰ wrote: "I will read "I love this series, and the spinoff Bloodlines. Enjoy!"
It's been on my list for a while. I just just watched the movie and liked it.
Sunshine✰✰✰ wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Sunshine✰✰✰ wrote: "I will read "I love this series, and the spinoff Bloodlines. Enjoy!"
It's been on my list for a while. I just just watched t..."
I haven't seen it yet, but I want to!
I'm reading
, which is a standalone
Colleen wrote: "I'll read 
, 1st in a series"I'm interested to see if this is any good. I really like her Morganville vamps, but was bored by Weather Warden.
Week 6, spot 511st in series
2/21/16
★★★★
Review: I liked this book despite the many stereotypical elements one finds in YA fantasy. I REALLY could have done without the requisite love triangle, though. Celaena, an 18-year-old (and very pretty) assassin, is freed from slavery in the salt mines so that she can compete to become the King's Champion (did I mention she hates the king since he was responsible for doing Many Bad Things to her people?) During her training, many of the contestants are mysteriously murdered and Celaena finds herself tasked with finding out what's behind the deaths. She also develops flirtations with the Crown Prince and the head of the King's Guard. Which will she choose? Basically, this is a fun read if you don't overanalyze it, and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Week 6, Spot 51Task: Standalone
The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred
Read: 02/21/16
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
Review: I kept putting this one off. I've heard so many great things about this book, but I also knew it was gonna be a hard one to get through. And I was never in the right mood to get into a book that I just knew was going to put me through the wringer emotionally. And did it ever. I went from happy to angry to sad to frustration. Alix made me angry, then Nick made me angry. I wanted one to never talk to the other again, then I wanted them to just make up and live happily ever after. I actually cried over the pain the characters were going through. Both of the characters made some stupid decisions that led to a lot of pain for so many people, but I can understand why they made the decisions they made at the time they made them. I guessed pretty early on what the big secret was, but that doesn't affect my rating at all. Because this book made me cry, and any book that touches me deeply enough to make me cry is an automatic 5 stars. I highly highly recommend this book, but just be prepared for all the emotional turmoil it'll put you through.
Sandy wrote: "Colleen wrote: "I'll read , 1st in a series"I'm interested to see if this is any good. I really like her Morganville vamps, but was bored by Weather Warden."
I've never read anything by this author, but this premise looked pretty enticing.
I'm about 70 pages in and it took me a bit to figure out what was going on. The world building is interesting but is it now? is it then? is it alternate history? etc. -- but I think I've settled into its rhythm now.
I'm determined to NOT be the last one in this week, but at only 70 pages in.... *sigh*
(LOL)
The Throne of Glass series you read sounds interesting, too. I know a few people who've read that series and enjoyed it. The love triangle bit doesn't sound too appealing though - why do YA books have so much of that?! :-/
Colleen wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Colleen wrote: "I'll read , 1st in a series"I'm interested to see if this is any good. I really like her Morganville vamps, but was bored by Weather..."
I put this on hold at the library and it came in already. I'll be reading it soon!
Yeah, the YA love triangle is really overdone.
For a #1 in a series I read
Read: 23/02/2016
Rated: 5 stars
Review: I've waited a lot of time to read this book and I'm glad that I finally picked it up. It was fast pased, the plot was intriguing, the characters were amazing. I loved how Katsa's power was more than just killing.
I loved the relationship between Po and Katsa and that it wasn't an insta-love kind of relationship. I especially liked how they delt with Po's predicament at the end.
Loved the book, characters and writing and will surely pick up the second one soon!
Petya wrote: "For a #1 in a series I read Read: 23/02/2016
Rated: 5 stars
Review: I've waited a lot of time to read this book and I'm glad that I finally picked it up. It was fast ..."
This is on my TBR list too. I'm determined to get to it this year. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Week 6, Spot 51 (1st in series)
by Richelle MeadFinished: 2/25/16
Rated: ★★★★
I saw the movie before I read the book and I liked both. I'm really interested to continue the series. I know there's gotta be some secret way for Lissa's magic to work without destroying her and I can't wait to see how that plays out.
Week 6 Spot 51Read: The Raven Boys
Finished: 2/25/16
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Wow. This book felt like a guilty pleasure. I would have liked to get to know the characters better since we jumped around with the narrator. I did like the description concerning all the women living in Blue's house. It made me feel like there were more people there than the characters we had been introduced to. I thought that was an interesting addition to the psychic's space. I look forward to book number 2.
Week 6 Spot 51Read:
Finished: 2/26/16
Rating: 4 stars
As I mentioned above earlier this week, it took me a bit to find my footing with this book - (other distractions most likely) - but once I settled in, it was a really fun ride.
The alternate reality created here is amazing - Alexandria library never burned and the printing press was never invented - making books a most precious commodity. Enter in political machinations, tyrannical librarians and anarchist rebels and you've got a really good story. It's shelved as YA, and while the protagonist and his friends are young, it doesn't feel too YA to me.
Oh, and Sandy, there's no love triangle, thankfully it dodges THAT bullet. ;)
... and I'm last again. dang it. :/ (LOL)
Petya wrote: "For a #1 in a series I read Read: 23/02/2016
Rated: 5 stars
Review: I've waited a lot of time to read this book and I'm glad that I finally picked it up. It was fast ..."
Several people I know have enjoyed this book. After reading your thoughts now too, I think I'll have to add this to my TBR. :)
Julie wrote: "Week 6 Spot 51Read: The Raven Boys
Finished: 2/25/16
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Wow. This book felt like a guilty pleasure. I would have liked to get to know the characters better sin..."
This is on my TBR, people have been raving about it here online and offline. I hear the series stays strong, too.
Colleen wrote: "Week 6 Spot 51Read:
Finished: 2/26/16
Rating: 4 stars
As I mentioned above earlier this week, it took me a bit to find my footing with this book - (other distrac..."
I'm glad you liked it! Glad to hear there's no love triangle. :-)
Colleen, you are not last. We still need one more. ;-)
Week: 6Spot: 51 (Alternate: Male Protagonist)
Book: Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
Finished: 2/26/16
Rating: ★★★ + .5
Qualification: 1st in The Witchlands
Truthwitch was one of my most anticipated reads for 2016 and one of the most hyped YA reads among the blogosphere. While I can see why so many people loved it, Susan Dennard didn't quite knock it out of the park for me. Truthwitch was a very enjoyable read, but it wasn't the perfect YA fantasy (in my opinion) that so many others had made it out to be. The world building was seriously lacking and the instalove was pretty strong. I also liked the character of Iseult much more than Safi, though she is the "chosen" one. It didn't feel like this was the first book in the series and it kind of didn't feel like a complete story either. The ending was a pretty big cliffhanger. Though I wasn't in love with Truthwitch, I did enjoy it and will be continuing on to the next book.
Week 7I rolled 2, 5 = 7
New Spot - 58
Read 5th or 8th in series.
Alternate: White
Week 7, Spot 58Sandy:
ReviewLaila Jane:
ReviewPetya:
ReviewChristal:
ReviewSunshine✰✰✰:
ReviewJulie:
ReviewColleen:
Review
Geez! I just read my 5th. And another team challenge keeps giving me books to read after I read a book that qualifies.
Does the alternate, white, mean a white cover?
Christal wrote: "Does the alternate, white, mean a white cover?"Yes, at least 50% white
Sunshine✰✰✰ wrote: "Geez! I just read my 5th. And another team challenge keeps giving me books to read after I read a book that qualifies."Sorry, Sunshine! :-(
I don't have a 5 or 8 handy either...
(PS - you are on my 10 in One Team. :-) )
I'm glad I decided not to start this one last week... I'll read
#5 in InCryptid
Sandy wrote: "Sorry, Sunshine! :-(I don't have a 5 or 8 handy either...
(PS - you are on my 10 in One Team. :-) ) "
Nice!
Sandy wrote: "LOL, Christal, "Instalove""As much as I enjoy YA books, that's one trope that I could do without... I just met you, but I looooooove you! Lol
I'm going for the white cover option
LOL @ instalove. I agree with you Christal - something I can do without, too.
Christal wrote: "Sandy wrote: "LOL, Christal, "Instalove""As much as I enjoy YA books, that's one trope that I could do without... I just met you, but I looooooove you! Lol"
And this is the main reason why I can't stand Contemporary Romance.
I'm going to read
for white cover
I read
for a white cover Read: 28/02/2016
Rated: 5 stars
Review: This book was briliant! I loved everything about it. It's kind of a spin-off of Romeo and Juliet but soo much better. It's kind of the opposite actually. Ivy and Bishop both come from families that have fought to be the one who rule. Ivy and Bishop are forced to marry in a tradition of arranged marriges to "keep up the peace". However Ivy is trained and given the mission of killing Bishop. But she didn't expect him to be so... normal.
I loved the connection they had from the very beginning. They were perfect for each other and were the best for each other. I wad dreading the moment when he had to innevitably find out about her mission but it went better than I expected.
I absolutely loved this book and will probably pick up the second one now!
Week 7, Spot 58Task: White Cover
The Year I Became Isabella Anders by Jessica Sorensen (02/28/16)
Read: 02/28/16
Rating: ✮✮✮✮
Review: This was a quick, easy read. I love Jessica Sorensen's New Adult series. She writes damaged characters so well, but this particular series involves a love triangle and I'm really just not into the triangle. It might have to do with the fact that I've already picked out which guy I want Isa to end up with and I'm just not interested in scenes with the other guy. I really just want Isa to open her eyes already and see that the other guy is kind of a jerk with an ulterior motive. This is the first in the series and while I enjoyed it enough to give it 4 stars, I'm hesitant to read the 2nd book because I know it's gonna delve more into the love triangle. I'm eventually going to read the next book, but I think I'm going to wait till all books in the series are published before I get to it.
Week: 7Spot: 58 (Alternate: White Cover)
Book: Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire
Finished: 2/29/16
Rating: ★★★★
Qualification: 5th in InCryptid
After two books of Alex and Shelby, it was nice to be back with Verity in Chaos Choreography. The reality dance show format was fun and it was interesting to see Verity as both herself and as Valerie. I also enjoyed getting to know more about her grandmother Alice and seeing Dominic in a non-Covenant capacity. The mystery did seem to unravel abruptly, but this installment was a lot of fun, as always.
How is everyone doing this week?I should finish my book tonight.
The Challenge Factory
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Sandy:
Laila Jane:
Petya:
Christal:
Sunshine✰✰✰:
Julie:
Colleen: