SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion
Archive: Past Team Challenges
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R18: Team #15 ~ Better Read than Dead
Shelf: Science Fiction
Rating: ★★★★
Finished: 4/13/19
Review:
I have been meaning to read this for quiet some time since I wanted to watch the movie but did not want to watch it before at least trying out the first book. I was pleasantly surprised I have heard so many mixed reviews on this book. It is very good. Sometimes keeping the difference between Ms. whatsit, Ms. Who, and Ms. Witch were troubling but the audio book did a good job we know Ms. Witch talks slowly and her words are long and Ms. Who quotes from poetry or other works that are well known. I definitely want to see more of the world how they wrinkle into different worlds.
Shelf: Science-Fiction
Book: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent
Date read: 4/14/19
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Review: I read this back when it came out and I loved it. That was 5 years ago, but reading it again I found I still love it. I've found after trying to read The Hunger Games, that I like this series way better. I can identify with Tris, I love Christina and Four, and will also want to fight Peter lol I never did read the last book for who knows what reason so it feels good to be back in this series. Now to watch the movie since I'm watching the movies of all books I read that have one.
CONGRATULATIONS, Better Read than Dead!We now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'vampires-werewolves'.
[Our updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
YAY!! :D
Glad y'all liked your sci-fi books, ladies! I'm enjoying mine, but it's been slow going - busy IRL. It's making me thirsty (it's about a water shortage) LOL! I haven't see the Wrinkle movie, but we'd wanted to check it out. I'll be interested to hear how you think it compares to the book.
Jothany, I've watched those movies, but haven't read the books. Shame the last movie won't be made. My SIL and her young son are so sad about that.
I didn’t even know that...well seems I will only be reading the books then
Here's a recent article about it, apparently the movies didn't make much money and they stopped. Divergent Series: Ascendant - Why The Final Movie Was Canceled
Steph wrote: "Here's a recent article about it, apparently the movies didn't make much money and they stopped. Divergent Series: Ascendant - Why The Final Movie Was Canceled"I agree that they shouldn't have split the final book into two movies. There just wasn't enough there.
Yeah, I think with Hunger Games and Harry splitting their finales Divergent assumed they could too, which really is only done to bring in more $, IMO.
Congrats on the stamp Peaceful Activists!
There are a lot of similarities between the 2. The ending is also on point but getting to the ending there is minor changes. For the most part I liked seeing the book come to life and seeing mrs who mrs which and Mrs. What's it portrayed only thing is mrs what's it her other form was different in the movie compared to the book but I thought in a good way. Only thing I was kind of sad of is that you don't really get to see or know aunt beast. I'm really glad I read the book 1st before watching the movie.
Dry by Neal Shusterman
Stand Alone
Shelf: science-fiction (shelved by 177 people)
Read: 15 Apr
Rating: ✮✮✮✮☆
Review:
Dry is another well done novel by Neal Shusterman. They always freak me out, but in the best way possible. Number one must have while reading this book ... WATER! I was compelled. Constantly. Consistently. Water. Must Drink Water. Sheesh! This story is so believable, especially if you spent anytime in a town or city facing drought restrictions. The water shortage started out as most do - no filling your pool, limiting watering of plants and washing of cars, etc. Then, suddenly, the taps don't work. Welcome to the Tap-Out.
Only now do I see how dry his lips are. Not just dry but parched and chapped to the point of bleeding. None of these kids look right. Their skin is thin and almost leprous gray. The corners of their mouths are white with dried spit. And the look in their eyes is almost rabid.The story, as most of Shusterman's do, focuses on a few main characters while providing additional side stories or snapshots of others we may only see once. The kids were incredibly smart, maybe too smart; one is from a prepper family who is more prepared and educated on alternative ways of acquiring water. But, sometimes foreknowledge isn't enough to help you survive.
Geez, Steph, you made me thirsty just reading your review! Sounds like a great book!
LOL I thought that as well :)
😆 I was thirsty the whole time reading it. I really liked his Unbound series, if you haven’t read it and like that kinda thing you should check it out.
Before I forgot since I'm not starting it right away, I'll be choosing
which is tagged alpha male by 59 people
Selection Post
Shelf: Alpha Male
Book: Crow
Author: A. Zavarelli
Series: Boston Underworld #1
Pages: 314
How it fits: shelved 129x
Completion Post
Shelf: Science Fiction
Book: The Night Masquerade
Author: Nnedi Okorafor
Series: Binti (#3)
Date Finished: 4/17/19
Rating: ★★★★★
How it fits: Shelved 471x; 208 pgs
Binti ★★★★★
Home ★★★★½ (Totally five star worthy. The story is breathtaking but that cliffhanger was a killer!)
Review: Sci-Fi is a genre that I kind of want to be interested in but it's so intimidating that I'm just like, "nope." I mean, I like dystopians. And it seems to be perfect for action. I don't know why I always have such a hard time with this category. Anyway, I loved Binti. It was strange and beautiful. Nnedi Okorafor's writing is really something special. Her world building is like nothing else. This story is so unique it's really hard to pin down. One of my favorite things about it though is that Binti is on a path to become a Master Harmonizer. She essentially interprets the universe using mathematical equations. It's super cool. Her journey to become a Master Harmonizer was so many things. I mean, you definitely can't read the third book only.
I feel like this book is marketed towards the middle grade/YA set but it's probably more New Adult. The first book starts with Binti leaving for university and worrying about who will want to marry her now that she's gone against her family's wishes. The series, in general, is largely about her finding her place in her family, in the world and beyond.
Science Fiction Stamp has been requested! Good job team!
Great review, Melissa. Sounds interesting!I’m in a bad WiFi area so stamps will have to wait a couple days. But, yay team!
For alpha male, I’m gonna read
It was really interesting! She explores all of these aspects of her heritage and is forced to confront what she considers savage. Even after she comes to know that the people she was raised to believe as "other" are more advanced than anyone ever knew, she has to keep challenging herself not to fall back on old ways of thinking. It was like even though her mind knew thew weren't savages her prejudices wouldnt let her forget. That's only one example of the things she goes through on her journey.It was really hard to pin down what it was really about ... definitely part social commentary. Lots of layers.
Probably going to switch my alpha male book ... didn't realize Crow wasn't UF/PNR. I know it's not strictly required but I would prefer to read UF any day. Sometimes I make stuff up about books based on their covers. I decided that Crow was going to either be an Odin thing or a Morrigan thing. Either way I was all in until I read the 1st page. Still sounds interesting but for another time.
I like the sound of that, thanks for sharing!LOL I do the same. I’m a sucker for a cool cover.
Shelf: Alpha Male
Book: Magic Burns
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels
Date read: 4/21/19
Star rating: ★ ★ ★
Review: I liked it but it just seemed slow to me. Like I couldn't really connect to the story. I love Kate, Curran, and Derek but this story just was meh. I will continue because I want to see what else they get up to but there was just nothing really memorable about this one. Hopefully I like the third book better.
Selection Post
Shelf: Alpha Male
Book: Burn for Me
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Hidden Legacy #1
Pages: 400
How it fits: shelved 62x
Using this as my re-read for the round. 1st read in April/May of 2017 but I am surprised by how little I remember so far.
Sorry you didn't like Mercy2 that much, Jothany. Definitely stick with the series though, each book only gets better, IMO. Although, I've re-read them a lot, so I love them all.I should re-read that too, Melissa. I love that series, as well. I'm so happy they're continuing on with the sibs.
Hope you're enjoying your book, Rocki. I loved that series, too and was sad to see it end. I'm so hoping she'll write a spin-off - there was a teaser post a while back that has me thinking yes.
Demon's Mercy by Rebecca Zanetti
Series: Dark Protectors #9
Shelf: alpha male (shelved by 2 people)
Read: 22 Apr
Rating: ✮✮✮✮½
Review:
Demon's Mercy is the second book in what I think of as Dark Protectors Part Two. Since I first learned of Logan I've wanted to know more and that feeling grew following the events of Vampire's Faith. Logan is the middle Zyllwood brother - Zane the older and Sam the younger. Zanetti didn't disappoint.
“Ah, baby. The purpose of mating is forever. You and me. Fun and sex and fights and family.”Logan's mate is a feisty fae, Mercy O'Malley. Her whole life has been molded, planned. She's determined to do what's necessary to protect her people, but she begins to see things a bit differently as she spends time with Logan. She's researched him, but reading about him on paper pales in comparison to the real thing. With him she feels what she'd already realized was lacking with the one she's been told she'll mate to save their people. With Logan, she begins to realize that her people may have sided with the wrong group, their supposed enemy may be what's needed to help them save the world. Her rebellious nature and feistiness are a perfect balance to Logan's somewhat stoic yet powerful demeanor. He's a protector, pure and simple. He's as turned on by her defiances as he is frustrated by them. Together they make a great couple.
I'm as intrigued by Hope Kayrs-Kyllwood as I was by young Janie. Similar to her mother, Hope's formed a strong friendship with a young outsider in her dreamworld. She also has two adorable friends in the real world - a young feline shifter, Libby and a vampire-demon, Pax. Seems these four will have a big part to play in the future of the series. I'm anxious to read more about them and the others we've already grown to love.
And, for the love of Pete, please save Quade and repair poor Ivar. The price these immortals pay to possibly/hopefully save the world is beyond insanely hazardous.
CONGRATULATIONS, Better Read Than Dead!We now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'science fiction'.
[Our updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Yay!! :D
Congrats on the stamp Peaceful Activists!
Thanks 😁 Go, team, go!
Jothany, I do think that Magic Burns revolves around a bit of obscure Celtic mythology which makes it hard to connect with. Also, this early in the series, I think that the Andrews still hadn't fully worked out their style and didn't have a totally clear picture of where they wanted to go and it shows. I think the best part about this one is that we get Julie and that very last line: (view spoiler). Squeeee!!!That being said, Jane Yellowrock will always be my #1, but Kate Daniels is a close 2nd, with Mercy Thompson in 3rd as my top 3 best that UF has to offer. When I started reading UF, I thought no one could top Mercy. Me of little faith. ♡
Melissa wrote: "Jothany, I do think that Magic Burns revolves around a bit of obscure Celtic mythology which makes it hard to connect with. Also, this early in the series, I think that the Andrews s..."I have no idea why I thought you were talking about Burn for Me for awhile and I’m like “there was no Julie that I remember” lol but yes you are correct. It just seemed like a history lesson and more characters. I can see the difference between Kate Daniels and Hidden Legacy writing wise so I will definitely keep with the series since I have a feeling it will only get better as it goes on
It definitely does! I want to say either book 3 or 4 was where I really got hooked. By the time I got to 5 or 6, I felt like I couldn't read them fast enough and then at the end, I started to panic because I knew it was going to be over! LOL, the true mark of a great series, for sure!
Completion Post
Shelf: Alpha Male
Book: Burn for Me
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Hidden Legacy #1
Date Finished: 4/23/19
Rating: ★★★★½
How it fits: Shelved 62x; 400 pgs
Review: The first time I read this, I was not impressed. I only gave it 3 stars. THREE STARS??? Can you believe it?!?!?! But you know what? I know what the problem was. I had just finished reading all of the Mercy Thompson books and the Alpha & Omega spinoff. I guess I wasn't prepared for how fast Mercy's series would pass me by. I had a Serious Series Hang Over . Nothing could satisfy me for months. When I look back at the books I tried to read to fill the void that everyone loves but I just don't: Harry Dresden, The Others, Elemental Assassin, Charley Davidson, I have to blame my lack of love for them on that Mercy hangover. It was a bad one. Maybe the worst one I've ever had. Thank goodness for Faith Hunter and Jane Yellowrock pulling me out of that funk! Maybe, I'll give those other guys another chance. I'm really glad that I gave Burn for Me a second look.
The first time around, this is what I said about it:
"I received a recommendation to try Ilona Andrews when I expressed my need for a new "Favorite Series". I don't think this is it. The first half of the book was dense and took a lot of concentration to understand and remember what the heck was going on historically. I did really enjoy Nevada & her family. Jury is still out on Mad Rogan."
This time, I get why people are Team Andrews. Hidden Legacy probably wasn't the best place to start. Kate would have been ideal or even The Edge where the magic system is pretty much laid out for you. I know that world building can be tedious but this time around, having that background, made a world of difference. I was able to recognize that the magic system was different than the other Andrews' series but not so much so that I had to start over from scratch. The first time around I was confused a lot of the time and I even made a note that I was really interested in the ward system. This time around I realized that there isn't a ward system, I must have been talking about the seals & circles.
I still loved Nevada and her family. This time though, it niggled at me a little more that she didn't consult with her family/business partners. like, at all. I mean ... she's 25. She maybe has 6 or 7 years of experience while her mom and grandma have lifetimes of practical experience. And yet, Nevada continually leaves them out of the decision making of the FAMILY business and out of the loop on decisions on which their livelihood also rests. She is totally dismissive of her mom who is a totally badass tactician - which doesn't make sense at all. I didn't like it. It didn't sit well with me. I suspended my disbelief though and settled for some serious side-eye instead.
Status is still the same on Mad Rogan: the jury is still out. I want to like him. I want to be hot and bothered by him but there's still something about him that creeps me out. That's the problem with some alpha males. Even if he can become a reformed psychopath, is he still a psychopath on the inside??? I just don't know.
Week 7: Psychic AbilitiesYou can also use the 2 SOS shelves listed for books as well as the popular list. Minimum 200 page count still applies.
SOS Bookshelves:
Human with Abilities
Psychic
Melissa wrote: ""That’s a perfect description of how a book hangover can affect your thoughts/like-dislike of what follows. I’ve had some instances like that but never with such well-known and loved series. I’d be interested to hear how you like some of those you named on a reread. Glad this one was better for you the second time around.
For this week’s shelf I’ll read
Good one! Hope ya like it!
I have to change my pick since I won’t be able to get in time. So I’m going with
Steph wrote: "That’s a perfect description of how a book hangover can affect your thoughts/like-dislike of what follows. I’ve had some instances like that but never with such well-known and loved series."That's how I know it has to be me. Everyone loves those guys. I want to love those guys but my Capricorn goat-brain won't let go of that stubbornness that categorized them as "Not Mercy". I will eventually find a way to trick myself though. I'm determined.
I reeeeeaaaaalllly want Harry to be my new favorite but Butcher's attitude about women is so infuriating (at least thru book 5) that he just makes me want to scream. I know, I know ... the early 2000's were a totally different time. The climate was different. I wish I would have read them back then. I would have been in my early 20's and in my "Neil Gaiman is a god and Sandman is everything" phase. I probably would have loved them.
Selection Post
Shelf: Psychic Abilities
Book: White Hot
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Hidden Legacy #2
Pages: 389
How it fits: shelved 2x
I'm so glad it fits! I have to know what happens next!
I just finished book 3 last night Melissa lol otherwise I would have used it. Now comes the wait for the next book
Did you love it?!?! I wanted to start it right away but I was hoping it would work for this week. It was really hard to resist the temptation to pick it up early, so I started Kate Daniels again. A friend is reading them for the 1st time and she's about to start book 3 - that's a really good and really terrible one. There's the Midnight Games, like a supernat Fight Club; we find out some of Saiman's secrets that are particularly juicy, we meet a new player who is going to be super significant later on, one of our favorites gets damaged beyond repair ... it's pretty devastating. So much happens in this one. So I'm going to catch up. Wish I could read them for the first time again but looking forward to catching all of the things I didn't know to look for the first time through.
I think White Hot was my favorite of the three but I really enjoyed them all. You get more of the family especially in book 3. Speaking of book 3, you got me excited for book 3 of Kate Daniels.
One of the things I reeeeaaalllly loved about KD is that you could never predict what kind of mythology the Andrews were going to pull out of their hat next ... I forgot that's where you are too! I'm excited for you! Book three is soooo much. It's fantastic and terrible. It overloads my emotions just thinking about it. I don't want to over-hype it but I think this is where things start to come together.
Sorry I haven't posted in a while this cold is beating me. So I haven't felt like getting on the computer to type everything. I love the Charlie Davidson books! They are sooooo goood. Yea I was sad to hear the series ending I hope there is a spinoff or something like that that would be awesome. I don't know why I put off reading this ninth book for so long. Well I do know I was afraid since she didn't remember anything that she wouldn't be Charlie but nope there was nothing for me to be worried about she was still herself. For the psychic ability Shelf I will read
SOS: Serious Overload of Series
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Ilona Andrews (other topics)Ilona Andrews (other topics)
Rebecca Zanetti (other topics)
Charlaine Harris (other topics)
Jim Butcher (other topics)
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Glad ya found something, Melissa. Hope you like it.
Sorry I haven’t been in touch. WiFi has been sucky at last couple of stops. I’ll update stamps as soon as I can. Yay team!
For science fiction I’m going to read