Book Review: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (The Heroes of Olympus #1)

Rating: 4.5/5 A book with enjoyable characters but annoying tropes. Book CWs Character DeathMythological CreaturesParental abandonmentBullyingManipulation Premise Jason is on a school bus for a class field trip. His hand is happily intertwined with his girlfriend Piper's, and his best friend Leo is jabbering away in front of him. The problem is, Jason doesn't remember …

Book Review: Timothy Mean and the Time Machine by William A.E. Ford

★★★★ I fun a rhyme-y kids book full of adventures from across time! Book CWs Child (non-imminent) Danger Premise Timothy Mean is a young kid who gets bored one day and decides to make a time machine out of junk in his house. Using his new machine, he travels across time--all the way from dinosaurs …

Book Review: The First I Do by Sarah N. Ham

Rating: 2/5 A quick read with some issues that I think could be easily fixed. Book CWs RapeSexual AssaultBullyingControlling/Abusive behavior Premise When Maybelle Lloyd and Michael Hawkins were children, they participated in a wedding--their wedding. They don't remember, but it was enacted at the request from Michael's terminally ill mother. Thirteen years later, Michael overhears …

Witchathon 2019 TBR Announcement

For those of you who have been following, you might know that I participated in my very first readathons last month when I entered in House Battles and Mythothon. I admit that I went a little overboard and read like a madwoman because I became obsessed with the idea of reading at least 300 pages …

Book Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

★★★★ Not as likable as Fangirl, but still an entertaining and light-hearted read. Book CWs Paranormal CreaturesCharacter DeathViolenceRacism (ish)MurderAbuseBullying Premise Simon Snow is known as the highly-prophesied Chosen One in the wizarding world. Unfortunately, he is--and always has been--an extremely incompetent wizard, a fact that his roommate (and nemesis) Baz never fails to remind him …

Book Review: House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

★★★ A rollercoaster of a book that had me going back and forth between loving and hating it. Book CWs Character Death/MurderGoreParanormal CreaturesNot sure the word for it but there are times when you don't know what is real and what is not Premise The Duke of Highmoor has watched over the People of Salt …

Book Review: The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg

Rating: 4.5/5 A surprisingly thrilling read that I finished within a day. Book CWs RapeMurderCharacter deathAbuseManipulationAnimal deathAnimal cruelty Premise The Kingdom is a fantasy theme park that offers its guest their own happily ever after. As part of the experience, The Kingdom "employs" seven android princesses known as the Fantasists designed specifically to make people …

Book Review: Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli (Creekwood #2)

★★★ I really wanted to like this book but I couldn't stand Leah as a character. Book CWs HomophobiaBiphobia (in particular, there is a horrible rant in the book where a character is yelled at for not being "bisexual enough")Fatphobia Premise Leah Burke is one of Simon Spier's best friends but even after Simon was …

Book Review: With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Rating: 4.5/5 (More like 4.75) A book that I pretty much bought for the cover but was happily surprised with how much I loved it. Book CWs Parent AbandonmentCharacter DeathRacism Premise Emoni Santiago is a single mother supporting her daughter and her abuela, all while trying to graduate from high school. With all of the …

Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Rating: 4.5/5 I liked pretty much everything about this book except for one specific thing. Book CWs Parent AbandonmentCheatingExploitation AnxietyEating Disorders Note: If you're looking to read Carry On, I suggest reading that first as Fangirl has spoilers for it throughout the book. Premise Cath and her twin sister Wren have been Simon Snow fans …