Bookish Worlds I’d Want to and Never Want to Live In | Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl to bring bookish friends together. A new topic is posted each week.

I started this list thinking about bookish worlds i’d never want to live in, trying to gain inspiration from other posts since it’s late tuesday already (I usually have these planned out). Turns out a lot of others no-worlds, like The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, I don’t have such a problem with. Would I prefer to live in a world with cruel fae, probably bullying and threatening me? No, and it might be the “fuck everything” vibe all around me now when it’s exam season, but it would be interesting. So here’s a couple worlds I would like to live in and a couple I wouldn’t.

More bookish worlds I would love to live in

I mean, Hogwarts and the world of Harry Potter is a given. I’m a slytherin, took some time to accept that when I was like eleven, but I’ve come to embrace it.

The Graceling realm (by Kristin Cashore) is tough to live in, but I would definitely live here if I could get a grace, which is kind of a gift or magic ability, I’d even take the ability of making everything clean really quickly.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman, like I already live in cold Norway, I’d take the gods and godesses as well.

The Raven Cycle world by Maggie Steifvater, like I just want the woods to be magical. They already are a bit, but you know.

Bookish worlds I would never live in

Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente is kind of our world in the future, just with another universe (hopefully) with lots and lots of aliens. So many types, who all have a big music competition (it makes sense in the book, almost, it’s hilarious anyway) where humans extinction depends on proving us sentient by not coming in last place. It all depends on one song, by artists barely any has heard about. Like Eurovision, hah.

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin has a world where nazis took over. Enough reasoning, awesome book, here’s my full review.

Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen, the book takes place in the wild west, I wouldn’t last long and it doesn’t sound fun.

 

i can not make these boxes disappear or bother to find two more books

and i can’t care because i have a fever, send tips if you know how to

 

Quote of the Week #2

I’m hopefully studying for spanish exams in this moment, but here’s a quote of writing from a book I would highly recommend for getting tips or simply understand Stephen King’s thoughts on writing.

When Exam Season Is Upon Us

So. This blog has had a very quiet week. I’m checking in at 10pm to say this quiet time is temporary, I had a couple posts scheduled when going to Belgium a month ago, but since then it’s been crazy busy. And I was chosen to have spanish written exams next tuesday, which I’ve known for a week already and not done anything abotu because family has been visiting, which leaves me with a week left to learn an entire language and how to write spanish essays well. One thing is knowing enough of a language to survive, another entirely seperate thing is knowing how to write argumentative and informative texts. The damn verbs are what’s killing me here.

Enough about exams, talk of them is all over the place and have to grow quite boring. The good news is that my last obligatory spanish class is in a few weeks, as I did not voluntarily put this upon myself for next year as well. No, this person is going to have to survive politics, as it was the only class available besides damn economics for business and I looked at all those spreadsheet formats you have to memorize and was like “shoot me”, along with physics and math. I can already see how this is not a well-formulated blog post by that sentence alone, but bear with me. I’m trying to get my thoughts to turn into spanish the way I imagine alchemists tried to turn objects into gold, and failing just as miserably. 

Books I’m reading: I still read some to relax, even though that too has been reduced drastically. I recently bought “The essential Rumi” in some kind of desperation for someone to tell me what’s important and right in this world. It’s not that, which I never expected either, but so far (literally ten pages in) nice poems. I also got “The wastland and other poems” by T. S. Elliot and “Oathbringer” by Brandon Sanderon, which I haven’t started yet, but damn that’s a physically large book.

What I am actually reading is “Space Opera” by Catherynne M. Valente and it’s fantastically absurd story about a interstellar, multiplanetary song contest where if earth comes last they’re completely destroyed. And I also finished “Edgedancer” by Brandon Sanderson because it seemed like a good thing to do before Oathbringer and did not even realize I’ve written a whole review on it before right now. I’m out of it everyone. See you next week 🙂

The only important thing here: regular scheduling back in the end of next week (which solely means more posts and book reviews), thank you to everyone who follows me as I recently noticed I had 100 blog posts!

Books I Disliked But Still Glad I Read| Top Ten Tueday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl to bring bookish friends together. A new topic is posted each week. This week’s prompt I found especially difficult, so it’s going to be a shorter list of five books. 

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

I’ve written a whole review of why I didn’t like this book. In short this book solved a lot of problems in usual ya fantasy books, which is why I think people like it, but it created maybe even more. I’m still angry at those footnotes (which was the least of the problems). Still, glad to have read it since so many is praising it, but I’m not one of them.

 

 

Storm Glass by Maria V Snyder

 

I really liked Poison Study by Maria V Snyder and thought of her as a possible new fav author. Every other series I’ve read by her has proved this wrong, as it becomes unoriginal and the characters flat. Still glad I gave them a shot, think I will stop trying the series now.

 

 

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

 

This book had its problems and overall it was too pretentious and predictable to like it. If you want the summer-house group story read “the summer I turned pretty” by Jenny Han instead. The mystery part wasn’t a big deal, as far as I remember. But it was enjoyable for a while, until it got boring and I can see why some people like it.

 

Ash by Malinda Lo

 

This book has got a lot of praise, but I didn’t like this one either. I think it’s a problem with me and Malinda Lo’s writing overall. I can like the plots, like in Legends, but it feels slow and I lose interest. Cute lesbian romance though.

 

 

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

The book that made me give up on the heroes of olympus series, even if I loved the Percy Jackson series. I don’t think I’ve bothered to take up any other Riordan series since either, and it’s been four fucking years. That’s how bad it became. Good to have finished the series though.

Edgedancer by Brandon Sanderson| Review

Stormlight #2.5

Pages: 270

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Synopsis

Lift has appeared a few times in the first two Stormlight books, but here you get an entire story around her. From how she saved the prince, to seeing more of how she is able to use her awesomeness, Lift being hunted and hunting the Darkness and trying to find out if she wants to take on responsibilities.

 

My thoughts

Rating out of five:

I read this fairly quickly and thoroughly enjoyed it. I just picked this book up because I wanted to start Oathbringer and saw many recommendations to read this first. Lift’s story was a really positive surprise, as there wasn’t much focus on her in the first two Stormlight books I didn’t realize her childish personality had such a context and background. She’s smart, in ways I recognize from Mistborn’s Vin and that helps to take her seriously. I really liked her as a character and am looking forward to finding out her place in Oatbringer and why Sanderson seemed it necessary to tell this story. Not that I’m complaining as it’s a good one!

The story itself managed to surprise me a couple times. Like I suspected certain people to be more than appeared, which Sanderson always does in these books, but not in the ways that mattered in the end. I especially like how the whole self-discovery of Lift is well-done, without being very obvious about it as she’s running away (again), handling a new city and plotting her way through every crisis. There’s no better way to get to know characters personalities than through their interactions with others and a few moral dilemmas.

It had started to consume her. If she’d stayed, how long would it have been before she wasn’t Lift anymore? How long until she’d have been gobbled up, another girl left in her place? Similar face, but at the same time all new?

Also Wyndle is absoloutly adorable, even if he seems pretty annoying to have to deal with all the time. I love the dynamic talking with Voidbringers or other daemons/magical animals brings. In every book, but this one in particular, Sanderson writes with such a playfullness that I sometimes think he’s mocking us all and it’s wonderful.

I would recommend reading this book if you’ve started the Stormlight Archive and is interested! I read it between the second and third book, as seems to be right. A tips is to get the “Arcanum Unbounded” by Sanderson as it contains Edgedancer and other Cosmere short stories by Sanderson, for about the same price.

The feelings this book gave me: pure glee and grinding my teeth in fear of Lift getting caught at every corner, warm feelings for this world and all the personalities in it.

 

favourite quotes *spoilers*

“I want control,” she said, opening her eyes. “Not like a king or anything. I just want to be able to control it, a little. My life. I don’t want to get shoved around, by people or by fate or whatever. I just . . . I want it to be me who chooses.”

“I will listen,” Lift shouted, “to those who have been ignored!”

 

 

Quote of the Week #1

Hey! In my book reviews I’ve gotten feedback that people like it when I include my favourite quotes for the book. I adore quotes. Over the years I’ve collected a lot of them, mostly from books or by author and I thought I would try to post one each week. Some times it might be a poem. Let me know if you want me to continue! And if you’re doing something similiar please link it in the comments because I love these things.

 

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi | Review

Pages: 210

Genre: memoir

 

Synopsis

The author, Paul Kalanithi, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer after just compling his education to become a neurosurgeon. In this memoir he talks about how difficult it was to go from the surgeon to a patient, how he needed to face his own mortality and death and not would be able to have the long career and life he planned for with his wife. He died in March 2015, while finishing this book and it’s an unforgettable story with wisdom, life perspectives, struggles, love and uncertianties.

My thoughts

Rating out of five:

While reading this book I was on the verge of crying all the time. I started reading it in an airport bus, which was not a good idea as I nearly cried there, on the plane and going into a new city. It was and awesome experience though, to take part and learn of Paul’s last time and his perspectives and reflections not only on his terminal illness, but on his education and choices until then. It was so many details and experiences from the many years he was a medicine student, one of the best to become a neurosurgeon at that.

I’ve spent some time in hospitals unfortunately, and it was very interesting to get one doctor’s viewpoint. He said himself how his thoughts changed on patient and the whole process as he became the patient himself, the uncertainties for the future and how a human often has to make the most difficult choices of their lives in those doctor offices. Paul gives his story, but he also is a people-watcher and gives detailed decriptions of how he had to be considerate of different personalities when he had to tell them of a brain-tumor or needing surgery, which I found really interesting.

Paul considered being an author as he was an avid reader and writer when he was younger, and his talent becomes obvious in this book. It’s so well-written, a thing I never expected, along with the interesting thoughts he has. Well worth the read just for the writing, when his story is the most amazing part. In many ways this book was about life choices, which all obviously become more serious when having a terminal diagnosis.

The feeling this book gave me: I was sad at how unpredictable and horrible life can be, especially as I can sympatize too much with watching your body fall apart as you become sick. But mostly I was actually just interested and curious. It’s a book about life as much as it’s about death. I’m so happy for this book’s succeess, it deserves it all and would really recommend it.

 

Books With My Favorite Color On the Cover | Top Ten Tueday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl to bring bookish friends together. A new topic is posted each week.

Now, I’m horrible at choosing one favourite anything. So one colour? Ended up with three, kind of. It makes this list a nice gradient though. 

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

 

Aahh, anyone else feeling nostalgic to the beginning of throne of glass? When our main character was eighteen years old and an assassin trying to make it? A simpler time, haha.

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book has been on my TBR forever and I would love to hear your thoughts if you’ve read it!

Of Triton by Anna Banks

 

An entertaining summer read, with mermaids! It’s the second book in the series, which is great and full of all the magical water adventure you’d expect.

 

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

A fantastic book that I’ve just written a whole review about.

La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman

 

 

I’ve heard mixed opinions on this book, but I would still very much like to read it. The cover is lovely though.

 

 

 

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

 

 

I need more books with f/f relationships in my life, and this one was lovely. Here’s a complete review, but I was crying reading this and it’s thoughts on loneliness were spot-on like I’ve never read before.

The F- It List by Julie Halpern

Another book that’s been on my TBR forever and I think I’ll have to get to soon. Would love to hear your opinions if you have some!

 

The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

On my TBR list, it’s a boarding school with magic so I’m sold.

The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld by Nina LaCour

 

This series is great! In short, they’re a group of people who get one hour extra each day, so 25 hours. For one hour everything in the world stops, and from there the plot unfolds. Made me think of how I would spend the extra hour.

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

Look at that cover! It’s soo pink! And the title is great. I heard it had lesbian and bisexual characters, so it was quickly added to my tbr.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi | Review

Pages: 540

Genre: fantasy

Synopsis

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic, when her mother was alive and powerful enough to summon souls. It was all taken away from her when the king one night suceeded in making magic disappear. That began the horrible mistreatment of maji people, where magic-users like Zélie’s mother were murdered. Zélie is determined to bring hope and magic to her people again. She gets some unexpected company of a princess running away from the castle and needs to go against a prince under the king’s orders, trying to get rid of magic for good.  

 

 

My thoughts

Rating out of five:

Children of blood and bone, what a fitting and heartbreaking title. The story is clearly connected to current events and murders of black youth in USA. As I read I was making the connections to current events around refugees and murders of black youth in the US, and in the afterword the author clearly states that as her intention. Full applause for making it clear, there’s no hinting or possibility for misinterpertation here. The way magic is intertwined with ethnicity and racism in this book is also something I’ve rarely seen before and makes this work as an excellent fantasy book as well.

the few things i didn’t like

It was a bit typical that there’s one moon left before magic disappears forever, so all the events need to happen quickly which leaves little time to develop abilities. Very convenient for the storytelling, but a choice that doesn’t match the excellence of the rest of the book. Another thing I did not like was how the plot is furthered so much by group settling down with new friends, being attacked, a lot of people killed, which leads to guilt and some drama, before it all starts over. It’s not unormal in fantasy journey books and it’s done well, but it made the book more predictable.

the characters

I never started trusting prince Inan and after finishing the book I still don’t. Every time the brother Tzain makes his distrust of him and frustration of Zélie clear I’m cheering, even though he gets annoying at times. Zélie is a character I can fall in love with. I didn’t quite get there in this book, but so excited for her development in sequels. Amari, Inan’s sister and the princess, grew on me and the author really played with and twisted the stereotype of naive princess’ first time in the big world. I especially liked her story and the tension between her and her brother, where they struggled to separate what was their awful actions and what was them being controlled by a very abusive father (the king).

A thing that for a while seemed like could bridge the differences in views, experiences and politics between Zélie and prince Inan was seeing into each others feelings. I liked how it didn’t fix everything, it didn’t create instantly understanding or world-peace, but it’s laid out as the first step that everyone need to take. Magic simply made it easier for these two (I still am curious to know why).

“In that moment I realize how wrong I’ve truly been. It doesn’t matter if I’m in her head. I’ll never understand all her pain.”

Also can you blame me for not trusting Inan’s slick talk –

“With that desire, everything becomes clear. It all begins to make sense. We don’t need to fear magic. We only need each other.”

The feeling this book gave me: I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading long into the night. It’s definitely entertaining, but more importantly is how it talks about conflicts between different ethnicities, how both sides have done wrong, but only one is very visibly enslaved. This book contains a lot of good thoughts and ideas, my concern is that the young adult label won’t make it reach audiences that needs it the most. The title is so fitting in the point it makes that children from all the groups are the same, but at the same time one group has had much more of their blood spilled and that has detrimental results. If you want to give a, not so political as maybe humanitarian message, through fantasy this is the way to do it.

favourite quotes

“You know how to win,” she says. “Just make sure you know when to fight.”

Now chaos surrounds me, pulsing through every breath and heartbeat. It sings as blood splatters through the air, screams as boats explode into oblivion.

Book Series I Want to Finish | Book Things

So I’ve gone through a lot of my unfinished series and sorted them into those I want to finish and those I’ve finally given up on, if you want that second list please let me know.

Splintered by A.G. Howard

 

It’s a great series so far and I have yet to read book three Ensnared and the shorter story Untamed. I need to know how all these characters ends up, even though I didn’t feel as excited for book two as book one. It helps that it has fantastic goodreads ratings (4.2!!)

 

Demonata by Darren Shan

Listen, I started this series back when I was a kid. It was absoloutely horrifying and I LOVED IT. Darren Shan was the author behind a lot of my nightmares, but I weirdly related to the main character that as far as I remember was nothing like me. I’ve read book one through eight out of ten and I really want to read the whole thing again. I distinctly remember a boy absoloutly hating his sister and putting rat guts in her hair towel. And then everyone partners up with demons, or something. There’s some twisted characters. Darren Shan’s other series Cirque du Freak is a great vampire series as well. I’m convincing myself here, I need to pick these up again soon.

All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness

 

I really liked book one, I don’t really remember book two. I think I’ll need to reread it along with reading book three, which is the reason I haven’t done it yet. I hate rereading books I kind of remember, if they’re not really good. I love witch books though, and the time travelling in this series was actually good.

 

 

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter me was a nice trilogy, I didn’t agree with every choice and the first book was the best, but especially with the novellas I was satisfied. Then a new book comes out, which I’m all excited about and I’ve seen one good review in a sea of bad ones among the book blogs I follow. They’re all saying how excited they were, then the characters changed too much and all went to shit. I’m slightly horrified, but still thinking about reading it. It has a good goodreads rating, but I’m suspicious.

 

Of Neptune by Anna Banks

 

This is a cute and entertainting mermaid series and I’ll be delighted to continue it with the third book and novellas during next summer. I really like gathering up summer reads, anyone else?

 

 

 

The Others by Anne Bishop

 

Vision in Silver, the third book in the excellent The Other, an urban fantasy series. It’s one of the better urban fantasy I’ve read, maybe beaten by Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thomson series. If you have any urban fantasy recommendations, send them my way! I really like how the community of supernatural beings are built up in this one, along with the main characters place among them as an diplomat of sorts.