Caraval - Stephanie Garber

Title: Caraval
Author: Stephanie Garber 
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 4.5 Stars 

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I finally read and finished the Caraval book (and the rest of the series - reviews coming!) I am so glad I finally read the book, because it was AMAZING.  

The Characters

Scarlett and Donatella Dragna, the sisters who lead the series, are two characters that you can't help but love, even when they're being insufferable to each other.  They obviously had the sisterly moments where they were driving each other nuts, but it was also very obvious that they really loved each other.

Dante is a unique character, to say the least.  He is a dark, sort of brooding guy who is actively involved in Caraval.  

Julian is a sly, cunning character, and I really enjoyed the way that he and Tella ended up being....in on a plan from the beginning.  

Their father.  Let me say that again: THEIR FATHER!  That scheming, plotting, asshole.  With a father like him who needs enemies. 

And Scarlett's fiance.  Oooh boy.  She went and "fell in love" with some dude who she only communicated with via letters.  Seems legit. 

To sum up the MC's and major characters: they were all well written and well developed.  They each had a LOT OF PERSONALITY!  And each character added so much to an already amazing story.  The other more minor characters that filled the pages fleshed out this book and the story so well.  They added darkness and humor and some great fun to the game and to the book. 

The Story Itself

There was a lot of mystery and intrigue weaved throughout this entire book, and a lot of great foreshadowing for the future books in the trilogy.  The whole story was so well developed that I didn't want to leave this world and all it's magic.  

Things I absolutely Loved

-The entire island that Caraval takes place on.  

-The mystery behind who Legend actually is

-Tella being much, much sneakier than her sister realized 

-That girl on the bike. She was the historiographer of Caraval, but also did some hinting for the players, and she added an element to the story that was mysterious and fantastical.

-How the entirety of Carval took place at night.  I think that really added a great element of mystery to the game.

-Those little bits of humor that were woven into an otherwise serious book.

-This book had some great foreshadowing and really set itself up well for the rest of the series.

-The worldbuilding was fantastic and very well done 

Overall this book was fantastic and worth the read.  My only regret is that I waited so long before I got to it!

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Now reader friends - I want to hear from you!  Have you read this book.  What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments.

Perfect Halloween Reads

 

Halloween is just weeks away!  If you're looking for some spooky, scary books to get you in the mood, here's a list just for you (and any young people you might have in your life.)

The Inheritance Games - Jennifer Lynne Barnes (YA)
The Bone Witch - Rin Chupeco (YA)
The Heart Forger - Rin Chupeco (YA)
The Shadowglass - Rin Chupeco (YA)
Stalking Jack the Ripper - Kerri Maniscalo (YA)
Hunting Prince Dracula - Kerri Maniscalo (YA)
Escaping from Houdini - Kerri Maniscalo (YA)
The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman (YA) 
The Diviners - LIbba Bray (YA)
Lair of Dreams - Libba Bray (YA)
Before the Devil Breaks You - Libba Bray (YA)
The King of Crows - Libba Bray (YA)
The Monstrumologist - Rick Yancey (YA)
The Curse of the Wendigo - Rick Yancey (YA)
The Isle of Blood - Rick Yancey (YA)
The Final Descent - Rick Yancey (YA)
Dread Nation - Justine Ireland (YA)
Zombie Abbey - Lauren Baratz-Logsted (YA)

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Into the Water - Paula Hawkins (Adult)
The Last American Vampire - Seth Grahame-Greene (Adult) 
We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson (Adult)
The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson (Adult)
Psycho - Robert Bloch (Adult)
Dracula - Bram Stoker (Adult) 
Horrorstor - Grady Hendrix (Adult)

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The entire Goosebumps Series - R.L. Stine (Middle Grade. The man wrote a lot of books.  They're all perfect for a good October read.  You can find a list on his website here.)
Scare Me - K.R. Alexander (Middle Grade)
Doll Bones - Holly Black 
City of Ghosts - Victoria Schwab
Tunnel of Ghosts - Victoria Schwab 
Coraline - Neil Gaiman 
Bridge of Souls - Victoria Schwab 
Nightbooks - JA White 

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Are there any books you'd add to this list reader friends?  Drop a comment below and let me know what your favorite book(s) to read during October are! 

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali - Sabina Khan

 

Title: The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali 
Author: Sabina Khan 
Format: E-book
Rating: 5 Stars 

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I read this as part of a book group I am in on Facebook, and I didn't know entirely what to expect when I started reading.  I quickly became engrossed in the book, and even with all the crappy things that happen to Rukhsana, I fell in love with the book.  It has such a good message for young people, and it is such an important book for teens to read.

I am going to have a much different perspective on this book because I am not Muslim, but I'll try my best to give this book the review it deserves.

I want to start with the one thing about this book that I didn't really find that believable.  At the end of the book Rukhsana's parents do a complete 180 and start loving and accepting her so much that they even try to find a nice Muslim lesbian for her to date.  I love that her parents finally realized that they could lose their daughter if they didn't come around, but the extent to which it happened seemed far fetched.  It would have been much more believable an ending had the transformation been slower and harder to reach.  It takes a lot of time to dismantle deeply held beliefs, and sometimes it even takes a lot of therapy.  It takes more than one event to clear everything up.  So I just think there could have been a bit more to the ending. 

Other than that, I loved this book so much. While I didn't love all the characters, I did love that they were all very well written and well developed. They were each integral to this story and what happened throughout it. 

Characters I Loved:

Rukhsana - she was stronger than people gave her credit for, and had so much empathy for people, and cared so much about others around her. 

Sohail - he fought so hard for the right thing, and even though things ended so tragically for him he continued fighting for what was right until the very end. 

Shaila - Rukhsana's cousin was so so amazing, loving, and accepting.  Se welcomed Rukhsana just as she was after she came out and was so willing to be there and stand up for what was right. 

Aamir - He was the best brother Rukhsana could have asked for. He would give her a hard time like brothers do, but underneath it all he was there for his sister and always did what was right to help and protect her. 

Characters I didn't really like:

Rukhsana's friends - they were so tone deaf and didn't even make any effort to understand Islam and why Rukhsana's parents held their wrong beliefs.  They habitually told Rukhsana that it really couldn't possibly be that bad and brushed what she told them under the rug.

The rest of the book:

I thought this book was well written right up to the end.  While the events were hard to read about and may seem extreme to some people, I had to remind myself that many people, including white western people, grow up with parents who have extreme belief systems.  Rukhsana goes through a lot when her parents bring her to Bangladesh and try to force her into an arranged marriage, but she and they come out of it stronger and more willing to examine toxic beliefs. 

The events that happened in this book were extreme and toxic, but I believe they were necessary for the plot of the book.  It is so heartbreaking that there are parts of the world where people are forced into arranged marriages or killed because of who they are.  It is hard to know that there are places (yes even the United States) where religious extremism literally causes people to die.  Reading this book will open your eyes to the way some people feel and believe in other countries, and I am glad that I read it even though it broke my heart in many ways.

I think the plot in this book was well developed and well planned out. It moved well together, and every thing that happened moved right into the next thing flawlessly.  With the exception of that ending, I think everything in the book worked together well. 

Most of the characters were really well developed and well written.  Also, even though Rukhsana's friends were the way they were, I think that was what opened their eyes to the fact that they actually need to listen to people and be respectful of the fact that not everybody's life is just like theirs. And, while there are many teenagers who are very mature, most teenagers are still at an age where they are learning not to be so self-involved.  They are learning to be more aware of the world around them, and that's just part of the growth process for teens.  I think everything that happened in this book is definitely going to help her friends grow and change and develop a greater awareness of the world around them. 

Like I mentioned, the ending was really the only thing that fell flat for me.  Other than that, this is a stellar book and an absolute must read! 

If you've already read this book and you have thoughts leave me a comment below.  I'd love to hear what you think. 

Take a Hint, Dani Brown - Talia Hibbert

 

Title: Take a Hint, Dani Brown
Author: Talia Hibbert 
Format: Paperback
Rating: 5 Stars 

As you have probably heard, Talia Hibbert's been taking the romance world by storm!  And that storm is well deserved - Hibbert's Brown sister trilogy is so cute and so funny.  Every book in the series is a must read for anyone who likes cute romances filled with lots of chemistry and tons of great Oops moments that are bound to make you laugh.

This is another book where I can't think of anything I didn't like.  The characters, the romance, the relationship between Dani and her sisters - all amazing. 

The characters were all really well written and well developed.  I like that we got to learn about Dani's and Zaf's past and why that made them who they were.  That was really important because their pasts paved the way for them to learn, grow, develop, and really truly be happy with each other.  I know it's probably a bit cliche to say that the MC is your favorite character, but Dani really was my favorite character.  I loved her and her go get it attitude. I loved that she learned a lot about herself and what she really wanted while she was faking it with Zaf.  She really did a lot of seeking and self growth throughout the course of the book.  

I also loved that Zaf was aware of the impact his past had on him and was willing to put in more work to change his mindset and his life.  He knew he had so many issues with anxiety because of his past, and he had let that rule him for a while, but then he grew, and he learned, and he changed and made more efforts to further himself.  

This book was, in addition to being chock full of great characters, so so funny.  There were some serious things in the book, of course, but overall, Rom-Com is the best way to describe this book because it is romantic and hilarious.  (Dani+Elevator!  Come ON!) Talia Hibbert definitely has a way of creating smart, well written books that will make readers laugh out loud.

I loved that the book flowed so well. The book was so well written and the events that happened throughout the book helped me get a better insight into the characters and really helped the story feel fleshed out and well developed. 

Overall, this is a cute smooshy romance everyone should read.  I'll be waiting here for your comments when you finish it!

If you've already read Take a Hint, Dani Brown, tell me what you think below! 

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry - Joya Goffney

 

Title: Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry
Author: Joya Goffney 
Format: E-Book 
Rating: 5 Stars 

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry is a book that every teenager should be reading right now!  It's well written, relevant, funny at times, and so full of heart and emotion.

Quinn is teen who loves to keep lists - she uses it as a way to get her emotions out because she hates talking about her feelings out loud.  Enter Carter, a boy at her school who mistakenly grabs her journal, and then reads it and, after a busy moment in class, forgets it in a classroom.  Bullying ensues, but so does a lot of really great stuff that drastically improves Quinn's life. 

Quinn and Carter are teenagers who both face hurdles you'd expect like parental expectations, snotty "friends", all those wonderful teachers at school. They also have to try and navigate life around their white peers and friends, most of whom are completely unaware of their racism and the microaggressions they are committing. 

I honestly can't think of a single thing I didn't like about this book.  I loved the story, the characters the development of every single thing. This is definitely a book that will leave lasting imprints on me for a long long time. 

The characters in this book were all so wonderful and so well written, and the author portrayed their experiences as teens very well.  (Take that opinion for what it is - I am 40 after all, so it's been a while since I was a teenager.) Each character was unique unto themselves, and there was a lot of growth in our two main characters, Quinn and Carter.  They both developed a great sense of who they were, Quinn especially. She grew from someone who was afraid to let things out, and bottled things inside, to someone her grandma knew she could be.

The connection Quinn and Carter had with each other was great.  They started out in this awkward, weird, helping each other space, but the vibe between them was there from the beginning.  They grew into that and developed and learned about and from each other so much. 

I think the author did a great job of showing that these teens are still so young, but that they have the ability to grow and change and make decisions.  Yes, teens are still developing, their brains and bodies are still changing, but they are smarter than people realize, and they have the ability, given the right skill development, to make decisions and solve problems.  The author showed that so well.  

I really loved everything about this book, and it's a book I'd recommend to everyone!  

Bout of Books - Day One Update

 Hi reader friends!  I'm coming to you with a lovely Bout of Books Update.  It's been a good week so far (and it's only Tuesday.)

So, what did I do on Monday you ask? Well, here's what I read:

Books Started: 4
Books Finished: 0
Pages Read: 92 

Books I'm Currently Working On: 

The Final Girl Support Group - Grady Hendrix
The Lost Apothecary - Sarah Penner
Kate in Waiting - Becky Albertalli
Hollowpox - Jessica Townsend 

Are you doing Bout of Books? How are things going for you?  If you're not doing Bout of Books (join us) tell me what you're reading anyway! 

Ace of Spades - Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Title: Ace of Spades
Author: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé 
Format: E-Book
Rating: 5 Stars

Devon and Chiamaka are students at the elite Niveus Academy.  They are both smart, talented, and the only black kids at this school.  This is not by concidence.  However, Chiamaka and Devon haven't thought about the why of this until their senior year when they both get assigned to be the head students. After this happens, things start to get not just scary but downright terrifying for these two kids. 

Devon was a surprise vote for the head boy, because up until that point he went through school with only one person he called a friend, but it was more like someone who was just friendly so Devon called it a friendship.  Anyway, that's how he and Chiamaka get to know more about each other.  It's also how they realize they are both getting messages from someone calling themself Aces. 

I don't want to give away what happens throughout the book because if you haven't read it yet, I want you to be surprised and to enjoy every minute of this book.  So let me say this:

I loved the characters in this book.  Let me be more specific: I love Devon, Chiamaka, and Devon's mom.  I hated all the other characters.  The characters are so well written and really show how fear and terror can affect people. The two main characters also show a lot of smarts in this book as well because they research and learn so much about their schools twisted history. 

The characters also played well with and off each other, in the sense that what happened between them and what built up worked.  Each character was also very distinct (and in many cases was a complete fuckwad in their own right.) 

Ace of Spades did a great job of setting up the story and ramping up the terror and the twists with each passing page.  There were so many holy crap moments in this book that I wanted to throw my kindle across the room.  The book was gripping and terrifying and so horrific and I loved it all.

This book also did a great job of delving into the world of systemic racism and the way white people have really gone to great lengths to push down black people (you know it's true.  We have not been good.)  The way this book looks at how education has impacted black people, the way poverty has impacted black people, and the way all of that has continued to benefit white people is not surprising, but it is a topic that we all need to continue to talk about and read about. 

I was shocked at just how deep the events in the book went, and how every single person at the school, and the alumni, and so many more, were involved in the events that happened to Chiamaka and Devon.  I kept thinking it couldn't possibly get any worse, and then bam - it was just truly terrifying.

I highly recommend this book to all readers.  This is one thriller every single person needs to get their hands on right now.