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notesbynnenna's Reviews (513)
Isn't it the best feeling when you pick up a book and get drawn into the world immediately? That's how I felt while I was reading Uprooted. I've clearly been sleeping on Naomi Novik because this book was so good.
In this fantasy world, the Dragon claims one maiden every ten years. However, the Dragon is not an actual dragon, but a mysterious and powerful wizard. Agnieszka, our main character, is certain that her best friend, Kasia, will be chosen, since she's the prettiest, bravest, and most accomplished girl of their age group. She is shocked when she is chosen instead, and can't imagine what the Dragon sees in her. Soon she realizes that all the tales she's heard about the Dragon over the years are not quite true, and also that there may be more to her than meets the eye.
I really loved this world. It was rich and full of magic. The descriptions are so lush that I could picture the settings clearly in my head. Novik's writing really drew me into the story. In a way, it felt a bit like it was being narrated by a storyteller, like I was sitting around a fire listening to someone weave this tale into existence.
Agnieszka was also a really compelling main character. She was strong in the face of adversity, resilient, and brave, even though she didn't think she could be any of those things. It's so rewarding to be rooting for a main character and follow along on their journey as they start to reach their potential.
I was sad when I finished this. It felt like I'd been on an adventure, a big journey, and all too soon, it was over. I enjoyed this book a lot and I'm so looking forward to reading Novik's other novel.
In this fantasy world, the Dragon claims one maiden every ten years. However, the Dragon is not an actual dragon, but a mysterious and powerful wizard. Agnieszka, our main character, is certain that her best friend, Kasia, will be chosen, since she's the prettiest, bravest, and most accomplished girl of their age group. She is shocked when she is chosen instead, and can't imagine what the Dragon sees in her. Soon she realizes that all the tales she's heard about the Dragon over the years are not quite true, and also that there may be more to her than meets the eye.
I really loved this world. It was rich and full of magic. The descriptions are so lush that I could picture the settings clearly in my head. Novik's writing really drew me into the story. In a way, it felt a bit like it was being narrated by a storyteller, like I was sitting around a fire listening to someone weave this tale into existence.
Agnieszka was also a really compelling main character. She was strong in the face of adversity, resilient, and brave, even though she didn't think she could be any of those things. It's so rewarding to be rooting for a main character and follow along on their journey as they start to reach their potential.
I was sad when I finished this. It felt like I'd been on an adventure, a big journey, and all too soon, it was over. I enjoyed this book a lot and I'm so looking forward to reading Novik's other novel.
3.5 stars
In the world of Seraphina, humans and dragons live side by side. They've formed a peace treaty so that they can coexist, but the treaty is strained. Humans are still afraid of dragons and many humans consider dragons revolting.
The book focuses on Seraphina, who is a music teacher at the royal palace. Unlike most people, she doesn't fear dragons. But she is afraid of her big secret being revealed, a secret that could destroy her life completely.
There's a lot of interesting politics in this book surrounding humans and dragons coexisting. Dragons are shunned or openly despised and often preyed upon because they are different. It's interesting to draw parallels between the dragons and race relations in our current society.
Seraphina spends a lot of time grappling with her secret and trying to keep it hidden so that she can continue with the life she leads. She longs to fit in and to find the place where she belongs, which is something I think many people can relate to. I really liked her as a character, especially as we got to know her more. I liked that she was highly intelligent, a bit willful, and beautiful.
As with many fantasy books, I found the world a bit complicated at first, but soon enough I got used to it and was able to figure out new words via context clues. I liked this book and enjoyed it while I was reading it, but I'm not certain yet if I felt strongly enough about the story to the continue the series. We shall see!
In the world of Seraphina, humans and dragons live side by side. They've formed a peace treaty so that they can coexist, but the treaty is strained. Humans are still afraid of dragons and many humans consider dragons revolting.
The book focuses on Seraphina, who is a music teacher at the royal palace. Unlike most people, she doesn't fear dragons. But she is afraid of her big secret being revealed, a secret that could destroy her life completely.
There's a lot of interesting politics in this book surrounding humans and dragons coexisting. Dragons are shunned or openly despised and often preyed upon because they are different. It's interesting to draw parallels between the dragons and race relations in our current society.
Seraphina spends a lot of time grappling with her secret and trying to keep it hidden so that she can continue with the life she leads. She longs to fit in and to find the place where she belongs, which is something I think many people can relate to. I really liked her as a character, especially as we got to know her more. I liked that she was highly intelligent, a bit willful, and beautiful.
As with many fantasy books, I found the world a bit complicated at first, but soon enough I got used to it and was able to figure out new words via context clues. I liked this book and enjoyed it while I was reading it, but I'm not certain yet if I felt strongly enough about the story to the continue the series. We shall see!
Fantasy with a kickass heroine? Sign me up!
I thought this was a really great fantasy read. In this world, some people are Graced with special abilities. Our main character is named Katsa, and her Grace is killing. She's forced to use her powers to server her uncle, the king, but she longs to do more than be the king's thug.
There's a lot of adventure in this book, but it's a slow-burn adventure, which I loved. Katsa was a great character. Not only was she physically strong and badass (she had grown men quaking in their boots), but she was also strong-willed and principled. There's also good character development for Katsa and it was really fun to see how she evolved over the course of the book.
This book explores the notion of having control over your own destiny and about learning to accept who you are. Katsa realizes that although she didn't ask for her powers, she can control how she chooses to use them.
I enjoyed the world and the whole concept of being a Graceling- it's such a cool idea. After I finished, I realized that this was the first book in a series, so I do plan to continue the series at some point!
I thought this was a really great fantasy read. In this world, some people are Graced with special abilities. Our main character is named Katsa, and her Grace is killing. She's forced to use her powers to server her uncle, the king, but she longs to do more than be the king's thug.
There's a lot of adventure in this book, but it's a slow-burn adventure, which I loved. Katsa was a great character. Not only was she physically strong and badass (she had grown men quaking in their boots), but she was also strong-willed and principled. There's also good character development for Katsa and it was really fun to see how she evolved over the course of the book.
This book explores the notion of having control over your own destiny and about learning to accept who you are. Katsa realizes that although she didn't ask for her powers, she can control how she chooses to use them.
I enjoyed the world and the whole concept of being a Graceling- it's such a cool idea. After I finished, I realized that this was the first book in a series, so I do plan to continue the series at some point!
1.5 stars
I read the synopsis for this and thought it could be interesting, but then I actually read the book and it was not for me.
In this novel, Harry's dad dies under somewhat mysterious circumstances, so he returns to Maine to look after his stepmother and to try to understand what happened to his dad. There's also this whole inappropriate relationship thing where Harry is attracted to his stepmom and she kind of seduces him? Yep, that happens.
I think I should have known better when it came to the plot of this book. I thought it might be a bit taboo and suspenseful, but instead it was disturbing and uncomfortable.
As the reader, I felt like I was kept at a distance throughout the story, which meant that I wasn't very invested in the characters. I thought Harry was such a bland main character. He just bumbles about and lets things happen to him.
There's a little bit of intrigue in the mystery of Harry's dad's death, but again, the characters were not compelling, so I couldn't bring myself to care much about the mystery. In the end, I didn't enjoy the writing or the plot of this book, so I would not recommend it.
I read the synopsis for this and thought it could be interesting, but then I actually read the book and it was not for me.
In this novel, Harry's dad dies under somewhat mysterious circumstances, so he returns to Maine to look after his stepmother and to try to understand what happened to his dad. There's also this whole inappropriate relationship thing where Harry is attracted to his stepmom and she kind of seduces him? Yep, that happens.
I think I should have known better when it came to the plot of this book. I thought it might be a bit taboo and suspenseful, but instead it was disturbing and uncomfortable.
As the reader, I felt like I was kept at a distance throughout the story, which meant that I wasn't very invested in the characters. I thought Harry was such a bland main character. He just bumbles about and lets things happen to him.
There's a little bit of intrigue in the mystery of Harry's dad's death, but again, the characters were not compelling, so I couldn't bring myself to care much about the mystery. In the end, I didn't enjoy the writing or the plot of this book, so I would not recommend it.
3.5 stars
As soon as I heard the news about Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse adaptation coming to Netflix, I rushed out to pick up the Shadow and Bone trilogy. I read Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom a couple years ago and absolutely loved both books. Since the TV adaptation is going to be a combination of the two series, I needed to catch up!
Alina is ordinary. She's been an orphan for as long as she can remember, so she's never really felt like she fit it or belonged somewhere. One day when her regiment is brutally attacked and her best friend's life is in danger, she discovers that she has a hidden power that she uses to save his life. After the revelation of her powers, her life is no longer ordinary and she's sent to the capital to train with the Grisha.
Since I'd already read the Six of Crows duology, this wasn't my first introduction to the Grishaverse. I remembered most of the terminology and felt comfortable diving back into this world.
I love the way that Bardugo writes dialogue. She's just so good at writing banter between the characters that is so fun to read. Also, I love the Grishaverse world and think Bardugo has created something really special there.
I will say that I didn't gravitate towards these characters in the same way that I immediately fell in love with the characters of Six of Crows. But, I sympathized with Alina's struggles. She grows up with Mal, who's also an orphan. As they get older, Mal grows into his own and becomes popular, while Alina is still awkward and in the background. It's hard to watch someone you've known for so long grow apart from you. Also, as an orphan, Alina is used to blending in and fading into the background. It takes her a long to accept that her powers are special and to believe in her own self-worth.
I was definitely comparing this to the Six of Crows series while I was reading it. I found Shadow and Bone to be slower-paced and it didn't suck me in quite the same way. However, there were a lot of great things about this book and I thought it was an enjoyable read.
//
Started a bit slow for me, but by the end it was a wild ride!
As soon as I heard the news about Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse adaptation coming to Netflix, I rushed out to pick up the Shadow and Bone trilogy. I read Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom a couple years ago and absolutely loved both books. Since the TV adaptation is going to be a combination of the two series, I needed to catch up!
Alina is ordinary. She's been an orphan for as long as she can remember, so she's never really felt like she fit it or belonged somewhere. One day when her regiment is brutally attacked and her best friend's life is in danger, she discovers that she has a hidden power that she uses to save his life. After the revelation of her powers, her life is no longer ordinary and she's sent to the capital to train with the Grisha.
Since I'd already read the Six of Crows duology, this wasn't my first introduction to the Grishaverse. I remembered most of the terminology and felt comfortable diving back into this world.
I love the way that Bardugo writes dialogue. She's just so good at writing banter between the characters that is so fun to read. Also, I love the Grishaverse world and think Bardugo has created something really special there.
I will say that I didn't gravitate towards these characters in the same way that I immediately fell in love with the characters of Six of Crows. But, I sympathized with Alina's struggles. She grows up with Mal, who's also an orphan. As they get older, Mal grows into his own and becomes popular, while Alina is still awkward and in the background. It's hard to watch someone you've known for so long grow apart from you. Also, as an orphan, Alina is used to blending in and fading into the background. It takes her a long to accept that her powers are special and to believe in her own self-worth.
I was definitely comparing this to the Six of Crows series while I was reading it. I found Shadow and Bone to be slower-paced and it didn't suck me in quite the same way. However, there were a lot of great things about this book and I thought it was an enjoyable read.
//
Started a bit slow for me, but by the end it was a wild ride!
Thank you to Gallery Books for giving me a free copy of this book for review!
Ruth Ware is a solid author for me. I've read In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, and the Lying Game, and I liked all of them to varying degrees. I can always count on her books to be entertaining and readable, but her newest book, The Turn of the Key, is my favorite one yet.
When the book starts, we meet Rowan Caine. Unfortunately for her, she's awaiting trial in prison. She's been accused of murdering one of the children she was nannying. The book is structured in the form of a long letter. Rowan writes to a lawyer to profess her innocence and try to explain exactly what happened.
It's such an intriguing premise, knowing from the start that she's in prison and a child is dead, but not knowing how it happened or if she's really guilty. When Rowan first sees a posting for the private nanny position for the Elincourts, she thinks it's too good to be true. The job is based in Scotland and the pay is really good. Rowan visits the house for an interview and it just exudes luxury and comfort.
I love how the house plays a big role in this story. It's a "smart" home, which has electronic controls for everything from switching on the lights, to ordering groceries, to locking the door. There's a great contrast between the modern fixtures and original Victorian home that was renovated, which contributes to the creepy atmosphere. Also, the descriptions of the beautiful Scottish setting definitely reignited my desire to visit Scotland one day.
Ware does a great job of building up the tension as strange things start to happen. I couldn't stop turning the pages. I had to know how the poor child died and if Rowan was really the murderer. As I was reading, the tension in this book was really starting to get to me. At one point, I was reading alone in my apartment at night and I had to put some music on my speaker so I would feel less creeped out!
The premise of this book reminded me of a thought I had when I was reading The Nanny by Leila Slimani. The thought was: how well can we really know the people that we allow to enter into our lives?
Long story short, I really enjoyed the gothic vibes of this book and thought it was compulsively readable. If you've enjoyed Ruth Ware's other books, or if you enjoy atmospheric thrillers, then I think you'll enjoy this one as well.
Ruth Ware is a solid author for me. I've read In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, and the Lying Game, and I liked all of them to varying degrees. I can always count on her books to be entertaining and readable, but her newest book, The Turn of the Key, is my favorite one yet.
When the book starts, we meet Rowan Caine. Unfortunately for her, she's awaiting trial in prison. She's been accused of murdering one of the children she was nannying. The book is structured in the form of a long letter. Rowan writes to a lawyer to profess her innocence and try to explain exactly what happened.
It's such an intriguing premise, knowing from the start that she's in prison and a child is dead, but not knowing how it happened or if she's really guilty. When Rowan first sees a posting for the private nanny position for the Elincourts, she thinks it's too good to be true. The job is based in Scotland and the pay is really good. Rowan visits the house for an interview and it just exudes luxury and comfort.
I love how the house plays a big role in this story. It's a "smart" home, which has electronic controls for everything from switching on the lights, to ordering groceries, to locking the door. There's a great contrast between the modern fixtures and original Victorian home that was renovated, which contributes to the creepy atmosphere. Also, the descriptions of the beautiful Scottish setting definitely reignited my desire to visit Scotland one day.
Ware does a great job of building up the tension as strange things start to happen. I couldn't stop turning the pages. I had to know how the poor child died and if Rowan was really the murderer. As I was reading, the tension in this book was really starting to get to me. At one point, I was reading alone in my apartment at night and I had to put some music on my speaker so I would feel less creeped out!
The premise of this book reminded me of a thought I had when I was reading The Nanny by Leila Slimani. The thought was: how well can we really know the people that we allow to enter into our lives?
Long story short, I really enjoyed the gothic vibes of this book and thought it was compulsively readable. If you've enjoyed Ruth Ware's other books, or if you enjoy atmospheric thrillers, then I think you'll enjoy this one as well.
This is a huge understatement, but Chanel Miller is an absolutely remarkable woman. Know My Name is an extremely powerful and well-written memoir, and it is hands down one of the best books I've read this year.
It was very, very tough to read. But, I thought, if she could survive her assault and have the guts to write about it, then I could set aside my discomfort and read her story written in her own words.
In her memoir, you see how one night had a ripple effect on so many lives. You see how she had to live two lives, one as Emily Doe, the victim, and the other as herself, Chanel. You learn about her family and her childhood and her life before that night. You learn about her hope and dreams and fears and desires.
This book will make your blood boil as you witness the injustice that she experienced. As you see how our justice system is not designed to help victims. As you see how wealth and privilege can absolve someone of grave crimes. Honestly, as Mona Eltahawy says, f**k the patriarchy.
In the book she talks about how she admires Margaret Cho and like Margaret, she is honest and unapologetic about her story. She wants to show that being a victim is a forever thing. Not to say that it is the only thing that defines her, but that it is a pain that she will carry forever. You do not wake up one day magically healed.
At the end of this book, I wanted to give Chanel a hug and thank her for sharing her story with us. I cannot do this book justice in a review, but I can say that this is a book you must read.
It was very, very tough to read. But, I thought, if she could survive her assault and have the guts to write about it, then I could set aside my discomfort and read her story written in her own words.
In her memoir, you see how one night had a ripple effect on so many lives. You see how she had to live two lives, one as Emily Doe, the victim, and the other as herself, Chanel. You learn about her family and her childhood and her life before that night. You learn about her hope and dreams and fears and desires.
This book will make your blood boil as you witness the injustice that she experienced. As you see how our justice system is not designed to help victims. As you see how wealth and privilege can absolve someone of grave crimes. Honestly, as Mona Eltahawy says, f**k the patriarchy.
In the book she talks about how she admires Margaret Cho and like Margaret, she is honest and unapologetic about her story. She wants to show that being a victim is a forever thing. Not to say that it is the only thing that defines her, but that it is a pain that she will carry forever. You do not wake up one day magically healed.
At the end of this book, I wanted to give Chanel a hug and thank her for sharing her story with us. I cannot do this book justice in a review, but I can say that this is a book you must read.
2.5 stars
I'd completely forgotten that I'd place a library hold on this book until I got a notification that my hold was available. At the time, I was in the middle of reading The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo. I decided to do something that I don't usually do, which is read two books at once!
I didn't remember the synopsis, but going in, I guessed that it was about a wife coming between her husband and his new partner. And I wasn't far off! It alternates back and forth between two perspectives: Vanessa, the former wife, and Nellie, the younger woman that's replaced her.
I thought this started out really strong. The suspense was there and I didn't know who or what to believe. But towards the middle, I felt like the earlier momentum started to peter out and I started to lose interest a bit. The last few pages really sealed it with an epilogue that just felt way too farfetched and unbelievable for me.
Despite my feelings at the end, there were definitely a couple things that caught me by total surprise while I was reading, and I did want to keep turning the pages. I think overall, I liked it, but I was also disappointed because it lost some of its momentum and thrill along the way.
I'd completely forgotten that I'd place a library hold on this book until I got a notification that my hold was available. At the time, I was in the middle of reading The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo. I decided to do something that I don't usually do, which is read two books at once!
I didn't remember the synopsis, but going in, I guessed that it was about a wife coming between her husband and his new partner. And I wasn't far off! It alternates back and forth between two perspectives: Vanessa, the former wife, and Nellie, the younger woman that's replaced her.
I thought this started out really strong. The suspense was there and I didn't know who or what to believe. But towards the middle, I felt like the earlier momentum started to peter out and I started to lose interest a bit. The last few pages really sealed it with an epilogue that just felt way too farfetched and unbelievable for me.
Despite my feelings at the end, there were definitely a couple things that caught me by total surprise while I was reading, and I did want to keep turning the pages. I think overall, I liked it, but I was also disappointed because it lost some of its momentum and thrill along the way.
3.5 stars
This was another library hold that came in unexpectedly, and I was excited when it did because I'd heard good things. I'm going to start with the ending because it's days later and I'm still not sure what to think! What in the world happened??
The book is about a woman named Alicia Berenson who murders her husband. The problem is, no one knows why she did it and Alicia is not talking, literally. She hasn't spoken one word since the crime was committed.
Isn't that such a good premise? The whole time I wanted to know why she wasn't speaking and if she really did it. I found this very easy to read and very engaging. I feel like I just flew through it and I couldn't quite believe it was over. I'm not sure if that was because the ending felt a little bit abrupt or because it was shocking (or maybe it was both)!
The Silent Patient explores how humans relate, what makes people tick, and how past experiences shape who we are as people. Despite not know what to think of the ending, I liked this one and thought it as a fun read.
If you've read this one, please talk to me about that ending. We need to discuss!!
This was another library hold that came in unexpectedly, and I was excited when it did because I'd heard good things. I'm going to start with the ending because it's days later and I'm still not sure what to think! What in the world happened??
The book is about a woman named Alicia Berenson who murders her husband. The problem is, no one knows why she did it and Alicia is not talking, literally. She hasn't spoken one word since the crime was committed.
Isn't that such a good premise? The whole time I wanted to know why she wasn't speaking and if she really did it. I found this very easy to read and very engaging. I feel like I just flew through it and I couldn't quite believe it was over. I'm not sure if that was because the ending felt a little bit abrupt or because it was shocking (or maybe it was both)!
The Silent Patient explores how humans relate, what makes people tick, and how past experiences shape who we are as people. Despite not know what to think of the ending, I liked this one and thought it as a fun read.
If you've read this one, please talk to me about that ending. We need to discuss!!
I'm suddenly remembering that I love romances! Shoutout to Kelsey Manning for this recommendation that turned out to be right up my alley.
SUDDENLY YOU follows an author, named Amanda, who ends up falling in love with her publisher. It starts off so strong too, as Amanda goes to hire a male escort because she no longer wants to be a virgin. Le scandale!
There's publishing drama, tumultuous romance, and gowns galore. What more could you want? This book was a great reminder that I love historical fiction. It's set in the early 1830s and I enjoyed all the descriptions of society events and dresses and such.
I liked that Amanda is an unconventional woman, at least for her time. She's unmarried and has her own household, living independently in London. She doesn't need a husband, but she wants some companionship, if you know what I mean!
The romance was quite steamy. Jack, the handsome rogue she falls in love with, is often described as looming over her and caging her in, and I wasn't sure how to feel about that. He pushes the bounds of Amanda's propriety, but the author makes a point to convey that Amanda wants the relationship (against her better judgement) and is in charge of her own decisions. If you've read this, I'd love to hear your thoughts on that element of the story.
That being said, I enjoyed the author's writing and I was here for all the book talk, mixed in with a steamy romance. It was an entertaining read that immediately made me want to pick up more of her work.
SUDDENLY YOU follows an author, named Amanda, who ends up falling in love with her publisher. It starts off so strong too, as Amanda goes to hire a male escort because she no longer wants to be a virgin. Le scandale!
There's publishing drama, tumultuous romance, and gowns galore. What more could you want? This book was a great reminder that I love historical fiction. It's set in the early 1830s and I enjoyed all the descriptions of society events and dresses and such.
I liked that Amanda is an unconventional woman, at least for her time. She's unmarried and has her own household, living independently in London. She doesn't need a husband, but she wants some companionship, if you know what I mean!
The romance was quite steamy. Jack, the handsome rogue she falls in love with, is often described as looming over her and caging her in, and I wasn't sure how to feel about that. He pushes the bounds of Amanda's propriety, but the author makes a point to convey that Amanda wants the relationship (against her better judgement) and is in charge of her own decisions. If you've read this, I'd love to hear your thoughts on that element of the story.
That being said, I enjoyed the author's writing and I was here for all the book talk, mixed in with a steamy romance. It was an entertaining read that immediately made me want to pick up more of her work.