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readerlatte's reviews
178 reviews
My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier
My Review: OMG this book was creepy good and I really wished that the author would release another one and make this a series. This one is so not for you if you don't like darker stories. It follows 17-year-old Che and his little sister Rosa who is 10 and I have to say that Rosa freaks me out to no end. This one I had picked up at the library bookstore for $2 bucks and it sat around forever. But I am so glad that I finally got the chance to read it.
So Rosa is a 10-year-old little girl who is VERY smart she can play chess, understand math that I SO cant do. And is so twisted and creepy that I am kind of surprised that I didn't have nightmares. She doesn't have empathy for anyone. She doesn't care who she hurts as long as she gets what she wants.
As for the main character Che, he is a normal 17-year-old boy that learns some very scary things during this story. He knows his little sister is a psychopath and records her when they talk about how she feels. I really have to say that I think the author turned into being a 17-year-old boy and did a fabulous job with the teens in this story.
The rundown of the story itself I think the author did a stellar job with the topic of a child being a psychopath. Rosa was so freaking creepy and I think this would make one killer movie! The pace of the book was perfect and I don't say that too much. It flowed very well while being fast enough to keep it interesting but slow enough to really let the story unfold and build with tension. I kept thinking of all the bad things Rosa could do and was so shocked as each one happened. I fully understand how parents don't want to think of their kids as being crazy but this family really needed a wake-up call. I felt so bad for Sally but really I think this family was very weird. As the kids called their parents by their first names instead of mom and dad. It made their family dynamics really feel off. Like the kids were separated from their parents. I mean for me I love being called mom and I wouldn't change that for anything.
While writing up this review I realized that the cast of characters in this book other than Che, David, and one other parent and an ex-boyfriend that shows up. The rest of the cast is all female. I think that really made this story even better. I mean I didn't really focus on everyone's gender. We have one character that doesn't prescribe to one at all, a few girls that are gay, and then Che and his family. I think there were a few guys at the gym that Che goes to but that's about it. The main cast was all girls.
Another thing this story did was have a character that was a boxer but also very religious. Sojourner was a full on Christian but she didn't hate on people. She was the daughter of two women (mom and momma) and I really kind of loved her. I do think that she should have been more understanding with the situation but in the end, I think she did what she thought was right to keep her and her family safe.
This book was so full of diversity that it just made it so much better!! I could not put it down and again I really need a book two to this one. We could watch Rosa grow up and hopefully be put in a mental hospital or something.
The twist at the end of this one was out of this world. It shocked and horrified me. There are two major twists by the end of this one and man I did NOT see those coming at all. And yes one made me cry.
Some other tidbits about the book:
*I really liked how the book was split up into the list that Che made.
*I think that it should have been touched on how obsessed Che was with Rosa. I think this family needed a major wake up call. That Che is not Rosa's parent and he needs to just be able to be a kid. Or ya know to get out of that house.
*At the end of this one its mentioned
Go Into This One Knowing: Shocking!
5.0
My Review: OMG this book was creepy good and I really wished that the author would release another one and make this a series. This one is so not for you if you don't like darker stories. It follows 17-year-old Che and his little sister Rosa who is 10 and I have to say that Rosa freaks me out to no end. This one I had picked up at the library bookstore for $2 bucks and it sat around forever. But I am so glad that I finally got the chance to read it.
So Rosa is a 10-year-old little girl who is VERY smart she can play chess, understand math that I SO cant do. And is so twisted and creepy that I am kind of surprised that I didn't have nightmares. She doesn't have empathy for anyone. She doesn't care who she hurts as long as she gets what she wants.
As for the main character Che, he is a normal 17-year-old boy that learns some very scary things during this story. He knows his little sister is a psychopath and records her when they talk about how she feels. I really have to say that I think the author turned into being a 17-year-old boy and did a fabulous job with the teens in this story.
The rundown of the story itself I think the author did a stellar job with the topic of a child being a psychopath. Rosa was so freaking creepy and I think this would make one killer movie! The pace of the book was perfect and I don't say that too much. It flowed very well while being fast enough to keep it interesting but slow enough to really let the story unfold and build with tension. I kept thinking of all the bad things Rosa could do and was so shocked as each one happened. I fully understand how parents don't want to think of their kids as being crazy but this family really needed a wake-up call. I felt so bad for Sally but really I think this family was very weird. As the kids called their parents by their first names instead of mom and dad. It made their family dynamics really feel off. Like the kids were separated from their parents. I mean for me I love being called mom and I wouldn't change that for anything.
While writing up this review I realized that the cast of characters in this book other than Che, David, and one other parent and an ex-boyfriend that shows up. The rest of the cast is all female. I think that really made this story even better. I mean I didn't really focus on everyone's gender. We have one character that doesn't prescribe to one at all, a few girls that are gay, and then Che and his family. I think there were a few guys at the gym that Che goes to but that's about it. The main cast was all girls.
Another thing this story did was have a character that was a boxer but also very religious. Sojourner was a full on Christian but she didn't hate on people. She was the daughter of two women (mom and momma) and I really kind of loved her. I do think that she should have been more understanding with the situation but in the end, I think she did what she thought was right to keep her and her family safe.
This book was so full of diversity that it just made it so much better!! I could not put it down and again I really need a book two to this one. We could watch Rosa grow up and hopefully be put in a mental hospital or something.
The twist at the end of this one was out of this world. It shocked and horrified me. There are two major twists by the end of this one and man I did NOT see those coming at all. And yes one made me cry.
Some other tidbits about the book:
*I really liked how the book was split up into the list that Che made.
*I think that it should have been touched on how obsessed Che was with Rosa. I think this family needed a major wake up call. That Che is not Rosa's parent and he needs to just be able to be a kid. Or ya know to get out of that house.
*At the end of this one its mentioned
Spoiler
that Lelaini's parents are of course paying for everything, this is mentioned all throughout the book. So Lelaini states that her parents wouldn't do something like this unless Che's parents had something on them. But this is never explained. I really think that this was set up to be a series but it just never happened.Go Into This One Knowing: Shocking!
29 Dates by Melissa de la Cruz
My Review: This book was so adorable. I thought that the middle snippets of her dates were going to take away from the story at large but after a few chapters, I was actually looking forward to reading how each one went. This book was unlike anything I have ever read and it felt very diverse with the characters. I loved learning more about Korean Culture (even though the author notes that she took liberties with the matchmaking dates) and I really hope that De La Cruz does another story set in another culture soon. I loved all of the characters and the pace of this story.
The one thing that I wish would have been really touched on in this story was the fact that Jisu's parents were very hard on her. It would have been nice for her to sit down with them to have a real talk about how they were pressuring her to not only to do her best but to surpass that. Kids these days are under so much stress during school, especially being a senior. It would be better for parents to support their children vs. stressing them out more. Although Jisu does talk to her mom about the issue its never really talked about at large and is never really resolved.
In the end, I think was a very cute and at times funny story. I am really glad that I got the chance to read it and I could see this one being a great summer read. To grab a copy and layout at the beach and get a tan while watching the waves and reading.
Go Into This One Knowing: Korean Matchmaking (with liberties), Romance, Humor
5.0
My Review: This book was so adorable. I thought that the middle snippets of her dates were going to take away from the story at large but after a few chapters, I was actually looking forward to reading how each one went. This book was unlike anything I have ever read and it felt very diverse with the characters. I loved learning more about Korean Culture (even though the author notes that she took liberties with the matchmaking dates) and I really hope that De La Cruz does another story set in another culture soon. I loved all of the characters and the pace of this story.
The one thing that I wish would have been really touched on in this story was the fact that Jisu's parents were very hard on her. It would have been nice for her to sit down with them to have a real talk about how they were pressuring her to not only to do her best but to surpass that. Kids these days are under so much stress during school, especially being a senior. It would be better for parents to support their children vs. stressing them out more. Although Jisu does talk to her mom about the issue its never really talked about at large and is never really resolved.
In the end, I think was a very cute and at times funny story. I am really glad that I got the chance to read it and I could see this one being a great summer read. To grab a copy and layout at the beach and get a tan while watching the waves and reading.
Go Into This One Knowing: Korean Matchmaking (with liberties), Romance, Humor
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
2.0
My Review: I really wanted to love this one but I have to say that it was very confusing and at times very boring. I loved the characters but the way it was written I found myself tuning out a lot of the explanations that are given. It rambled on a lot about history and puzzles and that really made this one not very enjoyable. I have heard others say that this is very close to Six of Crows and I really hope that is not true as I love that author's stories and have yet to read those.
In the end this one was just to bogged down by the elements of the story to be really great. I also thought that the magical system needed to be way simpler explained.
Go Into This One Knowing: Light Romance, Confusing, Humor, Cliffhanger, LGBT
In the end this one was just to bogged down by the elements of the story to be really great. I also thought that the magical system needed to be way simpler explained.
Go Into This One Knowing: Light Romance, Confusing, Humor, Cliffhanger, LGBT
Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
1.0
My Review: This was one of the books that has been laying around for a while now. It was the winner of one of this months TBR Giveaways.
I was very excited to read this one but for me it just fell short to what I was expecting. I read another book about a little girl that was supposed to be well psycho and a killer and where that one drew you in with the writing and story. This one left me pretty bored.
Go Into This One Knowing: Bored
I was very excited to read this one but for me it just fell short to what I was expecting. I read another book about a little girl that was supposed to be well psycho and a killer and where that one drew you in with the writing and story. This one left me pretty bored.
Go Into This One Knowing: Bored
Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp
My Review: This is another one from my TBR Giveaway pile and well this one is another one that just did not work out at all. The back and forth in time felt out of place for this one. It is one thing that sometimes works for a story and well sometimes it doesnt. And for me it just didn't. I did like how the story opened though.
Go Into This One Knowing: Dual Time Periods
1.0
My Review: This is another one from my TBR Giveaway pile and well this one is another one that just did not work out at all. The back and forth in time felt out of place for this one. It is one thing that sometimes works for a story and well sometimes it doesnt. And for me it just didn't. I did like how the story opened though.
Go Into This One Knowing: Dual Time Periods
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
5.0
My Review: I have no idea how I am going to review this title. This was beyond amazing and I could not put it down. To start I was thinking that this was going to be the first book in this series to only be 3 or 4 stars but that all turned around once the story got going. In this, we find old friends, new enemies, and so so much hope! Which is what I really have to say that this book has ended with. It has filled me with the message that no matter how bad things get or how dark our situation gets you should always have hope. Let it be your guiding light in the darkness.
The world that has been fully formed before this book even started and the story is in full swing. We do have some very slow parts in the start of this one which personally I think could have been cut down. As although it does get the story going it isn't all that meaningful to the story at large.
The other thing I want to say about this one is the sexual tension that it has. I mean I still can not believe that this is a young adult novel when those bits are going on. I understand that this is a high young adult but still. But I love the writing and the way the author dealt with it.
I really do not know what else to say for this one other than I know there are three books left but I am just not ready for it to be all over. I haven't finished a series since the House of Night one that I did about a year ago and even that one has a new spin-off series. So I wasn't really saying goodbye. I finished this one with tears in my eyes and laughter in my heart.
Go Into This One Knowing: Love, Death, Danger, Cliffhanger, Laughter, and Hope so much Hope!
The world that has been fully formed before this book even started and the story is in full swing. We do have some very slow parts in the start of this one which personally I think could have been cut down. As although it does get the story going it isn't all that meaningful to the story at large.
The other thing I want to say about this one is the sexual tension that it has. I mean I still can not believe that this is a young adult novel when those bits are going on. I understand that this is a high young adult but still. But I love the writing and the way the author dealt with it.
I really do not know what else to say for this one other than I know there are three books left but I am just not ready for it to be all over. I haven't finished a series since the House of Night one that I did about a year ago and even that one has a new spin-off series. So I wasn't really saying goodbye. I finished this one with tears in my eyes and laughter in my heart.
Go Into This One Knowing: Love, Death, Danger, Cliffhanger, Laughter, and Hope so much Hope!
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
My Review: 4,200 pages is how long this series is that I have just finished. And no words could ever tell you how much this series has ripped out my heart only to put it back together. This has been one of the most amazing journeys that I have ever taken in a series and it is not one that I will soon forget.
One thing that I didn't like is that although we do get an epilogue set a few months past the last chapter I would have liked to have something that was years in the future. So much of this story was left open so I really hope that when the paperback comes out that we get another story set in this world as I would like to know what everyone is up to by that time.
This last book in this amazing series is one to bring you a lot of heartbreak. I know that through most of it I was either shouting out with YES or crying my eyes out both happy and sad tears. I will say to make sure to have tissues on hand and a lot of water. Even after finishing this story I couldn't pick a fav. character or couple as they have all found a special place in my heart. And I will think of them from time to time. I would love to revisit this series a few years from now when their story starts to grow faint in my mind. So I can once again fall in love with each of them.
I really don't know what else to say about this story other than it wowed me and I kind of wished that I could have been there to help each and everyone one of those characters. As a spirit on the wind leading them in their fight. I will leave you with this though as my final thoughts on this story.
Although Aelin might be a fictional character as far as we know. She is one that showed us to never give up. To NEVER YIELD and to Fight for a better world. So Aelin I am here with you and lets hope for a better tomorrow.
Go Into This One Knowing: Ends with openings, Lots of deaths, Have tissues!
5.0
My Review: 4,200 pages is how long this series is that I have just finished. And no words could ever tell you how much this series has ripped out my heart only to put it back together. This has been one of the most amazing journeys that I have ever taken in a series and it is not one that I will soon forget.
One thing that I didn't like is that although we do get an epilogue set a few months past the last chapter I would have liked to have something that was years in the future. So much of this story was left open so I really hope that when the paperback comes out that we get another story set in this world as I would like to know what everyone is up to by that time.
This last book in this amazing series is one to bring you a lot of heartbreak. I know that through most of it I was either shouting out with YES or crying my eyes out both happy and sad tears. I will say to make sure to have tissues on hand and a lot of water. Even after finishing this story I couldn't pick a fav. character or couple as they have all found a special place in my heart. And I will think of them from time to time. I would love to revisit this series a few years from now when their story starts to grow faint in my mind. So I can once again fall in love with each of them.
I really don't know what else to say about this story other than it wowed me and I kind of wished that I could have been there to help each and everyone one of those characters. As a spirit on the wind leading them in their fight. I will leave you with this though as my final thoughts on this story.
Although Aelin might be a fictional character as far as we know. She is one that showed us to never give up. To NEVER YIELD and to Fight for a better world. So Aelin I am here with you and lets hope for a better tomorrow.
Go Into This One Knowing: Ends with openings, Lots of deaths, Have tissues!
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
5.0
My Review: I don't even remember when I first read this title. But it's been a long while and I never did get to finish the others in the series. So I have to say that I was very glad and very excited when I received an ARC of the newest title that is a spin-off of this series. Getting the chance to reread one of my favs is not something that I generally get to do.
This book starts off with a bang and ends the same way. I really loved how it started out with our MC Ismae being only 13 (I am pretty sure) and being married off to someone who could be her father. I know in this time period that was not uncommon but still, it really sets the tone for this story that woman are no more than property. This is a story of one girl who is the daughter of Death and it is up to her to find her true path in life. This story unfolds with some wonderful historical events, Gods and Goddesses or Saints and one girl who really knows how to kick some butt! I loved every second of it. Well other than my hardback falling apart. But that even ended up being a blessing as I snagged the paperbacks with these beautifully updated covers and this one has a new story in the back. It's just a deleted scene so to speak. It is about when the girls have to test their skills on a dead body. And it was great.
The characters in this one were fabulous! I really wished that book two would have been in the same POV because I know that it is not. And although I am sure that Ismae and Duval will be in book two I would have liked to stay in Ismae's POV. But I guess well see how it goes.
This one was full of action and had a great pace things unfolded one scene at a time and it really worked for me. I was hooked and never felt bored at all. I loved all the poisons, knives, and I was really surprised about how I felt when certain characters bit the bullet and they hadn't really been in the story all that much.
One thing that I want to note about this world is the historical aspects and the fantasy. It is a very light fantasy so if you think you're going into this and you're going to see the fey, flying, witches, etc. You aren't. The only real magic per se that is in this one is the mark of death and that is pretty much it. I am not sure if we will see more fantasy elements in the coming titles. But for this one that is all there is. The historical aspect of this was wonderful. I loved how the author took real people and events then added in this aspect of Death's Handmaidens it worked so well!!
In the end, this reminds me of the White Princess where the woman although are property still make do with what they can in any way they can. There is a lot of political dangers in this one as well as twists and turns. And really you can't trust anyone in this story other than Ismae!
Go Into This One Knowing: No Insta-Love, Politics, Woman as Property, Light Fantasy
This book starts off with a bang and ends the same way. I really loved how it started out with our MC Ismae being only 13 (I am pretty sure) and being married off to someone who could be her father. I know in this time period that was not uncommon but still, it really sets the tone for this story that woman are no more than property. This is a story of one girl who is the daughter of Death and it is up to her to find her true path in life. This story unfolds with some wonderful historical events, Gods and Goddesses or Saints and one girl who really knows how to kick some butt! I loved every second of it. Well other than my hardback falling apart. But that even ended up being a blessing as I snagged the paperbacks with these beautifully updated covers and this one has a new story in the back. It's just a deleted scene so to speak. It is about when the girls have to test their skills on a dead body. And it was great.
The characters in this one were fabulous! I really wished that book two would have been in the same POV because I know that it is not. And although I am sure that Ismae and Duval will be in book two I would have liked to stay in Ismae's POV. But I guess well see how it goes.
This one was full of action and had a great pace things unfolded one scene at a time and it really worked for me. I was hooked and never felt bored at all. I loved all the poisons, knives, and I was really surprised about how I felt when certain characters bit the bullet and they hadn't really been in the story all that much.
One thing that I want to note about this world is the historical aspects and the fantasy. It is a very light fantasy so if you think you're going into this and you're going to see the fey, flying, witches, etc. You aren't. The only real magic per se that is in this one is the mark of death and that is pretty much it. I am not sure if we will see more fantasy elements in the coming titles. But for this one that is all there is. The historical aspect of this was wonderful. I loved how the author took real people and events then added in this aspect of Death's Handmaidens it worked so well!!
In the end, this reminds me of the White Princess where the woman although are property still make do with what they can in any way they can. There is a lot of political dangers in this one as well as twists and turns. And really you can't trust anyone in this story other than Ismae!
Go Into This One Knowing: No Insta-Love, Politics, Woman as Property, Light Fantasy
The Fever King by Victoria Lee
1.0
My Review: I always get excited when that prime thing for Kindle First gives us a young adult novel since that is mostly what I read. So when this one popped up and I found out it was a post-apocalyptic fantasy I was like YES PLEASE!! But shortly into the title, I realized that this was just a very slow and boring story. I just didn't care about anyone in the story and by 10% I was just done and bored to tears. I am sad to say that this one really felt like it didn't have the depth I was hoping for. I mean within the first 10% this kid finds three people who are either dead or on their way out. One of which is his own father and it just didn't feel like it had any emotion at all.
Go Into This One Knowing: Slow, Boring, No Depth
Go Into This One Knowing: Slow, Boring, No Depth
A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia A. Cole
1.0
My Review: I wish that I could say that I loved this one because I really wanted to. But sadly the pacing in it just got to me around 250 pages. I just had to put it down and I am so sad that that happened. This one starts off so well but during the story, it just becomes so boring that I was doing everything I could not come back to it. This was supposed to be this amazing sci-fi title but what I found was a very slow story that I just had to say goodbye to. At first, I didn't want to quit because I really wanted to know what in the world was going on. But as the story progressed I just found that I didn't care anymore.
Go Into This One Knowing: Slow Pacing
Go Into This One Knowing: Slow Pacing