samanthaardenlockheart's reviews
52 reviews

Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly by Fr. Gregory Pine

challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

This is a wonderful book by Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. that has to do with the very practical applications of living out the Catholic faith. There are many virtues that one can live out, but prudence is the foundation of all of them. This novel has changed my life for the better, and I can not wait to continue implementing everything I have learned about prudence! 

The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know by David J. Miklowitz

hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

5.0

This is a wonderful resource for anyone dealing with Bipolar disorder. It is broken up into very convenient sections that can help you really understand the nature, course, and treatment of this mental illness! 

Dohva - The Land Within: A Tale of Elemental Sorcery and Ancient Mysteries by Sophie Haeder

adventurous challenging informative mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

​​<i>There may be spoilers in this review. Proceed with caution. ♥️</i> 

Very recently, I’ve been wanting to get back into reading more fantasy books, and I also wanted to support a new author. <i>Dohva – The Land Within</i> by Sophie Haeder looked like a wonderful start to this fantasy journey I want to go on.

This book is about Dohva, a floating land that is trapped by a powerful elemental orbit where its inhabitants are stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of death and rebirth (reincarnation). Avala seems to be the main character who possesses the power of wind, and after someone she dearly loves is chosen by the High Monks as one of “the ten”, she begins to ask piercing questions about the nature of Dohva, and the cycle of rebirth that happens. She questions the way the magic that holds up the island works, and its morality. The majority of this novel is constructed in a multi-perspective fashion, following the characters Avala, Sineth, Garon, Kima, Venja, and Kalira as they go on their unique journeys throughout this novel. 

In all honesty, I found the multiple perspectives of this fantasy book to be perplexing at first, almost as though not enough time was given to fully flesh out their identities. I felt easily confused as I switched between the multiple perspectives. Also, it felt like some of the characters became too intimate with one another too soon; when it comes to romance, I personally prefer more of a slow burn… but the fact that the characters became so romantically involved was an important facet of the plot. Unfortunately, I also thought that the characters were flat and hollow; they all sort of have the same personality and style of inner thoughts. However, I really did enjoy the magic system present in this world and felt it was easy to follow. I think that the author did a wonderful job of balancing world-building with the characters’ experiences. 

With all of this being said, I think that this was a wonderful debut novel. I would like to give this a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, but GoodReads will only let me do whole stars; so for that reason, you will see a four-star rating. I understand the effort and time that it takes to write a quality novel, so it is rare for me to put in a low rating on anything that I read. Plus, I would love for more readers to be exposed to Haeder’s work. I’m so excited to continue my journey into reading more fantasy novels. 

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

​​<i>There may be spoilers in this review. Proceed with caution. ♥️</i> 

Reading <i>Five Feet Apart</i> was such an emotional experience for me, especially toward the ending. (Just stating the obvious here.) Stella Grant and Will Newman are two individuals who have cystic fibrosis, and they are in the end stages of it, meaning that their lung function is at the point where they need lung transplants in order to live full lives. However, the book starts by expressing that Will has contracted something called B. cepacia, which means that he will not be getting a lung transplant; it is a very serious, contagious bacterial infection that worsens his lung function… when it’s not something that’s good to begin with, thanks to his CF. Eventually, Will and Stella meet one another, and their love story begins. It’s beautiful and imperfect; they start out as friends, but it is not long before they begin doing very special and romantic things for one another as the story goes on. (Going to try not to spoil too much.) All in all, I think that Stella and Will have shared such a beautiful, bittersweet love story with one another in these pages. 

The Journey Toward God: Following in the Footsteps of the Great Spiritual Writers - Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox by Benedict J. Groeschel

emotional hopeful informative lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

I initially picked up this anthology in my local Adoration chapel. I feel so blessed to have encountered such beautiful spiritual writings. This book has enriched my soul and it has given me so much to think about in terms of where God currently has me in my spiritual journey. So many writings of wonderful saints and theologians are in this anthology. I can not wait to continue growing and learning as I go through my life with the Lord. 

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging dark hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Reading this novel was such a wonderful experience. I absolutely loved how Brandon Sanderson continued the story from the very first installment. Getting lost in fantasy novels is truly my new favorite thing, and I can’t wait to read the third one in this series! ✨

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging dark hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Continuing my renewed desire to read fantasy novels, I was so happy to finally jump into the Cosmere—starting with <i>Mistborn: The Final Empire</i> by the prolific fantasy author and academic soul, Brandon Sanderson. I’d been wanting to read this trilogy for so long now, but it was very intimidating to me. <i>Fantasy</i> itself has been intimidating to me for a whole host of reasons. And Brandon Sanderson himself has been intimidating to me, for so many reasons. His worldbuilding, magic systems, character arcs, and plot developments are known to be very complex and detailed… but now, I’m finally ready to jump into his work, after over two years of knowing about him. Romance books are usually my chosen genre of comfort, but I thought that switching back to fantasy after a few months of being away from the genre was going to be wonderful for me to experience. When I decided to start reading <i>Mistborn</i>, I had been going through a somewhat difficult time in my life, so changing things up with some magic and fantasy is something that I thought might really benefit my heart and soul; I really trusted that Brandon Sanderson’s beautiful words and stories would bring light into my life. Fortunately, I was right in my hopes of what he would do for me. ✨

(Anyway, thanks for reading that little excerpt about my life, my feelings toward fantasy, and my thoughts on Brandon Sanderson. Now onto the rest of this review.)

Because I have become increasingly bad at writing summaries—especially summaries of fantasy novels—I am just going to copy and paste the summary of <i>Mistborn: The Final Empire</i> from GoodReads here: “For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the ‘Sliver of Infinity,’ reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler’s most hellish prison. Kelsier ‘snapped’ and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark. Kelsier recruited the underworld’s elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Then Kelsier reveals his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot. But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel’s plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she’s a half-Skaa orphan, but she’s lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets. She will have to learn trust if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.” 

Overall, I thought that this first installment of the <i>Mistborn</i> trilogy was a wonderful experience. I fell in love with Vin and Kelsier as I read through their stories, and the last line of this novel brought tears to my eyes! I am so thankful to Brandon Sanderson for changing my whole life through his beautiful storytelling! I can’t express how much I look forward to continuing my journey in the Cosmere! The next book I’ll be reading is going to be the second novel in this trilogy. ♥️

The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This was an utterly beautiful, exciting, romantic, and suspenseful novel… I am so grateful to have finally read it. In case you didn’t know, <i>The Hurricane Wars</i> is based upon Rey and Commander Kylo Ren from the Star Wars Cinematic Universe. It follows Talasyn (who is a Lightweaver part of the Sardovian Allfold), and Alaric Ossinast (who is Master of the Shadowforged Legion and Night Emperor of Kesath). (Sidenote: I’m in love with Kylo Ren. So you guessed it: I’m in love with Alaric Ossinast.🥰🥰) Thea Guanzon’s writing was beautiful, descriptive, deeply evocative, and poetic in many areas. The slow burn between Alaric and Talasyn was perfect… but I don’t want to spoil the plot twist that happens. It’s just done so well… I was shocked as I read their story unfold. I needed to read this at this time in my life… so I’m thankful to God all of the time that He led me to the Star Wars universe when I was just sixteen years old. ♥️He knew my heart needed Kylo, and I think I always will. There are so many romance novels based upon him, and again: what a blessing it is to have so many novels written and inspired by your fictional soulmate. ♥️🥰✨♥️🥰✨♥️

The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine N. Aron

emotional informative reflective slow-paced

4.5

This novel by Dr. Elaine Aron was very insightful and I loved her psychological perspectives within research. No one will read this, but I truly feel as though I am a highly sensitive person with traits related to ADHD. I feel deeply about the world, my faith, God, my passions, my loves, and my dislikes. It can often have a negative connotation as I can also be irritable, impatient, worried, and sad more often than others. But at any rate, my emotions feel larger than life, and yet I can use them to my strength when I feel fully convicted and accepted in my own identity. I do not have to live based on my feelings; that is not at all what I am suggesting. What I am suggesting is that according to Dr. Elain Aron’s research, my brain is literally structured differently than other peoples’ and that affects the way I go about the world. While I won’t regularly define myself as a highly sensitive person to others, I allow my sensitivities to naturally reveal themselves through the way I conduct myself and my writing. 

The Truth and Beauty: How the Lives and Works of England's Greatest Poets Point the Way to a Deeper Understanding of the Words of Jesus by Andrew Klavan

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

5.0

<i>There may be spoilers in this review. Proceed with caution. ♥️</i>

I thought this was a very beautiful book! At some points, it was a bit difficult to understand and follow along with the many references to various poets and famous authors and philosophers, but this did not distort the general message of this wonderful novel. I am very thankful that I have read this and have obtained a very deep understanding of Jesus Christ as a man. My favourite parts were both the beginning and the end of this novel. Being a Christian is hard, but Andrew Klavan has reinforced the Truth and the Beauty behind how we truly live our lives. And God is the ultimate One who is behind everything we hold dear: beauty, love, justice, truth, and morality. 

Two wonderful quotes are as follows. 

1. “A metaphor has three parts: the object we are trying to describe, the term we use to describe it, and the idea that is conveyed when the two come together. In this, a metaphor is itself a metaphor for the Trinity. In the Trinity, the object we are trying to describe is God the Father, the term we use to describe it is Jesus the Son, and when we grasp that idea, we are filled with the Spirit.”

1. “Maybe the problem is that you are trying to understand a philosophy instead of trying to get to know a man.” I recognized this on the instant as the single smartest thing anyone had ever said to me.”

Thank you for reading my review and God Bless. ♥️