Still Life by Louise Penny

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his team of investigators are called to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal and yet a world away. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines, has been found dead in the woods on Thanksgiving morning. The locals are certain it's a tragic hunting accident and nothing more, but Gamache smells something foul this holiday season....

This book is amazing. I'm planning on finding more in the series after I finish more books on my list. This is an easy read murder mystery. It's not scary and even though it is about solving a murder, the end result leaves you feeling pretty good about the book. I'd pick it up and read it again. The simple writing style of the author plus the way she wrote her characters makes a compelling story. I loved it.

8 out of 10

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowlingd

Synopsis:
Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped hatch a dragon,  and has never worn a cloak of invisibility. All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley - a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry - and anyone who reads about him - will find unforgettable. For it is there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.



Alright... I know I'm about to break alot of hearts here... but I was disappointed. Maybe I had heard too many good (or bad) things about it and amped it up in my head but I found it pretty juvenile. Of course it's a kids' book and I get that. I wonder if the other books become more mature as the main character grows up? I don't know. I'm not a huge fan of the plotline. It's simple enough and there's nothing wrong with it. I was just hoping for...more, I guess. Anyway. It was an easy read and an easy enough storyline to follow. Pretty simply written and quick enough to get throught in a day. I gave it a try. Maybe I'll pick up the next one eventually but who knows.

3 out of 10

Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve

Synopsis: Gwyna is just a girl who is forced to run when her village is attacked and burned to the ground. To her horror she is discovered in the wood. But it is Myrddin the bard, a traveler and spinner of tales who has found her. He agrees to protect Gwyna if she will agree to be bound in service to him. Gwyna is frightened but intrigued - for this Myrddin serves the young, rough and powerful Arthur. In the course of their travels, Myrddin transforms Gwyna into the mysterious Lady of the Lake,  a boy warrior and a spy. It is part of a plot to transform Arthur from the leader of a ragtag warband into King Arthur the greatest hero of all time. If Gwyna and Myrddin's trickery is discovered,  what will become of Gwyna? Worse, what will become of Arthur? Only the endless battling, the mighty belief of men and the sheer cunning of one remarkable girl will tell.

First of all this is not a historically accurate novel. Little is actually known of the real King Arthur as records have been wishy-washy and not really accurate. Legend has it that King Arthur was a mighty and Majestic being who fell in love with Guinevere and was betrayed by his knight Lancelot. Who knows if that legend and myth is actually true. More importantly who knows if Merlin, the kind wizard who took Arthur under his wing as a boy, was actually magical. Nevertheless this novel was a good read and gave an interesting insight to the tales of old. Arthur is not who you thought he was. Guinevere is not who you thought she was. And Merlin is not the wizard we know from the fairy tales. Enter Gwyna the fourth person who gives a different perspective. This is not your Disney movie fairy tale. However if you have an interest in King Arthur and would like a different aspect about his life and the lives of others around him this is a great book.

5 out of 10.

Glitter by Aprilynne Pike

Synopsis:
Outside the Palace of Versailles, it's modern day. Inside, the people dress, eat and act like it's the eighteenth century. The palace has every indulgence, but for one pretty young thing, it's about to become a beautiful prison. When Danica witnessed an act of murder by the young king, her mother makes a cruel power play... blackmailing the king into making Dani his queen. When she turns eighteen, Dani will marry the most ruthless and dangerous man of the court. She has six months to escape her terrifying destiny. Six months to raise enough money to disappear into the real world beyond the palace gates. Her ticket out? Glitter. A drug so powerful that a tiny pinch mixed into a pot of Rouge or lip gloss can make the wearer hopelessly addicted. Addicted to a drug Dani can  for more money than she ever dreamed. But in Versailles, secrets are impossible to keep. And the most dangrouse secret - falling for a drug dealer outside the palace walls - is one risk she has to take.


This book is intense. I wasn't really buying alot of the double reality between reality and the eighteenth century but it is interesting. I'm just sorry the next book isn't out yet. This one has an unexpected ending. One you're not nearly prepared for. And that drug dealer mentioned above? There's more to him than meets the eye.

5 out of 10

The Iron Warrior by Julie Kagawa

Synopsis:
The Iron Prince, my nephew, betrayed us all. He killed me. Then, I woke up. Waking after a month on the brink of death, Ethan Chase is stunned to learn that the Veil which conceals the fey from human sight was temporarily torn away. Although humankind's glimpse of the world of Faery lasted just a brief moment, the human world was cast into chaos, and the emotion and glamour produced by fear and wonder has renewed the tremendous power of the Forgotten Queen. Now she is at the forefront of an uprising against the courts of Faery - a reckoning that will have cataclysmic effects on the Nevernever.


This book was pretty good. It wrapped up things nicely and gave us a pretty good ending overall. I was a little disappointed not to get more Meghan and Ash storyline, especially since Ethan is seeing his sister in battle as the Iron Queen for the first time ever. Grim and Razor are still, hands down, my favorites. "BAD KITTY." Ha!

6 out of 10.


This is it. The final book of the Iron Fey
series. It's a sad thing to come to the end of a series like this. I LOVED the first four books. The last few were okay, not my favorite but overall the emphasis on continuing the storyline was there - it just transfered to Ethan Chase instead of Meghan,  the original heroine. I would've preferred that the storyline continue on with Meghan and Ash and even Puck because that character doesn't get enough credit or one liners as it is. Nevertheless, these were books I'm thankful I invested in and now own to reread over and over again.

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

Synopsis:
In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice. After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly, the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for - his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again. But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery world's forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.


This addition to the Iron Fey series is better than the last. The reading style is smoother, it moves quicker and you're caught up in it before you realize what's happened. The character development of Ethan Chase in this book is much more evident and satisfying this time around. He actually "grows" and matures a little and isn't as annoying to read about. Plus, Razor is back! Love that little gremlin. He and Grim, the Cait Sith, have made me laugh multiple times during this book. Overall, it was a good read. Heartbreaking and satisfying and the same time.

7 out of 10. On to the last one! The Iron Warrior!

The Iron Prince by Julie Kagawa

Synopsis:
Don't look at them. Never let them know you can see them. That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the Fey he avoids at all costs - including his reputation - begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for.  Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world - the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

This book was okay. After the intensity following the last 4 books, I was a little disappointed in this one revolving around Meghan's little brother Ethan. It's been 13 (I think) years in mortal years when this book starts. I was a little disapppinted that so much time has passed since The Iron Knight and we don't get a peak into what has happened since then.
I could also be disappointed because I've been sick this week and had trouble keeping up with the storyline simply because my brain is foggy and not quite clear enough. There were alot of new characters in this book too which didn't help. Overall it was a good book. It wasn't horrible or anything. I just wished more could've surrounded the original characters (Ha! As if 4 books plus 3 novellas weren't enough). Anyway, it was a good read. Two more books in this series!

5 out of 10

The Iron Legends by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Legends is a collection of short sprites that take place in between the first 4 novels of The Iron Fey series.

The first: Winter's Passage is written in Meghan's prespective immediately following the first book The Iron King. So if you were going to read these "in order" with the books,  you'd have to read this before you move on to The Iron Daughter.

The second: Summer's Crossing is written in Puck's perspective, which I enjoyed immensely. I love this character. To read his thoughts and characteristics from his point of view was rewarding. This Novela takes place after The Iron Queen but before The Iron Knight.

And finally: Iron's Prophecy is written again in Meghan's perspective but takes place after The Iron Knight.

These three novellas really help put some characters and storylines in place that were redetected in the first 4 books. It helps to know what happened in between takes so to speak. Quick read. 200 pages.

New Year 2017

I don't typically blog about anything other than the books I've read or are currently reading. However, it's been 8 or 9 months since my last "normal" post and I wanted to give you guys an update on what I've been up to. Originally, I had planned to blog about the books I'd read last summer 2016. Obviously the school year didn't stop me from reading and blogging but it did slow me down quite a bit and I realized that I didn't want to stop enjoying books just because the summer was over. So, I continued.
However, since this is the start of a new year I've decided to make a "resolution" of sorts. I'm not a big one for resolutions. Let's be honest. I've started something good and healthy and by February my motivation has flown the coop. This year I'm determined to do more. I'm determined to (1) be more productive in my day to day life. Not having a 9-5 job makes people think I just sit at home all day (let's be real, some days I do) but I want to feel good about what I've accomplished during the day. Adopting out the momma dog and 3 puppies I rescued at the beginning of November... that made me busier than I'd been in a long time. The last of them went to her new home last Friday and I'm literally sitting here like... now what? So productivity is on my list! I've applied for some part time jobs but mostly I've read more, painted more, and tried to keep up with housework better (haha). I want to be productive. (2) Read 100 books this year alone. Now I know what you're thinking... 100 books in 365 days is not that big of a goal. However, broken down, 100 books is 2 books a week for the remainder of the year plus only 2 weeks to spare. Yikes. I'm a fast reader but this might be too much. Nevertheless,  I've decided that productivity is key this year and this, along with taking baby steps to rediscover life as it should be (person recovering from anxiety issues talking here), my life should be pretty full. I want to enjoy the adventure, not be scared of it.
So! Bring on the books! If you have any recommendations you love to read, comment below! Much thanks and Happy New Year!

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Synopsis:
My name - my True Name - is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn. I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her. My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl...
To cold faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought. Then Meghan Chase -  a half human, half fey slip of a girl - smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive. With the unwelcome company of his archrival, Summer court prankster Puck, and the infuriating Cait Sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end - a quest to find a way to honor his vow to stand by Meghan's side. To survive in the Iron Realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. And along the way Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that sometimes it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

This is a great fourth addition to the Iron Fey series. I get so attached to characters! It was fun to have a book written about Ash and from his perspective. Definitely a quick and easy read.

7 out of 10

Liberation of Lystra

Summary:
Living contentedly with their two-year-old son Ariel, Deirdre and Roman rule Lystra on wisdom and peace. But when rumors of enemy troops massing in the far city of Corona reach them, Surchatain Roman decides to quell the uprising before it can lead to open war. Deirdre begs to accompany Roman and is reluctantly allowed. Leaving Ariel in the care of his faithful nurse maid and the government of Lystra in the capable hands of Counselor Basil, the small band sets forth into the most sobering and terrifying test of faith any of them has ever endured. For Corona is ruled by a crazed wizard, and the "enemy troops" are frightened townspeople made to serve his dark powers. Confident that God has brought him to Corona for a purpose, Roman determines to overthrow the evil forces controlling the deranged ruler - even though it may bring upon him the wrath of hell. Despite her uncertainty and paralyzing fear, Deirdre struggles to understand the will of God and carry it out - no matter what the cost. And although at times the cost seems impossibly high and her loss is too great to bear, ultimately she sees that every event has been precisely planned to demonstrate the greatest Power in the universe, ruling with the greatest love.

This is the final book in the Annals of Lystra trilogy. I wish there were more books in this series because I'm just not ready to let go of these characters yet. This trilogy has been really good and really intense in the spiritual sense. There is alot more supernatural events and spiritual warfare in this book than in the othere but it's been really good and interesting as Roman and Deirdre face so many insane obstacles and still strive to keep their faith. Even stupid little things like fighting against pride and selfishness and arrogance are things they deal with and repent of so I guess it makes them more realistic. Anyway... these were great books. I hope you enjoy them.

Stone of Help by Robin Hardy

Summary: 

Joyously reunited after Lystra's deliverance from enemy forces at Outpost One, Deirdre and Roman have returned to Westford and are eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child. But when Deirdre's selfishness causes her to disobey Roman's loving orders, she is kidnapped and forced to give birth in a tiny cave. A few hours later, exhausted and terrified, she finds herself the property of a slave trader on his way to market in a distant land. Reduced to the status of kitchen slave in the palace of the cruel Surchataine of Goerge, Deirdre beseech God to rescue her from the humiliation and wretchedness of her new life. But first she has some growing up to do - with the help of an orphaned baby, a hungry field hand and a feeble old slave named Josef. As Deirdre tearfully reconciles herself to the fact that she may never see Roman or their child again, she slowly realizes that even her captivity is part of God's plan and gives her a unique opportunity to serve Him. And when God finally sends his answer to her prayers it is through an act of love more astounding and heart-rending than any she has ever known.

This book is heartrending but worth the struggle. I'm excited to end the saga in the next book and hopefully give Roman and Deirdre a happy ending. This book was a fantastic testimony of how even through difficult circumstances, God is still ever present.