Review: The Darkest Corners

The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is a decent book that probably deserves more than the two stars I am giving it, but I personally thought it was just okay. I think that many would probably give this book a three or four star review. Had I been in a different mood while reading it, I may have as well. However, I just felt like I couldn't wait to get through it. I had to read it for Battle of the Books and I honestly just wasn't in the mood to read a mystery. Mysteries tend to be a bit hit or miss for me anyway, because I'm easily scared and can't read them at night. I love a good Agatha Christie, but much more than that and I can't sleep if I've read it before bed.

This wasn't too bad, but it started reeeeaaaaallllly slow. I read the first 100 pages and just kept feeling like I couldn't get into it. Finally, I decided to skim the middle third and then really read the last 40 pages or so. While clearly not the best way to enjoy a book, it was what I could handle at the time. Honestly, I'm just relieved that I got it over with. However, I don't want to deter anyone else from reading it. I think it really seems like a pretty good book, but I just was not in the mood for a mystery or reading something because I had to. I hope I enjoy my next required reading for Battle of the Books more!

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Review: Milk and Honey

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a poignant little book of poetry. I think it is something that many can relate to. I've spoken to teenagers at the high school I work at that have said they read some of the poems over and over again. I probably would have too if I had read this when I was still in high school or college.

However, I did feel like I am a little bit past the time in my life that her poetry would resonate me quite as deeply. A lot of this felt like things I would have thought or felt before my married years, but it is not relatable to my life as it is now. I'd love to see what she writes if she marries or becomes a mother, because she certainly has a way of writing short, powerful poetry. I am just at a different point in life than she is. I think that as she matures, her poetry will too. I am looking forward to reading her newest collection, The Sun and Her Flowers next!

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Review: Red Rising

Red Rising by Pierce Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My husband read this a couple of years ago and has been trying to get me to read it ever since. There was a lot I really liked about it. It was brutal at times, but always for a purpose (usually to demonstrate the cruelty of the world Darrow lives in and the need for change). A lot about it reminded me of The Hunger Games. Since I liked The Hunger Games, that was a good thing, but I do hope the story develops more and differs more in the later books.

The audiobook narrator was good. At first I was surprised that he read with an Irish accent, but then I got used to it. He was pretty expressive. I liked the main character most of the time. Occasionally I felt that he thought too much of himself, but that may be what he needs to lead his people.

I am looking forward to the rest of the series!

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Review: City of Lost Souls

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.75 stars. I'm enjoying these more as the series goes on, but (view spoiler)[ what is Cassandra Clare's thing with incest?????? I mean really!? Ugh it waaay weirds me out. I get it that it is because he is the bad guy, but she didn't care when it was Jace, right? I still can't get over it . . . (hide spoiler)] Ok. Rant over.

I don't think I'll ever love these like so many people seem to, but I am actually enjoying the series finally. I'm mostly trying to get through them so that I can get to the new series, but it is kind of fun to see Brother Zachariah show up from TID (I did really love those books). On to the next one!

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Review: A World Without Heroes

A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.75 stars. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! I've had it for a long time because honestly, I didn't really expect to like it. I finally got around to reading (well, listening to) it and found the writing style to be a sort of combination of Rick Riordan and John Flanagan. These are two of my husband's favorite authors, so now I have to get him to read this series! I know he'd like it.

I enjoyed the two main characters and their journey. There was plenty of action and the ending left me wanting much more. My one criticism would be that I had a hard time believing that Jason and Rachel would be so quick to take on a deadly quest for another world at age 13. However, I understand that if they hadn't, there wouldn't be much of a story. Also, I didn't give it a full 4 (or 5) stars because although it was compelling, it didn't grip me quite as much as a 4 star read would be. I think this is probably simply because I am just not as in to middle grade literature as I used to be.

I will absolutely be reading the other two books in this series. It was a really fun read!

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Review: Heartless

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. This was another read for Battle of the Books. It was a good story, but I've never liked the worlds of Lewis Carroll. I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would, especially in the second half. However, I will never be a fan of Wonderland and it was pretty depressing to know where the story was headed. I never really liked Catherine very much either. However, story was pretty fast-paced and kept me wanting more. I think if I liked the whimsy and nonsense of Wonderland better, I may have enjoyed the book more. Although I liked Meyer's Lunar Chronicles more, I will probably read anything that she writes. I've been curious about Heartless since it came out, so I'm glad I finally read it!

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Review: Just One Day

Just One Day by Gayle Forman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was decent, but not fantastic. I didn't really like it at all until about halfway through, but it did get better in the second half. I was annoyed that she was so fixated on someone she'd only known a day, although I get that it is supposed to be more about her personal growth. I enjoyed seeing her development and her friendships. The ending, definitely left me wanting more, but in more of a "let me google what happens" way rather than a "I have to read the next one" way. I'm glad I finally read a Gayle Forman book because now I can talk to my students about it, but I'm not sure that I'll read more by her.

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