Across the Green Grass Fields : review

 Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire

SUMMARY

Wayward Children #6

With every other book being a kind of continuation to a previous book, this book is another fresh start book, though I still recommend you read the others!

A young girl discovers a portal to a land filled with centaurs and unicorns in Seanan McGuire's Across the Green Grass Fields, a standalone tale in the Hugo and Nebula Award-wining Wayward Children series.

Goodreads' link to the book!

Release Date: January 12th 2021

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Stars: ✦✦✦.5✧

So as usual, I'll tell 3.5 things I liked about the book and 1.5 thing I didn't care for.

I reviewed the very first book two years ago (link) and have since read the following 5 books which are currently out.

Book #1: Every Heart a Doorway - 4

          #2: Beneath the Sugar Sky - 3

          #3: In an Absent Dream - 3.5

          #4: Down Among the Sticks and Bones - 4.5

          #5: Come Tumbling Down - 4

          #6: Across the Green Grass Fields - 3.5

+1 | The idea and premise of the world. Finding doors to mysterious (sometimes whimsical, sometimes just brutal) lands? Yes please

+1 | Entertainment value. Not my favorite in the series, but still plenty entertaining

+1 | The writing from pace to style, I enjoy it

+/-0.5  | The characters. I don't know why, maybe because it only had new characters, but it just wasn't the same

-1  | This one felt just short, even though it didn't leave me wanting to know more which has been something I've commented about a previous one.

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NOTE:

You can choose to either read the whole series in order or other options for how to read the Wayward series:

#1 is a great starting point about Nancy and the Home for Wayward children, though some others can also work like that

#2 & #5 tell Jack and Jill's story, though I'd recommend reading #1 before them (even though it technically won't go chronologically this way)

#3 tells Rini's story, and acts like a sequel to #1 though can be read on it's own

#4 tells Lundy's story and is sort of like a prequel, so again I'd recommend reading #1

#6 tells Regan's story and can be read on it's own

Read on lovelies,

S

 

20 Questions Book TAG

1) How many books are too many for a series?

Though it really depends two to three books in a series is a sweet spot for me with more than four typically being too much.

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2) How do you feel about cliffhangers?

I don't mind them! Having small cliffhangers at the ends of chapters makes the reading go faster, not wanting to put it down. And books that end in cliffhangers makes me want to read the next one, though if it's a long wait it might get frustrating

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3) Hardbacks or Paperback?

I like and own both, though I do prefer paperback since I find them easier to read (and they are cheaper!)

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4) Favourite Book?

The only answer I can say is Harry Potter. It is sentimental, still loved and got me reading that much more

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5) Least Favourite Book?

That is a hard one! I have a Goodreads shelf for DNF books which currently has 20: link. This is not to say I dislike them all, but that at the moment I don't have plans to read them

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6) Love Triangles, Yes or No?

Let's just say that they need to be written extremely well in order for me to like it!

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7) The Most Recent Book You Couldn’t Finish?

Sorcery and Cecilia, it wasn't bad just not what I wanted at the moment

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8) A Book you are Currently Reading?

At the time of writing this it's The Shadows Between Us, though for updated info you can always check my Goodreads: link

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9) Last Book you Recommended to Someone?

I gifted Tulevaisuuden lukujärjesty to my father so that I guess? Though it might not count since I read the book myself after him

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10) Oldest Book you’ve Read by Publication Date?

Romeo and Juliet 1597

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11) Newest Book you’ve Read by Publication Date?

Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery published March 2nd 2021

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12) Favourite Author?

Not necessarily favorites, but ones I've read the most from:

Barnes (10), Doyle (10), Meyer (10), Parvela (10), West (10),

Christie (11), Rowling (11), Carter (15), Dahl (17)

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13) Buying Books or Borrowing Books?

I do both, but aim to only buy a book if I loved it (meaning I read it first through the library or as an ebook/audiobook)

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14) A Book you Dislike but Everyone seems to Love?

I'm not sure about this one!

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15) Bookmarks or Dog-Ears?

Bookmarks of the small sticky variety

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16) A Book you can always Re-Read?

Harry Potter is one that I can always go back to

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17) Can you Read while Listening to Music?

Nope!

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18) One POV or Multiple?

Both, though too many POV gets hard to remember for me

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19) Do you Read a Book in One Sitting or Over Multiple Days?

Both, really depending on the book and the time I have

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20) Who do you Tag?

Read on lovelies,

S

The Empress of Salt and Fortune : review

 The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

SUMMARY

The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a tightly and lushly written narrative about empire, storytelling, and the anger of women.

A young royal from the far north is sent south for a political marriage. Alone and sometimes reviled, she has only her servants on her side. This evocative debut chronicles her rise to power through the eyes of her handmaiden, at once feminist high fantasy and a thrilling indictment of monarchy.

Goodreads' link to the book!

Release Date: March 24th 2020

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Stars: ✦✦✦.5✧

So as usual, I'll tell 3.5 things I liked about the book and 1.5 things I didn't care for.

+1 | The idea and the way it is told is clever and intriguing

+1 | The writing and pace

+/- 0.5 | Though I liked the characters and how different they were, I wanted more from them

+/- 0.5 | The way it was made for the reader to make conclusions

+/- 0.5 | The condensedness made me feel like it was lacking something more that it could bring out, which is  confusing because at the same time I really enjoyed how short it was

Read on lovelies,

S

2021 Read This Quarter I

What I read this quarter, 2021: Quarter I

January, February & March

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1. The Empress of Salt and Fortune        REVIEWED ✦✦✦.5✧

2. Across the Green Grass Fields        audiobook REVIEWED ✦✦✦.5✧

3. The Inheritance Games        audiobook  ✦✦✦✦✧

4. Among the Beasts and Briars       audiobook  ✦✦✦✦.5

5. One by One       audiobook  ✦✦✦✦✧

6. Instant Karma       audiobook  ✦✦✦.5✧

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7. Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor        audiobook REVIEWED ✦✦✦✦✦

8. Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery        audiobook REVIEWED ✦✦✦✦✦

9. Tulevaisuuden lukujärjestys       Non-fiction ✦✦✦✦✧

10. Story of your life       ebook, short story ✦✦✦✦✧

11. The Shadows Between Us       audiobook ✦✦✦✦✦

Re-Read: The Wrath and the Dawn

Data (not including rereads):

Author:

          82 % female,

          18 % male

Genre:

         36.4 % fantasy,

         27.3 % realistic fiction,

         9 % crime,
         9 % sci-fi,

         9 % non-fiction,

         9 % romance

Pages:

       3 007 p

Format:

         73 % audiobooks,

         18 % physical books,

         9 % e-books

Average:

         4.18

Arcs:

          9 % sent to me (for honest reviews)

*For more info check my Goodreads: link*

Read on lovelies,

S

 

The ‘To-Be-Read’ Book Tag

How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

I use Goodreads (link) and an excel spreadsheet for keeping everything up to date. I also have a yearly blog post about my TBR which I update: link

Is your TBR mostly print or ebook?

Well, my Goodreads To Read shelf includes all the books I want to read so also books I don't own are included. Then I have separate TBR shelves for ones I own depending on the format.

For books in general on my "Want to Read" shelf there are 25 (+15 classics/Christie books). Currently of those I have 7 audiobooks I want to read (which I don't own but classify here), 8 e-books (to read that I own) and 1 physical book.

This is completely different to how it used to be, but I don't like owning books I didn't love so I tend to read them either in another format or from the library before choosing to buy a physical copy

How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?

I usually now which genre I'm in the mood for and scroll through my Goodreads TBR and just choose one. I also tend to already choose my next read whilst reading something else

A book that has been on your TBR list the longest?

It was Sorcery and Cecilia, but I recently DNF'd it, so now I think it is Soul of Stars?

A book you recently added to your TBR pile?

My most recent (and only) physical book I have and haven't read yet is Iceman

A book on your TBR strictly because of its beautiful cover?

I don't think I've ever done this purely on the cover! Sure scrolling through Goodreads I see beautiful books, but then I read the synopsis and based on that it might be added to my "Want to read"

A book on your TBR that you never plan on actually reading?

I don't have an answer to this, since I actually want to read everything on my TBR! Though this does remind me that I do own two other physical books I haven't completely read, but they are in another category (Grimm's complete fairytales and Aeosop's fables)

An unpublished book on your TBR that you are excited for?

Gilded, the new book by Marissa Meyer

A book on your TBR that basically everyone has read except you?

Hmm I'm really not sure on this one. The book on my "Want to Read" shelf with most ratings on Goodreads is Fablehaven #3 so that I suppose?

A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you?

Taking us back to the previous question, the Fablehaven series is only on my list because it was recommended to me

A book on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

My next read is Shadows Between Us though I really want to get to Sky Beyond a Storm, but I'm waiting for the right mood to finish that last book

The number of books on your Goodreads TBR shelf?

I already mentioned this, but my "Want to Read" shelf has 25 books, "Classics/Christie-to-read" has 15

Read on lovelies,

S

Winterborne Home of Vengeance and Valor : review

 Winterborne Home for

Vengeance and Valor

& Mayhem and Mystery

by Ally Carter

*eARC kindly provided by the publisher through NetFalley in exchange for an honest review!*

SUMMARY

April didn’t mean to start the fire. She wasn’t even the one who broke the vase.

She had absolutely no intention of becoming the only person who knows that Gabriel Winterborne, the missing-and-presumed-dead billionaire, is neither missing nor dead and is actually living in the basement of Winterborne House, sharpening his swords and looking for vengeance.

Now that April knows Gabriel Winterborne is alive, it’s up to her to keep him that way. But there’s only so much a twelve-year-old girl can do, so April must turn to the other orphans for help. Together, they’ll have to unravel the riddle of a missing heir and a creepy legend, and find a secret key, before the only home they’ve ever known is lost to them forever.

Goodreads' link to the book!

Release Date: March 3rd 2020 & March 2nd 2021

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Stars: ✦✦✦✦✦

So as usual, I'll tell 5 things I liked about the book and 0 things I didn't care for.

I don't think it's any secret that I really enjoy books by Ally Carter, with these literally being the 14th and 15th book I've read from her (excluding short stories, which I have also read).

The Gallagher Girls was the first series I remember being frustrated at since I had to wait a year for the next book, again and again - and yes this is a sign of a good series! And my 5th post - ever - was a review of that (though I don't recommend going back to read those first ones!).

My point here is, that when I heard of this new middle grade series by her I added it to my tbr without really know long what it's about, and it did not disappoint!

And it probably doesn't need to be said that when the next one comes, I'll be here for it!

+1 | The writing simply grips you along for a ride

+1 |It's whimsical like middle grade often is, but without being too whimsical

+1 | Adventure and actions galore

 +1 |The combination of characters all fleshed out with stories, dreams and fears

+1 | The interaction between friends and all the other types of relationships

Read on lovelies,

S

The Cake Book TAG

The Cake Book TAG

Today is my birthday, and in honor of that here is the cake book tag!

And I'm trying to keep the answers to books I read (or reread) last year

FLOUR

A BOOK THAT WAS A LITTLE SLOW TO START OFF BUT REALLY PICKED UP AS IT WENT ALONG

The Empress of Salt and Fortune. It is tiny and packed, but it took me some time in the beginning to get used to the style (you can find my review up on the blog in two weeks!)

BUTTER

A BOOK THAT HAD A RICH, GREAT PLOT

The Turn of the Key had a variety of characters with an indescribable atmosphere, all intertwining into a cohesive murder mystery plot unlike another I've read

EGGS

A BOOK YOU THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE BAD BUT ACTUALLY TURNED OUT QUITE ENJOYABLE

I don't think I ever pick up a book thinking it'll be bad, but a book that was better than expected would be Faith: Taking Flight

SUGAR

A SUGARY, SWEET BOOK

Kasie Wests books, fluffy and easy books to fly through and the perfect answer for me - but not a read from last year though.

Oddly enough I didn't read any "sweet" and "fluffy" books last year, with the closest being Book Love the graphic novel about a book lover

ICING

A BOOK THAT COVERED EVERY SINGLE ELEMENT THAT YOU ENJOY ABOUT A BOOK (FUNNY MOMENTS, ACTION MOMENTS, SAD MOMENTS, ETC.)

The Lady Janies books, I read My Calamity Jane last year, but My Lady Jane in particular fits this question. From humor and action to romance, they have it all

SPRINKLES

A BOOK SERIES THAT YOU CAN KIND OF TURN BACK TO FOR A LITTLE PICK ME UP WHEN YOU’RE FEELING DOWN

The Harry Potter books would be the first thing that comes to mind, but I didn't reread any last year

Alice in Zombieland series are exactly this though as well, quick and easy reads to go back to!

THE CHERRY ON TOP

YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK THIS YEAR SO FAR

Out of the 5 books I've read this year (at the time of writing this), my favourite is Among the Beasts and Briars

Read on lovelies,

S