May 2024 Books, Tags, Reviews, and Stars
Average Stars: 2.75
Books Read: 8
Pages Read: 2,521
Reviews Written: 8
Good Reviews: 4
Bad Reviews: 3
Gray-Area Reviews: 1
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A Court of Mist and Fury
Sarah J. Maas
0.5 out of 5 stars
Published May 3, 2016
Read May 31, 2024
Summary: Feyre has undergone more trials than one human woman can carry in her heart. Though she’s now been granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae, she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and the terrible deeds she performed to save the lives of Tamlin and his people.
As her marriage to Tamlin approaches, Feyre’s hollowness and nightmares consume her. She finds herself split into two different one who upholds her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court, and one who lives out her life in the Spring Court with Tamlin. While Feyre navigates a dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms. She might just be the key to stopping it, but only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future-and the future of a world in turmoil.
My Review: Somehow the book was worse than the last! The writing was so horrible that I physically shuttered while reading it.
None of the characters were particularly strong. I really had high hopes for this book. I wanted to like it but I really couldn’t.
This was my third time with this book and I don’t think I will ever try it again.
-Nina
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Edit: This book put me into one of the worst reading slumps of my life. Not worth it!!!
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas
1 out of 5 stars
Published May 5, 2015
Read May 26-30, 2024
Summary: When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world.
At least, he’s not a beast all the time.
As she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, Tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But something is not right in the faerie lands. An ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.
My Review: This was my second time trying this book and it was rough!
The plot was slower than I remember and I don’t think it got good until 2/3 in. Even the climax parts were slow.
Lucian and Tamlin had no personality! For two of the main characters, I felt like I knew so little about them! I would have liked to see more!
The writing was gross (for lack of a better term.) I visibly cringed while reading and I die a little inside.
The only thing the series has going for it is the witty banter. But it really didn’t do enough to cover out all the bad.
Overall, a weak book and a horrible way to start a series.
-Nina
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The House on Mango Street
Sandra Cisneros
2 out of 5 stars
Published January 1, 1984
Read May 14-28, 2024
Summary: Praised by critics, admired by readers of all ages, in schools and universities across the country, and translated into a multitude of languages, The House on Mango Street is the extraordinary story of Esperanza Cordero. Told through a series of vignettes – sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes deeply joyful – it is the story of a Latina girl who grows up in a Chicago neighborhood, inventing for herself what and who she will become. Few books of our era have moved so many readers.
My Review: I think this book had very important lessons to learn. I think it was an educational read. But, I personally didn’t like the vignette style. It was awkward and very vague. I really don’t think I got a good feel for what the writer was trying to convey.
I’m sure a great book. But not my type.
-Nina
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Rebel
Marie Lu
4 out of 5 stars
Published October 1, 2019
Read May 17-22, 2024
Summary: Eden Wing has been living in his brother’s shadow for years. Even though he’s a top student at his academy in Ross City, Antarctica, and a brilliant inventor, most people know him only as Daniel Wing’s little brother.
A decade ago, Daniel was known as Day, the boy from the streets who led a revolution that saved the Republic of America. But Day is no longer the same young man who was once a national hero. These days he’d rather hide out from the world and leave his past behind. All that matters to him now is keeping Eden safe―even if that also means giving up June, the great love of Daniel’s life.
As the two brothers struggle to accept who they’ve each become since their time in the Republic, a new danger creeps into the distance that’s grown between them. Eden soon finds himself drawn so far into Ross City’s dark side, even his legendary brother can’t save him. At least not on his own . . .
My Review: Until a few weeks ago, I had no idea this book insisted and I was so happy to find out about it. I was so excited to see Day and June again. And that ending? Tears! It was fantastic to see them side by side growing together. Though I wanted to see Daniel’s day, he had grown so much!
Eden and Pressa were so amazing! Pressa was like Eden’s Tess, but better! And I love the Undercity and how it parallels the Lake Sector!
The idea of Dominic Hann, and his plan, (plus giving Eden an amazing story,) was very well written!
I will say many parts felt forced and unnatural. I also wished Daniel and Eden had talked more because nobody likes the miscommunication trope!
I’m not sure if it’s one I will read again, but a fantastic addition to the series.
-Nina
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Champion
Marie Lu
4.5 out of 5 stars
Published November 5, 2013
Read May 9-15, 2024
Summary: A New York Times Bestseller The explosive finale to Marie Lu’s bestselling Legend trilogy … He is a Legend. She is a Prodigy. Who will be Champion? June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic‚ and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them. Just when a peace treaty is imminent‚ a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies‚ and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. Only June knows the key to her country’s defense.
My Review: You know what book is good when it leaves you heartbroken urine or something that never was. This Book destroyed me and ruined any hope of reading a mediocre book next!
As always I love seeing multiple characters with povs. Day in June are so alike, but so different it’s truly another layer to the story. Even the sentence structure and vocabulary show their difference in education.
I love that this book opened up the rest of the world to the politics at play. It really shows you what the world has become. And it highlights new tech like Antarctica.
Commander Jameson’s role in this book felt unnatural. Like Lu kept letting this one person live. I also think Tess was the most useless character in the series, especially in this book. She never adds anything but child-like jealousy and whining.
But a fantastic book with a heart-wrenching end!
-Nina
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Prodigy
Marie Lu
5 out of 5 stars
Published January 29, 2013
Read May 6-8, 2024
Summary: It has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Believed dead‚ Day lost his brother to an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic’s most wanted traitor. Desperate for help‚ they turn to the Patriots — a vigilante rebel group. But can they trust them? Or have they unwittingly become pawns in the most terrifying of political games?
My Review: So much happened in this book. More happens here than the other two books combined. Sometimes this can be the downfall of books when the authors can’t keep everything straight. But Lu writes an amazing sequel without mucking up what she’s done so far. It’s some of the best writing.
Because so much happens in this book, the plot develops so much. From Patriots to colonies and back to the Republic. I loved all the new locations and the twists of this book!
The characters honestly killed me this time. I laughed with them and cried with them. I wasn’t ready for the Frenching events. It truly makes this book a must-read!
My only con was bits of Day. He sometimes treats June like shit and he’s always whining. He and June have many of the same problems, but she’s not as dramatic.
Otherwise, it was a fantastic book! My favorite in this series!
-Nina
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Legend
Marie Lu
4.5 out of 5 stars
Published November 29, 2011
Read May 2-3, 2024
Summary: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors.
Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles.
Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect.
Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.
My Review: Legend is such a great way to get into dystopian books. Lu crafts such an amazing story that shows why dystopian books with revolution are such an intricate plot.
She writes the faults of the government and the court politics. She has two POVs to show each side and the pains of the upper and lower classes.
My only real complaint is the romance subplot. It’s your opposite side of a battle for forbidden love. But I feel like it goes from nothing to a mature relationship in three days. A little rushed but otherwise, it’s well written!
I can’t wait to re-read the rest of the series and read ‘Rebel’ for the first time!
-Nina
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Julius Caesar
William Shakespeare
Published January 1, 1599
Read April 10 – May 3, 2024
0.5 out of 5 stars
Summary: Shakespeare may have written Julius Caesar as the first of his plays to be performed at the Globe, in 1599. For it, he turned to a key event in Roman history: Caesar’s death at the hands of friends and fellow politicians. Renaissance writers disagreed over the assassination, seeing Brutus, a leading conspirator, as either hero or villain. Shakespeare’s play keeps this debate alive.
My Review: I really hated this book. Simple as that. I don’t like the format, I don’t understand the wording and I really don’t like Shakespeare.
This writing was never meant to be read as a play and Shakespeare is so outdated that it should be removed from the curriculum.
Simply, I will never pick up Shakespeare unless it’s forced and even then I barely read it.
-Nina
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April 2024 Books, Tags, Reviews, and Stars
Average Stars: 3.6
Books Read: 4
Pages Read: 1,675
Reviews Written: 4
Good Reviews: 3
Bad Reviews: 1
Gray-Area Reviews: 0
Books Read in April
Favorites:
Repeat Books:
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