It sounded promising, but after the 5th time she pointed out how special she was because of how different she is, I got sick of it. 30% of the way thrIt sounded promising, but after the 5th time she pointed out how special she was because of how different she is, I got sick of it. 30% of the way through the book and she still wasn't playing games with people in a big way. Ooo she gave a guy at the bar the wrong room, big whoop. She also repeated twice how if her niece had been a white girl from the suburbs, it would be a big deal. With the repeated ideas, I quit reading. It's not intriguing enough....more
I loved it! Jorg's way of thinking is very interesting to me. The briar patch story is heartbreaking and I understand the need for revenge. Little RilI loved it! Jorg's way of thinking is very interesting to me. The briar patch story is heartbreaking and I understand the need for revenge. Little Riley is probably my favorite character. The twists and turns Jorg had to follow were very interesting. I finished this in 2 days. I can't wait for the next book!...more
What a great read! I loved how everything came together in the end. The jumps between time and characters took me a little bit of time to adjust, but What a great read! I loved how everything came together in the end. The jumps between time and characters took me a little bit of time to adjust, but it started to flow nicely as the story progressed. I felt powerless as everything happened to Elizabeth, but I also felt such pride in her perseverance and grit when faced with adversity at every corner. By the end, I felt empowered. Elizabeth is an outstanding, inspiring character to get women to come together and realize their strength. And I loved that it was pushed along by a seemingly innocent "cooking show." I love that women came together over what husbands assumed was just a cooking program and, by the time they realized, it was too late. Finally, I loved getting to see six-thirty's point of view included. He worked hard....more
I loved this story! A quirky main character named Delaney who takes everything literally and bases life on facts. She also has an emotional support piI loved this story! A quirky main character named Delaney who takes everything literally and bases life on facts. She also has an emotional support pig. #life goals She's on a mission to help dear friends but has to accept help from the annoying rock shop owner down the way from her shop. I don't want to spoil it, so I'll keep it vague - her abilities as a pharmacist (and beyond) were so fun to read about that I was almost as impatient as Delaney was to discover new specimens....more
It's a decent story. The main character has a heartbreaking story but makes up for it in grit and resilience. I am still unsure of how the magic systeIt's a decent story. The main character has a heartbreaking story but makes up for it in grit and resilience. I am still unsure of how the magic system works exactly, but that could just be my lack of understanding. I still couldn't tell you the full difference between Solarie and Voltain magic.
I did get pulled out of the story a few times due to inconsistent verb usage. It sounds small, but I had to go back and reread parts to keep the flow going in my mind on whether the actions were taking place in the past or present. I also got annoyed with how often Tisaanah was taken over and then it was just glossed over with "oh, we can't let that happen again" then it happened again. I feel like there should have been more training/practice on mental defenses besides the wiki-how training she got in the beginning. Finally, how are her and Max okay?? How is he surviving her killer magic over and over again after she slaughters so many others with barely a touch? This is my biggest struggle because it's supposed to be a super deadly magical power yet Max is fine...
I wouldn't say the prose is magical but it's done well enough that I read this in a few days. I'm curious to know what will happen next for Tisaanah....more
"The law of the gutters sang through my mind. If not richer, bigger. If not bigger, quicker. If not quicker, smarter. If not smarter, dead."
Michael ri"The law of the gutters sang through my mind. If not richer, bigger. If not bigger, quicker. If not quicker, smarter. If not smarter, dead."
Michael rivals the best of the best with his imagery. One of my favorite examples is "Shadows rose from the earth to grasp the city of Cannalis in twilight as the sun slid into the forested ranges in the distance." Reading his books is an immersive experience where I'm not staring at words on a page but I'm walking alongside El, my senses getting hit with all the same experiences she lives. This story is easy to follow and told from one point of view rather than several. You are learning the world alongside El, peeling back layers of truth as they are revealed to her. I also love that El is not a perfect being. There are experiences and feelings that are more real to me than the main character being altruistic and noble in their quest. I also love golden nuggets of wisdom dropped by wise creatures that I can carry into my own life. For example, in this exchange between El and another character (I don't want to say who, just in case), "'You're saying I need to adopt the Principle of Absolutes in regards to my mother's death.' 'Yes. Your actions around it most of all. What you did was either necessary, and therefore good. Or it was foolish, and therefore bad. It cannot be both. You must choose which, or every decision from here on out will be marred by your questioning.'"
I am very excited for this series. There are some characters that I'm hoping El reunites with in the future to wrap up unfinished business. Overall, I loved this book - another slam dunk by Michael Michel in his storytelling abilities. I haven't been this excited about an author since I was 12 reading JK Rowling....more
It reminds me of Hunger Games crossed with Throne of Glass. Our main character Mare lives in horrible conditions with her family and they are suppressIt reminds me of Hunger Games crossed with Throne of Glass. Our main character Mare lives in horrible conditions with her family and they are suppressed by the silver bloods of the world. A few events lead her to be in close proximity to silvers and things escalate from there. I usually avoid YA, but this book sucked me in from the start. It doesn't stop for a second! A captivating, easy-to-follow story. I didn't do a full 5 stars just because things were so predictable and the romance piece was questionable. It put Mare in a less likeable position for me. Regardless, I will continue reading the series....more
I loved the adventure and the other world. He has several golden nugget quotes that resonated with me. The pacing was slow in the beginning and I remeI loved the adventure and the other world. He has several golden nugget quotes that resonated with me. The pacing was slow in the beginning and I remember commenting to my husband I feel like I'm just reading a story of a teenager taking care of an old man. Once that part was done, it was an enjoyable read! I would recommend reading if you're okay with a slow pace, otherwise you may want to skip forward a ways....more
What a great read! I loved the characters, had some laugh out loud moments, and the pacing is superb. It jumps right into the story and doesn't stop. What a great read! I loved the characters, had some laugh out loud moments, and the pacing is superb. It jumps right into the story and doesn't stop. I really enjoyed the story and read it in a day!...more