Title: Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2)Author: Leigh Bardugo (website)(Twitter)Genre: YA, fantasy, action/adventurePublisher: Henry Holt and Co.Publication Date: June 4, 2013Rating: I really liked it
Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) - my review
***This is the second in the series and as such might contain spoilers for the first. If you haven't read Shadow and Bone you might want to skip this one***
Ya'll know I fangirled all over Shadow and Bone. I was so excited to read Siege and Storm but was a bit worried too. Afraid that the second one wouldn't be as good as the first one. I need not worry since Siege and Storm was every bit as good.
This one picks up where the first left off. Mal and Alina have escaped from the Darkling (hence forth referred to as my second husband - kidding...sort of). But like the tag line says, Darkness Never Dies. He finds them and has a cool extremely terrifying new trick. After their capture, they are held aboard a ship. Here we are introduced to Sturmhond. Oh, Leigh, why did you introduce such a character to make me think of swaying from the Darkling? WHY?! Sturmhond is a wonderful addition to the characters. He's funny, mysterious, sarcastic and hot. He knows just the right thing to say to make you laugh so I was tickled that he was a central character.
There were twists and turns and tons of action. I love reading a book that makes me feel as if I am right there and this does. The characters are so well developed that you think you really know them. The fight scenes are so intense that you felt like you fought them. I won't spoil the plot by adding anything else.
So why the "I really enjoyed it" instead of the "It was amazing!"? In a word...Alina. I found her to be highly annoying this go round. She was being worshiped as the Sun Summoner, she had men fighting over her and she could make a real difference in Ravka but she just whined about how hard her life was. Oh great day. Sometimes it seemed like she had a split personality.
That being said, I can't wait for the final book in the trilogy. Will be interesting to see how everything is wrapped up.
If you've read this who were you rooting for?
Title: Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2)
Author: Leigh Bardugo (website)(Twitter)
Genre: YA, fantasy, action/adventure
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Rating: I really liked it
Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) - my review
***This is the second in the series and as such might contain spoilers for the first. If you haven't read Shadow and Bone you might want to skip this one***
Ya'll know I fangirled all over Shadow and Bone. I was so excited to read Siege and Storm but was a bit worried too. Afraid that the second one wouldn't be as good as the first one. I need not worry since Siege and Storm was every bit as good.
This one picks up where the first left off. Mal and Alina have escaped from the Darkling (hence forth referred to as my second husband - kidding...sort of). But like the tag line says, Darkness Never Dies. He finds them and has a cool extremely terrifying new trick.
After their capture, they are held aboard a ship. Here we are introduced to Sturmhond. Oh, Leigh, why did you introduce such a character to make me think of swaying from the Darkling? WHY?! Sturmhond is a wonderful addition to the characters. He's funny, mysterious, sarcastic and hot. He knows just the right thing to say to make you laugh so I was tickled that he was a central character.
There were twists and turns and tons of action. I love reading a book that makes me feel as if I am right there and this does. The characters are so well developed that you think you really know them. The fight scenes are so intense that you felt like you fought them. I won't spoil the plot by adding anything else.
So why the "I really enjoyed it" instead of the "It was amazing!"? In a word...Alina. I found her to be highly annoying this go round. She was being worshiped as the Sun Summoner, she had men fighting over her and she could make a real difference in Ravka but she just whined about how hard her life was. Oh great day. Sometimes it seemed like she had a split personality.
That being said, I can't wait for the final book in the trilogy. Will be interesting to see how everything is wrapped up.
If you've read this who were you rooting for?
Today's Armchair BEA topic is the broad genre of children's literature. Even if you don't have kids of your own, there are such well written books out there in all the sub-genres of children's books.
Picture Books:
As mom to two little boys, ages 4 and 6, we read many, many picture and chapter books. A few of our favorites are The Giving Tree, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, any of the Clifford the Big Red Dog books among many others. For a while we reviewed a favorite book every Sunday in my The Kiddie Table feature. The boys enjoy giving their thoughts on books almost as much as I do!
Middle Grade:
I am just now getting into MG. The only book I've read is the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Was concerned that the age group would make me bored but that's not the case at all. I asked for recommendations on Twitter and got some great ideas.
Young Adult:
YA is one of my favorite genres since I started book blogging. They are action packed, well written and quick reads. Quick reads = more reviews for my blog. My favorite three this year are Shadow and Bone, The Tragedy Paper and Being Henry David. Most of what I read tends to be YA now because I enjoy it so much.
Have a recommendation for a good MG or YA? Leave it in the comments or here.
Today's Armchair BEA topic is the broad genre of children's literature. Even if you don't have kids of your own, there are such well written books out there in all the sub-genres of children's books.
Picture Books:
As mom to two little boys, ages 4 and 6, we read many, many picture and chapter books. A few of our favorites are The Giving Tree, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, any of the Clifford the Big Red Dog books among many others. For a while we reviewed a favorite book every Sunday in my The Kiddie Table feature. The boys enjoy giving their thoughts on books almost as much as I do!
Middle Grade:
I am just now getting into MG. The only book I've read is the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Was concerned that the age group would make me bored but that's not the case at all. I asked for recommendations on Twitter and got some great ideas.
Young Adult:
YA is one of my favorite genres since I started book blogging. They are action packed, well written and quick reads. Quick reads = more reviews for my blog. My favorite three this year are Shadow and Bone, The Tragedy Paper and Being Henry David. Most of what I read tends to be YA now because I enjoy it so much.
Have a recommendation for a good MG or YA? Leave it in the comments or here.
Only a couple more days until I will be blowing out the candles for another year. I.am.old. So here's my wishlist of bookish things for my big day. I won't get a single thing on my list but a girl can wish right?
Bookmarks. I am not sure how I misplace bookmarks like I do but dang, I lose them. My favorites are the ones that the library puts out. I try to collect them all.
Bookish money or gift cards. I could spend a ton on books so these are always great. Barnes and Nobles, Amazon or cold hard cash works. The cash usually goes to a bill but...
Shadow and Bone and a pre-order of Siege and Storm. Yes, yes, I've gushed about Shadow and Bone but I don't actually own a copy and I must read it again before I read Siege and Storm.
Allthebooks. My massive Goodreads TBR list? It's crazy, insane out of control. And I just keep adding and adding and adding...any book from there will more than do.
An e-reader. Kindle, Nook, a whatev. I will take anything at this point. I'm currently reading most of my e-galleys on my phone and it's killing my eyes. Have I mentioned that I.am.old?
Trip to BEA. One day I will go. For real.
Vin Diesel. How is Vin Diesel a bookish wish? Because he can READ TO ME, of course. Duh! Naturally, he'll be reading with his shirt off and I'll have to have him read things more than once because I will be so distracted that I won't really understand the book but hey...what a way to read! And that purdy picture up above? My hands down, all time favorite picture of him from any movie he's ever been in. Swoon.
What about you? If you made a bookish wishlist what would be on it?
Only a couple more days until I will be blowing out the candles for another year. I.am.old. So here's my wishlist of bookish things for my big day. I won't get a single thing on my list but a girl can wish right?
Bookmarks. I am not sure how I misplace bookmarks like I do but dang, I lose them. My favorites are the ones that the library puts out. I try to collect them all.
Bookish money or gift cards. I could spend a ton on books so these are always great. Barnes and Nobles, Amazon or cold hard cash works. The cash usually goes to a bill but...
Shadow and Bone and a pre-order of Siege and Storm. Yes, yes, I've gushed about Shadow and Bone but I don't actually own a copy and I must read it again before I read Siege and Storm.
Allthebooks. My massive Goodreads TBR list? It's crazy, insane out of control. And I just keep adding and adding and adding...any book from there will more than do.
An e-reader. Kindle, Nook, a whatev. I will take anything at this point. I'm currently reading most of my e-galleys on my phone and it's killing my eyes. Have I mentioned that I.am.old?
Trip to BEA. One day I will go. For real.
Vin Diesel. How is Vin Diesel a bookish wish? Because he can READ TO ME, of course. Duh! Naturally, he'll be reading with his shirt off and I'll have to have him read things more than once because I will be so distracted that I won't really understand the book but hey...what a way to read! And that purdy picture up above? My hands down, all time favorite picture of him from any movie he's ever been in. Swoon.
What about you? If you made a bookish wishlist what would be on it?
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
This week's topic is the Top Ten characters I'd crush on if I were a fictional character. Let's be honest here, I'm NOT a fictional character and I crush on some of these guys. Just sayin'.10. and 9. Peeta and Gale from The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzannne Collins. I can't pick a "team" because they are both just awesome. Sigh.
8. Gerry from P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern. Oh my. Sweet and thoughtful and fun Gerry. And then Gerard Butler playing him in the movie? Yes, please.
7. Noah from The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. Back in the day of actually enjoying a Sparks novel, this one was my favorite. Noah was amazing. Manly but sensitive and oh so loving. He's stayed in my top book boyfriends list because of the casting of Ryan Gosling in the movie. Oh.my.word.
6. Jacob from the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. Yes, yes, I know. Haters gonna hate but when I first read the Twilight series, I really enjoyed them. In large part to Jacob. Of course now, I can't separate Jacob from Taylor Lautner but that's ok. He may technically be young enough to be my son for crying out loud but that boy is hot.hot.hot.
5. Ben from Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay. Sweet, flawed, normal.
4. Adam from Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. His name is more like a satisfied sigh, don't you think? And please don't tell me about "team Warner" as I'm just not convinced.
3. Ranger from the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. What a delicious man. That is all. When my Favorite gets me a German Shepherd, his name should be Ranger.
2. Etienne from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Oh sigh and swoon and please take me to Paris right.this.minute so that I can meet Etienne.
1. The Darkling from Shadow and Bone by Leigh Burdago. Swoon. The Darkling, which I will continue to read as "the Darling" is my top book boyfriend. I will marry him and have his little devil babies. No questions asked.
Ok, your turn! Who are your book boyfriends? Got a list for this week's Top Ten Tuesday? Share your link in the comments so I can go swoon.
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
This week's topic is the Top Ten characters I'd crush on if I were a fictional character. Let's be honest here, I'm NOT a fictional character and I crush on some of these guys. Just sayin'.
10. and 9. Peeta and Gale from The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzannne Collins. I can't pick a "team" because they are both just awesome. Sigh.
8. Gerry from P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern. Oh my. Sweet and thoughtful and fun Gerry. And then Gerard Butler playing him in the movie? Yes, please.
7. Noah from The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. Back in the day of actually enjoying a Sparks novel, this one was my favorite. Noah was amazing. Manly but sensitive and oh so loving. He's stayed in my top book boyfriends list because of the casting of Ryan Gosling in the movie. Oh.my.word.
6. Jacob from the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. Yes, yes, I know. Haters gonna hate but when I first read the Twilight series, I really enjoyed them. In large part to Jacob. Of course now, I can't separate Jacob from Taylor Lautner but that's ok. He may technically be young enough to be my son for crying out loud but that boy is hot.hot.hot.
5. Ben from Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay. Sweet, flawed, normal.
4. Adam from Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. His name is more like a satisfied sigh, don't you think? And please don't tell me about "team Warner" as I'm just not convinced.
3. Ranger from the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. What a delicious man. That is all. When my Favorite gets me a German Shepherd, his name should be Ranger.
2. Etienne from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Oh sigh and swoon and please take me to Paris right.this.minute so that I can meet Etienne.
1. The Darkling from Shadow and Bone by Leigh Burdago. Swoon. The Darkling, which I will continue to read as "the Darling" is my top book boyfriend. I will marry him and have his little devil babies. No questions asked.
Ok, your turn! Who are your book boyfriends? Got a list for this week's Top Ten Tuesday? Share your link in the comments so I can go swoon.
This week's theme: Books I Recommend the Most.
These are the only books that I have really ever gushed about. Technically I have a Top Ten list since there are 7 Harry Potter books. Excited to see everyone else's list.
Any of the Harry Potter books. I loved them. I even have re-read them. I don't normally re-read.
The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan (my review). This book was incredible and I always gush about it when given the chance. "This book sucked me in" is so overused on book blogs but oh my golly, this book sucked me in. I would literally blink and wonder where the heck I actually was because I thought I was listening to Tim tell his story.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. (my review) Whenever someone else does a review, I fangirl all over this one again! Incredible story, excellent world building, great characters and my #1 book boyfriend...the Darkling. Swoon.
Being Henry David by Cal Armistead. (my review) Another one that I rave about. Such an interesting story with a male (!) POV and amnesia Plus, I loved all the references to Henry David Thoreau. And I won an autographed copy of this. Made my little book lovin' heart go all pitter patter.
What do you rave about? Participating in this week's Top Ten? Leave me a link so I can see your list!
This week's theme: Books I Recommend the Most.
These are the only books that I have really ever gushed about. Technically I have a Top Ten list since there are 7 Harry Potter books. Excited to see everyone else's list.
Any of the Harry Potter books. I loved them. I even have re-read them. I don't normally re-read.
The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan (my review). This book was incredible and I always gush about it when given the chance. "This book sucked me in" is so overused on book blogs but oh my golly, this book sucked me in. I would literally blink and wonder where the heck I actually was because I thought I was listening to Tim tell his story.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. (my review) Whenever someone else does a review, I fangirl all over this one again! Incredible story, excellent world building, great characters and my #1 book boyfriend...the Darkling. Swoon.
Being Henry David by Cal Armistead. (my review) Another one that I rave about. Such an interesting story with a male (!) POV and amnesia Plus, I loved all the references to Henry David Thoreau. And I won an autographed copy of this. Made my little book lovin' heart go all pitter patter.
What do you rave about? Participating in this week's Top Ten? Leave me a link so I can see your list!
