Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed - Thoughts

Title: Cinders and Sapphires
Author: Leila Rasheed
Pages: 400
Genre: YA
Series: At Somerton, first in series

At first glance this is not a book I would normally pick up. Looks so romancey and not me. But I saw it available at the library and took a chance. I am so glad I did. While I had issue with the insta-love, I so enjoyed this book. Read it in one sitting and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I loved seeing how the lives of Rose, a maid, and her lady, Ada, combined and intertwined. Their two worlds were seemingly so far apart and yet...not. Rose was such a lovely character and fit into Ada's world so well that it was easy to forget that she was a maid, even as she went about her duties.

The romance was my least favorite part but only because I am not a big fan of insta-love. I love the build up. This book didn't have it. I love the tease and the tension. This book didn't have that either. Actually, there was tension, but it was the wrong kind for me. The stolen moments did not take my breath away like I would have liked.

The setting of Somerton was lush and I thought that the author did such an amazing job of making me feel as if I were there. I love that in a book. The dialogue was believable as well, and we all know how dialogue makes or breaks a book for me.

My favorite thing about Cinders and Sapphires is how it made me think. How would it be still living in an age where I can't freely decide to get an education without my father's approval? Or that I couldn't love a man not of my nationality? 

A good start to a series that will be on my list to read. 

If you read this did you like it? Not?

Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed - Thoughts

Title: Cinders and Sapphires
Author: Leila Rasheed
Pages: 400
Genre: YA
Series: At Somerton, first in series

At first glance this is not a book I would normally pick up. Looks so romancey and not me. But I saw it available at the library and took a chance. I am so glad I did. While I had issue with the insta-love, I so enjoyed this book. Read it in one sitting and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I loved seeing how the lives of Rose, a maid, and her lady, Ada, combined and intertwined. Their two worlds were seemingly so far apart and yet...not. Rose was such a lovely character and fit into Ada's world so well that it was easy to forget that she was a maid, even as she went about her duties.

The romance was my least favorite part but only because I am not a big fan of insta-love. I love the build up. This book didn't have it. I love the tease and the tension. This book didn't have that either. Actually, there was tension, but it was the wrong kind for me. The stolen moments did not take my breath away like I would have liked.

The setting of Somerton was lush and I thought that the author did such an amazing job of making me feel as if I were there. I love that in a book. The dialogue was believable as well, and we all know how dialogue makes or breaks a book for me.

My favorite thing about Cinders and Sapphires is how it made me think. How would it be still living in an age where I can't freely decide to get an education without my father's approval? Or that I couldn't love a man not of my nationality? 

A good start to a series that will be on my list to read. 

If you read this did you like it? Not?

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - Thoughts

Title: Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Pages: 356
Genre: YA
Series or Standalone: Series (Grisha trilogy #1)
Rating: I loved it. Excuse me while I go all fangirl on it.

My Thoughts: I can sum up this book in one word: wow. And "wow" in the most spectacular way. I had read a couple of reviews of this and it sounded pretty good so I requested it from the library. I didn't really get that it was fantasy (I guess?) so I wasn't sure about it when I actually read a bit of the front flap. But I had it and I loved the cover so I thought I'd give it a shot. 3 hours later I finally got off the couch because I was really stiff. That's how much I didn't want to put it down.

I have nothing, not one single word, negative to say about it. Well, maybe one thing...it ended. And the next one doesn't come out until June.

S&B is the story of Alina and Mal who find each other in the same orphan house. When Alina shows a powerful gift, she is taken off to the Darkling to be trained as a Grisha. The Grisha are a group of specially trained warriors for the Darkling. The Darkling is both loved and hated throughout Ravka. Once she arrives at the Little Palace, Alina tries to fit in and learns that things might not be what she thinks. Is she a weapon or a good thing for the kingdom?

I have to say that I was crushing on the Darkling the whole time. I kept reading it as the "darling" and he sounds like he is quite easy on the eyes. The entire cast of characters was well developed. The dialogue flowed well and the plot was very good. Ravka was so well developed that I could picture it as if it were real.

I can't say enough good things about this book. I will be buying my own copy so that I can reread it before Siege and Storm comes out. Yep, that's how much I loved it! I am actually going to BUY a copy! Gasp. Plus, Leigh Bardugo, the author, replied to a tweet of mine on Twitter. I love that.

Thanks for letting me fangirl on this wonderful story! ;-)

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - Thoughts

Title: Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Pages: 356
Genre: YA
Series or Standalone: Series (Grisha trilogy #1)
Rating: I loved it. Excuse me while I go all fangirl on it.

My Thoughts: I can sum up this book in one word: wow. And "wow" in the most spectacular way. I had read a couple of reviews of this and it sounded pretty good so I requested it from the library. I didn't really get that it was fantasy (I guess?) so I wasn't sure about it when I actually read a bit of the front flap. But I had it and I loved the cover so I thought I'd give it a shot. 3 hours later I finally got off the couch because I was really stiff. That's how much I didn't want to put it down.

I have nothing, not one single word, negative to say about it. Well, maybe one thing...it ended. And the next one doesn't come out until June.

S&B is the story of Alina and Mal who find each other in the same orphan house. When Alina shows a powerful gift, she is taken off to the Darkling to be trained as a Grisha. The Grisha are a group of specially trained warriors for the Darkling. The Darkling is both loved and hated throughout Ravka. Once she arrives at the Little Palace, Alina tries to fit in and learns that things might not be what she thinks. Is she a weapon or a good thing for the kingdom?

I have to say that I was crushing on the Darkling the whole time. I kept reading it as the "darling" and he sounds like he is quite easy on the eyes. The entire cast of characters was well developed. The dialogue flowed well and the plot was very good. Ravka was so well developed that I could picture it as if it were real.

I can't say enough good things about this book. I will be buying my own copy so that I can reread it before Siege and Storm comes out. Yep, that's how much I loved it! I am actually going to BUY a copy! Gasp. Plus, Leigh Bardugo, the author, replied to a tweet of mine on Twitter. I love that.

Thanks for letting me fangirl on this wonderful story! ;-)

Crash by Lisa McMann - Thoughts

Title: Crash
Author: Lisa McMann
Pages: 233
Genre: YA
Series or Standalone: #1 of series
Rating: I really liked it

I'll use a quote from the first page as a summary:" Every few days I see it. Sometimes it's just a picture, like on that billboard we pass on the way to school. And other times it's moving, like on a screen. A careening truck hits a building and explodes. Then nine body bags in the snow.

It's like a movie trailer with no sound, no credits. And nobody sees it but me"

This was a fun, action packed, and quick read. Read it in a day and really enjoyed it. Jules was a likeable character and I really liked Sawyer. Trey was One of my favorite things was the lists that Jules made. "Top 5 reasons why..." Fun!

I have only read one other book by Lisa McMann and I enjoyed this one much more. It was original and inventive and the plot moved along with great dialogue.

One thing that I didn't like was the cussing. I thought it was unnecessary in a book that was geared towards teens.

A twist at the end makes me wonder what's next for this series and I look forward to finding out!

Thoughts?

Crash by Lisa McMann - Thoughts

Title: Crash
Author: Lisa McMann
Pages: 233
Genre: YA
Series or Standalone: #1 of series
Rating: I really liked it

I'll use a quote from the first page as a summary:" Every few days I see it. Sometimes it's just a picture, like on that billboard we pass on the way to school. And other times it's moving, like on a screen. A careening truck hits a building and explodes. Then nine body bags in the snow.

It's like a movie trailer with no sound, no credits. And nobody sees it but me"

This was a fun, action packed, and quick read. Read it in a day and really enjoyed it. Jules was a likeable character and I really liked Sawyer. Trey was One of my favorite things was the lists that Jules made. "Top 5 reasons why..." Fun!

I have only read one other book by Lisa McMann and I enjoyed this one much more. It was original and inventive and the plot moved along with great dialogue.

One thing that I didn't like was the cussing. I thought it was unnecessary in a book that was geared towards teens.

A twist at the end makes me wonder what's next for this series and I look forward to finding out!

Thoughts?