21-30 Books of 2020

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And today I'll be talking about all the books that I've read recently.

I hope you enjoy, and feel free to comment on any of the books that I mention in this post.

Enjoy!

21. A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic #2), by V.E. Schwab

This was one of the best 2nd book that I've ever had the fortune to watch. The concept for A Gathering of Shadows was absolutely phenomenal, and V.E. Schwab delivered, for sure. I can't believe there aren't more books that have the Olympics (for magic) in them, but I'm glad this was my first time reading about them. There was more to this story than the Olympics, I promise, but that was one of my favourite parts, especially as two of my favourite characters are competing in them. I can't give much more away than that, because it's the second book in the series, but I will say that A Gathering of Shadows is just as good as A Darker Shade of Magic, and doesn't fall down the trap of second book syndrome.

22. The Kingdom of Back, by Marie Lu

I read this in 5 hours. It was amazing. It combines my newly acquired love of historical fiction, classical music, magical realism, and the underdog trope. I read this a month ago and I already want to re-read it. Highly recommend, it's so easy to fly through, as all of Marie Lu's books are. If this is her historical fiction debut novel, I can't wait to see what else she can come up with. The Kingdom of Back is actually very similar to The Light Between Worlds so if you liked that book, then this'll be right up your alley. If you didn't know, it's from the POV of the famous Mozart's sister, Nannerl as she fights to be noticed against her prodigy brother, as she progresses on borrowed time (her father has made it clear that she will only continue to play and compose until she reaches a marriageable age.) It's a wonderful book, one that I think deserves more recognition than I think it gets.

23. Every Heart A Doorway (Wayward Children #1), by Seanen McGuire

Although it takes a bit to get into it (because it's the first one and I had no idea what was going on,) once I'd got my bearings, I fell in love. It opened up a lot of potential stories within this universe, and I can't wait to delve deeper into this series. Every Heart A Doorway deserves every 5 star review, it absolutely lives up to the hype and I mean this when I say that it's the most unique magical realism series I've ever read (even though I'm not even half way through the series yet.) If you didn't know, Every Heart A Doorway is set in a boarding school, that houses children that have travelled to different worlds, and haven't been able to adjust when they eventually returned. I listened to the audiobook (and continue to do so) and it was such a quick read, but the amount of depth Seanen has managed to soak in is amazing.

24. Under the Dome, by Stephen King

This was the opposite of Every Heart A Doorway. It took a while for me to get through. I'm not saying it's not amazing, in fact the detail King puts into his characters, the plot, the relationships, is one of the best I've ever had the fortune to read. I'm just saying it took me a while. And because it's over 850 pages, why wouldn't it? Under the Dome is probably my favourite Stephen King book to date, and although I haven't read a whole lot of his work yet, the list is growing. What I love the most about Under the Dome is how, even though there are a ton of characters, and it takes a while at first to remember whose who, but I love following all the individual stories, and getting attached. If you're in the mood for a brick of a book, and also like Stephen King, I highly recommend this.

25. A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3), by V.E. Schwab

A fast paced conclusion to an explosive series. I'm not ready to say goodbye to these characters, so I'm holding on to the hope that there are going to be more books with these characters (though I'm guessing probably not, unfortunately.) But I love Lila, I love Kell, and Rhy. And although Osaron didn't scare me, I was wondering how the heck our heroes were going to overcome this. The pacing was a little different to the other two, but altogether such an amazing ending.

26. A Girl in Three Parts, by Suzanne Daniel

I have a review up for this, so if you want to see more of my in-depth thoughts, you can click the link in the title to see those. But to put it mildly, this blew my expectations away like a gust of wind. It's a simple premise, but it's filled with important parts of what it means to become a young women in the 1970s. You wouldn't think this was a debut, because of how well written it is. A Girl in Three Parts is a flawlessly written, powerful novel, and I really hope this gets the hype it deserves because it really is a wonderful book. Highly recommend.

27. Down Among the Sticks and Bones (Wayward Children #2), by Seanen McGuire

I didn't know much going into this. I knew it focused on two characters of the first book, and that this was the world that they went to, before eventually going to Miss West's School for Wayward Children, but I didn't know any more than that. What I got was a creepy and mysterious world where I got to find out more about Jack and Jill. The description of the world was vast, and I never felt like it was rushed at all, or that anything was missed out, despite it's length. Looking forward to seeing what else awaits me in this mystical world.

28. Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1), by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

When my poll results showed that this would be the next series I pick up, I was a little nervous. I wasn't sure I'd get into the unique way the story was told (it's written in a case study, full of reports, diagrams and text message conversations.) But it turns out, I had nothing to worry about! Illuminae has made it's way to my favourite series' list like the speed of lightning. Providing I love book 2 & 3 as much as this one (which shouldn't present too much of a problem, honestly.) Creativity was dripping off this book, it was so unique and original and even though I know there's not going to be anything like this again, I'm so happy I get the fortune to read something as amazing as this. If you haven't picked this up, what are you doing? Get on it. Seriously.

29. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, by Suzanne Collins

Again, there's a review up for this, so feel free to click on the title if you want more detail, but this was kind of a meh read for me. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. The review's probably on more of the negative side if I had to give my honest opinion. But to sum it up, I didn't like Snow (big spoiler there, right? That's the leading comment between people that have read this), the characters weren't detailed enough for me to care when things happened, but the writing felt the same as the original series, and the cliff-hangers on the ends of chapters were what made the book for me. I read this so I could form my opinion, and although I don't regret picking it up, I do wish it had been from the POV of any other hunger games character (specifically Johanna, Finnick, Mags, Haymitch, Cinna or Effie.)

30. Seasons of War (Skulduggery Pleasant #13), by Derek Landy

I finished this yesterday. Those that know I love Skulduggery Pleasant with all my heart will not be surprised to know that I loved this instalment of the series. And those that didn't know, you do now. Let's hug. Seasons of War is basically Skulduggery, Valkyrie and their own version of the Dead Men travelling over to another dimension to kill someone, whilst battling zombies the whole time. Sounds easy? It bloody well isn't. Seasons of War was basically like every other book in the series: full of action, badass characters, and choc full of sarcastic humour. Once again it had me laughing and gripping the pages just as hard as I could, hoping that my favourite characters wouldn't get murdered. There are two books left until the series is over for good, and I'm nowhere near ready (even though the final book is probably 2 years away). If you're thinking this is a tad premature, you probably don't know that I've been following this since 2008. You do now.

Okay! That's all the books I have to discuss with you all! Once again, feel free to comment what you thought, and if you've read any of them, let me know!

Okay! I hope you have a wonderful evening, and I'll see you all soon!

Byeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games #0), by Suzanne Collins

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And I finished The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes today.

So I'm writing a review about it.

Enjoy.

Title: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Author: Suzanne Collins

Genre: Dystopian.

Status: Standalone

Pages: 517

Blurb: "It is the morning of the reaping that will kick

off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the

Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow

is preparing for his one shot at glory as a

mentor in the Games. The once-mighty

house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its

fate hanging on the slender chance that

Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit,

and outmanoeuvre his fellow students to

mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He's been

given the humiliating assignment of

mentoring the female tribute from District

12, the lowest of the low. The fates are

now completely intertwined- every choice

Coriolanus makes could lead to favour or

failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it

will be a fight to the death. Outside the

arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his

doomed tribute... and must weigh his need

to follow the rules against his desire to

survive no matter what it takes."

My Thoughts

I have positive and negative thoughts on this. Some of you will hate these opinions I'm guessing, but they're merely opinions. You're welcome to your opinions, so don't hate on mine.

Okay, here we go.

I didn't love this book, like some people. I also didn't hate this book, like a whole lot of people did. It was just kind of meh.

My favourite part was probably the writing style. It felt very much like the original trilogy, and it made me want to keep going, to find out what happened next, which is what it feels like, reading the Hunger Games.

However, the pacing was all over the place. Most of it was very slow, like it was trying to create intrigue, and then there would be a moment when it got really fast paced, and then, as if that moment hadn't even happened, it would get really slow again. I didn't have a huge problem with it overall, but it could have been better honestly.

Other than that, some of the parts felt really rushed, like they just showed up out of nowhere, with no warning, no clues whatsoever. Especially the ending. It all kind of ended abruptly, with barely any lead up to it.

When it comes to the characters, there left a lot to be desired. There wasn't enough detail to get attached to the tributes for me to feel anything when they were killed in the arena, there wasn't even enough to distinguish which ones where from which district. The mentors weren't much better, only a few stood out, but again, I didn't really feel anything for them either. There were one or two characters that felt like real people, (those characters bumped up the overall rating), but they weren't enough to give this book a higher rating that 3 stars (and even that's being generous.)

Now, Snow. *Sigh.*

Snow kind of felt like a spectator in his own story. It just felt like he was totally accepting of everything that happened. Yes, he saw the struggles the tributes were having in the Capitols, yet he did nothing to change their situation that wasn't prompted by someone else. He didn't seem to have much problem with what the Capitol was instructing, other than what would happen to his reputation if he was seen to be thinking or acting differently.

World-wise, I was expecting it to be more polished than what it was. Like, I get it, this book takes place 64 years before the events of the original trilogy, so it's not going to have the same feel, but it just felt flat.

Also, I feel like there could have been a more interesting way for Snow to question things other than the way it was laid out. (Not giving any spoilers.)

 And I wish The Hunger Games were longer. Going into this, I knew it wasn't going to be much of an emphasis on them in this, because of the spoiler free reviews I'd seen beforehand, but I still wish they had been longer than they were, or at least more of a build-up throughout. The Hunger Games were sub par to me.

Looking back at this review, I'm wondering why I didn't rate this lower. The reason is probably because, despite all it's flaws, it's not terrible. The writing, and the first couple of parts was enough for me to give it an average rating. And it creates a hope that if Suzanne Collins can write a sub par book about a character that we all hate in the original trilogy, what will she be able to do with a character we all love? I'm holding onto the hope that this will kick of a spin-off series of all the characters I wanted this book to be about: Mags, Johanna, Finnick, Haymitch, Cinna, or even Effie.

Will it happen? Probably not. But I can still hope.

Overall, I don't think The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes contributed a whole lot. (Other than wanting to re-read the original trilogy of course.) But I'm rating it 3 stars. An average read.

And I'm done.

Okay! That's my review, and as always, you're free to post your own opinions in the comments below (though I'll be deleting hate comments, mark my words.)

I hope you have a good weekend, and I'll see you all on Monday.

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

June TBR (2020)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And it's the start of June, which means a new TBR! (God I love these posts.)

And I have to admit, I'm so looking forward to reading all of these books (like especially excited for this list in particular.)

So enjoy, because this is going to be a long list (yay!) and there is a very real possibility that I won't finish all of these books this month (because some of them are huge!)

Enjoy!

1. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, by Suzanne Collins

I've heard some very mixed reviews on this, because people are very much on one side of the spectrum when it comes to The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Do I wish it would have been Haymitch, Mags, Finnick or Johanna? Definitely. But am I still going to read it? Absolutely. If only to make up my own mind about whether I like this- or hate it. I'm just over 100 pages through, and it's alright so far. More details in my wrap up at the end of June. (Or maybe in a review, who knows?).

2. Seasons of War (Skulduggery Pleasant #13), by Derek Landy

I have been following this series since 2008, and Seasons of War marks the final trilogy of the Skulduggery Pleasant series ever. Derek Landy is one of my favourite authors, and I actually got to meet him, just over a year ago! Seasons of War is a story solely focused on Valkyrie and Skulduggery, where they are sent on a secret mission that takes them away from everything they know. Here is where Valkyrie will have to fight the hardest, against the people who want her dead, and her own violent impulses. She must fight against the dark, to once again stand in the light. This kind of feels like Harry Potter mastering occlumancy in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, but more interesting. I had no idea that I needed a book like this, that's purely focused on the dynamic duo, but now it's hear I can't wait to see what events uncurl in the 13th instalment of the Skulduggery Pleasant series.  

3. Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children #3), by Seanen McGuire

Beneath the Sugar Sky. I'm a little confused on what this is about. Based off of the Goodreads blurb, this is a book about fixing the past, in the present? Anyway, from what I gather, Rini, the protagonist, gets to visit the Home for Wayward Children and meet all the characters from the first book! (Which I am so excited for!) I'm very confused about how this whole thing is going to work out, because for Rini to be able to meet those original characters she has to travel into the past from the present, but I'm sure everything will be explained at some point. Halfway through the series, after this! (Also, just take a moment to admire this gorgeous cover.)

4. All Your Twisted Secrets, by Diana Urban

I have no idea why, because there are books that promise to be absolutely incredible on this TBR, but this is the one I'm looking forward to the most. All Your Twisted Secrets is Diana Urban's debut novel, and it's about 6 completely different characters who are invited to a scholarship dinner to discover its a trap. They're presented with a choice: one of them dies, or they all do. As they all desperately try and uncover the identity of their captor, they find they each have secrets they desperately need to conceal. But with the time running out, confusion turns to fear, and fear to panic, and there's one question left: who will be the one to die? I think that this sounds like a very interesting read, and I think fans of the One of Us Is Lying series will love this. Highly anticipated for this month.

5. The Henna Wars, by Adiba Jaigirdar

The Henna Wars, although it only came out in USA this month (and it's released from Amazon until 1st June) wasn't actually on my anticipated releases list that I posted a couple months ago (you can see that here), but it's sort of crept up on me since then, because of the buzz it's getting on Booktube. What draws me to the book is the representation that we're getting, and it's been ages since I've read an LGBT book, so I'm looking forward to reading one for the first time in a while. (Why aren't there more LGBT romances being released in the summer?)

6. Gemina (The Illuminae Files #2), by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

I finished Illuminae on Friday and I need to continue on to find out what happens next. I've never felt such a need to know everything like this before, except with Skulduggery Pleasant when I was a teenager. I won't disclose any spoilers on the first book because I don't want to get trolled, but there is so much going on constantly, that I know this'll be a series that I'll need to re-read once I've reached the end of Obsidio. I really hope that Gemina is as good as Illuminae, because of how much I loved the first one, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Okay! That's the end of ,my TBR for the month of June. I'm not certain I'll be able to get to all of them, but I'll certainly try my best (there are some very large books this month.)

I hope you all have a wonderful day and I'll see you very soon.

Byeeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx