Circe by Madeline Miller

Circe by Madeline Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by Perdita Weeks, this saga of Circe's life among the Gods and mortals was beautiful, fantastic, and compelling. Circe's life was not easy, always being misunderstood/threatened by her parents and the Gods who were not nice at all (evil creatures); constantly tearing Circe down and when she is banished to an island forever, I enjoyed listening to her thoughts and feelings as she navigates her isolated life and populates her house with wild animals who are tame to Circe, beginning her practice of witchcraft- learning the many herbs and plants that will sustain her life. I enjoyed the many people and gods who grace her door, her son, and the life she finally chooses to live. I can't wait to listen to The Song of Achilles now!

View all my reviews

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Choksi

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for the advance reader copy The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi in exchange for an honest review. From the first page, Roshani Chokshi held me captive with her drama and taut suspense as she worthily worldbuilds France in 1889 as well as the science, math, magic, and mythology in this sweeping tale of chasing one’s birthright, stealing treasures, and keeping close to those you love/work with. Not only is the plot full of intrigue, tension, and drama, the characters are strong and believable. I could not stop turning the pages. Severin, Tristan, Laila, Enrique, and Sofia work well together with their different abilities but they also have secrets too ---I am not a fan of Hypnos and think there is more we will learn about him. Toward the end, I was put off by Severin in his treatment (separately) of Tristan and Laila. I was not fond of the ending either and that said, the readers deserve MORE redemption, closure, hope, and happiness and less horror, heartbreak, and evil in Book 2, please.

View all my reviews

A Crown of Wishes (Star-Touched Queen #2) by Roshani Chokshi

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this lush 2nd book in The Star-Touched Queen series gorgeously narrated by Priya Ayyar in a tale fraught with desires & wishes, a pair of royals from enemy countries band together to help themselves (and their kingdoms). Protagonists Vikram (OMG, loved his strength and cunning) and Gauri (loved her obstinance and might) join The Tournament of Wishes in a mythical kingdom containing many forms of magic, deceit, Indian folklore, fantastic & bizarre creatures, adventure, mayhem, magic, and mystery. Ayyar's narration was pitch perfect and I can't wait to hear more of her audiobooks. Don't miss this one, it is epic and the magnetism between Vikram and Gauri dripped with tension and yearning!

View all my reviews

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, another awesome series by a debut author to share with my #yearofya chat Wednesday 3/29 @8PM EST- read this book & join us.! I loved Amani's voice, character, thoughts, and oh yes, her actions!!! She was perfect with a gun (and as a boy), aching to get out of her house & town, and crazy enough to charge into situations & then think about how to get out & survive. I can't wait to read the 2nd book, Traitor to the Throne (#2 (500 pages) in a trilogy), but reading the synopsis on Goodreads has me unhappy because Jinn, her foreign super hero and love interest---seem to be apart for most of the novel- I so hope it is not. They are like puzzle pieces that fit together, get things done, & live to fight another day. There was so much adventure, suspense, lying (haha), world building, and drama to keep my fingers flying through the pages & chapters!!! There was so much grand mythology, magic horses, Skywalkers, Ghouls, and Djinn & Demdjii providing heart stopping action- plus the many sultan sons & daughters. A must read!

View all my reviews

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to and LOVED this amazing audiobook; narrator Khristine Hvam did a stellar job with each and every character; her voices did not disappoint especially Zuzana- Karou's bestie. The world building, storytelling, characterization, and drama clearly made this a book I could not stop listening to; I already have the following 2 books FROM aUDIBLE on my Ipad for my listening pleasure, can't wait! Readers will love the character of Karou with her blue hair, art books filled with characters resembling chimaerae (monstrous half human/animalS)and her weird relationship as Brimstone's teeth messenger (how does she get from Prague to Marrakesh???). I am enthralled with finding out much more about Karou, her world of humans, her world of chimaerae, Brimstone & who is this scary, beautiful angel, Akiva? It seems Karou knows nothing about herself as she is asked countless times in this audiobook, "who are you?" which she really can't answer; a sweeping mystery, powerful and filled with worlds of magic, evil, and the lore of much more. Highly recommended.

View all my reviews

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this stunner of a book for the 2014 Hub Challenge and I wanted to know more about this Island of Blessed as Eric Seven visits to write a story about the island's secrets and beauty and seeming simplicity. As Eric meets the friendly island people, he falls in love with Merle who has always lived on Blessed. As days pass, Eric sleeps deeply, rides a bike, drinks tea, swims and tries to remember what he is supposed to be doing. Sedgwick uses short stories to flash back and forward as the story of Blessed is revealed. I especially enjoyed the storytelling that weaves Eric and Merle's love through the ages as they search for each other. Their names change during the time of the Vikings; and other characters after they die become wolves and vampires and always there is a dragon flower on the island with properties that can heal or hurt. The mystery and beauty of Sedgwick's writing kept me turning the pages.

View all my reviews