{Review} Night Study by Maria V. Snyder

Night Study
by Maria V. Snyder
Series: Study #5
Pages: 444
Release Date: January 26, 2016
by Mira

Goodreads / Purchase

Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's life has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia is safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear.  

Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he's quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he's been keeping secrets from Valek…secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander's mysterious plans, they realize it's far more sinister than they could have ever imagined.

{Review} Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder

Shadow Study
by Maria V. Snyder
Series: Study #4
Pages: 410
Release Date: February 4, 2015
by Mira

Goodreads / Purchase

Once, only her own life hung in the balance…

When Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But She'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands—and protect her relationship with Valek.

Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek’s job and his life are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret—or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is—while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralizing her powers.

Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous…

Study Series: Have You Heard Of It?

Have you guys heard of the Study series by Maria V. Snyder?

No?

Well then, let me enlighten you. It is the best series on the face of the earth.

If I was to summarize it quickly and in a non-spoilery way, I would say something like this:

The story is set in a fantasy world where two countries, Ixia and Sitia, share a border. Yelena, a young woman, is in an Ixian prison because she murdered a man. She is given a choice - either become the Commander's food taster and run the risk of being poisoned, or be hung. I mean, the choice is pretty easy, I think. So she becomes the Commander's official food taster, and is trained by Valek, the Commander's personal assassin who also happens to be the most badass man in the world. Yelena is still in danger because the family of the man she murdered is very powerful and hates her, so she has to learn to defend herself. And then there are a ton of twists and turns and fighting and action and badassery. You need to experience it.

{Review} What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

What Happened to Goodbye
by Sarah Dessen
Pages: 402
Release Date: April 9, 2013 (this edition)
by Speak (an imprint of Penguin)

Goodreads / Purchase

A new day. A new place. A new life. In the past few years, McLean has pretended to be so many different people that she hardly remembers who she really is anymore. The adorable guy next door might be able to help her figure it out. But is she ready for it?

{Review} What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

What I Thought Was True
by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Pages: 410
Format: Paperback
Release Date: April 7, 2015
by Speak (an imprint of Penguin)

Goodreads / Amazon

Gwen's whole life is about to change. Gwen Castle comes from a long line of fishermen and housecleaners who support Seashell Island's summer visitors, and she expects her life to go the same way. But then she discovers that Cassidy Somers—also known as her Biggest Mistake Ever—is working on the island for the season. And though she tries to avoid him, fate keeps pushing them together. Sparks fly and secrets are revealed as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about her life, herself, and the people she loves—with what really is.

It's been a couple years since I reviewed a book...let's see if I still got it.

This book wasn't particularly bad, it wasn't particularly amazing. It just was somewhere in the middle. Maybe I wasn't in the right mood, maybe I wasn't patient enough, but I found myself skipping some parts to get to the action. It was a well put-together story, there were serious aspects and undertones so it wasn't just a mushy love story like the books Gwen's mom reads, but I didn't really feel like having to think, I just wanted to read about their relationship. It had a message, a purpose, and I respect that. But at times it seemed like the story was moving incredibly slowly, and like there were filler events to just take up space. I also found it hard to accept the whole premise, I guess because I'm a bit older now it's kinda weird to me to think these seventeen year old are constantly getting it on and falling in love. I feel like the story was also kind of drawn out, it got to be repetitive after a certain point and that was when I skipped some sections, because I just wanted to finish the book. I feel like the story could have been told in about fifty pages less. But I loved the humor in this book, there was so much personality jumping off the page. The romance was also very interesting, it was a very unique dynamic. I enjoyed seeing the emotions behind something that just happened, and then how it became more. I liked the idea and the execution, it was just a bit drawn out and prolonged. I really enjoyed Gwen, she was very confident and not afraid to speak her mind, and I really respect that. Cass seemed like a really good guy. I liked how they had both made mistakes and had hurt eachother, so there was no person who could lord something over the other. It was a very stable, even relationship, and I enjoyed seeing that.

All in all, an enjoyable book, but not something to remember forever.

2.5 stars

Other Books by Huntley Fitzpatrick
    
My Life Next Door - Goodreads / Review
The Boy Most Likely To - Goodreads

I LIIIIVVEEE

Sup Bloggers.

I have risen from the dead.

I honestly don't have any idea what I'm doing right now, or why I'm posting, because the last time I posted was July 2014. That was three and a half years ago. I have read maybe ten books total since that time. Until this year, that is. I have a break from school that involves no job since it fell through, and I got back into reading. Will it last long? Probably not. I'm heading into my second to last semester of college and my classes are going to kick my ass, and so is the job I will be working. Have I felt the need to post the reviews I've been writing on Goodreads to the blog I worked my ass off to make successful? Most definitely, yes. There's this thing I do where I read or watch something and I can't help but have thoughts and form opinions about it and I have to share them or else my brain will explode. Plus, I miss blogging, to be honest.

So I'm going to give it a go again, for as long as I can. I don't know how long it will last, but I want to do it. I'm all about doing what feels right and what I want to do, what makes me happy. Blogging was my first job, it was my passion for a long time, and even though I didn't make money, I earned experience and knowledge. So now I want to come back, four years later, and pick up right where I left off.

This should be interesting.

My blog is a mess, for some reason my sidebar is all fucked up and I don't remember how I got the cool-ass dotted box around my book descriptions, but I'm going to relearn it. I can't believe 15 year old me was more competent than present me. I feel like I've gotten dumber the older I get.

ANYWAY.

So yeah, here I go again...I don't even know if my old followers are even around anymore. Let's try it. Yeet.