Reading Wrap Up: June

In June I was a good reader. Not only did I pick up a book that has been in my TBR for a while, but I also picked up a great sequel that has turned a certain series into an all time favorite.

STEELHEART

Brandon Sanderson / 2013

This was such a fun read. And I’m surprised that Brandon Sanderson keeps surprising me. He has a talent for high fantasy, but man, he does urban fantasy just as well. Steelheart is a story about superpowers being used for evil, and regular humans fighting the impossible fight against them. The only downside for me was the lack of connection I felt with the characters, I didn’t feel for them but the plot kept me glued to the book.

Themes: Superpowers, Villains, Dystopian

THE GIRL IN 6E

A.R. Torre / 2014

I can’t be sure, but I think this is the first one cup rating I’ve given since I’ve done book wrap ups! This was just, so bad! It’s supposed to be a thriller, but the only thing that got on my nerves, was the set up of the whole plot. It’s about a cam girl who has locked herself in her apartment because she wants to kill people – and she has no control over it, she pretty much attacks the first person she sees. So yes, the main character was unbelievable, and her tendencies to murder people were just ridiculous. I understand the appeal of this story, and the idea, but the execution was just horrid. I didn’t enjoy it at all.

Themes: Psychopath, Murder, Cam Girl, Pedophilia

A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES

Sarah J. Maas / 2015

This was my re-read of the month and I picked this up because I wanted to fresh my memory before I picked up the sequel. I liked it again, and it’s actually an interesting read considering the second book. I love the first one more because of the second one as well, because I like series that change directions, and Sarah J. Maas knows how to do that. ACOTAR is about a girl called Feyre who kills a wolf and has to pay for it with her freedom – she moves in with a fearie and discovers a secret that will change her life.

Themes: High Fantasy, Fairies, Abuse, Romance

A COURT OF MIST AND FURY

Sarah J. Maas / 2016

Omg! This was such a quick read for me, I pretty much inhaled this book despite work and all the other stuff that was going on. It flipped the first book completely around, and Feyre became such a great character. Though, I don’t necessarily agree with all the hate towards her in the first book, I’m glad that people are loving her more after ACOMAF. After the events at the end of the first book, the second book explores the issues of feminism, and abuse. All of that while an evil forces are roaming around and the hidden city might not stay hidden for long. PS: The Court of Dreams people, the Court of Dreams!

Themes: High Fantasy, Fairies, Abuse, Romance, Feminism

A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC

V. E. Schwab / 2015

For me, despite the hype, A Darker Shade of Magic was a very difficult book to get into. It dragged, it lingered page after page, and it felt like nothing was going on, while everything was happening. It wasn’t necessarily boring but it was slow paced and I kept putting it down, despite the fact that the plot and the characters were both interesting and mysterious. The main character Kell is able to travel between different Londons, and because of his own secrets, ends up with something he’s not supposed to have. The book ended with many questions still in the air, so I’m definitely picking up the sequel to know more. And I’ve heard the second one is better so that’s good!

Themes: High Fantasy, Magic, Dark magic

THE GOLDFINCH

Donna Tartt / 2014

With my last book I decided to attack my intimating TBR and I picked up The Goldfinch – a Pulitzer Prize winning book. I’m familiar with Tartt, and I knew what I was getting myself into. A descriptive book about Theo’s life, from his childhood to his grown up life. In the middle of it all, a rare painting of a goldfinch. The book was heavy with emotion, there was a lot going on, and I felt knackered after finishing it. It explores the idea of life in general, it asks difficult questions, and it simply gets under your skin. And you would think I loved it, which I sort of did, but the ending didn’t satisfy me – which I think, is part of its charm, because life, at the end, isn’t all that satisfying either.

Themes: Contemporary, Art, Addiction, Depression, Antics