Saturday, October 7, 2017

Graphic Novel Review of Huntress: Crossbow at the Crossroads by Paul Levitz

Read for: Graphic Novel Challenge

Synopsis: "As the last survivor of a crime family eliminated by bloody rivalries among the mobs of Gotham City, the orphaned Helena Bertinelli grew into the mysterious vigilante known as the Huntress. Huntress creator, Paul Levitz, returns in this action packed journey through the bowels of Italy's most deadly crime syndicates. Huntress sets out to uncover and destroy a deadly human trafficking and gun-smuggling operation that extends to the highest reaches of the government."

My Review: So this one looked intriguing and I thought it may have been a stand alone since it wasn't numbered, well clearly there is more to the story. If I hadn't read the synopsis I wouldn't have known who the Huntress was, how she came to be or what exactly she was trying to do. This one felt very incomplete even the story itself, there are scenes and characters that jump around a lot and it really isn't clear what is going on. I do like the premise of it though, a woman saving other woman from human trafficking, it just could have been executed better.


My Rating: I wasn't as thrilled with this one as I had hoped, it seems to really be a trend even for non main stream super heroes to have incomplete stories that you really have to hunt for.  I give it a rating of Two Paws.


Friday, October 6, 2017

Bedtime Story: Animalia by Graem Base

  
Read for: Children's Book Challenge



Synopsis: "An alphabet book with fantastic and detailed pictures, bearing such labels as Lazy lions lounging in the local library.."

My Review: I remember this book when I was a kid (I don't know if it was at school, the library or a family member's house), and I would just gaze at the pictures finding little things in each one. I happened to come across a signed limited edition copy and had to snatch it up for munchkin. The illustrations are as stunning as ever and the alliteration while fun for young kids to hear is sometimes a real tongue twister! Munchkin and I had a lot of fun finding images hidden in the pictures, though I hope I can find a key somewhere online because there are a few things that I am not sure what they are supposed to be. This is a great one for rainy or snowy days to sit for hours looking at.

My Rating: I really enjoyed this little trip down memory lane and Munchkin had a lot of fun with it too. This is definitely a great classic to have on every kid's shelf.  We give it a rating of Four Paws!


Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Top 5 Wednesday: 'Tis the Season for Witches

Top 5 Wednesday is a group on Goodreads hosted by Sam from Thoughts on Tome on Youtube.


We have entered October and so it is time to discuss books with all kinds of magic and levels of creepiness! This week we list the top five books with witches. Now I thought this was a subject that would be super easy, I read a lot of books about magic so I should be able to list 5 books with witches easy right?! Nope, once I got to thinking about it a lot of my books feature magical abilities but not really witches in the traditional sense (more of fae and general magic).  But I dug deep and came up with a list . . .



Kind of silly that the first book would be a children's book but I love this book and so does Munchkin. And bonus for being a fun story and not a scary witch.


 
I read the Kitchen Witch several years ago and found it to be a fun and quirky little romance with a flare of magic. (it is a pretty clean romance too so no worries) There are two more books in the trilogy though I wasn't as much a fan of them.


I read this one long before I started blogging or even keeping track of my books, but I do remember it being a really great book (actually it is two books but I have the bind up of the duology).



When I think of witches honestly the first thing that comes to mind are the witches in Macbeth so I couldn't leave this one off the list.  They are the dark, mysterious, cackling and cauldron brewing witches that there are warnings about.


I read this one years ago in high school and it sparked a big interest for me and my best friend. We became very curious about the Salem witch trials, to the point of writing research papers for fun (yes we were strange).  This lead us also to become interested in the witch hunts in England as well.



  
I had to add The Black Jewels Trilogy as I just finished reading them. They are fantastic books but definitely not for the faint of heart of for anyone under the age of 18!! There is lots of magic and a very powerful witch but it is a complex system and in a horrible society with depraved tastes, so again do not pick this book up without checking out reviews and warnings because the first book in particular is difficult to get through (I will have my own reviews up later this month).



And while putting together this list I came across a book that has been added to my TBR
Practical Magic is one of my all time favorite witch movies for this time of year and I had no idea it was a book! Time to pick this one up!!




So what are some of your favorite witch books? What makes a witch in your opinion?






Monday, October 2, 2017

Monday Reading List



Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!




Reviews Posted Last Week:
Links will take you to my review

Totally Joe by James Howe
Ban This Book by Alan Gratz
Absolutely True Story of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter (Bedtime Story)
This One Summer by Jillian & Mariko Tamaki (Graphic Novel)


 Books Finished Last Week:
Reviews will be posted at a later date

Absolutely True Story of a Part Time Indian
Tower of Ravens
Green But for a Season
Animalia
Summer Palace
Adventures of Charls


Currently Reading:

Scythe by Neal Shusterman - Print - on page 265 of 435
One Summer Night by Caridad Pineiro - Kindle - 32%
The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd - Audio - 43%


 Books to be Read Soon:



Pages Read/ Time Listened
196:55 Hours (about 8+ Days) Listened (4:53 listened this week)
42,603 Pages Read (557 this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently TBR
Beauty and the Beast by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve
Samurai Rising by Pamela Turner
Dawn Study by Maria V. Snyder
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton
How to Tame a Willful Wife by Christy English
New World: Rising by Jennifer Wilson
The Sandcastle Empire by Kayla Olson
And I Darken by Kiersten White
World Mythology in Bite Sized Chunks by Mark Daniels
Eliza and Her Monster by Francesca Zappia
Windwitch by Susan Dennard
Frogkisser by Garth Nix
Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac
This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton
The Beast's Garden by Kate Forsyth
Addie on the Inside by James Howe
Also Known as Elvis by James Howe
Viking Warrior Rebel by Asa Maria Bradley
New Leash on Love by Debbie Burns
Puss Without Boots by Shari L. Tapscott
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
Saints Blood by Sebastien de Castell
P.O. Box Love by Paola Calvetti
Britt Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
Nomansland by Lesley Hauge
The Secret Horses of Briar Hill by Megan Shepherd
The Secret Loves of Geek Girls by various authors
Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
Keep Me Posted by Lisa Beazley
The Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence
The Nothing Girl by Jodi Taylor
Luin the Sapphire by Rich Feitelberg
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
Tortall and Other Lands by Tamora Pierce
Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
Wolf Speaker by Tamora Pierce
Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce
Realm of the Gods by Tamora Pierce
The Winter King by CL Wilson
The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere
The Christmas Hope by Donna VanLiere
The Christmas Promise by Donna VanLiere
The Christmas Secret by Donna VanLiere
The Christmas Note by Donna VanLiere
Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo
The Hearts We Sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones
She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai
Jane Unlimited by Kristin Cashore
Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows
Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave
Shadowcaster by Cinda Williams Chima
Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima
The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell
Timekeeper by Tara Sim
Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter
As You Wish  by Chelsea Sedoti
Invictus by Ryan Graudin
Down and Across by Arvin Ahmadi
Naondel by Maria Turtschaninoff
The Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors by Curtis Craddock
Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
Wolf-Speaker by Tamora Pierce
Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce
The Realm of the Gods by Tamora Pierce
Tortall and Other Lands by Tamora Pierce
Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo
Every Little Thing by Marie Force
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Klaus by Grant Morrison
Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
The Lost Pony of Riverdale by Amanda Wills
Poppy's Diary by Amanda Wills
Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan




Books Read From My Shelves




Interesting Tidbits on the Web:



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Happy October! It absolutely does feel like fall at my house now, and some of my best reading happens in cool weather. I hope that is the case, did you see my TBR for the month yesterday?! Super exciting but very intimidating.  We will have to see. What are you planning to read this month?

How did you enjoy Banned Book Week? I hope I featured some books that will spark your interest and maybe start a few conversations.  I have never really paid attention until the past few years and it is truly surprising what books people challenge and sometimes actually get removed from shelves. All of the books I featured last week are specifically middle grade to early YA, and all of them are books that I wouldn't hesitate to let Munchkin read when he gets older.

Anyway, I have a lot of work to get done (and a lot of reading to do), I hope you all have a fantastic week!

Sunday, October 1, 2017

September 2017 Challenge Update & October TBR

October!?! It's October already!?! I really don't know where time has gone this month.  I had a rather ambitious TBR and definitely didn't do too well with it, especially for how many books I have added to my shelves in the past couple of months (I really need to scale that back).

Anyway here is my progress . . .

Children's Book Challenge
54. Animalia

Early Reader Challenge
41. Nat. Geo Kids: Mars

Graphic Novel Challenge
22. Huntress: Crossbow at the Crossroads

Audio Book Challenge:
18. Queen of the Darkness

Trilogy Challenge:
1.  Snow Like Ashes Trilogy: Book 1, Book .1, Book 2Book 2.5, Book 3 - COMPLETE
2. Winner's Curse Trilogy: Book .5, Book 1Book 2Book 3 - COMPLETE
3. Sons of the Revolution Trilogy: Book 1Book 2Book 3 - COMPLETE
4. Watersmeet Series: Book 1Book 2Book 3 - COMPLETE
5. A Court of Thorns & Roses Series: Book 1, Book 2Book 3 - COMPLETE
6. Ralph S. Mouse Trilogy: Book 1Book 2, Book 3 - COMPLETE
7. Grisha Trilogy: Book 1Book 2Book 3 - COMPLETE
8. Dark Jewels Trilogy: Book 1, Book 2, Book 3 - COMPLETE
9. Captive Prince Trilogy: Book 1Book 2, Book 3, Book 2.5, Book 3.5, Book 3.75 - COMPLETE
10. Pendragon's Banner Trilogy: Book 1
11: Rhiannon's Ride Trilogy: Book 1

Requested Reviews:
22. On the Chase (netgalley)

Books Added to Shelves
The ones linked are what have been read (* mean completed & waiting for a review)
4. Winners Kiss
5. Bubble Trouble
6. Blaze Loves to Race
7. Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book
8. Heartstone
9. Beauty and the Beast
10. Norse Mythology
11. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 
12. Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Library
13. Trapped 
14. Samurai Rising

15. Pancho Bandito and the Amarillo Armadillo
16. The Mating - DNF
17. Hold Your Breath
18. Fan the Flames
19. The Keeper
20. Love and Muddy Puddles
21. Irish Rising
22. The Sculptor
23. Huck: Book 1- All American

24. Dawn Study
25. The Princess Diarist 
26. 
Name of the Wind
27. Gone Camping
28. Saga Vol. 7 
29. Over the Garden Wall 
30. The Hundredth Queen 
31. A Court of Wings and Ruin 
32. On His Watch
33. In Safe Hands 
34. After the End
35. Seduced by the Billionaire 
36. The Simplicity of Cider

37. Wise Man's Fear 
38. Dragon Teeth 
39. Flame in the Mist 
40. How to Tame a Willful Wife
41. New World: Rising
42. The Sandcastle Empire
43. And I Darken 
44. Finding Wonders 
45. World Mythology in Bite Sized Chunks
46. Eliza and Her Monster
47. Turning Pointe 
48. When Dimple Met Rishi
49. Truthwitch 
50. Windwitch 
51. Done Dirt Cheap *
52. Frogkisser
53. Lawn Boy 
54. Code Talker
55. Princess Leia: Royal Rebel 

56. This Savage Song
57. American Street
58. Pax
59. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
60. The Beast's Garden
61. Under a Painted Sky
62. The Misfits
63. Totally Joe
64. Addie on the Inside
65. Also Known as Elvis
66. Viking Warrior Rebel
67. New Leash on Love
68. Puss Without Boots
69. Northern Exposure
70. Southern Comfort
71. Eastern Ambitions
72. Western Ties
73. Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
74. Monstress Vol. 2 
75. Everyone is an Aliebn when ur are an Aliebn too 
76. The Invisible Library 
77. Saints Blood 
78. Neverwhere  - DNF
79. P.O. Box Love 
80. Britt Marie Was Here
81. Nomansland 
82. The Secret Horses of Briar Hill 

83. The Secret Loves of Geek Girls 
84. Vengeance Road 
85. This One Summer 
86. Keep Me Posted 

87. The Prince of Fools
88. The Nothing Girl
89. Luin the Sapphire
90. His Majesty's Dragon
91. Tortall and Other Lands
92. Wild Magic
93. Wolf Speaker
94. Emperor Mage
95. Realm of the Gods
96. The Winter King
97. The Christmas Blessing
98. The Christmas Hope
99. The Christmas Promise
100. The Christmas Secret
101. The Christmas Note
102. Wonder Woman: Warbringer
103. The John Wayne Code *
104. The Hearts We Sold
105. She and Her Cat
106. Jane Unlimited
107. Before She Ignites
108. Eight Hundred Grapes
109. Shadowcaster
110. Flamecaster
111. The Last Magician
112. Timekeeper
113. Bone Witch
114. Stalking Jack the Ripper
114. Hunting Prince Dracula
115. Vassa in the Night
116. As You Wish
117. Invictus
118. Down and Across
119. Naondel
120. An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors
121. Language of Thorns
122. Every Little Thing
123. Daughter of Smoke and Bone
124. Klaus
125. Invention of Hugo Cabret
126. Lost Pony of Riverdale
127. Poppy's Diary
128. The Natural History of Dragons



TBR Shelf Books
62. Queen of the Darkness



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So, yeah a lot of books have been added to my shelves these past couple of months and I have another book event coming up this month and another in December so I better get to reading those new books!!  Now I have this weird little quirk, I only like to read spooky books during October and November so a large part of my TBR this month will consist of that, and I have a few readathons/challenges coming up this month and the book event (romance) so I will be reading books that pertain to those events too. I have a way overly ambitious TBR but I really want to get into these books!!


New Leash on Love
Addie on the Inside
New World: Rising
World Mythology In Bite Sized Chunks
Code Talker
Windwitch
Jane Unlimited
Frankenstein Underground
Loving the Billionaire
Tempt the Cougar
Klaus
Dragon Teeth
Scythe (Finish)
Northlanders Vol. 5
Northlanders Book 2
Queen of the Blood
Witchhunter: Angela
The Madman's Daughter (finish)
Her Dark Curiosity
A Cold Legacy
Pendragon's Banner
Lost Pony of Riverdale
Poppy's Diary
Stalking Jack the Ripper
Hunting Prince Dracula
Bone Witch
She and Her Cat
Inside the Fire
Berserker
One Summer Night
Merry & Bright
The Language of Thorns
Luin the Sapphire
The Shining City
The Heart of Stars


So maybe I should just say this will be my TBR for October and part of November because there is no way I can read all of those books this month (but I really really want to)!

What will you be reading this month? Anything spooky for Halloween?