Early Reader Bedtime Story: Zeb to the Rescue by Kay Michaels

Read for: Early Reader Challenge & Star Wars!

Synopsis: "Star Wars Rebels is a CG animated series that takes place between the events of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. This level 1 early reader retells scenes from the show."

My Review: Munchkin loves the Rebels cartoon and this is a great way to get him to pick up more books and read when the TV is off. This is a great level one book, especially for those young star wars fans. Some of the words might be a little difficult for new fans but for those already familiar with the world of Star Wars it will be just right. The art seems to be right from an episode and the story may be as well but we haven't seen this one. Hopefully the familiar characters and the action packed story will draw the readers to this book. My Rating: Munchkin really enjoyed this one, he loved knowing the characters and being able to read many of the words, even some of the harder Star Wars words.  We give this a rating of Four Paws! Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

Top 5 Wednesday: Assigned Reading that had an Impact

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

So this whole month is freebie topics, you could go back and pick a previous topic all the way back through 2013, but I just don't have the time to wade through all those posts so I decided to come up with my own list.  Last week I talked about the Assigned Books I could have Done Without, so this week I wanted to share the assigned reading that really did have an impact on me.  Obviously if you have been around for any amount of time, you already know my obsession with Frankenstein, which of course would top this list, but I have opted to leave it off this list to give some of these other books a chance to shine.

So how about we get into the list . . .

I was totally absorbed by this book and it featured pretty prominently in many of my reports from early high school. It was a horrifying book to read but it was still so fantastic!

The Comedy of Errors was one of the first Shakespeare plays that I remember reading in Middle School and it totally opened the door for my love of his writing. I remember we loosely acted it out in class and it was one of the funniest things I remember reading.

I my first semester in college I took and Epic Poetry class and it was by far one of the best classes I have ever taken! Reading The Divine Comedy with class discussions was eye opening and challenging and one of the best school experiences ever!  (That class also featured Beowulf and Iliad, both of which also rank high up on my list)

I can't remember exactly when I read A Separate Peace, I think it was either 5th or 6th grade, and it definitely was not one of my favorite books at the time, but oddly enough bits of it have really stuck with me for many, many years.

It is funny that the same author appears on both of my assigned read list, but it just goes to show you the impact a subject matter can make.  The Crucible sparked such an interest in me, I went out and did a ton of my own research on the Salem Witch Trials after reading it (I know, I was that kind of nerd in school).

Honorable Mentions:

 

 

Do have an assigned reading that really made an impact on you? Or one that you really loved?

Review of Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff

Read for: Mount TBR

My Review of Nevernight (Book 1)

Synopsis: "A ruthless young assassin continues her journey for revenge in this new epic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff.

Assassin Mia Corvere has found her place among the Blades of Our Lady of Blessed Murder, but many in the Red Church ministry think she’s far from earned it. Plying her bloody trade in a backwater of the Republic, she’s no closer to ending Consul Scaeva and Cardinal Duomo, or avenging her familia. And after a deadly confrontation with an old enemy, Mia begins to suspect the motives of the Red Church itself.

When it’s announced that Scaeva and Duomo will be making a rare public appearance at the conclusion of the grand games in Godsgrave, Mia defies the Church and sells herself to a gladiatorial collegium for a chance to finally end them. Upon the sands of the arena, Mia finds new allies, bitter rivals, and more questions about her strange affinity for the shadows. But as conspiracies unfold within the collegium walls, and the body count rises, Mia will be forced to choose between loyalty and revenge, and uncover a secret that could change the very face of her world."

My Review: Nevernight really captured my attention and I just had to know what happened next! I really enjoyed this one and love the direction that was taken with the story. I do have to say though that I am not a fan of the dynamics between Eclipse & Mr. Kindly, which is super sad because I love Mr. Kindly! Of course, Mia is such a bad-ass character, and the story around her is as brutal and bloody as she is. Even with all the action, I felt like this was a much slower book, there are a lot of developments in the story but they don't seem quite as drastic as the first book. Nevertheless, this was still a fantastic and engrossing book and I cannot wait for the next one to come out later this year! 

My Rating: While I wasn't quite as captivated with this one as I was with Nevernight, I still really enjoyed the plot and character developments throughout this book. I give it a rating of Four Paws and can't wait for the next (and I believe final) book in the series later this year!

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

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff
Zeb to the Rescue by Kay Michaels (Early Reader)

 Books Finished Last Week:

Reviews will be posted at a later date

The Trail
Red Racecar
Sour Grapes
Sweet Dreams, Sweet Death

Currently Reading:

Circe by Madeline Miller - Audio - 67%
A Grace of Kings by Ken Liu - Multiple formats - 6%

Pages Read/ Time Listened
250:31 Hours Listened (None listened this week)
17,962 Pages Read (842 this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently: TBR
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
We Have Always Lived in a Castle by Shirley Jackson
To the Sky Kingdom by Tang Qi
Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher
Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry
Luck Love and Lemon Pie by Amy E. Reichert
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Terrier by Tamora Pierce
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
Reflections of Yesterday by Debbie Macomber
Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
Jedi Search by Kevin J. Anderson
Eko by Loren Walker
Caging the Merrow by Heather Rigney
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Opel
The Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
Greedy Pigs by Matt Wallace
Lustlocked by Matt Wallace
Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
The Scandalous MacKenzies by Jennifer Ashley
The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley
The Stolen Mackenzie Bride by Jennifer Ashley
Ladycastle by Delilah Dawson
Frankenstein Alive! Alive! Trio by Steve Niles
Frankenstein, Alive! Alive! #4 by Steve Niles
The Long Walk to Valhalla by Adam Smith
Hard to Serve by Laura Kaye
Mastering Her Senses by Laura Kaye
Theirs to Take by Laura Kaye
The Sapphire Affair by Lauren Blakely
The Joy of Less by Francine Jay
Nightblade's Vengeance by Ryan Kirk
Circe by Madeline Miller
Tomorrowland by Steven Kotler
The Wolf by Leo Carew
My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran & Larissa Zageris
Sweet Dreams, Sweet Death by P.K. Norton
Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
Beyond the Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake
Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso
True North by Marie Force
The Sorting Room by Angelina Singer
Lost Stars by Claudia Gray
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire
Frankenstein Dreams by Michael Sims
The Belgaraid by David Eddings
The Rhode Island Short Story Club presents The Club
Death Sworn by Leah Cypess
Sherlock Holmes and the Army of Dr. Moreau by Guy Adams
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
Prince of Persia by Jordan Mencher
Zenith by Sasha Alsberg & Lindsay Cummings
In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
The Queen of Sorrow by Sarah Beth Durst
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Fighting for Everything by Laura Kaye
Catching Stars by Cayla Keenan
Princesses Behaving Badly  by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie
Onyx & Ivory by Mindee Arnett
Cruel Prince by Holly Black



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I ended up reading a lot less this week, I think one of the books sent me into a mini reading slump. Luckily I have several really intriguing books waiting in the wings so I can get myself back on track.  I am also desperately trying to get the RI Author Month set up but it may get pushed back one more month just to allow for me to get interviews lined up with a few authors. We will see what I can accomplish this week!

I really cannot believe that it is already Memorial Day! Where the heck is the year going?! We are already getting into my busy time of the year and I feel like I am no where near where I wanted to be with my reading. 

I hope you have a wonderful day and week and please remember those who have paid the ultimate price for us!