Crystal

I am enjoying these books so far, they are just LOOOOOOONG. I do think there is some opportunity to shorten them a bit. Everytime I thought we were past the the whinny woe is me stuff Ren fell back into it. They are still great though and I have enjoyed getting to know all of the characters. I will say some of the betrayals in this one had my jaw dropping wide open. I either didn't see them coming or had been weary but wasn't expecting it to happen the way it did. So watch out! I am ready for the final conclusion to this series, but I might take a break before reading the last one.

This book is enjoyable, I think if I had chosen to read a physical book rather than listen to audio it might have taken though just because it feels like a slow start. However, Rosario Dawson did a great job with the narration, she really got comfortable and starts to shine after the first chapter. It's not my top Andy Weir book, but still worth the listen.

I will note that I had just read Project Hail Mary, and The Martian back to back before this. Had that not been the case, maybe I wouldn't have been so hard on it.

Get ready for an intense ride of emotions. This book touches on abandonment, revenge, emotional and physical torture in war times, and even school age bullying. All while tackling ancient myths of shamans who can bring down the into themselves to fight for their people.

There are many twists and turns, and you find yourself hoping that the characters find hope, or that some other forces come to save the day and prevent the need for the great sacrifices they seem destined to make.

I have to say that Rowan shows back up right at the point where you're just like ok, how much longer till he gets to be part of this story again?! Lol just love the banter, and mutual respect they have for one another. I can't wait to see their love story continue to blossom. Definitely a slow-burner.

There were a lot of twists and turns that didn't necessarily see coming which isn't that surprising because Sarah J. Maas does that really well in her writing.

But......

You know when you are just reading and in your mind, you're like, oh yeah totally know how all these different strands of the story are going to link up, and then....all of the sudden in a briliantly crafted series of paragraphs, everything you thought you understood is flipped on its head?! That is how the entire storyline with Manon, Elide, Kaltain was for me! I'm so intrigued by how the thirteen and Elide are going to play into the rest of the story now!

If you've read the previous books in this series then you should already know that this book will be great, with twists and turns that you won't necessarily see coming. An epic love story that will break your heart and reforge it again, and again. If you have not read the previous books in this series... Go do that first.

Spoilers after this point.

I was tearing up in the final chapters, reading all that Maeve had done, all that she had set into motion for centuries. The soul crushing pain that inflicted on Aelin and then her refusal to break from the physical pain. It was heartbreaking. Then to see all that she had accomplished, every life-debt and favor she had called in come to light right after being taken... I was close to tears. Rowan better find her and break her away from Maeve's grip. While I don't necessarily want Dorian to die, if it comes to it, l'd rather he forge the lock...is that an unpopular opinion?

I confess that I chose to listen to this book because I was interested in watching the movie on Netflix but wanted to read the book first. I did enjoy it, it's just not something I would read again, or run around recommending to everyone I meet.

The format uses letters written between the author and the rest of the characters to tell the story. That style can get difficult to follow on occasion, but the audio book did have different voice actors narrating so that helped a lot.

The part that kept me listening was knowing what happened to Elizabeth, and finding out if the love interest for Juliet ever actually gets off the ground.

Spoilers ahead.

Now that I've watched the movie. The book is much better. They rush the timeline of course as they typically do in a movie adaptation. But the thing that floored me the most was that they had Juliet accept the marriage proposal from snotty what's his face instead of telling him no. I really really felt that was a core piece of who Juliet was and I am so mad they changed that in the movie.

After reading Hail Mary recently, I was craving Andy Weirs work so decided to listen to the audiobook for The Martian. I'd seen the movie before but had not read the book. As always it did not disappoint! If you've been living under a rock and have never seen the movie or heard of the book. Please go check it out. It's an incredible story of one mans fight for survival on Mars. He is clever, whitty, and wicked smart. That's all i'll say, just go read the book! You won't regret it!

This book was such a treat. As the book spans across many, many, years it alternates chapters between the present and the past. My one regret is that listened to this on audible rather than reading the physical book. (Not because of the voice acting, she did a phenomenal job) just because think it would have been easier for me to keep up with what time we were in. The characters will make you reflect and think about what you might do in their shoes. And makes you question what it means to really live, and love, and be present in the moments. Perhaps my most favorite part though, brought about nostalgia from my love of Little Women, in the end you find out one of the characters was writing the book all along.

#1. If you want to read this book, and you enjoy audiobooks. You MUST get the audio version of this one. It's seriously one of the best I've listened to narrator wise, and the added sounds really put you in the book.

#2. If you've read the Martian you likely don't need a review to tell you that Andy Weir is a fantastic writer.

#3. The story is phenomenal and makes you feel for the situations and characters. I did cry multiple times, and also actually shouted "NOOO0" out load when things were going arry.

#4. I didn't know when I first began listening that they are turning it into a movie. I really hope they do it justice, bc if they do it, will be a phenomenal movie. (As was The Martian.)

Since the movie is going to be coming out and I wanted to listen to the audiobook first. It's definitely suspenseful and pretty dark. If you have any triggers surrounding pregnancy this will not be the book for you. It's certainly a mind bender though and you really hate the main antagonist pretty early in the book.

This book broke my heart.

This author moved back and forth within the timeline of events. Using her various code names and real name to let the reader know where you are in the storyline as well as dates. The book is based on a very real woman, and in the end the Author tells you more about her and what parts of the book were fact, sped up in the timeline for the purposes of the book, or added in for the sake of the book. She also gives the name of her biography so that you may learn more about her real life and impact on the war.

I enjoyed The Frozen River more, that's not to say this book wasn't good it was just not one of my top rated.

What an incredible book.

Historical fiction based on real people are becoming one of my favorites. This book follows several women during the rise and fall of Nazi Germany. Majority of the women in this book were real people, including Mildred Fish-Harnack who was an American woman from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she became a key figure in the German resistance against the Nazi regime. She was executed by the Nazis in 1943 on direct orders from Hitler, making her the only American woman to be executed by his direct command during World War I.

This book will make you question yourself, what would you have done in their shoes, it may even make you question yourself now in present times. It's not all war and secret resistance either, they had lives, families, and in the beginning you can see how different they were and yet how they came to know one another and band together to the very end.

Great book, a little slower in the beginning I felt. But once they actually get overseas it starts to really pick up. It's incredible to think of what women like them went though during the war and how much their service impacted women for generations to come! I recommend this read if only to hear their stores. I am fond of this author and how she brings real life stories into her fiction.

This series keeps you on your toes, I'm usually quick to figure out exactly what's going to happen so it's rare when a book surprises me. A lot of the threads that began in the first book come together towards the end of this one beautifully. It will be a long while until we get another book in this series, but I'll be here be impatiently waiting.

This book is actually based on a real person, although not everything in the book actually happened it was a fantastic book that takes you back to the 1700's to follow a woman who was ahead of her time. Truly phenomenal book, I listened to the audio version but enjoyed it so much I bought a physical version to have on my shelf. Which I don't normally do for books that aren't in a series.

This book is a mystery, and historical fiction all rolled up into one with vivid female characters. It time jumps between past and present, and keeps you guessing about the events that lead to two dead bodies. I was convinced several times that l'd worked out who they were and who killed them multiple times, and in the end was mostly incorrect! Love the relationship between X and Nora, and enjoyed getting to know each character throughout the book. Truly a fantastic read (or listen).

I don't want to spoil it, but I'm so glad Rowan was introduced. Definitely funny to hear myself say that now, because I hated him at first. She really needed the growth he ushered in, and I just love all the new characters you end up meeting throughout this book. I can't wait to start reading the next one to see her really own what she is capable of!!

This book gives a great deal of backstory and makes you look at Haymitch in a different light than we all likely did back when the OG Hungar Games books/movies came out. l'd say it's a great addition to the series and ties the most recent book and the 0G series together nicely.

This book is spicy, with witches and political alliances. It started a little slow but picked up about two chapters in and did not stop. Fair warning it's a bit of a cliffhanger ending so I'm anxiously awaiting the next book now. I listened to this one on audible and had to speed it up to 1.2 because of how slowly she spoke for effect.

This is a cute summer read. It has modern day references to pop culture which was a refreshing change from my normal reads. Be aware that the characters are dealing with grief and the author uses them to explore that from many different perspectives.

Despite the heavy topic, it's still a cute fun read in my opinion. If you have a beach or lake trip planned soon, I would recommend this book for your vacation reading material. Perfect for that setting.

Fantastic book! Not only fun, but the mystery keeps you guessing through the entire book. I truly enjoyed imagining these ladies traipsing around solving a murder that all the men around them seemed set to sweep under the rug. You will come to love each character and their personalities, they are in some ways the most unlikely of friends and yet they turn into the absolute best of friends.

As always, I really enjoy stepping into worlds created by Sarah J. Maas. I was left heartbroken by the Assassins Blade and now in Throne of Glass there is a whole new world to consider with Characters that dance upon the line of friend or foe right up until the very end. I'm excited to learn more about all of them and hopefully soon, delve deeper into Celesna's past and how it will effect not only her future but everyone else's as well.

To my knowledge this will be the last book of this series, and the story is tied up rather nicely in the end. While I enjoyed the book, it's not one that makes me want to run through the streets telling everyone they need to read it.

If you're in need of a sort of cleansing read, something to fill the void after finishing one of those epic jaw-dropoing reads, then I would recommend this series. The characters are likeable, although a little whiny at times, you will find yourself hoping everything works out for them in the end. That they beat the odds so to speak and conquer their own fears.