DB

This was a very quick dnf – I chose to mark it as dnf at four percent... that's a very quick choice. I didn't realise this was a spin-off sequel/prequel series to the original Trylle trilogy. It wasn't really marketed properly.

I've only read the first book like years ago, I can't remember if I liked it or not. The very very little I read of this didn't really impress me much?
The formatting was a bit off as well. Several times if a book started with the letters f and i (five, first etc) it would disappear. So it wouldn't say five but ve, not first but rst. I was able to get what the sentence was, but it kept taking me out of the story, which also led to me wanting to dnf.

A cute easy read that will certainly make you reread Little Women and wish there's magic and witches in there (just in time for the movie remake, right?). I didn't remember much of the original Little Witches, except that I liked Jo the best, probably because she reminded me of George from the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton (also my favourite character. Timmy and Julian were like tied for second place).

I've become more used to reading Comics and Graphic Novels, and while I am (most definitely) not gifted in drawing or you know, anything visual creative stuff (writing's more my speed, obviously), I can and do definitely tell and admire when the graphics are good! And this is the case with Little Witches – they're so cute and like soft? Which doesn't really make sense – but it's like their faces (facial features etc) are softly drawn.

I really liked all the characters. I'm always up for siblings in novels and I was happy to see that they looked and felt like siblings – their banter, conversations. Even if they got into some fights and arguments along the way (like listen, which siblings don't? My sister and I used to fight over the remote or even who was doing the dishes). But in the end, when it really matters, they come together and help each other and that's what I love about sibling interaction! That they still love each other very much, even though they annoy each other and fight and all that; when it comes down to it, when one sibling needs the help, the other will be there to do whatever they can.

I already spoke about Jo being my favourite character but Laurie was definitely my second-favourite! I loved him. Everything about him was great, his personality and I liked what a strong character he was. I liked his grandfather too.

And then when the magic played into the story I was even more excited. I enjoyed how the magic showed different genres – like you could be stronger in one area in magic than other. Which is always a thing I loved because as cool as it may be, it's actually more realistic for a character with magic to not be top in all categories or areas of magic. I liked how they showed the sisters practicing the different areas of magic and what they could do.

The plot was pretty interesting. It is a usual thing with magic – if you have magic, wield magic etc, there's bound to be bad/dark magic – because it's a common theme in books where magic is, or even in fantasy books where the good beat the bad. And I liked how they showed it in here.

Review also posted on my blog: https://dbsguidetothegalaxy.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/poetry-mini-reviews-1/

I thought I loved Princess (The Princess Saves Herself in this one) more than Witch, but I loved them both for different reasons. I also have the third book so I can't wait to post that review. Where Princess speaks more of self-love and self-acceptance, Witch is about taking all that self-love and -acceptance and using it to show others you are unafraid of them or the world or trials that appear in your path. Witch is about facing those who said ‘you can't' with a ‘watch me'.

Witch is also about reminding yourself you're strong, that you can go ahead. It's about finding that power within you and using it. It's a message to the world that we will fight back. We will let you know when we've had enough and we'll stand up and I mean, I think if you read this poetry books, you'd probably find that out.

Lovelace has quickly become one of my favourite poets. I believe I found her on Pinterest – or a few of her quotes and really liked it! Which is cool because I'm slowly getting into expanding my list of genres I read.

Favourite Quotes:

bewitching

women: we can spin g o l d out of d i r t
bewitching ii

women: we can magic f i r e out of a i r
women are some kind of magic ii

I'm pretty sure you have w i t c h c r a f t running through those v e i n s

I had read another book by Adam Sass so I did really want to read this. This was another one where I pushed myself to carry on reading. This was in First Person pov and I didn't like it. The main character was very annoying – since it's in first person, it's more difficult to ignore. It was also quite predictable and I could see what was going to happen before well before the half-way mark.

I realised early on that I was just tapping the screen but not really... reading it. I tried to push ahead and eventually just decided to stop reading. For me it was the way this was written – I just wasn't vibing with the writing style. I think if this were a movie I would like it. Then I wouldn't be bothered by the writing/narration style, plus I think the book idea would carry on over to a movie very easily.

I think that was the biggest reason for not carrying on. Writing style is a big part of a book for me so if I don't like it early on, it's very difficult for me to read further and enjoy. I didn't really have much to say about the characters because to me they didn't really show their personalities all so much and I was about 30% in.

I don't know how long fathers are allowed to stay in the hospital after the babies are born. But they LITERALLY JUST HAD twins, let him stay in the room overnight? But if I think for too long about the little I read of Patrick, the more I got really angry at him. He uploads a picture to Facebook without checking WITH HER. And this is like just after she gave birth – you could've waited a few hours to post it? I think I must've only read about three scenes with him in it and I didn't want to know anymore.

This is another one where the writing tried to be flowery and more than what it turned out to be. So another bit of disappointment. I think that's my issue with a lot of adult thriller novels – there's something about the writing that just doesn't do it for me.

Gemini Keeps Capricorn #3
Anyta Sunday
Year published: 2017
Publisher: Anyta Sunday
Genre: Contemporary Romance ~ LGBT+ ~ New Adult ~ Humour
Stars: 4

I received this e-arc from A Novel Take PR and Anyta Sunday in exchange for my free and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Leo Loves Aries Review (#1) ~ Scorpio Hates Virgo Review (#2)

Like all good readers, I love witty banter. Nearly all the characters in this series are so full of witty banter they're bursting at the seams. The more sarcastic the characters are the happier I am. Though if you're a reader who's not so fond of witty banter, don't worry, you're also a good reader, there are many types of good readers.

Wesley Hidaka is a relatable character. He studies with his textbook without really studying. He focuses his mind on several other tasks rather than studying. And Lloyd Reynolds – well, first of all, he studies Mathematics, which I don't get because Maths makes my brain hurt and then I need to hunt down chocolate – but he also really likes coffee, so he's all right in my book.

The plot keeps on bringing up the fact that the two main characters are undoubtedly attracted to each other but can't, (due to Lloyd being the RA) and so of course the attraction between them just grows, which is just absolutely fantastic.

Amidst all the drama and slow-burn romance, which is inevitable in a Sunday novel, there's also the fantastic chapter headings – in this book it's to do with coffee.

I've seen a lot of mixed reviews and I read them and thought “I'd probably feel the same” and Bob's your uncle, so I did. I decided to DNF around 9% as I didn't like the main character. Plus it's in first person pov and I didn't like the narration. I don't have anything to say about the plot because I stopped reading before basically anything happened.

I was annoyed with this book because it did that thing!! Where the synopsis LOOKs really super good and then it falls along the way and I'm left trying to think if I'm bad at picking books or if the books are bad at picking me.

I could barely connect to ANY of the characters. I found them so unlikeable and there were so many problematic elements, which was a big reason why I didn't like them. I can deal (and probably even like) unlikeable characters, but this was on another level. Like even when I decided to dnf and skipped ahead a bit (to see if there's something that would interest me), there was nothing.

I lent this book from a friend who really liked it so I tried finishing it (and probably could've, but I was so busy with packing so I just...didn't finish it. I could've, definitely could've, but by then I just didn't have the motivation to finish it. 
I understand that the book is set in extremely sad and really bad times - I know, I studied history in high school, I know all that. But I had no interest in the characters? They were...boring? Is that rude to say of characters in a concentration camps? Probably. Definitely. 
I read that it was originally a script and you could definitely tell that, because it was very dialogue-centered, but even the dialogue wasn't enough to want me to keep reading.

And the way they did all the transition scenes (so many) was too fast to gauge a good understanding of everything. 

wasn't enjoying myself anymore and it's too long for a YA Mystery/Thriller

I tried... really hard with this one. I finally just let myself tap out before 60%. I could tell I wasn't enjoying it so much as I was reading but I hoped it would get better (it didn't). I didn't like the audiobook narrator or the main character but I did appreciate that Wong's voice fit the main character. I just didn't like either so it was difficult for me to try to enjoy. Sid (the main character's name) was very much “I'm not like other girls. I'm plain, my hair doesn't do this or that. No one looks at me” – please it's halfway through 2024 ENOUGH. Since the book was in first person pov and solely hers, we got this line of thinking constantly from the start of the book

I also didn't really care for much of the other characters. They weren't really interesting to me, they were written okay, but other than that, nothing. Plus their dialogue, especially with Sid, was lacking. Dialogue is a big part of enjoying a book for me, especially with an audiobook and I could very much tell I wasn't listened properly. I might've been interested if the book was multi-pov instead of just Sid's. Or maybe just her pov but not first person (as I think that was one of the reasons for not finishing).

There was so much packed into the book (of what I read) and it wasn't done well in my opinion, which was also an issue for me. There were Guardians and Guardians had the keys. Everyone outside the town didn't believe or maybe they did and came to see if they could see anything. Only the Guardians had powers and then suddenly everyone had powers. Just too confusing. I very much don't mind a lot of world-building in my books but I mind if they're not done well. The book is over 400 pages, which would account for more world-building (which is fine) but at least explain it all properly? The bit I was reading (before I chose to stop reading) introduced alternative worlds? Don't get me wrong, I love that concept, but introduce it SOONER??

I thought I was going to like it and then I just couldn't get into it. The one time I thought they were talking about one character and it turned out to be a whole ‘nother character. While a lot of times that's happened before, I just knew this wasn't a special case (where I would like it if I just carried on).

Some likened it to Stranger Things, which I would've really liked to have seen. But ultimately I saw i was forcing myself to carry on and I'm really trying to not do that anymore.

I went into this thinking, ‘F/F The Little Mermaid retelling? Perfect! I'll love it!' and then...I didn't love it so much. The plot didn't have much meat on it and barely built up to anything – like when the climax came up I was like ‘Is this it?'

It was the whole thing of the summary sounding good and then the story turned out to be less than good. All the characters had their motivations and plans, but they had no fire to do so and when the characters have no interest in their motivations and/or plans, neither do I. And that's where I begin to force myself to finish books.

There were also some parts where something happened and it just didn't make sense, like SPOILER*when the little mermaid kills a deer, how did she know how to kill the deer? I'm pretty sure sea animals have different anatomy to land animals.

And another thing, maybe a bit of a spoiler – I didn't find the romance between the sea-witch's sister and the little mermaid to be believable. What, the sea-witch just sees the little mermaid and likes the way she looks and decides to add a clause to her (the sea-witch's) deal? And the little mermaid only realised she also ‘loved' the sister in like the last few hours... Yeah, sorry, not that believable to me.


There was this really weird quote so here you go:
The Prince moored his pleasure craft and walked up the pier to the so-called beach...
- Me: His what now?

And this quote really made me laugh:
The prince had not realised he was holding his breath.
- It's the quote!!!

It was one of those reads where I just couldn't get into it. Those books where you start and you know that you're either going to stop reading it or have a really bad time finishing it. I also didn't like either point of view so I chose to stop reading early on.

Hopefully I'll like the author's other books because I've seen those synopses and like them. Then again I liked this synopsis as well so who knows? My main reason for not liking this book was solely due to the main character, Cal. I didn't like him at all. I think it was how he saw the world and thought. And because the book is written from his point of view, we unfortunately see all his thoughts.

I did see a bit of Leon (the love interest) before I dnfed and I much preferred him and would maybe even finish the book if it was from his point of view. It also looked like a certain trope was in their budding relationship, one I very much dislike, so that was even another reason for me to not want to read any further.

Another reason I didn't like Cal is that I thought his focus and idea of media and his view on social media was weird? Like he thinks badly of some media personnel because ‘they act a certain way' (I'm paraphrasing) but Cal has nearly half a million followers and you're telling me he HASN'T taken some type of media/marketing course or maybe acts a different way off camera so he can be ‘himself' off camera? Maybe I feel this way about him because (to me) it doesn't feel like he's been written to have so many followers, if this makes sense. I also feel that Cal is a bit self-absorbed and he tries to show that he isn't, which makes me dislike him more.

Oh, and also the formatting in the e-arc was really annoying me too. Bits of interviews meshed into the paragraphs and it was difficult to read. I tried to force myself to read it and fizzled out before the 50% mark. Once again, don't force yourself to read a book! There's no merit in that!

But then again, my best friend read the book and loved it. So, two different people, I guess.

that huge ass loud THX Sound is going through my brain right now

I admit, I had high expectation for this novel because it was set in Cape Town - which is close to where I live and I am always up for reading books set in my province (similar to a state). After reading a bit of this, I should have lowered my expectations. 
It wasn't necessarily a bad book and I did like the main character most of the time, I just couldn't deal with her actions and emotions. 
Like a lot of the plot (or at least I'm guessing, since I didn't even finish it), revolves around Ebba and this guy - who she thinks is THE MOST PERFECT AND WONDERFUL AND BEAUTIFUL GUY SHE'S EVER SEEN whenever he does something like open a door or smile and that's when a little big part of me went because honestly, I thought we were past the whole his eyes looked at me and I just decided that even if he killed my whole family and my dog I would still marry him. 
There was also a lot of sexism - ‘oh, you're a girl, you can't do this or you only need to worry about this' blah blah blah, another reason for not finishing it. Like there was literally this quote of: All you've got to do is learn how to be a good wife and catch a husband and my reaction was: Not to be dramatic or anything but I'd rather die. Why yes, I did have fun reacting to the quotes. 

There was also the trope of ‘seemingly plain girl gets a makeover and suddenly everyone, including her crush loves her', which I'm very much not for (though some stuff do get it right).

I read some spoilery reviews, mostly to see what the paranormal aspect of the book was. I wasn't really impressed by it and showed me I was right not to carry on. I chose not to finish early on since I wasn't able to get into the verse style of writing. I'm totally fine with a book in verse, I just couldn't get into this one.

Another reason was definitely the characters. I didn't like Margaret at all. Found her boring as anything. Her friends were a bit more interesting but once again, not enough to keep me reading.

I was annoyed by the fact that we barely see any hint of any type of paranormal activity and I checked the reviews and some said it only appears quite far into the book and even then barely. Quite disappointing.

While I did like the lyrical parts and it could be soothing at times, it could also be a bit boring. The book felt like it was pushing the naval camp as this elite thing and that was also very boring for me.

Ooh my gosh. This book!! So I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (diagnosed in June 2018). Pretty early in it so I'm still figuring out when I should give my body a break and all (absolutely not good at this) but I'm pretty sure that this is my first time reading a book with a character who has RA? And I read what she was thinking about her body and joints and everything and it's exactly what I feel?

Like when it said: “They think it's completely ridiculous that a person can just...have a sick life and be fine with it. So they have to build this story around you kicking the illness's ass. You can't coexist with it. You can't incorporate it into yourself. Because they don't. So you can't.” – LIKE I FELT THAT DOWN IN MY SOUL. And I know I'm early in my diagnosis, but I feel it and I know exactly what they're talking about. Like why can't we just live with the diagnosis? Why do we have to wish it away? Why should we want to be ‘perfectly' healthy and ‘normal' – Newsflash! Why is being healthy considered to be the normal?

Their relationship with each other was SO CUTE even before they got together! I loved how real they were with each other and they understood each other. And they were great as individual characters – I liked how they were written and how they came across on the page. AND WHEN they STARTED to give each other PET NAMES I'M SOFT.

And like also there's this part where Isabel talks about her uncle sending her an article about how carbs are linked to arthritis – which is EXACTLY how my uncle is and like yes I am on keto – my aunt won't cook for different people, so I've just adapted. But the pain isn't any less because I've dropped the carbs. There's so many articles cross-sectioning or whatever the word actually is. And why do people think they know more about something else than you? Even if you don't know a lot about your illness, it doesn't mean other people should come along and wave articles at you and yell: “Hear ye, hear ye, eating 2 of this per week will KILL you within a year!”

Also, NO ONE talks about how it makes you tired and I am here to say... that it does. Some days – especially on the bad days I just have enough energy to go down for a coffee and that's it. And I was so happy to see Isabel say it. And I want more of this!! in books! More characters with illnesses who talk about it.

I really liked Sasha's sister – she was fun reading about whenever she showed up in the plot. I liked their friends for the most part. They did say things and do things I side-eyed for a while but in a way I understood it because I know how they think. And what they think. And it is like that – not everyone totally understands when they know about your illness.

I have The Tempest (the original play). I didn't know anything about the play before I picked up this book – or at least I tried to pick this up. It was just absolutely terrible, all the way through. I've read Samantha Cohoe's other book, A Golden Fury and that was mostly good.

It's said to be set on an island in the 1920s – I took that to be a big, big lie because nothing in the book read that way. I would believe it more if you told me it was set in the late 2020s and the main character just lived on the island, away from social media and wifi. It honestly would've been more maybe more interesting if it was a modern retelling.

I could not tell you a SINGLE thing about the main character- in fact, I had to literally scroll to find her name in the arc because it's a first person POV. Sometimes that POV works. Most times it's difficult to write it in a way where it sounds good. This was most certainly not the case here. And me not remembering her name should definitely tell you something.

All the characters felt very one-dimensional and very forgetful. I could not tell you a single fact about them – barely even their names. And I read 45% of this – I should remember something without looking at my notes or rereading some pages.

There was sort of a love triangle going on. Mae, Miles, and this 25 year old guy (who are both part of the family) whose name I don't remember. Mae is like super in love with Miles, even though she only sees him like once or something a year. And he's rude to everyone Mae included – which is a trope I really dislike. And the other love interest is 25... while she's 18 at the start of the book. No thank you to either of them. Send them both to the no-no zone on the island, faraway from this EIGHTEEN year old girl who barely knows anyone other than this super rich family.

If my mother knew I was reading this...

Another book where it looked good and then it wasn't. I think I started liking it but it didn't read like a middle grade book. I know it's historical fiction but I feel like there should be a better balance. I did feel a little bit for Cap, but I guess not enough to keep me interested. Funnily enough, it wasn't even the fact of the book being a historical fiction that put me off, just that I didn't connect to the story/characters.

I was really hoping I'd love this and read it as quickly as everyone else is loving and reading it. Unfortunately, I could quickly tell that this was definitely not the case. Straight from the beginning I didn't like the writing style. It's too awkward and Julie uses too many uncontracted sentences (it is on the table instead of it's on the table).

In my opinion, if you do not contract, you tend to be more formal and uncontracted sentences are more often seen in fantasy novels and less so in young adult novels. I tend to sometimes not contract my sentences, but that's because I tend to write a bit more formal at times. So therefore, even though I use uncontracted sentences and often did when I was younger, most teenagers do not. It felt weird reading them.

I wanted to be sad and feel the same way Julie did but I couldn't get past the writing style and feel the same way as everyone else. The transitions from flashbacks to normal was also not written well, in my opinion.

I really like Christine Riccio as a booktuber – even though she can definitely be a bit ‘much' at times (but then again I'm also very ‘much' at times so