Book Review: A Gathering of Shadows

Hey, welcome back to my shelf!

I have no idea what I'm going to do when this series wraps up next week... 

I wasn't sure where V.E. Schwab was going to take this book and, as much as I love her, I can't help but dread the middle book in any trilogy. It's usually lame, involving little action and often serving only to build the third book. But V didn't disappoint! There is a beautiful blend of action and magic, wittiness and politics. I never felt like the story was dragging. I did find, like the cover quotes, that it was addictive. I tried to stretch this out, to savor it, but spent many nights reading past my bedtime.

1 star - I love the complexity of the relationships in this book. There is a great moment when Rhy talks to Lila about the way Kell loves people, the few that he does, and he says something along the lines of 'just because he doesn't shower you with sweetness doesn't mean he doesn't love you.' (If I had my copy handy I'd quote the exact thing.) But it highlights that, in all kinds of love, it isn't always sunshine and rainbows. Humans have emotions and sometimes we argue, sometimes we try to overprotect someone or shelter them, and maybe we have to refind common ground. The relationships in this book are so realistic, so relatable. V's characters are something I always appreciate and look forward to when reading her books. 


2 stars - I love the building mysteries. I'm assuming you've read the first book if you're reading this? Okay, good. So in the first book, Master Tieren hinted that Lila might be an impossible thing- an antari. In this book, we are still questioning this idea. We also see Ned again ( <3 ) and he too is playing with the idea that Grey Londoners might be able to wield magic. On top of all that, we meet someone who shouldn't be around. We meet a new Captain who (he and his cat) are questionable. And the end is kiiind of a cliffhanger (sorry V, but it is!)

3 stars - Allucard is a new favourite character of mine and he deserves his own star. I very much hope for his continued involvement in book 3, and perhaps his POV in the book. (This is a series where it's really hard to pick a favourite character and there's also no clear Book BF.)

4 stars - For creating such beautifully deep characters. Not only do we build on Lila's issues of the past, but also we see Rhy and Kell are developing in different ways than they were before. On top of all of this, we discover an old lover of Rhy and that creates drama between the boys. (Can I just say I love how fluid the sexuality of some of these characters are? And it's written wonderfully normal too! Man, I love Rhy and the arc of his character.)

5 stars - Between the creative wit, the beautifully written realms, and the ease of action, I loved where this book went- both over seas and abroad. 

Is it February 21st yet?

Stay tuned to see what else I put on my shelf!

Book Review: A Darker Shade of Magic

Hello, welcome back to my shelf!

In celebration of the third book in V.E. Schwab's A Darker Shade of Magic releasing in less than a week and Valentine's Day, I thought I would re-post my review of the first book and relive how much a loved it.

I picked this book up having read This Savage Song . I loved TSS for it's characters and narrative as well as Schwab's ability to create a visual and visceral world. I don't usually backread (read something that isn't new, particularly a series), but I was SO glad I did. Kell and Lila were fantastic characters and Victoria(aka V.E.) created an awesome fantasy London for them to live in. Anyone who doesn't want to live in Red London is crazy! ;)

1 star For the adorable and charming Kell. He was easy to fall in love with. I'd say he has the whimsy of the 10th doctor with the swagger of Once's Hook. And something else I can't place my thumb on. He was such an interesting character.

2 stars The idea of 4 Londons was awesome and I cannot wait to see where the rest of the series takes us.

3 stars Every little vignette makes you question things. You wonder what might be important that you're missing and find yourself picking up what otherwise might have been a throwaway line. I cannot wait to see where the pirate-esque Lila ends up. 

4 & 5 stars This story was such an original idea to me. And I really enjoyed how caught up in the world I became. I decided to spend November 2016 reading Fantasy books (at the time YA, but this turned out not to be YA) as that's my weak area. They can be a little overwhelming and I have a hard time remembering characters, places, and other fantasy items. But not with DSoM. I was able to remember everyone, clearly picture the world, and found myself completely immersed. I loved how things surprised me as much as I loved that there were some thing I suspected early on. 

London is always a neat place for a story to happen and I really look forward to the next 2 books.*

Stay tuned to see what else I put on my shelf!

*Originally posted to Goodreads.  

Romance Week - YA Heart Breakers

Hello, welcome back to my shelf!

This is a list of books that hit me straight in the feels.  I won't say much about them, because I don't want to give anything away,, but you should still read them if you haven't.  So, without further ado...

#5 - Belzhar - Meg Wolitzer

#4 - Orbiting Jupiter - Gary Schmidt

#3 - Salt to the Sea - Ruta Septys 

Is she done researching yet?  I'm ready for more brilliance from Ruta!  

#2 - More Happy Than Not - Adam Silvera

Nicest dude!  Super tall too!

And...

#1 - The Serpent King - Jeff Zentner

This guy is very cool.

Honorable Mentions:

Dumplin' - Julie Murphy

The Rest of Us Just Live Here - Patrick Ness

Replica - Lauren Oliver

So, that's it for now.  Stay tuned to see what else I put on my shelf!

Romance Week - YA Books

Hey, welcome back to my shelf!

It's #RomanceWeek over on Goodreads.  From now through Valentine's Day, some authors who write romance are sharing short stories.  Since I mostly read YA for work (YA Librarian), I thought I'd list my Top 5 Favourite Romances in YA novels.  I think that there are all kinds of love too, so instead of just listing books that had relationships, I want to also list ones that had love between friends. (I'll save self-love and fave friends for another post).

There are bound to be some books that I will forget and there are all types of love that I want to include, so if you don't see your fave listed feel free to include it in the comments below!  And before you comment, I left Harry Potter out on purpose. There are a tons of brilliant instances of love and friendship in that book, and we all know it ;)

#5 - Of Fire and Stars - Audrey Coulthurst

This is a fantasy novel set in a pretty realistic setting.  Other than the sprawling territories, arranged marriages, and hidden magical powers, it's very relatable.  We find ourselves reading from the alternating POV of Mare & Denna.  Denna has been waiting years for the day she would have to fulfill the arranged marriage between her and Mare's brother, all the while keeping her powers a secret.  But neither girl could have predicted that they would fall for each other.  This is a sweet story that takes its time, building a believable and strong relationship between the girls while providing us with a mystery within the kingdom (a "whodunit" of royal proportions).  Both of these girls are strong and independent, making their support of each other even better.  If you haven't read it, you can check it out on Goodreads.  

#4 - The Darkest Part of the Forest  - Holly Black

This isn't your typical love story.  For years, this small town has known about the trickster fairy-like creatures in the woods.  For Hazel and Ben, most of their attention is on the fawn prince- a boy with horns and a knife, encased in glass.  And their love grows for him, seemingly there forever.  Until, one day, he's not.  And their secrets come crashing down around them. It's a little darker than your average romance, but it's one of my favourite examples of mixing up a fairytale.  And it's very quick-paced too.  You really should add it to your TBR pile.   

#3 - Caraval - Stephanie Garber

Sisterly love, arranged marriage love, forbidden stranger love.  This story of a game of intrigue as everything.  Scarlett and Tella are very close sisters who, for years, have dreamt of attending Caraval- a grand magical game, or performance if you're not participating.  And just as it seems the girls will never be able to attend, an invitation arrives for them.  When a mysterious strange arrives to their home, days away from her wedding, and her sister goes missing.  Scarlett must find her sister and return before she is out of time.  But can Scarlett trust this handsome sailor?  

Even though this was the first thing I read last year in May (from my BEA '16 book haul) it feels like just yesterday.  Maybe I should reread it, to fall in love all over again.  Check it out on Goodreads.   

#2 - My Lady Jane -Cynthia Hand(et al.)

The love in this story takes its time.  The story takes places as Edward, son of Henry VIII, has reached the peak of his Affliction and must find an heir to the throne.  Since he can't make one himself, his Royal Advisor convinces him to wed his cousin Jane Grey to his own son, Gifford.  Told in 3 POVs, this is a tale as witty as the Princess Bride with just a smidge of magic okay maybe a lot more than a smidge to twist history.  The romance that build between Jane and Gifford is just as fantastic as Buttercup and the Dred Pirate too!  Add it to your TBR pile!  

#1 - Queens of Geek - Jen Wilde 

This book had two romances going on and they were equally adorable.  While they were our main focus, I also felt like the love between the trio of friends (Jamie, Charlie, and Taylor) was very strong.  It was also one of the best YA books I had read in a while (for various reasons) mainly because these relationships were all healthy.  These teens thought things through and realized what was best of them and what wasn't.  When Charlie met her online crush, it was adorable and stayed that way.  When Taylor and Jamie clearly had the feels for each other, I was routing for them the whole time.  You can read my full review for this one soon- stay tuned for that blogpost.  This book comes out in March, so add it to your Goodreads TBR now!  

Honorable Mentions:

 The Serpent King  - Jeff Zentner

And the Trees Crept in - Dawn Kurtagich

Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo

More Happy Than Not - Adam Silvera

I'm going to be posting soon with books I love, not necessarily for romance but because they're fantastic and you should have read them yesterday.  I'm also going to post a list of Heart Breakers, books that hit me really hard in the feels.  Stay tuned to see what else I put on my shelf!

Check out my Goodreads group here!

Book Review: Allegedly - Tiffany Jackson

Hello, welcome to my shelf!

Holy Jeez! I don't even know where to start with this one. If you're a fan of We Were Liars , Orange is the New Black , or books with drama and "whodunnit," this is a good choice.

1 star - I loved the back and forth of story and interview/documentation. Sometimes this doesn't work, but this is one of those stories where it was super important for us (as readers) to understand the depth of what was going on. It was interesting to read these excerpts (including one of Mary's crime biography) that were written during and after her initial manslaughter sentence.

2 stars - This book is deep. Not only is race a part of the discussion, but there is a greater discussion about kids in the prison system and kids aging out of the prison system. We find out early on that Mary is pregnant and this adds an entirely new level to an already awful situation. I would be interested in reading this story again through Ted's perspective (Mary's beau), if only to gain a greater perspective on a male poc in the system. But from Mary's perspective, it definitely causes us to think a bit and cringe a whole lot.

3 stars - I love the character type of an unreliable narrator. From the very beginning, we wonder "Did she do it?" which is what everyone else Mary meets has been asking. And while you can relax in knowing that we do discover the truth, the way we get there is what will keep you speeding through the pages. I had my guesses and (view spoiler)

4 star - While I was a a teeny bit unsatisfied with the ending, the set up is definitely there. I was also interested in the other girls though, after reading the book, I can't help but wonder (view spoiler) I do wonder about how so many of the adults were so checked out, but I think that's why adults like Ms. Claire and Ms. Cora were so important. I want to see supportive figures like those in more YA books.

The only reason I didn't give this five stars was because I could feel the hand tip in the "whodunnit" and wasn't that surprised. There were also a few elements that I felt were mentioned and then quickly dropped, not to be entirely resolved. And, while this didn't detract from the story, it did distract me as a reader. That being said, this is still really good. As a YA librarian, I recommend this as an older teen read and I would note a few trigger-worthy moments (mental/physical abuse, implied rape & stories of rape, and implied molestation to name a few.)*

Stay tuned to see what else I put on my shelf!

*Originally puublished for Goodreads.

Fifty Shades of Busy

After having been away from blogging for ages, I am aiming to creative write at least once  a week.  Is it a New Year goal? No, those involve sugar intake (6tsps) and excercise (30 minutes a day).  But it is something I realized I missed lately.

So, I decided to free write on a story I was working on and then post a new blog.

So, what have I been up to lately.  Well, I have two part-time gigs, one as a Teen Librarian and the other as a YA & Reference Librarian.  Now that grad school is over (yay Master degree!)  I find myself busy as ever.  In addition to making time for new releases on Spotify and, now, aiming to write at least 100 words a day, I spend my week with my boyfriend (we're hitting 9 months this Saturday), irregularly attending author signings, bowling or playing trivia with friends (have you tried TriviaCrack?), and making time for Skyping with my family.  It is a full and fulfilling life.  

 I am a moderator for two- soon to be three- Goodreads groups.  Two of which have "Puzzles" in the title thanks to a love (or perhaps missing?) or HIMYM.  One of the groups aims to read one YA, one adult fiction, and one non-fiction per month.  And in my spare time- hahaha- I try to keep up with the trends in my profession.

So much has happened in the months since I last posted that I cannot possibly re-cap it all in one post.  So, I shall tell you stories of the last few months as I move ahead.  For now, I will share what I am currently reading:

I just finished Fifty Shades of Grey.  You can see my review here.

I am about to start : These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman, Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black, & a non-fiction.  Which I shall decide upon tomorow. 

Check-In: July 2014

It has been waaay too long since I last updated this blog.  Grad school kept me pleasantly busy.  I found myself doing a lot of writing and research for Research and Methods.  Having been one month into working at the CPL, I decided to focus on teens and video gaming in particular.  At some point, I can post my work to this blog (that's a note to self right there) but for now I will just highlight a few key notes.  

I knew that video gaming had a bad rep, but I discovered that more about why.  I sought out research and articles about the positives found in video gaming and found that there were, in fact, multiple psychological, social, and developmental benefits of playing video games- these increase when played amongst peers. On author discussed that his research found teens more social than playing alone, especially in games that require it of them.  While my paper was a grant proposal for a possible research study (I chose to observe three libraries who use planned video game programming as well as drop in programming to determine which one is A) more successful to the teen and B) why.)  I used my findings on social video gaming and put two and two together when two teens at the CPL approached me about starting a Minecraft club.  We first met Saturday January 18th and, up until this month, have always had two hour Saturday sessions.  

It has been a very experimental project, having- at the time- only one Minecraft account.  We began by allowing teens to drop in (without registration programming) and I found myself pleasantly surprised at the turn out.  Needless to say, out first meeting led to me booking the meeting room for our second meeting.  Since then, we have been once a month and have had a turn out of, on average, 15 teens.  Some times the teens bring their own devices, but I use the laptops at central.  I've got it down to a science: set up starts at 1pm and goes until the event starts at 2:30: I do this so that I can update the game as well as position the laptops (staggered so that the teens can interact easier, which they do) and the cables running from the sides of the room, under the table, and plugged in accordingly.

Up until June, we had a free for all.  Those who wanted single player did that and those who wanted multiplayer could sign in with their own accounts and play that way.  In June, I tried something different.  The server wasn't up and running yet (Craftbukkit didn't really take off right away) so this was an easy choice.  In June, I provided two Building Challenges they could vote on.  One was a Pirate Ship building challenge and the other was a Treehouse/fort building challenge.  (They chose the treefort).  Now, children's and I are working together to use this challenge at the grade 2-5 level.  (So far we have had two "survive the night" challenges, played in survival mode, and they were a hit!  Spoiler: kids love sticker prizes!)  These challenges are surprisingly adaptable for younger ages.  it gives them flexibility, but it gives the librarian a sense of structure in and otherwise chaotic world.

After the June meeting, I sat with a teen from CPL who had made their own server (a Minecraft Vanilla server), took notes, and created Epica- a creative server.  We made a white-list, admin-list, and more.  Its a little time consuming, especially if you aren't abreast of computer jargon and computer files, but I chose to focus on it because I wanted to take that one step further towards bringing my teens together.  So, now, those who own their own Minecraft account (i.e. purchased the game, not just signed up for the demo) can log in, I put them on the white-list, and they can create together.  For July, I intend to give them a pixel art building challenge.  The idea is that they use so many wool/wood/iron/etc. blocks and create something that looks like it belongs in a 16bit NES game.  If they play in the server, I have (in my free time) gone into the server and created a "CPL Pixel Art Exhibit" sign and space.  There, they can show friends and family their work- or tinker with it at a later date.  As for the others who do not own an account, they can still compete in the challenge in single player mode.  I'm still working on the grading criteria(grading art is hard because its subjective..) but, when I do, I will post that here as well.

For now, I look forward to continuing to developing this idea.  I am also tinkering with HTML for the teen page of the website as well as creating Pinterest boards for read-a-likes, taking a "paper-free"/"printer-friendly" approach.  I enjoy making brochures for read-a-likes, but there's something about Pinterest (as a social media) that just jives better with people.  Also, they can bookmark our page for easier location.  I have set the pins so that, if clicked on, it will zip you to the OSL page for that item (well for the book of that item).  It is my current experiment, of which I am currently using Facebook and the website to promote.  

Stay tuned for more!