Once again, we have found ourselves at another Saturday! I’m going back to work for a few days this coming week, so days won’t run together as much. I feel like I was slacking a bit in the reading category this week also; I just couldn’t find the motivation to read. But I’ve got one book left for the OWLs Readathon, and then two more for my monthly TBR. I think I can do it!
I’m actually reading off my TBR cart now, so I think I might actually make the list go down! So far, I’ve stayed pretty even with the books I’ve been buying compared to what I’ve been reading. I think that’ll change for the next month, though! Without further ado, my reading from this week.
Check out previous week’s reviews for 2020: 3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11
Bite Size Reviews: Week of 4/18
Seven Endless Forests by April Genevieve Tucholke (4/18)
I’ve got a full review up for this book from last week, but I’ll blurb it here too! My main qualm about this book was that the beginning and the end were both great, but there was something missing from the middle of the book. It fell flat for me. But I’m all about the female power that comes from these books, and the Arthurian feel of Tucholke’s story telling (3 stars).
Ms. Marvel Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson (4/18)
This was actually a re-read for me, so I can catch up to where I left off in the Ms. Marvel story. I love Kamala Khan! Marvel’s first Muslim superhero, and I definitely get Spider-Man vibes from this storyline. Kamala is trying to figure out what to do with her newfound powers, all the while balancing school and her parents’ expectations. It’s rumored to be a TV show on Disney+ at some point, too! (5 stars)
Where the Heart Is by Jo Knowles (4/19)
At the first day of summer, Rachel is excited for adventures with her best friend Micah. However, things become more complicated when she learns of her parents’ money problems and Micah’s romantic feelings for her start to get in the way of their friendship. After all, Rachel isn’t even sure if she likes boys that way. This is a heartfelt middle grade novel that hits all the right emotions. Rachel struggles to balance growing up with still wanting to be a kid, and her problems are ones that many readers will be able to relate to (4 stars).
Song of the Crimson Flower by Julie C. Dao (4/21)
First of all, I didn’t realize that this book was related to Julie C. Dao’s other books that she’s written. According to Goodreads, you don’t have to read the other books to get this one, but I still felt a little lost in this book. After cruelly rejected Bao’s advances, Lan is desperate to make it up to him. So, when Bao gets cursed by the local witch, it’s the perfect opportunity. This book reads like a fairy tale, spinning in elements of Vietnamese culture. I’m intrigued about the other books, and am curious if reading those might make me less confused in this book (3 stars).
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace (4/23)
Amora is ready to take over ruling the island kingdom of Visida from her father. But when her initiation ritual goes completely wrong, she instead fleas with pirate Bastian to save her kingdom from an impending threat. Little does she know that doing so will completely re-write the history of her country. The world that Grace created is unbelievably complex; it takes until halfway into the book to fully comprehend everything that’s going on. What I did appreciate was how realistic Amora felt, and that she was willing to do whatever it took to save her country. Also, the romance definitely wasn’t needed; I could have done without it (3.5 stars).
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare (4/24)
We’ve switched back to Clary and Jace land where Jace is having dreams about killing Clary and Simon is mysteriously being hunted by something. Oh, and dead babies are appearing all over town. Personally, I’d rather stick with Clare’s historical books. They feel a tad less dramatic to me, and the characters there are much more compelling (besides Simon). This is the next step in my audiobook adventure, and sadly, I have to wait until the next one is available from the library (3 stars).