Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Women I Met in 2015 (Thanks to Marvel!)

In 2015 I splurged and joined Marvel Unlimited. As a result... 2015 was all about the comic books! I had planned to maybe post something about them, but I don't really blog that much. BUT, the Top Ten Tuesday this week is a freebie and this seemed like a fun idea!

Princess Leia - Yes, I have met her before... But, she kicked ass in this mini-series and I loved it! 

Gamora - I had seen the movie, but the comics show a very interesting, hard-ass Gamora. I love her!

Thor - A female Thor. Sign. Me. Up! 

Squirrel Girl - College student with unusually powers. Definitely a good role-model for young girls!

Agent Carter - She is awesome on the big screen, small screen, and in comic books. I hope there will be more about her!

Black Widow - Well, another one that isn't really a surprise... But, this series based around her gives you a great view of the awesomeness that is her!

Spider-Woman - Love her! Way better than Spider-man... He annoys me...

She-Hulk - I am sad her series didn't go very long. I really like her and look forward to seeing more from her.

Ms. Marvel - I had read Carol as Captain Marvel and read the newer Ms. Marvel series, but this older one was really good. Carol is one of my favourite characters!

Silk - We are still getting introduced to her, but I am really liking what I have seen so far!

Check out more from this feature here.

2015 End of Year Book Survey

Here we are for another year of the book survey hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner.

Number Of Books You Read: 366
Number of Re-Reads: 11
Genre You Read The Most From: Fantasy

1. Best Book You Read In 2015?
Best YA: Another Day by David Levithan or Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Best Fantasy: Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer or Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Best Science-Fiction: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Best Graphic Novel: As I read mostly graphic novels this year, this could be its own post... We will see if I can make that happen! If I had to pick one, I would go with Hexed by Michael Alan Nelson.
Best Historical Fiction: The Girl you Left Behind by Jojo Moyes or The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
Best Audiobook: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
Best Non-Fiction Book: Mrs Robinson's Disgrace by Kate Summerscale

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
The Woods by James Tynion IV - I didn't expect to like this series, but it ended up clicking with me.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
Hexed by Michael Alan Nelson - A lot of people said they were going to read it, anyway.

5. Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?
um, maybe Ms. Marvel because it convinced me I didn't mind superhero comics like I used to and inspired much of my reading this year. The best sequel would be all the Marissa Meyer books. I still have to read Winter. The best series ender was hands down Fables. I still have not entirely accepted that is over with!

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?
This is a tough one... I discovered a lot of authors in 2015 reading comics. Maybe, if I had to pick one, Michael Alan Nelson. After I read Hexed by him, I had to seek out his other stuff.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
Spirits Abroad by Zen Cho - No matter how hard I try, I just am not a huge fan of short story collections. I liked this one, though!

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
If all goes well, 2016 is going to be a big comic reread year. I would like to read all of my comics in 2016. There are few I still haven't got to, but it will mostly be rereading.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?

I really enjoy the covers to all of Marissa Meyer's books.

11. Most memorable character of 2015?
Deadpool! I love Deadpool!

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?
um... Probably The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey or maybe Shine by Lauren Myracle

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2015?
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read?
Probably The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes. An author I have been meaning to read forever.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015?
I never keep track of this...

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?
I am not sure...

17. Book That Shocked You The Most
Fables... Even though they said it was over, it was still a bit of a shock when I purchased and read the very last book in the series.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
I never know how to answer this question... lol

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Penelope and Simon from Carry On.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously.
There are a few, but I will go with The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult.

21. Best Book You Read In 2015 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
Fire on the Mountain by Terry Bisson. I read it because of Jo Walton.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015?
Not something I ever really think about. Maybe Deadpool. lol

23. Best 2015 debut you read?
um... I may not have read any...

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
This is a hard one because I read so many comics and they have a lot of world-building going on... I am going to go with The Child Thief  by Brom.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Anything to do with Deadpool!

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2015?
hm. I read Francine Proses's book about Anne Frank. That was a depressing book...

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
The Iron King by Maurice Druon. How did I miss this series existed?

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2015?
Hexed! I loved Hexed!

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
Fables. HOW IS IT OVER???

Saying Good Bye to Fables...

Every year for Christmas I get a gift card to buy books. It is one of my very favourite traditions. For Christmas 2008, I decided to finally see if all the fuss about Fables applied to me. In 2009 I read and reviewed the first two books in the famous series. And, I was hooked. It took me a bit longer than most to come to the series, but by the end of 2009 I was all caught up and eagerly awaiting the new releases. It became my series. I don't necessarily love the spin-offs as much, but the main series clicked with me and opened up graphic novels to me as a whole. I used to think because they were so short that they were a waste of money. (My pocket book would likely wish for me to still think like that...)

Fables is a graphic novel series written by Bill Willingham and pulled off by a team of talented artists, editors, etc. It takes the fairy tales that we know and completely reinvents them. When the series first opened we meet a group of fairy tale creatures that are displaced to New York because there are wars in their own worlds. The infamous King Cole is the mayor, Snow White is the deputy mayor, and the wolf of many fairy tales is the sheriff, Bigby. Then there is Rose Red, Beauty, Beast, Goldilocks, Cinderella, Brier Rose, and the list goes on... Willingham and his team found a way to include many of the characters that we grew up with in creative ways. And, we leave them in a very different way than we first met them... There were wars, deaths, marriages, births, destruction, heartache, and so much more. The series always kept you on the end of your seat and kept reinventing itself. I didn't necessarily love every character, story-line, or issue; but as a whole I loved the series and looked forward to every new release.

In 2015, Fables came to an end. And, while I am very sad to see it end, I am glad that it went on a high note instead of losing its momentum and not ending as well as it started. When Volume 21 came out I bought it like normal, but then I couldn't bring myself to read it. And, then Volume 22 came out when I was dealing with a broken ankle so it took me a bit to get a copy. When Volume 22 arrived it still took me a few days to sit down and say good-bye.  I was so appreciative of how they ended, though. There was an overall story, but they also took time to bring back characters so they could have their final story. It worked in well and gave us a chance to visit with some old friends. There were a few endings that I would love to express my sadness over, but I won't spoil the series for those that haven't read it yet. I will say that some characters died that I wish hadn't.

I found that Fables pushed the envelope in many ways. For starters, I loved the kick-ass female characters. They were not the damsels in distress that needed the help of their Prince Charming, even though Prince Charming was a character, but were capable of accomplishing things for themselves. I mentioned that in the beginning Snow White was the deputy mayor and her character continued to grow during the series. Her sister, Rose Red, developed as well and became the leader of The Farm. Then, there was Cinderella who was an assassin and earned her own side comics. There was also Goldilocks, Brier Rose, Thumbelina, and the list goes on. They were not the women of old finding themselves in grave peril and needed a male to come to their rescue and marry them. They fought for themselves and were very successful. That is not to say that the men were not there to battle it out or marry them if that was the path taken, but it was more of an equal society than we are used to in the classic tales. And that is just one of the main reasons that I loved the series. There were many others!

And, now, I have had to say good bye to most of these characters. There are still some of the spin-offs being released, so it is not good bye entirely, but it is good bye to the huge cast of characters that I have read since 2009 and loved visiting with a couple times of year. I am sad, though. It was a highlight to my reading and was one of my favourite series ever. I am glad I took a chance on the series in 2009 and there is still time to give it a try for yourself if you were initially reluctant.

Because It's All About the Books...

...START READING!

Is that all ready a parody?

I tend to have obsessive moments... When I first re-joined the library in 2009 I read tonnes from the library and that lead to my best reading year ever. It was also the year my obsession with graphic novels started because I read Fables in 2009.

Fast forward to 2015... I hardly read in 2013 or 2014. But, 2015 I added some new 'toys' and it is sort of like 2009 all over again.

Firstly, I joined Scribd. Since joining my reading has increased insanely and I have read so much awesome stuff! (*cough* Counting single issues, 56 things apparently!*cough*)

I started with Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu. I loved this book! And, I just keep on finding awesome things on there!

If you want some suggestions, I recommend:

March: Book 1 by John Robert Lewis (Graphic Novel)

The Mystery Society by Steve Niles (Graphic Novel)

Anthem by Ayn Rand (Novella)

The Underwater Welder by Jeff Lemire (Graphic Novel)

The Woods by James Tynion IV (Graphic Novel)

Bizenghast by M. Alice LeGrow (Manga)

Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson (Graphic Novel)

Wild's End by Dan Abnett (Graphic Novel)

The Fabled Kingdom by Queenie Chan (Manga)

Hexed by Michael Alan Nelson (Graphic Novel)

Day Men by Michael Alan Nelson (Graphic Novel)

Monster on the Hill by Rob Harrell (Graphic Novel)

It is only March and I all ready know I am going to have a very hard time picking my favourite reads of the year...

Then, I finally decided to get Marvel Unlimited. I am just starting with a month and then will decide from there, but I am all ready having so much fun with it...

So far I have read:

All-New X-Men - There are 32 issues on there which works out to Volumes 1-5 if you were reading them in trade. I haven't really read much from X-Men before; but I have always wanted to! This was a fun start. It includes time travel, space adventures, and kick-ass action. There are crossovers with The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. As a result of the time travel the characters we spend the most time with are teenagers, but it doesn't seem like a real problem. I am looking forward to more in this series and more from X-Men in general!

The Amazing Spider-Girl - This was just a whim because I like comics with girls or women in them. I read what works out to be about the first Volume of the series. It is not my favourite, but I do plan to read all that Marvel has in the series and see how things play out for the daughter of Spider-Man. 

She-Hulk - I have been hearing the buzz about this one, so I had to give it a read! There are 8 issues on Marvel Unlimited, which works out to be the first Volume in trade and part of the next one. I really liked this one! Jennifer Walters is the She-Hulk and I thought she was written really well. I understand this series has ended, so I will be sad to see it conclude on Marvel Unlimited.

2015 is shaping up to be an awesome reading year!

In Which 2015 is Shaping up to be THE YEAR OF THE COMIC

I am off today and decided I was going to visit Scribd again just to see if they had Diana Wynne Jones back on there (they do). And then my morning got all side-tracked... One of the fun things I find with Scribd is all the recommendations they give you. This morning they maybe made me squeal a little!

In February I randomly read the first full volume (issues 1-5) and Issue 6 of The Woods. I knew nothing about it, but it was there and I decided to take a chance on it. Frankly, it is weird, but I am really liking it so far. (Yay, for taking chances!) Today Scribd offered me as a suggestion to finish reading the series. A quick look resulted in me finding they had added 4 more issues of the series. So, I, of course, dropped everything and went off to read them. And, the series continues to be weird and I am not sure if I love it, but I do really really like it. Plus, as far as I can tell I am caught up! (Did I mention I am loving Scribd?)

So, I still had Scribd open on my computer when I came back from my quick binge and the wonders I found! Namely, 10 issues of Lumberjanes! A lot of bloggers that I love and trust are reading that series and here was my chance. I imagine you can picture how the rest of my morning went... Holy fun! I really like this series so far! And, the art is fantastic. I really find that strong female characters are the minority in comics, so I am so excited that this about a group of young girls getting into a lot of adventures and being brave and showing the pleasures of female friendship. It's a great example of strong female characters for the younger readers out there. And, it is just fun for us older readers.

That just covers today... Other goodies of the March so far include finally reading the first volumes of American Vampires and 100 Bullets. I had them on my TBR pile but think I was mostly holding off because I am in the midst of SO. MANY. SERIES. But, one of my goals for 2015 is to not have a comic book TBR. I had this grand plan for March that I would read a book and then read a comic... The whole Scribd excitement earlier today sort of derailed that plan... If you look at the year so far I am just in a comics mood. There are so many there that I want to read and Scribd is giving me a chance to explore with less damage to my pocket book!

Which brings me to my own personal dilemma.... I essentially read 14 books today, but do they count because they are single issues of comics? I dutifully went to Goodreads and added them to my 'To Read' shelf, but is that cheating? I really have battled with this since I started reading comics in the first place. I mostly read trades, but in this digital age it is so much easier to read single issues and keep up with favourite series. But, it means I have read 73 books so far this year. This is all ready more than I read total in 2014 and it is only March. I like to think that reading is reading no matter the page length, but I can't relax about it entirely...

Do you battle with any forms of reading guilt?

#ComicsFebruary - Post the First

So, February is #ComicsFebruary. I was really excited about it, but then I kind of didn't get into it at first. Mood reading, you know... Debi and Chris have had it the last few years and I try to join in. So, I had to read something. I have mentioned before that I joined Scribd. They now have lots of comics, but the first day I was on there I found Hyperbole and a Half. I had heard lots about it, but I have to admit that upon reading it... I had no idea what it was even about!

 Hyperbole and a Half: unfortunate situations, flawed coping mechanisms, mayhem and other things that happened by Allie Brosh

Completion Date: February 8, 2015
Length: 369 Pages

This is a book I wrote. Because I wrote it, I had to figure out what to put on the back cover to explain what it is. I tried to write a long, third-person summary that would imply how great the book is and also sound vaguely authoritative--like maybe someone who isn’t me wrote it--but I soon discovered that I’m not sneaky enough to pull it off convincingly. So I decided to just make a list of things that are in the book:

Pictures
Words
Stories about things that happened to me
Stories about things that happened to other people because of me
Eight billion dollars*
Stories about dogs
The secret to eternal happiness*

*These are lies. Perhaps I have underestimated my sneakiness!

So, I basically didn't read the back cover or the subtitle. It was just kind of around (Walmart even had it) and I wanted to give it a try. Imagine my delight when I can read it for free unexpectedly! (I like free.) And, then I discovered that it is a memoir and there are dogs... (The cover should have gave away the dog part). In any case it was an enjoyable book that I am glad I took a chance and read. The art is very simplistic, but it is effective! And, I enjoyed her stories. It is one of those books where you are going to laugh, but also feel sad. It was a great way to start off #ComicsFebruary!

Then, Scribd added comic books for real! Lots of them! It is not like I don't have a very nice TBR of physical comic books, but I had a new toy and I had to explore... Next up was March: Book 1. Andi mentioned it and it was pure chance that I had the chance to read it the very next day!

March: Book 1 by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell

Completion Date: February 10, 2015
Length: 128 Pages

Congressman John Lewis (GA-5) is an American icon, one of the key figures of the civil rights movement. His commitment to justice and nonviolence has taken him from an Alabama sharecropper’s farm to the halls of Congress, from a segregated schoolroom to the 1963 March on Washington, and from receiving beatings from state troopers to receiving the Medal of Freedom from the first African-American president.

Now, to share his remarkable story with new generations, Lewis presents March, a graphic novel trilogy, in collaboration with co-writer Andrew Aydin and New York Times best-selling artist Nate Powell (winner of the Eisner Award and LA Times Book Prize finalist for Swallow Me Whole).

March is a vivid first-hand account of John Lewis’ lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. Rooted in Lewis’ personal story, it also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil rights movement.

Book One spans John Lewis’ youth in rural Alabama, his life-changing meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr., the birth of the Nashville Student Movement, and their battle to tear down segregation through nonviolent lunch counter sit-ins, building to a stunning climax on the steps of City Hall.

Many years ago, John Lewis and other student activists drew inspiration from the 1950s comic book "Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story." Now, his own comics bring those days to life for a new audience, testifying to a movement whose echoes will be heard for generations.

Well, I have to admit that when I heard of this comic I had no idea what it was even about. Now that I have read, what a wonderful idea! It is one thing to tell your story first hand, but I love that John Lewis chose a comic book as his medium. (Or, well, someone did, anyway!) It really makes the story come alive to have the pictures. It makes the history more real, I think. Not that I have a problem with regular non-fiction, of course. I just think this was a way to impact and I am so happy that I read it. It covers a very important part of history and I cannot wait until I read the sequels.

Then, I really shook things up and went from historical non-fiction about the Civil Rights Movement to a spin-off from X-Men.

X-23: The Killing Dream by Marjorie M. Liu & Alina Urusov

Completion Date: February 10, 2015
Length: 152 Pages

X-23 has spent her short life being used by those in power, from the military to the X-Men. But when she is forced to confront a being who can control her life with nothing but a thought, will X-23 finally learn how to fight -- not for others, but herself? Guest-starring NYX! COLLECTING: X-23 #1-6

I mainly went with this comic because it is always nice to read a comic about a girl that is written by a girl. I have no prior knowledge of the character; but I found that this was a pretty good mixture of a new story and a look back at who she is with a bit of back-story. And a bit different than the other female-driven comics I have read so far this year. The art was really good, too! I am glad I got a chance to read this one and recommend it!

Then, I got a chance to read a comic that has been on my wish list for a while because Fiona Staples is the artist!

The Mystery Society by Steve Niles & Fiona Staples

Completion Date: February 11, 2015
Length: 132 Pages

Nick Hammond and Anastasia Collins are the Mystery Society - and bring new meaning to "underground cult" status! Stealthily avoiding the authorities, this skulduggery duo spend their time and money righting wrongs committed in the world's underbellies.

I had no idea what this comic was about, to be honest. It just came on my radar one day because Fiona Staples, of Saga fame, is the artist and I was curious about it. Then, it just sort of got lost in the long list of books that I want to read... But, thanks to Scribd, it came up on a search and I knew I had to finally try it. And, it was good. The Mystery Society is essentially a group that investigates the world's mysteries. It's a little bit superhero, a little bit fantasy, and then there is some science-fiction and I would like to say steam-punk thrown in the mix. Sadly it looks like a standalone, though, which makes me sad. (But also, yay, I didn't start a new series!)


I think four comics are enough for today. I have read a bunch more that I will hopefully get to another day!

Book Review: The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer:

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, Book 1) by Marissa Meyer

Originally Read: February 9, 2012 (Not Reviewed)
Completion Date: January 30, 2015
Length: 390 Pages

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

I remember buying this book when it first came out. We were at Walmart and it caught my eye. I read it almost immediately and promptly added her to my auto-buy list. Fairest, a novella in the series, was recently released and I knew it was time to revisit Cinder and finally read the rest of the series. I really enjoyed this reread. Cinder is young, so she bugs me sometimes, but it is nice to see a series of books essentially centred around strong women and rewriting the damsel in distress stereotype. And, Marissa does it so well. She makes Cinder 'different' and looked down on by society so that it tackles prejudice and discrimination without coming right out with how it can relate to our own society. She just makes Cinder's story that much better because she has further to rise. Obviously there is more to Cinder than meets the eye, but I was very happy that I decided to go back and reread this one before moving on to the rest.

Strongly recommended!

Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, Book 2) by Marissa Meyer

Completion Date: February 1, 2015
Length: 452 Pages

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Moving on to Scarlet. I started this book when it first came out, but it just didn't call to me at the time and I put it aside until now apparently. I read it very quickly this time around, so I am glad it clicked with me finally. Frankly, Scarlet tries too hard to be a 'tough' girl and she annoys me. She got better as the book got going, but she is older than Cinder and does things that I find myself rolling my eyes about. She just didn't click with me at first. In the end I felt that the series grew in this book and I enjoyed seeing how all the stories were going to come together. It definitely turned into a page-turner of a book. I am glad I decided to undertake this journey through the series. This book made me even more excited about the series as a whole and I couldn't wait to see what happened next in Cress.

Strongly Recommended!

Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, Book 3) by Marissa Meyer

Completion Date: February 8, 2015
Length: 550 Pages

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

Then I moved on to Cress. It took me a lot longer to get through this one than the first two books. It wasn't because I liked it less, it was more time constraints and the fact that I am not good at reading books by the same author in a row. So, I slowed down... I still really enjoyed the book, though, and I was so proud of myself for finishing it and catching up on a series. Cress is exactly what you would expect from a girl that has been isolated and locked up. She is a bit naive and innocent, but there is a backbone there. I enjoyed getting to know her better because she only sort of lurked in the first two books. This was her time to shine and come together with the other characters. I will enjoy seeing how things play out in the next book and how she grows as a character. In Scarlet, the characters were in a group for most of the book, but circumstances pushed them apart in this one so we got a chance to spend time with them individually before they started coming back together again. I am really enjoying them all individually and as a group. I am really excited to see how it all plays out in the final volume later this year!

Strongly Recommended!

Fairest (The Lunar Chronicles, Book 3.5) by Marissa Meyer

Completion Date: February 8, 2015
Length: 222 Pages

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

Mirror, mirror on the wall 

Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series.

Okay, if I had been paying attention I probably wouldn't have bought this... I was behind on the series and the new book always comes out at the beginning of the year, so I just grabbed this and didn't pay attention to the fact it was a novella and the last book wasn't out until later this year. When it arrived I couldn't be bothered to send it back, so I read it instead. And, I am glad that it exists. It is the story of Levana. She is the Lunar Queen that has played a role in all of the other books, but we never really got a chance to know her. Now that I do... All I can say is 'Wow!'. Marissa has definitely come up with a very interesting back-story for the Queen. And, let's face it... Sometimes I feel bad for her, but other times she got what she deserved. I will be interested to see how this will influence my reading of Winter when everything will come to a head.

Strongly Recommended!

And that concludes my rambling post about this series...

Book Review: Alphabet of Thorns by Patricia McKillip

Alphabet of Thorns by Patricia McKillip

Completion Date: January 23, 2015
Length: 291 Pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Deep inside a palace on the edge of the world, the orphan Nepenthe pores over books in the royal library, translating their languages and learning their secrets. Now sixteen, she knows little of the outside world—except for the documents that traders and travelers bring her to interpret.

Then, during the coronation of the new Queen of Raine, a young mage gives Nepenthe a book that has defied translation. Written in a language of thorns, it speaks to Nepenthe's soul—and becomes her secret obsession. And, as the words escape the brambles and reveal themselves, Nepenthe finds her destiny entwined with that of the young queen's. Sooner than she thinks, she will have to choose between the life she has led and the life she was born to lead...

Fiction or Non-Fiction? Genre?: Fiction. Fantasy.

What Lead You to Pick-up This Book?: On Tuesday I posted a list of Ten Authors I Have Read One Book By, Loved, and Yet Have Never Read Again. In the list I mentioned Patricia McKillip because I read The Bell at Sealey Head by her back in 2013, loved it, and have never read her again. I said on Tuesday that if I read more by her she would probably be one of my favourite fantasy authors and that inspired me to put aside everything else and read another book I owned by her.

Summarize the Plot: I didn't know what to read by her, but I just liked the title of this one. I didn't really know what the book was about when I went into reading it. It turned out to be a book essentially about a book and takes place largely in a library. It was definitely a good pick! The novel takes place in Raine where the Queen has recently been crowned and is still learning how to be a queen. In the background there is Nepenthe who is a translator. She is given a book to take to be translated, but is so taken with it that she keeps it for herself. The book and translator play a central role throughout the book, but it takes a while for the true meaning to surface. The book safely intertwines past and present to make a very readable book.

What Did You Like Most About the Book?: That is was a book where another book takes a central role. I also loved the library and wish I could visit! And the mage school. Just like The Bell at Sealey Head I want to experience everything for myself.

What Did You Like the Least?: There were a couple instances where my curiosity was not rewarded. It still made for a good book, but I want to know! Unfortunately these things are spoilers, so I won't elaborate.

What Did You Think of the Writing Style?: I really like McKillip's writing style. She writes in such a way that you get drawn into the story and the experiences. Even when there is not a lot of action, you still want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. You also have a lot of questions that you want answered in her books and I really enjoy seeing how they all play out!

What Did You Think of the Main Character?: I really liked Nepenthe. She was an orphan book translator who worked in a library. What wasn't to love? It was interesting to see how her simple life worked into the bigger picture. And, to meet the characters that circulated around her.

What Did You Think of the Ending?: It seemed a bit rushed, but at the same time tied things up nicely. McKillip's books are often on the shorter side, which works for her, but I wish we had a chance to visit longer. This is why I don't like short stories and novellas because you just get drawn into the world and the characters and then it is over...

Strongly Recommended!