The Magicians by Lev Grossman

TITLE:  The Magicians (The Magicians #1)

AUTHOR:  Grossman, Lev
GENRE:  Fiction/Fantasy

DATES READ:  3/19/2016 - 4/8/2016

MY RATING:  2.5/5

I heard that this book series is actually going to be a series on the SyFy channel, and I'm really excited to read it.  I wanted to make sure to read it before I watch it, so my boyfriend bought it for me.  :-)

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Quentin Coldwater is the predictable over-achiever, who ends up in the most unpredictable situation.  While figuring out what he wants to do with the rest of his life after high school, he stumbles onto an adventure and an admittance to a secret magical college.  This is no Harry Potter story...

I have to admit, I loved absolutely everything about this book, except for the main character!  What a jerk!!!

He was just another grumpy whiner.  "Wah... I have to do magic... wah... I get to go to a magical land... WAH!!!"  I mean, I get that he's a teenager, but come on.  Do they have to hate everything?!  Even mythical lands, and magic, and adventures?  Such a burden...  What a turd.

Overall, the story and descriptions were very cool.  If it weren't for Quentin, I might actually enjoy this book.  The magic methods seemed more realistic and raw than in other stories I've read.  The magical college, Brakebills, was fascinating.  But overall, there were too many "what's the point" passages that left my eyes rolling...

Recommended for someone who wants to try to feel bad for a whiny part-sociopath brat.

Will read and write soon!

***Photo by B. Bumble***

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

TITLE:  Uprooted

AUTHOR:  Novik, Naomi
GENRE:  Fiction/Fantasy

DATES READ:  2/19/2016 - 3/19/2016

MY RATING:  4/5

My sister-in-law gave me this book for Christmas (I know, I'm super spoiled!).  The cover is absolutely beautiful.

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A common young girl, Agnieszka, is whisked away from her home as a sacrifice to the Dragon.  But not the type of Dragon one would initially imagine.  This Dragon is a studious, cold, and lonesome wizard locked away in a tower, waging a war against the evil Wood.  A war in which Agnieszka is about to become very much involved.  And through it all, she learns that maybe she's not so common at all.

I really loved this book very much.  The fairy tale-like story is mysterious, luscious (a world I very rarely use to describe a book), and beguiling.  There's just a kiss of romance.  The only thing that stopped me from giving it a complete 5/5 was the pacing.  I feel at times, the pacing dragged for my taste, and it could have been pared down a bit (especially court scenes - which I always find to be drawn out).

My favorite character was the Dragon himself.  I was also enchanted by the looming villain of the unstoppable Wood.  I highly recommend this to fantasy lovers, and lovers of fairy tales!

Will read and write...

***Photo by B. Bumble***

Yarned and Dangerous by Sadie Hartwell

TITLE:  Yarned and Dangerous (Tangled Web Mystery #1)

AUTHOR:  Hartwell, Sadie
GENRE:  Fiction/Mystery

DATES READ:  2/7/2016 - 2/19/2016

MY RATING:  3/5

My boyfriend bought me this book as a Christmas gift.  It's a knitting mystery!  I didn't realize at first... but he bought me a signed copy!!!  He's just the best...

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Yarned and Dangerous opens with Josie Blair returning to her old hometown of Dorset Falls to take care of her uncle, and sell the contents of her aunt's old knitting shop.  An excellent setting!  For a murder most foul!

This was an adorable knitting/yarn mystery, with a bonus of some knitting patterns in the back of the book!  The mystery was very straight forward, but the characters were fabulous!  I adored Evelyn, Mitch, and of course, cranky old Uncle Eben.

The author talks about "yarn lust", and how right she is!  It exists for all knitters, no matter how much we try to deny.  We just need that one more skein, for that one more project.  Even just reading about that cherry mohair blend had me itching to pull out a project!  Very fun story recommended for knitters, and mystery lovers alike.

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

TITLE:  Drums of Autumn (Outlander #4)

AUTHOR:  Gabaldon, Diana
GENRE:  Historical Fiction

DATES READ:  12/15/2015 - 2/7/2016

MY RATING:  4/5

I'm finally reading my Outlander book for the year.  I finished the last one in September 2015, and I think that's a long enough break.

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I finally made it through this one!  America!  What a wild ride!!!  Claire and Jamie find themselves creating new lives in the American colonies.  And now, it's their daughter Brianna's turn for an adventure of her own, into the past. 

Claire, Jamie, Roger, and Brianna, all at once.  So much angst, drama, and time travel.  I guess that's why I can only handle one per year.  I've heard that many readers take them all on at once.  What a feat!

Definitely a read for those who have loved the previous Outlander books.  And a read for those who enjoy historical fiction, magic, love, and adventure.  Kind of hard not to love!

Will read and write soon!

***Photo by B. Bumble***

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King

TITLE:  Mr. Mercedes

AUTHOR:  King, Stephen
GENRE:  Fiction/Thriller

DATES READ:  11/27/2015 - 12/14/2015

MY RATING:  4/5

My mom recommended this to me after I finally finished Fallen Kingdoms.

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To put into perspective how much I enjoyed this book, I finished it at around 2am this morning with a book light while my boyfriend was still sleeping.  It was excellent creep factor!

Mr. Mercedes revolves around retired Detective Hodges and a Mercedes wheeling killer.  There are twists and turns all along the way up until a thrilling conclusion!

I will say there were a few plot holes, but set those aside and it was a fun, wild, typical Stephen King rise.  He certainly knows how to write those villains!  Highly recommended!

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

TITLE:  Falling Kingdoms
AUTHOR:  Rhodes, Morgan
GENRE:  Fiction/Fantasy

DATES READ:  1/1/2015 - 11/27/2015

MY RATING:  3/5

This was a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law.  I love the cover!

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1/5/2015:  I actually lost this book during a car accident, and since it was found I haven't been able to pick it up again.  It's just staring at me on my shelf.  But I am determined to finish it at some point...

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Only 10 months later!!!  I finally got up the nerve to finish it.  It was actually a really good fantasy story, but more of an introduction novel for the rest of the series.  I'm always a bit intimidated by books with maps in the beginning, and cast lists for different countries.  I admit, I did have to keep looking back to keep all of the character straight at first.

There were 3 different countries.  And magic.  And power struggle.  An excellent pick for YA fantasy readers.  I would definitely recommend it.

Will read and write soon!

***Photo by B. Bumble***

The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

TITLE:  The Museum of Extraordinary Things

AUTHOR:  Hoffman, Alice
GENRE:  Fiction

DATES READ:  11/13/2015 - 11/23/2015

MY RATING:  3/5

My coworker let me borrow this one, and she said it was really interesting. 

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This was pretty good.  The Coney Island museum was cool and creepy.  It reminded me of the old school freakshows, only it was a museum of oddities.  And the owner ended up using his daughter's ability to swim very well in order to cast her as one of the main attractions.

The character introductions were all fascinating.  And then the story kind of slowed down.  The story was based around a mystery.  And the mystery was not mysterious.  There was little to know character development throughout the novel.

I found myself wanting to tell the characters to move along.  Besides that, the story was well put until the ending.  Brutal and seemingly superfluous.  I will return this to my coworker, happy that I read it, but not recommending it to anyone else.

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source