Books Via Ashley

Heartless - Marissa Meyer Synopsis Long before she became the terror of Wonderland, Catherine just wanted to follow her heart's desire--to open the best bakery in the Kingdom of Hearts. But the King is set on asking for her hand in marriage. Then she meets Jest, the King's new jester, and they are drawn together in a intense and secret relationship. Catherine is determined to set her own destiny and defy her parents, the king, and the people of the kingdom. But fate has other things in store. Review Catherine is a very relatable character: She wants to follow what makes her happy, even though it's a different plan than the one that her parents are pushing her to do. And then she falls in love for the first time with someone who makes her feel alive and adventurous... And someone she can never be with. We cheer for her as she fights to find her own way, even though we know that happiness is doomed. And Jest, oh Jest. The mysterious and handsome boy that Catheri...

Arcanum Unbounded - Brandon Sanderson Synopsis A collection of Sanderson's "short" stories and novellas set in his Cosmere universe. Review It's no secret that Brandon Sanderson is one of my favorite authors. His writing is stupendous, his stories are incredible and his plot twists are mind-blowing. Rarely can I figure out exactly where the story is headed, but I am always exceptionally pleased when I get there! Sanderson isn't as known for his "short" stories. Probably because they aren't short. Two of them in this collection clock in around 40k words, which is approaching the line between a novella and a novel. A few of the stories ( The Emperor's Soul, Sixth of the Dusk, Shadows for Silence ) can be read with no knowledge of his other books, and would perhaps be a good introduction to his writing. Those ones you can get individually or are published in other anthologies. I myself had already read a few of the stories, but withi...

And I Darken - Kiersten White Synopsis Lada, daughter to Vlad Dracul, Prince of Wallachia, is abandoned by her father in the Ottoman court to be held as ransom, along with her younger brother, Radu. Lada hates the Ottomans and patiently plots her vengeance. Radu, however, just wants a place to feel safe and call home. They become friends with the future Sultan, Mehmed. Together they form a strange triangle of friendship and love where their loyalty to their nation, and each other, is tested. Review I wanted to like this book. I really, really did. I've read and liked another one of Kiersten White's books and had high hopes for this one. The premise that the publisher gives is so interesting: Vlad the Impaler, but a girl, and her descent into being a ruthless, cruel killer. But the book never got there. I felt like the entire book was just build up to the second book. I feel like everything that did happen in the book could have easily been condensed into a third ...

The Woman in Cabin 10  - Ruth Ware Synopsis Lo Blackwood, a travel journalist, has the assignment of her career: one of ten slots on the maiden voyage of the luxury passenger ship, the Aurora .  From the moment she steps on board, Lo is swept up in the plush interior and free-flowing alcohol, hob-nobbing with rich and important people. The night after departure, Lo is awoken by scream and a loud splash. She is sure she witnessed someone being thrown overboard, complete with blood smeared on the deck. And yet, when security comes, the blood is gone, and all passengers are accounted for. Lo is sure of what she saw, but as she begins to investigate, things begin to spiral out of control. Review This book is like a Hitchcock thriller, or Agatha Christie. There's a girl who disappears but no one else has seen her and no one is missing. Who was she and where could she have gone? Who is hiding something? The main character doesn't quite trust her own mind and has an...

The Forgetting  - Sharon Cameron Synposis The city of Canaan is a peaceful place, but every twelve years, it delves into chaos during the Forgetting, where everyone forgets everything: who they are, who everyone else is, what they've done. The only way to remember is to write everything down in their Books. Except Nadia remembers. As the next Forgetting nears, can she solve the secrets of the Forgetting, and protect the ones she loves? Review Cameron creates a very interesting and believable world with such a fascinating question: What if society restarted every twelve years? People don't know anything besides what is written in their books. It doesn't delve too deep into a discussion, but definitely promoted thoughts for me about why we do things the way we do in society. In Canaan, because it's the way things are they assume it's the way it's always been, since no one can remember otherwise. But do we see the same patterns in society today? What wou...

There are some great books coming out this month! I realize I mostly read SF/F and YA, but I think both of those genres have such talent and scope. What books are you look forward to this month? Let me know in the comments! 1) Blood for Blood - Ryan Graudin Release date: 1 November Sequel to Wolf by Wolf , this book picks up right where the first left off. Set in an alternate history where Germany and Japan won WWII, Yael is a shapeshifter who entered a cross-continental race with the objective to kill Hitler. Since failing at that, she's on the run, but she's learned that there are others out there like her. 2) The Sun is Also a Star - Nicola Yoon Release date: 1 November Natasha is cynic and Daniel is a romantic; they meet one fateful day on the streets of New York City. Is it love at first sight? This one has gotten a LOT of hype, so I'm interested to see if it lives up to that. 3) Timekeeper - Tara Sim Release date: 8 November Set in an alt...

Anyone who knows me knows that I love cats. Growing up, we always had a cat or three around the house. They were mostly free-range cats, living outside and roaming around with no collars, only coming by for food and ear scratches. But when I was in 7th grade, we acquired a cat that we named Tabitha (she was a tabby cat; super creative, I know). She was my best pal for years. When she died three years ago, I was beyond devastated. And now, this past Saturday, my husband and I got a new little kitten named Jinx. He's all black with yellow eyes and is spunky, playful, adventurous, and loves to cuddle in my lap. I love him so much already! In honor of kitties, here are five books that have fun feline characters: 1) The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents - Terry Pratchett Set in Pratchett's famous Discworld , Maurice the cat and his rats are self-aware and can talk (they ate wizard rubbish), and they have the perfect scheme to get rich. The rats "infest...

Another month come and gone! I finished a total of eight books this month, bringing my total this year up to 80. I have two months to read 20 more books in order to reach my goal of 100 books this year! I think 10 a month is totally plausible ;) 1) Reawakened - Colleen Houck (3.5 stars) 2) Defy - Sara B. Larson (3 stars) 3) The Thousandth Floor - Katharine McGee (3 stars) 4) Like a River Glorious - Rae Carson (4 stars) 5) Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell (5 stars) 6) A Shadow Bright and Burning - Jessica Cluess (5 stars) 7) Replica - Lauren Oliver (3 stars) 8) The Female of the Species - Mindy McGinnis (5 stars) Save Save