Books Via Ashley

A Penny Lost - Aspen Bassett *I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.* Synopsis ( from Goodreads ) "Penelope Grace, usually forgotten under the shadow of her twin sister's perfection, tries her hardest to hide her freakish ability to see into anyone's soul. Until she senses an unusual energy like a human shaped void in the universe. When Penny investigates the source, she gets tossed through a crack in time along with the cute boy next door. The Void follows them through history, increasing the dangers as if testing Penny. But what is it testing for? And why does it claim to know her better than even she knows herself? Even as Penny searches for answers, she must fight to survive the tragedies of both the past and future in order to get back home." Review This story had a very intriguing premise, which is what peaked my interest in it. I love all things time-travel. I felt like the author's take on it was very unique and different,...

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead Synposis Cora is a third-generation slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. One day, a fellow slave, Caeser, approaches her about running away. They do so by using the Underground Railroad, which in this story is quite literal. With a slave catcher on their tail, Cora is forced to flee again and again in her pursuit for freedom. Review This book won some awards and was included on several "Best of 2016" lists. The story itself kept me engaged. The author never promised a happy ending for anyone, so I was constantly on my toes, wondering whether the characters would live or die. That being said, I wish a few more characters had somehow miraculously survived, but I guess that would undermine the effect the author was trying to create. The Underground Railroad being a literal thing was a good premise to start with, though the author never goes into the logistics of it... Like how no one hears a train engine going undergr...

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 ...

Ink and Bone - Rachel Caine Book 1 of the Great Library series Synopsis What if the Great Library of Alexandria had never been destroyed? In Jess Brightwell's world, it hasn't. Independent and above any nationality or people, the Library is present in every city around the world and rules all knowledge that's given to the people. Through Alchemy, information can be shared, but private ownership of books is forbidden. Jess comes from a family that runs a thriving black market book business. He is sent by his family to train to be in the library's service, but soon finds his loyalties tested, and comes to find that the Library has secrets of its own. Review I really enjoyed this book. I love books and libraries and alternate histories, and this has all three. In any good alternate history, the world-building has to be fantastic, and in this case it really was. It was interesting to see how the library's dominance and technology had changed the cours...