August Wrap Up

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 I have such mixed feelings about summer being over. On one hand, I'm so glad it won't be so hot anymore. I hate the heat! On the other hand, there's school...

August was a pretty good month for me. I went on vacation to Rhode Island a few weeks ago, but now I'm back in school.

For the most part, August was a good reading month. Unfortunately though, for the past week, I have been in a huge reading slump. I'm finding I don't have as much time to read during the day and when I get home from school, I'm too exhausted to pick up a book.

Currently, I'm reading My Contrary Mary so I'm hoping that'll take me out of this reading slump!


Book reviews:

The Cleaners by Ken Liu

My rating: 3 stars

Series: Faraway

Genre: fantasy

Synopsis:

 Is it better to remember or forget? Gui is a professional cleaner who scrubs away the unwanted memories of the past. Unlike other cleaners, Gui can't feel the memories from the objects. However, Clara can. She doesn't like to though. When her sister Beatrice brings back a memory from her childhood, Clara's mind might change.

Full review

Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol 2 by Danielle Paige

My rating: 3 stars

Series: Dorothy Must Die novella collection

Genre: fantasy, retelling

Synopsis:

 The wizard is gone and now, the Scarecrow is the king of Oz. His crown is soon threatened though when General Jinjur invades the Emerald City. The Scarecrow will have to use all his wits to defeat Oz's new foe. Shortly after, Glinda sends the Lion on a mission to get a necklace that really ends up having no importance. Months later, Dorothy returns and the Tin Woodman falls head over heels for her.

Full review


The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters

My rating: 4 stars

Genre: fantasy, horror, mystery

Synopsis:

 Natasha's sister is missing. Her car was found abandoned on the edge of a nature reserve. When the case runs cold, Natasha's anger starts to rise. She's desperate to find answers and will do anything possible to get them, including turning the Lloyds for help. Della Lloyd's family has been gathering magic from the Bend. When Natasha appears on her doorstep, Della knows it will take more than a simple potion to help her. Della has her own secrets to hide though. She thinks the monster responsible for all the missing women in town is her mother.

Full review


Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

My rating: 5 stars

Series: Six of Crows book 1

Genre: fantasy

Synopsis:

 Ketterdam is a busy city full of trade and business. In Ketterdam, anything can be done for the right price. When Kaz Brekker is offered a chance at a deadly heist that'll make him rich beyond his wildest dreams, he knows he can't pull it off alone. Kaz recruits the help of a heartrender, a runaway, a sharpshooter, a spy, and a convict.

Full review

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

My rating: 4 stars

Series: Six of Crows book 2

Genre: fantasy

Synopsis:

 Kaz and his crew of deadly criminals just pulled off a dangerous heist they didn't think they'd survive. Instead of collecting their rewards, their fighting for their lives. After being double-crossed, the crew is low on allies and hope. It'll take every weapon in Kaz's arsenal to defeat the threat facing them.

Full review


Evil Thing by Serena Valentino

My rating: 3 stars

Series: Villians book 7

Genre: fantasy, retellings

Synopsis:

 Like the song says, if Curella De Vil doesn't scare you, no evil thing will. From the time she was a little girl, Curella had always been eager to please her mother. To earn love. From her only childhood, Curella changed. After possibly getting cursed, Curella was no longer a sweet little girl. A mixture of heart-break and longing made her into the fashionable villain the world knows her as. 

Full review

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

My rating: 5 stars

Genre: horror, mystery

Synopsis:

 Marigold is running from the ghosts of her past. Moving to Cedarville is the fresh start she needs. Her mom got a job with the Sterling Foundation that came with a new house. The renovated home on Maple Street is surrounded by run-down and burned houses. The only problem is strange things start happing in Mari's new home is that glasses are disappearing, doors are opening on their own, and theirs a foul order in the house only Mari seems to notice. To make everything worse, Mari's stepsister, Piper, says she's been talking to an old woman named Ms. Suga. And it seems Mrs. Suga wants Mari gone.

Full review


The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 5 stars

Series: The Hunger Games book 1

Genre: dystopian

Synopsis:

The Hunger Games is a tradition in the country of Panem. To the Capitol, it's fun and entertaining. To Katniss, it's a nightmare. Each of the twelve districts pulls one boy and one girl to fight to the death on live TV. When Katniss is chosen, it seems like her life is ending. She goes in the games with Peeta by her side as they become the star-crossed lovers of District Twelve. But only can be the victor. 

Full review

Cress by Marissa Myer

My rating: 3 stars

Series: The Lunar Chronicles book 3

Genre: dystopian 

Synopsis:

Cress has spent her whole life locked in a spaceship, orbiting Earth. After being rescued by Captin Carswell Thorne, their ship crashes in Africa. Meanwhile, Cinder and her crew are preparing to face their next challenge: stopping the royal wedding.


My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows

My rating: 4 stars

Series: My Lady Jane book 1

Genre: historical fiction

Synopsis:

Lady Jane Grey didn't plan to get married. But she does anyway. Edward knows he's dying so he arranges to marry Jane off to Gifford (but he likes to be called G) so he can have an heir. Jane and G aren't thrilled at first. And Janes is even less thrilled when she finds out that G is an Eðian. G turns into a horse every morning at sunrise. It isn't long before Edward, Jane, and G find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy that will change England forever.

Full review


The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

My rating: 3 stars

Genre: classics, fantasy

Synopsis:

Shortly after Mary Lennox moves to Misselthwaite, she finds a walled-in garden. With the help of Dickon, a boy who has the strange ability to charm animals, Mary is able to restore the garden to its former glory. The garden helps Mary get better and its secret powers help her sick cousin, Colin.

Full review

Other posts:

What I read this month:

Total: 12 books

Favorite: We Can Be Heros

  • Keeping It Real by Paula Chase
  • Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth
  • Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
  • This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
  • Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
  • Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson
  • A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
  • The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
  • Death is a Lonely Business by Ray Bradbury
  • Goldilocks: Wanted Dead or Alive by Chris Colfer
  • We Can Be Heros by Kyrie McCauley
  • All of Us Villians by Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn Herman

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