1984

 

1984

By George Orwell

Pages: 298

"Winston Smith works for the Ministry of truth in London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster, the Thought Police uncover every act of betrayal. When Winston finds love with Julia, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening, and awakens to new possibilities. Despite the police helicopters that hover and circle overhead, Winston and Julia begin to question the Party; they are drawn towards conspiracy. Yet Big Brother will not tolerate dissent - even in the mind. For those with original thoughts they invented Room 101 . . ."

What started as a political satire has turned into a terrifying novel as I found several parallels between the dystopian universe that Orwell created and our own. Its amazing that this novel was published in 1948 and had many of its themes line up with societal trends.

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

Jovis is giving me Flynn Rider vibes
(poster vine)
Also the weird cat-otter-monkey thing. I love Mephi.
The bone shard magic is really cool.
496 Pages

Daughters of a Dead Empire by Carolyn Tara O'Neil

And it's a retelling of Anastasia, but there's not any fantasy elements.
I loved that we got to see some of the politics of Russia and what was happening.
Also the Czech soldiers. 
336 Pages

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

It's the re-read before the newest release in a week for me. Me knowing what's gonna happen, I like...can notice the hints. 
I've heard so much about these characters and seen so much fanart and I love them.
Hawke. What can I say. He's Hawke.
Poppy is just. I love her. She's so fierce and I just can't.
Vikter. Dad. That's all I'm going to say
My brain just went:

Also Alexa play Taylor Swift's "Willow" and "Red" Cause that fits.
The mystery. The intrigue. The drama. 
627 Pages

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

It definitely has the Monsters of Verity vibes and grit.
a bullddog named Frankie
y'all. The hero mythology. Is just. Chef's kiss. 
Also..protect Tom and Jamie
Can't we just....not have a love triangle and just have all three of them...because... please... I like Aaron and Nick. Both of them. please.
416 Pages

K-Pop Confidential by Stephan Lee

Summary: "Candace Park knows a lot about playing a role. For most of her life, she's been playing the role of the quiet Korean girl who takes all AP classes and plays a classical instrument, keeping her dreams of stardom-and her obsession with SLK, K-pop's top boyband-to herself. She doesn't see how a regular girl like her could possibly become one of those K-pop goddesses she sees on YouTube. Even though she can sing. Like, really sing.

So when Candace secretly enters a global audition held by SLK's music label, the last thing she expects is to actually get a coveted spot in their trainee program. And convincing her strict parents to let her to go is all but impossible ... although it's nothing compared to what comes next."

This cover? Obsessed. Literally perfect. 

Loved the glossary in the back - much needed! 

Also hoping that the lives of idol trainees aren't actually this terrible. Yikes.

*insert all kpop gifs here

332 pages

goodreads | MOBIUS

Castles in Their Bones by Lauren Sebastian

The magic system. The concept. 
It has some Three Dark Crowns vibes.
When you have a ship....
Whelp.
528 Pages

The Faithless Hawk by Margaret Owen

Starts analyzing the meaning of faithless because I'm anxious and I like happiness. 

miss congeniality--glide
I love the teeth memories thing. 
fdsjafk;dsaj I KNEW IT.
Also like...that ending. Just. Great.
416 Pages

Perfect by Cecelia Ahern

It's Carrick for me.....I know what I like. He thoughtful. He soft. 
Oh the names just made sense....this is why they're the OTP. 

352 Pages

Court of Lions by Somaiya Daud

Y'all. The yearning. The angst. The ships. Top tier. Like. Fantastic. 
We stan relationships with communication. 
320 Pages

February Reads - Tim

Anatomy: A Love Story

Dana Schwartz (352 pages)

A funny, fast paced story that has bits of Frankenstein, bits of Sherlock Holmes, and is quite enjoyable. Dana Schwartz does a great job with quick, bouncy dialogue that keeps the story moving.

Big Hair and Plastic Grass: A Funky Ride Through Baseball and America in the Swinging '70s

Dan Epstein (368 pages)

Polyester, Astro-Turf, and disco, a fun look at the swinging decade of the 70’s. Baseball labor fights (and on-field fisticuffs) highlight this book and show how everything from free agency to the designated hitter came to exist.

Gangsters of Capitalism: Smedley Butler, the Marines, and the Making and Breaking of America's Empire

Jonathan M. Katz (432 pages)

The man who was seemingly involved in every US military action from the Spanish-American War to the start of WWII. A fascinating look at the situations that Butler and the US Marines came into contact with from the Philippines to Cuba to Philadelphia and how his actions impact those locations to the present.

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome

By Emma Southon (352 pages) 

A look at the relationship Ancient Romans had with death and murder. From crucifixion to gladiatorial combat to family homicide this book does a great job of showing that even though Rome wasn’t as bloody as Hollywood movies and shows depict it as, it isn’t too far off

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas

Have I been live texting my best friend who read this before me...yes. Has she told me to go to bed on time....also yes.

Me literally taking anything that could possibly be related to Throne of Glass or ACOTAR and going with the crossover theory:
 
Me trying to predict the plot of this book: 

The. Otters. That is all.
Syrinx. We worship him. He is sphinx cat, you can't prove me wrong. 
Bryce is an icon and we stan. Also. We also stan Hunt. I will not be taking comments.
The characters. Fantastic. The commentary on grief and trauma. Chef's kiss. Like. fjkldsa. I don't have words I just have live reaction texts... and gifs/memes that would spoil....
Like...the last 150 pages. were a ride. 

816 Pages

The Ravens by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige

Does this remind me of Sydney White, but with magic. Yes. 
Am I suspicious of everyone, yes. Is it because the story is being meta and talking about horror films. Also yes.
Can we please just love the boys.... Because....like. 
416 Pages 

Heir of Fire

 

Heir of Fire

By Sarah J. Maas

Pages: 565

"Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?"

Love triangle is not utterly destroyed though it seems like we have a new potential? I really cannot wait to see how the relations continue to develop but they have taken a backseat as Celaena works to unlock and control her inner fae, confronts her scheming aunt, and decides to return to her home to help her old friends and her people.

Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz

It's the girl saying she wants to be a surgeon in a man's world in the 1800s for me. Oh and the grave robbing. And the grave robber. 
There's the Stalking Jack the Ripper and Audrey Rose vibes
Jack is great. I love him. ....I apparently have a thing for characters named Jack...
When the author says there might be a sequel, I say tell me more. 

352 Pages

The Unbroken by C.L. Clark

The book was well-written and the world building was cool, but I just didn't vibe with the book. Maybe if I was in a better headspace?
544 Pages

Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden

It's Morozko for me. I love him. We have always known this. 
The relationship growth.  Excellent. 
The magic system. Excellent. 
I loved that the story did revolve around real characters and real events (even if they were tweaked, and simplified).
I cried, but I am, surprisingly, ok. 
402 Pages

These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan

Have I been drawing family trees and like...taking notes so I notice all the things....yes.
There were some Cinderella vibes, and like...some Beauty and the Beast vibes. 
Brie was cool, and like.... Ronan and Finn each had their own pros and cons....
It borders the line between YA and NA....
I just wanna know who to ship. I have a ship that I like, and I have a ship tat I want to work, but someone has decided to ruin it. *glares
I have OPINIONS on love triangles and like "the good guy" and "the bad guy" trope, but I don't have the strength atm.... men are stupid. 
The plot twists were kind of predictable, but like.... I'm here for any kind of content.
464 Pages

The Iron Sword by Julie Kagawa

Ok but Evenfall. Like. The concept. Chef's kiss
I love that we in Ash's perspective. We love him. We stan. 
Grimalkin stealing the show, as always.
......it's that cameo for me....like....all the victory screeches. 
Awooo

Alexa play Monster from Frozen the musical.
Hey it's that scene from the Avengers sequel (unspecified because spoilers)
I keep thinking of Greed from FMA....and the weird white monsters. 
304 Pages

Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu

I thought the plot and concept were really interesting, but I wasn't invested in the characters--maybe because of the story-telling/narration style?
336 Pages

Among Thieves by M.J. Kuhn

I had trouble connecting with the characters, so it was hard for me to focus and really understand what was happening.
It was pitched as being like Six of Crows, and I can see why, but it felt like it lacked some of the heart and like...relationship/connections that really made Six of Crows shine. And I get why, but still.
352 Pages

The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks by Mackenzi Lee

My baby is so anxious and I feel so seen. 

"I ain't going to no secondary location"
Percy again. for the win. 
"you'd apologize if someone poured soup in your lap" ...I know that reference

This book has the audacity to make me cry because it makes me feel seen. Like.... the tension of having conversations with people. Staaaaaap. Also like...Sibling relationships in relation to trauma and like...working on sibling relationships. 
It's the mental illness and anxiety representation for me. 
592 Pages