Jade War by Fonda Lee

"and I've been given no thanks": Alexa play the cat scene from The Godfather
This book series is so fricking stressful because it's about crime bosses which means that literally anyone can die. And it's not helping my anxiety. Because now I care about the characters and their well-being....it's really rude. 
I feel slightly concerned that I see this character that's the crime boss, and I'm like...he's adorable: 

I thought the like..time-span of the book was going to be a short period of time, but it spans a couple of years...which I'm here for.. Like I appreciate that we didn't sit and watch paint dry. 

(cough: it's a good thing the last book is coming out at the end of the month because I. Am. Stressed.)
624 Pages

Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama

LONG POST OF A BINGE READ OF A MANGA AHEAD- BEWARE. 

I tried not to mention anything that was spoilery, but like. Shrug.

I added a read more button because...I read like...basically the whole series and I don't wanna put you guys through that--there are some iconic gifs though

Volume 1:
I like....kind of know things because I've read some articles and I made the mistake of reading a post that said "No Spoilers" but definitely had spoilers (which I have tried to forget) 
WHY ARE ALL OF THEIR NAMES SIMILAR. I KNOW THEIR FACES BUT NOT THEIR NAMES. ...wait is this commentary on how we know people by how they look but not by who they really are.. No I'm overthinking and my one brain-cell can't take it. 
208 Pages

Non-Fiction Reads

Beyond Death by Bernardo T. Arriaza

So, I recently heard about the Chinchorro mummies from reading an article about how they are rapidly decaying due to global warming. I thought I'd learn more about them and I found this book. This is one of the oldest recorded mummy cultures in the world (even older than Egyptian mummies!) and their methods are bizarre-they'd actually take the body apart, wrap the bones in clay, prop them up with sticks, paste the skin back on and add a face mask. This is all done so that they can continue to interact with their relatives, even after death. Gruesome, yet fascinating.

176 pages

Radium Girls by Kate Moore

 

What happened to these girls is shocking. Imagine getting a great job with tons of perks painting watch dials, only to find out months or even years later that the paint is radioactive and is slowly killing you. The way they fought for their rights and protections, even on their deathbeds, is awe-inspiring. 

479 pages

#NotYourPrincess by Mary Beth Leatherdale and Lisa Charleyboy (ed.)

This is a really cool collection of poems, stories and art from Indigenous women in the US and Canada. It's done by the same style as Dreaming in Indian (which I also recommend!) It's a unique look into the lives and experiences of Native Women. 

Read Harder Challenge #1

109 pages

The Beadworkers by Beth Piatote

This debut collection is a mix of short stories, poems, and a play. I liked the blend of historical and present day stories. I loved the Native American retelling of Antigone! Overall, this was a great book and I will keep an eye out for this author in the future.

Read Harder Challenge #6

208 pages

Death Wins a Goldfish: Reflections from a Grim Reaper's Yearlong Sabbatical by Brian Rea

Death has been told that he has accumulated too many vacation days, so HR is requiring him to take a year off work. What in the world will he do with that much time? Everything! From online dating apps, to skydiving and going to college, death begins to learn what it means to live. This colorful book provides a sweet reminder to us all to cherish our personal time and live life to the fullest.

A funny, lighthearted read that can appeal to any reader!

168 pages

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

I read this book for the first time last year and decided to listen to it to get me in the fall mood. Michael C. Hall (a.k.a. Dexter Morgan) is the perfect narrator and does a great job swinging from sarcastic and funny to menacing tones. Still as creepy as I remember!

Pages: 374

Soul Screamers Series

My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not a bad little novella to provide some backstory on the challenges of being a young banshee, though it's not really providing anything new (in terms of the storyline) if you have already read book one, other than a first hand look at some past events that were referenced in the first book.

If you like book one, and/or the MC, then you would probably be interested in at least trying this.

Pages: 61

---

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This may be more of a 3 or 3.5 star book for me, especially in terms of the overall character development of the side characters. However, the concept is unique, and the story held my attention throughout, which means I bumped it up another star. I'm going to go ahead and give book 2 a try, to see if it further grows the world or has something new to offer.

Pages: 279

Waves by Ingrid Chabbert

Waves by Ingrid Chabbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was touching and emotional. It’s beautiful and painful, both the story and the artwork.

It’s the story of a young woman, and her wife, who want to have a child but are struggling to successfully do so. This graphic novel is so well done that it takes very few words, paired with the gorgeous and easy to understand illustrations, to help tell a strong, emotional story.

The artwork uses color and shading as a tool to help indicate shifts in mood and tone, which is very interesting and effective.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review an early copy of this graphic novel, which will release on May 7, 2019.

With the diversity, emotional artwork, and excellent storytelling, this should be an automatic purchase for all adult graphic novel collections. It brings something new to the table, and I could see this drawing in new and different readers who have never experienced a graphic novel before.

Pages: 96

Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers

Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2019

I had forgotten how fantastic this one is! It’s full of history, mystery, romance, and ferocity, with a big twist. I’m sitting here wondering how I could go about getting my own hellequin. There just has to be a way. . .

Now, I can’t wait to dive in and read COURTING DARKNESS, out February 5, 2019.

Book 27 read in 2019

Pages: 444

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
Love this series! Different and refreshing.

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2019

Sybella's story is so difficult, but I love her character so much. Pair her with Beast, and it is a magnificent combo of strong, stubborn characters.

I love how the information we know about Death slowly unfolds across the series. I forgot how upset the nuns made me in this story. I'm really glad I revisited this one before moving on to COURTING DARKNESS (out Feb 5, 2019).

Book 22 read in 2018

Pages:

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
I liked this one even better than the first one.

Beast.

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1)

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2019

I'm revisiting this magnificent trilogy before picking up COURTING DARKNESS, which releases on February 5, 2019. I already have it on my Kindle through Netgalley, but I decided it would be a big shame if I didn't reread this trilogy first, since I haven't been wanting to revisit it since last year.

It's still fantastic. I love the historical feel, the strange mythology of being handmaidens of death, and the world building and intrigue are top notch. I'm so happy I reread this one. I only wish I had reviewed it in 2015, so I could see how my thoughts and emotions changed since then.

Also, I love Beast, so I'm stoked that his story is next. *insert all the heart eyes*

Book 20 read in 2019

Pages: 549

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez

Perfect Mexican daughters do not go away to college. And they do not move out of their parents’ house after high school graduation. Perfect Mexican daughters never abandon their family.

But Julia is not your perfect Mexican daughter. That was Olga’s role. 

Then a tragic accident on the busiest street in Chicago leaves Olga dead and Julia left behind to reassemble the shattered pieces of her family. And no one seems to acknowledge that Julia is broken, too. Instead, her mother seems to channel her grief into pointing out every possible way Julia has failed.

But it’s not long before Julia discovers that Olga might not have been as perfect as everyone thought. With the help of her best friend Lorena, and her first love, first everything boyfriend Connor, Julia is determined to find out. Was Olga really what she seemed? Or was there more to her sister’s story? And either way, how can Julia even attempt to live up to a seemingly impossible ideal?

Let's start with the 'yays'.  This book has voice, y'all.  And it's good, in both meanings of the word.  The protagonist, Julia, is excellent.  She acts and sounds like a teen, warts and all.  She's selfish but insightful, insecure but confident in what she wants, and angsty but not without compassion.  I found  myself identifying with Julia and being reminded of what it was like in my world when I was a teen.  In addition, the author has a unique way of making you feel the story.  I often mentally paused to appreciate a turn of phrase, metaphor, or image.

The bad?  The massive amount of issues shoved into this book.  The timeline moves fast, and I wasn't always sure just how much time had passed.  The 'main' conflict, the mystery of her dead sister, was meh at best.  It wasn't engaging, and I mentally checked out as the book went on during those parts.

Overall, I found depth in Julia's relationship with her family, and I was moved by the sheer 'teenageness' of Julia. 

352 pages

4/5

Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe, Book 2) by Neal Shusterman

Rowan and Citra take opposite stances on the morality of the Scythedom, putting them at odds, in the chilling sequel to the Printz Honor Book Scythe from New York Times bestseller Neal Shusterman, author of the Unwind dystology.

The Thunderhead cannot interfere in the affairs of the Scythedom. All it can do is observe—it does not like what it sees.

A year has passed since Rowan had gone off grid. Since then, he has become an urban legend, a vigilante snuffing out corrupt scythes in a trial by fire. His story is told in whispers across the continent.

As Scythe Anastasia, Citra gleans with compassion and openly challenges the ideals of the “new order.” But when her life is threatened and her methods questioned, it becomes clear that not everyone is open to the change.

Will the Thunderhead intervene?

Or will it simply watch as this perfect world begins to unravel?

More please!  Can't wait for book three. :)

5/5

512 pages

Scythe (Arc of a Scythe) by Neal Shusterman

Two teens must learn the “art of killing” in this Printz Honor–winning book, the first in a chilling new series from Neal Shusterman, author of the New York Times bestselling Unwind dystology.

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery: humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now Scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.

Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.

Scythe is the first novel of a thrilling new series by National Book Award–winning author Neal Shusterman in which Citra and Rowan learn that a perfect world comes only with a heavy price.

Loved.  Couldn't put it down.  Immediately bought book two.

5/5

464 pages

Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman (Book 2)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!

JUST SHUT UP AND TAKE ALL MY STARS.

Book 295 read in 2018

Pages: 504

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Scythe by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

THIS BOOK SLAYS!

I would give it all my stars, and not just to avoid a reaping.

Book 294 read in 2018

Book Pages: 435

American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle

American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The perspective about war, life, and death is very different coming from someone who lived within that world on a daily basis. To me, that was fascinating, even if there were a few things that made me uncomfortable along the way.

This was a compelling read, because this life was so different than any life I will ever lead. It's also interesting to hear about the war from someone who was on the ground. I appreciated the honesty, even when it didn't shed Chris in the best light.

Book 279 read in 2018

Pages: 538

Bright Side by Kim Holden

Bright Side by Kim Holden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

*&%^$#

+!@#^*%$*&%

&^$%*$@&%^$#*&^%&$@





I am not okay today, on any level, and this book is to blame.





I was even less okay last night, when I finished this.





And I'm already worried about tomorrow.




Book 244 read in 2018

Pages: 423

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Summary: "The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming....

This monster, though, is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth." -Amazon

First of all, we all need to bow down to Mr. Patrick Ness.  He is a wordsmith of the ages.

This story is beautiful in it's complicated simplicity.  Conor's mother is dying of cancer, and he must learn how to face not only this monster killing her but also his feelings and future without her.  The characters have depth and imperfections and there are definitely some tearjerker scenes, especially between Conor and his mother.  I'll leave you with a quote that resonated with me in a deep way: 

“Your mind will believe comforting lies while also knowing the painful truths that make those lies necessary. And your mind will punish you for believing both.”

4.5/5

224 pages

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Slammed by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2018

So I had a bad day and needed a comfort book. The previous review still stands.

Book 168 read in 2018

Pages: 354

PREVIOUS REVIEW:

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

Sometimes dead is better....When the Creeds move into a beautiful old house in rural Maine, it all seems too good to be true: physician father, beautiful wife, charming little daughter, adorable infant son -- and now an idyllic home. As a family, they've got it all...right down to the friendly cat. But the nearby woods hide a blood-chilling truth -- more terrifying than death itself...and hideously more powerful.

-One of the best King books I've read so far! It is absolutely terrifying and the imagery has stuck with me. If you like scary things, half-dead cats, and supernatural burial grounds this book is for you!

Pages: 374

5 out of 5 stars