Book Review: Empress of All Seasons

 

Empress of All Seasons

Author: Emiko Jean
Publisher:  HMH Books for Young Readers
Publish Date:  November 6, 2018
Book Rating 5/5
Amazon /  Goodreads / Barnes and Noble

Publisher's Description 

In a palace of illusions, nothing is what it seems.

Each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple. Survive the palace’s enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. All are eligible to compete—all except yōkai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy. 

Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be, if she weren't hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yōkai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. If discovered, her life will be forfeit. As she struggles to keep her true identity hidden, Mari’s fate collides with that of Taro, the prince who has no desire to inherit the imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human, half-yōkai outcast.

Torn between duty and love, loyalty and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness, the choices of Mari, Taro, and Akira will decide the fate of Honoku in this beautifully written, edge-of-your-seat YA fantasy.

Book received:  Rented

Why I Picked it up: I wanted to read something different.  Something not set in a European world. This fit the bill. This was a story that I could relate to about being other, wanting to fit in and finding power in being yourself. 

Why I finished it: The moment of the story carries you forward. The story explains things but made no effort to Westernize itself. This is a wonderful story that follows a narrative uncommon in typical western novels. 

Who I would give it to: Anyone who feels like an outsider. 

Book Review: Dearest

Dearest

Author: Alethea Komtis
Publisher:  HMH Book for Young Readers
Publish Date: May 8 2012

Book Rating 3/5
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Publisher's Description 

In her third book about the delightful Woodcutter sisters, Alethea Kontis masterfully weaves "The Wild Swans," "The Goose Girl," and a few other fine-feathered fairy tales into a magical, romantic companion novel to Enchanted and Hero.

Readers met the Woodcutter sisters (named after the days of the week) in Enchanted and Hero. In this delightful third book, Alethea Kontis weaves together some fine-feathered fairy tales to focus on Friday Woodcutter, the kind and loving seamstress. When Friday stumbles upon seven sleeping brothers in her sister Sunday's palace, she takes one look at Tristan and knows he's her future. But the brothers are cursed to be swans by day. Can Friday's unique magic somehow break the spell? 

Book received:  Rented 

Why I Picked it up: It was a free book. I had hope for a good retelling of a beloved fairy tale. Her writing style is strong. The editing. Ugh. it was just awful. The same as the first book. Great idea but very confusing and poorly edited. This is the third book and nothing has changed in the editing. of the book. There is information that the reader does not need to know or see but and could be explained later and in a better manner. I am underwhelmed. I am pleased this book was free to read...

Why I finished it: I did not finish it. 

Who I would give it to: This book did not live up to expectations. 

Review: If You Find This Letter: My Journey to Find Purpose Through Hundreds of Letters to Strangers

If You Find This Letter: My Journey to Find Purpose Through Hundreds of Letters to Strangers

Author:Hannah Brencher
Publisher:  Howard Books
Publish Date: March 10, 2015

Book Rating 3/5
Amazon /  Goodreads /IndieBound

Publisher's Description 

A heartwarming memoir of love and faith from Hannah Brencher, founder of The World Needs More Love Letters, who has dedicated her life to showing total strangers that they are not alone in the world.

Fresh out of college, Hannah Brencher moved to New York, expecting her life to look like a scene from Sex and the City. Instead, she found a city full of people who knew where they were going and what they were doing and didn't have time for a girl still trying to figure it all out. Lonely and depressed, she noticed a woman who looked like she felt the same way on the subway. Hannah did something strange--she wrote the woman a letter. She folded it, scribbled If you find this letter, it's for you on the front and left it behind. 

When she realized that it made her feel better, she started writing and leaving love notes all over the city--in doctor's offices, in coat pockets, in library books, in bathroom stalls. Feeling crushed within a culture that only felt like connecting on a screen, she poured her heart out to complete strangers. She found solace in the idea that her words might brighten someone's day.

Hannah's project took on a life of its own when she made an offer on her blog: She would handwrite a note and mail it to anyone who wanted one. Overnight, her inbox exploded with requests from people all over the world. Nearly 400 handwritten letters later, she started the website, The World Needs More Love Letters, which quickly grew. 

There is something about receiving a handwritten note that is so powerful in today's digital era. If You Find This Letter chronicles Hannah's attempts to bring more love into the world,and shows how she rediscovered her faith through the movement she started.

Book received:  Rented 

Why I Picked it up: I have been waiting for this book for...ev..er. I has been with more love letters, Hannah's site for a while.  Reading people stores and sending out love letter's of my own. I know this girl. I have been with her on my side of the screen for a while. I Knew she could write a book that you would want to devour. That when you finished it would leaving you feeling whole. Whole and ready to take on the world. There is so much to be said about this book. It  is love story, to love. It is not romance it is life and how hard it is. It is about finding love and beauty in the everyday. 

Why I finished it: I could not stop reading it. I wanted to know how one of my favorite people got to where she was. How this became her good work. 

Who I would give it to: Joy and Meghan..every one. 

Happy New Year!!!

I will be back this upcoming week. I had to take sometime off during the holiday and for school. 

Manga Review: Fairy Tail

Author:  Hiro Mashima 
Publisher: Kodansha Comics  

Publish Date: August 6, 2006

Book Rating 5/5

On going

Amazon /  Goodreads / Ten Manga

Publisher's Description Lucy is a 17-year-old girl, who wants to be a full-fledged mage. One day when visiting Harujion Town, she meets Natsu, a young man who gets sick easily by any type of transportation. But Natsu isnt just any ordinary kid, he's a member of one of the world's most infamous mage guilds: Fairy Tail.

Manga Review 4/5

Book Recevied : Own

Why I Picked it up: The cover art looked good and I was looking for something different . This is has action, romance and magic. But the greatest things this manga talks about is friendship. 

Why I finished it: The story hit on everything form lose of friends, loved ones, parents. It tlks about the bounds between people and how they are formed. these bounds are what give you strength.  So...yeah. I kinda love the series. 

Who I would give it to: It is good pick for people who liked Inuyaha and Naruto. it will also be a nice break from those as well. 


Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Book Review: Green by Jay Lake

Green

Author: Jay Lake
Publisher: Tor Books
Publish Date: February 15, 2011
Series: Green Universe
 Book Rating 4/5
Amazon /  Goodreads / Barnes and Noble

Publisher's Description 

Her exquisite beauty and brilliant mind were not enough to free her from captivity. That took her skills with a knife, plus the power of a goddess.

She was born in poverty, in a dusty village under the equatorial sun. She does not remember her mother, she does not remember her own name--her earliest clear memory is of the day her father sold her to the tall pale man. In the Court of the Pomegranate Tree, where she was taught the ways of a courtesan…and the skills of an assassin…she was named Emerald, the precious jewel of the Undying Duke’s collection of beauties. She calls herself Green.

The world she inhabits is one of political power and magic, where Gods meddle in the affairs of mortals. At the center of it is the immortal Duke’s city of Copper Downs, which controls all the trade on the Storm Sea. Green has made many enemies, and some secret friends, and she has become a very dangerous woman indeed.

Acclaimed author Jay Lake has created a remarkable character in Green, and evokes a remarkable world in this novel. Green and her struggle to survive and find her own past will live in the reader’s mind a long time after the book is closed.

Book Received: Gifted

Why I Picked it up:  The cover first grab my attention. It looked interesting and different. The story was something familiar and not. At the type I had been playing Assassin's Creed and it was along the same vain. And yet new. 

Why I finished it: It is rich in detail. I know the cities , I was there. The world that was created is living. It dose not fall back to heavily on the known world. Very rarely do we see glimpse of our ancient world and yet it is familiar . We learn as Green learns. There is no prejudice in how the world should be viewed. The writing and the story telling in the book are wonderful 

Who I would give it to: Fans of assassin novels. And to people who want a female lead. 


Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Black and White ...Astonish Me

Well giving in to a spring tradition of cleaning and let go. I found this skirt and decided to keep it. It is a nice white pinstripe skirt. I was able to match it with a simple black top. A whole new outfit and I did not even have to go shopping. I need to shop the back of my closet more often. I was also give a nice gift in the mail. I won a book form First look Book Club ^_^ I almost never win these things, so image my surprise went husband tells me I have a package in the mail. I am think it is my glossy box! Nope >.< Stilling wait for that one, but that is fine. It will get here when it gets here. I am still trying to figure out how I want everything to look  on this blog. I also need to figure out what I would like to review, from the last box. I am excited for the May box as they have teamed up with an exclusive partner.


Okay back to the book. I due apologies  for the sight tangent. The book I won is Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead. I have only read the first few chapters of this book and I am looking forward to reading more.

Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Dress Papaya and top target 

Book Review: The Summer Prince

The Summer Prince

Author:  Alaya Dawn Johnson
Publisher:  Arthur A. Levin
Publish Date: March 1, 2013

Book Rating 5/5
Amazon /  Goodreads / NPR

Publisher's Description 

A heart-stopping story of love, death, technology, and art set amid the tropics of a futuristic Brazil.

The lush city of Palmares Três shimmers with tech and tradition, with screaming gossip casters and practiced politicians. In the midst of this vibrant metropolis, June Costa creates art that’s sure to make her legendary. But her dreams of fame become something more when she meets Enki, the bold new Summer King. The whole city falls in love with him (including June’s best friend, Gil). But June sees more to Enki than amber eyes and a lethal samba. She sees a fellow artist.

Together, June and Enki will stage explosive, dramatic projects that Palmares Três will never forget. They will add fuel to a growing rebellion against the government’s strict limits on new tech. And June will fall deeply, unfortunately in love with Enki. Because like all Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die.

Pulsing with the beat of futuristic Brazil, burning with the passions of its characters, and overflowing with ideas, this fiery novel will leave you eager for more from Alaya Dawn Johnson.

Book Review

Book Recevied : Bought

Why I Picked it up: I read the review for this book at NPR. Then I went to my bookstore and read the first few pages. After going back and forth to the bookstore over the next few days. I bought the book. I finished it in one night. The culture of Palmares Três is rich and lush in imagery and life.  The characters move and dance off the pages. 

Why I finished it: I want more. I do not know if there will be more. THere has been some room left open for a squeal  I hope she writes one.   

Who I would give it to: Jess, she would devour this book form cover to cover. 

Book Review: Shades of Milk and Honey

Shades of Milk and Honey 

Author: Mary Robinette Kowal
Publisher:  Tor Books
Publish Date: August 3rd 2012
Series: Glamourist Histories #1
Book Rating 4/5

Amazon /  Goodreads / The Book Depository

Publisher's Description 

Shades of Milk and Honey is an intimate portrait of Jane Ellsworth, a woman ahead of her time in a version of Regency England where the manipulation of glamour is considered an essential skill for a lady of quality. But despite the prevalence of magic in everyday life, other aspects of Dorchester’s society are not that different: Jane and her sister Melody’s lives still revolve around vying for the attentions of eligible men.

Jane resists this fate, and rightly so: while her skill with glamour is remarkable, it is her sister who is fair of face, and therefore wins the lion’s share of the attention. At the ripe old age of twenty-eight, Jane has resigned herself to being invisible forever. But when her family’s honor is threatened, she finds that she must push her skills to the limit in order to set things right–and, in the process, accidentally wanders into a love story of her own.

Book received:  Rented 

Why I Picked it up: The cover of the sequel, Glamour in Glass, caught my eye one day when I was browsing in the library.

Why I finished it:  I enjoyed the book and the strong women in the book. They were reminiscent of Jane Austin’s women who tried to remain true to themselves in the face of society.

Who I would give it to: I would give it to, my co-worker who loves Jane Austin novels. They would become immersed the details of the everyday life, form the painting, sewing, dancing and magic.