Books and Sensibility

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Jess

Winter by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #4)

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The Lunar Chronicles series is like a snowball rolling down a hill. We start off with the singular story of Cinder, a plucky cyborg mechanic. Cinder discovers she might be something more and soon a viscous plague, the future of the empire and the fate of a moon kingdom might be in her hands

As we roll down the hill with each book in the series we pick up new characters and story lines that are all incorporating and mixing together to form the giant snow ball finale that is Winter, which comes in at 900 pages or 23 hours of audio. 

While the sweet and quirky Princess Winter is our titular character this book brings the entire gang together (Cinder, Thorne, Iko, Cress, Scarlet, Wolf and Kai) for one last mission to overthrow Queen Levana. Meyers just knows how to juggle a cast of characters. But she probably didn’t need to do it in so many pages. There were a lot of section I felt weren’t necessary.

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Audiobook Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

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 So, you know how people think most fantasy/dystopian  YA is just a  thinly veiled allegory for high school ?  Well the Red Queen on it’s surface is pretty much that.

We’ve got Mare Barrow another brunette YA heroine who hates her hair and wishes she was more like her sister Gisa who is pretty, talented and basically put up on a pedestal.

In Mare’s world what separates the oppressed Reds from the elite  Silvers. . . is their blood. The Silver’s blood silver blood gives them abilities like controlling elements, strength and mind control.

Mare soon discovers that even though she is Red, she has abilities like a Silver. A threat to the Silver way of life, The Silvers  whisk her away to live among them until they can figure out what she is.

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My Mixed Feelings About Harry Potter #8: Gif Reaction Post

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So this happened 

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16 Books We Want To Read In 2016

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Kat and I searched all over the bookternet for 2016 books we want to read in the next year. Today’s post features a mix of 16 books we want to review on Books and Sensibility and our sister site Romance and Sensibility.

1. Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins (January 26, 2016)

This brand new historical romance series from Beverly Jenkins features a hero who is passing as white in the American West. I want to read more romance by and about black women and I’ve heard nothing but good things about this author – Kat


  

2.  Salt to Sea by Ruta Sepetys (February 2, 2016) This YA novel is based on the real life events of East Prussian refugees seeking safety during WWII. A story like this feels very topical now.  – Kat

3. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer (February 2, 2016)

I  usually don’t like it when publishers bundle free novellas in a hardcover and I haven’t even started Winter but…. give it to me. – Kat










4. Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman (February 19, 2016)

This is a YA version of the Blackbeard story. I don’t know much about Blackbeard but . . . pirates. – Jess

5. The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater (April 26, 2016)

Funny story, this book was on our list for 2015 last year, however the book release got pushed back to 2016. I  have an Audible credit just waiting for this. – Jess














6. The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Sky (May 17, 2016)

Two magicians. A magical competition ? This sounds a lot like The Night Circus so this one might be right up my alley. – Jess















7. Tone Deaf by Olivia Rivers (May 3, 2016)

A deaf music prodigy is swept away on a world tour by the lead singer of a popular punk band. If you’ve read this blog you know I’m With the Band Now situations are my genre kryptonite.- Kat




8. Romancing the Fashionista by KM Jackson  (May 10, 2016)

In this romance a tough fashionista and ex-jock tangle. Like I said earlier, I want to read more POC authors so bring it on. – Kat


















9. Addicted by Elle Kennedy (June 28, 2016)

I’m really enjoying the first book in this post apocalyptic romance series. It’s so crazy sauce. I may try it on audio. – Kat

10. This Savage Song (June 2016)

I think Victoria Schwab is a great writer and this new series is about a town run by monsters, including ones that use music to steal people’s soul. – Kat

11. The Serpent King by Jennifer Zenter (March 8, 2016)

This book has a boy whose father is one of those Pentecostal ministers who handles poisonous snakes. I think it’s interesting to see more YA handling religion and this book seems interesting.

12. Enter Title Here (August 2, 2016)

This book reminds me of the book How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got A Life, which I loved in high school and only later learned of the plagiarism scandal. In this book a straightlaced Indian-American overachiever lands a book deal and realizes she has to have some classic teen experiences to make her book more interesting.













14. Into White by Randi Pink (September 13, 2016)

This book is about a black girl who wakes up white. This book sounds super bizarre, but it’s so crazy it just might work. I didn’t know what they were going to do for this cover, but this one really works!. – Kat















13. Of Fires and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst (September 2016)

A princess with magical powers falls in love with her fiance’s sister. Can’t wait to see the cover for this one.(but I’m guessing it will have big serif text). – Kat

15. Heartless by Marissa Meyer (November 8, 2016)

*Grabby hands* – Kat

16. Flower by Shea Olsen and Elizabeth Craft (December 30, 2016)

A girl who has sworn off boys her entire teen years fall for a pop star. See above genre kryptonite. Also, by the time this book comes out it will be days away from 2017 ! – Kat


Okay, I have some review requests to write!



Mini Reviews : Life Hacks

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These mini reviews feature my informal thoughts on two non-fiction books I’ve been reading and pulling tips and advice from all year long.

Skinny Taste by Gina Homolka

In 2015  I wanted to start eating healthier, so I picked up Gina Homolka’s Skinny Taste after seeing the beautiful cover in Target. Plus this Target edition had extra recipes.

I loved the recipes in this book so much that I actually gave it to my brother, BC, as a birthday gift. It features colorful and flavorful recipes that are so good you won’t believe they are healthy. Even in my tiny kitchen they bring out my inner Top Chef.

Chicken Pot Pie Soup !

One of the first recipes I made was the chicken pot pe soup. I also highly suggest her beef and broccoli plus I’ve made her chicken marsala on multiple occasions.

If you’re not sure if Gina’s recipes are for you check out her blog SkinnyTaste.com it’s how I first discovered her !  I co-sign on her Skinny Chicken Enchiladas!

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Mari Kondo

This is  the little book that was everywhere this year. This book outlines the KonMari method for tidying. I grabbed it on audio performed by Emily Woo Zeller. It’s a shortie at around four hours and  I listened to this audiobook while doing the KonMari method. I really embraced her philosophy on discarding and organization.

As a book blogger I couldn’t quite commit to her ideas behind book organization. Just no. I can’t say I’ve kept up with tidying but I do find myself folding stuff into rectangles and throwing out things that don’t have that spark.

Kondo seems to realize her ideas and thoughts on organization may be a bit radical and I couldn’t help but to side-eye some of the lengths she goes to in the name of order.

One of my criticism of this book is that Kondo’s book doesn’t fully take into account individuals who might have non-familial roommates or who share a house. Her book is very focused on homeowners or those who live with parents. I enjoyed the audio but if you’re not sure if it’s for you this is a book I’d grab it from the library.

 

Books and Sensibility @ New York Comic Con

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