Book Review Tuesday – Page 30 – The Bookish Mutant

Book Review Tuesday (1/1/19)-The Hazel Wood

Posted on January 1, 2019 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hi, everyone, and welcome to the FIRST BOOK REVIEW TUESDAY OF 2019! WE MADE IT! HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!!

This book was one of my last reads of 2018, and part of my *sniffle* last library haul of that year as well. I’d heard some rave reviews (mostly from EpicReads), and I almost bought it at Barnes and Noble, but, alas, still in hardback, and therefore, more expensive than a book of that size really should be. I finally got around to checking it out last week, and I was AMAZED. My expectations were average, but The Hazel Wood was well above-average.

Enjoy the review!

The Hazel Wood

Alice Proserpine has lived her whole life on the run. Her grandmother is a recluse, the author of a renowned fairy tale book, Tales from the Hinterland, and her mother seems to run into bad luck wherever they roam. But when Alice receives news that her grandmother has passed away, she decides to set off to uncover the truth about why she really hid herself away. The Hazel Wood, the secluded house where she lived out most of her adulthood, has never been found by the public, but with the help of some of her grandmother’s most devoted fans, she finds some vital clues about its location. But what she finds there is stranger than she could have ever imagined…

WOW.

The Hazel Wood was immensely better than I expected it to be. The mix of realistic fiction and fairytale fantasy blended together perfectly, making for a chilling, masterfully crafted gem of a book. Incredibly creative, with unique and fierce characters and a twisted plot to match. Not only that, but there were a bunch of wonderful and hilarious pop culture references thrown in at the most perfect of times-everything from Star Wars to David Bowie to Nirvana to T. Rex.

We know there’s a sequel coming some time this year, but it has yet to be titled or have a cover reveal. The author has also hinted at the release of Tales from the Hinterland somewhere down the line, too…OOH…

All in all, spectacular book. Would probably land a solid 9 on my book rating scale.

Well, I hope you all have a happy, happy new year, and a great rest of your day! Thanks for reading this post, and take care of yourselves! (And for those of you in temperatures like the one’s I’m in, please stay warm. It was -2 degrees around midnight last night.)

Book Review Tuesday

Book Review (Tuesday), 3rd Anniversary Edition-Dare Mighty Things

Posted on December 29, 2018 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Three years ago today, I was probably hunched over my laptop, and I had a fetus of an idea to do a book review on my blog, every week on Tuesdays. Over the course of time, I’ve forgotten a fair amount, my book genres and audiences have shifted, and hopefully they’ve gotten a little longer, and maybe even more intelligent sounding. (Like I said, hopefully.) And here we are now, with 2018 almost behind us. I’ve got one last book review for 2018, and then it’ll be 2019! And would you look at that-the first Tuesday of the year is NEW YEAR’S DAY!

THANK GOD 2018 IS ALMOST OVER, amirite or amirite, guys?

So now, without further ado, the last Book Review Tuesday of 2018!

I got this one at the library a little before the mental dumpster fire that was finals week. It had been on my to-read list for about a year or so, and I thought, hey, why not check it out? My expectations were average-nothing spectacular, but nothing egregiously bad.

Boy, was I wrong about that one.

Dare Mighty Things had close to everything I’ve ever wanted in a sci-fi novel. Do not be fooled by its unassuming appearances-it quickly becomes something like nothing you’ve ever read before. Buckle your seat belts, folks, this one’s a wild ride. 😉

Dare Mighty Things

Thirty years from now, NASA has taken great leaps and bounds in the field of space travel and exploration. Now, they are offering a program for a new generation to take the reins. Twenty five gifted young adults will undergo many physical and mental challenges to become candidates to board a spacecraft with other astronauts, and explore the unknown regions of the universe. Out of these 25, only one will be able to go to space. Cassandra Gupta, an incredibly gifted young woman and one of the youngest candidates, is determined to rise to the top. Becoming an astronaut and exploring deep space has been her lifelong dream, and with her prowess and smarts, should be a shoo-in for the space program. But everything that she’s been told and trained in pales in comparison to what she truly faces in the darkest reaches of the universe…

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

HOLY MOLY, that was amazing. As I said earlier, I greatly underestimated the potential of this book. But in the end, we’ve got the full-meal-sci-fi-deal, folks. The plot kept me on my toes, I grew to love (and to almost hate, in some cases) the wonderful and diverse cast of characters, and oH MY GOD…

Just to warn you guys, there’s an insane cliffhanger at the end that will, without a doubt, leave you hungry for so much more. I know that’s how I felt, certainly.

The sequel to Dare Mighty Things, One Giant Leap, came out in October, and as of right now, I haven’t been able to find it on the regular library or the Kindle library. Maybe it’ll be reasonably cheap on Amazon…who can say? I mean Heart of Iron (see 8/14/18) came out this year, and it was…what 7 bucks on Amazon? Pretty great deal for something that recent, if you ask me.

Aaaaaanyway, I hope you have a great rest of your day, and a happy new year!

Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (12/4/18)-Eve

Posted on December 5, 2018 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hello, fellow bibliophiles, and welcome to the first Book Review Tuesday of December 2018!

Man, I still can’t believe it’s already December. The year’s almost over now, and honestly? THANK. GOD. But hey, now it’s nearly Christmastime!

Eve was another one of my “interim” books-the ones I borrow from the Kindle library when my physical library books aren’t ready yet. Though my expectations were somewhat low, this book did not disappoint! A simulatenously bleak and hopeful novel, with a startlingly believable vision of the future.

Enjoy the review!

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Eve

After a plague has wiped out most of the population, mankind is struggling to repopulate. Boys are raised in labor camps, while girls go to the School, where they are educated on their past history and the dangers of men. Once they graduate, they are promised bright futures in the capital city.

Eve has believed all of this since she was five years old, making good grades and obeying the word of the headmistress and teachers of the School. But before she is set to lead her graduation ceremony, she discovers a dark secret about the true fate of the School’s graduates, and runs away so that she might still have a chance at a better life. With only the instructions of a teacher to guide her, she sets off into the unknown, where Caleb, a boy who’s been living on his own for many years, comes to her rescue. She soon discovers that much of what she has been taught in School is completely irrelevant, and must find a way to survive, dodge the authorities, and make it to safety.

I didn’t expect to like Eve as much as I did; I thought it would just be something to pass the time for a day or two, that I’d forget in a month’s time. On the contrary, Eve was an incredible book! While it presented a nightmarish, startling future world, it still managed to be hopeful in the worst of times. Hopeful moments in more dystopian novels is something I really admire; there isn’t a situation that’s completely devoid of hope, after all, no matter how bad it gets. Additionally, the characters were incredible, from the naïve but determined Eve, to the rogue boys and schoolgirls. A solid 7.5 or an 8 on my rating scale.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this week’s review! Have a great rest of your day, and please take care of yourselves and stay warm. 🙂

Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (11/20/18)-Catwoman: Soulstealer

Posted on November 20, 2018 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hello, everyone, and welcome to this week’s Book Review Tuesday!

After how much I loved Wonder Woman: Warbringer (see 9/11/18) and Batman: Nightwalker (which I stupidly haven’t reviewed, but will at some point), I figured that Catwoman: Soulstealer would be no different. So, I checked it out at the library, along with Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass.

It’s funny, I kind of hated Throne of Glass (pleeeease don’t brutally murder me for this, it just wasn’t my thing), but I really liked Catwoman! I’d have to read more of Maas’ work to make my theory have a little more weight, but I guess I just like it when she’s given a set of characters and a world to work with, as opposed to creating her own. (Okay, that’s…probably a little mean, sorry, but that’s how it’s been for me thus far.) So whether you’re a Throne of Glass fan or not, Catwoman is spectacular!

Enjoy the review!

Catwoman: Soulstealer

Desperate to escape her drug addict mother and care for her terminally ill sister, Selina Kyle turns to a life of crime to get by. For years, she fights her way to the top of the food chain, struggling to provide for her and her sister, while simultaneously dodging the likes of Carmine Falcone. Eventually, she is discovered by Talia al-Ghul, who recognizes her potential and talent, and sends her off to train with the League of Assassins.

Many years later, Selina returns to the streets of Gotham City under the alias Holly Vanderhees. In the absence of Batman, she rekindles her reputation, and allies with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn. Together, the three of them are a force to be reckoned with. But can they evade the authorities for long enough?

I’ve always had something of a soft spot for Catwoman, partially because of the fact that I love cats, and because, well…simply put, she’s a spectacular villain, and, in some cases, antihero. I especially like her depiction in the animated show The Batman. (It ran in the early to late 2000’s…anybody remember it? Quality.) I mean, her costume is SPOT-ON. COME ON, GUYS. 10/10.

I actually imagined Selina’s costume in *Catwoman: Soulstealer* a little like this. It’s always been one of my favorite interpretations of Catwoman.

But anyway, Sarah J. Maas did an incredible job of depicting Catwoman, as well as giving her some backstory and history. I also really enjoyed the camaraderie between her, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn. They’re so fun together, and Harley didn’t get on my nerves.

Let me elaborate on that. Usually, Harley Quinn is either a) not only oversexualized, but also incredibly annoying, or b) just adorable. My personal favorite is *Batman: The Animated Series* Harley, though her *Catwoman* description in terms of clothing was more along the lines of *Suicide Squad.*

All in all, a well-written novel that did considerable justice to the original characters!

Well, I hope you all have a great day, and for my followers in the U.S, have a happy Thanksgiving!

Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (11/13/18)-To Kill a Kingdom

Posted on November 14, 2018 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hi there, everyone, and welcome to this week’s Book Review Tuesday!

Before I get into today’s review, though, I have a little something to say.

I was devastated yesterday afternoon when I heard that Stan Lee had passed on. Marvel has and will always be a big and meaningul part of my life, so thank you, Mr. Lee, for all of your wonderful contributions to this world. Excelsior. 💔

Now for the review.

I recently checked this book out at the library, convinced by many months of seemingly endless praise. (It’s already been nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award, so awesome job, Mrs. Christo!) And though it didn’t quite live up to the massive amount of hype, it was definitely a thrilling novel. To Kill a Kingdom is a rich and dark retelling of “The Little Mermaid”, where the main character still wants the prince’s heart, but…in a different sort of way. Let’s leave it at that for now. 😏

Enjoy this week’s review!

To Kill a Kingdom

Lira, princess of the Sirens, is a formidable foe, with a collection of many human hearts and a bloody appetite to match. On a quest for another heart, she accidentally kills a fellow siren instead of the human prince she’s after, and her mother, the infamous Sea Queen, gives her a punishment and a task. By the time the Winter Solstice comes, she must kill the human Prince Elian and take his heart. But it’s easier said than done-she’s trapped in the form of a human until she can complete her mission.

With her new human body, she tricks her way into the ranks of the prince’s siren-hunting crew. Elian takes Lira in as one of his own, but is still suspicious of her origins and intentions. As the Winter Solstice draws nearer, Lira becomes entangled in the affairs of the human world, but is still determined to complete her task. Will Elian’s heart be hers before time runs out?

I’ll admit, I’ve never read the original version of “The Little Mermaid”, nor seen the 1989 Disney version in full (I have hazy memories of seeing a few clips when I was a little kid), but I know the basic gist of the story. And I must say, this an incredibly well-done retelling! Alexandra Christo does an excellent job of simultaneously staying true to the original tale and giving it a twist all her own. A truly enchanting, dark, and action-packed novel. Even if you aren’t familiar with the original works, I’d highly recommend it to anyone who loves a well-crafted fantasy novel.

I know I’ve been saying this for at least a month now, but I PROMISE that I have more than just book reviews coming in the next few days (or weeks) or so. I’ve been a little bit busier, but Thanksgiving break is coming up, so I’ll probably have some time this week and next week for some new content. I PROMISE, GUYS! SORRY!!!

Well, I hope you have a great rest of your day, and stay warm! (Or, just…maintain a decent body temperature, depending on what the weather is where you are. Sound good?)

Book Review Tuesday, Music

Book Review Tuesday (11/6/18)-The Looking Glass (PLUS a bonus apology!)

Posted on November 7, 2018 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hi, everyone, and welcome to the first Book Review Tuesday of November 2018! (Dang, this year has simultaneously gone by so slowly and flown by…)

First and foremost, my apologies for not only forgetting last week’s BRT (caught up in Halloween preparation and homework.,,), and forgetting to acknowledge this before today. So, sorry about that, one less review this year. 😦

But hey, I’ve got a great book to review today!

I honestly forget where I first found out about The Looking Glass. All I can remember is that I had it on hold at the library for a while, and when it was finally available, I just…flat out forgot what it was about. So my expectations were semi-low. Fast-forward to when I actually got to reading it, and I must say, The Looking Glass exceeded all expectations!

Enjoy the review!

The Looking Glass

Sylvie has looked up to her older sister, Julia, for as long as she can remember. They shared a love of ballet, went to the same prestigious ballet school, and treasured a shared book of fairy tales, which Julia renamed “Girls in Trouble”. That was before Julia disappeared.

A grieving Sylvie knows that her disappearance was no coincidence, and is determined to find her and bring her back home. She begins her search with a package, sent to her by Julia, with “Girls in Trouble” inside. But written in the back of the book is a sort of map, drawn by Julia herself, with clues that will lead Sylvie to her. With the help of an unlikely ally (and a playlist of nothing but Fleetwood Mac), will Sylvie find out the truth about her missing sister?

I expected to be intrigued by this book, but nothing more. But man, I’m glad to say that I was AMAZED! Such a beautifully written, powerful book about the forces of love and sisterhood. Realistic fiction, imbued with a little bit of magic, combined with characters so well written that I felt as though I could meet them in real life, made for an unforgettable read. Plus, I loved all of the music refereces scatterered throughout the novel-besides Fleetwood Mac (who I’ve never really listened to, but have heard from a person or two that they’re worth it), David Bowie, St. Vincent, and a few other quality artists. I highly recommend it to all of you. 🙂

Well, that’s it for this week’s BRT! Again, sorry about the absence of a review last week, and I hope that this one made up for it. Have a great rest of your day!

Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (10/23/18)-Wildcard

Posted on October 23, 2018 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hi, everyone, and welcome to this week’s Book Review Tuesday!

It would be an exaggeration to say that I was excited for this book to come out.

Since I finished it in November, I’ve been eagerly awaiting a sequel, clicking the “want-to-read” button before it even had a cover, and patiently looking through Marie Lu’s Instragram stories for the quotes she put out every Wednesday for a while. And at last, all of my prayers have been answered! I managed to find a signed copy (SQUEE) of Wilcard at the bookstore over the weekend, and I cradled it in my arms (along with a paperback of Shadow and Bone) all the way home.

And I must say, my expectations were pretty high, but Wilcard exceeded them all. FANTASTIC SEQUEL, if I do say so myself!

Now, before I begin, if you want to read my review of the first book in this series, go check out 11/28/17. 🙂

Enjoy this week’s review!

Wildcard (Warcross, #2)

After the shocking events of the Warcross championships and discovering the true intent of Hideo Tanaka’s newest invention, Emika Chen barely has time to catch her breath. But now, she’s been swept off on another mission, one with international consequences. With a massive bounty lying on her shoulders, she and her fellow Phoenix Riders team members are determined to take down Hideo and expose the truth. But the only place where they may find the answers-and protection-is from Zero, the notorious assassin who’s action affected the Warcross championship forever. Will Emika be able to send Hideo’s empire crumbling-and escape with her life?

Wildcard was just as thrilling, if not more, than its predecessor. Marie Lu’s signature writing, paired with a vibrant world and utterly lovable characters with perfect chemistry, made for a sequel that truly packed a punch. If you haven’t done so already, I highly recommend that you read Warcross, and immediately follow it up with this book!

Since it only came out about a month ago, we don’t have any news about the sequel. But if Marie Lu is sticking to her usual format, we can reasonably assume that we’ll get an end to this trilogy in this coming year. And man, I really hope we do, because the end left me gaping like a fish. I’M SO EXCITED.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this week’s review, and have a great rest of your day!

Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (10/16/18)-Two Dark Reigns

Posted on October 17, 2018 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hi, everyone, and welcome to this week’s Book Review Tuesday!

And THAT’S RIGHT, FOLKS…

IT’S HERE.

AND I’M SHOOK.

I recently checked this gem out at the library, and I must say, it’s a pretty shocking new installment to the Three Dark Crowns series. (For the first two books, see 6/26/18 and 7/10/18.) I guarantee that your jaw will be slack and your eyes as wide as dinner plates by the time you finish this book.

Hope you enjoy the review!

Two Dark Reigns

As far as Fennbirn, the monstrous poisoner queen Katharine is the one true queen, and her two sisters, Arsinoe and Mirabella, are dead. Now, Katharine’s wrath and power know no limits, and she will stop at nothing to get her way.

But on a nearby island, Arisnoe and Mirabella hide out in secret, having escaped their gruesome fates, plot their revenge on the false queen. And their friend Jules, who was recently revealed to have powers of her own, grows unsure and conflicted as she realizes her potential. As tensions rise on Fennbirn, the three sisters know that uncertain times are on the horizon. What will be the fate of Fennbirn and its throne?

HOOOOOOO BOY. Words can hardly describe how I felt throughout this book.

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aAAAaaAAaaaaAAAAAAaAAaaAaAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

*panting* okay, I think I’m calm now.

Blake’s signature writing packs a punch once more. All of our favorite characters are back, fiercer and more spirited than ever. And, as usual, plot twists are thrown at you left and right. And man, if the end of One Dark Throne ended like a Marvel post-credits scene, this was basically Infinity War. No joke. (“Mr. Stark, I don’t feel so good…”)

It’s confirmed that there will be one more book to conclude the series, but I don’t think any more information other than that has been released, as Two Dark Reigns came out a little over a month ago. So fasten your seat belts, folks, we’re probably in for a rough ride in 2019 (or 2020…¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

Come to think of it, 2019 is probably gonna be FULL of rough rides all around-I mean, Dark Phoenix, Avengers 4, Soul of Stars…whew, I’m gonna get me some tissue packs ASAP.

Well, I hope you liked today’s review, and have a great rest of your day! 🙂

Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (10/9/18)-Carve the Mark

Posted on October 10, 2018 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hi there, everyone, and welcome to this week’s Book Review Tuesday!

I recently joined Epicreads, and I found that there was a massive (and I mean MASSIVE) amount of hype for this book. Understandably so, given the popularity of the Divergent series. (Don’t kill me, but I thought Divergent was decent, but it didn’t really live up to much of the hype.) So I checked it out at the library, and spent around 3 days snuggled up in various blankets, my nose deep in this book. And I must say, though it didn’t quite live up to all of the hype, it absolutely lived up to some of it!

Enjoy the review!

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(sorry, there weren’t really any good images for the cover…oof)

Carve the Mark

In a galaxy steeped in war and magic, two teen’s live will collide in ways that they never imagined were possible.

Cyra has lived her life as nothing more than an object, a weapon for her tyrannical brother. Many planets over, Akos’ peaceful life is turned upside down when his family is slaughtered, and only he and his brother survive-only to be kidnapped by the enemy. Determined to save his brother, he crosses paths with Cyra. Tradition and politics should make them bitter rivals. But they soon discover that they have a common enemy, and that they must set aside their differences to secure the fate of the galaxy.

Alright, everybody, here we go…

First of all, I liked this better than Divergent. In fact, I’d probably rate it a full star above it.

Part of it is probably because, well, y’know, I’m a total sucker for anything set in space. But Carve the Mark was a truly phenomenal book, complete with rich storytelling, beautiful visuals and world-building, and characters with near-perfect chemistry. (For some reason, I imagined Akos looking like Evan Peters, but that’s not really the point. 😜) Even if you haven’t read or didn’t like Divergent, this is a must-read for anyone who loves a well-crafted tale in the depths of space. 8/10 on my scale.

Before I go, I’m sorry that I haven’t posted much other than book reviews lately. I’ve been a tad bit busy, what with transitioning into high school, but I promise that I’ll give you guys some more variety content-wise.

Well, I hope you have a great rest of your day, and stay warm!

Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (10/2/18)-The Final Six

Posted on October 3, 2018 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hey, everyone, and welcome to the first Book Review Tuesday of October 2018!

That’s right, OCTOBER. IT’S OFFICIALLY SPOOKY TIME, FOLKS.

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I’ve got my Halloween costume *almost* complete, and the leaves are already starting to turn yellow. Forget Christmas, this is the best time of the year.

Aaaaaanyway, this week’s book is a jaw-dropper. I borrowed it from the library and managed to gobble it all up in one sitting (whilst wrapped in a warm blanket and in a fuzzy hoodie). And OH MY GOD, IT WAS PHENOMENAL. A chilling, inventive look at the future of humanity, and the race to find a planet to colonize.

Enjoy the review!

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The Final Six

Climate change is out of control, and all over the world, cities are being swallowed by floods and shattered by earthquakes. After the mission to colonize Mars failed, humanity’s next candidate for a new home is Europa. The first to colonize it? Twenty four teens with exceptional skill and intellect, drafted from all over the globe into the International Space Training Camp. As they progress in their training, some will be eliminated through a series of tasks and tests, and in the end, only six will remain.

Naomi, a budding scientist, and Leo, a championship swimmer, are two of the draftees, and they have been placed on the same team. When peculiar events cause one of their teammates to fall fatally ill, they suspect that their mentors may not be telling them everything. But can they get to the bottom of the mystery before the six are launched to Europa?

Okay, I should probably stop saying this, but I’m nothing short of shook.

SHOOK.

The Final Six was a truly exceptional book! One minute, I was on the verge of tears, and the next, my jaw had clattered to the floor. Everything about it was truly stellar (would that be considered a pun? I hope not…)-writing, world-building, characters, and those INSANE PLOT TWISTS, OH MY GOD. I would highly recommend it not only for science fiction fans, but anyone who likes getting chills while reading.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this review, and have a great rest of your day!