My Fall TBR List

  I realize fall has been here for a few weeks now, but I haven't gotten a chance to sit down and make this list, so here it goes.  
   As A World Without Princes closed, the end was written and former best friends Sophie and Agatha went their separate ways. Agatha was whisked back to Gavaldon with Tedros and Sophie stayed behind with the beautiful young School Master.

   But as they settle into their new lives, their story begs to be re-written, and this time, theirs isn’t the only one. With the girls apart, Evil has taken over and the villains of the past have come back to change their tales and turn the world of Good and Evil upside down.

   Readers around the world are eagerly awaiting the third book in The School for Good and Evil series, The Last Ever After. This extraordinary new journey delivers more action, adventure, laughter, romance and fairy tale twists and turns than you could ever dream of!

  BEYOND THE REALM OF DREAMS IS A WORLD SHE NEVER IMAGINED

   Masayi Sairu was raised to be dainty, delicate, demure . . . and deadly. She is one of the emperor’s Golden Daughters, as much a legend as she is a commodity. One day, Sairu will be contracted in marriage to a patron, whom she will secretly guard for the rest of her life.

   But when she learns that a sacred Dream Walker of the temple seeks the protection of a Golden Daughter, Sairu forgoes marriage in favor of this role. Her skills are stretched to the limit, for assassins hunt in the shadows, and phantoms haunt in dreams. With only a mysterious Faerie cat and a handsome slave—possessed of his own strange abilities—to help her, can Sairu shield her new mistress from evils she can neither see nor touch?

   For the Dragon is building an army of fire, and soon the heavens will burn. 

In the darkness of the pit
The light shines brightest

   Drums summon the chieftain’s powerful son to slay a man in cold blood and thereby earn his place among the warriors. But instead of glory, he earns the name Draven, “Coward.” When the men of his tribe march off to war, Draven remains behind with the women and his shame. Only fearless but crippled Ita values her brother’s honor.

   The warriors return from battle victorious yet trailing a curse in their wake. One by one the strong and the weak of the tribe fall prey to an illness of supernatural power. The secret source of this evil can be found and destroyed by only the bravest heart.

   But when the curse attacks the one Draven loves most, can this coward find the courage he needs to face the darkness? 

   What happens to the girls nobody sees—the ones who are ignored, mistreated, hidden away? The girls nobody hears when they cry for help?

   Fourteen-year-old Luce is one of those lost girls. After her father vanishes in a storm at sea, she is stuck in a grim, gray Alaskan fishing village with her alcoholic uncle. When her uncle crosses an unspeakable line, Luce reaches the depths of despair. Abandoned on the cliffs near her home, she expects to die when she tumbles to the icy, churning waves below. Instead, she undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid. 

    A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in—all of them, like her, lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives. The mermaids are beautiful, free, and ageless, and Luce is thrilled with her new life until she discovers the catch: they feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks.

   Luce’s own talent at singing captures the attention of the tribe’s queen, the fierce and elegant Catarina, and Luce soon finds herself pressured to join in committing mass murder. Luce’s struggle to retain her inner humanity puts her at odds with her friends; even worse, Catarina seems to regard Luce as a potential rival. But the appearance of a devious new mermaid brings a real threat to Catarina’s leadership and endangers the very existence of the tribe. Can Luce find the courage to challenge the newcomer, even at the risk of becoming rejected and alone once again?

   Lost Voices is a captivating and wildly original tale about finding a voice, the healing power of friendship, and the strength it takes to forgive.

The vengeful Goddess demands her tithe 

   When a stowaway is discovered aboard the merchant ship Kulap Kanya, Munny, a cabin boy on his first voyage, knows what must be done. All stowaways are sacrificed to Risafeth, the evil goddess of the sea. Such is her right, and the Kulap Kanya's only hope to return safely home.

   Yet, to the horror of his crew, Captain Sunan vows to protect the stowaway, a foreigner in clown's garb. A curse falls upon the ship and all who sail with her, for Risafeth will stop at nothing to claim her tithe.

   Will Munny find the courage to trust his captain and to protect the strange clown who has become his friend?

   On her long journey home from school after a fight which will surely lead to her expulsion, Karigan G'ladheon ponders her future as she trudges through the immense forest called Green Cloak. But her thoughts are interrupted by the clattering of hooves as a galloping horse bursts from the woods, the rider slumped over his mount's neck, impaled by two black-shafted arrows. As the young man lies dying on the road, he tells Karigan that he is a Green Rider, one of the legendary messengers of the king, and that he bears a "life and death" message for King Zachary. He begs Karigan to carry his message, warning her not to read it, and when she reluctantly agrees, he makes her swear on his sword to complete his mission "for love of country." As he bestows upon her the golden winged-horse brooch which is the symbol of his office, he whispers on his dying breath, "Beware the shadow man..."

   Karigan's promise changes her life forever. Pursued by unknown assassins, following a path only her horse seems to know, and accompanied by the silent specter of the original messenger, she herself becomes a legendary Green Rider. Caught up in a world of deadly danger and complex magic, compelled by forces she cannot understand, Karigan is hounded by dark beings bent on seeing that the message, and its reluctant carrier, never reach their destination. 

   It isn't easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.

   When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.

   The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past—and hers?

   The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen—and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.

   Find out who America will choose in The One, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series!

   First published in 1813, "Pride and Prejudice," Jane Austen's witty comedy of manners - one of the most popular novels of all time - tells the story of Mr and Mrs Bennet's five unmarried daughters after the rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, have moved into their neighbourhood. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." So begins the novel, that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues.

   Rose Red trusts no one with her secret. She hides in the forest, her face veiled in rags, shunning the company of all save her old father and her nanny goat. Her life is bleak and lonely.

   Until she meets a privileged young man sent to spend his summer in the mountains. Headstrong young Leo startles everyone by befriending Rose Red, and together they begin searching for the monster rumored to be stalking these lands.

   But the hunt, which began as a game, holds greater risk than either imagines. Soon both are forced to test their trust in each other as a far more terrifying scourge puts their entire land at risk. 

My Summer Reading

   As I told you in my last post, my goal was to buy and read as many books as possible this summer.  And I would dub my endeavor quite successful.  Before, I only had one and a half shelves of books, and most of these books were from my childhood, so I no longer read them.  Now, I am close to a full bookcase, as you can see in this picture...

   The top shelf are for my classics, the next two shelves are the series, and books from favorite authors, the fourth shelf down is the shelf for the Percy Jackson series, and the last shelf is for the books from my childhood.  For a closer look...

 (Heartless, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is missing at the moment)

 (The Red Pyramid is missing at this moment also)

(Yes, I own a Dr. Seuss book.  I got it for my fifteenth birthday)

   

   Now that you've seen how one goal succeeded, it's time to show you what I read this summer.  I'll only write a few sentences for each book.

   I started the summer by reading The Chance.  It was a satisying choice to start with, even if the whole plot was a bit coincidental.  But Karen Kingsbury is a very talented author- even if she's not my first choice- and she pointed everything back to God.  If this is the genre you read, or if you enjoy her books, then this is a must read.  My personal rating would be a three and a half out of five.

  Not By Sight is a book my friend recommended to me years ago, and a great selection for a young reader who enjoys mystery.  It was an easy read, but very compelling, and a great exploration of faith.  I would give this book a three.

   Next, I read Goddess Tithe, a novella in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series.  It was an excellent story- not my favorite in the series, but excellent nonetheless.  I got it for my birthday, and I believe this book was a great addition to the series.  I would give it a four and a half.

    I can not begin to explain my love for Draven's Light, it is easily one of my favorite stories in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series- despite it being a novella.  If you are a lover of fantasy, this is a book you must read- matter of fact, just read the whole series.  I would give this book a five.

   This summer has dawned my love of the classics- and it began with Macbeth by William Shakespeare.  When I started this story, I did not expect to enjoy as much as I did, just because in the past I had never enjoyed classics.  But I was pleasantly surprised, I would encourage an avid reader to give Shakespeare a chance, because his plays are quite enjoyable.  I would give Macbeth a rating of four.

     From Macbeth I continued to Edgar Allan Poe, where I discovered I had a love for him as well.  I can't explain why I enjoy these stories so much, besides the fact that I enjoyed the feeling of my heart pumping in my chest as a rapid speed.  I've only read a couple of his stories, but I would rate the entirety of this author a four.

   I am speaking purely to Doctor Who fans for this review, so if you're not interested, I would recommend just skipping over this piece.  This book has twelve stories of each doctor, each by twelve different authors (I know it says eleven, I read a different edition with all twelve).  Some of the stories you'll find enthralling, others you might find disappointing, but this is a must read if you enjoy Doctor Who.  Overall, I would rate this book, and all it's stories in it a three and a half.

  I read Heartless twice this summer, after having already read it a year ago.  I had to read it the second time to come up with questions for the book club.  The third time was to read it for the actual book club.  As you've guessed, I love this book, and no matter what your general preference is, every person should read this book, and series.  I would rate this book a five.

   I wasn't too sure about this book when I started it- a friend recommended it to me, and she's not known for always having the best recommendations.  But I was given permission by my parents, and went on to read it.  Rick Riordan's review on this book is, "Will keep you guessing who is good and who is evil..." and he was certainly right!  After reading it, I realized I never had a reason to doubt this book in the first place.  It was a very enjoyable read, and I can't wait to read the second book.  I would give this story a four and a half.

   As soon as I finished the questions for Heartless, I started Veiled Rose to come up with questions for it.  I enjoyed it much more this second time then I had the first time, when I read it a year ago.  It's a great read, and addition to the series.  I would rate this one a four and a half (we've began the book club for this book, and everyone's enjoying a lot).

   I then read The Painter's Daughter which I didn't expect to enjoy, but I did.  It is the first romance I've ever come across that I've decided I would re-read if I got the chance.  I quickly went out and bought another one of the author's book, and while I haven't read it, I'm certain I will enjoy it just as much as The Painter's Daughter.  If you are a reader of romance, Julie Klassen is an author you need to check out.  I would rate this book a four.

   I read Moonblood for my second time, and enjoyed as much as I did the first time, and more.  Moonblood really raises the stakes in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series.  I would give this a rating of five.

   I read Trapped for a book club at the library.  It's from the point of view of a high school boy, who gets trapped in his high school during a blizzard with six other high school students.  For a week, the kids have to survive, while the snow piles around them.  It was an easy read, and perhaps interesting to someone in high school who doesn't actually enjoy reading, but it just didn't capture my full attention.  Also, the main character's narrative voice was really annoying.  I would rate this book a three.

   I read this book because it had been lying on my shelf for years and I'd never read it.  I thought a nice historical would be relaxing, so I picked it up.  And I wasn't disappointed.  It wasn't great, but all in all, I wasn't disappointed.  I would give this story a three.

   I read Starflower after I was done with Moonblood, and honestly I was a little nervous when I picked it up.  I was afraid that it would not be nearly as good as I remembered it being, and I wanted to keep that safe image there.  But, just like last time, it captured my attention immediately and did not disappoint until the moment I had to close the book.  I can't wait to read this book again for the book club. Everyone should read this book sometime in their life.  I would rate Starflower a five.

   I wasn't sure about The Selection before I read it, but two different friends assured me that it was appropriate.  So, I went for it.  I expected a typical romance that annoyed me out of my mind, but I was in for a pleasant surprise.  It was about two friends, and that's all they were- sure, they fell in love in the end, but it wasn't too overbearing.  I would rate this book a three and a half.

   I re-read this book this summer to prepare it for book club, and loved it.  I remember Dragonwitch as my favorite book in the series, and I loved it much more the second time around.  I encourage everyone to read this.  I would rate this a five (and it deserves more).







      I read The Elite soon after I finished The Selection.  I was looking forward to reading the story, wondering if it would delightfully surprise me like the first book did.  Unfortunately, this was not the case.  This book was exactly what I had been dreading when I started The Selection.  This book made me feel like I wasted my money.  I would rate The Elite a two.

   I've wanted to read an Agatha Christie book for forever!  And I finally got to, by reading The Unexpected Guest.  It did not disappoint me with the twist, mystery, and the guessing game it played in my mind.  I would give this a four and a half.

   I was watching a youtube video when I first heard of Tiger Lily.  It immediately grabbed my attention, and I was determined that I had to read it.  So, I got it from the library immediately.  It took a couple chapters, but I got to the point where I didn't want to put it down anymore.  I fell in love with the book, and cried when it ended (I balled.  It was sad.  I cried.  It was horrible.  I loved it).  I would rate this book a four and a half.