Saturday, January 7, 2017

December Wrap Up!

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! Today I'll be wrapping up all the books I read in December! I was pretty behind in my reading challenge last year and had to read 18 things in December to complete the goal. I say things because not all of these are novels. Some are graphic novels or manga, etc.

Here we go! The links are to my reviews. :)

18) Truthwtich by Susan Dennard
Truthwitch is the first book in the Witchlands series by Susan Dennard. I enjoyed this book, but I couldn't keep track on the politics that well. The world building was a bit shaky. However, I really liked the characters and I will be continuing on with the series. 3.75 Stars!

17) The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
I really enjoyed The Sun is Also a Star! Yoon's debut novel, Everything, Everything, was one of my favorite books of 2015. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy The Sun is Also a Star as much. Sometimes the characters annoyed me and I couldn't relate to them. Nevertheless, the book was a great love story and I would recommend it. I never actually came up with a rating for this. 

16) Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini
Trial by Fire is another first in a series! This one also deals with witches, but in a completely different way than Truthwitch. The world building worked a bit better for me in this one. Like Truthwitch, I will be continuing on with series as well! 4 Stars!

15) Pretty Fierce by Kieran Scott
Pretty Fierce is actually coming out later this year, an I was lucky enough to get an e galley of this through Netgalley! This book is a YA thriller and it was so fun to read! I wish the relationships were expanded on a bit more, but that is really my only complaint. 4 Stars!

14) United by Melissa Landers
United is the last book in Landers' Alienated trilogy! At least I finished one series in what seems like a month where I started quite a few. :) My main fault is that United seemed to lack originality, but that's it! It was really great to go back into the story and see all the characters again. 3.75 Stars! 

13) Bride of Alvar by Silver Reins
Bride of Alvar is the first book in a fantasy series on wattpad. This actually exceeded my expectations by far. While the book was fun to read, it didn't stand out that much to me. However, the second book is completed, and I want to continue the series to see what happens. 3 Stars!

12) Falling for You by Lisa Schroeder
Lisa Schroeder is one of my favorite authors. Falling for You was written in prose and is interspersed with poetry. The story itself is so easy to read and I really connected to the characters. But if I compare this to the other books she has written in verse, I like them more. Nevertheless, I do recommend this! 4.25 Stars


11) Escorting the Billionaire by Leigh James
I always read new adult really fast, and I really needed to speed through books for my goodreads challenge. This definitely worked. Escorting the Billionaire, while not the perfect novel, was quick and fun. 3.5 Stars

10) Booty Call by Ainsley Booth
This is yet another new adult novel I read in December! Unfortunately, I didn't like Booty Call nearly as much. The characters were one dimensional and I didn't feel as if there was any depth to the relationship either. I mean, it was fun while it lasted, but I wouldn't necessarily regret it. 2 Stars.

9) We Should All be Feminists by Chimamada Ngozi Adichie
This is by far my favorite thing I read this year. I say "thing" because this is actually an essay from Adichie's Ted talk. My only wish is that Adichie went deeper into some subjects. Obviously I understand why she didn't though, since this an essay. I would love to hear more about Adichie's views on feminism. They were very inspiring and I would recommend it to anyone, whether or not you identify as a feminist or not! 5 Stars!

8) Paper Girls Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan
I'm a graphic novel newbie, so I don't really know how to criticize them yet. All I do know is that I found the first volume to be fun and fast paced, but at times confusing. At times it was hard for me to differentiate among the characters and the story was hard to follow as well. This might have to do with the fact that I was reading this on a plane, but still. I do want to continue with the series, but the question is when. 3.5 Stars!

7) A and D by Louisse Carreon 
This is another read on wattpad, except this is a contemporary romance instead of a trilogy. A and D held my attention and I remember really wanting to read it throughout my classes at school. I do think that the characters were a bit juvenile and I couldn't see the sense in acting the way they did. Still, it was a fun book and I see why so many people like it. 3 Stars!

6) The Rose Society by Marie Lu
The Rose Society is the second book in Lu's Young Elites trilogy. Adelina, the main character, is an anti-heroine and she gets even darker and more evil in this. Unfortunately, I feel a strong disconnection to all the characters. And because of that, I felt a bit disconnected to the story. I wasn't able to immerse myself fully, which is a shame because the novel is so well written. 3.5 stars!

5) Torn by Amanda Hocking
Torn is yet another second book in a series! Torn is the second book in a trilogy about Wendy and everything that happens when she not only discovers she is a troll but also a princess. I liked the second book so much more than the first. Wendy was much less annoying, and I was glad that another love interest was introduced because I like him much more. I'm hoping to finish the series by the end of the month! 3.5 Stars!

4-2) Last Game #2, 3, and 4
I actually read the second, third, and fourth volumes of Last Game in October and completely forgot to put it in the wrap up or say that I read them on goodreads. I guess that says something about the series. Though I do like it, it isn't anything special for me. However, I do want to finish it this year! Mangas are quick and fun to read, and this is included! I would give the last three volumes around 3 stars.
 
1) Terror on the Titanic by Jim Wallace
To be honest, I read this solely to complete my goodreads challenge. But it actually surprised me! Though it wasn't well written by any means, it was really fun. This is a "choose your own adventure" book and I loved how I was able to control the story. I don't really have a rating for this either! :D

And those were all the things I read in December! It is quite a list. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!  

18 comments:

  1. At least you made your goal! Way to go! Happy 2017!

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  2. You read some really great books this month! I can't wait for you to get into more graphic novels/comics. They are amazing!! : )

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    1. Me too! Hopefully I'll become a regular reader to the point where I can actually be critical. I also have yet to find my niche in graphic novels yet. :)

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  3. Great books!! I also enjoyed Torn more than the first book, and Loki is awesome ;)
    Happy New Year!

    Amy @ A Magical World Of Words

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    1. Thanks! Yeah, he's much better than Finn! I hate how Finn runs so hot and cold. Loki's loyalty is a big factor to why I like him so much. :)
      You too!

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  4. Loki was my favorite character in that Trilogy. He was wonderful to Wendy. I also really enjoyed Lisa Schroeder's books as well. Great list, Genni. :)

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    1. I'm beginning to understand why Loki is so well loved. I'm pretty sure he will be my favorite character as well. :) Thanks Jess!

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  5. Lots of good stuff here! I read a Lisa schroeder book a while back- All We Have Is Now- and liked it. Paper Girls is on my list, and I have an amanda Hocking book- Freeks- on my TBR. Torn looks good- love that cover. And I love seeing a Choose Your Own Adventure book!!

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    1. That's one of the books I haven't read by her yet. Hopefully I'll read more of her this year. :) I haven't heard of Freeks! I'll have to check it out on goodreads. Torn was pretty good! It's the second in a trilogy and a major improvement over the first. It was so fun to read. I might read a handful this year. :D

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  6. Wow, you read so many books, go you! :D Glad you enjoyed Trial By Fire, I love that book :)

    Brittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles

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    1. Thanks Brittany! It was a great start to the series. :)

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  7. Wow, you had an awesome reading month, Genni! I've been meaning to read the Alienated trilogy for so long but have yet to start it. It looks so good!
    Tanya @ Girl Plus Books

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    1. Thanks Tanya! The trilogy is such a blast. It's not a favorite of mine, but it is one of the most entertaining series I've read. Thanks for visiting. :)

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  8. I used to love the choose your own adventure books! :D

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  9. congrats on making your goal! I gave the same rating to Truthwitch when I read it back in February. Best of luck for your reading in 2017!

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    1. Thanks! Are you going to be reading Windwith? You too! :)

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