DNF The Last Ember

 Hello there Bookies,

I couldn't do it. I could not enjoy the book. It just felt too wrong to have a narrator being cheery as they told a depressing story. I'm still trying to get past the fact that this is a children's book. There are topics in this book that I feel like are not appropriate for children, even if they are middle grade. This book just feels wrong. I know that I didn't get far into the book to really judge, but with first impressions, this book is a dud. I can't do it. Since I DNF the book, it gets one out of five stars. There is so much wrong with this book that I was not comfortable with and that is just my opinion. I'm sure it is a great book but to have it advertised at a middle grade book, I just can't. I feel like there are too mature topics in this book for even that age. 

So until next time...

-Lys

Started reading Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe

 

Hey Bookies, 

I am attempting to read a book. I gave myself a goal to read a certain amount of chapters a day and so far it seems to be working out okay. I only say that because I literally just started the book and I am already halfway through my goal. That is a win to me. From what I have learned of the book so far is that it takes place in a city called New Found Haven. The city is broken up into three parts and each part has its struggles. The set up kind of reminds me of the city set up in Quicksilver, so it is pretty easy for me to picture. Anyway the book opens up with our main male character Greyson Steele and he is known as the president's son and executioner. But you quickly learn that he is only playing a part. He isn't actually as cold and heartless everyone believes. But I will let you read the book to find out how. Anyway our main female character is part of a gang that is call the same name as the title of this book. She resides on the outer circle of the city called The Boundery. The Boundry is considered the poorest part of the city since it is the farthest from the Heart of the city where out main male character lives. From what I hear, this book is a romance. Here is the thing about one of the laws in this city we are present in, it is illegal to have relationships with people in different rings from your own. If you do so, you will be executed. You can see the foreshadowing taking place here. Someone from the Heart falling in love with someone from the Boundry? I sense an enemies to lovers trope? Especially when our main female character has a job to kill our main male character and she is more than happy to do it. Not just for the money but for also the fact that she hates his family with a passion for killing her parents.

So until next time...

-Lys

Started listening to The Last Ember by Lilly Berlin Dodd

 

Hello Bookies, 

Well I am onto the next audiobook. This one is a middle grade book supposedly. I say supposedly because this book starts out pretty depressing. It's a little unhinged when the narrator is reading in a cheerful tone while talking about death. That is right, for a kid's book and only three chapters in I have heard about a man's cabin mate dying. Which resulted the man going through the dead man's things tossed what he could sell. That is just the prologue. The first chapter is a girl's twelve birthday and her mother wrote her a letter to have many crushes and then crush them. The second chapter starts with a boy who wakes up every morning wondering how much time he had left before he dies. I guess once he reaches a certain age he get drafted into the military where he is sure he will die. I'm a little surprised that this is a kid's book. Especially with the topics being mentioned so early on in the book. I predict that I probably won't finish this book. The tone of the narrator does not fit the tone of the book. It's a little weird for me to get around.

So until next time...

-Lys

Finished Pen Pal

 

Hey there Bookies, 

Well I finished the book and none of my theories were correct. Well maybe one was a little bit but you will have to read the book to figure out which one. But I will say that the book did take a turn I didn't expect. Again you will have to read the book to find out. I can't tell you everything about the book and ruin it for you. But I will say that the house is in fact haunted. By who? Now where is the fun in that if I told you? Anyway I did enjoy the quick read. Okay not read, more like listen. It took me only two days to finish this book with minor interruptions. I liked the book, but I didn't love it. I still feel like the plot was a little neglected throughout the book. There really isn't any character development either. I know there was a reason for it once you get to the end of the book, but you kind of have to think that someone might not even get to the end of the book. There are some very picky readers out there. Luckily I am not one of them. Anyway the book gets three solid stars from me. I liked it and would recommend, but I didn't love it. 

So until next time...

-Lys

Halway through Pen Pal

 

Hello Bookies, 

I am actually a little over halfway through this book. Maybe almost two thirds through. So far I am not learning much. I think the plot is more focused on our main female lead, Kayla, finding something new after her husband passed. Also I am starting to think the plot is more secondary to the spice of this book. I am not sure yet and it is just a feeling. But the good thing is that I can just have to story play while I do things without feeling I am missing anything important. Anyway Kayla is told by her housekeeper that her house could be haunted. Is it actually? I will have to find out by listening more. But I have a few theories with what is going on in the book. One theory is that her husband isn't actually dead. It's a stretch but he seems like a guy who might pull something off. Especially when she notices the bruise in her wedding photo. Her husband could have been abusive and she blocked that part out. So now he is seeing if she will move on without him and will punish her if she does. That's just the theory. The other theory is that Aiden is the pen pal from prison named Dante. Or maybe Kayla's husband is Dante. Again, I will have to finish the book in order to find out if I am correct. At the rate I am going, I could finish tonight or before work tomorrow. 

So until next time...

-Lys

Started listening to Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger

 

Hello bookies,

I am trying to tackle my TBR before my bif move. Meaning I am trying to read and listen to as many books as I can from my local library. All because it will take me a while to find the local library in the new town and state I am moving to. Anyway i have no idea what this book is about. I know once upon a time it was popular on TikTok. But that is about it. I am only an hour into the book because my family has an extra need to bug me now that I am moving. Have I learned anything in that hour? Not really. But our main female character had just lost her husband in an accident and now she is left with a house that is falling apart alone. But weird things are starting to happen in the house that our main female character has been writing off. Flickering lights that must be electrical issues, even though the handyman said everything is fine. Mysterious letter addressed to her on the kitchen counter? She must have checked the mail and forgot she did. You know because she is so stressed from losing her husband. Markings on her neck that could be fingerprints? Must be left over from the accident even though things should have been healed by now. But as I listen, I wonder if our female lead is getting drugged, which will put this book in dark romance territory if that is true and things are going on that she can't remember. But we also have the mysterious Aiden that has come to her place to check out her roof. Our main female character is both attracted and annoyed by him. I stopped listening at the part our main female character goes to a grief support group. But I didn't get far because my mother wanted to spend time with me. So far I am just trying to figure out if I like the book. The first few chapters are just the reader learning about the characters. I don't expect a whole lot until I am a little bit further in the book.

So until next time....

-Lys

Let's Get Personal #34

 Hey there Bookies,

Well my mood on what I want to read is changing yet again. But I am halfway through revisiting Cinder since I got my hands on the second book. So I will probably finish that and hopefully by then I will figure out what my new mood of reading is so I can continue. Right now I am breezing through graphic novels. I read at least four of them today. Also I am a little overwhelmed because I am preparing to move. That's right, I am moving and to a whole different state. I ended up getting a new job that will give me more time to explore more of my creative side and literary side. I'm a little nervous about it and also excited. It's a big step, but I think this will be good for me. At least i have my books to help me get my mind off of how stressful my life just got.

So until next time...

-Lys