Tag Archives: book reviews

Sep 14 2015
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Niki’s Top Ten Favorite Audiobook Experiences!

top ten tuesday

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This is a freebie week for the TTT feature, and since I’ve had this post up my sleeve for a few months now, I’m tickled to finally have an excuse to share it. When evaluating an audiobook, it seems like you have to consider more than just the basic writing, character, setting, etc. that you usually do with a book. You also have to consider the voice of the reader and their overall performance. I’ve listened to several books that came alive in a way that words on a page just couldn’t. Conversely, I’ve listened to many that seem to take all of the things I loved about the written version and poo all over it. I find myself on an endless hunt for new audiobook series that have the perfect mix of amazing story and performance, but here are the ones I’ve discovered so far:

Niki’s Top Ten Favorite Audiobook Experiences!

The Harry Potter Series – Jim Dale
The Kingkiller Chronicles – Nick Podehl
The Stormlight Archive – Michael Kramer & Kate Reading
The Gentleman Bastards – Michael Page
The Expanse – Jefferson Mays
The Red Rising Trilogy – Tim Gerard Reynolds
The Dresden Files – James Marsters
The Hunger Games Trilogy – Carolyn McCormick
The Game of Thrones Series – Roy Dotrice
The Riley Jensen Series – Justine Eyer

I think taking a chance on an audiobook is almost more risky than taking a chance on a new book – it certainly costs a lot more (generally) and there’s that extra performance-quality factor to consider. Thank goodness Audible offers guaranteed listens, that’s all I’m saying.

What are some of your favorite audiobook experiences?

by Niki Hawkes

Sep 11 2015
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Tackling the TBR [5]: September 2015!

tackling the TBR

This post is going up a LOT later than I would’ve liked, but I’m honestly thrilled it’s going up at all. You see, I’ve been dealing with the painful eye-strain injury for the last couple of months that has taken from me everything I love to do – blogging and reading at the top of that list. Luckily, I finally seem to be on the upswing of it… fingers crossed.

Because of these issues, I was only able to enjoy 3 TBR books last month, but all is not lost. You see, I discovered just how much I LOVE integrating this feature into my daily reading life. When I was confined to reading only a few pages a day, I knew exactly which novels got top priority and that somehow made my plight seem not so dire. I took comfort in the knowledge that I was reading the best books first. Bring on the mantras!

Read the best books first.
&
Life is too short to read books you’re not enjoying.

However you put together your TBR for the next month, the goal is to reduce the amount of obligation in reading and increase the fun.

Here’s a look at how this feature works:

1. Identify the titles that take top priority in your TBR.
2. Combine them all in your own Tackling the TBR post.
3. Throughout the month pick from that pile as the mood strikes you.

Here’s what mine looks like:

September 2015 TBR Tackler Shelf:

I really hope all have the ability to read most of these this month. I am incredibly excited for Soundless by Richelle Mead and will be dropping everything to devour that one first. I’m pretty sure every author on this list has made one of my Top Ten Tuesday posts one time or another – that bodes well.

Now, I can tell you from experience that this Tackling the TBR experiment is so much more fun and rewarding when there’s more than one person (me) participating. Does anybody want to play along?

Even if you don’t specifically use my system, feel free to share your versions of how you manage your TBR pile (and the links to your posts if applicable) in the comments!

Maybe we can help make each other’s systems even better. :)

What books are you Tackling this month?

by Niki Hawkes

Sep 10 2015
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DNF Q&A: Gilded by Christina Farley

gildedTitle: Gilded

Author: Christina Farley

Series: Gilded #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: DNF

The Overview: Sixteen-year-old Jae Hwa Lee is a Korean-American girl with a black belt, a deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, and a chip on her shoulder the size of Korea itself. When her widowed dad uproots her to Seoul from her home in L.A., Jae thinks her biggest challenges will be fitting in to a new school and dealing with her dismissive Korean grandfather. Then she discovers that a Korean demi-god, Haemosu, has been stealing the soul of the oldest daughter of each generation in her family for centuries. And she’s next.But that’s not Jae’s only problem. There’s also Marc. Irresistible and charming, Marc threatens to break the barriers around Jae’s heart. As the two grow closer, Jae must decide if she can trust him. But Marc has a secret of his own—one that could help Jae overturn the curse on her family for good. It turns out that Jae’s been wrong about a lot of things: her grandfather is her greatest ally, even the tough girl can fall in love, and Korea might just be the home she’s always been looking for.

The Q&A:

This is a reviewing feature I’ve been eyeballing on one of my favorite book blogs There Were Books Involved for a couple years now because I think it’s an excellent way to talk about an unfinished book fairly. I’m incredibly grateful because Nikki (the brains behind the blog, who has a most excellent name)  kindly allowed me to steal the idea and questions for my own blog. As my list of “amazing books to read” continues to grow, I find I have less and less time and patience to devote to the books I’m just not enjoying. I never would have considered DNFing a book ten years ago, but then I came across a quote, “Read the best books first, for you might not have the chance to read them all,” and have since made it my personal mantra. So let the Q&A begin!

Did you really give Gilded a chance?

I think so – I made it about 25% through before deciding it just wasn’t working for me.

Have you enjoyed other books in the same genre before?

Yes! In fact, Gilded’s similarities to these other, comparable books is what had me so excited to read it in the first place:

Some of these are YA Fantasies with strong cultural influences, which always sparks my interest.

Did you have certain expectations before starting it?

Moderately high ones. I really love when authors infuse different cultures in their works, and Korea was just too much to resist! I’d also met Christina Farley before at an event and thought she was of the nicest authors I’ve ever interacted with. Both of these facts make me feel incredibly guilty for not liking Gilded more.

What ultimately made you stop reading?

I stopped reading because it bothered me to see a smart, strong, and incredibly capable heroine make so many illogical decisions. Each harebrained idea seemed so out of character, as if each decision was no more than a means to advance the plot rather than what a smart character might actually do. It frustrated me enough to put down the book because I could no longer really relate to the character. I also found the love story, particularly her behavior towards the love interest, a bit immature.

Was there anything you liked about Gilded?

Again, I love the cultural immersion into Seoul, Korea and appreciated the extensive amount of drop-in details about the place (although there were a few places I could’ve used a tad more explanation for some of the references within the text… thank goodness for Google). I also liked the author’s basic writing style because it had a nice, easy flow to it.

Would you read anything else by this author?

Quite possibly. Like I mentioned, I liked her writing style, but had issues with character consistency. Her creativity was good enough that I probably would still try a new series.

So you DNF’d the book – would you still recommend it?

Yes – to the right customer. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed a prevailing trend in YA for the female leads to make silly decisions without really thinking things through. If the person I’m recommending to had no issues with those other characters, then Gilded would be a great recommendation.

*Thank you Amazon Publishing, NetGalley, and Christina Farley for the chance to read and review a copy of Gilded – I’m sorry my opinions weren’t more favorable.

by Niki Hawkes

Sep 2 2015
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Book Review: Hunter by Mercedes Lackey

Hunter by Mercedes Lackey

Title: Hunter

Author: Mercedes Lackey

Series: Hunter #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The Overview: Centuries ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were slashed open allowing hideous fantastical monsters to wreak havoc; destroying entire cities in their wake. Now, people must live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the evil creatures constantly trying to break in. Only the corps of teen Hunters with lightning reflexes and magical abilities can protect the populace from the daily attacks. Joyeaux Charmand is a mountain girl from a close knit village who comes to the big city to join the Hunters. Joy thinks she is only there to perform her civic duty and protect the capitol Cits, or civilians, but as cameras follow her every move, she soon learns that the more successful she is in her hunts, the more famous she becomes. With millions of fans watching her on reality TV, Joy begins to realize that Apex is not all it seems. She is forced to question everything she grew up believing about the legendary Hunters and the very world she lives in. Soon she finds that her fame may be part of a deep conspiracy that threatens to upend the protective structure built to keep dark magic out. The monsters are getting in and it is up to Joy to find out why.  

The Review:

Just when I thought I was worn out on the YA genre, Hunter comes along and knocks my socks off! I’ve been a fan of Mercedes Lackey for years (with the Dragon Jousters series claiming the spot as my favorite), so I knew that, even though she was tackling a younger demographic, it was still going to be fantastic – and it was. She delivered a cool, creative book with dangerous monsters, memorable characters, and a (mostly) unpredictable (and exciting!) plot-line. The best compliment I can give this book is that it compelled me back to it almost obsessively all the way to the end. Most books, I’ve found, can wait… this one could not!

By far, my favorite element of the book were the Hunters and their kick-butt role in this futuristic society. They were essentially celebrities – all of their activities (everything from their epic hunts down to their most mundane activities) were recorded for public viewing, and each Hunter was given a rating based on popularity. It was a neat dynamic, and I loved the action, the comaraderie, and the element of competition this concept brought into play.

While the main draw of the book for me was the concept and loads of action and adventure, I also really liked the characters – especially Joyeaux, the main POV. She was smart, resourceful, compassionate, and perfectly capable of handling herself in dangerous situations. She also always THOUGHT THINGS THROUGH, and whenever I had suspicions about a character or situation, so did she. This may seem trivial, but I’ve read at least a dozen YA novels over the last year where the supposedly intelligent heroines proceed to make one harebrained decision after another simply so the author could advance the plot. Joyeaux was a breath of fresh air because she came across logical and, essentially, like a real person. I especially loved how she handled conflicts, specifically with the main bully in the story – superb!

Overall, I’m very pleased with Hunter and am lamenting the year I’ll have to wait to read the next one. There’s no doubt I’ll be recommending it as often as I can. The only thing I’ll disclaim is that it takes a few chapters to really get going, but once it does – magic!

*Thank you Disney Book Group, NetGalley, and Mercedes Lackey for the chance to read and review an early copy of Hunter!

Other books you might like:

 by Niki Hawkes

Aug 20 2015
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Book Review: Breakout by Ann Aguirre

Breakout by Ann Aguirre

Title: Breakout

Author: Ann Aguirre

Series: The Dred Chronicles #3

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Overview: The prison ship Perdition has become a post-battle charnel house with only a handful of Dred’s soldiers still standing and now being hunted by Silence’s trained tongueless assassins. Forging an uneasy alliance with mercenary commander Vost—who is their only chance at escape—the Dread Queen will do whatever it takes to end her life sentence on Perdition and keep the survivors alive long enough to cobble together a transport capable of getting them off station. If Dred and her crew can win the deadly game of cat and mouse, the payoff is not only life but freedom—a prize sweeter than their wildest dreams. Yet the sadistic Silence would rather destroy Perdition than let a single soul slip from her grasp…

The Review:

I love Ann Aguirre’s work. She always manages to take me on an amazing adventure alongside quirky, memorable characters. The Dred Chronicles were no different, and I sit here in awe at how she managed to incorporate a tender love story amidst bloodly battles on a space station prison. And you know what? It totally worked, providing a stellar balance of action and romance. All I can say is, I thoroughly enjoyed this series and sincerely hope it’s not the last story she tells from this universe.

I think it’s important to note that Havoc, book 2 in this series, is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It was action-packed, fast-paced, and heart-wrenching, topped off with great characters, cool aliens, freaky enemies, and a killer setting (seriously – the overall atmosphere was unlike anything I’ve ever read – it was awesome!). Breakout had all of those same elements but, while I still appreciate it as a series ender, I’m sad to say I didn’t like it quite as much (but definitely think it’s still worth the read!!!). And my reasoning comes down to pacing:

The first half of the book, where I felt the most intensity and emotional investment, was kind of rushed. There were several major events illustrated by only a few paragraphs, and I don’t think either my brain or my emotions had enough time to process everything. Simultaneously, the end half of the book, where I felt the story had reached its climax and was already in its resolution phase, was unproportionately drawn out. Personally, I would’ve loved to see the pacing distribution more heavily weighted towards the front, but that’s just me.

All that said though, I still loved this series as a whole and consider Aguirre one of my favorite authors. Although this is a spinoff of her Sirantha Jax series, I think it stands solidly on its own (but you should still totally read about Jax if you can because her story is amazing). Space opera fans, hold onto your seats because The Dred Chronicles are nothing if not a wild ride!

*Thank you Penguin Group Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW, NetGalley, and Ann Aguirre for the chance to read and review an early copy of Breakout!

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

Aug 14 2015
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Top Ten Authors I’ve Read The Most Books From!

top ten tuesday

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Well, this post is embarrassingly late. I blame over ambition… And a horrifying eye strain issue that kept me from reading, writing, and essentially functioning for three days. :/ In any case, I initially tried to narrow my list down to ten authors, but felt guilty for every one I had to knock off. Long story short, enjoy ALL THE AUTHORS I’ve read the most books from (my favorites, anyway).

Top Ten Fifteen Authors I’ve Read The Most Books From!

1. Richelle Mead

I’ve read everything she’s published and for the longest time have considered her my favorite author. Thank goodness she’s so prolific!

2. R.A. Salvatore

I love this series and think the author is great at sparking a sense of adventure and excitement. Even though Salvatore made the list, I still have several non-Drizzt books on my shelves waiting to be read.

3. Brandon Sanderson

So many amazing stories – it’s difficult to believe they all came from one mind. I have not read a single Sanderson that got lower than 4 stars – in fact, most of them were solid 5s!

4. Kim Harrison/Dawn Cook

I actually read Kim Harrison first as Dawn Cook then got really bummed when four or five years went by where she didn’t publish anything new… Imagine my delight when I discovered her Rachel Morgan series (which is now my favorite urban fantasy series)!

5. Glenda Larke

I love Glenda Larke with a passion, so much so that I was even willing to pay astronomical shipping to buy her Mirage series from overseas. Her world building is phenomenal and her stories are unforgettable – I recommend all of them!

6. Raymond E. Feist

This is the author/series that really ignited my love of fantasy. I’ve been slowly making my way through all the books, savoring each one as I go, for the last fifteen years and am finally getting close to having read them all.

7. Patricia Briggs

Patricia Briggs is such a cool author – she’s made a huge fan out of me with her Mercy Thompson series, and I have also thoroughly enjoyed her fantasy novels (although I admit I still have a few of those to read). I like her. :-)

8. Daniel Abraham

Daniel Abraham is an author who does not get enough credit for his vast array of works (although, some of that might be due to his many pen names). Regardless, I’ve read most of his works and appreciate all of them.

9. Julie E. Czerneda

Czerneda is my favorite science fiction author, and I have to thank Luis Royo for putting them on my radar with his gorgeous cover art. I am super excited for This Gulf of Time and Stars coming out within the next couple of months!

10. Robin Hobb

It is so difficult for me to declare which author is my all-time favorite, but with every new book by Robin Hobb, that decision becomes easier and easier. She is a remarkable author, and her books stay with me years after I’ve read them.

11. Brian Jacques

I didn’t start taking reading seriously until my eleventh year, when I came across The Outcast of Redwall in my middle school library and decided I wanted to get good enough at reading to tackle a novel of that size. It was a major revelation in my life, and I have enjoyed each of these books countless times throughout the years.

12. Ann Aguirre

Aguirre might not be my favorite author, but she sure as hell makes my top five. I have completely enjoyed everything I’ve read by her and am impressed that she can brilliantly write stories from so many different genres.

13. Jacqueline Carey

I love this series with a passion and have not even made my way through all of them, but only because I take several weeks to savor each one. I am super eager to read her new urban fantasy series, but I’m equally terrified to run out of Carey books to read.

14. Keri Arthur

As many books as I’ve read from this fantastic urban fantasy author, I still have about double that amount before I’ve read everything she’s published. I like her newer stuff better than the older, and her Riley Jensen series is still among my all-time favorites.

15. Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

This was arguably one of the earliest series that I read to completion (not counting all of the spinoff novels, although I did read a bunch of those as well). I think these are an excellent introduction to the realm of fantasy and recommend it often to young readers wanting to tackle the genre without getting into anything too heavy.

I love all of the authors on this list, and would like to pay an honorable mention to Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Mindy McGinnis, Rae Carson, Rachel Aaron, and Melissa Landers. All of these authors would have made the list if they’d had more books out – I completely devour anything new that gets published! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my really long, really late list!

What authors have you read the most books from?

by Niki Hawkes