Jill lives in Toronto, Canada. She has studied English, Creative Writing, and Publishing. Jill is the creator and content producer of Jill’s Book Blog, where she has published a blog post every day for the last four years, including 5-7 book reviews a week. She can usually be found with her nose in a book.
Title: Manga Classics: Macbeth Author: Stacy King, Crystal S. Chan, William Shakespeare, Julien Choy Genre: Manga, Graphic Novel Publisher: Udon Entertainment Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: ebook Release Date: September 1, 2018 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Macbeth, the Thane of Cawdor, is a loyal subject to Duncan, the King of Scotland. At least, he used to be. With tempting words and treacherous images, three witches and his own wife inspire Macbeth to a terrible act of treason and murder. As one murder follows another, Macbeth begins to lose his grip upon both his sanity and his hard-won kingdom – but what could possibly unseat him from his bloody throne?
Featuring lush visuals and the FULL, ORIGINAL TEXT
of Shakespeare’s brutal Scottish tragedy, Macbethis the second title in Manga Classics‘ Shakespeare line, an unflinching version of this classic tale!
Review:
I read Macbeth in high school many years ago. I don’t remember all the details of it, so I wanted to read this Manga Classic graphic novel as a refresher. It was a great adaptation.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s madness was illustrated very well in this graphic novel. Macbeth start out as a fairly good, ambitious character. As he grows in status and kills people, he developed shadows on his face and aged a lot. I liked the way his madness changed his appearance.
I also liked the way the metaphors were illustrated in the pictures. There were many animal metaphors, including snakes and bears. When they were mentioned in dialogue, they were accompanied by an image of the animal. This reinforced the written text.
I love these Manga Classics! They are great adaptations of classic plays and novels!
Thank you Udon Entertainment for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Manga Classics: Romeo and Juliet by Stacy King, William Shakespeare
Manga Classics: The Count of Monte Cristo by Stacy King, Alexandre Dumas
Have you read Manga Classics: Macbeth? What did you think of it?
This blog meme is hosted by Book Date. It is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile!
What I just finished:
This weekend I finished Dear Wife by Kimberly Belle.
What I’m currently reading:
I’m currently reading Ordinary Girls by Blair Thornburgh.
What I’m reading next:
Next I will be reading Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane.
What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?
Title: Get Out of Town (Riverdale #2) Author: Micol Ostow Genre: Young Adult Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Source: Purchased Format: Paperback Release Date: May 28, 2019 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
When Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead take a road trip, they discover that their small-town problems seem to follow them wherever they go.
Archie’s on trial for murder, and the evidence is stacked against him. Betty, Veronica, and Jughead all know that Archie is being framed by Hiram Lodge, but how can they prove it?
The gang comes up with a last-ditch plan to prove Archie’s innocence: They have to go back to the scene of the crime. They have to go back to Shadow Lake.
Threats are around every corner deep in the woods at the Lodge family cabin. Will the teens find the evidence they need to clear Archie’s name? And more importantly, will they make it back to Riverdale alive?
Review:
I loved the first book in this series, which was set before the events of the show Riverdale began. I was so excited to read this new book in the series!
This story switches perspectives between all of the main characters in Riverdale. All of their voices are authentic. I could hear the characters’ voices while I was reading. This made the book so good!
The story started out very well. It switched between characters frequently and was exciting. However, it got a little boring when Archie, Veronica, Betty, and Jughead went to the Lodge. They had some flashbacks to random events at Riverdale High, which didn’t move the story forward.
The author had the challenge of writing this book to take place in the middle of the TV series. The book had to give some new details to keep fans of the show entertained, but not spoil anything or change what ultimately happens on the show. She did a great job of writing this book.
This book is great for fans of Riverdale.
What to read next:
The Day Before (Riverdale #1) by Micol Ostow
Archie, Vol. 1 by Mark Wait, Fiona Staples
Have you read Get Out of Town? What did you think of it?
The meme that dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl.
This Sunday I’m reading Dear Wife by Kimberly Belle.
Goodreads Synopsis:
From the bestselling author of The Marriage Lie and Three Days Missing comes a riveting new novel of suspense about a woman who, in a fight for survival, must decide just how far she’ll go to escape the person she once loved
Beth Murphy is on the run…
For nearly a year, Beth has been planning for this day. A day some people might call any other Wednesday, but Beth prefers to see it as her new beginning–one with a new look, new name and new city. Beth has given her plan significant thought, because one small slip and her violent husband will find her.
Sabine Hardison is missing…
A couple hundred miles away, Jeffrey returns home from a work trip to find his wife, Sabine, is missing. Wherever she is, she’s taken almost nothing with her. Her abandoned car is the only evidence the police have, and all signs point to foul play.
As the police search for leads, the case becomes more and more convoluted. Sabine’s carefully laid plans for her future indicate trouble at home, and a husband who would be better off with her gone. The detective on the case will stop at nothing to find out what happened and bring this missing woman home. Where is Sabine? And who is Beth? The only thing that’s certain is that someone is lying and the truth won’t stay buried for long.
Title: Once Upon a Frog (Whatever After #8) Author: Sarah Mlynowski Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy Publisher: Scholastic Press Source: Borrowed from a friend Format: Paperback Release Date: April 25, 2017 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
My brother, Jonah, and I just want to TALK to the magic mirror — we’re not planning on traveling into any fairytales today. Promise.
Except we do wind up going through the mirror, this time into the story of The Frog Prince. The princess, who’s supposed to transform the cute little frog back into a handsome prince, turns out to be super rude. Jonah and I decide we don’t want — or need — her help. We can take matters into our own hands and turn the frog into a prince ourselves! Can’t we?
Now we just have to:
– Climb out of a smelly well
– Canoe over a waterfall
– Sneak into a palace
– Kiss a frog (ack)!
And there’s no time to waste — let’s hop to it!
Review:
This story is a little different from the others in the series. In each book, Abby and Jonah travel to a fairy tale. They end up messing up the ending in some way, such as preventing Sleeping Beauty from falling asleep. However, in this one, they intentionally try to change the ending.
In the original story of the frog prince, the princess is so mean that she throws the frog against a wall which makes him turn back into a prince. Abby didn’t want this frog prince to have the same fate, so she stops the princess from rescuing him, and instead tries to change him back into a human. This doesn’t end as she planned, when it turns out that the prince is actually evil!
Abby was able to apply what she learned about the mean prince in the fairy tale to her real bully at school. This shows that kids can learn things from fairy tales, even if they aren’t set in real life.
I love this series! I can’t wait to read the next one which is based on Aladdin!
What to read next:
Genie in a Bottle (Whatever After #9) by Sarah Mlynowski
Upside-Down Magic (Upside-Down Magic #1) by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, Emily Jenkins
Have you read Once Upon a Frog? What did you think of it?
This is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
I was approved for a book on NetGalley from Penguin Random House Canada:
Sharon, Lois and Bram’s Skinnamarink by Sharon Hampson, Lois Lillienstein, Bram Morrison, Qin Leung
I was approved for a book on NetGalley from St. Martin’s Press:
The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy
I was approved for a book on NetGalley from Canelo:
The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen by Ada Bright and Cass Grafton
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada, St. Martin’s Press, and Canelo for these books!
Title: The Becoming of Noah Shaw (The Shaw Confessions #1) Author: Michelle Hodkin Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Publisher: Simon and Schuster Source: Library Format: Ebook Release Date: November 7, 2017 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
In the first book of the Shaw Confessions, the companion series to the New York Times bestselling Mara Dyer novels, old skeletons are laid bare and new promises prove deadly. This is what happens after happily ever after.
Everyone thinks seventeen-year-old Noah Shaw has the world on a string.
They’re wrong.
Mara Dyer is the only one he trusts with his secrets and his future.
He shouldn’t.
And both are scared that uncovering the truth about themselves will force them apart.
They’re right.
Review:
I’m so glad this series is continuing with Noah Shaw’s story. The Mara Dyer trilogy was only the beginning. Their story progresses a lot in this book.
Though Noah was one of the main characters in the Mara Dyer trilogy, he still remained a mystery. That series was narrated by Mara, so we only got to see her perspective. This book was narrated by Noah, so we got an inside look at what it’s like to be Noah. He is very distinct and different from Mara. Mara becomes the mysterious figure in this book.
I’ve flown through each of these books. I can read them in just a couple of hours. I can’t say too much without giving away the ending, but it was a fast-paced story! Also, there is a page with trigger warnings at the beginning. However, if you’re familiar with this series, you know that just about anything bad that can happen to a person happens in these books, including torture and suicide. The page turns into a bit of a joke, because if you can’t read about these subjects, this series is definitely not for you.
I loved the cliffhanger ending! I can’t wait to see what happens next!
What to read next:
The Reckoning of Noah Shaw (The Shaw Confessions #2) by Michelle Hodkin
Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi
Have you read The Becoming of Noah Shaw? What did you think of it?
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