Jill's Book Blog

Review: Mirror, Mirror (Twisted Tales #6)

Title: Mirror, Mirror (Twisted Tales #6)
Author: Jen Calonita
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: April 2, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

What if the Evil Queen poisoned the prince?

Following her beloved mother’s death, the kingdom falls into the hands of Snow White’s stepmother, commonly referred to as “the Evil Queen” by those she rules. Snow keeps her head down at the castle, hoping to make the best of her situation.

But when new information about her parents resurfaces and a plot to kill her goes haywire, everything changes for Snow. With the help of a group of wary dwarfs, a kind prince she thought she’d never see again, and a mysterious stranger from her past, Snow embarks on a quest to stop the Evil Queen and take back her kingdom. But can she stop an enemy who knows her every move and will stop at nothing to retain her power… including going after the ones Snow loves?

Review:

This is the first book that I’ve read in the Twisted Tales series. I love adaptations of fairytales, so I knew I would love this book!

This book is a modern adaptation of the classic Disney movie Snow White. It follows both Snow and the Evil Queen, Ingrid. I liked how familiar the story was, since I grew up watching the movie. It’s been many years since I watched it, but the characters were the same, so I could imagine what they looked like.

Though this story is based on the Disney movie, it has more modern themes. Snow is a leader who takes charge of the plan to remove the Evil Queen from power. She has more power than the original Snow White would have had in the 1937 movie. Gender roles were reversed when her prince was placed in a glass coffin instead of her (This is not a spoiler because it happens in the prologue). Snow is a much more active character in this modern story.

I loved this story! I’ll definitely have to check out the other books in the series.

Thank you to Disney Book Group for providing me an e-galley of this book via NetGalley.

Stacking the Shelves – March 30

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 bought received six books I ordered from the Book Outlet:

A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena

Alex and Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz

Batman: Harley Quinn by Paul Dini, Neil Googe

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner

I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo

The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo

I received six books from Thomas Allen and Son:

Changeling (The Oddmire #1) by William Ritter

A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder by Victoria Hamilton

The Darwin Affair by Tim Mason

Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small

The Fever King by Victoria Lee

Castle of Lies by Kiersi Burkhart

Thank you Thomas Allen and Son for these books!

What books did you get this week?

Review: Since We Last Spoke

Title: Since We Last Spoke
Author: Brenda Rufener
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: April 2, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

When true love is shattered by tragedy—how much would you risk to save it all?

When Aggi Frank and Max Granger finally admitted their feelings for each other last December, it felt like love was beautiful and endless… until it wasn’t.

A fatal car accident involving their older siblings throws their lives into sudden chaos. And with a restraining order now in place between the two bitter households, Aggi and Max’s love runs cold. Being together again seems like a distant fantasy, even though they share the same driveway.

Still, Plum Lake is a small town, and staying apart can’t last forever. Aggi and Max eventually reunite at a lake-house party hosted by a mutual friend and break the ice after a year of silence. But just as they begin to rebuild their relationship, the unthinkable happens when Aggi’s little sister, Grace, ﬂees from home after their father spirals into a ﬁt of rage. With a support system of friends close by, Aggi and Max must confront each other and their families in the hopes of mending all the broken pieces.

Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven and Nicola Yoon, Brenda Rufener’s (Where I Live) second heartbreaking and uplifting novel captures the ups and downs of star-crossed lovers in the face of unimaginable grief, the fragile balance of their family relations, and the rocky journey to healing, peace, and forgiveness.

Review:

I loved this story!

This story was very emotional. The two main characters both lost their older siblings in a car accident. Max’s brother was killed in the accident, in which Aggi’s sister was driving. Aggi’s sister couldn’t live with the guilt of killing her boyfriend, so she killed herself. That was bad enough, but the two families, which had always been close neighbours, had a huge feud. Aggi’s dad sued Max’s dad, causing a lot of paranoia and driving a wedge between Max and Aggi. There was a lot of tension whenever the two families came face to face.

This story deals with a lot of serious issues, including suicide and abuse. Aggi’s sister commits suicide, because she was being blamed for a car crash, which was just an accident. Max’s friend, Henry, was abused by his father and brothers. Aggi’s dad abused her mother and sister as a way to show his pain. All of these things were difficult to read, but they are real parts of life that happen sometimes. There are hotlines listed at the end of the book for anyone who needs to talk about these problems.

The only thing I would change about this book is to make the two narratives more distinct. The narrative switches between Aggi’s and Max’s perspectives. Sometimes I was confused as to who was talking, because they sounded the same. This was especially confusing when they were together and the narrative switched quickly between both of them to create more tension. It would have been a much smoother read if their voices were more distinct.

I really enjoyed this story. It was a quick, but emotional, read.

First Lines Friday – March 29

This is a weekly meme hosted by Wandering Words, where you give the first few lines of a book to hook your readers before introducing the book.

Here are my first lines:

“After a year of slavery in the Salt Mines of Endovier, Celaena Sardothien was accustomed to being escorted everywhere in shackles and at sword-point. Most of the thousands of slaves in Endovier received similar treatment – though an extra half-dozen guards always walked Celaena to and from the mines. “

Do you recognize these first lines?

…

And the book is… Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas.

Goodreads synopsis:

In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king’s champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass–and it’s there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena’s fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

Have you read Throne of Glass? What did you think of it?

Review: Sky Without Stars (System Divine #1)

Title: Sky Without Stars (System Divine #1)
Author: Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: March 26, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A thief. An officer. A guardian.

Three strangers, one shared destiny . . .

When the Last Days came, the planet of Laterre promised hope. A new life for a wealthy French family and their descendants. But five hundred years later, it’s now a place where an extravagant elite class reigns supreme; where the clouds hide the stars and the poor starve in the streets; where a rebel group, long thought dead, is resurfacing.

Whispers of revolution have begun—a revolution that hinges on three unlikely heroes…

Chatine is a street-savvy thief who will do anything to escape the brutal Regime, including spy on Marcellus, the grandson of the most powerful man on the planet.

Marcellus is an officer—and the son of a renowned traitor. In training to take command of the military, Marcellus begins to doubt the government he’s vowed to serve when his father dies and leaves behind a cryptic message that only one person can read: a girl named Alouette.

Alouette is living in an underground refuge, where she guards and protects the last surviving library on the planet. But a shocking murder will bring Alouette to the surface for the first time in twelve years…and plunge Laterre into chaos.

All three have a role to play in a dangerous game of revolution—and together they will shape the future of a planet.

Power, romance, and destiny collide in this sweeping reimagining of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece, Les Misérables.

Review:

This new YA series follows the new trend in YA Fantasy books which have French settings. I really like these settings, because most of the cities are lavish and extravagant, but they also have secret societies and criminals.

The story followed three characters: Chatine, Marcellus, and Alouette. They all come from different levels in society, but they become mixed up in each other’s lives. Since there were three different perspectives, the different areas that they come from were explored, giving a complete image of the world they live in.

This story is a retelling of Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. I also love adaptations. However, I’ve never read or watched Les Misérables, so this story was very new to me. I read a graphic novel adaptation last year, so I know the general story, but this story is a unique take on the original. I really liked how it was adapted to a futuristic setting on a different planet.

There were lots of twists that kept me guessing throughout the story. The ending was so good. Each character’s story had a bit of a cliffhanger, which made me wonder what was going to happen next. I can’t wait to read the next book when it comes out!

TBR Thursday – March 28

TBR Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly Faye Reads, where you post a title from your shelf or e-reader and find out what others think about it.

My pick this week is A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic #2) by V.E. Schwab.

Goodreads Synopsis:

It has been four months since a mysterious obsidian stone fell into Kell’s possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Prince Rhy was wounded, and since the nefarious Dane twins of White London fell, and four months since the stone was cast with Holland’s dying body through the rift–back into Black London.

Now, restless after having given up his smuggling habit, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks as she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games–an extravagant international competition of magic meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries–a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

And while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night will reappear in the morning. But the balance of magic is ever perilous, and for one city to flourish, another London must fall.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Review: Fracture Me (Shatter Me #2.5)

Title: Fracture Me (Shatter Me #2.5)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: December 17, 2013
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this electrifying sixty-page companion novella to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, discover the fate of the Omega Point rebels as they go up against The Reestablishment. Set during and soon after the final moments of Unravel Me, Fracture Me is told from Adam’s perspective.

As Omega Point prepares to launch an all-out assault on The Reestablishment soldiers stationed in Sector 45, Adam’s focus couldn’t be further from the upcoming battle. He’s reeling from his breakup with Juliette, scared for his best friend’s life, and as concerned as ever for his brother James’s safety. And just as Adam begins to wonder if this life is really for him, the alarms sound. It’s time for war.

On the battlefield, it seems like the odds are in their favor—but taking down Warner, Adam’s newly discovered half brother, won’t be that easy. The Reestablishment can’t tolerate a rebellion, and they’ll do anything to crush the resistance . . . including killing everyone Adam has ever cared about.

Review:

I’m obsessed with this series! I love that there are novellas to read between novels. They fill in the gaps in time between the novels.

I didn’t realize that this novella was written from Adam’s point of view. I thought they were all from Warner’s perspective, just like the first one. I was so excited that this one was told by Adam, because he wasn’t in the previous book as much. He’s a complicated character, who had to make some tough decisions in this story.

One of my favourite parts of these novellas is that they show parts of the story that couldn’t be shown in the other novels. Since the novels are told from Juliette’s perspective, only her side of the story is told. There are important things going on around her, so it is great to see those events too. This was especially important for this part of the story, because Juliette wasn’t present for a lot of the battle at the end of Unravel Me.

I loved this novella! I can’t wait to read Ignite Me very soon!

‘Waiting on’ Wednesday – March 27

This is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. In this post we highlight a book that’s highly anticipated.

The book that I’m waiting on this Wednesday is Broken Throne (Red Queen #4.5) by Victoria Aveyard. The release date is May 7, 2019.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Return once more to the deadly and dazzling world of Red Queen in Broken Throne, a beautifully designed, must-have companion to the chart-topping series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard.

The perfect addition to the #1 New York Times bestselling Red Queen series, this gorgeously designed package features three brand-new novellas, two previously published novellas, Steel Scars and Queen Song, and never-before-seen maps, flags, bonus scenes, journal entries, and much more exclusive content.

Fans will be delighted to catch up with beloved characters after the drama of War Storm and be excited to hear from brand-new voices as well. This stunning collection is not to be missed!

What books are you waiting on this week?

Top 5 Wednesday – Books I Thought I’d Love But Didn’t

This meme is hosted by Lainey from Thoughts on Tomes. The Goodreads Group for Top 5 Wednesday can be found here.

This week’s prompt is Books You Thought You’d Hate But Ended Up Loving. However, I choose what books I read now since I get to pick so many ARCs. Instead, I’m listing the books I thought I’d love but didn’t. Here’s my list:

1. From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess by Meg Cabot

2. Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan

3. Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge by Lisa Jensen

4. Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds

5. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

What books did you think you’d love but didn’t?

Review: Work it, Girl: Run the Show Like CEO Oprah Winfrey

Title: Work it, Girl: Run the Show Like CEO Oprah Winfrey
Author: Caroline Moss, Sinem Erkas (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Nonfiction
Publisher: Lincoln Children’s Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: March 5, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A new series of empowering biographies featuring modern women.

When Oprah Winfrey was a little girl, she watched her grandma hang clothes out on the line. Oprah adored her grandma, but she knew in that moment her life would be different… And she was right.

Discover how Oprah became a billionaire CEO and media mogul in this true story of her life. Then, learn 10 key lessons from her work you can apply to your own life. Featuring inspiring quotes and mantras, this is a book for all kids wanting to forge their own career path.

Review:

I didn’t know much about Oprah’s life before reading this book. She came from very humble beginnings. She had to live with her grandmother as a child, and they didn’t have much. Her mother didn’t care for her the way she should. She was discriminated against because of her race, including not being able to sleep in the same building as her family because her skin was too dark. Oprah made the most of her opportunities in school to become a very successful business woman.

I loved the art in this book. Each illustration looks like pieces of paper cut out and layered to make a picture. There are some parts where different materials are used, such as ribbon to create Oprah’s hair. One of my favourite pictures had a VCR tape with the tape coming out of the plastic to create an image of Oprah. This was such a creative way to illustrate the book!

This book is for kids, so it has simple language. It talks about the hardships that Oprah had to go through to get to where she is today, so it doesn’t talk down to the young reader. There was a list of further reading at the back, though I don’t think some books should have been included because they are too mature for children reading this book. It had a parental advisory next to the book titles, but I don’t think they should have been included. My copy is an ARC, so this may have been changed in the final copy.

I loved this book. I’ll be reading the other book in this series soon, which is about J.K. Rowling.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Review:

What to read next:

Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen by Serena Valentino

Part of Your World (Twisted Tales #5) by Liz Braswell

A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena

Alex and Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz

Batman: Harley Quinn by Paul Dini, Neil Googe

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner

I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo

The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo

Changeling (The Oddmire #1) by William Ritter

A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder by Victoria Hamilton

The Darwin Affair by Tim Mason

Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small

The Fever King by Victoria Lee

Castle of Lies by Kiersi Burkhart

Goodreads Synopsis:

Review:

What to read next:

Where I Live by Brenda Rufener

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Goodreads synopsis:

Goodreads Synopsis:

Review:

What to read next:

Enchantée by Gita Trelease

Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd

Goodreads Synopsis:

Goodreads Synopsis:

Review:

What to read next:

Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi

Goodreads Synopsis:

1. From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess by Meg Cabot

2. Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan

3. Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge by Lisa Jensen

4. Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds

5. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

Goodreads Synopsis:

Review:

What to read next:

Work it, Girl: Boss the Bestseller List Like J.K. Rowling by Caroline Moss and Sinem Erkas (illustrator)