Belinda’s Book Nook Book Review: Soundless by Richelle Mead

December 11, 2015 by Leave a Comment

soundless

Title: Soundless
Author: Richelle Mead
Copyright: November 10, 2015
Genre:  fantasy, YA fairytale and folklore adaptations
Format: book  Pages: 266

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.

When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.

But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.

My Thoughts:

The Lure: I heard about this book on BookTube and wanted to check it out for myself. No reviews were made yet, so I was able to go into this with only my own expectations.  The idea of incorporating Chinese folklore to shape this story was very appealing to me. I studied Japanese arts and Literature in college and since I was young something mystical has drawn me to Asian folklore in general. Another thing that drew me to this book was the idea of having a predominantly deaf set of characters. I wanted to see how the author would deliver this information.

The book: Let’s face it, the cover is gorgeous. I like the beautiful colors, typography and the strength the cover model portrays on the cover. I typically remove the dustjacket off of the books while I read so as not to damage them, but I actually kept this one on so that I could see pretty every time I sat down to read. It was a very short book with only 266 pages but I think the author delivered a great story in such a short framework.

The characters: I really enjoyed reading about the main character, Fei and was drawn to her work as an apprentice to capture the daily events  with her paint brush. Her love of her craft was inspiring and her strength throughout the book was also a pleasure to witness. Li Wei, the handsome miner was also fun to follow and their on and off banter, made for a slow romance to be realized. I enjoyed the intertwining of the folklore to shape the existence of these people and how it shaped their beliefs and behavior.

Pacing: I felt like this author did a great job with the pacing of this book. It was a fairly short book. If I had one wish I would like more elaboration on the folklore that was brought in more strongly towards the end.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and found that I breezed through it very quickly.  I would give it 4 1/2 butterflies because I really enjoyed the story and I found the inclusion of the folklore refreshing. Particularly with a book market that likes to reuse the same story over and over again. A true breath of fresh air this one was for me.

4.5rating

Happy reading my friends!

Belinda

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Ebook deals

December 4, 2015 by Leave a Comment

ebookdeals

As many of you may know, I love books and I enjoy them via multiple platforms (paperbooks, audiobooks and ebooks). So I am always on the hunt for great ebook deals pretty regularly and thought I would share the treasures I found yesterday for my Kindle.

The first book is called Where Women are Kings by Christie Watson. I had never heard of this book or author but the cover and price caught my eye so I took a look at the description:

“Elijah, seven years old, has a history of disruptive behaviour. His adoptive mother Nikki believes that she and her husband Obi are strong enough to accept his difficulties – and that her being white will not affect her ability to raise a black son.

Deborah, Elijah’s birth mother, is ever present, and her love for her son is a constant reminder for Nikki of something she’s not part of, that she’s never had.”

It sounds like an emotional ride but worth checking out for $1.99.

The second book, “The Miniaturist” by Jessie Burton has been on my wish list for some time and when I saw it for $1.99 I did a little happy dance. I have been hearing about this book all over booktube and would like to see if it lives up to the hype. This book is about:

“There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed…”

On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office-leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin.

But Nella’s world changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist-an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways . . .

Johannes’ gift helps Nella to pierce the closed world of the Brandt household. But as she uncovers its unusual secrets, she begins to understand-and fear-the escalating dangers that await them all. In this repressively pious society where gold is worshipped second only to God, to be different is a threat to the moral fabric of society, and not even a man as rich as Johannes is safe. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Is the miniaturist the key to their salvation . . . or the architect of their destruction?

Since my reading que is full for the remainder of the year, I will add them to my list for next.

Right now, is  a great time to find great bargains on ebooks on Amazon. So do check it out, you never know what hidden gem you will find.

Happy reading!

Belinda

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Belinda’s Book Nook Book Review: Walk on Earth a Stranger

November 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment

walktheearthastranger

Title: Walk on Earth a Stranger
Author: Rae Carson
Copyright: September 22, 2015
Genre:  historical fiction, fantasy
Format: book  Pages: 432

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.

Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.

She also has a secret.

Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.

When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.

The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush-era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift.

My Thoughts:

I just finished this book and wow, what a pleasant surprise. This is my first book written by Rae Carson that I have read. I remember hearing about this book all over booktube and thought the concept of a person that could sense gold in the ground was really cool. So I took a chance and pre-ordered it this summer. When it arrived, there was definitely insta- cover love! Very pretty cover and I dived right in.

The characters:

I really liked the main character Leah. She was both strong but still retained her youthful innocence when it came to her love interest.She of course couldn’t read her friend Jefferson so it allowed for a slow burn romance.

I also like how it touched even if lightly on the treatment of the Native Americans and Slavery in the story. Their encounters with the Native Americans were not stereotypical from the part of the Natives. However the ignorance of the whites was represented a bit with regards to the Native Americans and I think this was important for her to include that rather than ignore the prejudices that were prevalent during this time period (1849). Her inclusion of a free-black man was also a pleasant surprise and I liked that he played a big part in the story too.

The setting:

The book initially takes place in Leah’s hometown and then moves on the road towards the west and I truly enjoyed how the book took you on this journey with her. I know little about the American Gold rush and so historical fictions are my fancy for peaking my interest in different aspects in history. I felt like the author did a great job with the details of the atmosphere.

The story:

I was not disappointed in this book. I think it quickly built a foundation of characters and drew me right in. I felt the pacing was also great. I especially love reading author’s notes at the end of their books. Carson Rae expanded on some of the thought behind her characters and her reasons why to include them. Her decisions reminded me of Sue Monk Kidd’s author notes in that she chose to include a free-black man and they in fact were real people.

The rights of women which were pretty much non-existent set up the stage for Leah’s struggle and eventual decision to dress and pretend to be a boy in order to make her journey. I found it both sad and fascinating to witness her journey as a girl pretending to be a boy and all of the rights the boys received.

Overall, wow, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to book 2.  So I will be giving this book 4.5 butterflies.

4.5ratingHappy reading friends!

Belinda

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What do you do when one of your most anticipated books arrives on your doorstep?

November 12, 2015 by Leave a Comment

winter2Make some tea, find a cozy spot and read!!  I began this series over a year ago and this is the final book in the Lunar Chronicles series. It’s been a long time coming, hence why I don’t typically read books too soon in series so that I don’t have to wait too long. The boys had the day off yesterday for Veteran’s day and after hanging out with them, I rushed to make my tea and head up to my nook to read. I first read the last chapter of the last book, “Cress” and then I dived right in. The day was absolutely a great book reading day – overcast, drizzle with periods of rain.  Yup, a book day indeed.

winter3I love the natural light in my nook and my comfy IKEA chair. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily I could climb back into the story. The sounds of the boys playing sort of faded to a background while I immersed my senses into the city of Artemesia!  I fell back in with the characters and revisted all of my feelings for them.

winter4After lunch with the boys, I stole a little more time to read. I am happy this book is a bit of a chunker because this will be the farewell to the story and characters when I complete it and I tend to slow when I near the end of a good book or series. So I am grateful Marissa Meyer didn’t skimp.

You know, I always say to people who say they don’t like to read, that “they haven’t met the book for them”. Because when you do, it takes places and makes feel things and sometimes even challenges you. So I believe we are all readers, and some are just waiting for the right one to arrive.

Sending blessings your way,

Belinda

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