Make Up Reading

3 out of 5 stars Thank you to Random Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. In the world Coin lives  there are Royals, Legals and the Nameless.. The Royals are well, Royals so I think you know what they are then there are the Legals. Legals can live in the city and have a home. They however cannot get above a certain status and then last but not least there are the Nameless. The Nameless are exactly that, they have no names and since they do not have a name they cannot work or have a home. They wear clothes that have been discarded by the higher classes. Clothes that have black marks on them so everyone will know that they are "worthless". They give themselves names. When the King dies everyone waits to see who will be the next King or Queen though most assume that  Esther, the Kings daughter will be the next Queen. When the King or Queen die they must pick their successor  by saying their name. O...

4 out of 5 stars Thank you to Netgalley and Delacourt for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I love a good retelling and this is definitely a good one. This is a retelling of the classic fairy tale "The Twelve  Dancing Princesses".  This is a Gothic retelling of the tale told through the POV of  Annaleigh one of the middle of twelve sisters. The family resides at Highnmoor Manor on an Island and one by one each sister is found dead. Each death more tragic than the last one. Everyone believes that there is a curse upon the family and basically the sisters are just waiting to see who will die next. Annaleigh has gotten to the point that she can't even cry anymore as she continues to lose her sisters. After all of the grief Annaleigh's step Mother suggest they start living again instead of always being in mourning. Annaleigh is not sure that this is something that she wants to do but for the sake of her sisters she d...

4.5 out of 5 stars Thanks to Netgalley and Red Rogue Press for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review. Alice and Wonderland is one of my very favorite classics. I remember reading Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass over an over as a kid. Now that I am an adult I often seek out re-tellings because I find it fascinating to see what people kind of interesting takes authors will do with the story.  I found this to be a fun, quirky tale of what happened to Alice after she returned from her adventures in Wonderland. Alice is fifteen and never stopped believing in Wonderland even though everyone thinks she has lost her mind. Her family is so worried that they continue to try and find treatments for Alice. Hoping against hope that she will forget her obsession with Wonderland. When Alice gets a chance to go back to Wonderland to help stop the Red Queen she agrees. Though she doesn't want to kill anyone she really wants to help and is willing to do whatever she can. ...

5 out of 5 stars This is a lovely fairy tale/fantasy that takes place in the 1920's. When we first meet Casiopea Tun she is living with her Mother in her Grandfather's estate. Since her Father Casiopea has basically spent her life as a slave for her Grandfather and her mean cousin her resents her. She dreams of someday leaving. Setting out for an adventure in the great big world but her reality is that she spends much of her time scrubbing floors and polishing shoes. One day Casiopea is banned from going on a visit with her family she finds a chest. Though she always tries to be good she can't stop herself from wanting to open the mysterious chest. Perhaps her Grandfather keeps coins there and even though she is honest she is also desperate to get out of the life she is living. Maybe she could grab a few coins and hide them away for her escape fund? When she opens the chest she discovers something much more different than she was expecting. She discovers that the chest is...

I am so glad that I picked up this series. I loved "Strange the Dreamer" but I loved this book even more. You really got a great background on the world and how many of the characters became who they are. Lazlo and Sarai are definitely one my most favorite couples ever! Their love story is just so beautiful.  What I love so much about this story is the way Laini Taylor writes villains. There are so many layers to them and you often find yourself feeling so much for them. I really don't want to ruin this for you so I will just say that this is an absolutely beautiful follow up to "Strange the Dreamer". You will not be disappointed!

5 out of 5 stars I have been hearing about this book for about a year when one of my top booktubers starting raving about how much she loved the book. Her love of this book had me super curious to pick this up but then another book would come out and I would end up getting that one. I also started reading a lot of ARCs so that had made me a bit busier. I finally bought this in audio form and I am so glad that I did. When we first meet Lazlo Strange, a foundling raised by Monks who has spent most of his life in the library reading and dreaming. Life has been pretty dull for the librarian until "The God Slayer" comes to town looking to create the perfect group to help him with a very special mission to help protect the people of the town Weep. Lazlo is surprised and thrilled to be chosen to go along even though he has no idea why they would they be interested in a quiet, shy dreamer. Meanwhile in the citadel above the city of Weep a young Goddess named Sarai, one of only five G...

I have read so many so far this year that I have found to be just okay that I was thrilled to read a book I actually enjoyed. That being said I was hoping for just a bit more. The story was beautiful and the characters were lovely. The problem is that you could figure out what would happen the moment the lead characters decided to go the the show in town. That, was a bit disappointing. What matters the most here though is the main theme of the book and the Author did a lovely portraying that. The love between sisters and the sacrifices one was willing to make for the other was heart warming. I would say this was a sweet, warm fantasy. 

3.75 stars This was actually a very hard book to rate for me. For one thing it is one of the most hyped, popular books that I have ever read and I went into it very excited. However, this was one of the slowest books I have ever read. I listened to it on audio and the every VA was fantastic so it had nothing to do with that. For me the book just didn't get going until there was about 45% left. The reason I chose to rate it what I did was because when this book got started it really got started! There were many surprises, twists and turns around every corner. I loved the secrets that the characters that kept from us. The intricate plots woven together kept me hooked. I had no issue with the fact that this totally ends in a cliffhanger. My only other main issue is the fact that it seems like everyone seems to pair up. I love a good romance but we don't need all six of the main characters to either be in love or heading that way. Would I recommend this book? In a heartbeat. I...

I would like to thank Netgalley and  Atria/Emily Bestler Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this lovely historical fantasy to read and review! 4.5 stars The Swan is a quaint, family run pub near the river Thames where everyone goes to weave their tales to eager listeners. There is nothing better than  sitting down, having a drink,smoking a pipe and getting lost in a lovely or perhaps even a spooky story.. Lets be honest everyone enjoys a story but often once a story is told it is almost immediately. That is not the case when a tale is told at the Swan, it begins to take on a life of it's own.  One dark night during the Winter Solstice a broken and beaten man walks into the Swan holding the body of a young girl. Everyone is certain she is dead and they most certainly are right until all of the sudden she begins to breathe once again. From there the stories gets even more interesting. This is a lovely, well written story that will hold your interest. ...