Re-read 1-1-2019

I've read this book so many times, but it's been a few years. I decided that 2019 was going to be the year I re-read some of my favorite adult romances, and where better to start than Nora Roberts?

This may not have been the first Nora Roberts book I ever read, but it's close to it. Furthermore, it's one of my favorites by her. I've always wanted to go to Ireland, since I was a little girl. It was a dream I wasn't sure would ever come true for me. So for the longest time I lived vicariously through books and movies, hoping that one day I'd be able to experience it for myself.

My amazing husband took me to Ireland in the spring of 2017, and it was the most wonderful trip of my life. When I decided to read this book to kick of my 2019, I was nervous that it wasn't going to affect me the same way it used to, since I have been fortunate enough to experience Ireland first hand. I am so happy to say that not only was this book as wonderful as I remember, the level of nostalgia I had while reading this was truly gratifying. Her descriptions of Ireland and its people and just the overall atmosphere was spot-on perfect. From the very first scene in the pub, I was transported back.

As far as the actual romance, I really like these characters. There is such a fun hate-to-love between Rogan and Maggie. Their banter had me grinning like an idiot.

I also really enjoy all of the family dynamics. There is complexity and depth to the characters and the way they relate to one another.

One other thing I appreciate about Nora Robert's books is the obvious research that she puts into the things that are important to her characters. Maggie is an artist. Her primary medium is glass. Roberts describes the art of glassblowing in a way that lets the reader know that she did her research without it being boring. Granted, I'm not exactly sure I understand it all, but it was definitely well-written.

There is no doubt that Brandon Sanderson is a talented writer. He has the ability to write adult high fantasy that is accessible to not only people who already love adult high fantasy, but also younger readers. I think this series is a great bridge series if someone is wanting to move from middle or YA fantasy into stories with more adult themes and situations.

The magic system is unique and interesting, and this book expands upon it with the protagonist learning more about her abilities.

I also love the characters. There is a found family aspect to this group and I like that they all have such distinct personalities but they are working together for a common purpose.

I will say that there is a section in the middle that dragged a bit for me. It was still well-written, but it kind of felt like the author was stalling a bit. Especially all of the miscommunications between Vin and Elend. They seemed to have the same conversations, whether it was with each other, their friends, or their own internal monologue, several times. It was one of those things where if the two people in the relationship had just sat down together and used their words, a lot of hardship could've been avoided, and I don't like that.

That being said, the ending of this book made the lagging bits worth it. There was one moment at the end that my jaw literally dropped open and I had to re-read it multiple times before I could go on.

I'm really glad I have the next book on my shelves. Hopefully it won't take as long to pick it up as it did to pick up this book after I completed Mistborn.

I love Sarah Addison Allen's books. They just plain make me happy. I finish one and I can't stop smiling. This was no different.

I love the characters, the strong female friendships, the romance. There is something so compelling about her writing. It's simple, but lyrical. It's emotional, but it doesn't take itself too seriously.

It's difficult to put into words exactly how her books make me feel. I'm just left an ooey-gooey, gushy mess of happiness.

Claire Legrand is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. I loved Furyborn by her last year, and Sawkill Girls did not disappoint either.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for:

-LGBTQIA+ representation that is stated on the page. There is an asexual character and two characters who are lesbian and/or bisexual.

-Kick-ass ladies working together to take down a super-evil being. This is one of the most feminist YA books I've ever read. The entire message is about women making choices for themselves, taking on evil themselves instead of letting the corrupt patriarchy deal with the situation. It was great.

-A setting that is just as much a character as the people in the story. The Rock even has moments from its perspective.

-Evocative writing that sets an atmospheric and whimsically creepy tone. I don't know if anyone else would feel this, but I got Stranger Things vibes from this.

I will say that for people who are squeamish about horror, there are some gory moments in this book. I consider myself kind of wimpy when it comes to super graphic and grotesque details, and I was okay with this. I think the fact that the villain is a legit monster and not a person helps with that. It makes it more fantastical and less serial-killer.

I will say, I didn't care for the audiobook. I only listened to it for about a half hour before switching exclusively to the physical book. I just couldn't get into it for some reason. I kept getting distracted and confused about whose perspective I was following. I don't think the voice actor did enough to differentiate the characters voices. I had the same problem with Furyborn. Luckily, both of them caught my attention right away when I read the physical copy.

I also thought there were little bits that could've been streamlined just a bit. The book dragged just the tiniest bit leading up to the climax. A couple of moments felt a little repetitious. But other than that, I have very little to complain about.

I want to see this made into a movie or television series. Again, in the vein of Stranger Things or maybe Haunting of Hill House. Get on it, Netflix!

I've loved Anne of Green Gables since I was a child. Be that as it may, I'd never thought of looking into L.M. Montgomery's other works. I saw some people talking about this book on twitter as an underrated book they'd recommend, so I decided to check it out.

I really loved this book. It is wonderful. Valancy is a great protagonist. The idea that this book was written in the early 20th century is amazing, as it contains many feminist values.

I also love the romance in this book. It's sweet and fun and healthy.

This book just makes me happy, and it's definitely one of my favorite so far this year.

I love Ireland. I went for the first time (hopefully the first of many) in 2017, and it was absolutely in the top five experiences of my life (possibly top three).

I didn't realize when I picked this book up that it takes place primarily in Ireland. It'd been sitting on my shelves for so long I had no clue what it was even about when I started it.

The passages talking about Ireland were so beautiful and touched my heart. There was some really lovely prose that mirrored my own feelings about Ireland.

Perhaps that's why this book was so disappointing to me. It is obvious that the author has a way with words. But the story itself is seriously lacking.

First of all, there is an egregious case of insta-love here. The characters meet and are making out within a couple of hours. Within a week they're in love, and he's transformed from a moody alcoholic to a totally stable guy. OOKAYYY... There was no foundation to their relationship. They didn't earn their romance. So everything that happens regarding them after that feels hollow and unrealistic.

Secondly, the level of melodrama in this book is out of control. Think of every soap opera trope you can and throw it together. That is this book.

There is a ghost story in here that could've been good. It could've been twisty and dark. But it ended on such a lukewarm note. It was almost as if the author chickened out at the last minute and decided to turn it into some sort of redemption arc.

There are several 'reveals' throughout this book that are so incredibly obvious. I don't know how anyone is actually surprised by anything that happens in this book. Yet, we are forced to slog through hundreds of pages of inanity before anything comes to light. One of my biggest reading pet peeves is when the reader knows something is going on and the characters are completely clueless when the truth is obvious AF.

Another gripe I have is that everything was solved so quickly, with both Ellen and her mother and her mother and aunt. It was one of those situations where if the two characters had just used their words, there wouldn't be a story. Another trope I despise. If a simple conversation negates your entire book, it's a weak book.

I don't mind character-driven stories, but damn. This book had no plot whatsoever. And the characters weren't particularly deep either. So really, it was all about the setting. And that is where the second star comes from. I freaking love Ireland.

This is the first Agatha Christie book I’ve read, and it was a complete coincidence that I read it on the anniversary of her death.

I liked this story, but I have to say that I am not normally a reader of these types of cozy mysteries. I enjoyed the characters, but there were so many of them that I found myself confused at times when one or another of them would be mentioned.

My biggest problem is that I was expecting this to be a ‘Miss Marple’ book, and yet she only appears in a few scenes, and the story is actually through another character’s perspective. I don’t know if this is the standard for this series, but I would’ve preferred a book through the eyes of the precocious Jane Marple.

I have another Christie on my shelves, and I’m curious to see what I feel about that book.

You know that feeling when you read a book that makes all the other books you've given 5 stars to recently look mediocre?
That was my experience with this book. Absolutely the perfect ending to this series. The stakes are astronomically high, and Brandon Sanderson isn't an author who backs away from making the reader feel completely desolate. None of the characters are safe, and that creates such amazing tension. I read this behemoth of a book in two sittings. I just couldn't stop reading.
I feel like most of the mysteries that have cropped up throughout the series are answered in a way that is believable and also very clever. There are a couple of things that remain unsolved, but that is on purpose.
Looking back at the three books in this trilogy and seeing how little pieces of the puzzle are laid down from the beginning and then come together in this third book is just...so good.

I can't write a coherent review because I'm just a hot mess of feelings right now. Trust that this series is absolutely one of my all-time favorites and I would recommend it for anyone who is interested in fantasy.