I got 38% through this book and decided to DNF it. This is my first DNF is a while, and I think reading this book has given me a while new appreciation on just not finishing books that do not need to be finished.

I knew that I was getting into a questionable read when I picked up this book. The reviews were very mixed, but I was interested in a book with a female martial artist. To be honest I was surprised that the word creation was as good as it was. I would be willing to pick up a different series by Antoine at some point in the future.

The reason that I stopped reading the book was of the plot. It started out fine. Then a scene that was never introduced before was mentioned. Then there was a flashback to the never mentioned scene. This is a scene that ended up driving most of the plot and it was just now being mentioned and it was introduced like an afterthought.

Then there is the question of a relationship. The characters go back and forth about if this relationship can be true or not. They all decide that it could not be. Then when you find out there is no reason given how it could be that way and all these reasons were given why it couldn't. Then a major event happens and the character has zero emotion. To top it off she goes and makes the stupidest, not in character decision ever. Even the character questions her decision. There is zero reason that this decision should have been made - even for plot development.

Confusing right?

This is when I stopped reading. I decided that if the time could not be taken to go back and flush all this out then why I am I spending my time to read it.

Tracing Shadows is the first in the series of a seasoned writer, Alex Lidell. This fantasy novel follows a scout that is skilled in transforming herself from the noble women that is from birth to the soldier she was trained to be. Content to do what she can to keep her sister from harm, She is instead brought in to bring down a terrorist cell.

Lidell is a new to me author that I am happy to have discovered. Her writing is well put together and her characters are captivating. I wish that there was a little bit more developed back story woven into the narration. There is some given near the end, but not for the main character. I wish I knew more what drove her.

I listened to this as an audio book with the narration done by Hayden Daviau. I was impressed with Hayden's narration. It allowed me to sink into the characters without being reminded of the narrator's presence. For the most part her voice flowed perfectly with the text. I am not overly fond of how she voiced the male characters, but it is better then I have heard a lot of narrators voice opposite genders.

This is not a book that I would say you need to get in audio. I am sure I would enjoy it as easily reading it on my Kindle. However, it also is not a book that I would say you should not get in audio, as the narration is well done.

I cannot believe that I waited so long to start this series. I have heard so many great things about it, but I just did not pick it up. Even after I got the first book on Kindle I waited to start reading it. Do not make the same mistake.

A Court of Thornes and Roses is an amazingly written fantasy novel that combines familiar elements to make a refreshingly different story. While not entirely unique it is different enough to place the reader firmly in a new world. It is a world where humans are struggling to survive against fairies.

In a weird Beauty and the Beast tone Feyre, a 19 year old human, gets caught up in the fairy world. She is strong, brave, and human. Although, in the ways of 19 year olds she falls in love too fast.

This book is a horrible love story, but it is a great tale of human indurance. It is a story of courage and sacrifice. Mostly it is a story of trying to survive.

Using Evidence of Student Learning to Improve Higher Education breaks apart assessment into three main sections. It looks at what has worked in the past by analyzing what evidence and practice has shown to be effective. It also analyzes the stakeholders in educational assessment with a strong emphases on executive administrators and faculty. Lastly, it looks to where assessment of higher education is headed.

While this volume self professes not to be a handbook of assessment, it is a guide through the history and best practices of assessment as seen through the NILOA members. It is a fairly complete work that adds to the assessment literature by bringing multiple components into one collection, expanding on those components, and analyzing them in a clear and concise way.

However, until the last chapter the inclusion of staff is non-existent despite touching on items that may commonly be done by staff. Yet, the very reasons why departments utilization of staff to support assessment efforts were touched on the support role was not brought to be part of the conversation.

While this work is more theoretical than applied it does bring to light common difficulties and many less talked about aspects of the practicalities of higher education assessment.

I cannot remember why I added this book to my long to be read pile, all I know is that I am so glad that I did. This book is powerful in a way that so few books are able to achieve. It is a fictional account of two sisters who found their voice to fight against slavery. In the process they found they also had to fight for the right to fight and unintentionally helped found the feminist movement.

This book is historical in nature. Yet, the themes that it represents are still needed in our current day. Slavery may be outlawed, but African Americans have the police called on them just for being black. Women are 'equal,' except we still receive lower pay, less opportunity, and still must fight for a voice.

The Invention of Wings is also about the personal struggle to find one's place in the world. It is about the struggle with God. It is about what it means to be human. It is about accepting others, despite their difference from yourself.

The writing is beautiful. The characters are brilliant. I am left wondering how I have not read Sue Monk Kidd before now, yet grateful that I have started.

On the surface The Raging Ones is a story about knowing the date of one’s death and the effects that has on a society. Yet, in truth, this novel is more like a classical science fiction space opera. While I was not expecting this, it was much appreciated. It is hard to talk to much about the plot without giving too much away, so I will stop.

This novel is well written. I had a hard time putting it down and when I read I was swept away. The world was well defined with it being build up throughout the story, when appropriate. The characters were all real and unique. Although, their connection to each other was difficult to read at times I thought the writers did an excellent job describing and not over relating.

The plot was grasping right up to the end of the novel. I both hated and loved how it ended. I did not truly come to terms with it until I knew that it would not be a stand alone novel. It truly felt like a new take on classic science fiction that was just short of being one of the great novels. I look forward to reading more of Krista and Becca Ritchie.

John Scalzi is a science fiction writer that I feel I have watched come from obscurity into legend. I first read his book Old Man's War long before he had gained popularity. Yet, it is no surprise that he has risen to one of the great science fiction writers of our generation.

The Collapsing Empire is a node back to more classic science fiction stories. It is an empire that is falling apart and needs to be saved by the heroic actions of it's citizens. There is a lot of generational political planning, lost idolization, and plot lines that do not turn out to be all that successful. There is a lot going on all the time, yet it is easy to follow and stay connected.

The writing is solid, the characters are real, and the plot is complex. The only downside is that I am left waiting for the second book. I will have to settle on going back and rereading Old Man's War.

Commonwealth follows an interesting narrative style. Time is not linear, but is almost a character in the book itself. The story does start at the beginning, the very beginning, where two adults meet at a christening party. They eventually divorce and marry each other causing a web of interconnections between their siblings and the ex-spouses as well.

In many ways this is a novel about family, specifically about the complexities of family. It is about the imperfectness of human nature and the naivety of childhood. You see through two generations at various points in their life. The first generation is the parents that you see when they are still early middle age with young children. You experience them age and mature and see them before their death. Then you see the young children. You see their perspective as they grow into middle age themselves and began to understand their parents. As they begin to understand their parents the reader does as well.

At the start of the novel the children are young and not all that interesting and the parents are understood more from a child perspective. As such, they are petty and make decisions that are disastrous. It is hard to connect to the characters at first. Then as everyone in the novel grows you see the past through the eyes of a more mature stance and things start to become more realistic. Not every decision was great, but you can see why they were made.

I could see breaking down this story and writing a very in depth thesis on the themes built into it. Yet, as a casual read it was really only a four star book for me. It was just too unlikable at first. Ann Patchett is an amazing author that I first found when I read Bel Canto. I plan to read many more of her works.

I almost did not pick up this book. The first book was ok, but not really my thing. I almost wish that I had not picked up this book.

Pierce Brown is a talented writer who knows how to create plot and characters. I just do not like the ones he creates all that much. The books are bloody, violent, and full of complected war logistics that do not seem all that logical to me.

I am uncertain if I will continue on with the series. On one hand these are extremely popular books and they are finishable. On the other hand reading this series is more like an obligation than an enjoyment.