Showing posts with label Susan Dennard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Susan Dennard. Show all posts

Monday, April 20, 2020

Bookstagram Mondays: (3)


My family on my dad's side is german, my grandparents were from Germany. My sisters and I went to a german immersion school growing up. I took german classes until I was in grade 10. 

While I've grown rusty over the years, I still collect german editions of books. I don't have a huge selection as it's expensive to ship from Germany, and the books are just expensive in general, but I'm proud of my collection. 

Do you collect different language books?

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Book Review: Windwitch by Susan Dennard

Release Date: January 10th, 2017
Read: July 8th-18th, 2017
Publisher: Tor Teen
Series: The Witchlands, #2
Format: ARC, 384 pages
Source: Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review




Description from GoodReads:


   After an explosion destroys his ship, the world believes Prince Merik, Windwitch, is dead. Scarred yet alive, Merik is determined to prove his sister’s treachery. Upon reaching the royal capital, crowded with refugees, he haunts the streets, fighting for the weak—which leads to whispers of a disfigured demigod, the Fury, who brings justice to the oppressed.

   When the Bloodwitch Aeduan discovers a bounty on Iseult, he makes sure to be the first to find her—yet in a surprise twist, Iseult offers him a deal. She will return money stolen from him, if he locates Safi. Now they must work together to cross the Witchlands, while constantly wondering, who will betray whom first?

   After a surprise attack and shipwreck, Safi and the Empress of Marstok barely escape with their lives. Alone in a land of pirates, every moment balances on a knife’s edge—especially when the pirates’ next move could unleash war upon the Witchlands.


Review:


   It is always easier to blame gods or legends than it is to face our own mistakes.
   I had picked up Windwitch a week or two after reading Truthwitch, with the first book not having impressed me much, I didn't really care to pick up the sequel. But eventually I did, and it took me just as long to get into this one as it did its previous book.

   Windwitch had a different vibe than Truthwitch did, going right into the book you knew that it'd be different than the first in the series. The vibe went from magic and survival to revenge and power. Comparing the books, Windwitch was certainly easier to get into than Truthwitch, I didn't find myself bored constantly, and when I was unhappy with a point of view I could easily read through the chapter and move onto the new point of view. I even found myself enjoying the opposite perspectives than I did in Truthwitch. It was like the characters I found boring before finally became interesting, and the interesting characters became boring.

   I feel as if Dennard built up this anticipation in Truthwitch, but completely dropped that antiquation when we opened the first chapter of it's sequel. So much happened in the end of the first novel, and we barely encountered any more information that furthered the plot along in Windwitch. It didn't help that the first chapter of the book literally just threw us in a random storyline without any background information to how we got there. The beginning of the sequel felt as if two or three chapters were missing, I was not satisfied, and couldn't explain how confused I was.

   Windwitch was the third Susan Dennard novel in which I've read, and I continue to think that her books are just not for me. I can not see myself picking up anything else of hers in the future.
   

Rating:


Favourite Quote:


"Mhe varujta. Trust me as if my soul were yours."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Witches, Royalty, Powers, Death, Betrayal



Sunday, June 4, 2017

Book Review: Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Release Date: January 5th, 2016
Read: May 12th-June 4th, 2017
Publisher: Tor Teen
Series: Witchlands, #1
Format: Paperback, 432 pages
Source: Bought




Description from GoodReads:



   In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.

   Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.

   Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.

   In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

Review:


   Sometimes justice was all about the small victories
   I've wanted to read Truthwitch since it released in early 2016, but of course my busy schedule always keeps me from all the books that I want to read. It was when I received an ARC of it's sequel, Windwitch, that I finally when out and bought a copy.

   Truthwitch wasn't what I was expecting, not at all. In a bunch of ways it reminded me of a bunch of other books mixed together, and could be confusing at times.  Throughout the book, I constantly felt Throne of Glass and The Infernal Devices vibes. From the two chosen ones, and kingdoms fighting, I couldn't help but always compare the storyline of Truthwitch to ToG. Then when it came to the characters, I always pictured Merik and Kullen as Will and Jem from TID.

   Overall, I did enjoy the witch powers that the kingdoms had, and their tattoos that marked who they were. I think the different levels to the powers, and the different powers themselves were fascinating. It made me curious as to all the different levels and kinds of powers that could be seen throughout the series.

   One thing stood constant throughout the book for me, I hardcore shipped Safiya and Iseult. With the connection they have as friends, it just felt like it could be something more in the end. So with the direction that the book went, I was a little disappointed but I still have hope for it to happen in the next two books or so.

   It took me a good while to get into Truthwitch, but in the end I'm happy to have picked it up. I look forward to seeing what happens to our characters in Windwitch.

Rating:


Favourite Quote:


"I’ll always follow you, Safi, and you’ll always follow me. Threadsisters to the end."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Young Adult, Fantasy, Witches, Magic, Chosen Ones, Sisters




Friday, June 2, 2017

June TBR Pile 2017


   So I know that the list of books for this month is kind of huge, but it's basically all the current books that I need to review for publishers. I haven't been in the mood for reading lately, so I'm hoping that by making my TBR all my review books then I'll have more chances of getting out of my stump. Anyways, here's hoping to me actually getting through some of these books this month! 


June TBR Pile:











 

   That's the list for this month! I can't wait to read these bad boys!



Thursday, February 2, 2017

February TBR Pile


   Last month I started a new monthly feature, I started a monthly TBR pile feature. I picked out a bunch of books that I would attempt to read, and eventually review. And to my surprise, it turned out better than I thought it would! I actually completed 6/8 of the books, and even add another book for University. So I'm definitely going to continue with this feature! So without further ado, my TBR for February!

February TBR Pile











   And that's my TBR for the month! I know it's a bit longer than last month, but I figured since I have Reading Week Break, that it'd be easy peasy. Plus, one of them is a novella. So lets hope for the best and see how many get read!


Monday, January 2, 2017

January TBR Pile


   Hi all! 
   Starting this month, I'm going to (try and), start a new monthly feature! I'm going to start creating a monthly tbr post. Each month I'm going to pick a pile of books to read, or at least pick through to read. I know for the most part, that I won't finish the pile each month, especially with School starting again in a few days, but I will have a small pile to choose my next read from. Without further ado, my January TBR pile. 

January TBR Pile








   That's my TBR for the month! Let's hope that I can finish at least half of it!

Saturday, December 31, 2016

December Wrap Up!

   Hello friends!
   I hope you guys had a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! I know it's been a really long time
since I've last talked to you guys, and I'm sorry for that. Like I said when I originally left on my hiatus, school was taking a lot of my time. Hopefully this second term will be different and I'll actually be motivated to blog during it.
   In this last couple of months, I haven't really done a whole lot besides go to school and work. But with the Christmas season I've done a lot of shopping. When I wasn't studying for my exams or writing papers, I was shopping. I did fantastic on the present front, if I don't say so myself. 
   Besides the Holidays, my friends and I went to a friends cabin out north of my city. A four hour drive, out to Lake Manitoba. No service, no running water, it was a heck of a time. I loved being able to relax and just hang out with our friends. 
   Anyways, like I originally said, that was my slow month. Hopefully the next few months will be better!

Books Read:



Book Haul:


January Books I'm Excited For:



   That was my month, I'll see you next month!