Blog Feed – Reading Responses at 2am

The Blood Traitor by Lynette Noni, The Prison Healer #3

April 25, 2024 – May 2, 2024

Wow. That’s all I have to say. This was such a good trilogy! Like me asking for it for Christmas so I can reread it good. Everyone who likes YA Fantasy should read this.

Besides her being a fantastic author who did everything right plot-wise, I LOVED how she managed the relationship and how they developed.

Caldon really did feel like her best friend, and how he forgave her instantly felt right. It didn’t feel too easy at all, but a continuation of their relationship. Plus he was just awesome. I was TERRIFIED that she was going to kill him off because of how the emotional impact was going to punch me in the face, so I was bracing for it. So you can imagine how happy I was that he “died” off-screen. I knew she was skilled and smart enough to make his death mean something to the max amount of emotional impact as she could, so the fact that we didn’t watch him die meant that he wasn’t actually dead. And I was soooo relieved.

That didn’t mean I wasn’t still watching for someone important to die to “make the story real” – I hate it when authors do that so I was very pleased that everyone got a happy ending.

Including Kiva and Jaren.

Can we talk about how awesome their forgiveness and eventual getting back together was? The author made Kiva WORK for it, and each moment was excruciating. When he told her at the waterhole that he really didn’t care about her anymore I believed him. Yes his care and concern kept coming to the surface when he couldn’t control it like when she got hurt, but I believed him when he said that he would never forgive her. And she gave up right then and there. Then with the angeldust… Obviously, that was what needed to happen so he would actually listen to her, but there was a time in my life when I was at an overnight in college and a guy I was furious with was there and I managed to avoid even making eye contact while we were all ten feet away from each other. I get her trying to avoid him in so small a space.

But then on that mountain… It didn’t feel rushed, it felt earned. It was beautiful and amazing and filled my heart, and the rain didn’t hurt the scene too. I just, I knew that they would have a happy ending because that’s the type of book this was, but I didn’t see how they could get there until the angeldust scene, then them baring their souls to each other.

As a random side note, I TOTALLY called it that she was going to be forced to marry evil king guy! So go me!

In a way I’m glad she didn’t save the day with the obvious way everyone was saying was going to happen. Where it was a contest of their magic and her’s would obviously win because, you know, LOVE. It was obvious but with a twist, which is how I always like it.

I also did not see that one guy betraying them. I felt as stupid as they did for not seeing it sooner, but like I said, the best twists are the ones that afterward you’re like “well duh, obviously that was going to happen.”

I loved this book. I get now why the big map was so important. All three books were just so good. Go read them!

The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni, The Prison Healer #2

April 15, 2024 – April 23, 2024

This took me FOREVER to read, and it wasn’t because it was a bad boring book. It was actually the opposite and was a fantastic read. SO why did it take me so long? I was dragging my feet simply because this was a second book in a trilogy. Everything was going to go wrong and my heart was going to be broken and I just had to be in a good mental place to do that to myself.

Well today was that day! And just like I was worried about my heart got broken. I felt just as helpless as she did while her sister spewed lies about her. Then when evil sister stabbed him – I didn’t think it would actually happen though there is probably a rule somewhere that says “If you introduce an evil weapon that weapon must be used.” I thought Kiva would get away and join up with her brother, I was NOT expecting the sister to be involved. Her motives made sense in an evil twisted way, it all tied together so well. And now Kiva is back where she started, only with a warden who hates her and no safety at all – or any hope.

This was a well crafted story. I didn’t feel like anything was weak or unsupported. And I honestly got suckered into believing that Z-whatshername had actually accepted that Kiva was walking out. I was also NOT expecting her to have evil magic. I wasn’t expecting evil magic to even exist. I knew her mom was messed up, but I had no idea. And we still don’t know why she became obsessed with getting Kiva out in the end. Is it because she really did think she was stronger than Z? So many questions.

I felt the shock and betrayal of the scene when Kiva finds out her family could have gotten her out of the prison. The brother’s reaction was just like what I was feeling only a thousand times worse. I like him, a lot. When he got stabbed I had a moment of panic, which makes the fact that Z stabbed him even worse.

She’s just so evil! I’m glad they got Tipp out of there – if he’ll ever forgive Kiva.

If J will ever forgive her.

He was so perfect. Normally that would make a boring character but that wasn’t it in this case. He was just so handsome and caring and so in love with her and his people – I wanted to shake her and say “Yes you have baggage but he loves you and you are clearly in love with him too so get over yourself!” And the look in his eyes as her sister spews everything, the betrayal… All that love just gone.

Ug. My chest hurts just thinking about all this.

I have to believe that it has a happy ending where they beat the bad guy and get married and lived happy ever after. But I don’t see how to get there.

Yay for book twos. Good thing I have book three next to my bed.

Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson, The Stormlight Archive #2

March 11, 2024 – April 21, 2024

Ah yes, another six stars. Why do I say that? Well I started this book with the goal of reading fifteen pages a day, there were a couple times where I struggled with that. But over all I BLEW that goal out of the water and finished way early. Why might you ask? Because it’s a freaking good book and I wanted to keep reading!

It did help that this was my second read through so I knew what was coming. It made parts like Kaladen being a dumb head a lot easier to swallow knowing he brings Sly back. My husband asked at one point if he’s had a mental breakdown yet and I said I was getting there.

My FAVORITE scene hands down is the duel, specifically the part where Kaladen says “if this goes badly take care of my men” before freaking jumps into the arena. How it was written was just perfect so you can see what was happening and why all while keeping the tension up. I had forgotten that it was four – I thought it was going to be three, so when the last guy came out I just said “Oh shoot!” along with the characters even though I KNEW HOW IT ENDED. That’s how good of an author he is, he can still make you feel things even on a reread.

Can we talk about Shallan and Kaladen? I shipped them so HARD, and Kaladen obviously had feelings for her, and Shallan was obviously attracted to him (when she describes him and his intensity it gave me feels). I had all sorts of daydreams/fanfics in my head between them. Of course, now that I’ve read the other books I know that Adiolin (sp?) is a much better fit and I love them together to death, but at this point when I read it through the first time I was annoyed that Shallan and Kaladen didn’t ride off into the sunset.

Side note there are a total of TWO kisses in the whole book and he describes them identically. Like come on, I know you can write romance! Oh well, it didn’t bother me as much as it did the first time.

My second favorite scene is obviously when Kaladen makes his second oath and he bursts into light. That was awesome and gave me more feels – mostly ones of excitement. Like “Oh yeah! He’s glowing! You better run!” Then when Sly turns into a spear and the assassin guy is just like “AH! IT’S A KNIGHT!” Yes, that was a good part too.

Shallan’s backstory is painful, but it shows how close she was with her brothers. Why she was willing to risk it all to save them. And the horror of growing up in that house… We found out in the last book why Kaladen is broken, now we got to see how she was broken too. And yet they were chosen to be Knights. Makes me think of myself and my brokenness.

Wit is awesome, and he totally outed himself at the end when he used the word “coin.” Like if people didn’t already know or had figured out that he was a world hopper this kind of did it. Plus how he talked about the Almighty like he knew him (which he did) and just casually threw out there that there was a God like it was no big deal, it made me smile. I love him so much. (insert screaming about how book 4 ends).

When looking back I thought this was my least favorite out of the four, but after rereading it I can say that is garbage. I had no idea which one was my least favorite but it sure isn’t this one. ❤

I just did the math. I’m down to reading 13.3 pages a day. Not quite the lead I thought I had but I’ll take it. On word!

A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee

March 19, 2024 – March 26, 2024

This book was another one that was for book club but was recommended by a friend after confirming that it was “safe.” You have no idea the thrill I get when I hear those words: “This book is safe.” And like a lemming, I proceed to throw myself off the cliff and dive into the book.

This book was so much fun. It has a good old YA beginning of “I’m a teenager who does NOT fit into the life I live” because let’s be honest here. What teenager DOESN’T feel like they don’t fit into their world? It kind of goes with the package of “being 17.” But in this case, this girl REALLY doesn’t fit.

Because of just that – she’s a GIRL. And MAN, this society this author shoved her in a craaaaazy. Like I’ve heard of “women are oppressed” but it is taken to an extreme, and it’s interesting to see her interact with it. Because that is part of her journey – in the beginning, as a woman, she is powerless. She is nothing. But with that kiss, everything changes. Suddenly she HAS power. Yes the power to destroy, but hot evil demon guy was right, she DID have the power to bend the world to her will.

And that fight, especially after she goes full blue was beautiful to watch. The fact that she fights against it so hard when it could have been so easy to say “well this is just who I am so deal with it.” In a lot of ways, it is just like before she was cursed. When she was just a girl she was controlled because of who she was. After she was cursed she was controlled again by her need to destroy. In a lot of ways, she wasn’t much better. But in the end she takes control of her life and lives the life SHE wants to live.

I LOVE the bird boy. He was my favorite of the side characters (which is a good thing since he was the second most important character!) and everything he said made me laugh or smile. When she asked why in the world he went after another shiny thing when he already had some in his beak he looked at her like she was crazy and explained it to her like she was an idiot that it was because it was shinny. Then when he was getting ready and packing up essentials it consisted of his collection of shiny junk, it made me laugh. And at the end, when she asks if he wasn’t another adventure… I wish I could jump on his back too.

So. Hot evil demon guy. I get the appeal of a domineering evil guy, I do (I’m part of a fandom right now that half the people pretty much worship one) but these scenes made me a little sick. And when he forced a kiss (which is technically SA fyi) it felt like I had to hold my breath and close my eyes until it was over. But she got away! That’s the important part. I read a book once where the guy tried to rape the main girl and she fought back, it was supposed to be this empowering scene of kick butt awesomeness, except the only reason it doesn’t happen is because he ran out of time. That book haunted me. That wasn’t the case in this book. And watching him die at the end… (satisfied noises with smiles).

Overall a great book about women liberation along with a personal journey of discovering you CAN have adventures and you ARE strong and brave – and in the end, you have the power to decide where your life will go.

Newsletter Ninja 2: If You Give a Reader a Cookie: Supercharge Your Author Mailing List With the Perfect Reader Magnet by Tammi Labrecque

February 23, 2024 – March 12, 2024

This had some useful information but I’m glad I got it from the library instead of buying it.

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, The Stormlight Archive #1

January 28, 2024 – March 10, 2024

When I first read this book years ago I was enraptured by it the whole time. The world, the characters, the magic, the philosophy of what he is trying to say, all of it just was perfect.

And that last battle, when he says the words… I said it then and I’ll say it now, I feel like my will to live has been increased. I know that is saying a lot, especially coming from someone who suffers with depression, but this book is soothing in so many ways.

Don’t let the size scare you off. This isn’t like big books from yesteryear where you can expect nine chapters on the Pairs sewer system or on how to skin a whale (I haven’t actually read either of these books but from what I’ve gathered from the interwebs this happens in both.). No this book is just MORE of what you WANT.

And what did I want? Obviously more Kaladin. I had (had?!) a major book crush on him, and finding out that he suffers from depression too is like “hey look at that?!” I actually took a test to see what knight radient I would be and I was a Windrunner too. So I can go be depressed with my new bestie. Ok other than that he is an interesting amazing character and I will fight anyone who says bad things about him. And his background stories… Those were hard to get through and I had to wait until I was in the right mood because they were just so horribly depressing. Can I also say something else? I was totally late to something because I was reading the scene where he picks up a spear and does all those moves. I literally couldn’t put the book down until that scene ended. When I showed up and I told a friend who had also read the books why I was late and she just nodded her head knowingly and said yes, obviously I couldn’t stop.

For other characters this time around they had all grown on me. I remember being annoyed with Shallan and not caring about her storyline and wanting to get back to Kaladin, but this time around I loved her storyline because I’m coming at it already in love with her from reading the other books. So there’s a plug for rereads. And Dalinar, his story was more captivating too. I loved him in his visions and when what’s her name seduces him it’s funny and sweet at the same time. And the betrayal at the end… I could feel his world falling apart – until Kaladin and bridge four show up to save the day.

And when Kaladin says the words and bursts into light… (swoon). I love these books.

So how am I doing on reading? I have a goal to have them all read with all the middle novellas by the time the fifth book comes out on December 6th. When I started it was 14 pages a day. Now it is 15. Not too bad.

On to book two!

Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory by Martha Wells, The Murderbot Diaries #4.5

February 20, 2024 – February 20, 2024

This one was a five because it is Murderbot, but I honestly didn’t like it as much as the other ones. It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize that it was in third person and not even Murderbot’s perspective, and all the pronouns and names and stuff getting thrown around so I wasn’t sure who was talking and when.

Hearing about her dealing with her trauma was interesting and it was fun to see Murderbot from the outside, but I don’t feel like this was her best work.

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni, The Prison Healer #1

January 30, 2024 – February 10, 2024

This was easily a five-star book. After the disappointment of the last two books reading an author who actually knew what they were doing was more than refreshing.

The pacing was perfect as was the placement of each plot reveal. She waited to introduce the magic so it wasn’t shoved at you. The relationship with J was well paced so your heart was tied up in him as much she was. You can just feel how hopeless she thought it was as she kept reminding herself that he was going to die anyway. Then when he’s there at the bottom of the water and then you find out who he is… The best reveals are ones that looking back you can see all the signs but still makes you feel excited for it to happen. This book did that over and over again.

I can’t decide if I’m excited or disappointed that you find out she has healing magic. Part of her power and appeal is that she is just like everyone else, but now she’s not. Now she’s a Princess and now I’m wondering if she has any feelings for J at all. Like it ends with her sounding kind of like a B, which made me feel disappointed.

Another side note, I’m not really a fan of maps. Usually, they aren’t that useful, and I kind of glaze over them (I’m dreading having to make a map for Healer Academy) but the map of the prison was both useful and intriguing. So that was a pleasant experience.

I’m excited to go to the library and get book 2. Here’s hoping that the whole series is as good as the first one!

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer, Defy the Night #1

January 14, 2024 – January 30, 2024

Didn’t finish. Slow beginning with info dumping in the beginning things that should have been revealed gradually later on. Probably was a longer book but had to be cut, hence the rush to tell things. Didn’t hold my interest.