The Reads of May
- Princess
- May 5, 2020
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 8, 2020
Hello my little corner of happiness!! Lets talk about some books I've read in May.
May 4, 2020
A Duke by Default- Alyssa Cole
Synopsis:
New York City socialite and perpetual hot mess Portia Hobbs is tired of disappointing her family, friends, and—most importantly—herself. An apprenticeship with a struggling swordmaker in Scotland is a chance to use her expertise and discover what she’s capable of. Turns out she excels at aggravating her gruff silver fox boss…when she’s not having inappropriate fantasies about his sexy Scottish burr.
Tavish McKenzie doesn’t need a rich, spoiled American telling him how to run his armory…even if she is infuriatingly good at it. Tav tries to rebuff his apprentice—and his attraction to her—but when Portia accidentally discovers that he’s the secret son of a duke, rough-around-the-edges Tav becomes her newest makeover project.
Forging metal into weapons and armor is one thing, but when desire burns out of control and the media spotlight gets too hot to bear, can a commoner turned duke and his posh apprentice find lasting love?
My Thoughts:
They are not going to be cohesive due to me just finishing this book when writing this but OMG it was amazing. You probably should take my work for it because #NotARomanceReader but still hear me out. The sex scenes so GOOD. The characters were so relatable and the overall plot is a work of art. I didn't like Portia at all in the first book in this series but after this book I totally understand why she is the way she is. Her parents suck and I understand always being compared to my sister. Tavish was so delicious and if that is what Scotland has I need a one way trip ASAP. There were layers in this book of traumas that had to be unpacked. I really appreciate that while this is a romance book it handled some tough situations. I did have one major issue with this book though which is why it is a 4 star instead of a three.
The miscommunication troupe!! I can't stand it, with a passion. I get that you may need this troupe to cause tension or whatever but come on this book is so above that. That really was my only problem with this book. Please enjoy a collage below of how I see this book in pictures.
May 8, 2020
Wildcard-Marie Lu
WARNING THIS IS A SECOND BOOK IN A SERIES SO PROCEED WITH CAUTION IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST ONE!!!
Synopsis:
Emika Chen barely made it out of the Warcross Championships alive. Now that she knows the truth behind Hideo's new NeuroLink algorithm, she can no longer trust the one person she's always looked up to, who she once thought was on her side.
Determined to put a stop to Hideo's grim plans, Emika and the Phoenix Riders band together, only to find a new threat lurking on the neon-lit streets of Tokyo. Someone's put a bounty on Emika's head, and her sole chance for survival lies with Zero and the Blackcoats, his ruthless crew. But Emika soon learns that Zero isn't all that he seems—and his protection comes at a price.
Caught in a web of betrayal, with the future of free will at risk, just how far will Emika go to take down the man she loves?
My Thoughts:
What I first want to bring up is there is a Non Binary representation in this book on page 120 that I really appreciated. I myself am not non-binary but it was a nice little nod to the community which I respect.
I will not lie and say that Miss Emika Chen didn't get on my last nerve in this book. In the first book she didn't know what she was doing so I gave her a pass but this book. Come on girl do what you gotta do. She was extremely annoying in the first half and that pushed me to not wanting to pick up the book. There was a lot of explaining and sometimes that also pushed me from wanting to pick up the book. Unlike the first book where there was so much action (which I understand Marie Lu had to get us acquainted with the world and people very fast) the second book was more slow and detailed. Please do not misunderstand me, I had fun once things got going. Basically all that to say it was a little slow the first quarter or so. After that though... all the twist and reveals was so satisfying. I had to put the book down when I was less than 100 pages from the end because I had to clutch my pearls.
There was the one by one the teammates go down troupe UNTIL THERE IS ONE *insert dun dun duunnn*, but it was done well. This book wasn't very long but it was powerful in its 349 pages (or so). Pause to take a moment to drool over this gorgeous picture of Emika, credit to the author is on the picture.
Overall this book had some problems with pacing BUT totally worth the read. Marie Lu is one of my favorite authors so I'm not surprised I loved this book. I will be picking up another book by her this month and I'm so excited. Please enjoy a collage below of how I see this book in pictures.
May 10th, 2020
Girls of Paper and Fire- Natasha Ngan
Synopsis:
Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It's the highest honor they could hope for...and the most demeaning. This year, there's a ninth. And instead of paper, she's made of fire.
In this richly developed fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most persecuted class of people in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards for an unknown fate still haunts her. Now, the guards are back and this time it's Lei they're after -- the girl with the golden eyes whose rumored beauty has piqued the king's interest.
Over weeks of training in the opulent but oppressive palace, Lei and eight other girls learns the skills and charm that befit a king's consort. There, she does the unthinkable -- she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens her world's entire way of life. Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.
Trigger Warnings
Animal death/ abuse
Sexual abuse/ rape
My Thoughts:
May 16th, 2020
The Ice Dragon- George R. R. Martin
Synopsis:
The Ice Dragonis an enchanting tale of courage and sacrifice for young readers and adults by the wildly popular author of the #1New York Timesbestselling Song of Ice and Fire series, George R.R. Martin. Lavish illustrations by acclaimed artist Luis Royo enrich this captivating and heartwarming story of a young girl and her dragon.
In the world of A Song of Ice and Fire the ice dragon was a creature of legend and fear, for no man had ever tamed one. When it flew overhead, it left in its wake desolate cold and frozen land. But Adara was not afraid. For Adara was a winter child, born during the worst freeze that anyone, even the Old Ones, could remember.
Adara could not remember the first time she had seen the ice dragon. It seemed that it had always been in her life, glimpsed from afar as she played in the frigid snow long after the other children had fled the cold. In her fourth year she touched it, and in her fifth year she rode upon its broad, chilled back for the first time. Then, in her seventh year, on a calm summer day, fiery dragons from the North swooped down upon the peaceful farm that was Adara's home. And only a winter child—and the ice dragon who loved her—could save her world from utter destruction.
My Thoughts:
May 22nd, 2020
Onyx & Ivory- Mindee Arnett
Synopsis:
They call her Traitor Kate. It’s a title Kate Brighton inherited from her father after he tried to assassinate the high king of Rime.
Cast out of the nobility, Kate now works for the royal courier service. Only the most skilled ride for the Relay and only the fastest survive, for when night falls, the drakes—deadly flightless dragons—come out to hunt. Fortunately, Kate has a secret edge: She is a wilder, born with forbidden magic that allows her to influence the minds of animals.
And it’s this magic that leads her to a caravan massacred by drakes in broad daylight—the only survivor Corwin Tormaine, the son of the king. Her first love, the boy she swore to forget after he condemned her father to death.
With their paths once more entangled, Kate and Corwin must put the past behind them to face this new threat and an even darker menace stirring in the kingdom.
My Thoughts:
May 24th, 2020
Dear Martin- Nic Stone
Synopsis:
Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning #1New York Timesbestselling debut, a William C. Morris Award Finalist.
Justyce McAllister is a good kid, an honor student, and always there to help a friend--but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. Despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates.
Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.
Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up--wayup, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack.
Before we go into my thoughts we need to take a moment to appreciate how gorgeous this woman is. Legit a queen.
My Thoughts:
May 29th, 2020
Kingdom Of Back- Marie Lu
Synopsis:
Born with a gift for music, Nannerl Mozart has just one wish: to be remembered forever. But even as she delights audiences with her masterful playing, she has little hope she'll ever become the acclaimed composer she longs to be. She is a young woman in eighteenth-century Europe, and that means composing is forbidden to her. She will perform only until she reaches a marriageable age—her tyrannical father has made that much clear.
As Nannerl's hope grows dimmer with each passing year, the talents of her beloved younger brother, Wolfgang, only seem to shine brighter. His brilliance begins to eclipse her own, until one day a mysterious stranger from a magical land appears with an irresistible offer. He has the power to make her wish come true—but his help may cost her everything.
My Thoughts:
Comments