Tag Archives: Monthly Wrap-Up

Monthly Wrap-Up for August 2016

aug2016_wrapThe month of August screamed past, packed with the final days of summer, a last-minute vacation, and the start of a new school year. My family spent a long weekend in Hendersonville, NC, which was lovely! And I was able to attend Read Up Greenville and meet some awesome authors. You can read about my experience and see my book haul here.

Here at The Story Sanctuary, things were bustling, too, with lots of reviews and book news. Here’s a quick look at what you may have missed:

Dreadlands: Wolf Moon by Jaimie Engle

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I loved the way Engle incorporated Viking lore into this story featuring werewolves. I’m not a big reader in the paranormal genre, but I definitely enjoyed reading this book.

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I’d been seriously anticipating the conclusion of this series, and I’m not sorry I read it. But if I’m honest, I’m a bit disappointed in this book. Yes, we get some satisfying conclusions to some romantic tension, but overall, the ending just didn’t live up to my expectations.

Lightning by Bonnie Calhoun

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This is the second book in a series. Sometimes you can read the second book without reading the first. I don’t recommend that with this particular series. If you’re going to tackle the Stone Braid Chronicles, I say read Thunder first.

Pirouette (Andari Chronicles #3) by Kenley Davidson

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I loved this whole series of fairytales retold and would read anything new by Kenley Davidson. There’s some brief, light profanity, but otherwise these books are clean and not to be missed!

Just a Few Inches by Tara St. Pierre

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

While it starts with a girl taking diet pills, this book goes way beyond anorexia to look at body image and teen pressure in a very different way. I liked the unique spin on the topic that St. Pierre gives. She shares more in an author interview found here.

Haven by Katherine Bogle

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Fantasy with girl power– that’s what I’d call this book. Though some of the plotlines were a little muddled to me, there’s a strong sense of independence and strength from the female cast members. Fans of The Key by Jennifer Anne Davis should check this one out.

Be Light Like a Bird by Monika Schröder

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Novels which address grief seem to hold a special place in my heart. This one is no exception. I loved the way the author used birdwatching and a love of nature to nurture Wren through the loss of her father.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Though I read this book much earlier this summer, I’m still not totally sure what I think about it. I liked some things about it. I know a lot of people rave about the series, but I’m not sure I liked it well enough to continue through the other books.

First & Then by Emma Mills

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This was one of the most fun reads I’ve had in a long time. I liked the charm of it and the way the romance resolves. The strong profanity felt out of place in novel that channels Jane Austen, but other than that, I really liked it.

One Paris Summer by Denise Grover Swank

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

The Paris setting made me swoon (and crave crepes). I enjoyed the window into Sophie’s world of music and her first love, despite a few plot points that I had trouble buying into.

Tell Me Something Real by Calla Devlin

Review to Come | Amazon | Goodreads

Right after reading One Paris Summer, I dove into this other novel about a talented pianist. In this story about sisterhood and betrayal, it’s Vanessa’s music that carries her through the darkest times. The story moved me and definitely took a different direction than I expected.

Have you read any of these books?

If you’ve read these titles, what did you think of them? Which ones on this list look most interesting to you?

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Monthly Wrap-Up: July 2016

July 2016

Summertime flies. In our county, we’re just two weeks away from school starting up again. Already, back-to-school gear is everywhere in stores. It’s hard to believe that the summer is almost over. I feel like only a few weeks ago school was ending. But alas.

This past month, I posted a couple of lists– one about underrated books and one about books that made me dream about new hobbies. In fact, one of my reviews (Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet) came from another blogger’s list of underrated books.

As far as reviews, it was a busy month! Here’s a quick note on each book I reviewed.

Paper Wishes by Lois Sepahban

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

A middle grade historical novel about a girl who is forced to move to a Japanese internment camp in California in the 1940s. I thought this was a really moving story, and it walked the balance well between showing reality and preserving the innocence of young readers.

Girl in the Shadows by Gwenda Bond

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

The follow-up to the popular Girl on a Wire, which I really wish I’d read first. Girl in the Shadows features a female magician who discovers she has real magic, and that a secret group is hunting her for it.

I Wish My Teacher Knew by Kyle Schwartz

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This was my nonfiction pick for July. You’ve probably seen some of the #IWishMyTeacherKnew posts on Twitter– this book is by the teacher who posted that first note and why she started doing the exercises with her classes to begin with. It’s a lot about how to build a supportive community environment within the classroom. It’s an excellent read for parents as well. I learned a lot reading it.

That’s Not Hay in My Hair by Juliette Turner

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Jules moves from her NYC home to a Texas ranch with her mom, and both ladies are determined to learn how to care for the ranch themselves. This was a lot of fun to read.

Machinations by Hayley Stone

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

A light sci-fi about a group of humans struggling for survival post-war with machines (which the machines won.) The heroine dies in the opening scene… but her clone rejoins the group. Is she a separate person, or does she get treated as a carbon copy replacement of her original?

The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This novel was just honored with the Christy Award. The story is a suspense/dystopian mash-up. A serial killer takes girls from the lowest caste. Guards must find him before he kills again.

There Once Were Stars by Melanie McFarlane

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Peace. Love. Order. Dome. Those are the rules Natalia lives under. But soon she learns that her leaders have kept dark secrets. What she uncovers may destroy the dome itself.

Gifted by H. A. Swain

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This was one of my favorites this month. In an era in which talent can be bought, a lowly laborer possesses a natural talent that leaders will stop at nothing to destroy. The son of a powerful leader believes controlling talent is wrong will have to risk his life to prove it. Great read. I loved the imagery that related to music.

A Daring Sacrifice by Jody Hedlund

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

A medieval story with some Robin Hood themes to it. Fans of Melanie Dickerson should check out this series.

The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

A Chinese-American girl struggles to learn the meaning of friendship through the books she reads when her best school friend abandons her for a new girl. I loved the references to other stories and Anna totally had my heart.

Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet by Charlie N. Holmberg

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Author Jeff Wheeler listed this book as one he was really excited about, and later I heard other bloggers talking about it. So I checked it out. And I’m so glad I did! This was more of a new adult story by the character’s ages. Definitely a great read for fans of Melissa Grey’s The Girl at Midnight or Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.

Gemini by Sonya Mukherjee

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Conjoined twins wrestle with what it is to be normal, and how to pursue their very different dreams for college and a future. I liked a lot of things about this story. If you liked One by Sarah Crossan, check this one out.

Goldheart by Kenley Davidson

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Another of my favorites this month. Kenley Davidson is awesome. I loved the first book in the series, Traitor’s Masque, which is a retelling of Cinderella, and I loved this one, too. Goldheart is a retelling of Rumplestiltskin. I loved the way Davidson pulled the familiar tale into a completely fresh and new story.

Detached by Christina Kilbourne

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Ever since her grandparents’ deaths, Anna has felt disconnected from her life and her friends. She becomes more and more focused on ending her life. Aliya notices Anna’s strange behavior and starts to worry, but she doesn’t want to overreact. Surely talented, put-together Anna can’t be thinking of suicide. This is a pretty dark read, but the story also offers hope.

Sneak Peek at August

Here are a few of the books you can expect to see reviewed here next month:

Pirouette by Kenley Davidson

Dreadlands by Jaimie Engle

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

One Paris Summer by Denise Grover Swank

 

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