What I've Been Reading Lately {11.23.16}

So, I haven't been posting much lately. Like, not at all this week, which is becoming a pretty normal thing. And when I have posted, it's been an obligatory promotional post for a book I received for review. Except for last week's review of This is Our Story, which I felt obligated to post simply because that book was so freaking good. But that's not to say I haven't been reading...because I have. A lot. So I'm going to try to catch you up on just what I've been reading lately with this post. More on why I've gone to this format here. I'm going to separate these into categories because that's just what works best for me.

Without further ado, here's what I've been reading lately...

F A N T A S Y  |  S C I - F I

Frost - Eh. I actually didn't finish this audiobook, but I made it to the 80% mark before DNFing, so I'm going to give it 2 stars for that. I was actually at the part where things were really starting to get interesting, but my commute was over and it was a Friday evening and I was just never able to make myself pick it back up to see how it ended. I think it was just a tad too out there for me, with human consciences in some robots and other robots trying to assimilate humans while still others wanted to BE like humans. Maybe the robotic aspect was why it was so hard for me to connect with any of the characters, even the human ones. 🌟🌟

Three Dark Crowns - More like 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because of the ending. However, there were numerous times where I considered DNFing this book because I was just so bored and possibly confused by just how many characters I was expected to remember, especially as perspectives changed. But a dear friend begged me to keep going, promising that it would all be worth it. And I'm loathe to admit it, but she was right. If only the first two-thirds of the book could have been more like the final third, I'd have had no problems making it through this novel. As it stands, I am now VERY intrigued by what's to come in the next book, but I'm also hoping that it keeps up the pace set in the last of this book, rather than returning to the plodding that made up most of the book. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Midnight Star - This finale was unexpected...in a good way. I love when a tyrant is made to stare in the face of their villainy. It's not my favorite series finale ever, but it was poignant and beautiful and as heart-breaking as you'd expect a final book to be in this series. And it's hopeful. Which is what I'm always striving for at the end of a story. I'm also glad I re-read the previous two books right before this released because even in the month or so since then, I've forgotten a lot. Marie Lu is very good at reminding you, though...and stomping all over your heart again in the process.
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wax - This book was weird but also very humorous. I never truly connected to the characters, though for magical realism, that's pretty much par for the course with me. But I still found the story highly entertaining. I mean, how can you go wrong with a sidekick made of wax, whose sneezes light candles, and who goes by the name Dud? 🌟🌟🌟🌟

R E - R E A D S

The Hating Game - I know I just listened to this back in September, but I needed something extremely adorable to take my mind off this week, and I could think of no better book to do just that. And I stand by what I said upon my first reading: I don't think I've ever read a cuter book, one that had me grinning from start to adorable finish. Thanks, Sally Thorne. I really needed that. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Architect of Song - Re-read this one via audio because I just really needed another good, romantic, take-me-away-from-this-horrible-place read this week. And it was just as gorgeous and stunning and lovely as the first time I read it, except maybe even better because I knew how the mystery played out already and the narrator just added that extra something to the story. Seriously, still love this one so hard and can't wait until the next book. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Court of Fives - Have you ever re-read the previous book in a series in preparation for the sequel, but by the time you get to the end of your re-read, you've decided you don't much care to read the sequel anymore? That's what happened here. I still have the sequel out from the library but I think I'm gonna take a pass. What I liked about it on my initial read still holds true, but I just find I'm not really very interested in where the story goes now, even with that surprise ending. Plus, I haven't read the best things about the sequel, so I'm going to go with my gut on this one. 🌟🌟🌟

The Naturals - After reading This is Our Story last week, I was in the mood for another crime thriller. But I don't have a knack for finding good ones. So, I decided to re-read one of my favorites. I still need to read books three and four in this series, but the first one is the only one on audio. *cries* 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Altered - Sometimes, when you're in a cranky mood, you just need a book filled with hot dudes. Like, products of a super-secret government experiment hot. ;0) Also, this re-read really made me want to finally get to Nick's book. Not that I had no interest in it before, but it's definitely been rekindled. He reminds me so much of Ronan Lynch. Apparently, I love douchey, misunderstood boys. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

C O N T E M P O R A R Y

Something in Between - It's funny because all I've really found myself in the mood for lately is fluffy contemporaries, but I can't seem to find one to hold my interest. Even this book wasn't fluffy. It was much deeper and more insightful than I'd expected, though the characters were a little melodramatic for my taste. Also, it seemed too easy? Like, in real life, things would not have ended the way they did for the de los Santos family. It wasn't a bad story and I appreciated the light it shed on the topic of immigration, especially in these trying times. I just wish it had delved deeper. Sure, there are those who the system doesn't fail, but what about all those others for whom it does? 🌟🌟🌟

A D U L T

Bitter Spirits - Well, that was even more fun than I expected. I love stories set in the 20s, and I loved Jenn Bennett's YA debut, so I went into this audio with pretty high hopes. And I was NOT disappointed. This was like an amped up, sexier version of Libba Bray's The Diviners and I AM HERE FOR IT. And I am a HUGE fan of Bray's work, so you can imagine how excited I am to discover a new series in that vein. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Winter King - If not for the lovely people of Goodreads, I would have dismissed this book based on that cover alone. I was without an audiobook on Friday, and all week I'd been hovering over the BUY button for this title because I kept seeing it pop up in my feed. Once I finally pulled the trigger, I couldn't be stopped. This book captured my attention from beginning to end. From work to my commute and to housework all weekend, I was listening to this book every chance I got. Which was a lot since the audio was about 21 hours long. But the best part is that you get these amazing characters' story all in one go. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Dashing Through the Snow - Eh, for a story set at Christmas time, this didn't really give me any Christmas feels. It was cute and fluffy, and the banter was adorbs, but it wasn't what I was hoping for. I think the whole mistaken identity plot really took away from what this book could have been. As this is only the first story I've read by Debbie Macomber, I fully intend to give her a second chance, but this just wasn't the book I was looking for to get me in the holiday spirit. And this is coming from the girl who NEVER watches Hallmark movies but decided to turn one on on a whim this week because it's 80 degress outside and WHERE ARE ALL THE HOLIDAY FEELS? Will take holiday recs -- preferrably on audio -- in exchange for cookies. =) 🌟🌟

The Sum of All Kisses - I think that Julia Quinn is just not my favorite historical romance writer. Her books are cute and floofy but I never SWOON like I do with a Tessa Dare or Sarah MacLean novel. This actually reminded me a lot of the plot from the first Spindle Cove novel, just not as well done. Still entertaining, though. 🌟🌟🌟

Have you read any of these? What did you think? Find any new titles to check out? ;0)

So, what do you think about this new format of mine? It took a long time to get this post together, but it was a lot less time than trying to review each of those books individually, especially now that I've got the format down and can add to it with each new read/listen. It's actually made "reviewing" kind of fun again because I just jot down my immediate thoughts and move on.

Until next time! Happy reading!