Fables&Wren

A Series of Unfortunate Events #01: The Bad Beginning

/ 05 STARS, 2018 JANUARY, LSNICKETT YR A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS

The Bad Beginning Book Cover The Bad Beginning
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Lemony Snicket
Brothers
Scholastic, Inc.
2000
Audiobook
162

Dear Reader,

I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.

In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.

It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

WrensReads Review:

This was as good as I thought it would be.

You have three kids: an older sister named Violet who likes to build and great, a middle brother named Klaus who knows a lot of random facts, and a little baby sister named Sunny who apparently has the strongest teeth in the whole world. In the words of Lemony Snicket, “the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.” I mean, come on their parents die, then a man tries to still said money… just… the kids lead a very, unfortunate life.

This was a hilarious read. The feeling of the show (yes, I’ve seen the show [first], but I actually didn’t even know these books existed until I was an adult in my own defense!).

What I like most about this book is the fact that the kids are smart and know what they are doing. When someone tries to explain something or tell them what a word means, the kids are like “yeah we know what it means it means this… duh.”

I can see how this would be a great read for kids. Especially the audio, for kids who have a short attention span, because it is a full cast and has sound effects and keeps you engaged with the story. There is a lot of mystery to it so it is fun for the kids to try to find out what is going to happen before it does. Bad things happen, but in a light way for the reader to not feel like it is dark but humorous. This book can help a kids confidence with words, problem solving and over all just how to enjoy themselves.

I’m an adult in my mid twenties and I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series. If it is anything like the Netflix Original Show, I’m going to be smiling ear to ear in no time.

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Sky in the Deep

/ 05 STARS, 2018 JANUARY, AYOUNG YA NOVELS

Sky in the Deep Book Cover Sky in the Deep
Adrienne Young
Young Adult
Wednesday Books
April 24th 2018
eBook
352

OND ELDR. BREATHE FIRE.

Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient, rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.

Faced with her brother's betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family.

She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.

WrensReads Review:

Thank you to the publisher St. Martin’s Press: Wednesday Books and NetGallery for providing me with a ebook copy of this beautiful book! Quotes taken from the book are subjected to change with the official release. All opinions on are mine and mine alone.

Release Date: April 24th 2018

Call the coast guard, I am drowning my need to become a viking. Who can I call to train me in how to use an ax and where can I get about fifty of them? As a young 20-something, I feel it would scare off all the wanna-be suitors if I carry around an ax with me at all times, don’t you think?

Let’s talk about my main girl Eelyn.

Side note: What I love about this story is injuries are actually taken seriously and they aren’t like brushed off. Also, these are actual people and and not super people who never get injured.

Eelyn is injured from a previous battle in the beginning, so she is not at her best when a Riki (another Viking clan) corners her and is about to take her life. And then – beyond all odds – her supposedly five-years dead brother stops him and saves her life. Her father believes it is their god favoring her, but she believes different and is rewarded with her skepticism because he isn’t dead – he just traded in his Aska armor for Riki. When Eelyn fall captive to the Riki, she sees first hand why she is just now finding out about her brother’s survival.

Eelyn lives up to every expectations of a bad-ass. Instead of using a shield, she uses a ax in one hand and a sword in the other. Even though she is injured, she is willing and able to fight for her clan. What is different than the majority of the bad-ass girls of our written-generation is that she actually does have a heart and is compassionate. She cares for her father, who has lost his son and his wife, and she cares for her fighting partner Mýra, why has lost loved ones as well.

But the Riki are the enemy, so why is her brother on their side of the battle field now? Against his own father and sister and kinsmen? You must read this book to see!

The romance in this book is heart-wrenching. I won’t spoil who it is and what happens, but I absolutely loved it. I mean, I always love those hate-to-love type of stories, and this possibly that.
It was slow and practical and the characters slowly came together and didn’t feel forced.

“The prickling of his stare ran over my body, making me shake as I lifted my hand and spread my fingers, reaching out to him. He looked at it, taking a small step toward me. He moved closer until I could feel his breath on the palm of my hand”

Besides the romantic relations, the family and friend relations aren’t pushed on you. They come very naturally and sweetly. Especially the strain between the siblings, Iri and Eelyn. They love each other but they are on opposite sides of the on-going fight between clans. It is written SO WELL.

There is a lot of fighting, some gore, and there is a type of assault that Eelyn goes through. All things that I personally don’t mind at all, but some readers might (We all know how I need a little violence in my books).

Overall, this story is about vikings and fighting for what’s right. What are you waiting for?!

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This was the best and I am SO GIDDY WITH LOVE. If I could marry a book, man… RTC.

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I’m so ready for this.

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DC Icons #02: Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu

/ 03 STARS, 2018 JANUARY, VA YA DC ICONS

Batman: Nightwalker Book Cover Batman: Nightwalker
DC Icons
Marie Lu
Young Adult Fiction
Random House Books for Young Readers
2018
Hardcover
288

Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.

One by one, the city's elites are being executed as their mansions' security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family's fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he's forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city's most brutal criminals.

Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce's only hope.

In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer.

WrensReads Review:

As I previously said, I’m not that big of a DC fan. I am a Marvel Girl 100% through and through. In fact, until I started reading Wonder Woman Comics and watching the movie that came out on repeat (hello, women power), I kind of could care less about DC? I mean, I like Arrow and the Flash and Legends of Tomorrow is okay I guess, but none of them were as spectacular as any of the comics, shows and movies that I watched with Marvel. Wolverine, Loki, Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Kitty… well, you get the picture. I feel Marvel has a stronger character-driven company.

BUT Bardugo, Maas and Lu were writing DC Icons, so how could I not read this series? And de la Pena, but I have never read anything by him.

On top of my lack of love for DC, I feel like Batman is overrated. I know I know, most people are obsessed with him because he is an orphan and he is such a good guy and he has cool gadgets and he is super rich and chill and has a cave and talks in that raspy voice and stuff; but I guess, to me and strictly my opinion, I feel like he is some rich dude who got really bored with his heritage and decided to be a vigilante without “the call” to be one. I don’t know; I respect everyone’s opinions on him and I don’t hate him, but he isn’t close to my favorite either.

So why did I say all of that? I felt it was important for you to see where my mind is when I was reading this book.

To me, this book was very underwhelming and with that eye-roll worthy of an ending, I couldn’t bring myself to rate it any higher than a 03 star. Don’t get me wrong, it was an enjoyable read and I do actually own the book willingly, but I do not find myself actually picking it up and reading it again.

“I can’t think of a story where the billionaire and the murderer end up happily ever after.”

So there is a group of vigilantes that are pulling a Robin Hood and trying to take all the money from the rich to provide for the poor. They catch one of the members of the Night Walkers (hey look the title), and she ends up in Arkham. Madeleine (that’s the “she” from the Night Walkers… keep up) won’t talk to anyone but the boy who is there because he got in the middle of a cop investigation… oh that’s Bruce, btw. Bruce is low-key trying to stop the Nightwalkers under the law’s noses, while also finding Madeleine very… interesting.

Things I really liked about this book is the premise (superheroes are amazing), the technology (hello cool gadgets), the murder mystery (I have a thing for murder mysteries), and the name drops (Alfred is the main reason to read this book). Things I didn’t really like about this book the lack of character development (characters were kind of flat), the predictability (that ending, the romance (I cannot), the thrown in characters (his two best friends can’t even be called supporting roles), and the unrealisticness of it all (Bruce would never be put in this kind of situation). Also, I thought Batman was supposed to be dark? Isn’t he also called The Dark Knight? This felt very middle-ground to me and I was expecting it to be a little darker.

Now Bruce himself, he had some interesting things about him. He seemed drawn to the people who have a little darkness in them, which is completely expected with Batman.

Moral of the story, if you are a big batman fan you will probably enjoy this more. Personally, I’m only here for Wonder Woman and Catwoman. I literally can’t wait for Catwoman. But Batman,

“He didn’t know everything his future held for him, not yet, but he knew that whatever it was, it would remain here.
It looked like a place worth protecting.
It looked like home.”

I still have some hope for you and me.

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About what I expected. RTC.

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I’m not a huge Batman Fan BUTTTT I’m a sucker for origins and super heroes in general, and I loved Wonder Woman and I love this author so… HERE WE GOoOoOoOoOo!

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THAT COVER THO

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