November Wrap Up

No one wants to here my say yet again that I can't believe another month is over (and that the year is almost over how???) but here we are.

So I was in a bit of reading slump this month, though I know it doesn't look like it. I've found that when I get in a slump, I tend to just read a lot of nonfiction. So, almost all nonfiction this month, with a few children's/MG thrown in.

Notable Favorites: Hidden Figures (reread), From Here to Eternity, The River of Consciousness, Dear Ijeawele

• Most Anticipated November Releases
• Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne
• Artemis by Andy Weir (DNF)

Movies: I did see Justice League. The only other DC movie I've seen is Wonder Woman, but I still enjoyed it. Let's be honest, I really only watched it for Barry Allen (and Diana of course).

TV: I binged the first season (so far) of Star Trek: Discovery and guys I REALLY LOVE IT. It's so good and I am so happy.

Music: Not a huge fan of Christmas music, but love getting to pull out the Pentatonix Christmas albums every year. (Fav songs: Coventry Carol, Coldest Winter, their rendition of How Great Thou Art with Jennifer Hudson).

Artemis by Andy Weir {DNF Review}

Title: Artemis
Author: Andy Weir
Genre: Science Fiction
source: NetGalley

Jazz Bashara is a criminal.
Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you're not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit of contraband barely counts, right? Not when you've got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent.
Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But pulling off the impossible is just the start of her problems, as she learns that she's stepped square into a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself—and that now, her only chance at survival lies in a gambit even riskier than the first. 

So I have never read The Martian, but I've heard so many good things about it that when I heard Andy Weir was coming out with a new book, I was very excited. I love all things space and so was very intrigued by the idea of a colony on the moon.

Unfortunately, I could not get into this one at all. I did not even make it to the customary 25% that I try to give a book before marking it a DNF. While I did enjoy the moon colony and the background of it, the writing was stilted. Our main character Jazz, despite being a grown woman, was written like a 15-year-old dude. Frankly, I am sick and tired of men acting like they are unable to write a decent female character without making them overly sexual, or weird, or fetishized in some way.

While I love the concept of Weir's books, I am not sure that I really care to read them.

Andy Weir

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Rosemarked {by Livia Blackburne}

Title: Rosemarked
Author: Livia Blackburne
Series: Rosemarked #1
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars 
Genre: YA Fantasy
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
source: NetGalley

When Zivah falls prey to the deadly rose plague, she knows it’s only a matter of time before she fully succumbs. Now she’s destined to live her last days in isolation, cut off from her people and unable to practice her art—until a threat to her village creates a need that only she can fill.
A soldier shattered by war . . .
Broken by torture at the hands of the Amparan Empire, Dineas thirsts for revenge against his captors. Now escaped and reunited with his tribe, he’ll do anything to free them from Amparan rule—even if it means undertaking a plan that risks not only his life but his very self.
Thrust together on a high-stakes mission to spy on the capital, the two couldn’t be more different: Zivah, deeply committed to her vow of healing, and Dineas, yearning for vengeance. But as they grow closer, they must find common ground to protect those they love. And amidst the constant fear of discovery, the two grapple with a mutual attraction that could break both of their carefully guarded hearts.

I loved Blackburne's Midnight Thief, so when I heard about this one and read the synopsis, I was so excited. I love Blackburne's writing and the worlds she creates, and she definitely did not disappoint with this one.

One of the things I love best about Blackburne is her writing. She pulls you into the story. That, paired with her ability to worldbuild, means you never want to leave. I loved learning about this new world. It's very political, but not in a way that dragged down the story.

I loved our characters. They are very different, but forced to work together. I thought the amnesia aspect was very intriguing and I liked how the idea played out. (Was it a little too perfectly convenient? Yes, but hey. It worked.)

Honestly, the only negative thing I have to say is probably the pacing. It started off well, but lagged in the middle, which made the ending seem too rushed. Also, for some reason I thought it was a stand-alone, so I was very happy to hear that there is a sequel. I can't wait to read more about Zivah and Dineas.

Livia Blackburne:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Most Anticipated NOVEMBER Releases!

It's that time where we get to talk about our most anticipated releases of the month! Yay! November actually doesn't have that many at all compared to other months but let's get right to them.

November 7

• Renegades by Marissa Meyer
• Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne

November 14

• Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi
• Artemis by Andy Weir

So not very many this month, but I am highly looking forward to all of them. What books are you looking forward to this month?