I saw this tag over on Uncreated Conscience, and seriously! Books AND Hamilton? How could I resist!?
The Room Where It Happens: Book world you would put yourself in.
The easy answer is Harry Potter, and I would totally be down for that if I accidentally stumbled through a brick wall into Diagon Alley. But I think really I’d want to live in Narnia where adventures are just around the corner so long as you go further up and further in.
The Schuyler Sisters: Underrated Female Character
By underrated, can that mean: is never talked about, ever? Because I LOVE Flora from the Flora Segunda trilogy, and no one knows those books! Flora is fat, feisty, and horrible at make correct decisions. She loves and hates her messed up magical family in equal measures, and I’ve just realized that I desperately need to re-read these books!
My Shot: A character that goes after what they want and doesn’t let anything stop them
My girl Frankie from The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks! She never lets little things like cultural constructs or, you know, laws, stand in the way of her pursuing what she wants – which is to be the best leader of an all-male secret society even though she is actually a girl.
Stay Alive: A character you wish was still alive
This obviously comes with a SPOILER warning, right? If not, well…SPOILERS. Continue reading
When I saw Carrie Fisher’s infamous Twitter reply (“You’ve hurt all three of my feelings”) to the unbalanced hate she received after the newest Star Wars movie, I knew I had to find out more about this sassy, brutally honest woman. Imagine my delighted surprise when I found out she’s written books! About herself! Exactly what I wanted, handed to me in the easiest way possible.
WOW, I am in love! With a book, no surprise. 
Morning Star is the third book in the Red Rising series. Check out my reviews of 
Tragedy averted! For the first third of Airborn, I thought I’d maybe found the first Kenneth Oppel book I didn’t like. While airships are always amazing, I just wasn’t hooked by Matt’s story. Not even the recklessly intelligent Kate could get me further than: oh, okay. BUT THEN PIRATES. Sky pirates! And shipwrecks on deserted islands that are not quite as deserted as previously assumed! AND CLOUD CATS, which are like dragons, but with cat features! It turns out Oppel couldn’t have tailored a book more to my tastes.
I am totally in love with Oppel’s writing style. I will probably say that at the beginning of every review of his book, because I keep thinking something will break the spell, but every single book is amazing! He is fantastic at creating worlds that sit just this side of reality…everything is recognizable until it isn’t. Whether it’s a sasquatch or a truly creepy hag or a painting that grants immortality – Oppel keeps us guessing about which ones are real, and which ones are imaginary. I may be hasty in proclaiming this, but I think it’s my new favorite kind of fantasy.
I realize that a part of me must also have been implanted somewhere along the way with the kind of curiosity inherent in people who ultimately stuff all their worldly possessions into a backpack and disappear for months at a time. What happens when we lose the things that anchor us? What if, instead of grasping at something to hold on to, we pull up our roots and walk away? Instead of trying to find the way back, we walk deeper and deeper into the woods, willing ourselves to get lost. In this place where nothing is recognizable, not the people or the language or the food, we are truly on our own. Eventually, we find ourselves unencumbered by the past or the future. Here is a fleeting glimpse of our truest self, our self in the present moment. After that, maybe we can finally go home–or maybe not.
There is nothing I can say about The Martian that hasn’t already been said. It’s as good as the hype! It’s a technically dense book that somehow makes mechanical engineering exciting. It’s an survival story that captures the loneliness and desperation of space travel. It’s a rescue operation that builds the tension to the breaking point over and over again.
One of my favorite things about the first Victor Frankenstein book, This Dark Endeavor, was how its adventures and mysticism refused to be categorized as science, faith, or magic. The events that transpired could have been the result of any of the three philosophies, and I really enjoyed wondering what was “true.” That all changed with Such Wicked Intent. There’s no longer any doubt that the supernatural exists, and can be tampered with.
I’ve never been hugely drawn to stories about Frankenstein or his monster, but my librarian friend Kelly suggested I read This Dark Endeavor after I admitted liking Oppel’s book The Nest. Although I may never get into horror movies, I really enjoyed the book!
It Is Trish 