Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I've read this book twice, neither time really liking it. Why read it a second time? Because I'm doing the Rory Gilmore reading challenge and for some reason have decided that even if I have read a book before, I have to read it again in order for it to count. So, here we are.

I get that Elphaba is misunderstood and not really the person that everyone makes her out to be, but she's not helping herself either.

I really wish this book just focused on the characters and didn't go so deep into the politics and religion. There was just so much going on for a book that was supposed to be the back story for the wicked witch of the west. There were whole scenes that she wasn't even a part of. They had nothing to do with the main story.

The whole book feels very like it is just surface level. The characters don't seem to have any real depth to them and events feel forced. I don't think there will be a third read.

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One of Us Is Dead

One of Us Is Dead by Jeneva Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was basically a five star read. I'm not a fan of the spice, so it's a 4.75.

I couldn't put this book down. The first couple chapters, I was reading other books at the same time, but that quickly changed. This book had my whole focus. It felt like watching reality TV or reading a gossip magazine.

One of Us Is Dead is about members of Buckhead's social elite who will do anything to stay on top. The wives all hang out at a very exclusive salon and basically have their own version Housewives of Buckhead. From the title and from the beginning of the story it is clear that one of the housewives we meet is in fact in the present, dead. Throughout the book, hints are dropped as to who died, why, and who killed them. Maybe it's because this was my first thriller/mystery, maybe I'm just not good at puzzles, but I didn't see the ending coming. I mean, that's a good thing. It's not fun to know how the book is going to end before you get there.

I will say, I see this book being listed as a thriller, and I'm not sure I get that. I would say more of a literary fiction/mystery type book. I don't know, I need to read more thrillers to be able to know what makes a thriller a thriller.

I'm putting this book down as a guilty pleasure. It is one that you read and you just hate the characters, but at the same time, you can't wait to see what they do next. I think that's one of the reasons I read it so fast, the characters were doing so many unexpected things and really just had such life to them, that I felt emotionally invested in their lives. I am rambling, but I just finished the book, and my mind is still processing. I should probably have written this after I had sat with my thoughts for a while, but here we are.

As a last thought, I was really worried when I got close to the end. I was worried that the ending was somehow going to be a let down. That last line was amazing. It was the best way the book could have ended.

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The Fallen Hero

The Fallen Hero by Katie Zhao
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm going to put a disclaimer at the beginning of this review. This is the second book in the series, and the series is clearly not over, but I can find nothing online about how more books are in the works, so the wait could be a while.

For me personally, this was a step down from the first book. I couldn't get behind the characters as much, especially the new ones. Ashley and Jordan just act so young. I get that this is a middle grade book, but it was a sudden flip from the way most of the characters acted in the first book. They are in a life or death situation, you would think that would affect them somehow.

I will say, I am glad that some things were explained early on in this book. I was left wondering at the end of the first one, and I'm not that patient of a person, so I'm glad the wait was short. Even if it took a while to come to a solution, I'm just happy there was an explanation so quickly.

This book really felt like a filler, so I'm hoping a third book comes out some time in the near future. The premise was interesting and it kept me reading, it just doesn't seem as finished as the first one, which in a way I understand since it is a series, but it makes it hard to review.

Age appropriate: Yes

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Now Before the Dark

Now Before the Dark by Sam Hooker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first time annotating a book, so it took a while for me to finish. I really noticed the great lines and just how many times I physically started laughing out loud.

Now Before the Dark is the final book in the Terribly Serious Darkness series. It follows the main character Sloot Peril as he tries to fix the narrative after the events of the second book. Even as a demon, Sloot is still sweet little Sloot, and he struggles to complete his task. Luckily, he has his friends and a new acquaintance, his bard Igor. I just love how persistent Igor was. He had a plan for his new career, and he was not going to let anything stand in his way, even Sloot.

I love all the different relationships between the characters, even those people have with Willie, who is kind of an annoying character. He really redeems himself and shows growth in this last book. In fact, there is a ton of character growth in this book for main and minor characters. Sloot and Myrtle are just adorable. I found one of my favorite descriptions of a kiss during one of their interactions. "Myrtle leaned in and gave Sloot the sort of kiss that make poets go sonnet." I mean, if you don't know poetry, then maybe it's just a line, but I really like it. Add to that the fact that Myrtle had been imprisoned at level 99 of the demon realm while Sloot is a level 100 demon, and it was a long time coming.

I will say the relationship between Vlad and Greta almost broke me. I still haven't decided how I feel about their ending. I was on Greta's side, wanting to shake everyone.

There are so many different characters, and they are all so fun. Since the first book, I've really liked the lawyers, it seems silly to say, but I do. Especially when they are in cahoots with the likes of Winking Bob. All the little side notes they randomly insert into conversations make me smile.

I will say, having annotated this book, I did notice that Sloot's thoughts got more philosophical (gasp), closer to the end, and especially at the end. Of course, I'm not sure Arthur would agree.

Some favorite lines.
* I am possessed aren't I? What does that mean for my tax liability? Can I claim a dependent?

* You don't need luck when your fate is your own.

* We are what the world makes us, thought Sloot. And we in turn make the world.

* "Every family is good," said Sloot, "until the world makes them otherwise."

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The Dragon Warrior

The Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay, I have been moving away from middle grade books, which I used to love, but I am so glad I read this. Honestly, age up the characters a little, and it is so close to being a YA read, at least the YA I grew up with.

The Dragon Warrior is about Faryn Liu a mixed race Chinese girl growing up in San Francisco's China Town as part of the Jade Society. The Jade Society for centuries has protected the world from demons, but slowly lost sight of their role. During the latest Chinese New Year not only do the demons come back, but the long awaited Heaven Breaker is revealed. Faryn along with her little brother, and old best friend are sent on a quest by the gods to reach their fabled island, completing side quests along the way.

For the most part, I really enjoyed the characters. I found Faryn to be a really good main character that was able to carry the story. It is clear why the gods chose her, she is still a child, so she is not always making the best choices, but she tries to see the best in a person, and wants to do the right thing.

Moli was great. She did not want to be there, but she ended up showing time and time again that she was more than anyone ever thought she was. I really think that her character had the greatest growth, and I really loved her more than even Faryn.

Faryn's little brother Alex was the worst character for me. I understand that he is the little brother, but he was too much. He was always trying so hard to be more and deciding that he didn't need to listen to his sister even when she knew what was actually going on. I really hope his character has some redeeming qualities in the second book.

There are so many Chinese gods in the book that it's hard to keep straight, but that's okay, there is a glossary in the back in case you get lost, or just want to know more about them. Strangely, I didn't get names as mixed up as I normally do.

I am going to read the next book right away because this was a wonderful read. I was not prepared for the ending, although honestly, I should have been, I don't know why I was so thrown.

Age appropriate: Yes
Content Warning: Death, One split second of a gender fluid character, if that's a problem for you, here is your warning

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Big Mushy Happy Lump

Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Andersen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think I love Sarah's Scribbles so much because they are relatable, especially to someone like me, a millennial with anxiety who is constantly overthinking EVERYTHING. It's nice to see that I'm not alone in my weird thoughts, and have a chance to laugh about them. I think that's why I enjoyed this collection in particular, there was a focus towards the end on dealing with overthinking, which I do in abundance. Sarah showed perfectly how someone who really deals with overthinking and anxiety sometimes struggle in what may be normal situations. You're brain plays funny tricks on you.

I really appreciate how Sarah manages to keep such an upbeat tone no matter what it is she is writing about. It really makes the books fun to read. Also, this collection has one of my favorite comics, so that is always a plus.

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Jade City

Jade City by Fonda Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My true rating is 2.5 stars.

I had a really hard time getting into this book. It just seemed to drag for me. Aside from the slow pace, I also really struggled with who was who. I will totally admit, I struggle with keeping characters straight to begin with, but this book gives each character multiple names, which made everything even more difficult.

I think I'm just not the right reader for this type of novel. I mean, besides my moments of confusion, Fonda Lee can write some beautiful sentences. "You give a man something to live up to, you tell him he can be more than he is now, more than other people think he’ll ever be, and he’ll try his godsdamned best to make it true." I mean, I love that sentence.

Part of me wants to continue with the series, because I now know who everyone is, and I think I know how the clans work, so maybe I will enjoy it more. You know what? After thinking about it for a whole two minutes or less, I think I will read the next one. I read this one really slowly, and that may have also been part of my problem.

Long story short, this is not my favorite book, but I'm going to read the next one in the series before deciding how I really feel about this world.

Content warning: Sexual content, Murder

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Herding Cats

Herding Cats by Sarah Andersen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This will be a short review because it's Sarah's Scribbles, not a normal novel that's hundreds of pages long. That being said, you can never go wrong with Sarah's Scribbles, and the section at the end talking about continuing to do what you love no matter what anyone says was really needed right now. Seriously, words of wisdom.

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