Book Review: Ink Witch by Lindsey Sparks

Author: Lindsey Sparks

Title: Ink Witch

(Kat Dubois Chronicles #1)

Genre: UF, Paranormal, Romance, Mythology

Format: ebook

Published: September 20th 2016

Where I Got It: My shelf - Amazon

Summary: 

A whole new series from the world of the Echo Trilogy.

Three years ago, the gods abandoned us. We've been alone ever since.

Kat Dubois is immortal, and she’s retired. She’s long since hung up her sword and left assassinating immortals to someone else... anyone else. She’s now a hard drinking, sass-flinging Seattle tattoo artist with the innate ability to read people’s fortunes using her charmed deck of tarot cards. Her days of bloodshed are over, and she has nothing but time — an eternity, in fact — to hide from her past.

Until someone from her past shows up on her doorstep with news that her beloved older brother and mentor, Dominic, has gone missing. Kat may be the only person with the right skills — and access to the right magic — to track him down. She must confront her past if she’s to have any chance of finding and saving her brother. She must fight her demons. She must embrace the power within her.

Review:

I've seen this book around for a while so I was glad this was picked for my book club I'm in so I can finally be forced to check it out. 

Three years ago the gods abandoned humanity. Kat Dubois is an immortal and has hung up sword and left the assassinating for more peaceful tattoo artist career who also reads people's fortunes. With her days of bloodshed in the past she has nothing left but time to hide from the past...until someone from her past shows up with bad news that her beloved older brother has gone missing. Kat is the only person with the skills and magic needed to track him down. With this journey she will be confronted with her past and fight her own demons. 

This was fun. I liked Kat a lot esp at the end. One scary chick who I wouldn't want to cross! What she did to that one guy. DAMN girl!!!!!! He deserved it (not gonna spoil it). 

Ugh Nik. He doesn't impress me a lick. 

Now...I do find I was missing some major history here. We had some summary and Kat's perspective, but I really feel like I wasn't getting the whole backstory. Come to realize this is essentially a spin-off in this world. Which all makes sense! Now I am want to back up and read the other series before moving forward. 

I loved the mix of the Egyptian mythology. It was nice. I feel like Egyptian myths and lores are not utilized enough not like the Roman or Greek or Christian ones. So it was a fresh breath of air for the UF genre. 

Curious to check out the original series and then one day continue with Kat's tale. I hope to see some more badassness from her in the previous books. I like her a lot. Nik can go find a cliff. BOOO. 

In the end, this was good. Lots of references I did not fully get so I'll need to backtrack to the original series. This shall get 4. Kat was awesome and I LOVEDDDDDDDDDD the Egyptian aspects. So fun!!! 

Audiobook Review: Persuasion by Jane Austen

Author: Jane Austen

Narrator:  Greta Scacchi 

Title: Persuasion

Genre: Classic, Historical Romance, Fiction

Format: Audiobook

Published:  January 12th 2009 by BBC Audiobooks LTD (first published December 1817)

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen's most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne's family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love?

Review:

Decided to do the audio of this! I kinda wanna go through all the Austen's and do audio versions for funsies!

We follow Anne Elliot who is 27 now. 8 years prior she was engaged to Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement after being persuaded by her friend that the match is not a good idea. For 8 years Anne has deep regret and wishes she could fix this. Later Wentworth returns to her life as a rich and successful captain. 

This has always been my favorite Austen novel. I love Anne. I love Frederick. I love that they get a second chance. And that letter he writes???!!!! *swoons* 

The side cast is always fun. I hate Anne's family. They are SO selfish and rude ALL the time. Anne really deserves love and to get away from that dang family. Screw them. 

After listening to this I want to watch the movie and find some variations. I do not recall the last time I even read one? Mmmmm. 

But yes - I want to find some variations. I want Anne's widow friend to find love and happiness. Poor girl. I always feel so bad for her. I really hope Anne moved her in. 

The narrator was good. I liked her. I wish she shook up the voices a little bit more. I had to really pay attention when there was dialogue. 

In the end, I enjoyed this audio. The narrator was good and I simply LOVVVVVEEEEEE this novel by Austen. Of course 5 stars

Challenge(s):
- #45 for Audiobook challenge

- #22 for Romance Bingo - second chances

Best of July

Happy August! HOW on EARTH are we this far along in 2021??????

Here are our best of July!

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd -Circe by Madeline Miller

"Best book goes to Circe by Madeline Miller. Great!"

Carole - The Perfect Play by G.S. Carr

"The Perfect Play was the perfect short story for this summer!!!"

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole - "Nada for me this month."

Blodeuedd -Iron Sky: The Coming Race

"I haven't really watched any movies, but I watched this weird ass Finnish one with moon nazis, evil reptiles and a destroyed earth"

 

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Never Have I Ever & Atypical

"On tv I binged Never have I ever. I laughed, I cried."

"I also watched the last season of Atypical."

Carole -Reba (2001-2007)

"Loved this show then, still love it now. Hilarious!"

Best Cover of the Month:

Carole - "So captivating!"

Blodeuedd - "Just look at him 😉"

Book Review: Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Title: Midnight Sun

(The Twilight Saga #5)

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, YA

Format: ebook

Pages: 658

Published: August 3rd 2020

Where I Got It: Borrow from library

Summary: 

When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella's side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward's version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.

This unforgettable tale as told through Edward's eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward's past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger?

Review:

This series has been my guilty pleasure since 2005 when the book was first published. My friend shoved it in my hands and said I had to read it. And I was hooked. Finally decided to read this after I seen it being promoted at my library. 

We all know the tale of Bella and Edward and how they met and so forth. However, in this we get to see the tale through Edward's eyes. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced. We get to learn more about Edward's past, his inner thoughts, his family, and why he struggled so much. 

Honestly....this was good. I liked it better than book 1 in Bella's POV. It was so interesting to learn more about not only Edward but his family. We get to see some of their inner thoughts since he is a mind-reader...literally. We get to see the thoughts of side characters like bitchy Jessica. We do get to see the struggle Edward had to go through to keep his vampiric monster at bay. 

This was LONG though. SUPER long. A lot of it was inner monologue which I found interesting, but this could've been slimmed down a hair. Maybe just 500 pages. It got a hair repetitive and long-winded in some parts. 

Other than that I was hooked. It was like a fine wine and I took my time with it. I couldn't non-stop read it. I took my time because it was fascinating seeing everything in his eyes. 

In the end, if you liked the Twilight books, you'll like this. Heck, even if you hated Bella so many people you'll see her and the characters in a whole different light and I can appreciate her more now. I'm curious to see if the author does New Moon now. I want to know what he was going through!! I'll give this 3 stars. Good, but needed to be slimmed down just a hair.