Review: The Isle of the Lost: The Graphic Novel by Melissa de la Cruz & Robert Venditti

The Isle of the Lost: The Graphic Novel by Robert Venditti
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a very quick read and really followed along with the novel. Liked seeing all the depictions come to life after reading the details. I did picture Mal to look a bit tougher than she was in the graphic, but overall the image really showed the characters personalities. A good story with great visualization. 

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Review: The Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz

The Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

11 years later i read this again (forgetting I've already read it to be honest). Still have the initial thoughts in my review below from 2015 though I'm not sure I'll be reading anymore as it's not as engaging as i would have hoped. Plus im pretty sure i have to watch the movie and tv show in a cetain order with the books to get the full story, which is a bit annoying to me. 

My original review from May 2015:

This was a unique twist on Disney characters... I was really excited when I saw it and had to buy it for my library. 

Overall I really enjoyed it. I was literally laughing my butt off when I read the entire novel - it's really quite comical. Also as a Disney lover, the movies are always focusing on the princess or the damsel in distress. This was a nice way to get to know the villains, or the bad guys, of the story. Even though the villains we know are kinda crazy since they don't have their magic and have been banned for 10 years (which is an eternity and a half, if you didn't know). 

I felt bad for the kids of the villains (Mal, daughter of Maleficent; Evie, daughter of Evil Queen; Jay, son of Jafar; Carlos, son of Cruella de Vil). They were not the initial villains of their parents stories, yet they are banned from the beautiful island where the princes and princesses are. Why can't they get their own chance to be good? Sucks to be judged by who their parents are. Especially Mal whose father was human. She's half good!

I also loved that Beast and Belle are the king and queen of the good world. Yay Belle! (Obviously that it my favorite Disney character - library, duh!) And their son, Ben, is going to do great things as King, I can just tell. 

Glad I read this book, even though it was a bit slow going in the middle. I almost gave up, but stuck with it and was very pleased by the ending. Can't wait to read more. Not sure if I will watch the Disney TV movie or not, but I will be on the look out for the sequel!

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Review: When Dealing With Dragons by Dana Swift

When Dealing With Dragons by Dana Swift
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun book. Always love dragons and seeing the main characters, Farren and James, want to save them and keep them protected was great. The dragon and wielding system was explained really well in this book and i feel bad for the dragons when they are deshiwlded. Humans really can be despicable creatures when they become greedy and think they are above everything else. 

The awkwardness between Farren and James is very YA, haha. They had so much miscommunication happen throughout the past few years and then with all the secrets piling up, they were doomed to be archenemies instead of friends. But in reality, they both are the same deep down and just needed a giant intervention to put them on the same path again. 

Loved all the moments with the dragons. They have such big personalities! Glad I decided to read this story! 

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Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My first Emily Henry book and it went pretty well. Of course I loved the Bookish topics, vibes, love and job because I love books. And I could relate to Nora on many levels. So overall I did enjoy it. I did get annoyed with how repetitive certain statements became after awhile. Not everything needed to be restated quite as many times as it was. And Nora definitely needs to talk through her insecurities and worries because 10 years is a long time to be handling a situation. 

I 100% called the ending and the best solution to all of the problems (I told you i was a bit like Nora, though im surprised SHE didn't come up with the solution). 

Libby was... she was fine but I wish she had just been truthful from the beginning instead of misleading. No one likes to hear an announcement that big that comes out of nowhere. 

I liked Charlie. He's so surly and gruff but that's just the first layer. If your Nora, you can see all the other layers he's hiding deep inside. 

So yeah overall I liked it. Glad I experienced a book by this author. Not sure I'll be diving into her back log but you never know what may happen. 

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Review: A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I own these books because of the gorgeous sprayed edges and I definitely judged a book by the edges. I wanted to like it. How can I not like a book that's about a reader loving a book? That's what I do daily. 

Sadly though I was bored. I didn't care for the lyrical writing and I didn't like the almost poetry like parts. Effy wasn't a character that I liked. She was extremely judgemental towards Preston which I found hypocritical considering her situation and even though she admitted she was acting that way, it didn't make her a better person in my eyes. 

I love fae stories but this was a watered down version of any I've read. I know it's a made up world with different rules but the author didn't explain the rules well enough to follow. I predicted the reveal about the Fairy King. I predicted the author of Effy's favorite book wasnt the real author. I even had a feeling the main female character in the Fairy King book was real and the mom hiding in her room. Nothing surprised me by the end of the book and i couldn't even remember what the significance of the bells ringing meant and had to Google it. 

Suffice to say, I'm disappointed i didn't like this more. Definitely not my cup of tea but I'm glad I finally read it to realize this author may not be for me. 

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Review: Bedeviled by Laura Thalassa

Bedeviled by Laura Thalassa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm always sad when finishing a series and I'm especially sad about finishing Selene and Memnon's story. But I loved every moment of this journey with them and the final battles we got to experience with them in this novel. These two have a love that never ends and will defy all obstacles thrown their way. 

I love how both characters have grown so much from book 1 and how much they've both learned not only with their magic but with each other and in this 21st century world. They both have pure intentions (yes even Memnon) and seeing them fight for good was such a joy. 

I hope Laura Thalassa will revisit this world again (maybe a story for poor Candy Kane?! Love that nickname!). I also love the unexpected character drop off the Bargainer!!! Seeing him and Memnon together was amazing. 

So glad I decided to wait and binge this series because I was able to remember all the small details that otherwise would have been forgotten. 

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Review: The Curse that Binds by Laura Thalassa

The Curse that Binds by Laura Thalassa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great backstory. I love seeing Memnon with Roxi. I loved seeing him more human with more emotion when he first met her before he used so much magic that stripped him of a piece of himself. I absolutely love that he gave her her name! Seeing his family and his town with his people. Seeing how he's ALWAYS adored Roxi since the moment they were just voices in each other's heads. And the moment they met in person and he stole her frim being married only to be wed to him 20 minutes later? I wouldn't love that in person but for their story I was entrapped. 

And Roxi. She's a spitfire! She's definitely a survivor since the moment she lost her family as a child and seeing her absolutely thrive when she's with Memnon and his tribe? I adore that so much! She had to get past her own beliefs to transition to Memnon's lifestyle but I don't think that made her weak or meek. Instead she grew into an amazing woman and witch that was able to take care of herself and the people she loved. 

I am glad Laura Thalassa wrote this book because now we can see the differences between Roxi and Selene. They may be the same soul but they are different people with different ways of doing things. Deep down they have the same goals but that doesn't mean they will get to the resolution the same way. 

So excited to read the conclusion to this love story! 

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