This Week In Books (September 28th 2016)

This Week In Books is a weekly update on what you’ve been reading hosted by Lipsyy Lost & Found . A similar meme is hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words.

This week again, there were changes of plan regarding my reading schedule. When I was told Carry On was 500 pages long, I knew I had to start it early enough to save a day to review. It turned out it was useless, but I did not know it at the time!

∧ Then ∧ Carry On, Rainbow Rowell/ The Fire Child, S.K Tremayne

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

21%. I reached 21% before I decided to give up and erase this book from my Kindle. You cannot say I did not try. Boy did I try. It would have been fun to write a review of why I DFN’ed it but I don’t believe I have enough material except for “why does a bad Harry Potter fanfiction have such a good rating?” I opened the book (virtually of course, I am so glad I did not by a physical copy) not knowing a thing about the story. Maybe I should have read the synopsis before! Nothing convinced me – neither the million Harry Potter parallels, not the characters. The writing itself could not save the book. I am aware I am on the very unpopular side of the general opinion right now, but I just did not see the point of finishing a book that bored me to death. Really, I literally fell asleep reading it. That never happens to me. Never.

When Rachel marries dark, handsome David, everything seems to fall into place. Swept from single life in London to the beautiful Carnhallow House in Cornwall, she gains wealth, love, and an affectionate stepson, Jamie.

But then Jamie’s behaviour changes, and Rachel’s perfect life begins to unravel. He makes disturbing predictions, claiming to be haunted by the spectre of his late mother – David’s previous wife. Is this Jamie’s way of punishing Rachel, or is he far more traumatized than she thought?

As Rachel starts digging into the past, she begins to grow suspicious of her husband. Why is he so reluctant to discuss Jamie’s outbursts? And what exactly happened to cause his ex-wife’s untimely death, less than two years ago? As summer slips away and December looms, Rachel begins to fear there might be truth in Jamie’s words:

‘You will be dead by Christmas.’

What is best to fight a slump than your most anticipated story of the year? I cannot believe I waited three months to read this. I’m amazed at my willpower! (Well, it has more to do with the numerous ARCs I needed to read than pure willpower, but shush, let’s keep it a secret.) Unfortunately, I was slightly disappointed with the story.

≈ Now ≈ Manipulated Lives, H.A Leuschel

Five stories – Five Lives.
Have you ever felt confused or at a loss for words in front of a spouse, colleague or parent, to the extent that you have felt inadequate or, worse, a failure? Do you ever wonder why someone close to you seems to endure humiliation without resistance?
Manipulators are everywhere. At first these devious and calculating people can be hard to spot, because that is their way. They are often masters of disguise: witty, disarming, even charming in public – tricks to snare their prey – but then they revert to their true self of being controlling and angry in private. Their main aim: to dominate and use others to satisfy their needs, with a complete lack of compassion and empathy for their victim.

In this collection of short novellas, you meet people like you and me, intent on living happy lives, yet each of them, in one way or another, is caught up and damaged by a manipulative individual. First you meet a manipulator himself, trying to make sense of his irreversible incarceration. Next, there is Tess, whose past is haunted by a wrong decision, then young, successful and well balanced Sophie, who is drawn into the life of a little boy and his troubled father. Next, there is teenage Holly, who is intent on making a better life for herself and finally Lisa, who has to face a parent’s biggest regret. All stories highlight to what extent abusive manipulation can distort lives and threaten our very feeling of self-worth.

Starting this one today!

∨ Next ∨ Queen of Shadows, Sarah J. Maas

The queen has returned.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…

She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

It is time to meet Celaena again and hope she does not annoy me as much as she did in the last book. And the book before. And the first book. A girl can hope.

Have you read any of these books? What is on your list this week?
Do share in the comments
Happy reading!

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