Crown of Midnight By: Sarah J. Maas

source

• Title: Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)
• Author: Sarah J. Maas
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
• Publication Date:  August 27, 2013 
• Pages: 413
• Genre: Fantasy/YA
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2017
• Source: Library 
• Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 stars

Celaena Sardothien is the land's most feared assassin- and now she is serving as the King's Champion as well. And although she is a trained killer, Celaena has not taken the life of any of the men the king has sent her to kill. Instead, she plays a dangerous game, playing the part of a loyal assassin while all the while trying to discover the king's secret agenda. After a night filled with the terrible truths of the secrets swirling around her, Celaena must decide what to do in the face of her greatest challenge yet.

---

Oh. My. Gosh. I am absolutely reeling at everything that has just happened and even as I write this, I don't think I've completely processed everything yet. This was so good; who says sequels aren't as good as the original? I finished this in record time and all the intense action and information in this book made for a very quick read.

I think my favorite part about this book is seeing how much Celaena grows in such a short amount of time. I also loved how much we get to see just how badass she really is. One thing's for sure- I sure don't want to get on Celaena's bad side! I've loved Celaena from the moment I realized she loved books just as much as I did, and as I've gotten to know her better, I see how much she reminds me of myself- just you know, without the whole assassin thing going. I also really like this book because it depicts Celaena as capable of making her own, rational decisions without some guy clouding her feelings from what she really needed to do. Don't get me wrong- I fell in love with both Chaol and Dorian (and may have teared up a bit at *certain* scenes) but the focus of the series isn't solely on some lovelorn teenager who sacrifices everything for some guy.

The action was so intense and Celaena delivered on all those promises she made in the first book. And in this book, I can't think of anything I didn't particularly like. I know this is a fantasy novel and everything, but I kept wishing that I was half as athletic as she was. I also liked learning a bit more about Celaena's past, even though some of what I learned tore me apart.

And man, this book gave me feelings and made me gasp out loud at some of the background information that I got. I certainly didn't see that twist coming- that's all I'm going to say. And right after writing this, I'm diving right into the third book to see what comes out of all information that was revealed. I simply cannot wait.

Throne of Glass By: Sarah J. Maas

source

• Title: Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)
• Author: Sarah J. Maas
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
• Publication Date:  May 7, 2013
• Pages: 404
• Genre: Fantasy/ YA
• Recommended Age(s): 13 +
• First Read: 2017
• Source: Library
• Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 stars

In a land filled with the whispered remnants of magic and a king who will do anything to smash those who stand in his way, an assassin dwells. Celaena Sardothien, the land's most notorious assassin, has spent the past year as a slave laborer until she is summoned to the castle. If Celaena becomes the King's Champion at the end of the competition, she will win her freedom. But as a mysterious creature starts killing the other competitors, Celaena must not only win against her adversaries but also against the darker evil lurking just beneath the shining castle facade.

---

When someone recommended this book to me, I wasn't sure about it since I usually don't gravitate towards fantasy books. But man, am I glad I gave this baby a chance because it was such a thrill to read!

So, I like Celaena, which, from reading other people's reviews, is not a *common* thing I guess. She's self-assured of herself, albeit more than a tad bit arrogant, incredibly smart, and does not put up with anyone's shenanigans. She also loves pretty clothes and food, but to be honest, who doesn't? It's so refreshing to read about such a complex character who does what she has to so she can survive and isn't totally caught in the throes of ~following her heart~ to the point that she makes dumb decisions. She isn't apologetic for who she is, and she is so strong- both mentally and physically. I love her.

I also liked this book because it has a pretty unique premise, and I liked immersing myself in Celaena's world. The whole love triangle with Chaol and Dorian and Celaena was cute I guess, but I like how Celaena didn't lose her head for the most part between the two guys. She always knew her own freedom was more important, and that some guy wasn't going to hand that to her. She had to work for it herself.

I didn't give this book five stars because, while I loved it by the end, it was a bit of a slow start. In the beginning, I felt that I was missing a huge chunk of information and felt like I was reading a book in the middle of the series instead of the first book. I was also a little annoyed how repetitively Celaena was referred to as "the assassin," which I know- that's what she is, but it was hackneyed to death as a pronoun for her.

I'm so excited to read the second book and see what Celaena does next! I know I'm pretty late to the TOG bandwagon, but I'm not going to get off until the very end.

I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within us and a Grander View of Life By: Ed Yong

source

• Title: I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life
• Author: Ed Yong
• Publisher: Ecco
• Publication Date:  August 9, 2016 
• Pages: 368
• Genre: Science/ Non- Fiction
• Recommended Age(s): 15 +
• First Read: 2017
• Source: Library 
• Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 stars

From the tiny caterpillar to the hulking whale, all organisms are filled with millions upon millions of microorganisms that stay with them from the moment they are born until the day they die. By shifting our perspectives, the microscopic world takes center stage. And through exploring the astonishing connections and relationships between animals and their microbes, we can better understand our place in the grand scheme of life.

---

I absolutely loved this book, especially because I had never read anything like it before. It took me on quite a fascinating ride, filled with witty, yet still informative writing. I thought that I would get lost in all the scientific jargon, but I was glad to find out that I understood almost all that was going on. The long, latin names of many of the bacteria were sometimes hard to remember, but that was just a small detail that I could quickly correct by a quick glance back a few pages. I loved how I was forced to look at things through an intensely microscopic outlook and as a result got to see all the relationships and processes that were happening inside of me.

I study microbiology in college, so this book was a total nerd's paradise for me; I got to learn about all the amazing adaptations that nature has devised for all its creatures, especially the section on parasites. I think my favorite part of this book though was the fact that it talked about the possibilities for the future and what scientists were doing to help eliminate diseases like malaria and how to improve someone's help by shifting their microbes in the human microbiome. It's this possibility that made me fall in love with science, so this book has made me incredibly excited for the future.

You don't have to be a scientist to understand this book because it is written in such simple, yet uncondescending language. I laughed out loud more than a couple times at the fun word play that the author uses. I love Ed Yong; he is possibly my favorite science writer and I highly recommend watching his TED Talk on parasites and also his talk on microbes for the Royal Institution. These talks are a great companion to this book and bring Yong's unique voice to life. We all contain a multitude of microbes within us so it wouldn't hurt to learn a little more about ourselves from a whole new perspective!

Midnighters: Blue Noon By: Scott Westerfeld

source

• Title: Blue Noon (Midnighters #3)
• Author: Scott Westerfeld
• Publisher: Eos
• Publication Date:  February 28, 2006
• Pages: 378
• Genre: YA/ Sci-Fi
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2014
• Source: Purchase
• Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 stars

For the Midnighters, the secret hour has always come at, well, midnight. However, the secret hour suddenly comes sweeping in the middle of the school day turning the cacophony of noise into blissful silence. The Midnighters soon discover that the barrier between the blue time and normal time is weakening. The creatures of the night are hungry after centuries of being confined to one hour of the day, and Jess and her friends must find a way to stop midnight from engulfing them all.

---

I have so many conflicted feelings towards this book, and I don't know how I'll ever reconcile them all together. It was an exciting book, and I loved how none of the action stalled. There was a lot more running around, considering midnight is no longer confined to its traditional time. I also liked how Rex and everyone else began to question their sources and really begin to think for themselves, rather than blindly following in other people's footsteps. This made them grow as characters and gave a greater three-dimensionality to them.

However, I definitely have feelings on how the series ended. Like, excuse me, Mr. Westerfeld, are you going to leave us hanging like that? I think an epilogue to the epilogue should happen at least so that we know what happens to everyone and all the loose ends are tied up. But at the same time, the ending gets kind of tricky, so I see how writing anything to follow up the series could be a challenge. It's bittersweet, so maybe that's why I'm slightly upset; I'm a sucker for happy endings but I understand that with a series like this, entirely happy endings would not have fit the story.

This final book is worth a read and is one of those books you may or may not throw at the wall a couple times or so. It's another quick read, and one sure to keep you up long past the secret hour has passed!

Midnighters: Touching Darkness By: Scott Westerfeld

source

• Title: Touching Darkness (Midnighters #2) 
• Author: Scott Westerfeld
• Publisher: Eos
• Publication Date:  March 1, 2005 
• Pages: 336
• Genre: YA/ Sci-Fi
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2014
• Source: Library 
• Rating: 3.5 / 5.0 stars

Ever since finding out about Bixby Oklahoma's secret hour, Jess and her friends have been quite busy fighting off the creatures of the night. For a long time, the Midnighters have wondered why the generation before them disappeared without a trace. During their search, they encounter horrors worse than anything they could have ever imagined, and a secret more horrifiying than the creatures itself. With time running out, an extra hour may not even be enough to save the Midnighters even as they race to solve the puzzle.

---

After powering through the first Midnighters, I was super excited to start this one. Again, I read this one in practically one sitting, late into the wee hours of the morning. While still interesting, it was definitely more slow paced than the first volume and was filled with a lot more teenage ~angst~ compounded with super powers, naturally. I still enjoyed this book, and was thoroughly and appropriately creeped out at the *big* reveal that the whole plot centered on, but I couldn't help but feel that this book fell into the dreaded "middle child" syndrome where the first book outshone it a lot more and everyone's attention was already focused towards the anticipated final installment.

I was also a lot more annoyed at the characters in this book, particularly Melissa's, Rex's, and Dess' relationship. Honestly guys- you two have amazing super powers- would it kill you to communicate a little more? I did like all the information I found out from all their separate adventures, so I guess that's a plus. I do wish the book was longer though; there is so much more information that could have helped to flesh out the world more and honestly, I just couldn't get enough of Blue Time.

This book got its job done and set up the final installment, so I guess I can't complain about that. While it felt ironically rushed at times, yet slow in others, I am still fully immersed in the world of the Midnighters and cannot wait to see what happens next. I'll probably be found reading in some corner, curled up in my blanket, devouring this book series.

Midnighters: The Secret Hour By: Scott Westerfeld

source

• Title: The Secret Hour (Midnighters #1)
• Author: Scott Westerfeld
• Publisher: Eos
• Publication Date:  March 1, 2005 
• Pages: 383
• Genre: YA/ Sci-Fi
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2014
• Source: Purchase  
• Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 stars

Bixby, Oklahoma seems like a sleepy town in the middle of nowhere. But looks can be deceiving, as Jess Day finds out upon moving there. Soon, she discovers that Bixby's time hides a secret hour filled with both wonder and terror. Along with others who share special abilities, Jessica and her friends must find out why the creatures that haunt the secret hour have suddenly become restless and are on the mission to hunt down Jessica and her friends.

---

I love this book series and whole heartedly think it is one of the under appreciated gems of YA literature. The premise is so original and interesting that I finished this book in one sitting, sacrificing my sleep for the sake of finding all I could about this secret extra hour of the day. I loved how this book was fast-paced and full of sci-fi action. It was also a little spooky, and to be honest I caught myself snuggling down in my covers and listening for unfamiliar sounds as I read late into the night.

The cast of characters was also really enjoyable; none of them are "perfect" in any sense and I liked that because it made them all relatable. I mean, as relatable as they could be while having kick ass super powers, you know? While Jess is supposed to be the main character, I found myself cheering on Dess the most because she reminded me a bit of myself and had a lot of the abilities I wish I was better at. All the others were all fascinating in their own ways too, and I loved getting to know them.

This book got me out of my reading slump and I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety of it. I can't wait to read the rest of the series and delve more into the world of the Midnighters. As much sleep as I lost reading this book, I sure would benefit from having that extra hour in the day to catch up on some snoozing!

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women By: Kate Moore

source

• Title: The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women
• Author: Kate Moore
• Publisher: High Bridge Audio
• Publication Date:  May 2, 2017
• Pages: Audio CD (13 discs)
• Genre: Non-Fiction/History
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2017
• Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewer
• Rating: 5.0/5.0 stars

At the turn of the century, it seemed that radium was the new wonder drug- capable of prolonging life and helping in everyday tasks. Caught in the whirlwind of the radium craze and the war sweeping the entire world, hundreds of girls answered the call to paint luminous watch faces with radium. These were the Radium Girls. To paint these tiny watch faces, they put the paintbrush- with radium on it- in their mouths without knowing how poisonous radium was. As the years went on, many of the girls started developing horrible sicknesses and dying because of their exposure to the radium. With the horrible knowledge that their work with radium had done this to them, these women fought for the justice they deserved- even in the face of unimaginable pain and darkness.

---

*I received this audiobook for free in exchange for a completely honest review*

This is one of the most eye-opening and heart-rending books I have read in a long time and is honestly one of those books that everyone should have on their bookshelf. It brings to life the stories of the famous Radium Girls and it let me understand the unique struggles each woman went through to fight for justice. I also could not stop tears from coming because I was just so heartbroken at the unnecessary suffering these women had to go through. By the end of the book, I was a pool of emotions and had to stop for a while before continuing on with the book.

I got to know each woman very well and was repeatedly amazed at their tenacity and courage in the face of certain death. There is much sadness- and anger- in this book, but there is also hope and the knowledge that these women's sacrifice was not in vain. Many of our current legislations and safety standards come as a direct result of what these women fought for. I think that's what blows my mind the most about this book- that without them- without their stories- we would be living in a very different world. I am eternally grateful for their contributions to science, culture, worker's rights, legislation, and for reminding everyone of the humanity in us all.

Throughout this book, I became extremely angry at the men who did this to them- the corporations that turned a blind eye and lied to the women just to make money. It was chilling to hear how carelessly these companies treated the radium and the women who had to handle it every day. It makes me proud to know that these women were able to stand up to those who did not think they were worth anything. I cannot even begin to comprehend the mental fortitude it would have taken to do this while also suffering intense pain.

I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone I can, and it has earned a place on my favorites shelf. Important history like this shall not be ignored.

The Demigod Diaries By: Rick Riordan

source

• Title: The Demigod Diaries (The Heroes of Olympus)
• Author: Rick Riordan
• Publisher: Hyperion Books
• Publication Date:  August 14, 2012 
• Pages: 256
• Genre: Fantasy
• Recommended Age(s): 9+
• First Read: 2015
• Source: Purchase 
• Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 stars

These types of books are probably some of my favorites in the entire Percy Jackson and the Olympians/Heroes of Olympus Series because they provide the most interesting backstories on the characters. 

This particular volume includes short stories on Percy and Annabeth, right after the Battle of Manhattan, as seen in The Last Olympian, as well as a story from Thalia and Luke from when they were still on the run. Additionally, there is an interesting interview with George and Martha, Hermes' snakes, and even an adventure with Leo, Jason, Piper, and a bunch of crazy Maenads who just want to party. 

Every single one of these stories was absolutely fascinating because I got to glimpse a little of what my favorite heroes were doing in their *free* time. It was really nice just seeing Percy and Annabeth together, attempting to have a nice day, and getting some of that classic Percy first person POV that I've kind of missed while I've been reading the Heroes of Olympus series. I thought that Luke's adventure with Thalia was especially eye-opening and I got a little sad, reading about Luke and seeing what might have been if things had gone in Luke's favor. And of course Leo's story was absolutely hilarious and I just couldn't stop imagining him and his friends getting into even more entertaining trouble!

The last story in this book is actually by Haley Riordan, Rick Riordan's son, who actually inspired Rick to write down the original Percy Jackson series after Rick ran out of the original Greek myths to tell his son. I thought it was great for Rick to debut his son's writing, because Haley's story, called "The Son of Magic" was by far my favorite story in the entire collection. It certainly was darker and grittier than his father's style of writing, but it was nonetheless fantastic. Haley addresses questions that I'm sure many of us have had about various aspects of the demigod world, like what's up with The Mist? And what happened to all the kids who were on Kronus' side during the war? 

I recommend reading this book after finishing the entire Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and after the first Heroes of Olympus book, The Lost Hero, so that you are up to speed on everything that is happening. But regardless of when you really end up reading this book, you sure will not be disappointed!

Heartless By: Marissa Meyer

source

• Title: Heartless
• Author: Marissa Meyer
• Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
• Publication Date:  November 28, 2016
• Pages: 453
• Genre: Fantasy
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2017
• Source: Library 
• Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 stars

Catherine has stolen the heart- and the stomach- of the King of Hearts, but would love nothing more than to forget him and open her own bakery. Until she meets Jest, the mysterious, witty, and wonderfully refreshing court Jester. The two enter a whirling romance at the risk of her parents, and the king's, wrath. However, as it is in Wonderland, not everything is as it seems- and it seems that fate has other plans for her. 

---

This book. Wow. I greatly enjoyed Marissa Meyer's writing in The Lunar Chronicles, so I picked up her new book excited for the ride I was about to take. And man, was I right!

This book follows the origin story, per say, of The Queen of Hearts, and it starts out nice and soft-frothy even, and I fell in love with many of the characters right away, enjoying the whimsy of it all. This book was also filled with descriptions of scrumptious sounding food, so that maaaaay have helped a bit. The fantasy also reminded me of the whimsy I loved so much in The Night Circus, though both novels end up having their own brand of magic. However, as the story progresses, it becomes very dark, very fast, and I absolutely adored this book for that. This book is a tragedy- a beautiful, emotionally writhing mess of feelings- and I wouldn't have it any other way.

What I think I loved most about this book was the balance it had between familiarity and unfamiliarity. I have never read the original Alice in Wonderland books, and have had lukewarm feelings towards the Disney versions, but this world was still highly recognizable, while still bringing in a new twist. Even if you have read the Alice books, you wouldn't necessarily know what is going on because Meyer still brings in fresh characters that seem wonderfully at home in this setting. (ha- see what I did there?) There is a very Victorian setting amid all of this, with the lovely overtones of female oppression, and Catherine is not having any of it by the end.

I loved the characters in this book because, while they seemed a motley bunch at first, they all contain complexities and grow within the course of the novel. I loved the Jester and Raven in particular, with their wit, and Chesire with his trademark sass. They balance out the encroaching darkness of this book and the madness that pervades the edges of the novel- until even they cannot do anything about it.

So whether you're looking for madness, or you're already mad, this book will not disappoint. You'll find yourself in good company because we're all mad in here.

Percy Jackson and the Singer of Apollo By: Rick Riordan

source

• Title: Percy Jackson and the Singer of Apollo (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #5.5)
• Author: Rick Riordan
• Publisher: Harper Collins
• Publication Date:  August 13, 2009
• Pages: 30
• Genre: Fanstasy
• Recommended Age(s): 9+
• First Read: 2015
• Source: ebook
• Rating: 3.0 / 5.0 stars

So PJO and the Singer of Apollo is a thirty page short story in an anthology edited by Jon Scieszka. But not to worry PJO fans, Rick Riordan still wrote it; the only thing is that it is only available via this anthology.

This short story lets us know what happened to Percy Jackson and his friends right after the first titan war and before he gets kidnapped in preparation of the Heroes of Olympus series. It's a quick, light read that gave me the back the sassy, first person perspective of Percy that I love so much.

I was slightly disappointed though because I expected so much more from all this story. I have read other short stories involving Percy and his friends and I was just as entertained reading those as I was reading full fledged novels. The adventure the demi-god friends go on is brief, and I wouldn't normally mind that, but missing that spark I love from hearing Percy's voice in my head. Don't get me wrong, I still loved finding out that this story existed, but was certainly potential that was lost.