2.16.2016

bookshelf love update {mini reviews}

I went into this reading challenge expecting to have a pile of unread books at the end, but miraculously, I've been reading an average of two books per week! Which means I have a fair chance of devouring all 12 books by March 22. Here's the list:

The Hills is Lonely by Lillian Beckwith
The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert
Holding Up the Earth by Dianne E. Gray
Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen
Flying Changes by Sara Gruen
Grace at Low Tide by Beth Webb Hart
Blessed are the Meek by Zofia Kossak-Szczucka
Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
Wolf Speaker by Tamora Pierce
Valley of Dreams by Lauraine Snelling
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams

If you'd like to join me in the Bookshelf Love reading challenge, jump on over to the introductory post. And in case you missed it, you can view more details about my personal Bookshelf Love challenge here.



I have reviews planned (but not necessarily written...) for all four of the books I've already read as part of this challenge so far, but for now, here are the first two: Wild Magic and Wolf Speaker by Tamora Pierce. Judging by Goodreads, I somehow managed to get my hands on the least attractive covers. The upside: they match.

Wild Magic (The Immortals #1)
by Tamora Pierce



Young Daine's knack with horses gets her a job helping the royal horsemistress drive a herd of ponies to Tortall. Soon it becomes clear that Daine's talent, as much as she struggles to hide it, is downright magical. Horses and other animals not only obey, but listen to her words. Daine, though, will have to learn to trust humans before she can come to terms with her powers, her past, and herself.
(from the back cover)




This was such a fun read! It's fast-paced without feeling rushed, and I found Daine easy to relate with. I enjoyed watching her friendships develop (Numair and Onua are wonderful characters), though some of the minor characters were difficult to keep straight at times. And due to the lack of quotation marks when Daine converses with animals, on a few occasions I wasn't entirely sure who said what. Speaking of animals, I love Daine's special abilities. It was so much fun seeing her relationships with different creatures and how she grew into her abilities throughout the book.

4/5 leaves



Wolf-Speaker (The Immortals #2)
by Tamora Pierce



When humans start cutting down trees an digging holes in peaceful Dunlath Valley, the wolves know that something is wrong. They send a messenger to the only human who will listen -- Daine, a fourteen-year-old girl with the unpredictable power of wild magic. Daine and her closest companions heed the wolves' cry for help. But the challenge they are about to face in the valley is greater than they can possibly imagine... (from the back cover)





I enjoyed this book every bit as much as the first one, and perhaps more -- it seemed better written, with the dialogue easier to follow and the characters easier to keep straight. It also included wonderful morals (you guys know I'm a sucker for good morals), fun new characters (many of them four-legged, but a few of the two-legged variety as well), and a dragon (everyone likes dragons, yes? of course they do.).

4/5 leaves


8 comments:

  1. Good for you! Looks like you're working through your list at a great pace - and yay for a novel by Katie Ganshert. Enjoy and good luck. :)

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    1. Thanks! I'm not getting much else done, though... :/ I'd actually never heard of Katie Ganshert before I won The Art of Losing Yourself in a giveaway -- I'm really hoping I get around to that one, now! Hopefully I can keep up this crazy pace. :)

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  2. DUUUUDE TAMORA PIERCE IS AMAZING. I just LOVED The Circle of Magic and The Circle Opens.
    Dragons are amazing, no room for debate.

    Ellie | On the Other Side of Reality

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    1. Yes! I'm hoping to read the other two books in The Immortals after I finish this challenge. I might have to check out the two you mention, too. Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. I love this idea! I have no idea how many books I'll read at any point in the future, so I'm sticking with my nightstand method, but I'm really enjoying seeing what other people have unread on their bookshelves that they're planning to get to this year!

    I love Tamora Pierce's writing. My favorite series of hers is the Song of the Lioness, (though the sleeping around that happens in the later books really bugs me, especially since it's generally shelved in the YA section). I really liked the Immortals and Circle of Magic series, too. :) I think one of my favorite things is how all of her series are set in the same world. I should pick these up at the library to re-read.

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    1. I don't blame you -- I don't usually like to limit myself to a specific pile of books, either. :) And yes, I'm definitely planning on reading more of Tamora Pierce -- I really enjoy her writing! (thanks for the heads-up about the Song of the Lioness)

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  4. oooh, congrats on doing well in your challenge!! ;D I think challenges are totally awesome, even though I decided not to do any this year (except the goodreads one, that is) because I'm really trying to be low key with my reading. XD Nooot that it's particularly working. heheh. aHEM.

    I haven't read any Tamora Pierce yet, BUT ONE DAY I WILL!! These sound really fun and easy to get into, eh?! And special animal magical abilities?! AWESOME.

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    1. Thanks! This is actually the first challenge I've ever participated in (mostly b/c they usually only last a week -- at most -- and I don't usually read more than one book per week). I'm really enjoying it, though! Might have something to do with the fact that it was custom-designed, but... :)

      And yes, Tamora Pierce's books are fun and very easy to get into. They were a great place to start for the challenge because of their smallish size and easy reading level.

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