Show Us Your Books: February Reads

Good Morning Everyone, 

First off thanks for letting me vent a little yesterday. I just had things on my mind that I had to get out and see in print in order to deal with them! 

Today we are on a much more fun note with the monthly book linkup! 

So here's what I read last month: 

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

I have read several books by Holly Black before (author of the Spiderwick Chronicles)  and I have to say that this book did not disappoint! It did have some slow going toward the middle but it more than made up for it by the end. It honestly did not end up where I thought it would have.

Hazel, the main character was really enjoyable to get to know. She was brave and strong and also a little damaged. Immediately a character with whom you could relate. I liked that she was never too far between completely believing in herself and utterly doubting herself. I also adored her brother Ben and felt like their relationship was really amazing.

The romance in the book was really well done for a YA book in my opinion. It wasn't too full of angst or just overtly sexual in nature. I liked that it wasn't the main focus of the story as well. Too often the "love interest" is what pulls the story forward and with this one it was definitely character driven. 

I really liked the idea of an entire town being completely aware of the magic around them and yet choosing to ignore it as if it would just go away. As long as you follow the rules you are safe...if you slip up then it is your own fault. For some reason this just really seemed like a plausible way to have magic fit in with the modern age.


Where She Went by Gayle Forman

This was the sequel to If I Stay which I read back in January. I was so looking forward to this book as I fell absolutely in love with If I Stay and I really wanted to know what happened to Mia and Adam. 

This book takes place three years after the first book and honestly at first I was a little bit irritated with it. Not to get too prosy here but the first book was all about Mia and played just like I imaged her cello playing. Smooth sailing and quick to read. 

With this second book however since it was written all from Adam's point of view I felt like it was like his guitar and very jarring and leaping from one point to the next. However once I got into the story and began to get to know Adam better (he was VERY underdeveloped in the first book) I fell in love with the story. 

Even though there were times when I wanted to scream at the characters and times when I didn't want to finish the book because I was getting so frustrated with how it was going...by the end I was completely satisfied with how it turned out and honestly I will miss the characters a lot.


The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

 

This one I picked up on a whim while browsing my libraries online book selection. It looked like something I might be interested in and admittedly the sample section of it had me hooked. However as I read...I was less hooked. This isn't a long book and it wasn't a bad book either...it just...didn't thrill me? I was hoping for more from Nicholas Flamel which is who I thought would be the main focus...however most of the book is written from the point of view of Sophie and Josh, two modern day teens that work with Flamel. I think that was probably the part I disliked the most as they are pretty unlikeable characters and are very...basic? I suppose that word will have to work. They just didn't do if for me. 

However the action parts of this book...which unfortunately are spaced out between LONG and tedious bits...are very good and left me intrigued and hoping for more. I feel like there is a lot of potential in the series...if only the characters were likeable.   


So there you have it! My reads for February! See anything you might like to try? Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the Comments! 

Happy Tuesday Everyone!