Soni C.

Soni C.This was a quick look at who Paige Mahoney was before she came the mollisher for the White Binder. It’s easy to see how desperate she was to prove herself and find somewhere she belonged. Even if she had her doubts.

Soni C.I am not ok, this was amazing delightful, this was a chase through time and figures and history. This was a slow burn filled with angst, a heroine that was very much human and relatable in her struggle to figure out a world that didn’t want to see her breathe let alone thrive. This was a jaded tired but hopeful hero who knew and wanted better, who suffered through time and scars until hope shone him the way. The family they both found. You know I’m a SUCKER for that. The writing was beautiful and the story telling was absolutely captivating and .. I will need a moment to recover but book 2 I cannot wait to see what Paige and Arcturus are up to next.

Soni C.Reading has been SLOW this year .. for obvious reasons creativity and enjoying it has been a struggle .. Needless to say this was a cute fun ride! Lots of “daddy” content if you’re not into it maybe skip this one. I loved the real depiction of just a busy girl trying to save her heart. I get that viscerally, sometimes it’s easier to stay in your lane than it is to “get out there.” I love a king that knows what he wants and goes for it. This was cute!

Soni C.lol this was fun, it felt a little bit like a vacation from super high stake fantasies I read. I love the characters immensely, and the found family trope always hits me in the feels. This was full of beautiful moments where we are reminded that people are people no matter what or where they come from. Worthy of love and respect and recognition and the space they take up! Very important in the world we live in.

Soni C.This was so, different, in the sense that it turns the fairytale on its head. Toadling is probably one of my favorite characters to have met, she’s simple and so relatable. Sometimes we grow so used to being a simple and unseen that, when someone does, it feels disconcertingly out of this world. Toadling felt like she was never enough, for those she came from and those she returned to, and I understood that so deeply. Similarly I loved the twist in this story, the fairytale component twisted. This was fun to read and it’ll be a story I take with me. Also, Halim, absolutely delightful.

Soni C.Mitch Albom for me has always been an insta buy author and books like this one is why. What do you do when you’re faced with practically the worst experience of your life and you find the one you’ve been calling to for help all along with you? Faith is a tricky thing, we all claim to have it, yet when we are being tested 9/10 we fail at showing it. Such is humanity however, we must suffer and feel pain in order to see we were never alone in it, and better is yet to come. Albom as always, is thought provoking and inspiring. This book provides the HEA in a strange sad way. That is that sometimes we think we know what we want and what is good for us, when in reality sometimes we just have to remember there is more chartered for us than we can imagine.

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Soni C.WHAT???? What???? First of all.. que??? Wow I LOVE GIDEON, she is the embodiment of every millennial that is tired of living through historic events in one lifetime. She’s just a body in the masses that constitute the Ninth House, the Locked Tomb which makes up one of the Emperor’s 9 houses in his kingdom. They all have different skills to offer and therefore different purposes within the kingdom. But Gideon doesn’t care, she wants out of the Locked nursing home and in her attempt to escape for the umpteenth time her plan goes to hell in a bone basket weaved by Harrow. the Reverend Daughter with secrets deeper than the Locked Tomb itself, the it girl with necromantic powers unmatched. Once again, ruining Gideon’s attempt to freedom offers a sweet deal that isn’t really a deal at all. Help her answer the Emperor’s summon, become her second hand, her other half, and see her through the challenges she will grant Gideon freedom. So starts a battle reminiscent of Hunger Games as the houses all answer the Emperor’s summons. But through challenges Harrow and Gideon go from opposing camps to one team and we learn so much about them, why Harrow is who she is, and the mystery surrounding Gideon’s existence in the Ninth. My brain is fried because Tamsyn Muir really did me dirty in the best way. I cannot do this book justice in reviewing without spoiling, but I just want you to know that I cried, I laughed and thoroughly enjoyed myself reading this. I have never cheered harder for a redhead who with a skull painted on her face and aviator shades took on an entire empire with one flesh and one end.

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Soni C.Definitely did not see that end coming, but how poetic that the very thing that began her journey is the thing that she utilizes to end it. What a tale of never ending resilience and strength, in the face of so many obstacles, so much loss.

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Soni C.As I read more biographies I find that rating them is silly for it is the story of someone’s life. Therefore they will always be a five star rating just because, who am I to judge. That being said, I read this because I was curious about the life of a man who’s death I felt without an actual personal reason, I was raised Catholic but as an adult did not continue in the religion. Learning about his life, the legacy he tried to leave behind, the changes he wanted to see in the Catholic Church, has been moving. As someone who also wants to live in a world that is inclusive and caring and accepting of differences, this was encouraging. It is easy to give in to the despair of the current times, but this was, a breath of fresh air. A source of energy to have, hope, because when hope starts with you and becomes a we, it begins a revolution. I think for me the biggest take away, is that it reinforced my belief that your journey towards God can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you leave room for doubt to show others you don’t have to have all the answers, just faith to move you forward in doing the right thing by and for others, and in that act alone you’re showing God’s work through you. Everything else will fall into place as it should be. I really encourage you to read this, without falling into the religious trap that others may think it is. This book isn’t or at least to me it didn’t feel like someone trying to convert me. Rather it was like a grandpa trying to encourage me to see outside of religious limitations and stereotypes. Pope Francis was trying to humbly, modernize the church and bring it back to the people, without trying to secularize it and without hiding its shortcomings, I can absolutely respect and appreciate that.