Quanta Reset (The Shadow Ravens #3)

                I am glad to be back!  And today I am super excited to have another Ink Monster review for the newest installment in the Shadow Ravens series, book three, Quanta Reset.  You can check out my reviews of the previous two books Cipher and Quanta and get caught up because we pick up right where we left off and let me just start off with saying WOW! 

Rating:  5 Shadow Ravens

                When we left off Quanta and Tair had managed to unlock her new power and escape from Dr. Nagi and rejoin the Shadow Ravens and Lady Eva and while things were better than being prisoners they were far from happy go lucky.  Quanta was struggling being around so many people and focusing with the constant assault of time ghosts, the pasts and possible futures and let's not forget they are in a war and in hiding.  We pick up quickly after that. 

                Quanta is struggling at the compound.  Her only bright spot is Tair and their decision to look at their genetic pairing as a positive rather than a negative.  They continue to test the limits of her abilities while Tair works on a way to help her with the constant pain being around people causes.  Things are never that easy as they try to flush out a traitor in their mists and track down Dr. Nagi and his continued experiments to duplicate her power could end everything.

                Quanta Reset is one big action filled adventure that takes you on a whole roller coaster of emotions.  I was sucked in from the start wanting so badly to see Quanta and Tair to have a little bit of downtime, a much needed break to be them because they are so cute together!  That's not in the cards so they are thrown from one situation to another and things look bad for my pair.  Still even with everything going on at the compound there were bits of calm, or as calm as one can be in this world, that really grounded and reestablished all the reasons I do love them.  The pairing we learned about at the end of Quanta could be the blame for the protective instinct but it's clear seeing them together and how they know one another so easily it's real.  His desire to put her above all else, she is his priority and while he wants to protect her he doesn't try to suffocate her but give her space and let her make her own choices. 

                Things continue to get crazy and really start to mess with your emotions if you're as invested in the characters as I am.  I mean Quanta has this amazing ability but the pain it causes her almost debilitating her in everyday life is insane but still she wants to push to help.  There was a point, I don't want to ruin it by explaining but you'll know when you get to it, where I was thinking "Oh no NOT good" and that continued to grow and keep me on the edge of my seat until the last page and then some.  I couldn't put it down.  That is one of my favorite aspects of these books, they are so quick and full of things happening you fly through them easily but they take you on a full journey each and every time.

                One other things I enjoyed about this one was we also got to see more about Cipher and Knight from book one.  They are on the compound so seeing them interact as one was really cute.  Our two couples both men worried about their hard headed and determined Red.  Seeing them side by side….yum!  We also get introduced to a new Red with an interesting power whom I hope to see again.

                Well that's all I can say.  I haven't disliked a book yet.  Another great thing is when you finish a book you know when the next one will be out.  In this case Quanta Rewind will be out on April 25th 2017!  They even have a hand pre-order link which is great because I know I can't wait!  Quanta Reset is out today and if it's not clear I HIGHLY recommend this series to everyone!

                Until next time…

M.I.A.

                And I’m back!

                I have a schedule and I love my schedule but the last couple of months have been a bit off.  First because of my Netflix coma and then when I was getting back in the grove from that some apartment issues that just kept piling up.  That said I went from casually looking for a place of my own, to buy and be done with renting, to seriously looking.  I’m in the process of trying to close on one now!  OMG it’s insanely time consuming with all the stuff you have to do I had no idea.  HGTV does not make it seem this difficult!  Seriously I knew it was more involved than TV but wow I see why they cut out so much of the back and forth.  Anywho provided everything from this point goes as planned I hope to be moving the start of next month.  So keep your fingers crossed with me please!  That said with the process I’ve been going through and packing up a great majority of my items and cleaning out the rest not wanting to take any unnecessary items with me.  This is the moment you also realize you have a ton of stuff. 

That is my round about way of trying to explain my absence.  I am sorry for falling off the map but I have been reading, just a tad bit slower.  But even with the (hopeful) move I’m hoping to be right back to my normal schedule soon.  Starting with a much anticipated review today and a plan to dive back in next week!  So I just wanted to take a quick moment to explain and say thank you for sticking with me.  

Top Ten Tuesday: Longest sitting TBR books!

                Hello everyone!  Top Ten Tuesday is just how it sounds, a topic is picked and we put our Top Ten for that in a post and share and check out everyone’s answers.  Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

The top ten today is: Longest sitting TBR books (before blogging)

Okay this is kind of depressing how many books are sitting on my shelf unread.  More so now as I contemplate the issue of packing them up and moving them.  Still as I look at my shelves I know some have been sitting much longer than others.  Here are 10 of the ones sitting for the longest time.

Prophecy of the Sisters (Prophecy of the Sisters #1) by Michelle Zink- I was new to buying books and found Sam’s Club had some pretty good choices (then at least) and they were cheaper than the book store (before discovering Amazon) so I picked up this one with a pretty creepy cover.

Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan- I only finally bought this series two years ago but I’ve been meaning to read them since well before when the first movie came out and I knew they were books.  Planned to read them this year and finally catch up…not going so hot.

Infinity (Chronicles of Nick #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon- I saw them around and was new to the book world and heard a couple of good things and bought them…still haven’t started

Tiger’s Curse (The Tiger Saga #1) by Colleen Houck- Okay so I wanted to read these because I LOVE white tigers they are my favorite animal and one of the covers has one on the cover that’s how I found them.  Then I heard some friends talking about how awesome they were…just haven’t read them yet.

White Cat (Curse Workers #1) by Holly Black- Okay so another Sam’s Club buy that looked interesting and I know lots of people enjoy this series I just haven’t started it.  I have read another book by her though that made me even more interested in this one.

Need (Need #1) by Carrie Jones- Pretty cover and it sounded interesting at the time though I don’t remember what it was supposed to be about.

Incarceron (Incarceron #1) by Catherine Fisher- Okay so this sounds old but the cover was what drew me in.  I love old school keys they look so cool.  Also I hadn’t really read many YA books at the time so figured futuristic prison sounded new and exciting.

Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts- An end of the world story where they aren’t trying to fix things or save the world just make the most of what’s left.  Sounded different.  It was even a group read for my group at one point but things got crazy and I never started it.

Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman- Pretty sure I was browsing the books in Walmart with a friend one day and just decided I needed this one because of a blurb or something. 

Partials (Partials #1) by Dan Wells- This one was everywhere and I wanted to be on board with everyone but never got there.

                Some of these I still plan to trying to read others I’m on the fence about currently.  If you’ve read any let me know what you think.  Tell me what you think of my list in the comments below.  Also please link back to your Top Ten as well so I can check out your list and see what I missed!  

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II

                Hello happy readers.  This weekend has been crazy, I start to get back on track and then the upstairs apartment’s water heater has issues last Monday and I end up with a leak in the ceiling but my landlord decided that despite advertising 24 hr on-site maintenance no one could respond when it was just a leak.  After a few hours the majority of my room and living room floor is swamp like.  Dealing with the post mess has been a headache but I’m pushing through it.  Anywho a positive thing from last week is I read the new Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II, and I want to share my thoughts and feels with you!

Rating:  5 Stars

                Okay so I may be a bit biased because I was so so happy to be back in the Harry Potter world and seeing some of my favorite characters again.  I’ve heard some mixed things about the book since finishing it. It was in script format which was a bit different for me, I guess knowing it was a play and thinking of Harry Potter I assumed when adapted to book form that it would take the book format as well.  No big thing just took some getting used to as I don’t remember reading a script or play outside of school.  Still to be back in the world and to fly through it so quickly was amazing. 

                I went in blind.  I didn’t really know what the book was about, just that it was about Harry and Ginny’s kid Albus Severus Potter and him going to Hogwarts.  That’s it.  I think that was actually the best way to do it.  Any fan of the world can just dive in and be finished in a couple of hours.  You fly through because it is bam bam bam one after the other things happening but also we don’t have to build up and learn this world because we already know it.  Even after all this time we still know it.  The first page is literally the epilogue from book seven as our group sends off their kids to Hogwarts nineteen years after the war ended.

                The combination of bringing in the characters we adore and know so well and want to know more about how their lives turned out and introducing a whole new era of wizards was perfect.  I have to admit I think Scorpius, Draco’s son, was my favorite character in this book.  He is not what I would have imagined ever coming from Draco through most of the series but we saw little pieces here and there just as we get a new side of him in this book.  Draco is a much better man than he was teenage boy, he’s come into who HE is rather than his parent’s son.  Seeing Scorpius and Draco interact was touching as well.  Still seeing Hermione as the Ministry of Magic was pretty kick ass as well because we all knew she was going to be important.

                Without going into too much detail I enjoyed the time travel aspect of the story.  It’s a mess and full of danger and adventure for sure.  It also shows the consequences to ones actions. We didn’t play with time travel as much and how something small could seriously impact the present.  Seeing how things could have been is insane and sends chills down your spine when you read.  It’s also great to see how certain things we thought in the original books were momentous events and how someone who only heard the stories and didn’t live it might not grasp the importance, like the dance.  Just saying.

                There were a few holes here and there and things that just happened that we were just supposed to take on faith that they happened and worked out a certain way whereas normally getting to that junction would have a been a huge quest of its own.  However, with the pace the book sets some things were not as well explained.  I’m not that upset about it though because it is a script.  I know had it been a movie we would have had much more depth to explain all the specific details.  There were times when I was unsure of how certain characters turned out, Harry and how he treated some things, but then as it plays out his relationship with Albus was core.  Albus and Scorpius being such great friends when their fathers were enemies already sets things up. 

                There were so many emotions going through me as I read this book.  In only a few short hours I hit on everything.  Seeing Snape again!  Seeing different versions of our beloved heroes.  Seeing more to Slytherin than the evil house we always believed it to be.  You never have a chance to be bored and as I read I kept imaging it as a movie and how it would look with the characters I know and love but also I found myself realizing this was meant for the stage and figuring out with all the magic how it would be done and come out.  I really enjoyed diving back into the world and I wish I could afford to go to London and see the play but as I’m broke and I’m pretty sure my old passport has expired anyways this book will have to hold me over.  Maybe they’ll tape it? 

                I could go on and on about this but I’d rather discuss it with others.  So…tell me what you think?  What did you like most?  Least?  Who was your favorite of the new generation?  Did the original trio’s lives post Hogwarts live up to be what you expected?  Did you cry?  Share in the comments below so we can discuss. 

                Until next time…

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2)

                Hello happy readers!  I finished The Dream Thieves (Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater this morning and wanted to share my thoughts on it.  This will contain spoilers from book one which I reviewed here.

Rating: 5 Stars

                So I read book one, The Raven Boys (review) back when it first came out a few years ago.  I never finished the series, wanting to re-read the first book and marathon them once complete so I wouldn’t miss anything.  I re-read The Raven Boys and started in on The Dream Thieves but RL and having a million open books pushed it back but I was determined to finish.  Given the time lapse a re-read was pretty much needed or I feel I wouldn’t have remembered so many of the details built into this world.  We pick up where we left off before, Adam made a sacrifice that no one really fully understands.  Blue is dating a boy she can’t kiss or risk him dying.  Ronan has some serious secrets held within and so much more is happening. 

                So Ronan can bring things out of his dreams.  How flipping cool is that?  I mean this is flipping awesome.  Think of the things you could bring out?  Okay maybe not so good if you’re not good at controlling it and you bring out nightmares but the positive side is pretty cool.  As they start to unravel things with Ronan and his past and understanding how it relates to Glendower you follow along for the unique and often creepy ride.  Like most of her books, Stiefvater manages to bring such magic into her writing and not simply with the magical aspects but the words themselves.  You really feel you are part of the gang struggling along with your own issues as you try to keep your group on task and from falling apart.

                This book focused on all aspects of our group and the dynamics within.  Adam still has some serious issues about his circumstances.  He’s had it bad, no doubt, but he’s angry at those who didn’t in an almost irrational way.  It’s so surreal because I’ve seen people who act out in some ways so similar.  Blue and her confused emotions between liking more than one boy, especially when kissing one could end up in death.  Plus can we just say the emotional damage that could do to a girl, if you kiss your true love they will die, that being all you know growing up not interested in anyone is hard enough.  However, when people come into your life that you find yourself wanting to kiss…well one way ticket to sucksville.  What is crazy here though is that even though there is no epic kissing scenes that we all seem to love some of the scenes where kissing may take place in other stories are so intense and intimate. 

                In The Dream Thieves we also get to meet a new character, They Grey Man.  A hit man with more to him than you might expect.  He wasn’t painted as a saint by any means but he had some depth.  As he began to interact with character we know and love we saw more to him, and maybe more than he saw of himself.  We also get to learn more about another elite private school Aglionby boy, one with a much darker side than even our somewhat dark boys. 

                This one continues the dark mystery and adventure we started in book one but keeps upping the ante with romance, and keeps the heart racing with twists and turns.  Still in the end my favorite part, aside from the beautiful writing, are the relationships.  Be it Blue and her Raven Boys or her and her family of eclectic psychics, and each boys relationships with family as compared to that of the group dynamic.  I loved this continuation and can’t wait to read more and figure out more of the mysteries of this world and what power it holds and how it will affect everyone I care about.   Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

                Until next time…

Waiting on Wednesday: Wayfarer

                “Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

Wayfarer (Passenger #2) by Alexandra Bracken

Out: 1/3

From Goodreads:

                All Etta Spencer wanted was to make her violin debut when she was thrust into a treacherous world where the struggle for power could alter history.  After losing the one thing that would have allowed her to protect the Timeline, and the one person worth fighting for, Etta awakens alone in an unknown place and time, exposed to the threat of the two groups who would rather see her dead than succeed.  When help arrives, it comes from the last person Etta ever expected—Julian Ironwood, the Grand Master's heir who has long been presumed dead, and whose dangerous alliance with a man from Etta's past could put them both at risk.

                Meanwhile, Nicholas and Sophia are racing through time in order to locate Etta and the missing astrolabe with Ironwood travelers hot on their trail.  They cross paths with mercenary-for-hire, a cheeky girl named Li Min who quickly develops a flirtation with Sophia.  But as the three of them attempt to evade their pursuers, Nicholas soon realizes that one of his companions may have ulterior motives.

                As Etta and Nicholas fight to make their way back to one another, from Imperial Russia to the Vatican catacombs, time is rapidly shifting and changing into something unrecognizable…and might just run out  on both of them.

Why I’m Waiting:

                Well with how Passenger (review) ended can you blame me?  I have been so ready for this book before the first one officially came out because I read an ARC lol.  So torture waiting for what’s next in this world. 

                What are you waiting on?  Tell me below what you think of this title and leave a link to your WoW as well so I can check it out!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books set in boarding schools

                Hello everyone!  Top Ten Tuesday is just how it sounds, a topic is picked and we put our Top Ten for that in a post and share and check out everyone’s answers.  Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

The top ten today is:  Books set in boarding schools or the like

I've never wanted to go to boarding school with dorms and communal spaces and all but it always fascinated me and still does because of…

Harry Potter series

Vampire Academy series

Shadowhunter world (Institute is the same thing)

House of Night series

Anna and theFrench Kiss

Shadow Falls series

Carry On

The GlitteringCourt (it was a school of sorts)

The Holders series

Evernight series

                 Tell me what you think of my list in the comments below.  Also please link back to your Top Ten as well so I can check out your list and see what I missed!