Friday 56 and Book Beginning: Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo

This is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice

These are the rules:

1. Grab a book, any book.

2. Turn to page 56, or 56% on your eReader.

3. Find any sentence (or a few, just don't spoil it) that grabs you.

4. Post it.

5. Add the URL to your post in the link on Freda's most recent Friday 56 post.

Please join us over at RoseCityReader every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author’s name.

Synopsis:

When you can't beat the odds, change the game.
   Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

Book Beginning:
Retvenko
Retvenko leaned against the bar and tucked his nose into his dirty shot glass.

Page 56:
Every alarm inside Inej had sounded in danger. The play was too obvious. Beneath Bajan's charm, his dark eyes, his easy promises, there was fear.

Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Six of Crows
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: Six of Crows #1
Genre: Fantasy/YA/
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Publication Date: September 29th, 2015
Edition: Hardcover, 465 pages
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon US | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | BAM | iBooks

Synopsis:

   Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…

A convict, with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter, who can’t walk away from a wager.

A runaway, with a privileged past.

A spy, known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender, using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief, with a gift for unlikely escapes.

   Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

Review:

This. Book. Is. Amazing.

*Sips coffee*

I have been in a reading slump for most of the year. I read a handful of really fantastic books at the start of the year, then things kind of fell flat for me. There were books I enjoyed while I was reading them. And books that I had been really excited to read for a while that when I finally got to them I was just not as motivated to take the time to read them as I had hoped.

This book has been sitting in my self for 2 years. I kept putting off reading it, I think partially because I love the Grisha trilogy so much, and this being a spin-off, some-what, sequel series... I was hesitant to read it. I only heard good things about it but there was always that part of my brain that kept saying "but what if you don't like it as much?" I should have told my brain to shut up.

Granted this book is pretty much nothing like the Grisha trilogy. While it takes place in the exact same world only a few years after the events of the first series, I had to do some research to figure that out, the setting feels very 1920's Noir, where the Grisha trilogy felt more "fantasy" in a lot of ways. This series still has some of those fantasy elements, but they aren't exactly as prevalent to the story. Even considering that the plot is.

I can honestly say that I loved all these characters. I love how all these different cultures, that are based on real ones, are so seamlessly woven together. And how they still remain distinct.

Now, to talk about the plot, without really talking about it because I don't want to give anything away, in case there might be somebody who found my blog and hasn't read this book yet. Although that is probably unlikely since I am so far behind on this.

 I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, I had to force myself to put the book down and be a responsible adult. I was anxious for the characters, I loved the little flashback scenes that explained the characters better. I think if it had been in chronological order, reading their backstories wouldn't have been as interesting.

The heist itself was kind of a smaller part of the book than all the setup, but ho part of this book felt slow. I am so excited to read the sequel, and I don't even have to wait, it's right next to me. I actually had to stop myself to pick it up until I wrote this review.

Book Tag: Briggs Book Tag

Borrowing the graphic from the blog I saw this tag on (Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight) Because I don't have or know how to use photoshop.

I love book tags, and this is one of the more unique ones I have seen. Created by Jade over at JadedReader. She has all the detailed information you need including which questions you will need. But if you would prefer to just jump into the tag, here is her Google Doc with all the questions. Though I suggest watching her video. 

I think at this point most people know what the Myers Briggs test is, and if you don't it's just a test that tells you what your personality type is. I have taken the test a few times and get either INFP-A or ISFP-A. The "A" apparently stands for assertive. Which makes sense, I'm an introvert, but not really shy. "Confident Individualism" According to this site I used to take the test.

I'm at a bit of a pickle, as I am equally an INFP and an ISFP, so picking which one is nearly impossible. They both sound like me, I am a Gemini so that might be why I have two very similar personality types. It depends on the situation and the kind of people I am around for which side to shine more. 

     I'm rambling now... I got INFP the most recent, so I'll do that one.

INFP: The Idealist

 Even when conflict runs high you can be the advocate for either side. What is a book that was not well received but you were able to find its good qualities?

It has a 3.38 rating on Goodreads. But I liked this book, I was entertained while reading it. I thought the main character made sense in her devotion to the Kingdom she was raised in even though it wasn't hers and she was technically a captive... but it made sense to me.

The Magic system wasn't explained as well as I would have liked, but the world was interesting.

I - Introverted 76%

N - Intuition  60%

F - Feeling 63%

P - Prospecting 54%

 A - Assertive 56%

INTROVERT: ( I )

 You can be outgoing, but need to recharge with some calming solitude, Where is your favorite place to read & unwind? Why is this little oasis where you choose to go?  

      Where ever I can be comfortable. It's sometimes hard to read outside my computer chair because it I lounge on the couch to read my cat hops up and lays on my chest between myself and my book. Every. Single. Time. It's like she has some kind of radar for when I am trying to relax.

INTUITION: ( N )

Some books are meant to be understood and others are meant to be explored. What book or character stands for an idea that is deeply meaningful to you?

A character who I most wanted and still kind of want to be like is Luna Lovegood.
She is so unafraid to be exactly who she is and doesn't offer apologies or anything to anybody. She is an inspiration to me.

Found this image on a different site, but after some digging, I found the actual artist and the comic it was taken from. Loquacious Literature.

FEELING: ( F )

Not everything needs to be realistic, where is the fun in a world with limits? Which fantasy world do you find so atmospheric you slip inside and never want to leave? (Put simply a book with good vibes)

 Harry Potter is the easy answer... but this series has a more developed world, it's also a little more magical in a grand scheme kind of way.

  PERCEIVING: ( P )

TBRs are fun to construct and meant to be destroyed.   Do you stick to the list or mix it up every now and then? What’s a book you’ve put down that you want to pick back up, but just haven’t been in the mood for?

   I have a stack of unread books that I always plan on reading before borrowing others from the Library or requesting from NetGalley. But that only works out about half the time. I read based solely on mood.

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Merch I’d Like to Own

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish,
And moved to That Artsy Reader Girl 

To take part, just pick your top ten, and add the link here.

Sadly, I haven't really been keeping track of many bookish things that I know exist. I just don't really look for them, I don't want to look for something I know I can't buy the moment I see it.

Being a responsible adult it hard like that. 

These are some of the things I looked for, for this topic. Images are linked to the Etsy shop where they can be purchased. I know there is more out there, but I started this late and I'm tired. 

Review: Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Restore Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me #4
Genre: YA/Dystopian/Sci-fi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: March 6th, 2018
Edition: Kindle Edition, 352 pages
Source: Library
Purchase: Amazon US | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | BAM

Synopsis:

Juliette Ferrars thought she'd won. She took over Sector 45, was named the new Supreme Commander, and now has Warner by her side. But she's still the girl with the ability to kill with a single touch—and now she's got the whole world in the palm of her hand. When tragedy hits, who will she become? Will she be able to control the power she wields and use it for good?

Review:

So, I am not really that sure how to review this book. It feels so long ago since the third, and what I thought was the final book, came out (four years) that I don't really remember the minor details. I do remember the more major plot points, remember enough that I could read this without feeling lost. But it's also been long enough that I don't have the same connection or investment in the characters that I used to.

While do think the third book did leave things off in kind of a limbo where it did seem we, as readers, are supposed to believe that a very inexperienced 17-year-old was going to basically take over the world. I wasn't sure what kind of continuation we were going to get, but I wasn't expecting this. By the end, I really liked it.

I feel that Tahereh's writing has improved since Ignite Me came out, her character development for these characters was something that I hadn't noticed was missing before from the rest of the books. There is what I feel is a pacing issue, in a way. I didn't really feel like the actual story started until almost halfway through the book, and I never like when a book does that. 

There seems to be two more books and a Novella in this series. And I think I will be getting those from the library as well when they come out. I never feel "right" about recommending a book that I was just okay with, but if you loved the Shatter Me series, and wanted more then you will most likely love this book.