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Book Review: The Agaped Bearer: Wishing Stars by Hannah Taylor Lindsey

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Middle Grade Fantasy
Length: 584 pages
Author: Hannah Taylor Lindsey
Publisher: Starnate Publishing
Release Date: July 28th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The most powerful force in the universe falls out of the sky and into the hands of a magicless thirteen-year-old girl. Lisa Robbie, a freckled, soon-to-be-eighth-grade girl from Keyport, New Jersey, happens upon a shooting star that isn’t merely space debris but is magic—the Agapéd Magic. This leads her to a whole new way of life where she learns she has the most powerful magic in all four galaxies, a power that the Guardians have waited 120 years for… and they are not too thrilled about it.

The only person who sees her worthy enough to wield this magic is the 700-year-old brutish Wishing Star gardener, Gaius. Still, even he won’t tell her the Agapéd’s true purpose—the purpose for Lisa’s life. Why don’t they like me having this magic? What is so special about it? Why are they keeping me and this Agapéd Magic a secret?

Curiosity takes Lisa down a path of nightmares as the Agapéd Magic begins to take a toll on her heart, and she must decide if this new way of life is worth all the pain and sorrow tagged along with it.
. . .
The Agapéd Wishing Stars is the beginning of the epic light-versus-darkness saga, a fantasy adventure perfect for those who enjoy constant tugging at their heartstrings and plenty of magical encounters.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

VERY LONG.

I could see the good bones in this book. There’s some coming of age and being the chosen one and all that comes with when your thrust into something so young. I liked the learning moments and I didn’t mind the main character, Lisa, or Gaius. I liked their mentor/mentee relationship and the growth there. And the prince is cute too! I loved his addition and think that will play a much bigger role in the future books.

What brought this down for me was the length. With 600 pages and only 300-400 of those truly necessary. There were a lot of tangents and world dumping explanations. And I found myself skimming more than I wanted. The plot lost a lot of speed and I this book felt completely dedicated to Lisa working on her power, that’s it.

A mixed bag of thoughts for this one.

Overall audience notes:

  • Middle grade fantasy
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life

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Book Review: The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time #5) by Robert Jordan

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 912 pages
Author: Robert Jordan
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: October 15th, 1993
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The fifth book in Robert Jordan’s internationally bestselling epic fantasy series, THE WHEEL OF TIME, now reissued with a stunning new cover design.

The bonds and wards that hold the Great Lord of the Dark are slowly failing, but still his fragile prison holds. The Forsaken, immortal servants of the shadow, weave their snares and tighten their grip upon the realms of men, sure in the knowledge that their master will soon break free…

Rand al’ Thor, the Dragon Reborn, knows that he must strike at the Enemy, but his forces are divided by treachery and by ambition. Even the Aes Sedai, ancient guardians of the Light, are riven by civil war. Betrayed by his allies, pursued by his enemies and beset by the madness that comes to the male wielders of the One Power, Rand rides out to meet the foe.

I SURVIVED.

It’s been a hot minute since I went picked up a book in this series. I got side tracked and now I am once again committing to getting through these books.

I enjoyed this for the most part. There’s some good action and the build is definitely continuing. It’s hard to mention a lot without spoilers to just vaguely saying things are progressing.

The “romances” are completely nonsensical. I don’t understand any of them and they are a bit cringey overall. And every one of these women can do better than Rand. I SAID IT.

Looking forward to the next one!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Memoir
Length: 288 pages
Author: Britney Spears
Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: October 24th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Woman in Me is a brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope.

In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history.

Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.

LOVED.

I try to not review a memoir but rather add a few thoughts I had while reading. I loved that this felt like Britney. That the tone and story telling seemed to be authentic to what she wanted and how she wanted to tell her story. It was a tough read at times and I appreciated the enlightening about many different hot topics from her past.

If you’ve been a Britney Spears fan, highly recommend reading this one. I hope she continues to find strength and healing and can finally have some peace in her life.

Overall audience notes:

  • Memoir
  • Language: some strong
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of multiple types of abuse, discussion about her conservatorship, abortion

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Book Review: Hands Down by Mariana Zapata

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 550 pages
Author: Mariana Zapata
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 2nd, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Before he was Big Texas, he was Zac the Snack Pack.

Bianca Brannen knows time–mostly–heals all wounds. Including those your once loved ones might have unintentionally given you. (Those just take longer.)

She thinks she’s ready when a call has her walking back into her old friend’s life. Or at least as prepared as possible to see the starting quarterback in the National Football Organization. Before the lights, the fans, and the millions, he’d been a skinny kid with a heart of gold.

Waltzing out of Zac Travis’s life should be easy. Just as easy as he walked out of hers.

BLESS YOUR HEART.

There was a lot to love about this, but one bone I need to pick.

Bianca.

I just struggled with her for way longer than I wanted. I’m always initially cool with who the character is in the beginning because GROWTH. But oh my gosh, I was just so tired of hearing I don’t want to be a burden on repeat that I lost focus. Zac is the SWEETEST. And I wanted more of them being together vs. them constantly apologizing to each other.

The friends to lovers is overall fine, even if not my favorite in this context. There were a LOT of nicknames. I actually didn’t mind all of them but one (kiddo). The ending is really sweet and I loved getting the little epilogue too. I even liked seeing a different side to Trevor too. There’s plenty of good nuggets in here at least. And the TWO cameos are without a doubt the best part.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 1 open door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief mentions of parental abandonment, cheating recounted, death of a love one recounted

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