Week 43 Review: Whiteout

From Goodreads:

Atlanta is blanketed with snow just before Christmas, but the warmth of young love just might melt the ice in this novel of Black joy, and cozy, sparkling romance--by the same unbeatable team of authors who wrote the New York Times bestseller Blackout!

As the city grinds to a halt, twelve teens band together to help a friend pull off the most epic apology of her life. But will they be able to make it happen, in spite of the storm?

No one is prepared for this whiteout. But then, we can't always prepare for the magical moments that change everything.

From the bestselling, award-winning, all-star authors who brought us Blackout--Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon--comes another novel of Black teen love, each relationship within as unique and sparkling as Southern snowflakes.

My Review:
Oh, this was a lot of fun to read! I recently read Blackout by these authors, and I was really excited to read this one, to see if it was told in a different way from other anthologies, and it was, with the various teens narrating different chapters, in one cohesive, connected story! With an added twist that the authors of each story aren't outright stated, but given hints as to who wrote what! 

The same concept that made Blackout great, with these characters, with some sort of shut down, slowly coming together, with great representation and diversity, it's all present in this book, this time with a whiteout snowstorm. I really enjoyed watching these characters stories play out! 

The overarching story that was supported by the others, was of Stevie and Sola. Stevie messed up and needs to make an apology to Sola, but there's this big storm that shuts down the city pretty much. But she has a great group of friends to help her! 

This book is more connected then Blackout, since they are all friends. I really enjoyed how one flowed to the next, with this group of characters, and the romances and the adventures they're having to help Stevie, it was so entertaining to read! 

Loved reading this book, and if they put out any other anthologies like this one, I'll read it! 

Authors: Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon  
Read: October 26th, 2022
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a SAC 2022 Book!
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Expected Publication: November 8th 2022

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 42 Review: Blackout

From Goodreads:

Six critically acclaimed, bestselling, and award-winning authors bring the glowing warmth and electricity of Black teen love to this interlinked novel of charming, hilarious, and heartwarming stories that shine a bright light through the dark.

A summer heatwave blankets New York City in darkness. But as the city is thrown into confusion, a different kind of electricity sparks…

A first meeting. 

Long-time friends. 

Bitter exes. 

And maybe the beginning of something new.

When the lights go out, people reveal hidden truths. Love blossoms, friendship transforms, and new possibilities take flight.

Beloved authors—Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon—celebrate the beauty of six couples and the unforgettable magic that can be found on a sweltering starry night in the city.

My Review:
This was a really fantastic collection of stories! I loved watching these various characters deal with the blackout, and all that happened! It was a really fun anthology idea, and it has me even more excited for Whiteout, I think from all of these authors again! 

The way that this book was told, with Tiffany D. Jackson's split into parts-between all the other stories-was pretty interesting! We started with their story, paused, had the girl's brother's story, resumed, paused, had another story, and repeat. And we did get slight mentions of what was going on in the others, which I loved.

There were two main connections in this book, in the backdrop of this city-wide blackout. The first was that they all were connected in some way to this block party that's being thrown, though Angie Thomas's characters didn't know that, and only ended up there because the bus driver is Tammie and Tremaine's dad. Sometimes it was a little difficult keeping how everyone was connected straight in my head.

The other was the emotional romantic journeys that these characters went on. From exes working things out to strangers meeting, to best friends in love with one another, to a relationship where there's dissatisfaction, between the representation in race and sexualities, this book had it all! 

This was a really great read, and I can't wait to read Whiteout now! 

Authors: Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon
Read: October 16th, 2022
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a SAC 2022 Book! 
Publisher: Quill Tree Books 
Published: June 22nd 2021

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 2 Review: A Phoenix First Must Burn

From Goodreads:

Sixteen tales by bestselling and award-winning authors that explore the Black experience through fantasy, science fiction, and magic.

Evoking Beyoncé's Lemonade for a teen audience, these authors who are truly Octavia Butler's heirs, have woven worlds to create a stunning narrative that centers Black women and gender nonconforming individuals. A Phoenix First Must Burn will take you on a journey from folktales retold to futuristic societies and everything in between. Filled with stories of love and betrayal, strength and resistance, this collection contains an array of complex and true-to-life characters in which you cannot help but see yourself reflected. Witches and scientists, sisters and lovers, priestesses and rebels: the heroines of A Phoenix First Must Burn shine brightly. You will never forget them.

Authors include Elizabeth Acevedo, Amerie, Dhonielle Clayton, Jalissa Corrie, Somaiya Daud, Charlotte Davis, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Justina Ireland, Danny Lore, L.L. McKinney, Danielle Paige, Rebecca Roanhorse, Karen Strong, Ashley Woodfolk, and Ibi Zoboi. 

My Review:
I had a really great time reading this anthology! I've read from some of these authors before, though most of them were new to me, and I had a great time, this was such a great collection of Black Girl Magic, from historical to sci fi to fantasy, and I really enjoyed it! 

Of these stories, the ones that really stood out to me were Melie, The Goddess Provides, and The Actress. I loved the worlds, the voices of these stories, and the stories themselves, they were all so fantastic to read! 

Melie was so fantastic, loved that she was trying to become an apprentice of this magician, and she gets along quite well with these various magical creatures, but not with the magician himself. Loved that story and how it turned out! The Goddess Provides, it was a great story of religion and belief, and of injustice and facing it, and I loved that ending! The Actress, I loved they cast her, her magic, and her relationship with Rand, it worked really well for me! 

There are a few stories that I would love a full length novel from, and that'd be Melie and The Goddess Provides because there were both so fantastic. And there were a few that I wish were, instead of a short story here, and that'd be When Life Hands You a Lemonfruit Bomb and A Hagiography of Starlight, because these concepts just didn't get explored enough for me, and I was left a bit confused! 

This was such a great read, and I'm really hoping that we might get some full length stories from some of these worlds! 

Authors:  Patrice Caldwell, Elizabeth Acevedo, Amerie, Dhonielle Clayton, Jalissa Corrie, Somaiya Daud, Charlotte Nicole Davis, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Justina Ireland, Danny Lore, L.L. McKinney, Danielle Paige, Rebecca Roanhorse, Karen Strong, Ashley Woodfolk, Ibi Zoboi  
Read: January 10th, 2022
Source: Library
Reason Why: Love these authors and this collection sounded really great, and it's a SAC 2022 Book! 
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Published: March 10th 2020

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 27 Review: Tiny Pretty Things

From Goodreads:
Black Swan meets Pretty Little Liars in this soapy, drama-packed novel featuring diverse characters who will do anything to be the prima at their elite ballet school.

Gigi, Bette, and June, three top students at an exclusive Manhattan ballet school, have seen their fair share of drama. Free-spirited new girl Gigi just wants to dance—but the very act might kill her. Privileged New Yorker Bette's desire to escape the shadow of her ballet star sister brings out a dangerous edge in her. And perfectionist June needs to land a lead role this year or her controlling mother will put an end to her dancing dreams forever. When every dancer is both friend and foe, the girls will sacrifice, manipulate, and backstab to be the best of the best.

My Review:
Yeah, I know, I gave this book a bit of a harsh rating for me. But when I first saw this book, well, I din't know how much I'm not really into contemporaries as I do now. And I had to read this book, because it's an ARC, and I couldn't leave it unread like that!

Honestly, a good part of the reason why I didn't enjoy this book was because of how slow it was. There was really only social drama in this book, of these characters and the competition between them as ballerinas. And I'm just not interested in that, it's not enough going on for me.

We had 3 main perspectives in this book, Gigi the newcomer who got the Sugar Plum Fairy, June who was the understudy, and Bette who wanted the role but got another. They all want to be the star, but Gigi was the one who got it, and that put a target on her back.

There were a lot of moments where I really didn't like most of these characters, sure, ambition is fine, but there's your own skill pitted against another, and then there's sabotaging and bulling another. And it all culminated, well, I wasn't expecting that, and I can't wait to see where it goes from here!

I did enjoy this book, but it's not one that I'd read again or buy. But I am going to read the sequel, because I need to know how it ends!

Authors: Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
Series: Tiny Pretty Things #1
Read: July 2nd, 2020
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded fantastic, and it's 's a DAC Book, Sequel & Sequel Challenge 2020 Book and WoW Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: May 26th 2015

4/5 Hearts

0/5 Books

0/5 Stars

Page-a-Thon Update 3

So I read my next book for Page-a-Thon, and it was Dangerous Remedy, and I'll be reading The Beast is an Animal next!

My Reading Journey:

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
Started On: July 1st
Finished On: July 1st, 1:31 PM
Pages Read: 452

Dangerous Remedy by Kat Dunn
Started On: July 1st
Finished On: July 1st, 11:39 PM
Pages Read: 432

Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
Started On: July 2nd
Finished On: July 2nd, 11:42 PM
Pages Read: 464

The Beast is an Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale
Started On: July 3rd
Currently On: Page 0 of 343

Read: 3
Pages Read: 1348

Make Your Myth-Taker Readathon 2020 Update 25

So I read my next book of this readathon, and it was Tiny Pretty Things, which is for Randomize TBR. I'll be reading The Beast is an Animal next! Well, that took me longer than I would've liked. But onto reading more! 

My Reading Journey:

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

Prompt Fulfilled: Friend Pick

Started On: June 10th

Finished On: June 10th, 6:00 AM

Pages Read: 464

The Last Hope by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Prompt Fulfilled: Dark Cover

Started On: June 11th

Finished On: June 11th, 8:21 PM

Pages Read: 371

Here, There, Everywhere by Julia Durango and Tyler Terrones

Prompt Fulfilled: Secret

Started On: June 11th

Finished On: June 11th, 10:23 PM

Pages Read: 304

The Graveyard Shift by Darynda Jones

Prompt Fulfilled: Quick Read

Started On: June 11th

Finished On: June 11th, 11:49 PM

Pages Read: 153

Death of Darkness by Dianne Duvall

Prompt Fulfilled: Highest Rated

Started On: June 5th

Finished On: June 5th, 8:04 PM

Pages Read: 511

To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Cristo

Prompt Fulfilled: Featuring Water

Started On: June 8th

Finished On: June 8th, 11:20 AM

Pages Read: 344

Without a Trace by Amanda Stevens

Prompt Fulfilled: Outside Comfort Zone

Started On: June 8th

Finished On: June 8th, 7:58 PM

Pages Read: 256

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Prompt Fulfilled: Occult Themes

Started On: June 12th

Finished On: June 12th, 8:58 PM

Pages Read: 356

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Prompt Fulfilled: Anticipated Read

Started On: June 15th

Finished On: June 15th, 8:35 PM

Pages Read: 540

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken

Prompt Fulfilled: Fun Book

Started On: June 16th

Finished On: June 16th, 10:28 PM

Pages Read: 352

Blood Will Out by Jo Treggiari

Prompt Fulfilled: Royal Colours

Started On: June 18th

Finished On: June 18th, 12:00 PM

Pages Read: 269

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Prompt Fulfilled: Banned Book

Started On: June 18th

Finished On: June 18th, 4:58 PM

Pages Read: 221

Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder

Prompt Fulfilled: Favourite Author

Started On: June 19th

Finished On: June 19th, 11:08 PM

Pages Read: 488

Shadows & Surrender by Deborah Wilde

Prompt Fulfilled: Continue the Series

Started On: June 22nd

Finished On: June 22nd, 11:41 AM

Pages Read: 342

Spindle by E.K. Johnson

Prompt Fulfilled: Foiled Cover

Started On: June 22nd

Finished On: June 22nd, 8:56 PM

Pages Read: 355

Perdition by Ann Aguirre

Prompt Fulfilled: Queen Main Character

Started On: June 22nd

Finished On: June 23rd, 1:13 AM

Pages Read: 352

The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr

Prompt Fulfilled: Set in a Cold Place

Started On: June 23rd

Finished On: June 23rd, 6:28 PM

Pages Read: 291

The Beckoning Shadow by Katharyn Blair

Prompt Fulfilled: Outsourced Book

Started On: June 23rd

Finished On: June 23rd, 11:32 PM

Pages Read: 480

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

Prompt Fulfilled: Over 500 Pages

Started On: June 24th

Finished On: June 24th, 11:41 PM

Pages Read: 632

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

Prompt Fulfilled: Cover Has a Weapon

Started On: June 27th

Finished On: June 27th, 11:58 PM 

Pages Read: 392

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Prompt Fulfilled: Featuring Training/Fighting

Started On: June 28th

Finished On: June 28th, 4:32

Pages Read: 464

Summer Knight by Jim Butcher

Prompt Fulfilled: Magical Battle

Started On: June 29th

Finished On: June 29th, 3:23 PM

Pages Read: 384

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
Prompt Fulfilled: Featuring an Animal
Started On: July 1st
Finished On: July 1st, 1:31 PM
Pages Read: 452

Dangerous Remedy by Kat Dunn
Prompt Fulfilled: Featuring a Journey
Started On: July 1st
Finished On: July 1st, 11:39 PM
Pages Read: 432

Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
Prompt Fulfilled: Randomize TBR
Started On: July 2nd
Finished On: July 2nd, 11:42 PM

Pages Read: 464

The Beast is an Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale
Prompt Fulfilled: Featuring Woodland
Started On: July 3rd

Currently On: Page 0 of 343

Prompts Left: Steal a Book, Myth-Take Book, Bargain, Disliked Book, Highest Rated, Reread a Favourite, Big Cast of Characters, Read a Host Favourite, Heard Great Things, Underhyped, Book About Books, Performance Elements, Non-Human Main, Featuring Fae, Go Into a Book Blind, 5 Star Prediction, Inspired by History, Overhyped Book
Read: 25
Pages Read: 9579

Third Sentence Thursday #464, July 2nd

Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme which likes to watch fireworks especially while eating a cookie!

1) Take the book you are currently reading and open it to a random page. Share the third full sentence on that page. (If there isn't a third one – like at the end of a chapter or a blank page – you can share the third sentence of the book or just choose another random page.) Feel free to share more than one sentence, if you feel the need to do so.

2) Review this sentence anyway you want (funny and silly reviews encouraged)

3) Post a link to your sentence at Words I Write Crazy (This Blog)

4) Visit one or two of the other blogs to check out their third se ntences!

"My lip has a hilly scab." -Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton, page 24.

Well, that doesn't sound comfortable, especially since it's a dance book that has a lot of pain and sacrifice for the craft!

What are your guy's 3rd lines? Link up below!

Make Your Myth-Taker Readathon 2020 Update 24

So I read my next book of this readathon, and it was Dangerous Remedy, which is for Featuring a Journey. I'll be reading Tiny Pretty Things next! 

My Reading Journey:

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

Prompt Fulfilled: Friend Pick

Started On: June 10th

Finished On: June 10th, 6:00 AM

Pages Read: 464

The Last Hope by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Prompt Fulfilled: Dark Cover

Started On: June 11th

Finished On: June 11th, 8:21 PM

Pages Read: 371

Here, There, Everywhere by Julia Durango and Tyler Terrones

Prompt Fulfilled: Secret

Started On: June 11th

Finished On: June 11th, 10:23 PM

Pages Read: 304

The Graveyard Shift by Darynda Jones

Prompt Fulfilled: Quick Read

Started On: June 11th

Finished On: June 11th, 11:49 PM

Pages Read: 153

Death of Darkness by Dianne Duvall

Prompt Fulfilled: Highest Rated

Started On: June 5th

Finished On: June 5th, 8:04 PM

Pages Read: 511

To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Cristo

Prompt Fulfilled: Featuring Water

Started On: June 8th

Finished On: June 8th, 11:20 AM

Pages Read: 344

Without a Trace by Amanda Stevens

Prompt Fulfilled: Outside Comfort Zone

Started On: June 8th

Finished On: June 8th, 7:58 PM

Pages Read: 256

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Prompt Fulfilled: Occult Themes

Started On: June 12th

Finished On: June 12th, 8:58 PM

Pages Read: 356

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Prompt Fulfilled: Anticipated Read

Started On: June 15th

Finished On: June 15th, 8:35 PM

Pages Read: 540

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken

Prompt Fulfilled: Fun Book

Started On: June 16th

Finished On: June 16th, 10:28 PM

Pages Read: 352

Blood Will Out by Jo Treggiari

Prompt Fulfilled: Royal Colours

Started On: June 18th

Finished On: June 18th, 12:00 PM

Pages Read: 269

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Prompt Fulfilled: Banned Book

Started On: June 18th

Finished On: June 18th, 4:58 PM

Pages Read: 221

Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder

Prompt Fulfilled: Favourite Author

Started On: June 19th

Finished On: June 19th, 11:08 PM

Pages Read: 488

Shadows & Surrender by Deborah Wilde

Prompt Fulfilled: Continue the Series

Started On: June 22nd

Finished On: June 22nd, 11:41 AM

Pages Read: 342

Spindle by E.K. Johnson

Prompt Fulfilled: Foiled Cover

Started On: June 22nd

Finished On: June 22nd, 8:56 PM

Pages Read: 355

Perdition by Ann Aguirre

Prompt Fulfilled: Queen Main Character

Started On: June 22nd

Finished On: June 23rd, 1:13 AM

Pages Read: 352

The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr

Prompt Fulfilled: Set in a Cold Place

Started On: June 23rd

Finished On: June 23rd, 6:28 PM

Pages Read: 291

The Beckoning Shadow by Katharyn Blair

Prompt Fulfilled: Outsourced Book

Started On: June 23rd

Finished On: June 23rd, 11:32 PM

Pages Read: 480

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

Prompt Fulfilled: Over 500 Pages

Started On: June 24th

Finished On: June 24th, 11:41 PM

Pages Read: 632

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

Prompt Fulfilled: Cover Has a Weapon

Started On: June 27th

Finished On: June 27th, 11:58 PM 

Pages Read: 392

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Prompt Fulfilled: Featuring Training/Fighting

Started On: June 28th

Finished On: June 28th, 4:32

Pages Read: 464

Summer Knight by Jim Butcher

Prompt Fulfilled: Magical Battle

Started On: June 29th

Finished On: June 29th, 3:23 PM

Pages Read: 384

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
Prompt Fulfilled: Featuring an Animal
Started On: July 1st
Finished On: July 1st, 1:31 PM
Pages Read: 452

Dangerous Remedy by Kat Dunn

Prompt Fulfilled: Featuring a Journey

Started On: July 1st
Finished On: July 1st, 11:39 PM
Pages Read: 432

Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
Prompt Fulfilled: Randomize TBR
Started On: July 2nd
Currently On: Page 0 of 464

Prompts Left: Steal a Book, Featuring Woodland, Myth-Take Book, Bargain, Disliked Book, Highest Rated, Reread a Favourite, Big Cast of Characters, Read a Host Favourite, Heard Great Things, Underhyped, Book About Books, Performance Elements, Non-Human Main, Featuring Fae, Go Into a Book Blind, 5 Star Prediction, Inspired by History, Overhyped Book
Read: 24
Pages Read: 9115

Page-a-Thon Update 2

So I read my next book for Page-a-Thon, and it was Dangerous Remedy, and I'll be reading Tiny Pretty Things next!

My Reading Journey:

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
Started On: July 1st
Finished On: July 1st, 1:31 PM
Pages Read: 452

Dangerous Remedy by Kat Dunn
Started On: July 1st
Finished On: July 1st, 11:39 PM
Pages Read: 432

Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
Started On: July 2nd
Currently On: Page 0 of 464

Read: 2
Pages Read: 884