Book Club, Fiction, Historical, Young Adult

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Salt to the Sea first came into my hands as an ARC (advanced reader copy) shortly after I was introduced to Ruta Sepetys' writing when I picked up a copy of Between Shades of Gray at a not-so-little hidden gem of a used book store in center city Philadelphia. When I met Ruta at Winter Institute in 2016,… Continue reading Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult

Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Days of Blood & Starlight, Dreams of Gods & Monsters When I first saw the cover of Daughter of Smoke and Bone, I fell head over heels โ€“ love at first sight. Blue hair, dynamic fonts, intriguing synopsis, Prague as a setting, fantasy world. I was just coming off the… Continue reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor

Fiction, Historical

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

I enjoy a well written WWII narrative as much as the next person - there's a reason there is a whole sub-genre of historical fiction dedicated to the time period - 70+ years later it still holds the world's attention, particular in the current world climate that seems to threaten WWIII. I picked up The Nightingale not… Continue reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Book Club, History, Nonfiction

Dead Wake by Erik Larson

The Last Crossing of the Lusitania Every month, the Modern Readers discuss what types of books we collectively would like to be reading. In February 2016, one of our number mentioned that Erik Larson would be doing a talk in a nearby town, so we figured Dead Wake would make a great book club choice! This is… Continue reading Dead Wake by Erik Larson

Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen #1 Clearly I'm on a YA fantasy role here with reviews... Sometimes I get so thoroughly immersed in a genre it can be hard to pull myself out to switch to something else, something new and different. As I get to the end of a genre jaunt, however, my reviews tend to become… Continue reading Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Fiction, Retelling, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Everland by Wendy Spinale

Everland #1 I readย Everland in one beautiful day sitting on the beach in the Bahamas. Last spring I decided I was going to catch up on my reading and for a five day vacation, I brought 10 books and I finished 7 of them (the total included graphic novels). I'd been meaning to read my… Continue reading Everland by Wendy Spinale

Fantasy, Fiction, Mythology, Young Adult

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

DC Icons #1 When I first saw the trailer forย Wonder Woman, I couldn't wait to see it. When I found out that Leigh Bardugo was writing a YA adaptation, I was even more excited about it! As as new-ish fan ofย Wonder Woman, I have been keen to get my hands on anything relating to my… Continue reading Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Fantasy, Fiction, New Adult

A Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of  Wings and Ruin #1. I will read anything by Sarah J. Maas. #2. It's based on Beauty and the Beast. #3-#10. Repeat #1. A Court of Thorns and Roses Synopsis Feyre is a huntress. She thinks nothing of slaughtering a wolf to… Continue reading A Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy by Sarah J. Maas

Memoir/Autobiography, Nonfiction, Photography/Art

It’s What I Do by Lynsey Addario

A Photographer's Life of Love and War Every year between Christmas and New Year's, my now husband and I travel to Greenville, South Carolina to stay with his aunt, uncle and cousins for the holiday season. Given that my husband, Ben, and I met while working in a library, it is well known to his… Continue reading It’s What I Do by Lynsey Addario

Fiction, Historical

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

Saxon Chronicles #1 I broke my own self-imposed rule - I watchedย The Last Kingdomย on Netflix before I readย The Last Kingdomย by Bernard Cornwell. I had picked up the first book in the series after my sister gave my husband the most recent in the Saxon Chronicles for Christmas one year, not only because I was intrigued,… Continue reading The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell