May Wrap Up

Summer has begun and there are still a couple weeks before my summer class starts, so I’m still able to enjoy some unassigned reading. I didn’t read as much this month, mainly due to me trying to read through all the Grishaverse books. I’m on the King of Scars duology now, and I’m enjoying it just as much as I enjoyed the others.

Some Minor Spoilers

This month I read 6 books.

Fiction:

• The Turnout by Megan Abbott (release date: 8/3/2021): I received an eARC of this from Edelweiss and I am so thankful I did because I love Megan Abbott. This was perfectly in line with Abbott’s usual works, giving the inner world of women a spotlight. This time she tackled ballet, which as a former ballet dancer I have been waiting for. This one was even darker and more psychological than her other works, and the mysteries keep going till the very end. 4 out of 5 pointe shoes.

YA

• Bronte by Manuela Santoni: This is a graphic novel aimed at younger audiences that explores the lives of the Bronte sisters. While I wouldn’t say it was the most accurate, it was very entertaining and well-illustrated. 3 out of 5 pen names.
• Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo: Second book of the Shadow and Bone trilogy! It was okay, very middle book in that it drags out a lot of nothing happening. But I enjoyed it and it had strong ending, plus introduced us to my fav Nikolai. 3 out of 5 secret identities.  
• Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo: Final trilogy book! Loved it. I had heard that this was a hated book, but I loved it. I thought it was the perfect ending to Alina’s story and she is just one of my favorite heroines. I also like that this book takes on the trauma of war, which YA novels often leave out. 4 out of 5 amplifiers.
• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: I’m so obsessed with the characters, the story, the relationships. These are better than the trilogy, which makes sense as Leigh Bardugo had grown as an author since her first book. 5 out of 5 heists.
• Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo: I sped through this duology because they are now my favorite. I am kanej trash, and I loved all the ships in the novel. This was so heartbreaking but also satisfying, and I really hope she returns to the crows one day. 5 out of 5 waffles.