Six of Crows

Who doesn't love a heist? Take six misfits with varying talents. Offer them money, big money, life changing money. Send them into an impossible situation. Throw as many challenges in their way as you can. Put them in mortal danger at every turn. Oh- what's missing you say? How about some tricky romances? Put those all together and you have the next great series from Leigh Bardugo. You may know her from the Grisha Trilogy. Well, move over Alina- Kaz Brekker is here. Katz is the leader of the Crows. He is broody, talented and out for revenge for past wrongs. Then there is Inej, the Wraith. She can get in anywhere- including Kaz's heart. Jesper, the clown, always down for an adventure. Wylan, the rich man's son, harboring a secret. Matthias, the Grisha hunter and Nina, the Grisha he is in love with- even if he can't admit it. These six crows set out on a mission that means sure death. Or the greatest payday of their lives. I LOVED this book. Each character is finely crafted and their backstories will break your heart. The mission is worthy of the risk. The mysterious Kaz will be forever on my favorite fictional boys list. Not as high as Will of course, but right next to Han, another of my favorite thieves. Bardugo has created a world that is filled with stories yet to be told, with characters that will cling to you long after you have left them to their mission. I think I liked it more than the Grisha series- more characters to love. But you can't go wrong with either. So pick this up and put it in someone's stocking and then steal if for yourself. Just make sure you are sneaky about it. Happy reading my friends and Merry Christmas!

Carry On

Well, Rainbow Rowell is three for three. First I fell in love with Eleanor and Park. Then Fangirl. And now Carry On. This is the story of Simon Snow and Baz, the fictional characters that Cath writes about in Fangirl. Rowell has taken this story within a story and made it a story of it's own. Confused? Don't be. This is a story that stands on it's own. It is a Harry Potter for a more mature audience. Simon is at Watford School for Magicians. He is roommates with his evil archenemy Baz Pitch. Pitch is a vampire, maybe. He is always out to kill Simon, maybe. They will be the death of each other, maybe. Simon has his faithful sidekick Penny and his uninterested girlfriend Agatha. He is seemingly always about to be killed by some horrible monster and has no control of his immense store of magic. He is the Mage's Heir. He is destined for great things. He just doesn't know what. There is an unlikely love story that I loved. There is magic. Heroic deeds. And the most hilarious spells ever! This is an amazingly funny story with a touching heart. I couldn't get enough. It is told from many points of view which gave great insight into everyone's perspective. I can't say enough nice things about this book. I'm sad it's over. I don't think there will be more, but I will cast my spell, I wish I may, I wish I might that this isn't the last I've read about Simon and Baz. If you haven't spent any time in Rainbow Rowell's worlds, run, don't walk to the nearest place to get books and take your pick. Happy reading my friends!

Slated

Kyla has been in the hospital for nine month and now she is going home to her family. A family she has never met. In fact, she doesn't know who she is or why she was slated. Only criminals are slated- minds wiped and given a second chance. Kyla must find a way to fit into her new family. She is monitored by her Levo which is wired into her wrist and keeps track of her emotions. If she gets to upset or sad or angry, she will pass out or worse, die. But Kyla starts to have memories of her previous self. She is more alert than most slated. When others start to disappear, Kyla gets her friend Ben involved. But Ben is not as savvy as Kyla and he isn't content to sit back and observe. Kyla must try to convince him not to do anything stupid, like join the AGT terrorist group. Society is divided to two factions trying to control their population. The closer Kyla gets to the truth of her life, the more danger she and her new family are in. She is determined to find Ben and figure out her place in both the past and the present. I enjoyed this novel. No one is what they seem, everyone seems to have major secrets that will somehow impact the plot. Not sure what they are yet, as this is, of course, book one. Kyla is no damsel in distress and I look forward to seeing what her true skills are. Happy reading my friends.