Thornhill

If you have read The Invention of Hugo Cabret you will enjoy the style of this book. It is told in pictures intermixed with a sad story of bullying. The pictures are of a modern girl who can see the abandoned Thornhill Academy out her window. She lives a lonely life as her parents seem to be working all the time. She sees a girl on the grounds of the academy and investigates. Meanwhile, the written story is of an orphan living at the academy in a different time, where she is bullied by another orphan. She lives in a world of dolls/puppets that she creates. No one will help her with her situation as she does not talk. When she tries to tell what is happening to her, circumstances prevent it from being resolved. The two girls find they have much in common and join their fates together. This is not a happy tale nor does it have a happy ending. It is haunting and disturbing and a definite comment on bullying. If you are up for a creepy tale- you may find this to your liking. Happy reading my friends!

Tower of Dawn

Oh dear fellow readers- when people ask what my favorite series is I always say, that's too hard to pick. But let's be honest, I have finally- 8 books and many tears later- decided that Sarah Maas's two series hold the crown. With the Throne of Glass series taking the top spot. This latest installment is the story of Chaol Westfall and what is happening to him while Aelin and the gang are massing an army to defeat the Valg. Chaol is in a wheelchair since his spine was crushed in Aelin's last stand. He is bitter and angry- mainly at himself and all he couldn't prevent during the battle. He is accompanied by Nesryn as they go to find a healer who may be able to fix his legs. Unfortunately for him, the healer is Yrene Towers, who happens to hate him on sight as Adarlan soldiers killed her mother. They come to an uneasy truce as she works to defeat the darkness in him. Nesyrn is sent to help Prince Sartaq with his Ruks to figure out what is happening in the tribal lands. Yes- of course- love interests change and grow. Those who hate come to love. And Chaol's self-hatred is put to the test by a woman who may or may not have been saved by Aelin in the past. Crazy? I've been reading this for a while and I don't know if it is because I didn't want it to end or because I have always loved Chaol and was so afraid that he may not make it through. Now, he may still not make it through, but I can't wait for his forces to join Rowan's to save Aelin from Maeve- who is NOT what she seems. (I won't spoil that one) I love this world and characters and am so happy to see Chaol get a little redemption after he was so unlikeable for a while. I haven't read Assassin's Blade yet, and I may take a small break from this world- it messes with my head a bit, but I wait with great anticipation for the next novel. I would follow them into battle any day. Happy reading my friends!