Title: Tress of the Emerald Sea
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Audio
Pages: 369
Length: 12h 27m
Narrator: Michael Kramer
Rating:
My Thoughts
I’m glad I had a chance to read TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. I enjoyed the book, but I didn’t love it. Part of the issue for me was Hoid, the narrator. I didn’t like his way of telling the story. I’m not a huge fan of 4th-wall-breaking, unless it’s in movies or TV shows, because it usually takes me out of the story and I want to be immersed.
I did like Tress and most of the other characters. I also liked the overall story of her defying the king’s order to not leave her little island to search for her lost love and travel through the dangerous spore oceans. I also liked the ending and the fact that Sanderson left it open so he can write more stories about Tress and her planet.
After doing some research, I’ve now realized that this book is part of Sanderson’s Cosmere universe. While TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA is a standalone novel, it has connections and some shared characters to his other series and books.
The Haunting Of Paynes Hollow
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Format: Audio
Pages: 320
Length: 9h 24m
Narrator: E.J. Lavery
Rating:
My Thoughts
Wow! I’m so glad I chose THE HAUNTING OF PAYNES HOLLOW as my October Book of the Month pick. It was so much fun! I loved the callback to Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman. I loved the setting, the supernatural legends, the characters, and the big reveal at the end! When I wasn’t reading, I couldn’t wait to get back to the story. I’ll definitely be looking up more books by Kelley Armstrong.
Play Nice
Author: Rachel Harrison
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Format: Audio
Pages: 336
Length: 10h 18m
Narrator: Alex Finke, Natasha Soudek
Rating:
My Thoughts
I’m so glad I decided to read PLAY NICE during the “spookiest” month of the year. It was a such a fun take on the haunted house trope. I loved the depth to the story, facing and conquering metaphorical and real demons. Even though Clio seems really selfish and a little bit narcissistic at the beginning, I loved her character arc. I also loved her tenacity and drive to find the truth. I also loved the little bit of romance between her a certain handsome neighbor. I’d give this 5 stars but I wanted a less vague ending in regards to Clio and her relationships.
The Undertaking Of Hart And Mercy
Author: Megan Bannen
Series: Hart & Mercy #1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 439
Length: 12h 15m
Narrator: Rachanee Lumayno, Michael Gallagher
Rating:
My Thoughts
I absolutely loved reading THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY. I thought it was a fun Halloween-y You’ve Got Mail-esque romantasy. I loved the world building and all the fantastical elements. I also loved that the story was told in the POV’s of both Hart and Mercy. Their chemistry, sexual tension, and banter kept me reading. I’m excited to see what happens in the next book. I also loved the audio. The narrators were perfect as Hart and Mercy.
Tress Of The Emerald Sea
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Audio
Pages: 369
Length: 12h 27m
Narrator: Michael Kramer
Rating:
My Thoughts
I’m glad I had a chance to read TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. I enjoyed the book, but I didn’t love it. Part of the issue for me was Hoid, the narrator. I didn’t like his way of telling the story. I’m not a huge fan of 4th-wall-breaking, unless it’s in movies or TV shows, because it usually takes me out of the story and I want to be immersed.
I did like Tress and most of the other characters. I also liked the overall story of her defying the king’s order to not leave her little island to search for her lost love and travel through the dangerous spore oceans. I also liked the ending and the fact that Sanderson left it open so he can write more stories about Tress and her planet.
After doing some research, I’ve now realized that this book is part of Sanderson’s Cosmere universe. While TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA is a standalone novel, it has connections and some shared characters to his other series and books.
Part Of Your World
Author: Abby Jimenez
Series: Part of Your World #1
Genre: Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 388
Length: 10h 5m
Narrator: Zachary Webber, Julia Whelan
Rating:
Also in this series: Yours Truly, Just for the Summer
My Thoughts
PART OF YOUR WORLD was a fun opposites attract romance. I loved the setting of Wahkon, Minnesota and all the animals, especially Barrack Ollama (iykyk). I loved the idea of a white collar woman getting drawn into a blue collar world. I loved both Alexis and Daniel, their chemistry, and banter.
Even though PART OF YOUR WORLD is mostly fluff, it dealt with some hard topics–physical and emotional abuse, interactions between different classes, the idea of love in all its forms. I loved the emphasis on mental health and therapy, and recognizing abuse in all its forms and learning to walk away.