Title: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: Hunger Games #4
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult
Format: Audio
Pages: 517
Length: 16h 16m
Narrator: Santino Fontana
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating: Also in this series: Sunrise on the Reaping
My Thoughts
I’ve been looking forward to THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES since I heard about it and it did not disappoint. I thought it was really fascinating and a fantastic prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy. I especially loved learning about Panem after the first war between the Capitol and the districts. I thought it was interesting to see how the Hunger Games operated before they became what they were in the 74th Hunger Games.
Watching Coriolanus Snow’s life unfold is a lot like watching Anakin Skywalker become Darth Vader in the Star Wars prequels. You keep hoping it won’t happen, but know there’s no hope. I thought it was interesting to be in his head, to hear the conflict of remaining loyal to the Capitol and regaining his status and wealth or siding with the districts and Lucy Gray. In the end, I thought Coriolanus’ actual transition to the “Dark Side” was a little abrupt, especially how fast he and Lucy Gray turned on one another.
I loved the other characters as well. Lucy Gray was my favorite, of course. I love how much she loves life, her defiant spirit, her go-with-the-flow personality, and her when-life-gives-you-lemons-make-lemonade outlook. I felt sorry for Sejanus, having to leave his beloved District 2 and become a citizen of the Capitol. I loved learning more about Tigris and I’m curious why and when she and Coriolanus had a falling out.
Dating Dr. Dil
Author: Nisha Sharma
Series: If Shakespeare Were An Auntie #1
Genre: Romance
Spice: 3.5 / 5
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 358
Reason Read: Book of the Month
Rating:
My Thoughts
I loved DATING DR. DIL so much. I loved that it was a retelling of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Sharma did an excellent job with the execution, creating a hot steamy romance that leaves you wanting for more. I got caught up in Kareena’s and Prem’s lives and wanted to know how their story would end. I also really loved the double POV and being in both of their heads. The enemies-to-lovers trope is one of my favorites and DATING DR. DIL did not disappoint. Kareena and Prem had so much chemistry together, including awesome bantering and amazing sexual tension.
I especially enjoyed being a part of Kareena’s and Prem’s culture. I honestly didn’t know much about the American desi culture. I loved all the descriptions of the clothing, parties, and food. Oh the food! I’m now craving Indian from my favorite local restaurant. The strong familial influence, sometimes to the detriment of the characters mental health, and the pressure for Indian women to be married and having kids before 30 really resonated with me.
My one gripe was the fact that I couldn’t get past a few descriptions of Prem’s manhood. I mean calling his penis Charlie is one thing, but acting like “Charlie” is a sentient being was just too much for me.
This Spells Love
Author: Kate Robb
Genre: Magical Realism, Romance
Spice: 3 / 5
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 342
Reason Read: Book of the Month
Rating:
My Thoughts
I absolutely adored THIS SPELLS LOVE and zipped right through it because I couldn’t put it down. It hooked me right from the beginning and has left me thinking about the characters and their relationships. Robb’s execution of the friends-to-lovers trope was excellently written, producing a steamy fast-paced romance. The sexual tension between Gemma and Dax is amazing and leaves you wanting for more.
I adored everything about the story. I loved Gemma Wilde, her sister, kooky aunt, and her best friend Daxon McGuire. I loved the setting of Hamilton, Canada, just outside Toronto. The description of the people, shops, pubs, curling lanes, and the waterfront of Lake Ontario had me ready to book a plane ticket so I could experience it first hand. I also loved the lit bit of paranormal, in the form of a love-cleansing spell. It was fun to see it flip Gemma’s world on its head, causing her to figure out what was truly important to her.
The Invocations
Author: Krystal Sutherland
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, LGBTQ+, Young Adult, Romance
Spice: 1 / 5
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 400
Reason Read: Recommended
Rating:
My Thoughts
THE INVOCATIONS was awesome! I loved the idea of witches and witch hunters, and the use of invocations to grant women borrowed power from demons for a small piece of their soul. The story was dark, tense, mysterious, and full of paranormal goodness. It reminded me of an episode of Netflix’s The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which is what I think Sutherland was going for since she mentioned the show a couple of times in the story.
The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: Hunger Games #4
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult
Format: Audio
Pages: 517
Length: 16h 16m
Narrator: Santino Fontana
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:
Also in this series: Sunrise on the Reaping
My Thoughts
I’ve been looking forward to THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES since I heard about it and it did not disappoint. I thought it was really fascinating and a fantastic prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy. I especially loved learning about Panem after the first war between the Capitol and the districts. I thought it was interesting to see how the Hunger Games operated before they became what they were in the 74th Hunger Games.
Watching Coriolanus Snow’s life unfold is a lot like watching Anakin Skywalker become Darth Vader in the Star Wars prequels. You keep hoping it won’t happen, but know there’s no hope. I thought it was interesting to be in his head, to hear the conflict of remaining loyal to the Capitol and regaining his status and wealth or siding with the districts and Lucy Gray. In the end, I thought Coriolanus’ actual transition to the “Dark Side” was a little abrupt, especially how fast he and Lucy Gray turned on one another.
I loved the other characters as well. Lucy Gray was my favorite, of course. I love how much she loves life, her defiant spirit, her go-with-the-flow personality, and her when-life-gives-you-lemons-make-lemonade outlook. I felt sorry for Sejanus, having to leave his beloved District 2 and become a citizen of the Capitol. I loved learning more about Tigris and I’m curious why and when she and Coriolanus had a falling out.
Book Lovers
Author: Emily Henry
Genre: Romance
Spice: 2 / 5
Format: Kindle
Pages: 377
Reason Read: Book Club
Rating:
My Thoughts
I absolutely loved BOOK LOVERS. The enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes are two of my favorites and Henry’s execution didn’t disappoint and was excellently written, producing a spicy slow-burn romance with some of the best bantering I’ve ever read. The sexual tension between Nora and Charlie is palpable and leaves you wanting for more. It’s also a story with some meat to it. It explores complicated familial relationships, feelings of not fitting in, extreme anxiety, different types of love, loss, and healing.