Title: My Lady Jane Author: Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows Series: Lady Janies #1 Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Format: Hard Cover Pages: 414 Reason Read: Just Because Spice Rating: 1 / 5 Rating:
My Thoughts
MY LADY JANE is awesome! It’s hilarious, fun, and very endearing. I was immediately attached to Jane and G. I liked Edward was well, but I’ll be honest, I was in it for Jane and G. I loved all the nods to pop culture–The Princess Bride, Star Wars, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, etc. I also loved the little bits of history sprinkled in. It makes me want to read more books about the Tudor era. I really wish this particular story was part of a series (rather than the future companion novels about other Janes) because I’d love to read more books with these characters.
https://jennielyse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/new_logo_main_small.png00Jenni Elysehttps://jennielyse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/new_logo_main_small.pngJenni Elyse2016-09-08 00:00:002026-10-18 18:57:34My Lady Jane
Title: The Walking Dead, Volumes 1-5 Author: Robert Kirkman Series: The Walking Dead #1-5 Genre: Horror Format: Paperback Pages: 688 Reason Read: Just Because Rating:
My Thoughts
Since I love The Walking Dead TV show so much, I decided to give the graphic novels a try even though I haven’t really enjoyed the other graphic novels I’ve read. Surprisingly, it was a lot of fun to read volume 1. It was just like watching the show with a few differences in the story.
I’m surprised at how quickly the group found the prison. That didn’t happen until Season 3 of the TV show and volume 2 only goes up to issue 12. They didn’t stay at Hershel’s farm very long in the novel and it felt interminable on the TV show. It also didn’t quite go down like it did on the show, which I was expecting, but now it’s got me really curious how certain things are going to happen. I really like that even though I know the story, I’m still being kept on my toes.
Volume 3 was the most different from the TV show. There are characters that I didn’t know existed. And, many of the same characters are different from their TV show counterparts. It’s interesting to see the differences. I’m still enjoying reading these and I look forward to the next volume. However, I’ve decided that I do like TV show Maggie and Glenn better than graphic novel Maggie and Glenn. Maybe, they’ll grow on me.
So much happened in volume 4 and so much of it was different from the TV show. It was so weird to see things that happened in the TV show happen to different characters. Even though the graphic novels came first, I like the characterization of the TV show better. It’s probably because I’m used to them. I also love the actors because they bring so much emotion to the story. I don’t really like graphic novel Carol or Michonne, but I love TV show Carol and Michonne. Graphic novel Maggie and Glenn are growing on me, so that’s something.
I was so looking forward to continuing with this series, but volume 5 did me in. It was too graphic, too vivid, and too disturbing. I knew going into the graphic novels that they would be violent and graphic, but there are some things I just don’t need to see in detail, like a someone being brutally raped and beaten over and over again. That imagery won’t be leaving my mind any time soon. It was so graphic and lasted several pages. I’m done.
I rated the first four volumes 3 stars and the fifth volume 1 star. The average rating is 2.6 stars so that’s why I’ve posted it as 2.5 stars.
This is Ally Condie’s middle grade and contemporary debut and I really think she hit the bulls-eye with SUMMERLOST and discovered her niche in writing. I loved her Matched series, but there’s just something about this book. It was outstanding. The story is beautifully written. It’s such a great book about friendship, love, loss, and healing. It hit very close to home and is as if Ally wrote about my own feelings of grief regarding my mom’s passing. I highly recommend it for not only the intended audience but adults as well.
Title: One Dead Spy Author: Nathan Hale Series: Hazardous Tales #1 Genre: Informative, Middle Grade, Non-Fiction Format: Kindle Pages: 127 Reason Read: Book Club Rating:
My Thoughts
I didn’t really realize what ONE DEAD SPY was about until after I started to read it. It’s basically American History in graphic novel form peppered with jokes to make the history more fun. Personally, I thought the jokes were stupid and juvenile. I also hated the execution of the story, but it’s middle grade so I think young kids would enjoy them and learn something from them in the process. In that sense, I thought the story was successful. However, while I enjoyed the history, learning, and even the pictures, I would’ve rather read something like this in a historical fiction novel or watch a TV show / movie about it.
https://jennielyse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/new_logo_main_small.png00Jenni Elysehttps://jennielyse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/new_logo_main_small.pngJenni Elyse2016-07-27 00:00:002026-10-18 19:25:57One Dead Spy
Title: Burning Glass Author: Kathryn Purdie Series: Burning Glass #1 Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult Format: Hard Cover Pages: 512 Reason Read: Book Club Spice Rating: 0.5 / 5 Rating:
My Thoughts
I really enjoyed BURNING GLASS for a lot of reasons. I liked the characters and thought they were complex and rich. The world is a fictional world based on imperialistic Russia, which really drew me into the story. It was like a moth to a flame, really. The story also reminded me of THRONE OF GLASS a little bit. I had fun and I look forward to reading the sequels when they’re released.
My Lady Jane
Author: Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows
Series: Lady Janies #1
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Young Adult
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 414
Reason Read: Just Because
Spice Rating: 1 / 5
Rating:
My Thoughts
MY LADY JANE is awesome! It’s hilarious, fun, and very endearing. I was immediately attached to Jane and G. I liked Edward was well, but I’ll be honest, I was in it for Jane and G. I loved all the nods to pop culture–The Princess Bride, Star Wars, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, etc. I also loved the little bits of history sprinkled in. It makes me want to read more books about the Tudor era. I really wish this particular story was part of a series (rather than the future companion novels about other Janes) because I’d love to read more books with these characters.
The Walking Dead, Volumes 1-5
Title: The Walking Dead, Volumes 1-5
Author: Robert Kirkman
Series: The Walking Dead #1-5
Genre: Horror
Format: Paperback
Pages: 688
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:
My Thoughts
Since I love The Walking Dead TV show so much, I decided to give the graphic novels a try even though I haven’t really enjoyed the other graphic novels I’ve read. Surprisingly, it was a lot of fun to read volume 1. It was just like watching the show with a few differences in the story.
I’m surprised at how quickly the group found the prison. That didn’t happen until Season 3 of the TV show and volume 2 only goes up to issue 12. They didn’t stay at Hershel’s farm very long in the novel and it felt interminable on the TV show. It also didn’t quite go down like it did on the show, which I was expecting, but now it’s got me really curious how certain things are going to happen. I really like that even though I know the story, I’m still being kept on my toes.
Volume 3 was the most different from the TV show. There are characters that I didn’t know existed. And, many of the same characters are different from their TV show counterparts. It’s interesting to see the differences. I’m still enjoying reading these and I look forward to the next volume. However, I’ve decided that I do like TV show Maggie and Glenn better than graphic novel Maggie and Glenn. Maybe, they’ll grow on me.
So much happened in volume 4 and so much of it was different from the TV show. It was so weird to see things that happened in the TV show happen to different characters. Even though the graphic novels came first, I like the characterization of the TV show better. It’s probably because I’m used to them. I also love the actors because they bring so much emotion to the story. I don’t really like graphic novel Carol or Michonne, but I love TV show Carol and Michonne. Graphic novel Maggie and Glenn are growing on me, so that’s something.
I was so looking forward to continuing with this series, but volume 5 did me in. It was too graphic, too vivid, and too disturbing. I knew going into the graphic novels that they would be violent and graphic, but there are some things I just don’t need to see in detail, like a someone being brutally raped and beaten over and over again. That imagery won’t be leaving my mind any time soon. It was so graphic and lasted several pages. I’m done.
I rated the first four volumes 3 stars and the fifth volume 1 star. The average rating is 2.6 stars so that’s why I’ve posted it as 2.5 stars.
Summerlost
Author: Ally Condie
Genre: Contemporary, Middle Grade, Mystery
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 272
Reason Read: Utah Book Month
Rating:
My Thoughts
This is Ally Condie’s middle grade and contemporary debut and I really think she hit the bulls-eye with SUMMERLOST and discovered her niche in writing. I loved her Matched series, but there’s just something about this book. It was outstanding. The story is beautifully written. It’s such a great book about friendship, love, loss, and healing. It hit very close to home and is as if Ally wrote about my own feelings of grief regarding my mom’s passing. I highly recommend it for not only the intended audience but adults as well.
One Dead Spy
Author: Nathan Hale
Series: Hazardous Tales #1
Genre: Informative, Middle Grade, Non-Fiction
Format: Kindle
Pages: 127
Reason Read: Book Club
Rating:
My Thoughts
I didn’t really realize what ONE DEAD SPY was about until after I started to read it. It’s basically American History in graphic novel form peppered with jokes to make the history more fun. Personally, I thought the jokes were stupid and juvenile. I also hated the execution of the story, but it’s middle grade so I think young kids would enjoy them and learn something from them in the process. In that sense, I thought the story was successful. However, while I enjoyed the history, learning, and even the pictures, I would’ve rather read something like this in a historical fiction novel or watch a TV show / movie about it.
Burning Glass
Author: Kathryn Purdie
Series: Burning Glass #1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 512
Reason Read: Book Club
Spice Rating: 0.5 / 5
Rating:
My Thoughts
I really enjoyed BURNING GLASS for a lot of reasons. I liked the characters and thought they were complex and rich. The world is a fictional world based on imperialistic Russia, which really drew me into the story. It was like a moth to a flame, really. The story also reminded me of THRONE OF GLASS a little bit. I had fun and I look forward to reading the sequels when they’re released.