Dreamstrider by Lindsay Smith: First Impression Review + Second Chance Giveaway

 First Impression Reviews is a new feature here at Stories & Sweeties where I give my first thoughts at 50-100 pages into a book. For a details about this feature, go here!

Where I'm at: 75

First Impression: 
Part of what gave this one it's slow start was the really long prologue.  To be honest, I started reading this one with the preview on Amazon, and for whatever reason, I started with chapter one. I thought it was pretty interesting and I was able to figure out what was going on pretty easily and how the dreamstriding worked.  Later on, I went back and started from the Prologue, and while that gave a bit of insight on where Livia came from and how she met Brandt, I still, at page 75, am not exactly clear on the world building and what exactly the "tunnels" were. Were they literal tunnels? Was it just another way to say the lower poorer areas of the city? 
Now back to the first chapter, that was actually exciting stuff! Livia is Dreamstriding in the body of an enemy General, trying to find out a few military secrets. It starts to go wrong and you see the danger in what she is doing...if the person wakes and forces her out of his body, she can be lost in the world of nightmare.  After that, the story completely lost me. From the end of chapter one, to page 75, it is nothing but politics and more politics, with a little hint of Livia mooning over Brandt. Neither the story or the writing was holding my attention.  I found nothing of the characters to connect to. And I found a few of the characters a little cartoonish.  So as much as it pains me to do so, I'm setting this aside at page 75. 

But wait!! If it's one thing a book blogger knows, its that not every book is for everyone!  This one might not have worked out so well for me, but I want to give this book a second chance at being loved! Want to give this one a shot? Enter below to win my copy!

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First Impression Review: The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough

 First Impression Reviews is a new feature here at Stories & Sweeties where I give my first thoughts at 50-100 pages into a book. For a details about this feature, go here!

where I'm at:  pg 105

first impressions: OH such gorgeous writing. The atmosphere of this story drew me in right away---there's something haunting and almost ethereal about Brockenbrough's storytelling.  It starts off with the characters of Love and Death carefully picking out their players in a game they've played against each other many times before.  Then we're introduced to Henry and Flora, get wrapped up in their story as their paths finally cross.  Everything stands in their way from family expectations to racial tensions, to Love and Death themselves stepping in in sneaky guises in an effort to sway the game.

 The late 1930s era is absolutely brought to life as these characters stories play out in a world of jazz clubs, zepplins, and Hoovervilles. I also love how Henry and Flora's personalities seem to each be shaped by their "sponsor's" influence: one is unfailingly kind and can see connection in all things, one is determined to escape and is all about a means to an end.  But more than anything, there's just such a unique tension to this story, I suspect that it's propelling toward something either beautifully triumphant or horribly tragic.  I'm absolutely captivated!

First Impressions Review: Burning Kingdoms by Lauren Destefano

First Impression Reviews is a new feature here at Stories & Sweeties where I give my first thoughts at 50-100 pages into a book. For a details about this feature, go here!

where I'm at: pg 57

first impressions: So excited to be continuing this series.  Last year, I gave Perfect Ruin 4.5 cupcakes--but the funny thing was, I loved the beginning, almost DNFed at about 120 pages in, and then picked it back up, got sucked back in and ended up loving it.  So I'm curious to see how this one will be for me. As of right now--LOVING it. So that's good. lol

Burning Kingdoms picks up exactly where Perfect Ruin left off, down to the minute!  NOTE: Don't read past this point if you haven't read book 1!>>
Morgan and the rest of the crew have landed on the ground and are taken in by the family of the King's right hand man. They are all astounded by how different things are on the ground: the customs, the food, the weather,...not to mention, it seems they've landed in a world on the brink of war.  I love all the new characters---the family is made up of quite a few children (another thing that shocks them since the population is under such tight control on Internment) and the oldest two are right around Morgan's age. I can tell already the eldest boy, Nimble and the oldest girl, Birdie, are going to add some fun twists to this story. Morgan and friends are very wary of their father and the King's intentions for them, though, so the tension is very high!

This is starting out really well, I tend to love stories that take a look at the earthly world from an outsider perspective---there's something wondrous about seeing a character in awe over snow and the ocean and even eggs for breakfast, things we take so much for granted. Plus, it seems there are a few fantastical things happening as well on this version of "earth". 

Once again, Lauren Destano takes our world and adds her own creative and compelling spin to it. I can't wait to see what else is in store!!

First Impressions Review: A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas

 First Impression Reviews is a new feature here at Stories & Sweeties where I give my first thoughts at 50-100 pages into a book. For a details about this feature, go here!

where I'm at: pg 86

first impressions:  A Wicked Thing immediately drew me in with an intriguing idea for a retelling: what if Sleeping Beauty woke up not week or months after falling asleep but 100 years.  Her entire world is gone, her family dead, and the strange family who woke her now think they own her and that she will bring magic back into the world for their benefit.  Its definitely an interesting twist on the classic tale.

Aurora seems like a strong character, but it takes a while to see that come through because she is set so off balance by being thrust into a world that is completely new to her…rightly so. At where I'm at, we're just started to see a little of her strength of character coming through as she gains her bearings and starts to realize what these harsh people really expect of her. I'm really liking her character and the things she doing to stand her ground so far.   Right now, there are few she seems to be able to trust and more than a few shady characters, including the king, definitely the queen, and this sleezy prince that has just shown up. The prince who woke her is a bit of an awkward turtle and its hard to say if he is clueless or just seriously misled,…but he's sweet enough I guess.  Aurora sneaks out and meets a few townspeople and one in particular of interest :). Not sure if this will turn into a love triangle, but hopefully not.  There is one character that has vaguely been thrown in to the mix and by her name, I have suspicions of who she might be, but would hope the plot is not that predicable in the end.  

A good start,….I’m definitlely, though cautiously, intrigued.

First Impression Review: Storm Siren by Mary Weber

 First Impression Reviews is a new feature here at Stories & Sweeties where I give my first thoughts at 50-100 pages into a book. For a details about this feature, go here!

where I'm at:  pg 120

first impressions: I’ve been dying to read this one for ages, and of course, that always comes with a little bit of cautious worry that a book won’t live up to expectations. But at 120 pages in, this is how I’m feeling toward this one: Storm Siren is the first book in a long time to make me want to hiss at anyone who tries to interrupt my reading time. LOL

Right off the bat you can see that Nym is fierce. But as the story goes along, you see that she is also funny, head-strong, frightened, and so remorseful for the people she has harmed with her wild uncontrollable powers. When she is offered the chance to learn to control them, she jumps at it, no matter how twisted the person behind the offer of help seems to be. Adora, her new “owner” is definitely a piece of work—still no telling which way this crazy character will go. But Nym finds new friends in the snarky, hilarious Breck and her overly confident and flirtatious brother, Colin. Then there is Eogan, the mysterious man charged with helping her learn to control her powers. The attraction there is getting both more heated and dangerous.

Loving the world building so far, lots of different creatures and powers and politics---and do I detect a hint of steampunkery?? Just a hint, mind you, a glimpse of airship, a run-in with a bitey little mechanical animal--- but I do love a bit of steampunk. And I had no idea I'd find it in this story!  The main story is building around a brewing war and the part Nym will play as a rare female Elemental. I am loving this so far.

First Impression Review: Monstrous by MarcyKate Connelly

First Impression Reviews is a new feature here at Stories & Sweeties where I give my first thoughts at 50-100 pages into a book. For a details about this feature, go here!


where I'm at: page 61

First impressions: The story opens on Kymera's first day of waking up after being "reanimated".  Her father has brought her back to life after loosing her and her mother to an evil wizard.  The story reads a little like a diary, as she explores her new body (with added tail and raven wings!) and her new purpose, and I felt an immediate connection there because we're learning about what's going on right along with her, feeling her fears and triumphs and confusions as she trains for this greater purpose that her father has planned for her.   The story is told in such a trusting and innocent voice, and oh, I can feel already as she begins her mission to save the girls of Bryre that something is terribly amiss.  I can't help the feeling that her father is not telling her everything and that his purpose may be darker than what he lets on. But we'll have to see!! This one grabbed me right away and has me so curious!  I am definitely enjoying it so far!

Introducing First Impression Reviews!

First Impression Reviews is a new feature here at Stories & Sweeties. As a reader and reviewer, how many times do you get asked,"So how are you liking it so far?"  We all know first impressions are important and this is no less true when it comes to books! The first 50-100 pages  can make or break a book for me, either have me salivating for more or ready to drop it and move on. So I’ll be chatting about my first thoughts on the opening, the characters, and the story so far. How it hooked me ..or didn’t.  Plus I think it’s fun to see how an opinion of a book can change between the excitement of starting out the story and the journey to the end.  Each one will, of course, get a full review when I’m done, but who doesn’t love discussing a book when they’re in the thick of it? :)

Here’s how they’ll be rated:

 For when I'm loving the book so far:

For when I'm enjoying it, but maybe not fully invested yet:

 

 Nope. Not working for me. Getting ready to DNF:

In the comments I’d love for you to jump in and discuss!! Tell me what you’re in the middle of and how you’re liking it.  Tell me what you think of what I’m reading.  And especially if you’ve already read a book that I’m ready to bail on, I’d love to get your opinion---vote DNF or Keep going!!  (In those cases, I’ll even provide a little votey widget!)

 Check out my first First Impression Review for Princess of Thorns from yesterday's blog tour stop!

Princess of Thorns: First Impressions Review & Giveaway! {blog tour}

Today I'm participating in the blog tour for Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay! I was so excited to read this one after absolutely loving Of Beast and Beauty (my review) last year---so amazing! Thanks to the wonderful folks at Random House, I'm giving away two copies of Princess of Thorns, so be sure to enter below!

Today I'm doing a First Impression review of Princess of Thorns, a new feature I'm starting here at Stories & Sweeties! Check back tomorrow for a formal introduction to this feature, but for today, here's my first thoughts on Princess of Thorns!

Where I'm at: 100 pages in

First Impressions: Princess of Thorns has me dazzled already!  After a short prologue and first chapter that firmly establishes it as a mash-up twisted fairy tale of both Sleeping Beauty and The Wild Swans, the story jumps straight into full action with a daring rescue and escape scene! Told in alternating points of view, we meet Aurora, daughter of the Sleeping Beauty, who must face the Ogre Queen to rescue her brother, and Nicklaas, who must outwit his father's curse or be turned into a swan when he reaches the age of 18.
I'm once again swept away by Stacey Jay's grasp of writing high fantasy. The world is clearly building up all around the characters as they begin their journey so that the reader is completely immersed in journey and can feel what's at stake.  Both characters' personalities come through right away and it's fun to watch them get under each others skin as the story goes along.  Wonderful so far! Can't wait to see where this is headed!

What I'm feeling at this point:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stacey Jay is a recovering workaholic (or at least working hard at recovering) with three pen names, two small children, and a passion for playing pretend for a living. She’s been a full time mom-writer since 2005 and can't think of anything she'd rather be doing. Her former careers include theatre performer, professional dancer, poorly paid C-movie actress, bartender, waiter, math tutor (for real) and yoga instructor.

Website  •  Twitter  •  Facebook

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