Mini Reviews

Friday, March 4, 2011


Occasionally, some books leave with not much to say.  So here are some mini reviews other books I have reading recently.

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney - This was just okay for me. The writing was okay, the plot was okay, the characters were okay, the ending was okay, the romance was okay. I think you get the picture.........   If you a new to reading young adult paranormal fiction you might love it. But to me it felt like this story has been told before. I do see some potential in this series as the whole alchemist world is quite interesting but I don't know if I would read the next installment.  Rating 2.5 stars

Graceling by Kristin Cashore - I have had this forever on my bookshelf (seriously, I had to blow the dust of the book) when a friend of mine challenged me to read it.  I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Initially it took me about 70 pages to get into but I am glad I stuck with it because it was just as awesome as everybody said. Love Katsa, Po and Bitterblue - all wonderfully fleshed out characters. A book full of adventure and heart.   Rating 4 stars.


Here Bridget Lies by Paige Harbison -  I struggled with this book and in the end I couldn't finish it.  The whole mean girl story line is really not my thing.  And also I just couldn't connect with Bridget.  There are a lot of positive reviews for this book on goodreads so I really think this was just a case of not my type of book.  Copy provided thanks to Netgalley and Harquelin.  No rating since I didn't finish it.

20 comments:

Misha said...

I am sorry that The Iron Witch is just "okay". I made the mistake of buying it and I have hardly seen positive reviews of it.

Jan von Harz said...

Graceling is one of my all time favorite audio books (full cast with music) I have actually listened to it several times. I love Po (as you might already surmised from my Boyfriend post this week) and Katsa, well she is an epic character in my book.

Sorry, Iron Witch and Here Lies Bridget didn't do it for you, but I am glad you included these in your mini reviews as I will now pass on both.

Rachel said...

Thanks for this! I'd been debating about whether to read The Iron Witch and Here Lies Bridget but I think I'll pass on them now - from what I've seen we have quite similar reading preferences. Graceling sounds interesting though...I'll have to look into it. Great reviews!

Chachic said...

I loved Graceling! It was one of my favorite reads back in 2009 and I can't wait to read Bitterblue. I believe it's going to come out this year.

Nomes said...

love these mini reviews, mate.

i also adored Graceling (or should I say I adored Po? ;) and it took me about 70 pages to get into it as well. i would have given up if I hadn;t known about it going to get good.

Savannah said...

I need to read Graceling that sounds like a great book.

Melissa (i swim for oceans) said...

I am SO with you on Here Lies Bridget. I rarely rate really really low, but I was so blown away by how dull the story line was and how fake the transformation was.

Great, honest mini reviews, Nic :)

Jenny said...

Definitely going to pass on Here Lies Bridget, we seem to be on the same page a lot of the time so if you couldn't get through it, I imagine I would have trouble too! I'm a little bummed on The Iron Witch, I have that one on my shelf and was really looking forward to it. Totally understand when you said everything was just "okay", I have that reaction sometimes and it always makes it difficult to write a review. Love these mini reviews:)

Missie, The Unread Reader said...

I don't remember being a big fan of Graceling. Katsa bothered me for some reason, but I did love Po and Bitterblue, and I'm looking forward to her book.

Thanks for these mini reviews. I've been curious about The Iron Witch, mostly because of the cover. You have definitely saved me some time because it doesn't sound like it is for me.

Oh, and guess what I'm reading?! Stolen. Apparently, I have a new obsession with obsession. Love your book recs, Nic!

A.J. said...

(I like that picture with the little book. So cute!)

I couldn't finish The Iron Witch. :( I liked Graceling! Po was...yeah. XD teehee

bibliophile brouhaha said...

I have heard so many good things about Graceling, it's been kinda/sorta on my TBR list. The Iron Witch and Here Bridget Lies? Neither of them really appealed to me, synopsis-wise. . . looks a like a good call. Bleh!

PS - that picture of the little book is adorable!

Anonymous said...

Im doing mini-reviews today too... We must be thinking alike today...:) I really loved Graceling, but I couldnt finish HLB, pretty awful. I love these to the point reviews.

Jenny N. said...

Like you I've had Graceling on my shelf for a while now and still need to read it. Good to hear that you liked it so much.

Leanna Elle said...

I'll be passing on Here Lies Bridget for sure. I don't think I've read any good reviews for that one. :/

The Iron Witch - it doesn't really sound like something I'd usually read, but I have read a lot of great reviews for it.

Julie said...

Great mini reviews! Love the pic you use. I have both The Iron Witch and Graceling on my TBR bookshelves. I really want to read these. Too bad about The Iron Witch. I started Here Lies Bridget. I couldn't get into it either. I'm also struggling with Angelfire. I feel the same way with that book. It's been done before.

Lindsay Cummings author said...

hi!! new follower from the YA book blog directory! love the blog and i'm excited to read more!! so sad to hear you didn't enjoy iron witch! i am still gonna read it and see how i feel! i need to read graceling too!

follow me too?!
http://lindsaycummingsblog.blogspot.com/

A Canadian Girl said...

It's too bad you thought that the Iron Witch was okay since I've been looking forward to reading it when I get the time. I agree with you about the other two books though. I loved Graceling and hated Bridget with a passion.

Steph from fangswandsandfairydust.com said...

Thanks for doing these mini reviews. They are really helpful.
Stopping by while I am spring cleaning my blog roll. Thanks for keeping my blog on the list!Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
email: steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com
twitter: @fangswandsfairy

Small Review said...

This is such a great idea. Sometimes I don't know what to write in a full review, but mini-reviews are a wonderful way to say something when you can't say much.

I'm sorry to hear you didn't enjoy The Iron Witch. I'm still on the fence about it so I think I'll just be waiting until the rest of the series is published. I'm not big on fairies anyway.

I really want to read Graceling, but I'm a little afraid. It sounds just like my kind of book, but I've heard a few meh reviews from bloggers I trust. I trust you too though, so now I'm torn! I think I'm going to give it a try and see for myself.

Thanks for these mini reviews. BTW, that picture you chose of the tiny book is adorable!

Kat said...

Mini-reviews are a good idea, Nic! Sometimes I occasionally find myself struggling to find something unique to say, especially if the book has already been reviewed by a lot of other bloggers.

Disappointed to hear the Iron Witch was just 'ok'-- I bought that one a week ago, but I'll give it a shot anyway. Love Graceling-- glad you did, too. :)

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