Sadie by Courtney Summers

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A missing girl on a journey of revenge. A Serial―like podcast following the clues she's left behind. And an ending you won't be able to stop talking about.

Sadie hasn't had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she's been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water.

But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie's entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring her sister's killer to justice and hits the road following a few meager clues to find him.

When West McCray―a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America―overhears Sadie's story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie's journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it's too late.

Courtney Summers has written the breakout book of her career. Sadie is propulsive and harrowing and will keep you riveted until the last page.


I was hesitant to read Sadie for two reasons. One, there was a ton of hype surrounding the book and when that happens I want to turn away from what is popular and read something less known or that I haven't heard about before. The second reason I wasn't sure that I wanted to attempt to read Sadie was because while I have enjoyed Courtney Summer's writing in the past I haven't loved it. After I thought about it I set it aside and went on to read other novels. 

Then I came across a review of the book where the reviewer said that the audio book of Sadie was amazing because it can be read like a podcast and that there is a cast of characters. I've realized that in order for me to be interested in an audio book it either has to be a memoir or have a certain style not unlike World War Z that reads like a documentary that has a cast of characters. The reviewer gave it such a glowing review that I thought "why not?". 

I am so upset with myself that I almost didn't read this book! Sadie has got to be my favorite book of 2019 thus far!! I gravitated towards Sadie right away. I was drawn into her life filled with pain and loss. She is driven by revenge for herself and for her sister. It is easy to see why she keeps going on the path that her journey takes her on no matter how dangerous or arduous it is. Her life revolved around her sister and gave her a purpose she might not have had otherwise. My heart broke for her so many times and I wanted someone to hear her....to save her. 

West McCray added another level to this gut-wrenching novel by hvaing even more tension. My heart raced faster and faster as the end of the book drew near and I believe it was because throughout the book West is chasing after Sadie trying to understand what motivated her to leave. It is easy to see that in the beginning he may not have been very invested in Sadie's story but by the end he has this drive to find her and save her from herself and others. West's portions of the book revealed other characters points of view and and the versions of Sadie that they each got to behold which I found fascinating. 

The voice acting in this audio book was superb! The woman who voiced Sadie was amazing with the way that she made the stutter sound so authentic. I could almost hear the desperation in her voice to want to physically force the words from her mind and out of her mouth. I appreciated the others who contributed to the book especially the man who voiced West but the voice of Sadie stole the show for me. 

I feel like I can't end this review without talking about that ending! As I neared the end of the book I became extremely nervous. My emotions had been on high alert the whole way through from anger to sobbing and I knew that this book was not going to have a simple ending to it. I kept telling myself that there better be a happy ending or I was going to be really upset with the author. I know that some people are saying that they despised the ending and gave the book a lower rating because of it. That is where I have to disagree with them. While it wasn't the ending that I had in mind and I have a major book hangover from reading the book, I have to say that the ending was appropriate. I thought about the book in its entirety, Sadie's journey both physically and emotionally, and where I think she might have expected to end up for a while after finishing the book. I came to the conclusion that with all that I learned about Sadie from reading and what others saw in her that the ending of the book was fitting. I'm not saying that I love it but it makes sense. 

I HIGHLY recommend this book but if you are planning to read it not only would I recommend the audio book as it is amazing but also be prepared to have an intense emotional reaction. (In other words bring tissues)

Author Event: Soman Chainani

I have been a fan of Soman Chainani since I stumbled upon the first book in his series The School For Good and Evil. I have a habit of looking into the library for sale section to see if I can find anything good to buy for a really good deal. I had found The School For Good and Evil for $1.50 and thought that it looked interesting so I thought why not. I didn't go into with high hopes because I haven't had a ton of luck with middle grade books. I was eating my words after I finished the book because it was amazing. 
Soman takes the idea of fairy tales and flips them in such a way that the reader gets to decide who is the hero and who is the villain. It is not so cut and dry as it is in other books. 
I really enjoyed the question and answer portion of his author event because I found him to be charming and very funny. (Side Note: I tend to love authors personalities because they tend to be more introverted and socially awkward like me. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one 😅)
He told the story of how he came up with the concept for School For Good and Evil series which I found funny. He said that when he was young he grew up on Disney movies but he found that he always rooted for the villain rather than the hero/heroine making him seem weird to other children. He spoke about how, if you think about it, Ariel (The Little Mermaid) loved a person that she had never spoken to, was a traitor for speaking to her father's enemy, and gave up her voice for a man. His point of view was both refreshing and hilarious because it made me think. I've never been a huge fan of The Little Mermaid anyway but he made some solid points. She is not a particularly good example of a heroine. She is selfish and has little regard for her family and friends and how they feel. 
I have the review for The School For Good and Evil up on my blog if you would like to know more about the book and my thoughts. I have included the links for Goodreads, Amazon, and Soman's website below if you want more information about him or his books. 

Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42080479-the-school-for-good-and-evil?ac=1&from_search=true 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/School-Good-Evil-Soman Chainani/dp/006210490X/ref=sr_1_3?crid=QHQNYJWV31CZ&keywords=school+for+good+and+evil&qid=1553471532&s=gateway&sprefix=school+for+%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-3

Soman's website: http://www.somanchainani.net/

The Poppy War (The Poppy War #1) by R.F. Kuang

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When Rin aced the Keju, the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies, it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard, the most elite military school in Nikan, was even more surprising.

But surprises aren’t always good.

Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.

For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The militarily advanced Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most of the people are complacent to go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away . . .

Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity . . . and that it may already be too late. 

I've heard amazing things about The Poppy War and since I have been trying to read more adult fantasy novels I thought that I would give The Poppy War a try. 
Let me just begin by saying that I thought that the world building was amazing not only in the beginning when readers learn about where Rin comes from but also when the book enters the world of Sinegard and beyond. It was interesting to witness the contrast between Rin's poor, downtrodden society and the rich, fast paced world of Sinegard. Readers get to experience the prejudice first hand through Rin's experience while at Sinegard. I thought that the way that the information is given out was both well paced but also done in such a way that the reader is not overwhelmed or confused by what is happening in the book. 

I thought that the trials during Rin's first year of schooling are interesting and it almost reminded me of Divergent or The Testing. The lengths that all of the students including Rin were willing to go to to receive a bid from one of the professors added a certain level of desperation that made them all seem similar regardless of each of their backgrounds. Rin's schooling was interesting particularly that of her time learning from Jiang but I felt that the pacing of the book took a hit because I felt that it slowed down somewhat. 

With what we learn about Rin and her background, I was surprised by the directions that the author had her take within the story. I have to say that I'm not sure that I particularly liked the choices that she makes at times because they didn't make sense with what the author tells us about her towards the beginning of the book. There were times when I wanted to shake her and yell at her that she was being so stupid. 

My only other issue with the book was the disconnectedness of the parts of the book. It is split into different sections, the first being Rin's journey to reach Sinegard, the trials, and so forth. At first, the was a flow to the sections one into the other but then that seemed to change and I felt that I needed to take a minute to reorient myself to where the book currently was at in the story. Admittedly, I did end up putting down the book more than once I reading something else due to frustration with the main character and the disconnectedness. I'm not sure that I loved the way that things progressed. However, with there being a sequel I can understand why the author wanted to take things in certain directions to have some sort of conflict not only within characters but outside of them to work with for the sequel. 

Night (The Night Trilogy #1) by Elie Wiesel

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Born in the town of Sighet, Transylvania, Elie Wiesel was a teenager when he and his family were taken from their home in 1944 to Auschwitz concentration camp, and then to Buchenwald. Night is the terrifying record of Elie Wiesel's memories of the death of his family, the death of his own innocence, and his despair as a deeply observant Jew confronting the absolute evil of man. This new translation by his wife and most frequent translator, Marion Wiesel, corrects important details and presents the most accurate rendering in English of Elie Wiesel's testimony to what happened in the camps and of his unforgettable message that this horror must never be allowed to happen again.

This is an extremely somber story about a boy and his father struggling to survive in a world that is now made up of people in their immediate vicinity who have nothing but hate for them. It was hard to read Elie's story at times because of all of the suffering and pain. People were dying and others were giving up because they found that they no longer had the strength to endure any more hardship.  
It is an incredibly difficult journey to read about. My only issue was towards the end due to what I felt was a rushed ending. I realize that there is a sequel that continues Elie's story so that may be why I felt that way. Either way it was still an well written book about one man's journey during the Holocaust. 

Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children #1) by Seanan McGuire

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Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children
No Solicitations
No Visitors
No Quests

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.

But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.

No matter the cost.

I absolutely love it when authors take fairy tales and spin them! It is so interesting when authors are able to take a classic story and flip it so that it is completely different but still has elements of familiarity to it. 

Sean McGuire proved to be up the the task of writing a book that does just that. I thought that the idea of a rehab or treatment center of sorts for people that have been to fairy tale worlds and have some back was genius. It wasn't something that I have read or even heard of before. It was refreshingly unique to be introduced to a world like this. It was a bit confusing at the start of the book to understand nonsense vs. logic worlds etc. but I enjoyed the distinctness of it. 

I loved all of the characters but I found myself drawn more to the secondary characters. I wanted to know more about Kade because readers don't really get to know much about him or his life before coming to live at the home for wayward children. He intrigued me but more than anything I found myself drawn towards Jack and Jill the most. They were such strange and unusual characters. I thought that the twists and turns the author implemented to their original story were inspired. I LOVED it! I'm so excited that they will get their own book because I just want more of them!

If you are looking for a shorter read (about 168 pages) that will excite and make you think about gender issues than this book is the one for you. 

American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle

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From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history. The Pentagon has officially confirmed more than 150 of Kyle's kills (the previous American record was 109), but it has declined to verify the astonishing total number for this book. Iraqi insurgents feared Kyle so much they named him al-Shaitan (“the devil”) and placed a bounty on his head. Kyle earned legendary status among his fellow SEALs, Marines, and U.S. Army soldiers, whom he protected with deadly accuracy from rooftops and stealth positions. Gripping and unforgettable, Kyle’s masterful account of his extraordinary battlefield experiences ranks as one of the great war memoirs of all time.

A native Texan who learned to shoot on childhood hunting trips with his father, Kyle was a champion saddle-bronc rider prior to joining the Navy. After 9/11, he was thrust onto the front lines of the War on Terror, and soon found his calling as a world-class sniper who performed best under fire. He recorded a personal-record 2,100-yard kill shot outside Baghdad; in Fallujah, Kyle braved heavy fire to rescue a group of Marines trapped on a street; in Ramadi, he stared down insurgents with his pistol in close combat. Kyle talks honestly about the pain of war—of twice being shot and experiencing the tragic deaths of two close friends.

American Sniper also honors Kyles fellow warriors, who raised hell on and off the battlefield. And in moving first-person accounts throughout, Kyles wife, Taya, speaks openly about the strains of war on their marriage and children, as well as on Chris.

Adrenaline-charged and deeply personal, American Sniper is a thrilling eyewitness account of war that only one man could tell.

I had no idea that the book would go into so much detail about Chris's childhood and time in his life before the military. I thought that it was interesting to hear what life was like for him growing up. 

It was fascinating to learn more about life in the military and the struggles that they are forced to deal with on a daily basis. I know that many people refer to Chris as racist because of the way that he refers to certain groups of people in the book but I can see another side to it that I don't think that many people would understand. I don't have any SEALs in my family but I do have relatives that have served and I believe that it gives you a different outlook. They are essentially fighting for their lives  while watching their brothers die in front of them. It wouldn't surprise me if that turns into a us vs. them mentality. I'm not saying that racism is okay or that I approve of that in any way but I think that it is important to try to understand people from all walks of life so that we can empathize. 

At first, I was confused as to why his wife was narrating certain parts of the book but I quickly came to appreciate it. I enjoyed hearing her perspective because she  stayed at home and had to raise their children alone. She gave another level to the book because of her fear over if she would hear from her husband or get contacted by the military about his death. It was interesting to see the family that is left behind perspective and the emotions that they go through. 

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

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In an unforgettable love story, a woman’s impossible journey through the ages could change everything…

Anne Gallagher grew up enchanted by her grandfather’s stories of Ireland. Heartbroken at his death, she travels to his childhood home to spread his ashes. There, overcome with memories of the man she adored and consumed by a history she never knew, she is pulled into another time.

The Ireland of 1921, teetering on the edge of war, is a dangerous place in which to awaken. But there Anne finds herself, hurt, disoriented, and under the care of Dr. Thomas Smith, guardian to a young boy who is oddly familiar. Mistaken for the boy’s long-missing mother, Anne adopts her identity, convinced the woman’s disappearance is connected to her own.

As tensions rise, Thomas joins the struggle for Ireland’s independence and Anne is drawn into the conflict beside him. Caught between history and her heart, she must decide whether she’s willing to let go of the life she knew for a love she never thought she’d find. But in the end, is the choice actually hers to make? 

Amy Harmon does it again! How does she make me like historical fiction...especially historical romance! She is a writing wizard! I have to say that I loved From Sand and Ash but What the Wind Knows blew that out of the water for me!

I found the writing from start to finish to be so poetic and fluid. I was drawn into the story from the first sentence. Amy has always had that affect on me from the first book that I read of hers but it tends to be more powerful in her historical romances. It's almost as if she makes it easier for readers to feel her passion for history or things that she loves in general. It was plain to see that Irish history is something close to her heart with the way that she writes about the country and pieces of its history and people. 

I fell in love with the characters and their family and friends. Amy has a way of creating characters that have such beautiful souls that reach out and touch the hearts of readers. Thomas was so passionate about his home and fighting for what he believed in that I wanted to join the cause with him. He genuinely cared about others and helping them to be the best versions of themselves. Anne was a dreamer with a love of storytelling and family history. When these characters come together in the story they create magic and a realistic love that will have readers swooning. 

The only complaint that I have about the book is the ending. It seemed too tidy and wrapped up to me. It took some of the realism away from the story for me. However, that being said, it wasn't enough for me to give this book anything less than five stars. Way to go Amy!!!