First of her Name

My LJ can vote and buy lotto tickets now!
Having just turned eighteen on November 17th... and never renamed.
If you aren't sure if you know of me or not, name's Melissa, I'm from NY, I went to college near Canada, my sports teams are the Braves, NY Giants and Canadiens. I watch Professional Wrestling, and both Olympics. My main hobby right now is reading. I am trying to finish up re-writing my memoir of the car accident I was not responsible for that almost took my life and led to me rehabbing for almost 5 years now. And my username is from when I was 13 and took pieces of the Pets I had at the time that are all gone now and took a piece of my heart with them, plus the 34 which I have an OCD obsession with.

Striking out for- Sorry Tig we're not in Kansas (LJ) anymore.




I supported my Khaleesi to the very end, even when she went bat shit and burns Westeros to the ground. ♥
Come on now it's been almost two years. If you haven't seen it you're not going to. Spoiler I didn't hate it like everyone else did. I found peace in the Queen in the North at least. However if GRRM could get writing, that would be Wonderful!



I realized I no longer had a Friends Only page anymore. Fixing that with this post. **Disclaimer current friends need not worry this is only me adding this for others to see and comment on that are not granted access to my F.O. posts.
For awhile I was dilly-dallying with some Public Posts. I am no longer that Brave (2021 World Series Champions!!) besides my book reviews.

My name may seem familiar to you. We might've been friends on LJ at one point or another. There are a handful of people here I will never offer a second chance to that have harmed me mentally way too much- however, I can accept the fact that we've all grown in time and forgiveness and second chances are a part of that growth & learning. I am willing, if you are to take another chance at some friendships. I have been doing a lot of work on myself the past five years. The first four were all physical, now is the deep mental stuff, if you are game for it I might be too (unless you're on Arya's list.)

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


My first 5 star in quite awhile.

This book was SO GOOD.

It was definitely young adult with all the angst. I was totally okay with that. And I have two more books to see where all that leads. It is looking like she will end up with Jameson logically so Grayson is the answer. Her (Avery) bff Max needs to come to Hawthorne House to see what it is like. I hate that I take a break in-between books in a series because I want book 2 RIGHT NOW. However book three was literally just released this Tuesday.

There was a little too much focus on the dead girl for me. I normally take a star off for my dislikes yet I adored it so much that would only be half a star so 4.5 round it up to 5 again. That much in awe of it.

There weren't any other things I can complain about besides the boy's Mother Skye. Grayson takes care of her towards the end-ish. She could be back she might not. Same with Drake. Avery's sister Libby's hemorrhoid ex boyfriend trying to cash-in on Avery's good fortune. It isn't even Libby's and Avery has never been a fan of his.

It was a nice cleanse after the horrible book I read right before it. Would have read it a lot faster but I wanted it to last longer so I took my time. And it was SO WORTH IT. 100 % would recommend.




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A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians by H.G. Parry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What I thought I was going to read and what I actually read were two totally different books but I am not disappointed at all.
I am so fulfilled I cannot even express it! As I history person, as a reader. And I am even more excited there is a second book, plus it was left at a little bit of a cliffhanger so I knew there was another one coming. Plus on the spine it says 1.

So many characters. I was upset at one death. It had to happen but I was still very angry almost in tears really. I won't say who you have to read and see for yourself.

Yeah history, magic, vampires, slavery and abolition, revolution, royalty, government overthrow, so so many things going on. It was easy to keep pace with though as it switched back and forth which I normally complain about and lop stars off for. With this book though I won't as like I am stating it wasn't that tough.

I just wish in life outside of the reading I wasn't so exhausted and could have had a better concentration to truly enjoy it more than I did. I am raving about it this much yet I am struggling.

The only complaint I have is that the author did not pull a Steve Berry and give us a this really happened and this all I made up, based on the REAL TRUE historical figures she used. Obviously I know so and such was not a vampire and other was not a necromancer, but other small details would have been nice.

Still a very very good read. I found myself staying up past bedtime reading it. Just wish I could have fought my exhaustion to enjoy it even more.



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Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I liked how this series wrapped up.

BUT I want more.
Thankfully I see that there is a new series including some characters from this one. Last book comes out in May in paperback though so I have to spread it out a little bit if I CAN.

I have one loose end that I am hoping happens that is a tiny spoiler but meh. I read through this so fast I wonder if I missed small things I had to know what happened. The writing had me going right on through.

I love Layla best. In some aspect she reminds me of myself. I think that always binds me to a character when I see qualities of me in them? But then other things I do not relate to at all.
I don't know if I'd chosen who she did, no wait actually I think I would have as well. HOT.
So many things happened I did not expect so that made it interesting to me. I am such a sucker for YA books though.

Really though about Morris??

Alls well that ends well in one other part. I hate being so vague. I am happy with most of it I think I already said.



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Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


What.a.tease.

And a total lead in to the third book of course.

Character development was first class.
I'm torn as Layla is between Zayne and Roth.

Like Zayne's family is a NOPE. But Roth's entire being is also a NOPE. I guess book three might lead to who she winds up with? I don't know.

It was a longer book this time but I gobbled it all up anyways needed to know what was going on the entire time. Tell it to me! Some parts I wasn't too keen on, but I mean that is what you get for the type of beings in the book.

Not a 5 star due to the brutality of the beings being themselves. And ick. Almost killing my girl is a whole star lopping off for me.

I love the cover of this book however SO PRETTY!

Yes I am being vague in this review.
Better than the first book I suppose but continuing it as well so?? eh hard to tell really. Want to hop into the third but I don't do that, plus it's not here yet.



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White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Oh.the.angst.

This was a book I could not take with me to my Drs appointments.

My only complaint I guess was not being able to picture in my mind exactly what the characters looked like? I mean it isn't that terribly important however when they change into another form I'm sitting here going but what did they look like before that?

I will most definitely continue the series as I began this one to read the one she wrote after it as one of the characters will carry over into it I believe? I know I got this for some reason?

Screw you Petr.
Also never liked an Elijah in real life figures the one here is a creep too. Well except from Vampire Diaries- but that is more the actor that portrayed him.



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A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I love it when I think I know whodunit and I'm WRONG!

It was a breath of fresh air to have Armand the entire novel this time. I just love this guy!! Also he is not called in after the murder, he was actually there when it happened. The culprit had the audacity to commit murder with the Chief Inspector of Homicide on the premises.

There was a lot more Reine-Marie this time too. I adore the two of them together.

No Agent Nichol though I love the darkness she brings to the other agents.

It was nice to have some background into Peter Marrow's family as messed up as they all are. He needs a break now though. To go home to Three Pines and chill for a bit. Paint something up and relax.

All in all these books are getting better as they go along. I am enjoying this journey. Still pacing myself though. I feel like I read somewhere that she based Armand a lot on her own husband possibly or maybe I am making this up. Either way I really like these. There is humor in them too I find myself giggling at the weirdest places.



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Master of Poisons by Andrea Hairston




This was one of the most difficult books I have ever read.

I did enjoy it, however I also thought it was way too long and wished certain things sped up. I did not realize how time was passing during the journey.

I could connect with some of the characters and I understood who most of them were.
Deep down I am hoping that Awa's Bal and Djola's Bal were one in the same. As somewhat SPOILER we never really find out what happened to Djola's.

Some of the repeating words through out the entire thing were irritating the ever loving piss out of me but maybe that is just how the writer does things I haven't read anything else of her's.

I'm willing to admit my struggle, but me struggling has nothing to do with the book itself I suppose. I just picked something way out of line of what I normally read. I did like it, what I understood of it.

Kyrie got a lot of the storyline but I wish I'd had more backstory about her, she was the most enchanting character to me. Yeah yeah I know saying it was too long but I want more on just this one character.

Not sure if I would recommend it to others however when I don't even think I would have recommended it for myself. Not even sure how I picked it up to be honest.

I do believe in magic though. And it had a lot of that.



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The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I have read this book twice this year. THAT AMAZING. It fit into my meme requirement "A book recommended by a friend" then I modified the meaning for the last one "favorite book" like honestly for an avid reader like myself I'm not sure if I have a very favorite book- there are so many I love for very different reasons. That being said- this is my Favorite book, I read this year, from this meme. BOOM. Done. Also I hadn't reviewed it properly at all at the time and was forgetting minor details so it needed a re-read anyways. Double done. Now- to properly review it without being a blubbering mess over it for the third time. *takes a deep breath*

Linus Baker lives alone with his cat. He works for DICOMY in a row of desks where no one knows him and only would get excited were he to earn demerits or get sacked. He constantly forgets his umbrella when it rains all the time. The bus is always late and he lives his life by following the RULES AND REGULATIONS. Honestly if I ever met him I'd be like YO POINTDEXTER LIVE A LITTLE GEEZ LOUISE. **Also one very important detail that will come back later he has a mousepad that is of a beach with the ocean that has a quote :"Don't You Wish You Were Here?" (need to remember this)

One day he gets called up to EXTREMELY UPPER MANAGEMENT (I laughed at that title) and put on a job? a mission? what they call a mandatory promotion because Linus has no choice in the matter he's going whether he wants to or not all his anal retentiveness in his reports has made him the perfect candidate for the job. For a month to go to an orphanage that is highly classified, mind you DICOMY itself stands for Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He is told very little about what he will find there. Just to not be late for the train, and be careful. All he knows is that the Master's name is Mr. Parnassus mainly, and that EUM is very interested in what he will find there. Also he will be given files and to not open them until he gets off the train.

We find out whilst on the train that Linus has never seen the Ocean before!!

Yeah I need to hustle this up I am getting super wordy but I LOVED THIS BOOK SO DAMN MUCH I CANNOT HELP IT. And I want you to love it too. I read some people's reviews on here and just laughed. Imagine getting so plussed about a book that you go and drag links onto it... from real life situations. Like really? It's a WORK OF FICTION. From the spiders in this Author's BRAIN. I read to escape the real world and all it's confines. Not to get offended and charged up and dragging down his ratings because I have a bug up my arse.

So... when Linus got there he had only read the one file and didn't know what else to expect. I will leave the rest up to you to find out too!!

I cried SO HARDCORE when his month was up. He is asked to stay. And he chooses to LEAVE. Like are you for real right now. So upset. Tears streaming down my face. Throat so tight I could barely breathe.

Don't you wish you were here?

Again. You just have to read it to see what happens.
You will not be disappointed.
Such a fluffy cloud of queer joy and acceptance of differences and a lesson for tightwads. People are different get the fuck over it.

Helen is a good advocate for persons I mentioned above with the links. She will empty out your trust funds SMYTHE! And donate it all to charity.

So yeah I have had a full nights sleep. I knew what was going to happen second read and still lost my shit. I am totally okay with it too. It was worth it tenfold. Favorite book of the meme. And maybe that I read this year too. So amazing. Lost for words even though I have written a ton here.

Each of the six kids had their own spunk to them. It's hard to tell you which I enjoyed the most. However Arthur and his secret that came out- I think that was my most favorite!!
READ. IT.







Leaving the text from my two previous reviews that I had right after finishing:

it'll get a Christmas day review for read number two, spent. Even knowing what happens still cried like a blubbering fool.

Still feeling all ooey gooey inside I will come back and review this later xo



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