A Shadow of Night

The sequel to a Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night was a great read! I neglected my laundry and house in general but gobbled it up in one day. The historical parts of this novel were fascinating (nothing like historical fiction to make you grateful!) although I did think their relationship a little different in this book. I loved the ending and really can't wait for the third book. I almost went to this book signing (before nasty early pregnancy nausea got in the way) but will make a point to go for the third book- I hear she is amazing in person and can't wait. 

See more about the All Souls Trilogy here.

Favorite quotes:

"All children need is love, a grown-up to take responsibility for them, and a soft place to land."

"We women own nothing absolutely, save what lies between our ears. Our virtues belongs first to our father and then to our husband. we dedicate our duty to our family. As soon as we share our thoughts with another, put pen to paper or thread a needle, all that we do and make belong to someone else. So long as she has words and ideas, Annie will always possess something that is hers alone."

"One should fine wholeness in marriage... but it should not be a prison for either party."

"Nightmares are like Master Harriot's star glass. They are a trick of the light, one that makes something distant seem closer and larger than it really is." "Oh." Jack considered Matthew's response. "So even if I see a monster in my dreams, it cannot reach me?" Matthew nodded. "But I will tell you a secret. A dream is a nightmare in reverse. If you dream of someone you love, that person will seem closer, even if far away."

Discovery of Witches

The first in the All Souls Trilogy, A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness is another book recommended by the Phenomenally Decisive Book Club. Although I'd checked it out before and never made it past the first little bit, Jules' recommendations haven't let me down so I decided to forge ahead. I ended up LOVING this book and agreed with the comparison to a 'grown up Harry Potter and Twilight'. Similar in the 'lore', witches, vampires and daemons mingle with humans.

Diana Bishop comes from a long line of witches but tries to deny her power until the supernatural world ends up coming to her. Armed with a great vampire, she learns about her true history, family, and priorities in a fight for her life. This book was very smart and well written and researched (the author is a professor). The historical, cultural and scientific references were even entertaining to my husband and we both really liked this book. I always think the supernatural rules and worlds are fascinating. In this 'world', vampires can eat food (but have diets more like wolves), supernatural creatures aren't allowed to mingle or mix races (making a vampire-witch relationship tricky!), and witches have varying gifts that were really interesting. This was a really great read and I can't wait for the last one now (dang sequels!)

Favorite quote:
"Somewhere in the center of my soul, a rusty chain began to unwind. It freed itself, link by link, from where it had rested unobserved, waiting for him. My hands, which had been balled up and pressed against his chest, unfurled with it. The chain continued to drop, to an unfathomable depth where there was nothing but darkness and Matthew. At last it snapped to its full length, anchoring me to a vampire.

The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon

Of all the Lord John books, this is the one I was dying to read! When I first met Diana Gabaldon she was getting ready to tour for this book so I heard a lot about it then. Of course, I hadn't read any Outlander yet so I didn't know what a can of worms I'd just opened! But this book did not disappoint. Lord John is forced to put personal conflicts aside and work with Jamie to help a friend and prevent some serious political problems. Because the Lord John books take place during the 3rd Outlander book, I 'knew' how Jamie and Lord John would end up eventually but seeing the process was fascinating. There were some really great discussions in this book that left a big impression on me. Although I never agree with the morality of all the characters in these books, they always leave me searching and thinking, grateful for my life and my family and hoping to be and do better each day.

Favorite quotes from the Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon:

"He could feel the child's imagined weight on his shoulders, warm and heavy, smelling faintly of wee and strawberry jam. There were some chains you worse because you wanted to."

" 'No matter how much a man may try to do what is right, the outcome may not be the one that he either foresees or desires. And that's grounds for regret- sometimes verra great regret,' he added more softly, 'but not for everlasting guilt. For it is there we must throw ourselves on God's mercy and hope to receive it.' " So so true!

Magic Study by Maria Snyder

The sequel to Poison Study, Magic Study by Maria Snyder is every bit as fascinating. I knew things wouldn't be easy for Yelena but was cheering her along and hoping things would work out the whole time. Reading about a new 'country' and culture was fascinating and the ending left my satisfied but excited to read the final book in the trilogy (hurry up library hold list!)

Poison Study by Maria Snyder

I heard about this book on a blog and put it on hold a while back. Once I started reading it I finished the same day because I couldn't put it down! Poison Study is about a young woman named Yelena who is condemned to die but spared in return for becoming the food tester for the 'king'. With recent political unrest, varying factions, no family and no friends to call her own, Yelena struggles and grows as she learns to survive. I couldn't wait to see how the story would resolve and to solve the big mystery- why did Yelena kill someone in the first place and how is she going to come to terms with her life? Between the setting of the story, the relationships, the elements of her past, the food, the physical and mental growth she experiences, I was really entertained and impressed. I loved this book and would recommend it as a coming of age and growing up despite hard times story over the silly Hunger Games any day.

Lord of the Rings- Fellowship of the Ring

For Christmas my husband asked that I read the Lord of the Rings books. It was free (minus 50 hours or whatever my mom pointed out) and he really wanted to so I said yes. The, a couple days after I cracked open the first book I dusted off a book I'd picked up at a book signing a few months ago. It was shiny and red and sounded interesting though I didn't know much about it. Three weeks and thousands and thousands of pages later I'd read the entire Outlander series and the Fellowship was gathering dust. I finally finished it last week (helped out a by the proximity of my new Kindle) and I have to say I did enjoy it. It was a little rough getting into but the story of good and evil is always relevant. Tolkien was obviously an incredible writer and it's not hard to get lost in his world, imaginative and vast yet strikingly similar to our own.

A few impressive quotes-

"Such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere." -Elrond

I'm sure this could apply to a million things but to me of course motherhood comes to mind.

"'I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo.
'So do I,' said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.'"

I'm a little bit into the second book (seamless transitional on the Kindle, it's pretty great). Hopefully I'll finish before another Outlander book comes out, haha!)