Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan

I read the advance reader's copy of Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan, which is the first novel in the 'Something Dark and Holy' trilogy. This is a young adult novel that falls into the dark fantasy genre.

I received my copy of Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan for FREE through the Goodreads Giveaway program. 

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan.

I had HIGH HOPES for Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan based on the fact that the likes of well known authors such as, Robin LaFevers, Stephanie Garber, and Rosamund Hodge, gave glowing remarks for this novel. Additionally, the storyline sounded excellent and engaging. So with that in mind, how could I resist reading Wicked Saints?

Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan started out engaging enough and looked like a promising read. I enjoyed the premise of this novel, but the execution wasn't great. The characters and plot fell flat, especially towards the end of Wicked Saints. Not much dimension either for the characters or the plot. 

Occasionally, the storyline wasn't very clear... And at times, I felt like the storyline was repetitious. Like how many times can the main character, Nadya, express distrust for Malachiasz, among other things? After a while, I didn't care about the plot, the story, or the characters and simply wanted to finish reading Wicked Saints. Ugh!! 

Needless to say, I will not read any of the other novels in the 'Something Dark and Holy' trilogy by Emily A. Duncan.

Below is the publisher's summary for Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan from Amazon:

A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.

A prince in danger must decide who to trust.

A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings.

Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.

In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy.

I am giving Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan a rating of 1 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and What We Can Do About It by Kate Harding

 

Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and What We Can Do About It by Kate Harding is another book that has been on my reading wishlist for quite a while. I'm glad I finally listened to the unabridged audio version of this nonfiction book about the topic of rape/sexual assault and 'rape culture'.

Rape is one of the most under reported violent crimes, if not the most under reported violent crime. Even if the crime of rape is reported, the number of cases that eventually make it to trial are slim. Slimmer still is an actual felony conviction of the perpetrator.

I've read at least one other nonfiction book (Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer) about the topic of rape/sexual assault and other online statistics about rape/sexual assault itself and the information isn't pretty. The fact that most sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows, that most perpetrators of sexual assaults are often repeat offenders, and women between the ages of 12-34 make up the largest demographic of sexual assault victims is truly disturbing.

When I came across Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and What We Can Do About It by Kate Harding, I knew I wanted to read this book. I want to feel empowered as a woman and learn what I can do about the alarming rise of 'rape culture'.

I enjoyed learning more about the topic of 'rape culture' from Kate Harding's book, even if it is a difficult topic to read about due to the  violent nature of sexual assaults and the fact that so many perpetrators go unpunished for their crimes. 

Harding's writing is excellent and her writing style is straight forward and no nonsense. Each chapter in Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and What We Can Do About It is well organized and very written.

Despite the difficult subject matter of 'rape culture', I thoroughly enjoyed listening Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and What We Can Do About It by Kate Harding. I do hope someday in the not so distant future 'rape culture' will be a thing of the past.

Kate Harding points out in the last chapter of her book the forward progress made in ending 'rape culture'. We still have a long way to go in ending 'rape culture'. Harding offers several resources available for survivors of sexual assault throughout her book, especially in the last chapter. 

Much of the sexual assault resources Kate Harding shares in the last chapter are largely geared towards college students and a younger demographic in general... I can understand why much of the information shared in the last chapter was centered on those in a younger age range/demographic. College campuses and younger people make up the highest demographic of those that are sexually assaulted. In fact, RAINN reports that "Women Ages 18-24 Are at an Elevated Risk of Sexual Violence" (3x-4x higher than other age groups). Additionally, Kate Harding, herself, was a victim of sexual assault during her freshman year of college.

I'd like to emphasize that ,YES, there is something for everyone in the last chapter in terms of sexual assault resources and that's a wonderful thing. We can all gain new insight on how to end 'rape culture' and find resources for helping those that have been victims of sexual assault.

Listening time for Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and What We Can Do About It by Kate Harding is 8 hours, 55 minutes. Additionally, Erin Bennett narrated this book wonderfully,

Below is the publisher's summary for Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and What We Can Do About It by Kate Harding from Audible:

From Congressman Todd Akin's "legitimate rape" gaffe to the high school rapists of Steubenville, Ohio, to the furor at Vanderbilt, sexual violence has been so prominent in recent years that the feminist term "rape culture" has finally entered the mainstream. But what exactly is it? And how do we change it?

In Asking for It, Kate Harding answers those questions in the same blunt, no-nonsense voice that has made her a powerhouse feminist blogger. Combining in-depth research with practical knowledge, Asking for It makes the case that 21st-century America - where it's estimated that out of every 100 rapes only five result in felony convictions - supports rapists more effectively than victims. Harding offers ideas and suggestions for addressing how we as a culture can take rape much more seriously without compromising the rights of the accused.

I am giving Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and What We Can Do About It by Kate Harding a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my nest post, happy reading!!

Exposed (Edgars Family #5) by Suzanne Ferrell

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version Exposed (Edgars Family #5) by Suzanne Ferrell and narrated by Paul Boehmer. 

Listening time for Exposed (Edgars Family #5) by Suzanne Ferrell is 9 hours, 22 minutes.

Exposed (Edgars Family #5) by Suzanne Ferrell is my first read for the month of December 2021. I've been enjoying the 'Edgars Family' series quite a bit. I am glad I listened to the 5th novel in this series as it has been the best one so far in my opinion. 

If you like romantic suspense as a genre, then the 'Edgars Family' series may be the right series for you.

Below is the publisher's summary for Exposed (Edgars Family #5) by Suzanne Ferrell from Audible:

US Marshal Frank Castello is on medical leave and feeling restless. While at his friends' wedding, he finds himself attracted to Sydney Peele. Problem is, the cute, sassy blonde is the photographer for the wedding. Frank hates photographers. They're a hazard to his profession, especially when he's on witness protection duty.

Sydney Peele is intrigued by the grumpy Marshal at her friend's wedding, even when the big, sexy man begrudgingly offers to take her home afterwards. Her pleasure is short lived when her home and life is literally going up in flames. Her brother had been staying at her home, and there is no sign of him anywhere. When Sydney goes into a state of frozen shock, finely honed instinct has Castello rushing her from the scene to safety at his home.

A visit to the fire scene the next day confirms his suspicions, when the firemen on the site confirm it a case of arson. As Frank and Sydney search for answers about who might've started the blaze, questions arise about her brother, also a photographer. Was he responsible for the fire? Or has he exposed his sister to something far more sinister?

I am giving Exposed (Edgars Family #5) by Suzanne Ferrell a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Tunnels of Blood (Cirque du Freak #3) by Darren Shan

Tunnels of Blood (Cirque du Freak #3) by Darren Shan is the third installment of the 'Cirque du Freak' series, which is a young adult series featuring vampires and other nonhuman creatures living among human beings. I listened the unabridged audio version of this novel, which is wonderfully narrated by Ralph Lister.

Listening time for Tunnels of Blood (Cirque du Freak #3) by Darren Shan is 4 hours, 45 minutes.

I've enjoyed the first three novels in the 'Cirque du Freak' series quite a bit. Tunnels of Blood (Cirque du Freak #3) by Darren Shan is also a good read. I liked the characters, the writing, and plot development throughout Tunnels of Blood (Cirque du Freak #3). As much as I enjoyed Tunnels of Blood (Cirque du Freak #3), I felt that it wasn't as good as the two previous novels in the series.

Below is the publisher's summary for Tunnels of Blood (Cirque du Freak #3) by Darren Shan from Audible:

Half-vampire Darren and his new friend are on the hunt for a monster in the third installment of New York Times best-selling Saga of Darren Shan series.

Darren, the vampire's assistant, gets a taste of the city when he leaves the Cirque du Freak with Evra the snake-boy and Mr. Crepsley. When corpses are discovered - corpses drained of blood - Darren and Evra are compelled to hunt down whatever foul creature is committing such horrendous acts. Meanwhile, beneath the streets, evil stalks Darren and Evra, and all clues point to Mr. Crepsley. Can they escape, or are they doomed to perish in the tunnels of blood?

I am giving Tunnels of Blood (Cirque du Freak #3) by Darren Shan a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Top Ten Tuesday - FREEBIE - My Ten Year Blogiversary Is Coming Up!!

 

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

My ten year blogiversary for Captivated Reader is coming up on January 1, 2022!! I can't believe I've been blogging this long... Time surely has flown by faster than expected. 

I remember what an ordeal it was to even get started with keepinga  book blog. I'd wanted to have a blog for a few years prior to starting Captivated Reader, but I wasn't sure what to blog about initially. All I knew at the time was that I wanted my blog to be about a specific topic/subject as I didn't want to have a blog that covered everything and the kitchen sink that left readers trying to figure out what the theme was for my blog. I also wanted to post frequently to my blog to keep readers coming back.

After some deliberation, I chose to blog about books and anything bookish related. I never expected to blog this long or enjoy blogging as much as I have the past decade.

Below I decided to share some of the books I've reviewed over the past decade... The following books reviewed and shared below are ones that had me saying or sharing a lot more about them in my reviews than I thought I would. 

Click on the links below to read my reviews of each book.

1. The Little Book of Lost Words: Collywobbles, Snollygosters, and 86 Other Surprisingly Useful Terms Worth Resurrecting by Joe Gillard

2. The Vegetarian by Han Kang

3. Asking For It by Louise O'Neill

4. Jackie as Editor: The Literary Life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis by Greg Lawrence

5. Tangerine by Christine Mangan

6. Dracula [Audible Edition] by Bram Stoker

7. Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers on The Decision Not To Have Kids by Meghan Daum (Editor)

8. Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

9. The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy

10. Room by Emma Donoghue

11. Quirky Berkeley by Tom Dalzell

Happy reading!!

Vanished (Edgars Family #4) by Suzanne Ferrell

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Vanished (Edgars Family #4) by Suzanne Ferrell and narrated by Paul Boehmer.

Vanished (Edgars Family #4) by Suzanne Ferrell was the 12th and final book I read during November 2021. I've enjoyed playing catch up on the Edgars Family series as they are fun, romantic suspense novels that keep one engaged from start to finish. 

I liked the characters and the plot for Vanished (Edgars Family #4) by Suzanne Ferrell. The main characters, Luke and Abigail, are fun and well developed. The writing is solid for this novel... And Paul Boehmer has been the narrator for this entire series thus far and does another great job narrating this novel.

Listening time for Vanished (Edgars Family #4) by Suzanne Ferrell is 8 hours, 44 minutes.

Below is the publisher's summary for Vanished (Edgars Family #4) by Suzanne Ferrell from Audible:

The fourth book in the Edgars Family Romantic Suspense Series They had a history....

Five years earlier Luke Edgars and Abigail Whitson met at FLETC, the training center for government agents. It was instant dislike. She thought him an arrogant, showoff flirt, he thought it would be safer for everyone if she stayed behind her analyst's desk. She's in trouble....

Now Luke's world turns sideways when he finds Abby standing in the middle of a bloody crime scene and the victim has vanished. He needs to protect her....

Luke realizes that not only does Abby need his help to find her friend, but the friend has put Abby in the crosshairs of a dangerous group who will stop at nothing to hide their secrets.

I am giving Vanished (Edgars Family #4) by Suzanne Ferrell a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

Virtual Author Event - Darcie Wilde Discusses A Counterfeit Suitor - Hosted by Murder by the Book

 

I had fun watching the 'Darcie Wilde Discusses A Counterfeit Suitor' virtual author event, which aired live on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. This lovely virtual author event was hosted by Murder by the Book.

I first heard Darcie Wilde speak last year at a virtual author event hosted by Murder by the Book. At that time, Darcie Wilde was a new to me author and she had recently released the 4th novel in the 'Rosalind Thorne Mystery' series.

I was intrigued by the the 'Rosalind Thorne Mystery' series, so decided to listen to the first two audiobooks in the series earlier this year. I really enjoyed both books a lot and need continue listening to the rest of the novels in this series.

Have you attended any in person or virtual author events recently?

Virtual Author Event - Amanda Flower in Conversation with M.V. Byrne - Hosted by Murder by the Book!

 

I must admit that I have thoroughly enjoyed attending virtual author events since the pandemic started last year. In person events, have just been too dicey for me to consider at this time.

Murder by the Book, an independent bookstore in Texas, has hosted several fun and exciting virtual author events. 

Yesterday evening, I watched 'Amanda Flower in Conversation with M.V. Byrne' discuss their latest cozy mystery novels. Both authors are new to me. I enjoyed becoming acquainted with their books through this virtual author event.

Have attended any in person or virtual author events recently?

The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier

 

The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier was my favorite fictional read during the month of November! I'd been meaning to read something written by Tracy Chevalier for a few years now as many readers seem to love her novels... It was just up to me to decide on which one of her many novels to read first. 

I happened to discover the paperback edition of The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier at a Little Free Library a couple of years ago, so my decision was made for me on which one of Tracy Chevalier's books to read first.

The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier is so engaging and well paced! I loved the writing, the storyline, and the characters for this novel. Honor Bright, the main character, along with Belle Mills and Mrs. Reed were my favorite characters in this novel.

The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier is a multilayered novel. This historical fiction novel is set in the 1850s in Ohio. Honor Bright leaves England on a voyage with her sister, Grace, to the United States as Grace is to be married to her English fiance, Adam, who has moved to the United States. The voyage isn't a smooth one for Honor as she becomes seasick and remains seasick the entire voyage to America. Then Honor's sister, Grace, dies from yellow fever as the two sisters make their way to Ohio by land to meet up with Adam in Ohio. This leaves Honor adrift on her own in a foreign country by herself to make the rest of her way to Adam. 

Initially, I'd found it odd that Honor left her parents home (parents whom she loved) to go with her sister to America. However, we, as readers, learn that Honor was 'jilted' by her fiance, Samuel, for another woman outside their Quaker faith. Honor found this event difficult to deal with and to then also face those within her community over her loss. So, Honor ends up traveling overseas with her sister, Grace. Even after Grace passed away near the start of The Last Runaway, Honor decides to remain in America instead of returning to England to be with kin. I found myself wanting to know what would happen to Honor Bright and her future as she was now set adrift in an unknown land... And what a tale her story is!

Honor Bright is a Quaker and she lived within a Quaker community in England with her family. She then (of course) moves to another Quaker community near Oberlin, Ohio.

Honor loves to quilt and is admired for her sewing and quilting skills. As readers, we become familiar with Honor's thoughts, feelings, and the difficulties she experiences as she adjusts to her new life in America. Just how out of sorts Honor feels to be in a new country with strange people, but making the best of it as she goes along.

We also learn about the Quakers themselves and their beliefs. We read about slavery and its impact on America along with how divisive slavery is between the Northern states and the Southern states. The Underground Railroad is brought to life and the injustices of slavery itself. Honor is thrown into the mix as an outsider looking in and trying to make sense of the various points of view on slavery. She encounters those that are against slavery and are helping with the Underground Railroad efforts... Plus, we see those that are pro-slavery and hire slave catchers to catch runaway slaves attempting to flee to Canada.

All the while, Honor Bright has met up with her deceased sister's fiance, Adam, and it is an awkward initial meeting... Adam had no idea Honor was joining Grace on her voyage to America as he hadn't received Grace's letter stating Honor was coming with her. Honor goes to live with Adam and that becomes a difficult situation for a variety of reasons I won't spell out here.

Honor eventually meets Jack Haymaker through the Quaker church and marries him. He's a young man around the same age as Honor and is a dairy farmer living with his widowed mother and younger sister. Jack's mother doesn't take to Honor and makes life difficult for Honor. Honor helps the runaway slaves and this is one of the reasons Honor's mother-in-law takes a disliking to her.

Honor is forbidden to continue helping runaway slaves by her mother-in-law as it puts their lives at risk with a new law that had been recently enacted. The new law states that those that help runaway slaves may be fined for their actions, which means they could lose the family farm and their livelihood. This drives a wedge between Honor and her new family as Honor wants to help the runaway slaves flee to freedom. Slavery runs against her principles. 

These are but a few of the highlights from The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier. There are many more details to this novel that I have not covered in this review.

Below is the plot summary for The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier from Amazon:

New York Times best-selling author of Girl With a Pearl Earring and At the Edge of the Orchard, Tracy Chevalier makes her first fictional foray into the American past in The Last Runaway, bringing to life the Underground Railroad and illuminating the principles, passions, and realities that fueled this extraordinary freedom movement.

Honor Bright, a modest English Quaker, moves to Ohio in 1850 - only to find herself alienated and alone in a strange land. Sick from the moment she leaves England, and fleeing personal disappointment, she is forced by family tragedy to rely on strangers in a harsh, unfamiliar landscape. Nineteenth-century America is practical, precarious, and unsentimental, and scarred by the continuing injustice of slavery. In her new home Honor discovers that principles count for little, even within a religious community meant to be committed to human equality.

However, Honor is drawn into the clandestine activities of the Underground Railroad, a network helping runaway slaves escape to freedom, where she befriends two surprising women who embody the remarkable power of defiance. Eventually she must decide if she too can act on what she believes in, whatever the personal costs.

I am giving The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!