Mini Panda's Book Reviews

#(Late)Read-O-Rama TBR June 11th 12:00 am - June 17th 12:00 am This is a complete last minute thrown together TBR for #Read-O-Rama. I figured I had a lot of free time this week and it would be a great time to get some reading down. Challenges: Read a book with RAMA in the title and/or author's name Read a book with water on the cover Read a short book (150 pages or less) Read a graphic novel Read a book you've been anticipating Read an own voices novel Read a book released in summer of any year Read 7 books My TBR: Long Way Home  by Katie McGarry A Court of Wings and Ruin  by Sarah J. Maas  The Seafarer's Kiss  by Julia Ember Saga Volume 2  by Brian K. Vaughan The Hate You Give  by Angie Thomas  There Are Monsters Here  by Cameron Chase Bonus: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban  by J.K. Rowling Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire  by J.K. Rowling

#BookBuddyathon Wrap Up May 6th 12:00 am - May 12th 11:59 pm So....I'm so absolutely terrible. I was gonna wait until Monday (May 15) because of Mother's day and my birthday took up the weekend but then I completely spaced it and now it's the weekend away. Well here is my wrap up. My book buddy was  @terrigriffiths_ and she was fantastic to talk to during the week. It was great getting to know her. We talked about books and life. It was really nice. I hope we can do it again sometime. Maybe next time it will go a bit better with the Buddy Read..... Challenges: Buddy read a book Read a book that's your buddy's favorite color Grey Read a book that's title starts with your book buddy's name Terri (T) Choose three books and have your book buddy pick one A List of Cages by Robin Roe Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo Read a book you want to read Buddy read a book: The Devil in the W...

Review: Heir of Fire  by Sarah J. Maas Format (That I Read It): Book Summary: Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak―but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life―and her future―forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed? Initial Thoughts: It's #TOMETOPPLE time again and while this book was on my TBR I wasn't really planning on reading it. I thought for sure that I would either The Name of the Wind by Patrick Ness or American Gods by Neil Gaiman. I thought and felt the need to read a Sarah J. Maas. I haven't read one since last November/December. Review: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ~Spoilers  Below~ I quite enjoyed myself while r...

Review: Everything, Everything  by Nicola Yoon Format (That I Read It): Book Summary: Madeline Whittier is allergic to the outside world. So allergic, in fact, that she has never left the house in all of her seventeen years. But when Olly moves in next door and wants to talk to Maddie, tiny holes start to appear in the protective bubble her mother has built around her. Olly writes his IM address on a piece of paper, shows it at her window, and suddenly, a door opens. But does Maddie dare to step outside her comfort zone? Initial Thoughts: To be completely honest with you I wasn't really interested in reading this book. I knew that I would probably get to it eventually because I want to watch the movie but I also knew the longer I would wait I would eventually be spoiled. But that still didn't force it any higher on my TBR shelf. Then while in a reading slump I was randomly looking at the books at work, saw Everything, Everything and de...

My 2017 Reading Challenge I am already planning on doing    Around The Year in 52 Books Goodreads Challenge  which I have a post about pinned on the top of my blog already but I'm also gonna be doing another year long challenge. This one is called Diversity Bingo. The goal is to actually read a book that fits each box. So far I've read one book but I thought that this was a good idea especially with the situations and people in politics right now. But mainly because it's important to read widely and see from different perspectives. 

#TBRTakedown 5.0 Wrap Up (February 6th - February 12th) I actually read a book!! I did it finally! I finished two books actually and started another two during this readathon.  I'm really happy considering lately my streak with readathons hasn't been all that great. I am busy with work and finding time to read has been hard but I did it! TBR Challenges: A book that's been on your TBR Shelf Over a Year! A book from your most recent book haul. The first book in a series. Catch up in a series. An "out of your comfort zone" book. I completed 3/5 of the challenges and 1/4 of the books from my original TBR. But I also finished a book that wasn't on my TBR before that I felt like reading. Challenges Completed: A book that's been on your TBR Shelf for over a year and the first book in a series. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis  ★ ★ ★ I gave this book 3/5 stars. It was fine. I have watched the movie before (when it ...

Writing: Nanowrimo Try 2017 (A Super Late  Update  Sorry) So I started this year coming up with such a fantastic idea for a Nanowrimo story that I couldn't help start immediately writing down all my thoughts. I started a Pinterest board, a Spotify playlist, etc. I've been doing this since the first of the year (the first week). I feel more excited a ready to write this than I was for last years Nanowrimo. Then I decided I was gonna work on in all year and hopefully do own Nanowrimo next month (March). There are 31 days next month and I plan on writing 25,000 words which averages to about 807 words a day. There is a lot of research that needs to be done before I start writing. That is why I was saying that I hope to do my own Nanowrimo but I'm not sure if I can finish my research before then. It's gonna be in the fantasy genre and I need to flesh stuff out before I can move forward. I never updated what happened to my other story but I didn't finish it. I...

#TBRTakedown 5.0 February 6th (12:00 am) - February 12th (11:59 pm) I've taken part of the last few TBRTakedown's so this one is no different. I'm gonna do the TBRTakedown 5.0 Challenge. It is hosted by  @leaninglights  as always. I'm really excited to participate. I haven't finished a book this year yet and I'm ready to finish one already.  TBR Challenges: A book that's been on your TBR Shelf Over a Year! A book from your most recent book haul. The first book in a series. Catch up in a series. An "out of your comfort zone" book.

Try A Chapter Tag Source Scarlet by Marissa Meyer I really liked the first chapter of this one. It was a little confusing because it has been a while since I read Cinder and I think if I choose this one I have review what Cinder was. I need to remember the small details I forgot. American Gods by Neil Gaiman This book really peaked my interest. That is especially surprising considering I wasn't exactly sure what the plot was. By the end of the first chapter I was already sure that this was the book I was going to read out of all.  Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo It didn't really read this one. It was one of the last books and I read and I already made up my mind of what I wanted to read so I didn't need to continue.  Night Film by Marisha Pessl This book chapter was really short. I mean it had a prologue and pictures before it but I just wasn't in the mood for this book right now.  Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas ...

#CramathonWinter 2016  Wrap Up (December 16th 12:00 am - December 23rd 11:59 pm)  So it's been a crazy busy week since #Cramathon ended between work, Christmas and health problems it's been very crazy. I totally spaced my wrap up but here we go! Challenges: Read a book under 200 pages Read 2 books in 24 hours Read a book set in a different country than where you live Read a book you'be been putting off/have been meaning to read forever. Read a book with pictures Read a graphic novel Read 7 books total Read a book with pictures You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day: I didn't finish this book but I got about half way. I love Felicia Day. She is so funny and quirky and absolutely loved her as Charlie in the TV show Supernatural so when I saw her memoir I had to pick it up and read it! Read a book under 200 pages Read 2 books in 24 hours Read a book set in a different country than where you live E...

#CramathonWinter 2016  TBR (December 16th 12:00am - December 23rd 11:59pm)  I am really, REALLY behind in my Goodreads goal so I knew that I was going to have to participate in Cramathon this year. I have a loose TBR set up but I'm hoping to read as many books as I can.   Challenges: Read a book under 200 pages Read 2 books in 24 hours Read a book set in a different country than where you live Read a book you'be been putting off/have been meaning to read forever. Read a book with pictures Read a graphic novel Read 7 books total

Review: A Court of Mist and Fury  by Sarah J. Maas Format (That I Read It): Book Summary: Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people. Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two. With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights. Initial Thoughts: After I read A Court of...