#TheReadingQuest - Final Results & Mini Reviews

Aentee @ Read At Midnight's brilliant reading challenge called #TheReadingQuest just wrapped up on Sunday, September 10th.  I didn't do quite as well as I had hoped, but I managed to complete 7 squares - four from the Knight's Quest and three side quests - and nearly 8 to finish my last book from my character's quest.  You can see my original TBR here and if you'd like to see my mini reviews on each title I completed, please read on:

Books Completed For The Knight's Quest:

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The First Book Of A Series (Also applies to the Mage's Quest) - The Iron Wyrm Affair (Bannon & Clare #1) by Lilith Saintcrow - I've had this steampunk alternate fantasy novel on my tbr for quite a while, plus I've had good luck with this author in the past.

That was a lot of fun! Think steampunk, alternate history, urban fantasy, and Sherlock Holmes, and you've got The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow. I have to continue this series!


I read this novel from August 19 - 24, 2017 and my review is also on Goodreads.

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A Book With A Verb in the Title - Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows #1) by Kim Harrison - I've heard so many great things about this urban fantasy series and I have no idea why I haven't already read it.

I've been meaning to start this series for ages, so I jumped at the chance to give it a shot for #TheReadingQuest - plus, a friend of mine has really been pushing me toward it. Anyways, now I'm really wondering why I hadn't read this series opener sooner! I loved the world of The Hollows and our cast of characters - Jenks especially. I couldn't but root for our witchy redhead Ohioan! I will definitely be continuing this series!


I read this novel from September 1 - 7, 2017 and my review is also on Goodreads.

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A Book With A Weapon on It's Cover - Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1) by Kerri Maniscalco - Again, I've seen so many great reviews for this novel that I have no clue why I haven't already picked it up.

Since this novel was released last year, I've had a copy sitting on my shelf - and for some reason I kept putting off which could have had something to do with all of the hype and fantastic reviews. Anyways, I shouldn't have worried because this debut was stunning. I thoroughly enjoyed Kerri Maniscalco's style! I loved getting to know Aubrey Rose and Thomas Cresswell in their element of the budding field of forensic science. And, we get all the bloody details to boot, so this read isn't for the squeamish. Aubrey Rose is quite a refreshing character with an engaging mind and she certainly stands up for her own beliefs - definitely one of my favorites for a while. She's a difficult act to follow, but Cresswell manages to do it and steal many of his scenes - he totally gives off Carswell Thorne from The Lunar Chronicles vibes. Finally, I also really enjoyed the mystery surrounding Jack the Ripper and how a piece of classic literature was tied into the story to great effect. I can't wait to rejoin Audrey Rose and Thomas for Hunting Prince Dracula!


I read this novel from August 24 - September 1, 2017 and my review is also on Goodreads.

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A Book That Has A TV/ Movie Adaptation (Also applies to the Bard's Quest) - My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier - I haven't seen the new movie yet starring Rachel Weisz, but I've been meaning to read this for ages since I loved Rebecca.

Loved this classic, but not quite as much as Rebecca. Why didn't I start it sooner! Now I'll have to try the new movie adaptation with Rachel Weisz and Sam Claflin.


I read this from August 13 - 17, 2017 and my review is also on Goodreads.


Side Quests:

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Respawn (Read A Book You Previously DNF'd) - Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1) by Morgan Rhodes - I tried to listen to this novel last year on audiobook, but I ended up giving up on it around 15% through the novel.  I think this time I may try it again but with the print edition of the story instead.

UPDATE:

I decided to try to reread this novel in print for the Respawn side quest on #TheReadingQuest. Unfortunately, I feel the same way about it as I did the first time around. I only made it to page 65 before DNF'ing it, which is weirdly enough at 15%, right around where I gave up on the audiobook.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

As the three rulers of the kingdoms of Mytica grapple for power, the lives of their subjects will be changed. Four will find their lives and destinies intertwined in unexpected ways - Cleo, a princess; Jonas, a rebel; Lucia, a sorceress; and Magnus, the heir. Only one thing is for certain, and that is that kingdoms will fall. The real question: Who will be triumphant when everything comes crashing down?

I was fully prepared to love Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes and have a new series to obsess over, but I found myself greatly disappointed. I actually ended up DNFing this audiobook at 15%. Normally, sprawling epic fantasy is one of my favorite genres, but that's not the case here. I simply couldn't make myself care about anyone or anything that was going on. Although there are so many characters introduced in this novel, not a single one of these cardboard cutouts interested me enough to keep going. As for Mytica, there is not nearly enough world-building to flesh out the three kingdoms that make it up. Falling Kingdoms tries very hard to be Game of Thrones lite, but honestly I would much rather prefer to read, or watch, that instead because this just doesn't work out. By the way, the names of some of the characters are quite similar to GoT characters - there's even a character named Theon.

Overall, I had high hopes for the Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes, but unfortunately, it just didn't work out for me. The characters are a tad too generic, unrelatable, and uninteresting - plus, there are too many to easily keep track of (and that's just within the first 15%) - and the world-building is lacking the depth for the wide world of Mytica. If you're looking for a YA Game of Thrones read alike perhaps you should try Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas or The Young Elites by Marie Lu instead.

I retryed this novel on September 9, 2017 and my review is also on Goodreads.

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Mini-Game (Read A Graphic Novel, Novella, or Poem Collection) - Batgirl, Volume 1: The Batgirl of Burnside by Cameron Stewart - This will also work for Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge and fulfill task eighteen which require reading a superhero comic with a female lead.

This is my first ever Batgirl comic book! I'm only really familiar with the character from other media, though. While I felt out of the loop at times, the story is still more or less self-contained. I have to admit that I wish she was still a librarian or at least in training, but I'm still intrigued with this version of the character. I'm not all that familiar with DC characters, but I'd also like to get to know Dinah Lance better. I may be continuing this run in the future.


I read this graphic novel on September 3, 2017 and my review is also on Goodreads.

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Animal Companion (Book Referencing An Animal In The Title) - Big Fish by Daniel Wallace - This will also work for my Summer 2017 Bookish Bingo challenge and will fulfill the Flowers On The Cover square - I love the movie adaptation of this with Ewan McGregor and I hope the book lives up to my expectations.

I had no idea that this story started off as a novel after having loved the Tim Burton film starring Ewan McGregor. As soon as I realized that fact, I had to try it for myself - and I tackled it as a part of #TheReadingQuest. While I ended up liking the book well enough I have to admit that I absolutely adore the movie. There are quite a few differences between the book and the movie, but I'd say the changes are to the film's advantage. Overall, though, I think the film has the tone and the spirit of the story, but it's presented in more of a linear fashion. Plus, the coda from the film gives the viewer a little peek at the truth behind the myth of Edward Bloom, whereas the book leaves us to make up your mind with multiple versions of the ending. Overall, I can't recommend the movie enough and I recommend the book to those that are very interested in magical realism or seeing how myths and legends look in a modern setting.

I read this novel on September 9, 2017 and my review is also on Goodreads.


Final Score: Level 2, 65 EXP, 198 HP


Did you take part in #TheReadingQuest and make your goals?  Have you read any of these books?  Thanks as always for visiting my blog and perhaps even commenting down below!