shellballenger's reviews
491 reviews

Type of read: Commuter Read

What made me pick it up: I believe I saw 'They All Had a Reason' on one of the wishlists of a fellow book club member. I'm also using it as my book for the TN R.E.A.D.s January prompt of 'read a book you received as a gift' since one of my wonderful book club friends sent this one to me!

Overall rating: Let's get something out of the way first, 'They All Had A Reason' reads extremely YA. And I'm not talking high school level YA; I'm talking middle school YA. I feel like 5th-grade me would have <i> absolutely </i> gotten this from the Scholastic Book Fair and purposely carried it around on the outside of my trapper keeper because it helped me look angsty and mysterious. 

I read this book as a tangible paperback, and my brain was screaming. Unless it's poetry or lyrical verse, I prefer a very traditionally published tangible book. I'm not talking about sprayed edges or paper choice; those are both things I can fully support to make your book different...I'm talking font, font size, and margin. There was something off about the printing of 'They All Had A Reason' that just gave me a headache and made it hard to stay focused and read comfortably for any extended period of time. Honestly, I'm going to blame the tiny margins and the fact that everything looked like it was smooshed on the page and bleeding through the other side.

On to the actual content of the book....oof. No bueno. No part of this book makes sense. The actions the characters take, the choices they make, and the progression of relationships. I just don't get it. These are supposedly sophomores to seniors in high school, and they're acting like grade schoolers. I feel like this book has potential, but it needs an editor, some assistance with the storyline, and overall, just a zhuzh to even get it remotely close to a successful book.

Type of read: Commuter Read

What made me pick it up: I used an Audible credit for 'Pucking Around,' and 'That One Night' came included as a prequel.

Overall rating: Let's be real...this isn't a book with a plot, it's literary porn. I'm not mad about it. Sometimes, you just need a good smutty book. 

Type of read: Commuter Read.

What made me pick it up: BookTok made me start the series, and Yarros' cliffhanger in 'Iron Flame' brought me back.

Overall rating: The Empyrean series continually reminds me that for every ten books recommended on BookTok, only one or two are going to be good. Did I like 'Onyx Storm'? Yes. Do I feel like it could have been...more/better/clearer/focused? Also yes. There's a lot of world-building (which I like) and character development (which I also like), but overall, it felt a bit drawn out. I'm struggling with the fact that this honker of a book said so much but also so little.

I also don't understand how bringing up the wards with the 7th dragon kind was such a thing in 'Iron Flame' and then all the sudden, 'Ope, we got it guys, no big deal!' in 'Onyx Storm.' An entire book was literally based around the wards, people died, but don't worry, the Irids got you. Argh!

Here's my biggest issue, editing. We saw it in 'Fourth Wing' and 'Iron Flame,' and I absolutely hate that it's continuing with 'Oynx Storm.' Yarros desperately needed another pass from an editor on Onyx Storm. There are a few times when the writing just doesn't make sense, is repetitive, or is absolutely giving too much*, and this is just what I was able to pick up from the audiobook. I have a feeling that if I had a tangible copy, I would have been going absolutely bonkers. I recently read 'And then? And then? What else?' and there's a part in there where Handler talks about how one of his mentors would simply write 'DB' in certain sections. DB meaning 'do better.' As in the writing just doesn't feel right and needs a tweak. I just wanted to scrawl DB throughout Onyx Storm. For example, in chapter 12 when Yarros writes, "his eyes sparkle and red veins pulse at the corner of his eyes." This type of phrasing happens frequently throughout the book and drives me bonkers. If his eyes are sparkling, and we're already focused on the eyes, I don't need to be told again that the red veins are pulsing...at the eyes.

All that aside, 'Onyx Storm' continued to sink me deeper into the crazy world of dragon riders and venin. There were times when I audibly gasped and couldn't believe the turns the story was taking. There were times when my heart hurt because of the emotion and intimacy Yarros was able to convey between characters. And there were times I wanted to scream into the void because the book made me so incredibly angry at how the story was progressing. Overall, I would say that all of that makes it a good read. And (as if I wasn't before), I'm fully invested and will be anxiously awaiting #4.

Reader's Note: 'Onyx Storm' includes themes of war, death, dying, torture, injury content including blood, and sex. I'll also add, as a copy-paste from my review of 'Fourth Wing' and 'Iron Flame' since it also applies to 'Onyx Storm:' There's not a lack of sex. Descriptive, steamy, wall shattering sex. And I think what makes it so good in 'Onyx Storm' is the intimacy, specifically between Violet and Xaden, that makes it more than just physical.

<i>*I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I don't want authors to tell me how to feel. I want authors to write in a way that automatically makes me feel what they want me to feel. </i>

Type of read: Weekend/Lunchtime Read.

What made me pick it up: The fastest way to get me to read a book is to tell me that you don't agree with the author or that the author owes someone an apology because a grown adult got their feelings hurt by one individual asking for common human decency.

Overall rating: I enjoyed Budde's perspective and thought process throughout 'How We Learn to Be Brave.' While obviously, the book contains religious content, including quotes from scriptures, I didn't feel like I was being beaten over the head with a bible. Budde's outlook on faith, our personal journey through that faith, and how we process and work through those decisive moments is realistic but something many of us may need to hear. Overall, I felt like I was sitting down with a friend for a cup of coffee and to talk about what was going on in my brain. Especially as an individual who grew up traditionally religious and has been finding their own faith after 18 (and what that looks like and means for me), I was appreciative of Budde's accepting, knowledgeable, and passionate point of view. 

Type of read: Evening relaxation

What made me pick it up: I'm a sucker for poetry. I also used it as my book for the TN R.E.A.D.'s January prompt of 'read a book you received as a gift.' Did I gift this to myself? Yes. Still counts. 

Overall rating: I think when people pick up poetry, especially poetry that has such a title as 'Things We Don't Talk About' that describes itself as a look into the personal side of depression and anxiety, they expect something grand and groundbreaking. Something that will pull you out of your darkness and make you not feel so alone. 'Things We Don't Talk About' is not that. It's a recollection, a personal telling, a baby glimpse into someone's life and what their personal thoughts and feelings were at the time they put pen to page. Is this the perfect book and example of publishing? No. But neither is life. I'm thankful to Owl for sharing their thoughts and feelings with us.

Type of read: Commuter/Daily Read

What made me pick it up: I originally found 'Hiddensee' during the Christmas season when I was looking for holiday/Christmas-themed books. I also used it as my book for the TN R.E.A.D.'s February prompt of 'read a book with a one-word title.'

Overall rating: If you're looking for a simple, happy retelling of a classic story, pick another book. Hiddensee has all of the dense, flourished storytelling that Maguire is known for. While the book may be loosely tied to the original story of the Nutcracker, you're not going into a tale about sugar plums and plies; rather, we hear Drosselmeyer's story from a defining accident as a young boy to a grown man.

As with other books by Maguire, I don't think this is one that you can passively listen to. Steven Crossley does a beautiful job with the narration of the audio version of Hiddensee; however, you do need to be actively listening and engaged in the story to keep following. I think it actually took me until about halfway through the book to actually figure out what was going on and what the story was. It's about Chapter 45ish that they get into why things are so topsy-turvy, and it helps you understand Dirk's situation a bit more.

Overall, Hiddensee is verbose and complicated, but if you can get past that, you might enjoy the story of Dirk and his journey through life. Personally, I'm still not sure what to make of 'Hiddensee,' I didn't hate it, but it wasn't something that I actively enjoyed while I was reading. Sometimes, I need a second chance at Maguire's books to catch all the intricacies. There were some beautiful passages, and we get to see a different possibility of the life of the Nutcracker and his creator, but dang, was this one a slog.

It's also probably only fair to add that 'Hiddensee' was the book that stood between me and Oynx Storm, but I don't think that totally impacted my enjoyment and review of it. I feel like any book would have felt like a roadblock before getting into one of the most talked about books of the year, and 'Hiddensee' just, unfortunately, drew the short straw. 

“You have a spark inside you. Let it go out or let it loose, one or the other. What is your life for? You chose to live, you chose this world! What is this half-living? Even a mouse has more intention.” 

Type of read: Commuter Read

What made me pick it up: I remember diving headfirst into the world of Lemony Snicket when I was a young reader and thoroughly enjoying those journeys through the page. I'm also a sucker for a good author memoir.

Overall rating: It was love at first sentence for 'And Then? And Then? What Else?' Handler shares their thoughts and musings on writing, reading, and life in general. If you get nothing else from this book, you will get a long list of books to add to your TBR. I blame Handler for the tumbling stack of books that were delivered to my house just in the short time between starting and finishing 'And Then? And Then? What Else?' I would highly encourage any writer or bibliophile to read this book. At the very least, you'll get a glimpse into the magical mind of Handler and how their life has been shaped by the pages they've devoured. 

Type of read: Weekend/Lunchtime Read.

What made me pick it up: One of the TN R.E.A.D.S prompts for November was to read a book by an indigenous author. We're not going to talk about how I'm behind on my prompts. 😆

Overall rating: 'Empire of Wild' is freaking beautiful. I loved the way Dimaline wove the storyline with folklore and horror. I did feel like the ending was a bit abrupt, like all of a sudden, everything was resolved, but it also set it up to keep you wondering, which I think is one of the hallmarks of a good read. Overall, I enjoyed Dimaline's writing style and would look for more books from them in the future.

Reader's Note: 'Empire of Wild' includes themes of death, disappearance, suicidal ideation, alcohol use, sexual activity, religion, injury, and injury detail.

Type of read: Commuter Read.

What made me pick it up: I stumbled across the Black Dagger Brotherhood in early 2024 with Darius (Book 0), and I got sucked into this crazy, cracked-out, sexy, throwback-feeling world of vampires fighting something more evil than themselves.

Overall rating: Holy bananas...just when I thought Ward couldn't pack more into one single book in the series, they did it again! 'Lover Mine' takes you on the crazy love story of Xhex and John Matthew, but tangled throughout we learn more about Lash, Tor, Darius, Payne, Layla, Quinn, Blalock and Murhder. I feel like I say it each time I review one of the Black Dagger Brotherhood books but Ward has created an amazing world and I absolutely love learning more and diving deeper into the characters. It's been an extremely long time since I was so invested in such a long series, but I'm happy I stumbled across this crazy vampire universe. If you're cautious of trigger warnings, I do think that 'Lover Mine' is one of the heavier books in the series so far. There's a lot in both John Matthew and Xhex's past that make it a minefield to share and put on the page.

I know I've said it before in previous reviews for this series, but I feel like I just have to say it with each book, this is just a good escape read. You don't have to think too much about it, you don't have to try and keep things straight (Ward does a great job dropping little reminders at the beginning of each book and throughout so you keep the characters and their traits straight), and you can just dive into a (slightly dated) world of sexy vampire warriors. I'm here for it.

Reader's Note: 'Lover Mine' includes themes of death, dying, consensual sexual activity, death of a parent, medical content, violence, kidnapping, torture, murder, sexual assault, mental illness, rape, and character recollections of physical and sexual abuse.

Type of read: Weekend Read

What made me pick it up: I found 'Daughters of the Occupation' in a Savannah, GA bookshop and was immediately interested. I've always enjoyed books based on true events, and more so if there's an entire section of the book dedicated to the author's research and study of the content.

Overall rating: 'Daughters of the Occupation' is a brilliant and realistic look at events in World War II Latvia and how those events impacted and carried on to the next generation. The story of Miriam and Sarah is beautiful and tragic, full of people quite literally just trying to do their best to survive and make the world a better place for their children and children's children. While the book is fiction based on true events, you can't help but feel utter disgust and gut-wrenching sadness within the pages. As a United States citizen reading this in January 2025, it was a blatant reminder of how much we have not grown as humans.

Reader's Note: 'Daughters of the Occupation' is a challenging read. Not from the construction standpoint but from the content standpoint. It's descriptive and raw, and there are definitely parts that some may find disturbing or triggering. This book includes themes of rape, death - adult and child, genocide, murder, war, violence, mass shootings, torture, religious bigotry, and antisemitism.