Da Vinci's Tiger

Da Vinci's Tiger

By L.M. Elliott

YA Historical Fiction 

Hardback

275 pages

Owlcrate book (2015)

I have not had this book sitting around since 2015. I bought it on a whim several months ths ago when I was buying some other items from the Owlcrate shop. This was from their December 2015 box, which preceded my subscription. 

It's a thoroughly researched Historical Fiction book, written for a YA audience. 

author info

This in the painting (and historical person) it's based around.

Painting info

I did enjoy this book, but didn't like feel compelled to puck it up like I often do with books. 

The characters were interesting, the politics weren't overwhelming, and the setting felt realistic. 

Overall it was good, just not really my thing. 

I think I'll let this one go to the used book store. 

Scavenge the Stars

By Tara Sim

Hardback

327 pages

Owlcrate 

Loosely inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, this is a YA novel about revenge. Amaya, the protagonist, teams up with a mysterious stranger on a quest for vengeance.

 When Amaya sails into town, she realizes that her own story is much more complicated than she expected. 

It's the first in a duology. I would be interested in reading the next one when it comes out.

It came on one of my Owlcrate boxes, and is signed! I always enjoy that.

Dancing with Mr. Darcy

Paperback

240+ pages

This is a collection of Austen inspired short stories that I finished this morning. Sometimes it's nice to be able to pick something up, read a very short story, then put it down again. 

It's quite a varied selection - some loosely inspired by author or novels, some which draw more directly.  

It was fine, but not amazing.

Summer read #21 Sky in the Deep

By Adrienne Young
Hardback
335 pages
Owlcrate

What a freaking lovely book.
Amazing.
Fierce.
Yay.

Summer read #3 Darker Still

Darker Still
A Novel of Magic Most Foul

By Leanne Renee Hieber

317 pages
Paperback
Scholastic Build a Box

YA Gothic

A take on Picture of Dorian Gray.
Interesting, but not going to read it again.
A bit overdramatic, but that fits the style, I suppose.
To keep in the classroom shelf? Probably not.

Summer read #1 Rebel Spirits

By Lois Ruby

Middle grade
Scholastic Build a Box purchase
Paperback
292 pages

Some location inaccuracies.
A good ending to the love story.
Never going to read it again, but not bad.

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

By Mackenzi Lee
Hardback
501 pages
July Owlcrate book

This book was very readable, but I'm not sure I'll ever read it again. The protagonist, Henry, is a hot mess who sets off to do his Grand Tour with his sister and his best friend. His sister would rather study medicine than embroidery. His friend is biracial and has a medical condition. Henry doesn't want to be stuck at home running the estate.