September Book Haul

 Hello! Last month I celebrated my 26th birthday and my family definitely spoiled me with books and bookish presents. Check out my haul below and happy reading!

On My Shelf: Spooky Season Reads for Adults and Teens

 Check out five (maybe six) horror books from my bookshelf below! Happy reading!

Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King

Title: Cycle of the Werewolf
Author: Stephen King

Page Count: 101

Rating: B

Format Read: Kindle via Libby

Genre: Horror 

Keywords: Werewolves, Small Towns, Spunky Kid

Kid Appropriate: No

A small town is plagued by a monster every full moon for a year. Some say it's a maniac. Others say it's a crazed animal. One boy knows it's a monster. And he plans to do something about it.

This novella comes out to just over a hundred pages, including illustrations, making it a fast read you can get through in a single sitting. The premise might sound familiar if you are a fan of the 1985 movie Silver Bullet starring Gary Busey since this is the inspiration. I watched the movie as a kid and was excited to read the story by one of my favorite authors.

Each 'chapter' is a month in the year leading up to our finale and follows the full moon of that month where some mysterious attack is being discussed or we even witness it. King did take some liberties with the full moon's timing so that it would coincide with a holiday or major day in the month, so try not to let that bug you too much while you are reading. We get glimpses of people seeing the monster or the man before he transforms, but not until nearly the end is it revealed who the werewolf is.

Overall, I really enjoyed this quick tale of a town battling a monster and the spunk of a kid who just knows what he needs to do. It is classic King but with a fraction of the page count. Definitely pick this one up for a quick escape.

Check out my video review below and happy reading!

Dead Voices by Katherine Arden

Title: Dead Voices

Author: Katherine Arden

Page Count: 256

Rating: B+

Format Read: Kindle via Libby

Genre: Middle Grade 

Keywords: Spooky, Friendship, Ski Lodge

Kid Appropriate: Yes

In this sequel to Small Spaces (review here), Ollie, Coco, and Brian are on their way to a ski lodge for the weekend with Ollie's dad and Coco's mom when a freak blizzard hits. Suddenly they find themselves stranded at the ski lodge with no power and a mysterious guest. Hauntings, inner strength, and friendship abound.

I absolutely loved Katherine Arden's Small Spaces and was excited to start its sequel. This one did not disappoint. We focus more on the shy Coco in this novel rather than the assertive Ollie, but this does not detract from the creepiness of being trapped in an isolated ski lodge. It was fun watching the nerdier Coco work through various puzzles and come out on top, showing size and pink hair don't make you less capable. 

One thing missing was Brian. His character was noticeably absent for a majority of the book, so if he was a favorite from before this might be a disappointment. Hopefully he has a bigger presence in book three.

Definitely consider this series if you're interested in a fun, spooky read that doesn't wander into being too scary. Making it a great choice for kiddos looking for a creepy read as well. 

Check out my video review below and happy reading!

The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy by Elizabeth Kendall

Title: The Phantom Prince-My Life with Ted Bundy

Author: Elizabeth and Molly Kendall

Page Count: 224

Rating: A

Format Read: Kindle via Libby

Genre: Memoir

Keywords: Chilling, Real life, Blinded by love

Kid Appropriate: Teens and older

Below is my spoiler free video review for this gripping memoir, rereleased in 2020 with an additional introduction and afterward. New to this edition also are color family photographs from their time together and a chapter from Elizabeth's daughter. Her daughter Molly's chapter was definitely one of the most surprising parts for me and had more new information than I was expecting as a fan of true crime.

This memoir is written by Elizabeth Kendall detailing her six year relationship with the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy. I was expecting this to be perhaps a bit cheesy and odd. She was in love with a monster after all. What I got was a chilling account of a young mother struggling with addiction and grasping to hold on to a relationship she desperately wanted to work.

Even if you are not interested in true crime or serial killers, this memoir is strikingly honest and will stay with you after reading. 

It's Prime Day

Hello! Today and tomorrow are indeed Amazon Prime Day. Days? Whichever it is, this is a great time to consider investing in a dedicated eReader or tablet for yourself or someone you love. What is a dedicated eReader? A dedicated eReader is essentially a tablet that only has the ability to read and connect to the Kindle store. There are no interruptions from messages, internet browsing, or apps. Which makes them great for people looking to really dedicate their time to reading or are easily distracted by outside factors. If that sounds a bit too strict, I also enjoy reading on my Fire tablet (originally the Kindle Fire) that lets you connect to the internet, watch movies, and check your email. I've been a big fan of the Kindle family of devices since high school and have read dozens, if not hundreds, of books on my devices.

I did a series of reviews on three of the most popular tablets from Amazon and you can check out my reviews below! If you've been apprehensive about picking up an eReader in the past, now is the time to consider taking that leap. Check out the reviews and prices below! Seriously, the Paperwhite price is the best I have seen all year.

And another cool point is if you have ever been curious about Kindle Unlimited, you get three months free when you order a new Kindle. Just be sure to select that option when you're customizing your selection. I enjoyed the trial but did ultimately cancel it after the three months since all I was really reading on it were the Harry Potter books. But it is definitely worth a check out! Just be sure to cancel it or change the card the subscription is charged from before the three months is up to avoid the unexpected $9.99 charge.

My posts:

Series introduction: Here

Fire review (starting at $49.99): Here

Kindle Oasis (starting at $199.99): Here

And my favorite Kindle Paperwhite (starting at $84.99!!!): Here

Happy reading!

eReaders Throughout the Years: Kindle Paperwhite

Lockscreen w/ ad displayed

If you are new to this series of posts you can check out my original post here, my Kindle Fire review
here, and my Kindle Oasis review here. Today I am going to be talking about  my current eReader, the ever popular Kindle Paperwhite. And this review is coming just in time for Amazon Prime Day where there are sure to be deals on the device

This model is Amazon's best selling Kindle and I was originally skeptical to try it out. When I was originally shopping around for a Kindle, and selected the Oasis, the Paperwhite was not waterproof and had few features that made it stand out. It was a solid device for sure, but nothing spectacular. But with the unveiling of the 2019 edition my interest was piqued. There were new features that made it competitive and I was more than a little excited to receive one for Christmas. 

From Amazon.com

This device is now waterproof! You no longer have to spend the extra to purchase an Oasis to get a
waterproof Kindle. I have accidentally dipped this in both bath water and pool water with no consequences as well as had my dog drool on it. It was fine in all scenarios. Though do be careful because I have noticed water droplets can turn the page of your book, which is not terrible but can be annoying. 

If you have sensitive wrists or are an arthritis sufferer, I would definitely recommend the Paperwhite over the Oasis. According to the weights listed on Amazon's website the weight of a Paperwhite is 6.4 ounces while the Oasis is 6.6 ounces. These seems completely negligible. So slight you shouldn't notice it. However, that does not seem to be the case. Multiple reviews for the Oasis point to fatigue after holding for any length of time. Despite its ergonomic shape, it is tiring to hold. I do not suffer from arthritis but even I noticed this. I have never had this issue with my Paperwhite and find it quite comfortable to hold unsupported for greater lengths of time. The extra inch of screen space on the Oasis also does not really affect my reading experience. The resolution is the same between the two devices at 300 ppi. 

Battery life is not fantastic but it is better than what I was experiencing on my Oasis. I read thick books. Most of the books I read range from 500 to 1200 pages. When reading on my Oasis I typically have to charge halfway through a 600 page book. This is not terrible, but it was annoying and I was frequently having to charge daily and take breaks from reading for that purpose. With daily use and reading larger books, my Paperwhite lasts about a book and a half or 1-2 weeks without needing a charge. This does dip down to about 3-4 days when I am reading quite a lot, such as when on vacation, but even then this is a vast improvement. Charging on both devices is not a drawn out procedure and is usually done within an hour.

A winning feature of this Kindle over the more expensive Oasis is the rubber backing. While this might
not be as sleek as the metal of the Oasis, it is grippier by far. In the ten months that I have had this device I cannot remember a time of it slipping out of my hands. Nor do I hate picking it up in cold weather. Despite its grippy softness, the back is actually pretty durable. I have only scratched it once with a freshly cut key. I was initially devastated, thinking I had completely ruined it, but with running my thumb back and forth over the scratch it quickly smoothed out and nearly vanished. And if you are a fan of customizing your devices, Amazon has added more colors to choose from compared to previous generations. Now you can choose from black, plum, sage, and
twilight blue. Mine is blue.

From Amazon.com

The Paperwhite is also fairly affordable. It's regular price for 8GB capacity, ads turned on, and WIFI connectivity is $129.99. Plus there are often sales (such as Prime Day) that bring the price down even farther. Turning off the ads, increasing your storage, and opting for cellular connectivity will bring your price up to $249.99 but that is entirely up to your needs. I have hundreds of books and audiobooks stored on 8GB with no issues and have not had any issues with only being able to connect to WIFI. If you're curious about the ads, check out my Oasis review here.

Now the one minor complaint I have in regards to the design of this device is something I have seen
echoed in numerous other reviews: the position of the power button. Rather than being placed along the top or side it is on the bottom right next to the charging port. This seems like nothing until you attempt to rest your Kindle on something. Then you have accidentally locked or powered off your device. I have grown accustomed to it and know now not to set it down that way, but it was annoying at first.

So in short, the Paperwhite is made of cheaper materials. Which is not a bad thing. It is why it is so light and portable. Throwing this in my purse is no hassle and certainly is not going to hurt my back. It is a sturdy, reliable device that I highly recommend for anyone looking for an eReader. In my opinion it is the best option for those that are looking for a dedicated eReader that has all of the desired features while also being economical. I certainly love mine.

Happy reading!

Reader Uniform: Leggings Depot

 Leggings are a standard part of any cozy uniform. A lot of my past legging reviews have been those
that are able to double as lounge or active. Today's leggings are much more of a casual, movie watching, chilling out at home type of pant. 

A couple of weeks ago I went browsing through Amazon for a pair of pants that I could get on easily and just hang out in after having a flair up of back pain. My tighter options were just too hard to get on without feeling a spasming pain in my back and hip and I had a little bit left on an Amazon gift card I had received. I considered some popular Lululemon dupes like Hawthorne Athletic, Colorfulkoala, and 90 Degree by Reflex. But I wasn't wanting to spend $30.00 and these seemed like they would still be too compressive. So I narrowed my search to less expensive options. Leggings Depot kept being suggested in all of my searches. They cost $12.99 a pair and are a one size fits most style. Sounds a bit too good to be true.

Skeptical, I checked out the reviews and browsed through some customer images. Most people agreed that they fit well, were extremely comfortably, buttery soft, and a great deal. The few bad reviews mentioned that some people received theirs with holes in them and others claimed that the black leggings had excessive dye that resulted in them bleeding onto furniture or other clothes.

With that in mind I ordered the dark charcoal...and then immediately the other two shades of heathered grey. 

Brand: Leggings Depot 
Style: Leggings Depot High Waisted Solid Yoga Leggings
Size: One Size
Color: Yoga Heather Charcoal, Yoga Heather Dark Charcoal, Yoga Heather Grey

How do these feel on? They are very soft and feel cozy against my skin. Closer to a favorite pair of sweatpants or a t-shirt than a spandex legging. I don't notice any seams digging in anywhere and the lack of seams on the outer leg was a nice feature I was not expecting. They kept me warm while vegging out on the couch but were not too hot to wear when the weather was a bit nicer. Their softness is a major plus and I was able to do yoga in them but I would not recommend these for a higher intensity or sweaty workout session. Compression is not a feature of these leggings by any means. They're soft enough to be worn as pajamas.

How do they look on? I am normally a true size small and on the more petite end of the spectrum height wise. With that in mind these fit me well, staying close to my body without looking overly tight. The stretchiness of the legs meant that they hit right at my ankle but could easily be pulled downwards longer if you were taller. These would probably work easily for a size medium and potentially large as well. They might be too loose for an extra small and the next size up might be better for some extra large, depending on how tight or loose you want them to fit. The high waistband was very flattering and hit right at my waist without digging in. There is an elastic in the waistband but it is very comfortable.

If you are worried about your underwear showing these do a decent job of not showing lines too prominently. I would recommend not wearing crazy patterns and going with a seamless pair though. Stripes definitely show through and if you're in particularly bright lighting you can sort of see any colors that are too far off from your skin tone. The darker colors do a better job of camouflaging your lines than the brighter and lighter colors according to other reviews. And note that these do not have a gusset.

Overall, I love these leggings and they are incredibly comfortable. They are easy to get on and instantly make me want to curl up with a book. Bonus, this brand also has super soft looking joggers with similarly high ratings. 

Find the leggings here.

The Ruins by Scott Smith

Title: The Ruins

Author: Scott Smith

Page Count: 508

Rating: D

Format Read: Kindle via Libby

Genre: Horror

Keywords: Vacation, Vines, Friends

Kid Appropriate: Teens and older

Four recent college graduates from the United States travel to Mexico for a getaway before starting the next chapters in their lives. There they meet a trio of Greeks that don't speak English and a German named Mattias. One day Mattias admits his brother ran off with an archaeology student and he wants to find him to take him home. The Americans agree to accompany him to the dig site they believe he might be at and convince one of the Greeks to tag along. Suddenly they find themselves stranded on a hill covered in a thick vine and a village of Mayans refusing to allow them to pass. They must fight to survive before they starve, or something worse finds them.

I had high hopes going into this novel with more than one Goodreads reviewer calling this their favorite horror novel and calling it things like terrifying, engrossing, and scary. Even Buzzfeed and Barnes & Noble included it in lists of horror novels you have to read. Yeah...it was none of those things. 

Our four Americans are Amy, Stacy, Eric, and Jeff. They are all incredibly selfish, petty, and self centered. On top of that they are constantly sabotaging themselves and one another. It got to the point where it was just getting ridiculous. And no they don't ever redeem themselves. Until the very last page they are all focused on completely unimportant aspects of the story and do absolutely nothing productive to their situation. 

Pablo, the nickname for our primary Greek character, doesn't even really feel like a character. He is more of a prop that has the worst circumstances unloaded on him. As the only character that does not speak English we never have any insight into what he is feeling or thinking. He simply exists. Mattias had the greatest potential of all of our characters but he was not a part of the original friend group so of course he is focused on the least and we never read from his perspective.

As far as the horror element...this book is just not scary. It's not even really creepy. A lot of the time when our characters are stumbling around, afraid of the vine that is outsmarting them, it feels exhausting. A bit like when you are watching a horror movie and can't believe how dumb the character just was. More often than not I was frustrated with the approach and there is no reason behind the scary thing. There is no deeper meaning, nor is there any sort of resolution. It just is.

Despite the fact that I just don't like the characters and was not impressed with the horror elements of this novel, I will give it points for being readable. I was able to finish it within a couple of days and move on to better horror stories.

Read it if you must, but don't go in with the high expectations a lot of other reviews would have you feeling.

Check out my video review below:

BookTube Update

Hello! Tomorrow's planned video was going to be a quick spoiler free review of The Ruins by Scott Smith. This horror novel set in Mexico is perfect for the spooky season and is always listed as a top recommendation to get into the Halloween spirit. Unfortunately my videos this week are delayed but I will be working on a bunch of new videos this weekend and will have that review up by Monday as well as a tour of some of my horror books! To keep up with the original Thursday schedule I will post a written review here tomorrow morning. Next week's review of The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy is all set to be posted on time.

Happy reading!