Diana Gabaldon Books

Diana Gabaldon Books

My Plan of Action

Alright- so I'm in the middle of Diana Gabaldon's second book of the Outlander series, Dragonfly in Amber, and I'm looking at her books, like, there's another series that's a spinoff?? How in the world am I going to read these???!!! So, here is my plan of action to reading all of her books in these two series (Outlander and Lord John Grey), because her books are life-sustaining and beautifully written. Long, but totally worth it and completely addictive.

I think I will be reading these in publication order. So here is the list of the two series as they were published. JUST KIDDING! I went to her website and she very kindly has is all laid out in chronological order, so I think I'm going to read them that way. SO, the list below are the books as they are set in chronological order.

Outlander
Dragonfly in Amber
Voyager
Lord John and the Private Matter
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade
The Scottish Prisoner
Drums of Autumn
The Fiery Cross
A Breath of Snow and Ashes
An Echo in the Bone
Written in My Own Heart's Blood
Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone (not published yet)

The green books are in the Outlander series and the blue books are in the Lord John Grey series. There are also a TON of short stories and novellas in between these, and OF COURSE I will be reading those. But I think I'm just going to try to finish Dragonfly in Amber first. :)

Her books are amazing- I don't think I will ever stop singing praises of her books, so jump on board with the fandom, it is never too late, and you will love the ride. Especially if you love history.

Thanks for reading!

Review: The Siren WITH SPOILERS

The Siren by Kiera Cass

Review WITH SPOILERS

4.1 Stars out of 5

 

The Siren was, in true Kiera Cass fashion, a completely adorable and captivating story. You move through it quickly and without noticing, the end is suddenly upon you. 4.1 stars out of 5, because it was really good- almost like it's own fairy tale- but I wish that there had been some more depth to a few of the characters. 


SPOILERS AHEAD

One of the things I really actually loved about this story was that there was no physical "bad guy". The main antagonistic mover of the story line was fate and circumstance. I don't blame the Ocean for anything. In fact, I think her character was incredibly interesting and was an insight to a mother-daughter relationship. But the circumstances that Kahlen was in and had to deal with were rare and that was what they were trying to get around, not another physical outside force.

I also really loved how the story showed the relationships between the sisters. I absolutely adored the way they acted with each other, because it is so real. There are fights, hanging out, backing each other up, and so much more; and Kiera Cass was able to throw all of that into the story.

Like I previously mentioned, I just wish there had been a little more characterization. We do get a lot- especially about Kahlen and Akinli. Those two characters were fine. But we only get snippets about Miaka and Elizabeth and the other sirens. I wish there had been just a smidge more thrown in about them and how they're lives are. That being said, it really is only a very minor thing that I didn't like, the rest of the book was amazing.


While there is romance, there isn't too much; while there is despair, there is also incredible hope; while there is finding of yourself, there is also how you find yourself in others. Kiera Cass has been able to balance so many things and tie in so many lessons of life into this one beautiful story.

Thanks for reading!

The Siren Review NO SPOILERS

The Siren by Kiera Cass

Review NO SPOILERS

4.1 Stars out of 5

The Siren was, in true Kiera Cass fashion, a completely adorable and captivating story. You move through it quickly and without noticing, the end is suddenly upon you. 4.1 stars out of 5, because it was really good- almost like it's own fairy tale- but I wish that there had been some more depth to a few of the characters. 

While there is romance, there isn't too much; while there is despair, there is also incredible hope; while there is finding of yourself, there is also how you find yourself in others. Kiera Cass has been able to balance so many things and tie in so many lessons of life into this one beautiful story.

Thanks for reading!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Review WITH SPOILERS

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by John Tiffany, J.K. Rowling, and Jack Thorne

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

 WITH SPOILERS

 

Reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is not like returning back to Hogwarts; however, you do get to return to this beautifully crafted world that JK Rowling had created so many years ago with Sorcerer's Stone, and that is something that can truly be cherished so long as you are open to the story and the ability to accept things that you may not like. There are so many old characters and friends we get to revisit; new characters that we get to explore; and another twist that can send you into a mild tailspin. I would not say it is as great as the others, but it definitely worth the read. Be open to new ideas, keep in mind that this is a play and therefore, there is a time restriction on it. The actual review of this is 4.25 stars. Could they have done better? Possibly. Did they do a really amazing job as it is now? Yes. Do I still want more? Of course.

SPOILERS AHEAD

 One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book is that we get to see more of Slytherin. Right off the bat, Albus gets sorted into Slytherin and we immediately see the effects of that, along with his friendship with Scorpius. Not only was this incredibly interesting to me, but it also meant that we got to see a story through a Slytherin's eyes and more of their house characteristics by actually experiencing a story first hand with them. It was pretty cool.

Another thing that I thought was really interesting was that we got to see more of the time travel magic and how the time-turners worked. There are different kinds of them and are now "gone", or at least were supposed to be because they can be so dangerous. I did think it was super stupid of Albus and Scorpius to use it and go back in time to save Cedric, but at least they had good intentions, unlike some...

Delphini: B****. I wasn't totally blindsided by her- she made me cautious especially because she seemed to come out of no where and was really enthusiastic about the whole thing. I did not guess that she was Voldy's demon-spawn. Kind of expected now that I think about it, considering Bellatrix's infatuation with the creep. But that didn't really make sense to me how she could have been pregnant somewhere along the lines and nobody noticed it. Draco especially. I mean, now that the world isn't completely sideways, wouldn't he have said something to the Ministry if he had known that his aunt had been pregnant? At least to save his son's reputation and make it easier for him at school? I must say though, her hair sounded like it looked really cool.

Speaking of other things fans have been waiting to see... ScoRose!!!!! I love Dramione, and it still kinda sucks that they aren't a thing, but I was THRILLED when I found out that Scorp had a crush on Rose. Throughout the entire story, we see him pining after her and her just not having any of it. And then when the screw up the future the first time and she isn't there, he goes into full freak out mode. It is A D O R A B L E. I mean, it sucks that she isn't there, but his concern for her is the best. And then at the end of the book, he asks her out!! Go Scorpius! She said no, but it will happen... I can feel it. Dramione is like the Titanic, but there is hope for their children.

Scorpius was one of the most adorable characters in general though. He honestly was not at all what I was expecting, and it was a pleasant surprise. I think he'd be really good for Rose and he is such a good friend to Albus. He is the perfect example of how a Slytherin can be a good man and a good wizard. I love this child. He made my heart break. He made my heart smile. And he made my heart laugh. I think he's going to go down as one of my favorites.

There were some major plot holes in this story. 1. The polyjuice potion. Ummmmm..... doesn't that take like a month to brew? 2. The last scene with the time-turner. From what I had gathered, they had to go back to their original time after the five minutes. But, I guess they could just move back further.... 3. Harry's scar hurting. Maybe this is just something that could have been explained better, but I had absolutely no idea how that worked with the information that we have based on the other books.

Snape. I died when we got to see Snape again. And we get to know more of his story and how he originally worked for the Order in Lily's memory but then started to believe in that side's values. When he told Scorpius to tell Albus that he is proud that he carries his name, I started to tear up a bit. And then he died. Again. And I was a goner- so many tears... so many tears.
 
I could go on and on about this book for quite a while, but I'm gonna stop myself now because this post already seems so much more longer than usual. Bottom line, I can see where fans are upset. BUT, I am really just beyond grateful that we got to see more story and more of the world that we have all fallen in love with. And it was good. It was quick, there were flaws, but that happens sometimes when it needs to be cut short. Like book to movie adaptations. That being said, I would not object to another epilogue. I would actually really love to see more of Scorpius and Rose and I would also want to see Albus find somebody as well. Also, more of James and Lily, and TEDDY. Go ahead and let yourself fall in love with another Harry Potter book. Unlike the others, there are more faults with this love, but that doesn't mean that there isn't love.

Thanks for reading fellow muggles! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did

Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child NO SPOILERS

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by John Tiffany, J.K. Rowling, and Jack Thorne

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is not like returning back to Hogwarts; however, you do get to return to this beautifully crafted world that JK Rowling had created so many years ago with Sorcerer's Stone, and that is something that can truly be cherished so long as you are open to the story and the ability to accept things that you may not like. There are so many old characters and friends we get to revisit; new characters that we get to explore; and another twist that can send you into a mild tailspin. I would not say it is as great as the others, but it definitely worth the read. Be open to new ideas, keep in mind that this is a play and therefore, there is a time restriction on it. The actual review of this is 4.25 stars. Could they have done better? Possibly. Did they do a really amazing job as it is now? Yes. Do I still want more? Of course.  

[
One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book is that we get to see more of Slytherin. Right off the bat, Albus gets sorted into Slytherin and we immediately see the effects of that, along with his friendship with Scorpius. Not only was this incredibly interesting to me, but it also meant that we got to see a story through a Slytherin's eyes and more of their house characteristics by actually experiencing a story first hand with them. It was pretty cool.
Another thing that I thought was really interesting was that we got to see more of the time travel magic and how the time-turners worked. There are different kinds of them and are now "gone", or at least were supposed to be because they can be so dangerous. I did think it was super stupid of Albus and Scorpius to use it and go back in time to save Cedric, but at least they had good intentions, unlike some...
Delphini: B****. I wasn't totalled blindsided by her- she made me cautious especially because she seemed to come out of no where and was really enthusiastic about the whole thing. I did not guess that she was Voldy's demon-spawn. Kind of expected now that I think about it, considering Bellatrix's infatuation with the creep. But that didn't really make sense to me how she could have been pregnant somewhere along the lines and nobody noticed it. Draco especially. I mean, now that the world isn't completely sideways, wouldn't he have said something to the Ministry if he had known that his aunt had been pregnant? At least to save his son's reputation and make it easier for him at school? I must say though, her hair sounded like it looked really cool.
Speaking of other things fans have been waiting to see... ScoRose!!!!! I love Dramione, and it still kinda sucks that they aren't a thing, but I was THRILLED when I found out that Scorp had a crush on Rose. Throughout the entire story, we see him pining after her and her just not having any of it. And then when the screw up the future the first time and she isn't there, he goes into full freak out mode. It is A D O R A B L E. I mean, it sucks that she isn't there, but his concern for her is the best. And then at the end of the book, he asks her out!! Go Scorpius! She said no, but it will happen... I can feel it. Dramione is like the Titanic, but there is hope for their children.
There were some major plot holes in this story. 1. The polyjuice potion. Ummmmm..... doesn't that take like a month to brew? 2. The last scene with the time-turner. From what I had gathered, they had to go back to their original time after the five minutes. But, I guess they could just move back further.... 3. Harry's scar hurting. Maybe this is just something that could have been explained better, but I had absolutely no idea how that worked with the information that we have based on the other books.
Snape. I died when we got to see Snape again. And we get to know more of his story and how he originally worked for the Order in Lily's memory but then started to believe in that side's values. When he told Scorpius to tell Albus that he is proud that he carries his name, I started to tear up a bit. And then he died. Again. And I was a goner- so many tears... so many tears.
(hide spoiler)]

I could go on and on about this book for quite a while, but I'm gonna stop myself now because this post already seems so much more longer than usual. Bottom line, I can see where fans are upset. BUT, I am really just beyond grateful that we got to see more story and more of the world that we have all fallen in love with. And it was good. It was quick, there were flaws, but that happens sometimes when it needs to be cut short. Like book to movie adaptations. That being said, I would not object to another epilogue. I would actually really love to see more of Scorpius and Rose and I would also want to see Albus find somebody as well. Also, more of James and Lily, and TEDDY. Go ahead and let yourself fall in love with another Harry Potter book. Unlike the others, there are more faults with this love, but that doesn't mean that there isn't love.

Thanks for reading fellow muggles! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

View all my reviews

Goodreads Updated

Goodreads Updated!!

So I was going onto Goodreads today- like I always do, cause it's an amazing website- and the homepage was totally different!!! The book pictures are bigger, it loaded a TON faster, and there are more recommendations, the feed is in the middle... it's great. And it still shows things like what you're currently reading and your Goodreads challenge. Holy potatoes, I am loving this update. As far as I can tell, only the homepage was updated, but I may also be missing things because I am human. Go check it out!! Here is a link to what Goodreads said about the update: https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/670-new-goodreads-homepage-now-rolling-out-to-everyone

I'm going to go explore the site a bit more- have fun!
Thanks for reading!

Paul x Sarah (Saul?) from Orphan Black: A Ship in My Fleet

A Ship in My Fleet

Saul (Paul x Sarah)

From: Orphan Black
***Season 1 spoilers are very possible. Read at your own risk***

I don't actually have much evidence to support this ship. I just do.... 

I started watching Orphan Black from BBC America recently and I totally get why there is so much hype about it. Oh. My. Goodness. Freaking amazingness- that's what this show is made of. I've only seen season one so far, but even now, I am totally shipping Paul and Sarah. Luckily, I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen in later seasons, so I can just watch through them and fully experience the episodes provided I don't get spoiled by anyone. 

When I started shipping:

To be completely honest, I think I  started shipping them when Paul came to the precinct to pick up "Beth"/"Sarah" but it was really Helena that made the call. I'm just realizing now that this post may get difficult to follow. Anyway, I loved how he balanced being supportive and concerned in that moment. 

Favorite Cannon Moment:

Of all the moments that these two shared in this season, I think my favorite would be when Paul is tied up in the basement of the Neolution club and Sarah goes to rescue him. He just leans his head on her arm because he can't do anything else and it was just a really awesome moment. It was like they were drawing support from each other and it was also a really defining moment in their relationship in that Paul proves his loyalty to Sarah and places his trust in her.

Sarah:

Sarah may be one of my favorite fictional characters of all time, across all books, movies, and TV shows, I think she is one of the most impressive. Since the first episode, she has had to make impossible decisions, think on her feet, and act a thousand different parts and roles. She is incredibly smart and strong. 

Paul:

He's a bit of a mystery for a while. But then, learning of his past by the end of the season and seeing throughout the season how he proves himself to Sarah through his actions makes him super interesting and I can't wait to see more of him in the next season. What I find super interesting is that he didn't love Beth. But I feel like he's falling for Sarah.

Saul:

I actually have no clue if they have a ship name... because Saul is an actual name in itself. Parah? Either way, I think they should end up together. I feel like they're already drifting in that direction, but mostly just on Paul's part. Sarah is sort of busy at the moment and has bigger priorities that she needs to straighten out. But she can trust Paul! I want her to trust Paul more and let him in!!!!

Again, this is all based on season 1, but I cannot wait to watch the other seasons and see how this progresses. 

Thanks for reading!