Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo Format: Physical Copy Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Rating: 5 Stars - “Loved It” Cry Meter: 2 Tear - “Definitely Cried” Content Warnings: Sexual Harassment, War, Violence GoodreadsShadow and Bone Trilogy Review WARNING: Light spoilers for Book 1, Shadow and Bone, and Book 2, Siege and Storm, may be present in this review. Proceed with caution! After running for her life, with the Grisha army practically decimated, Alina finds herself in the underground caverns at the mercy of the… Continue reading Ruin and Rising
Author: Brandy
Brandy is a reader, who enjoys well told stories and worlds she can immerse herself in. When she's not reading or writing for her blog, she can be found outside in the sunshine: running, hiking, or otherwise enjoying some fresh air.
Siege and Storm
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo Format: Physical Copy Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Rating: 4 Stars - “Very Good” Content Warnings: Sexual Harassment, War, Violence Goodreads Shadow and Bone Trilogy Review WARNING: Light spoilers for Book 1, Shadow and Bone, may be present in this review. Proceed with caution! The book begins with the aftermath of the first book, leaving Alina and… Continue reading Siege and Storm
Shadow and Bone
Shadow and Boneby Leigh BardugoFormat: Physical CopyGenre: Young Adult FantasyRating: 4 Stars - “Very Good” Cry Meter: 1 Tear - “Teared Up”Content Warnings: Sexual Harassment, War, ViolenceGoodreadsShadow and Bone Trilogy Review Shadow and Bone begins as a military regiment is about to cross the Fold: a range of utter darkness filled with Volcra, a type… Continue reading Shadow and Bone
An Ember in the Ashes Series Review: What a Way to Burn
I finished the last book in the Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir recently, and, dare I say it, this might be my favorite series of all time (sorry Harry Potter). This series is nothing short of a masterpiece and was so spectacularly done that it’s hard to comprehend. This review will avoid spoilers,… Continue reading An Ember in the Ashes Series Review: What a Way to Burn
Book Review: Tattoo Atlas
Tattoo Atlas(Also published as “Anatomy of a Murderer”)by Tim FloreenFormat: Physical CopyGenre: Young Adult ContemporaryRating: 4 Stars - “Pretty Good”Cry Meter: 0 Tears - “No Tears”Content Warnings: Suicide, Murder, Gun Violence, Kidnapping, Medical Malpractice, School Shooting, WarGoodreads The narrator of “Tattoo Atlas”, Rem, is a gay teenager with a knack for drawing. His group… Continue reading Book Review: Tattoo Atlas
Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman Format: Physical Copy Genre: Contemporary Rating: 5 Stars - “All-Time Favorite” Cry Meter: 2 Tears - "Definitely Cried" Content Warnings: Death, Depression, Suicide, AlcoholismGoodreads In Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, we meet Eleanor: a bright, socially challenged adult in her 20s who is just trying to get through life. She looks forward to the… Continue reading Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
30 Day Bookstagram Challenge!
April will soon be upon us, and with it, the hope of summer and vaccinations. What better way to pass the time, then with a bookstagram challenge? The rules are simple: take a picture of a book that fits the prompt each day for thirty days. Don’t feel like doing it now, or finding out… Continue reading 30 Day Bookstagram Challenge!
Morning Routine Week 3: The One
Welcome to week three of my little experiment of one. I figured out last week that reserving time for “fun activities” wasn’t in my best interest, so I was much more excited for this one. My routine looked like this: 6:55 Wake-up7:00 Make lemon water, feed cats, drink water while tea was brewing7:10 Once the… Continue reading Morning Routine Week 3: The One
Morning Routine Week 2: Smells Like {My} Spirit
The week’s focus in the morning routine was spiritual things, such as mediation, gratitude, and setting time aside for things I enjoy. I was looking forward to reading, or doing puzzles in the morning before work, as a way to reset for the day. My morning routine was similar to last week’s, with some minor changes: … Continue reading Morning Routine Week 2: Smells Like {My} Spirit
New Name Alert!
Just a quick drop-in to alert you to the fact that I'm making some changes! This used to be Running, Love, & Brandywine, but since I'm going to start doing more blogging about books, and not as much about running, I wanted a different name. Storylines & Sunshine perfectly encapsulates what I hope to achieve… Continue reading New Name Alert!
Storylines & Sunshine 