The Series for Smart People ("The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel: The Enchantress" Part 1)

Welp I'm halfway through "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel: The Enchantress" so let's have a chat. If you're into that kind of thing. here's the standard warning of spoilers that may or may not be in this post HERE WE GOOOO

Alright just so y'all know this is another series that I started many moons ago and am just now getting around to finishing. I'm a big ole lazy pants so I didn't re-read the previous books as a refresher as I should have done. I had to get reacquainted with the characters and the story which wasn't as easy as it was with the previous book I read. This one has six books in it and I'm on the last one so there was quite a bit I had to remember. 

The story centers around twins (I think they're 15. I'm not sure if that's relevant.) Sophie and Josh who get thrown into a mythical and magical world that's been in existence forever basically. The author of this series, Michael Scott, is like an expert in mythology and folklore and is a super smarty pants and it definitely shows in these books. I remember having to look up a bunch of shit while reading them (stuff I've since forgotten sigh). He used mythical characters already in existence to create a very interesting and complex story. As my title suggests, this is not a light read. Don't get me wrong, it's not "Lord of the Rings" or anything but it's probably as close as you can get with a YA series. 

I would try and explain a bit more of the plot but honestly I don't think I could do it justice. Like it deals with magic in the elements and alchemy(hence the inclusion of Nicholas Flamel as a character) and different worlds (called shadowrealms) and different time lines and powerful old creatures. Idk I think it's super cool.

The Saddest of Sads ("TLOS: The Echantress Reurns" Part 2)

I actually finished "The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns" a couple of days ago I just haven't found time to post about it... UNTIL NOW MUHAHA (idk). Okay so I'm probably most definitely going to spoil stuff in this one so just beware but I have to  I HAVE TO okay let's go.
Ugh okay so all I can think about in regards to this book is how it ended and it kind of broke my heart. Like Alex decides to stay in the Land of Stories and her mom and Conner go back to the Otherworld (our world) without her. It just really made me sad because like they're twins and they're being separated. Idk like my family is very important to me and I can't imagine making a decision that would prevent me from ever being able to see them again. Just thinking about it makes me upset SO I'M MOVING ON
Of course, since this is essentially a fairy tale, all of the bad guys are vanquished which I do like. I thought it was a bit silly that Alex got rid of the Enchantress just by apologizing. Like that took all of her powers away. I thought that was kind of goofy but Alex is only 13 so I guess she is a bit young to be killing people.
Ugh I just hope the lil family is reunited in the next book.

UP NEXT: "The Enchantress" (lol) by Michael Scott
I actually already started this one

The Land of Bad Bitches ("TLOS: The Enchantress Returns" Part 1)

Welp I'm halfway through "The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns" so I guess it's about that time to discuss and stuff. P.S. I spoil stuff sometimes so just be careful okay LET'S GO
I remember really enjoying the first book in this series when I read it a couple years ago. I really enjoyed the new take on fairy tales, which I'm noticing I'm constantly looking for in the books I chose to read.
This time around I'm finding the twins a bit irritating. Alex and Conner are both very stubborn and I guess that's really what gets me about them. It's the kind of thing where you're trying to explain to a kid why they can't do something and it's like talking to a cat. They don't listen. I guess since I'm becoming an old lady I'm just like LISTEN TO YOUR GRANDMOTHER STUPID KIDS UGH but I have to forgive them since they just want to help their mom.
Also wtf is up with all of these women and their revenge???? Like before it was the Evil Queen because of her man in the mirror and now this Enchantress bitch with her wah wah wah I was too good at stuff and people were jealous of me then I couldn't find a man. Like the rest of us have to get over it WHY CAN'T THEY??? Idk man.
I'm also noticing more and more that this is a book written for a much younger audience than myself. Just throwing that out there if you do chose to go on this adventure. Definitely a children's book.
So far: I enjoy very much

also omfg it's like three in the morning so yeah sorry if this post is weird or ugh idek okay I'm gong to bed now 

The Roller Coaster I Didn't Want to Get on ("Hollow City" Part 2)

Sigh so I just finished "Hollow City." Man, does Mr.Riggs know how to end a book. Blabbitty blah blah blah spoilers blah idk just be aware blah. HERE WE GO (p.s. this post might not make a lot of sense because this book did have a few twists in it towards the end that will totally ruin it if I'm too detailed so I'm going to be extremely vague)
I was curious as to how Riggs was going to keep this story going. It did all seem a bit to neat and easy going for the peculiar children. I was a bit suspicious and really I should have seen what happened coming. It was hinted at a bit now that I think about it but so subtly so the twist kind of smacked me in the face.
Now I don't normally appreciate books with twists. I don't find the read quite as fulfilling as anticipation; where you know what's going to happen and you're just waiting to see if you're right. I think anticipation of events makes me read a bit faster. I need to know if what I think is going to happen actually happens. With all of that said, I really enjoy the Peculiar series (there is going to be a third called "Don't Look Away" which sounds horrifying).
What I love about this series is how much it reads like a children's story but is obviously not meant for children. It's hard to explain. It makes me feel like a lil one again.
Overall: Kelsey like.

AND UP NEXT WE HAVE: The second book in "The Land of Stories" series (I don't remember what it's called oops) by Chris Colfer 

Cute... But Creepy? ("Hollow City" Part 1)

Alright I've really buckled down and made real headway with "Hollow City" and am about half way through so sound the trumpets it's update time. *Standard idk if spoilers will be here or not but they might so just be careful I WARNED YOU*
I think getting into this book was a bit hard for me at first because I had to get reacquainted with the characters and the story. I had a little trouble trying to remember what happened in this books predecessor, "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children," and felt a bit lost at first (I know I could just reread it but 1.) that would make too much sense and 2.) I don't like rereading I feel like I'm cheating on all the books on my shelf that are still untouched). But once I got back into the story oh man was I back.
I love how creepy these kids are. Like... bees? That live in your stomach? And an invisible boy? And another that can brings things back to life? Creepy very creepy but... cute? Because they're just kids who aren't old enough to want to do anything menacing with these peculiarities of theirs.
I think Riggs did a good job making the children sound like children but also like they're from a different time than the main character, Jacob. It's nice that Jacob doesn't just completely forget that he comes from a different world than these kids he's decided to leave his family for. The little scene where he decided to keep his now useless cellphone added another layer to Jacob I didn't think he had.
It's very strange how this book sort of reads as if it would be a children's book since the majority of the main characters are quite young but is pretty gruesome at times.  The wights are truly the monsters under the peculiar beds.
This series reminds me of something Neil Gaiman would write. So if you're into that...

Excuse my naked book. Like a young child, it doesn't like wearing clothes.

Kelsey's Classics (Non-YA Book Recommendation)

Okay so I'm totally slacking on trying to get through "Hollow City." Don't let my slow pace reflect on the story. It's very interesting and well written I've just been unmotivated. So since it's been about a month since I've posted something and I'm buying books for people for Christmas, I thought I'd start a series where I talk about books that I consider classics. Now, said book may or may not ACTUALLY be a classic but in Kelsey's world it is. Basically this'll be a series of posts where I talk about my favorite books.
FIRST UP: "A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess. Originally I read this book because I wanted to watch the movie (I'm one of those wierdos that must read the book before they see the movie OR ELSE). I'm a huge fan of scary movies and I had it in my head that this movie was a scary movie (it's not). It is actually a dystopian novella that centers around a troublemaker, Alex, and his friends. They go around terrorizing the people in their city and love doing it (this is putting it mildly they do some pretty fucked up shit). Eventually they get caught and Alex gets sent to a correctional facility where he goes through various forms of "therapy" to avert him from doing bad things.
Now first things first this story is so so so so interesting but also a little (a lot) disturbing. The narrator is a sociopath who you watch do awful things and kind of hate but by the end you end up feeling sympathy for this seemingly unredeemable character (at least I did). It's a little unsettling. This novel is also a little hard to get through not only because of the story but the way it's written. The author came up with completely new slang words for his gang of hooligans to use. It was a little confusing when I tried to look up all these words he was using that I didn't know and none of them were in the dictionary. Luckily the internet provided translations for me.
BUT it's totally worth it and if you're looking for a disturbing read, this is your book. Good luck man

EREN?? (Manga/ Anime Reccomendation)

So I know I said that I was going to read "Hollow City" next but not everything happens like you think it will. I decided to read "Attack on Titan" (super nerdy manga) as I started "Hollow City" and I've completely neglected "Hollow City" and focused on "Attack on Titan." I watched the anime with my brother and two of my brothers read the manga before I did and idk I guess it bothered me that they knew more about the story than I did so I NEEDED to know everything. I figured since I've recommended a poetry book, I could recommend a manga.
Now, I totally understand if your first thought is along the lines of omg mangas are so weird and for weirdos and WEIRD because I used to think the same thing. I definitely thought (when I was in high school and stupid) that manga and animes were for the strange kids who liked Hello Kitty. I was so wrong I feel kind of dumb for ever holding that opinion. But I've seen the light and want to watch ALL THE ANIMES.
"Attack on Titan" is one of my favorites. I will warn you if you do decide to go on that journey, it is a very intense and gruesome story. It's probably the most gory anime I've ever watched so much so that parts are hard to watch and IT'S ALL ANIMATED???? Like I'm kind of impressed that something animated can churn my stomach.
This story is very layered and leaves a lot of questions unanswered. I don't want to give too much away but if you're smart (or stupid depending your view) you'll give this one a chance.
GOOD LUCK

I'll warn you, you will fall in love with these three it'll hurt but in the good way I swear