Books I Read in December

It Started With Goodbye by Christina June - 5 stars (finished 12/10)
272 pages, Kindle, 2017, YA Contemporary
I was gifted an ebook via Netgalley.
Review: here.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: The Illustrated Edition by JK Rowling and Jim Kay - 5 stars (finished 12/11)
BOOK 1 IN HARRY POTTER SERIES
256 pages, Hardcover, 2015, Middle Grade Fantasy
I was overdue for a reread and thought with having the first three illustrated editions in my possession that it was time. I have never seen a more beautiful book. It added to the magic immensely and I'm so glad that these editions are a thing. I'm sure they were time-consuming, but they are beautiful.

Upon this reread, I enjoyed Harry's sassiness...still am not the biggest fan of Ron...and I stand by Hermione and Professor McGonagall being my favorites. I love the mystery and hilarity of book 1 Dumbledore :)

Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake - 4.5 stars (finished 12/13)
304 pages, Kindle, 2018, YA Contemporary
I was gifted an ebook via Netgalley.
Review to come in May 2018.

Prisoner of Ice and Snow by Ruth Lauren - 5 stars (finished 12/15)
BOOK 1 IN PRISONER OF ICE AND SNOW SERIES
288 pages, Kindle, 2017, Middle Grade Fantasy
I was gifted an ebook via Netgalley.
Review: here.

The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano - 4 stars (finished 12/18)
BOOK 1 IN THE GLASS SPARE SERIES
402 pages, Hardcover, 2017, YA Fantasy
This is the first novel I have read from Lauren DeStefano and I found her style of writing very easy to get into and stay with. The story follows 15 year old Wil who is the princess of the richest kingdom. She has three older brothers, Owen, Baren, and Gerdie. Their mother had always wanted a daughter but nearly died birthing Wil. She has been kept hidden to be used as a spy by her father but one night discovers that she is cursed. Her touch turns living things into gemstone - meaning she can kill.

I love all the elements of this book. I love that it has a very steampunkesque setting without being overwhelmingly steampunk. I love the alchemy bits. Wil's family is definitely strange and I enjoyed what I did learn about them. Her relationship with her brothers, Owen and Gerdie, was quite adorable. I really want to know more though about her father and her brother, Baren, and hope to get more of that in book 2. I'm still not quite sure how to feel about Loom and Zay or Wil's curse/power. So happy to have gotten this book in my November Owlcrate box :)

The Slippery Slope by Lemony Snicket - 4 stars (finished 12/19)
BOOK 10 IN A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS SERIES 
337 pages, Hardcover, 2003, Middle Grade
This installment was great compared to the last one. The plot was quicker - more is revealed about V.F.D. and a new character, although short-lived, was a great addition to the story. I love that Sunny is now coming into her own and demanding to not be treated like a baby anymore.

The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket - 5 stars (finished 12/20)
BOOK 11 IN A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS SERIES
323 pages, Hardcover, 2004, Middle Grade
Although nothing really goes right in this installment, there is something about it that I just love. Captain Widdershins reminds me so much of Aunt Josephine - who annoyed me to no end. I think that what really gets me with this one is that more and more starts piecing together.

Firstlife by Gena Showalter - 1 star (DNF 12/27)
BOOK 1 IN FIRSTLIFE TRILOGY
475 pages, Kindle, 2016, YA Dystopian
I was gifted an ebook via Netgalley.
Review: here.

The Departed by Kristy Cooper - 1.5 stars (finished 12/28)
BOOK 1 IN THE DEPARTED SERIES
137 pages, Kindle, 2016, YA Dystopian
I was gifted an ebook via Netgalley.
Review: here.

The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket - 3.5 stars (finished 12/28)
BOOK 12 IN A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS SERIES
353 pages, Hardcover, 2005, Middle Grade
Something about this book just dragged on. I don't know if it was the setup of the Dewey Decimal hotel or how little plot actually happened. Parts of this were nice to see happen - like some overdue reunions - and others were not so great...like everyone still convinced Count Olaf is nice and the children are murderers.

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll - 5 stars (finished 12/28)
208 pages, Hardcover, 2014, Graphic Novel
I got this for Christmas and decided to go ahead and read it before the new year began. It was beautiful and disturbing and I loved each story. A Lady's Hands Are Cold and The Nesting Place were my two favorite stories.

The End by Lemony Snicket - 4 stars (finished 12/29)
BOOK 13 IN A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS SERIES
368 pages, Hardcover, 2006, Middle Grade
I'm torn on how to feel about the final installment because it left me with many questions. At the end of the day, however, there was a resolution to the Baudelaire's tale. Maybe not the best, but still there was one. I am probably most excited to see this one play out in the Netflix series :) 

In December, I finished 11 books and DNF'd 1 book. My 2017 Goodreads Challenges was to read 52 books and...I ended the year at 73 :)

Pages read: 3248

Pages DNF:190
Average pages read per day: 110

Total pages: 3438

DEC MINI CHALLENGE

Read 2 Owlcrate books (1/1)

Read 2 Netgalley books (5/2)

2017 YEARLY CHALLENGES - should be at 100%

Goodreads Challenge: 73/52 books - 140%
ABC Challenge: 21/26 books - 80%
Travel Gnome Challenge: 23/23 books - 100%
Series Challenge: 5/10 series - 50%
Movie Adaptation Challenge: 6/3 books - 200%
Netgalley Challenge: 25/25 books - 100% 
Throwback Book Club: 52/12 books - 433  %
Diversity Bingo 2017: 14/36 books - 38%
Overused YA Tropes Bingo 2017: 22/25 books  - 88%

NETGALLEY

I started December with 66 books. I read 5 books and added 2 books. So January starts out at 63 books.