Book Review: Tithe by Holly Black

Book #1 of 50

Tithe by Holly Black
Series: Modern Faerie Tales (#1)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have wanted to read this book for a long time, and finally finished it the other day. Since I am a sucker for all things faerie, magical, and witchy I was eager to give this a go.

Even though I did enjoy this book, there were things in it that I disliked. I was shocked at some of the swearing and vulgar attitudes of the characters. Yes, some teenagers do act like that, but it felt out of place in this story, and some parts made me cringe. What really annoyed me was how Kaye's mother acted, and most of the relationships between the characters felt meaningless. I did not care for several characters in the book, and the ones that I wanted to see more of you never heard from again.

I had so many questions while reading this book, but never found the answers. There were several confusing parts where the previous chapters end, and the new one starts. For example, several hours or days goes by and you have no idea how Kaye gets somewhere, or what happens to her friends. I would have rather read more about that.

One of the things that I did enjoy about the book, was that it was a darker faerie tale. Some of the books these days can get a bit too cutesy just because they are young adult fantasy books, so I found that refreshing.

Overall, I liked it the book, but wished the author gave more depth to Kaye's character. A better background story of how she ended up with her Ironside family, or more of her Faerie side. Heck, even if she just focused on her developing her faerie powers for a while would have made Kaye seem more important to the story.

2013 Reading Challenge

2013 Reading Challenge

Katie has read 5 books toward her goal of 50 books.

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5 of 50 (10%)

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Since the new year is in full swing, it's time for my yearly reading challenge! The past year has been a very busy one, and I have finally had time to read again. YAY!

So far my goal is to read 50 books, but that can change depending on how fast I reach my goal. Every time I finish a book, I will post a review of it on here. Hopefully, you will find some books that you would also like to read. ^^

SheSpeaks: Torani Syrups

Finding new recipes, or ways to enhance my favorite drinks and dishes is something that I take pride in. Torani Syrups help me do just that! Torani Syrups are really versatile and can be used in many different recipes. Torani has many flavors to work with, and thanks to SheSpeaks, I was able to try their Hazelnut and Gingerbread Syrups.

The moment you open the cap you get a whiff of awesome! Once I removed the cap the Gingerbread scent took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting it to be that strong of a scent, but I really enjoyed that. The syrups have a nice consistency, and aren't thick and gooey. So it's easy to add them to drinks and other liquids.

One of the first things I tried was adding some to my coffee. YUMMY! I normally use flavored coffee creamers, but I liked this a lot. It added enough of the Gingerbread flavor to the coffee and I didn't need to add a lot of the syrup.

So far I have used the syrups in coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and in cocktails. The Hazelnut Syrup is fantastic with hot chocolate and whipped cream. I am still experimenting using them in recipes, but they blend nicely when baking. They add flavor to pancakes, and I am curious to see how they would work in other baked goods. For the holidays I really want to try and make some Gingerbread Pizzelles.

I enjoyed my experience with the Torani Syrups, and would definitely try the other flavors. They are great for entertaining and come in handy when you want to add extra flavors to bland foods.

This post was sponsored by SheSpeaks and Torani. I may have received products to try, but my opinions are my own.

Epic Adventure #2

Hello hello. =] Been a bit busy since returning from my first adventure, but things are now back to normal now. I had an amazing time in Maryland, and I am heading back there for the holidays. Can't wait to experience winter in another state. It's going to be a blast! Hope everyone has a fantastical holiday. <3

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Photo find of the day

Browsing Pinterest and I found this little guy! How adorable is he?

Going on an adventure!!

In under a week I will be heading to Maryland on a train! Whee! I am super excited! I haven't traveled by train since I was a child. My boyfriend's birthday is July 30th, so I am going to visit him for a few weeks. =] The first part of my trip is on bus, until I get to Toledo, where I will be taking the Am Track to DC. I've never been to DC or Maryland before, so this is going to rock! <3

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Awesome giveaway @Giveaways & Glitter

I am on a mission to win one of Twisted Orchid's Handbags. Right now Giveaways & Glitter has a giveaway going to win $80 towards one of their bags. You can find the giveaway here Givaways & Glitter ~ Twisted Orchid Giveaway