Words on Fire (plus one)

by Jennifer Nielsen

I first "met" this author in the pages of The False Prince.  I LOVED her writing.  I did not like the main character (Sage) for a large portion of the first book, but by the end of the first book I was hooked.  Nielsen's writing is so engaging, enchanting, and adventurous.  She is a fantastic story teller.  So anytime I get the chance to "pre-read" her books for one of my girls, I jump at it.  It is just a good excuse to curl up with one of Nielsen's novels!!

This book tells the story of Audra and how Lithuania was brutalized under the heavy weight of Russian invasion and the ruthless rule of the Cossack soldiers.  Reading this book, now, in light of Ukraine and all she is enduring under the same brutality...it makes my heart hurt.

One of my favorite quotes in the entire book gives a glimpse into their endless quest for freedom - and how it all seemed like trying to empty the great, vast ocean of water with nothing but a medicine dropper:

"A single taste of bread matters to the man who is starving, but it won't save his life.  We are not making any difference." My heart ached.  (pg. 142)

These next two, as well!!!:

"It was the priests who started the book smuggling.  When their prayer books were banned and burned, what else could they do?  It wasn't about breaking the law; it was about protecting the right to pray." (pg. 103) 

"Words are our weapons, and protecting these books is a noble defense of our country.  Join us, or don't, but at least understand what we're fighting for, and why." (pg. 104)

I loved this book!  Highly recommend.

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey 

This is a book series that Gretchen reviewed and has been on my TBR list ever since... it finally became available at my library.

LOVED it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I was a little worried that I had somehow written down the list of books in the wrong order, because it was as if we are supposed to already know the characters when it starts...but truly it was just a brilliant writing device!  Getting thrown into the action from the beginning is the mark of a GREAT read.  I was "supposed" to be reading other things, but I kept having to stop those so that I could read "just one or two" more chapters in this book.  GREAT suspenseful writing!!!  I am so glad I have book two waiting to go - because I cannot wait to see what happens next.  

(PS Gretchen, if you read this, know that I am FOREVER grateful you posted this book series on your blog because I absolutely LOVED reading this one!!!)