mint girl – Page 6 – Iniya Writes

My Top Books of May

Here are my top books for this month!

The Secret History by Donna Tartt
I really enjoyed this book! It was incredibly well written, with gorgeous prose, as well as an enjoyable plot. Only 6 students at Hampden college learned Greek, but as soon as Richard arrived, he knew he wanted to be one of them. However, as he joins them, he learns that they have secrets and are planning something even worse. I loved all the characters and getting to see them. It was a really interesting book and I enjoyed all of it.
Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody
This was also an incredibly amazing book, set in a fantasy world where currency is volts- orbs of energy. Enne’s mother left for New Reyes, aka the City of Sin, and isn’t back yet. Enne, determined to find her, follows her mother’s note and goes to the City, not expecting what she would find there. Levi has been forced into a bad deal and just when he’s ready to be out of it, he gets in even more trouble. It was very well- written and I loved all the characters as well as the plot. It was a great book!
Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson
I really enjoyed this mystery! Stevie finds that she can’t concentrate back in school, so when David invites her and their friends to Britain, she’s incredibly excited. However, as predicted, she gets caught up in another mystery, one from a few years ago, affecting a friend’s aunt. This story was really interesting and I really enjoyed the mystery!
All of us Villains by Amanda Foody
This was an amazing book! Every generation, seven families compete to win control of the town’s supply of magic. However this year, it’s not a secret anymore, thanks to a book published by one of the citizens. Still, the families must compete. I loved all the characters as well as the way that they chose to write their own story instead of following the past. It was a great read and I enjoyed the second book as well!
Dead Poet’s Society by N.H. Kleinbaum
This was a book based off of the movie (of the same name). I really enjoyed the story told and how moving it was! When Mr. Keating arrives at Welton Academy, he strives to change the way the boys see the world. As he shakes up their perception of life, they find themselves reforming the “Dead Poet’s Society”, which changes all of their lives. The ending was incredibly touching and I really enjoyed the book!

Top Books of January
Top Books of February
Top Books of March
Top Books of April

My Top Books of April

Here are my top books of April!

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
This was such an amazing book set in a fantasy world! It is told in multiple perspectives, with the main ones being Ead, from the North, and Tane from the East. I loved both of these perspectives and the way that their stories were so intricately woven together. It was so wonderful to read and I really enjoyed it!
It’s Only a Game by Kelsea Yu
This book was action packed and full of mystery and intrigue! Marina has left her old life behind. Now, she’s thriving and happy with who she is and the friends she has made. But when someone starts threatening her and her friends, forcing them to uncover secrets. It was really fun to read and the ending was spectacular!
Sadie by Courtney Summers
I really enjoyed this book! It was told in two perspectives- one of Sadie, whose sister has been killed and now she’s looking for the killer- and one of a podcast, 5 months later, which is trying to track down Sadie. The dual perspectives are really interesting to read and the story as a whole was really interesting!
Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust
This retelling of Snow White was really sweet and a lot of fun to read! The whole story is infused with magic- Mina, the stepmother, has a heart of glass, and Lynet, her “daughter” is made out of snow. Additionally, the stepmother, instead of being portrayed as evil, is just trying to keep her kingdom hers. It was a lovely book and I really enjoyed the reimagining!
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
This was a really amazing book! Maia is a gifted tailor, one of the best, and she knows it. But women can’t be tailors. So when her father is called to court, but is unable to go, she disguises herself as her brother and enters the competition to be the new Imperial Tailor. It was a really wonderful book to read and I loved its fantasy!

Top Books of January
Top Books of February
Top Books of March

Top Books of March

Here are my top books of March!

Thirsty by Jas Hammonds
This was such an amazing, well-written book. I loved Blake and Anita and the way that Blake learned how to grow and become a better version of herself as she found out who she really was. It was a heart-wrenching book, one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I totally recommend it to you!
The Worst Perfect Moment by Shivaun Plozza
This was such a beautiful book about death and the people who love you. Teagan has just died, and now she’s supposed to be living in her favorite memory forever. The problem is, Zelda, her assigned angel, has put her in her worst memory. As Zelda and Teagan go on a quest, everything starts to click into place. I really enjoyed this book!
Five Survive by Holly Jackson
This was an amazing murder mystery! When Red and her friends are trapped in a van during Spring Break, they don’t think it can get much worse than that. But there’s a sniper outside who won’t let them go until they reveal a secret. As the night goes on, enemies are made and secrets are spilled. I really enjoyed this book!
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
This was also a great read! Bel and her dad have lived alone for 16 years, when her mom suddenly disappeared. Now, after they’ve all moved on, the last thing anyone expects is Rachel, Bel’s mom, to turn up again. But Rachel’s story doesn’t add up and doesn’t make sense. This was a great read!
The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
This was a really fun book! Jameson, Grayson, Nash, and Xander have always been competitive. But now, Grayson has to learn how to truly love and care and Jameson has entered into a game with even higher stakes. I loved reading this book and putting together all the puzzle pieces. I totally recommend it to you!

Top Books of January
Top Books of February

Hi! I wrote this short story from the prompt, “You wake up trapped in a strange castle with no memory of how you got there and there’s something lurking in the shadows as you explore the halls.”. I hope you enjoy!

There was a faint, dull throbbing in Emery’s head as she looked up to see stone, more stone than she’d ever seen in her life, elaborate windows, and a gorgeous, gorgeous view of rolling hills and green pastures. She sat up, pressing a hand to her forehead, adjusting the tiara (tiara?) that sat on her head, walking over to the window. The glass was cool to touch, foggy with condensation, and she resisted the urge to draw on it, to sit there and doodle and forget her senses and why she was there and really where she was.
She took a deep breath, walking over to the door, and pulling it open with a sense of finality. The hallway was deserted, completely silent. Emery’s gaze darted to the side, seeing a faint wisp of something, something dark, menacing, hiding in the corner, a shadow, really. It called to Emery, telling her to touch it, to let its cool, refreshing solitude wash over her.
Emery blinked and the moment was gone, the voice of the shadow just a figment of her imagination. Maybe the whole castle is too. Maybe I’ll wake up in just 5 minutes and I’ll never see this place. Wouldn’t that be nice. She continued walking down the hallway, pausing as a stairway appeared in front of her, so sudden it was like it was enchanted. She risked a glance behind her, watching the shadows in the corner shrink and grow, pulsing towards her. She pushed down her growing sense of dread and continued up the staircase, counting the steps as she did, pushing open a small door at the top of the stairs to open up into a small room. One of the castle’s turrets, she would assume, a square one.
The shadow was back.
It sat at the top of the stairs, as if waiting for Emery to turn around and notice it. Emery closed her eyes. On top of everything, this…creature (?) just had to be following her. As she turned around to examine the room, its voice spoke in her head once more, loud, bold, unafraid. I know you want to go home…Emery. Or Emmie. That’s what they call you isn’t it? And you hate it, but I bet you’d be ok with being called Emmie if it got you out of here. If it got you away from me.
Emery closed the book she was studying with a thud, letting the cover slam down on its antique, ink-ridden pages. She shook her head. She was imagining things, because shadows couldn’t talk, let alone talk in people’s heads, and this place must be making her dream. It must all be a dream and she would wake up and be normal and go to school and live her normal life and-
You know, it’s sweet how you have all these hopes and dreams. Most people that end up here don’t. And so, they end up being these unsatisfying hosts, but you. You’re different. Aren’t you, Emmie?
The shadow was almost on top of her. And then it was in her and then it was her and her thoughts and the shadow’s thoughts were just one and the same and there was no distinguishing, no real difference between the two.
The shadow wanted a host, after all. And it had gotten one.

Misery- Our Winter Play

For the past month or so, my school’s theater program has been working on the winter play- Misery by Stephen King. While I wasn’t involved in the play- either tech or acting wise- I did go see it recently and I really enjoyed it!

Misery is a play about an author named Paul Sheldon, who is famous for his Misery series, and his “number 1 fan”, Annie Wilkes. As Paul is driving back to New York, a storm hits and he is luckily saved by Annie. However, as he recovers, he starts to see the true side of Annie-someone who is prone to dangerous mood swings and wants him to stay with her forever. The play ends with Paul eventually killing Annie to make it back to his life as an author. However, she keeps haunting him, telling him how she’s his “number 1 fan”.

I loved watching the play, especially with how well done the tech was, especially the set and lighting!

Darkness

This is a poem I wrote where, for the first line of each stanza, I used the second line of the previous one. I hope you like it!

It’s dark in here
There are no windows
No light,
from the outside

There are no windows,
no way to view
what’s been waiting
for me

No way to view
the truth
of the world
instead forced to accept

The truth-
the darkness isn’t
that bad
you get used to it, or you don’t

the darkness isn’t
your friend, but
it isn’t a monster either
it just lives, and lurks

and you learn to do so too

Top Books of April and May

Here are my top reads of April and May! April’s books are the first 2 and May’s are the last 3.

The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood
This was a great book about one of the “heroes” from Greek mythology! Perseus is commonly known as the only hero with a happy ending, but this fails to consider the women in his life. I loved the way the story flowed and its plot! I also enjoyed how we got 3 POVs from the most important women in his life- Danaë, his mother, Medusa, the woman he killed, and Andromeda, his wife. It was such a great book and I really enjoyed it!
The Cobra’s Song by Supriya Kelkar
I loved this book! When Geetanjali gets stage fright for the first time in her life, she’s sure it’s over. She can’t stand up for her friends and now, she might be at risk of losing her best friend. Not only that, her usually kind and caring neighbor is now cold and distant-possible possessed by the snake gem. I really enjoyed the story and the way that the book’s characters were developed! I totally recommend it to you!
Wretched Waterpark by Kiersten White
I really enjoyed this book! When Theo, Alexander, and Wil are suddenly told to go spend the summer with their mysterious Aunt Saffronia, they aren’t sure how to react, especially when their aunt decides to deposit them at the Fathoms of Fun waterpark, a waterpark that looks more like a nightmare zone. Then comes the problem of all the staff suddenly changing their personalities…This was such a great read and I totally recommend it to you! I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series!
Family of Liars by Emily Lockhart
This was the prequel to We Were Liars! In this book, Caroline’s own story comes to life during the summer that the boys arrived. The island is their own safe haven and soon, the boys both help build that up and break that down. Carrie falls for Pfeff, though he doesn’t seem to reciprocate the same feelings. As Pfeff shows just how much he doesn’t care for Carrie, their relationship splinters, to the point where she hates him. I really enjoyed this book and the way it defines the book after it! I totally recommend it to you!
The Ojja Wojja by Magdalene Visaggio
This was a graphic novel about two misfits in a “perfect” town. They’re terrorized by a bully, but find solace in each other and their small projects. Until one of those projects accidentally awakens a demon who takes over their town and makes their bully the center of it all. Only the two and their friends are spared. But the ritual to recapture the demon is tricky and they have to learn that sometimes, violence isn’t always the answer!

Tag: mint girl