A darker shade of magic by V.E. Schwab

Rating 5/5

Summary from goodreads.
Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit. 
Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London—but no one speaks of that now.
Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.
But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive—trickier than they hoped.(x)

My review:
I saw the reviews and praise for this book so I added it to my TBR pile. I finally got this book in my hands and I could not put it down. The worlds and the characters sucked me in. I cannot wait to read the sequels. One of the very few good books I have read this year. This book is deserving of all the praise and is one I would read again.
What I liked.:
First off the world building. I thought the worlds were well built and thought out which made the story even more gripping. The two different londons' and how the plot shifted through both made me like how the plot progress. The characters especially Kell were well written and I liked them. The characters enhanced the book. The plot was not too far fetched and was not predictable. I like how the story progressed and how the author paced the novel.
What I did not like:
Not much, The only thing I did not like was the book ended because I did not want it to end.
Verdict:
Everyone needs to read this book. It is awesome and well worth a read.

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken review

Rating 3/5

Summary from goodreads :
In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.
Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.
Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are play­ing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever (x)

My thoughts:
I was really looking forward to this book since I loved Alexandra Bracken's other books. This was one big let down. It did not live up to my expectations from the author and the summary. I thought the book would pull me and I would love the characters that did not happen. I could not wait till I finished this book and got onto another.
What I did not like:
First off the main character was so boring. I just could not connect with her at all and I really tried to cause I give every character a chance. I also did not like how choppy the book was and how the plot progressed. It seemed drawn out and the book could have been shorter. Also I did not like the romance aspect. I felt like Etta and Nicholas had no chemistry and it was forced. I am not very happy with how this book came out.
The very little parts of the novel I did like:
The aspect of time travel. I also liked the cover. I thought the side characters had more substance than the main characters.

Lafayette in the somewhat united states by Sarah Vowell

5/5
On August 16, 1824, an elderly French gentlemen sailed into New York Harbor and giddy Americans were there to welcome him. Or, rather, to welcome him back. It had been thirty years since the Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette had last set foot in the United States, and he was so beloved that 80,000 people showed up to cheer for him. The entire population of New York at the time was 120,000. 

Lafayette's arrival in 1824 coincided with one of the most contentious presidential elections in American history, Congress had just fought its first epic battle over slavery, and the threat of a Civil War loomed. But Lafayette, belonging to neither North nor South, to no political party or faction, was a walking, talking reminder of the sacrifices and bravery of the revolutionary generation and what they wanted this country to be. His return was not just a reunion with his beloved Americans, it was a reunion for Americans with their own astonishing singular past.

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States is a humorous and insightful portrait of the famed Frenchman, the impact he had on our young country, and his ongoing relationship with some of the instrumental Americans of the time, including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and many more. x

My thoughts:
I have always wanted to learn more about Lafayette so I jumped on the opportunity to read this book. It starts off with with return to America thirty years after the revolutionary war. This is when America is heading towards the civil war. He gets a hero's welcome. the book then goes into detail about his early life in France and what lead him to come and fight in the American Revolution. We get to know more about his personal life and what he did after the war.
This book was very good and very easy to read. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read more about the revolutionary war.

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow review

5/5
Summary:
This book is about the life of a forgotten founding father, Alexander Hamilton. Most know him as the founder of the bank and for being involved in a duel wit Aaron Burr that ended his life early. This book starts out from the beginning of his life on a Caribbean island all the way to his untimely death. It finally gives Alexander Hamilton the recognition he deserves.
My review:
I love non fiction and biographies so this was the book for me. I also discovered the musical Hamilton which was based off of this book. I really liked how the author laded out the book. He chronicled Hamilton's life from beginning to the end.  He wrote Hamilton as real human being we can all relate to and realize his genius. This book did justice for a man who was forgotten for so long and now is again being recognized for how he shaped America and help found this country. This book shows how much he did for this country and how much he believed in the idea of America.
"Who lives, who dies, who tells your story" -Hamilton the musical