Sparrow's Journal

26 ❀ student ❀ books, films, good times

[sparrowsjournal]

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon (The Bone Season #1) - Update #1

Since The Moth Reborn (Book 6 in The Bone Season) is coming out this February, I decided it's time to do a third readthrough of The Bone Season. I actually read the first book for the first time when I was 13-14, and I've been following the series every since. It's my favorite series. I adore Paige. I actually had the honor of meeting Samantha Shannon this weekend, since she was in Oslo for Norcon 2026. I even had some conversations with her - she was so nice. I also got some of my books signed.

Date: 16.06.2026

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Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë - Update #1

I started reading this physically, but then I decided to move over to reading it on Kindle so that I have a Kindle book when I need that. It's nice to have when I don't feel like bringing a whole book on public transport, for example.

I'm not that invested yet, but I have read only about 50ish pages. Usually I give a book 50 pages before I decide whether or not I will DNF it, but since this is a classic I know that it takes some more time before the ball is rolling and all that. So I will continue to read it, slowly, here and there.

Date: 16.06.2026

[sparrowsjournal]

A little update

Since I took such a long break from posting on this blog, I intended to write a post about every book I read during my break. I realise that I'm not feeling inspired to do that anymore, so from now on I'll only write about the books I'm currently reading.

Here is a short list of the rest of the books I read in 2025:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (loved it)

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (loved it)

Maurice by E. M. Forster (it was good!)

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston (loved it)

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston (it was okay)

And the books I've read in 2026 that I haven't written about:

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (I liked it very much, but I had some issues with the pacing. The characters and overall plot is fantastic though)

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon (same here, honestly)

Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy by Stephanie Garber (it was good, I liked the main characters and overall plot, though I again had some issues with pacing here and there)

Just Friends by Haley Pham (when I read it, I didn't like it that much, but when I was done I found myself missing the experience of reading it - so maybe I liked it more than I realise)

Date: 16.06.2026

[sparrowsjournal]

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree - Old Update

I had seen this book being recommended for YEARS, and I can see why. It's a very cozy fantasy book with lovely characters. I fell in love with the coffee shop and the various characters Viv met that helped her along the way.

Date: 16.06.2026

[sparrowsjournal]

Devotions by Mary Oliver - Old Update

I actually spent a little over a year finishing this book. Not because I didn't like it, but because it's a poem collection. I wanted to take my time enjoying each poem - and that I did. Every time I read a few poems from this book, I had a sudden urge to go outside and just enjoy nature. Highly recommend this book<3

Date: 16.06.2026

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The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman - Old Update

I actually borrowed this one from a friend. I lent her The Secret History, and after she was done she said I should read The Lake of Dead Languages since she thought they were similar.

It took some time before I actually got around to reading the book, since (as many people probably can relate to) I have a long TBR. But I'm glad that I read it, because she was right. Even though they weren't about the exact same things, they were still very similar.

The main character is a woman that is a Latin teacher at an all-girls school. Sometimes we also get entire flashback chapters to when she was a pupil at the same school, to the year three of her friends died. In the present timeline, this past comes back to haunt her.

The lake (that the school is next to) has some great characterisation, and there is a lot of mystery and myths surrounding the lake.

The writing is beautiful and very atmospheric. I spent almost 6 months reading the book, partly because I started it in May but realised I wanted to save it for fall, and also because I really wanted to take my time taking it all in.

Very glad my friend recommended it to me, and I would also like to recommend it to whoever reads this. I hadn't heard about it before my friend mentioned it to me, so I like to think of it as a hidden gem:)

Date: Thursday 21st of May, 2026

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The Deep Dark by Lee Knox Ostertag - Old Update

Just mentioning again that the posts with "Old Update" in the title are books I read last year, that I wanted to write about now. This one I read last fall:)

The second standalone from Ostertag I've read, the first one being The Girl from the Sea. I enjoyed The Deep Dark so much. I think it was beautiful and brilliant. I still find myself thinking about this book. Can't recommend it enough. Mags is a great character, and the topics about trauma, family, friendship and love is beautifully done. Also loved the character Nessa. Read this!

I also read many other graphic novels last fall, but I didn't know what to write about those. Many of them I absolutely loved: honorable mentions to Dragens øye by Cha Sandmæl, Ragnarok by Odin Helgheim, Mørkalven by Helen Kaldheim. All of them are Norwegian fantasy graphic novels, which I think is really cool! Or, Mørkalven is actually a manga - but close enough:)

Date: Thursdag 21st of May, 2026

[sparrowsjournal]

New profile picture!

Excited to announce that I have a new profile picture! It's a sparrow that my partner drew. Thank you, Trevis77 <3

Date: Wednesday 20th of May, 2026

[sparrowsjournal]

Shattered Sea trilogy by Joe Abercrombie - Old Update (Some spoilers)

Last year was the year when I finally read - and finished! - the Shattered Sea trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. I actually got the series as a Christmas present from my aunt several years ago. I read Half a King during the summer of 2020, but never got around to the next two books in the series. I don't remember why (maybe the change in narrators?), but I know I really liked the first book, so I was excited to pick it up again last summer.

Mild spoilers for Shattered Sea trilogy and The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson coming in:

Yarvi's arc in Half a King reminded me alot of Kaladin's arc in The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, which is my favorite character in one of my favorite fantasy series, so I really enjoyed the first book of the trilogy.

As previously mentioned, the narrative shifts and expands in the second book to the characters Thorn Bathu and Brand. I struggled a bit in the beginning to like Thorn, but she grew on me throughout the series. I liked Brand from the start, and he also has a great arc. We also continue to follow Yarvi, and his character has an ... interesting development throughout the trilogy. I can't say I've seen anything like it before, and that's all I will say on that.

In the third book we also get the new character, Princess Skara, and she was just amazing from the start. I also love that with each new book, the cast of characters expand and we get to see all these different view points and it all just comes together really nicely. I've mostly mentioned the main characters of each book, but I would like to mention that there is also a great amount of secondary characters that brings alot of good things to the story.

Another spoiler alert for the Shattered Sea trilogy, this one bigger than the last (but I'll still keep it vague):

There is also a twist to the story that I thought was really cool. There are some hints throughout the second book that gets confirmed in the third, if I remember correctly. Or it gets confirmed in the second. A while since I read it, but nevertheless: really, really cool.

I spent a long time reading the series, andI didn't think I liked it that much, but after I was done I found myself thinking about the characters and the universe, and realised how much I actually liked it. I think I would like to reread it some day.

Date: Wednesday 20th of May, 2026

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Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson (The Stormlight Archive #3.5) - Old Update

The Stormlight Archive is by far one of my favorite fantasy series, and therefore Brandon Sanderson one of my favorite authors, so there was no surprise that I also really liked this book. However, it's a little under a year since I read it now, and I must admit that I don't actually remember all that much about the book. I remember that I enjoyed the ship setting, though. Don't have much more to add on that. I also couldn't include a picture of the cover of the book, as I borrowed it from my sister and don't have it anymore.

Date: Wednesday 20th of May, 2026

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Spoilt Creatures by Amy Twigg - Old Update

Spoilt Creatures was my next summer read after Sunburn. The premise of the book seemed promising - I've always been really fascinated by living off-grid and of the land. I really enjoyed the first half of the book, but it lost me in the second half. Therefore I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, but I'd still recommend it if you also are interested in these types of narratives.

Date: Monday 18th of May, 2026

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Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth - Final Update

My last update before I took a break was about Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth. Since it's a while ago since I finished it, and most of my thoughts can be summarised by my first post on the book, I don't have much more to say except I ended up really enjoying the book! So much so that I actually have purchased her next book, Heap Earth Upon It. I intend to read it this summer, so stay tuned for my thoughts on that.

Date: Sunday 17th of May, 2026

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Thin Air by Michelle Paver - Update #1

Hi! I decided to take a short break, but now I'm back with plenty of updates! I plan to write about the books I've read during the break, but for now I want to tell you about one of the three books I'm currently reading:)

The book is called Thin Air and is written by Michelle Paver, author of Dark Matter. I found it on sale in the bookstore I previously worked at, and was intrigued by the cover and the summary on the back.

It's set in the 1930s in the Himalayas, about a group that decides to climb the mountain, Kangchenjunga (third highest peak on Earth!). The narrator is dr. Stephen Pearce, the group medic. Before the climb, he has a strange encounter with the famous Charles Tennant, a member of a group that previously tried to climb the Kangchenjunga. He was the only one who survived. Clearly haunted by whatever they encountered on the mountain, Tennant's erratic behavior manages to plant a seed of doubt in Stephen. He starts to wonder whether or not their expedition is a good idea...

The cover promises that the book is atmospheric, and I must say that it so far has delivered on that promise! There is an eerie tone to the writing, and I lack a better way of describing it than "reading the book feels like sitting in a room full of mist"...

The plot is far from similar to The Secret History by Donna Tartt and The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman (another book I read in the break that I will tell you about later!). Nevertheless, they're also two books that are good on atmospheric writing, so if you enjoyed the atmospheric writing style of those two, I think this book also could be for you!

I'm very much looking forward to what direction the book goes in, and I expect to be spooked!

Date: Saturday 16th of May, 2026

[sparrowsjournal]

Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth - Update #1

Recently started Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth and I'm really liking it so far! Currently on page 100.

The author really captures the feeling of being young, but at the same time being aware that you are getting older and soon will be an adult. I immediately felt transported into summer, and the memory of summer in my own hometown.

I truly feel like I'm living inside Lucy's head and seeing the world through her eyes. She seems to be a bit of a chronic overthinker, like myself, so I relate to her alot.

The development of her relationship with Susannah is so good, and I find myself rooting for them already <3

Date: 16th of July, 2025

[sparrowsjournal]

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore - Final Update

Finished The God of the Woods last week! Didn't publish a review immediately because I wanted to let it sink in a bit.

It's honestly a solid 5/5 for me. I was on a 4/5 for the first half of the book, but the last part convinced me. If you want a nicely paced book with great, believable characters that you learn to love because of how human they are, I recommend this one. All the characters felt real to me, and I especially enjoyed Judy's part of the story.

New reading update coming up shortly, since I just started Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth.

Date: 16th of July, 2025

[sparrowsjournal]

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore - Update #2

I've come a bit further now than last time I wrote - I'm now on page 230, and I have a lot more thoughts than I did last time. (There will be some mild spoilers here).

I forgot to mention, but part 1 of the book consists also of two timelines: June 1975 and August 1975.

We have been introduced to a few more new character perspectives: Carl in 1961, a gardener at the Van Laars Preserve and a voluntary firefighter in Shattuck (town close by the preserve) who searches for Bear when he disappears; Alice, but in the 1950s and 60s (so from the time she met her husband Peter, and they had their first child Bear, who later disappeared and was never found, and then they had their second child, Barbara); Tracy in July 1975, where we get to learn more about life at the camp; Judyta in August 1975, an investigator from the BCI (New York State Bureau of Criminal Investigation) who is investigating Barbara's disappearance together with her older colleage Denny Hayes; and Jacob Sluiter (nickname "Slitter") in August 1975, a serial killer who has escaped prison - rumor has it that he was the one who killed Bear in 1961.

My first impression of Alice was that I disliked her, but now I find that I sympathize with her. Her husband is a nightmare, and she is allowed little to no control of her own life. It was especially hard reading about Bear's upbringing, and how Peter hired two nurses to take care of the child - one for the day, one for the night - and Alice was not allowed to disturb the nurses while they cared for Bear. - Last post I also mentioned that I wasn't sure if she was the mother or stepmother of Barbara - I can now say that she is the mother.

Carl has quickly become one of my favorite characters - he's just so likeable and sweet. My favorite character, however, is definitely Judyta. It's just interesting to read about how she handles being in a man dominating field - and frustrating to read how the men around her treats her. I'm definitely rooting for her.

I originally liked Louise, but she did something stupid and now I find her chapters hard to read. I hope it'll get better soon, because it kinda put me off reading the book a bit.

Date: 8th of July, 2025

[sparrowsjournal]

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore - Update #1

Started reading The God of the Woods by Liz Moore a couple of days ago. Enjoying it so far! Was captivated by the looks of the Norwegian cover, and ordered myself the English version.

It's about a camp called Camp Emerson in the year 1975. Barbara, one of the campers and daughter of the mysterious Van Laar family, goes missing in the night.

So far, three narrative perspectives have been introduced: Louise (a camp councellor, 23 years old), Tracy (a camper, 12-13 years old I think) and Alice (the mother or step mother of Barbara, I'm not sure). I'm mostly enjoying Tracy's perspective, as I relate alot to her. She didn't really want to go to the camp, and at her arrival she feels like she doesn't fit in with the other, rich kids. I also enjoy Louise - like Tracy, she doesn't feel like she quite fits in with the richer councellors at the camp. She has a lot at stake - her brother (11 years old) is still living at home in a bad situation, and Louise wants to save him - save up enough money so that he can move out and they can live together. So, when Barbara goes missing, and Louise was responsible of the cabin Barbara slept in, there is a lot at stake for her.

Looking forward to see how the story progresses. Currently on page 48.

Date: 4th of July, 2025