Here it is: I picked up this book without realising that it involved fae!!
Yep. I started Shattered Blue without one glance Want to hear a funny story?
Here it is: I picked up this book without realising that it involved fae!!
Yep. I started Shattered Blue without one glance at the blurb (or the Goodreads page), thinking that it was like Courtney Cole's Nocte - a contemporary YA mystery romance, or something. A dead sister, an alluring new boy, secrets galore...it was perfect!
And, then, the fae arrived and I swear to god my mind was blown!
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I then Googled the book and realised that, yes, this book involves fae mythology and paranormal elements, and this book got 100% more perfect.
A slow beginning, but an action-packed finish.
Although the start was very 'Girl With Issues Meets Guy With Issues (a.k.a They're Destined To Be Together)', the story developed along a path I didn't see coming. Integrating some pretty awesome fae concepts that were unique and intriguing, it also introduced a range of characters to love and hate.
Which is my way of trying to segue onto the topic of Judah!
Judah is everything and I don't even have the words to describe my love for him. He's the Daemon to my Katy, the Kaidan to my Anna...basically the bad boy to my bookworm ;)
Fingers-crossed we see more of his lovely face in the upcoming book! (And that he and our female protagonist will fall madly in love, get married, and have beautiful little half-fae babies and ride off into the sunset* <3)
*no, no I'm not crazy, just fangirling like crazy XD ...more
It’s because I love you. I would never say it out loud, of course. But even if I did, he was probably too drugged up to reme
'“You’re a sweetheart.”
It’s because I love you. I would never say it out loud, of course. But even if I did, he was probably too drugged up to remember it tomorrow. I sat down beside him. “I’m sorry you got hurt. It’s my fault. I’m the one who wanted us to find Bree.” I was trying to hold back tears, but doing a terrible job of it. “Shhh, don’t cry. It’s not your fault. Come here.”
He guided my face to his and kissed me. Maybe he meant to soothe me, to comfort me. But the slow kiss was agony, and soon spiraled out of control.
(...)I had no intention of moving out of his arms. This was probably the last time I’d be so close to him, and I would savor every minute of it. I laid my head against his chest, lulled by the steady beat of his heart.'
To anyone who hasn't read Marie Lu's The Young Elites...
Ah, firstly, you've either been living under a so*searches frantically for Book #2*
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To anyone who hasn't read Marie Lu's The Young Elites...
Ah, firstly, you've either been living under a somewhat-comfortable rock, or on a desert island with only rocks for friends.
Secondly, if you're going to read this book, a word of warning: the following items will be required in order to survive the experience: - (x10 or more) boxes of tissues - (x2 or more) tubs of your favourite ice-cream (to be eaten straight from the tub) - (x1) stress ball/punching bag - many sessions of therapy afterwards
To anyone who has read Marie Lu's The Young Elites...
Don't we all wish we hadn't read that chapter, guys?!
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Personally, I am totally wowed by Marie Lu. Taking on an antihero as a main character, and making her both loveable and hateable at the same time, takes high amounts of skill to pull off.
And Marie Lu does this flawlessly. I was hooked from the book's start to its horrendously heartbreaking finish, and am so, so excited to see what is going to occur in the following books.
'"We fight with what we have," he murmured. "Not what we wish to have."
"Okay, Obi-Wan." I nipped his chin and settled into his arms.
"I am not quoting
'"We fight with what we have," he murmured. "Not what we wish to have."
"Okay, Obi-Wan." I nipped his chin and settled into his arms.
"I am not quoting Star Wars," he said, glaring down at me in mock annoyance. "No, but you sound wise for your years."
"Protect you, I will," he said. "Love you, I do."'
Alek and Jade are officially one of the cutest couples ever.
If you don't know what it's like to ship a powerful sorceress, and a guy who can shift into a tiger, together...I just can't describe it. No words will do it justice!
Not to mention, Alek tries so hard to fit in with Jade and her geeky/nerdy friends. Mainly by trying to reference various movies (often incorrectly). Plus, he's got that Russian accent...*sighs*
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Can't wait for the next book a.k.a the ultimate showdown! ...more
I mean, don't get me wrong, I didn't read the book just for him - honestly! *coughs loudly & glances away*
This book was just as amazing, if not better than, the previous book and I am super-duper excited to see what is to come in this series :)
NB: Three cheers for Desmund! By far one of my fave new characters, he reminded me a lot of Myrnin from The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine - a little crazy, but a good guy at heart <3 ...more
(...) "What does he claim?" I took a step toward Xymund. Still, he did not turn. I looked around, but no one would meet my eyes.
At last, general Warren drew a breath. "You," he cleared his throat. "He claims you as tribute."
"Me?" My voice squeaked and sounded like it came from a distance.
Xymund did not turn. "As a slave."'
Would you sacrifice your freedom for peace?
That question tends to be the one that lingers after you've read the final page and closed the book. Xylara's choice - to give up her freedom, her control over her own life - in order to save her people and work towards a lasting peace, is admirable to be sure.
This book's plot, filled with difficult choices and trials for its heroine, is centered around the strengths and limitations of females in antiquity, especially those that led lives among the ranks of the nobility.
I loved the gypsy feel of the Plains people. The rich culture, vocabulary, traditions...it came to life on the page! Xylara's relationship with them changes and strengthens as she begins to realise her own potential and what it really means to be free.
Freedom is a choice. It is not something that can be taken from you.
On a funny note, every time they referred to Xylara as the 'tribute' the Warlord was demanding, I kept having visions of Xylara emerging from a crowd of villagers and staring defiantly at the Warlord, saying:
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Although Xylara acts more like Prim/Peter than Katniss. She's a healer and - although badass - doesn't know how to fight, hunt or use a bow.
So...she's basically Katniss' less moody twin sister who smiles more (no offense, Katniss!)
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Overall, it was an amazing read - one I'd definitely recommend :)
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance Recomm**Check out the original review with added content over at 21st Century Once Upon A Times**
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance Recommend for: 18+
'"Who is it?" (...) "How would I know? But she kind of looks like that chick from the movie Brave. You know, the one with the really curly red hair."
What. In. The. Hell.
"She's got really pretty blue eyes, though."
Though. Though? As if that somehow made up for the fact that I had frizzy red hair like a Disney character.
"S**t," said Harris. His footsteps thudded down the stairs. "That'll be Ivy Morgan."
Seriously? That's how people know me? They could say I looked like the chick from Brave and they were like oh, that's Ivy?
I needed to dye my hair stat.
Wait, why was this dude watching Disney movies?'
I want to let it be known that Wicked made me fall head over heels for a guy who watches Disney movies.
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And by now you're probably thinking, "Oh, Booknut, who is this fantastic hunk who sounds too good to be true?" Well guys, he's a stunning specimen of manhood that goes by the name of Ren Owens.
And if you want to know more about him, you're in luck - 'cause I'm here with the 'Top 4 Things Fangirls Need to Know About Ren Owens!'
#1: He loves the movie Brave (correction: he's in love with Merida)
''I reached under my pillow, grabbing the iron stake I always kept there. Before he moved, I placed the very pointy end against his throat, right over a very important artery. "Role reversal, b**ch."
Ren let his arms fall to the mattress as he stared at me through impossibly thick lashes. "That move was really kind of hot." I narrowed my eyes. "You really are Merida."
"Who in the hell is Merida?"
One side of his mouth kicked up again. "The chick from the movie Brave with-" "The frizzy red hair. Got it. Thanks. I'm seriously going to stab you." "She didn't have frizzy hair," he argued. "And besides, she was hot."
I stared down at him. "You think a Disney character is hot?" "Have you seen some of those Disney characters?" "She was not hot."
(...) His brows lifted. "She could kick ass, therefore she was hot. (...) "This conversation has taken a weird turn."'
Hold on to your magical sweater & get ready for the ride of a lifetime!
This book was fantastically, wonderfully, confusingly perfect. I cannot describHold on to your magical sweater & get ready for the ride of a lifetime!
This book was fantastically, wonderfully, confusingly perfect. I cannot describe it in any other way but this: reading The Girl Who Never Was is like picking up an apple, biting into it, and discovering that it's actually filled with your favourite ice-cream (for those who are curious, my favourite ice-cream is Gelatissimo's lime gelato. I'd take that over an apple any day!)
Weird. Intriguing. And amazing!
But more importantly, it's filled with 'double take' moments. Times where I had to turn back the page and re-read a section a few times before it fully sunk in. Because let's face it - not all of us were born as faerie princesses/faerie travelers/wizards/ogres.
Some us are utterly (and miserably) mundane.
And for us mundane beings, it's sometimes hard to understand a book whose plot is deeply embedded in many, many riddle-like explanations.
I don't believe that the heroine receives even one straight answer to any of her (a.k.a the reader's) questions during the entire book.
I feel the heroine's frustration. Because hip hip hooray - every other character knows what's going on! Isn't that swell...for them. But hey, I'm here too. And I don't have the faintest clue what the hell is going on.
Does she have a mum? Oh, wait, her mum's trying to kill her? Ok...but hang on, how come when she meets her mother, she doesn't kill her? What's the deal with escaping inescapable places? Do promises count for anything with faeries? Why aren't all debts stitched?
In the words of the King of Siam from The King And I, "Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera."
The list of confusing questions goes on and on. But what remains is a weird sense of understanding.
This may just be the first book ever where being confused has made sense, besides A.G. Howard's Splintered series. It's like...we're never meant to know everything. And that what we know isn't true and is ever-changing. There are no rules.
And we, as readers, have a strict set of rules when it comes to what we expect books to do and/ contain. But the thing is, this world that the author has created has no rules. It takes on a life of its own and even the main characters are left confused as the tables are turned time and time again.
It's part of the weird and wonderful magic this book possesses. I finished the book feeling a mixture of emotions - ranging from "What the hell just happened?" to "I want more!"
That said...I want more!
That cliffhanger had me as angry as a cat dunked into the middle of a pond. Not at the book - but at that lovely character who decided to forget everything they'd gone through and threw everything away for nothing.
I mean, I finished that book at 1am...so perhaps I wasn't totally rational at that point. But I really did think that the character of the character who 'turned', so to speak, really did a 180 spin during that last chapter.
Has that ever happened to you guys - where a character just out of the blue changes dramatically in the course of a few chapters? It reminded me of the drastic change in Adam in Ignite Me. And it annoyed me a little, especially since I was really starting to like that character, too!
Not to mention I just looked up Book #2 on GR to find out it comes out in December! So close and yet so far!
So if you're a fan of Alice-In-Wonderland-ish, fae-inspired stories, I really recommend giving this book a shot. In the meantime, happy reading! <3 ...more