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3.94
| 4,962
| Jul 26, 2022
| Jul 26, 2022
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it was amazing
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Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- A huge thank you to Disney Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- A huge thank you to Disney Lucasfilm Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. // Content Warnings: violence, mentions of death, violence against animals/planet // Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some in my review. All quotes are taken from Padawan by Kiersten White. --- "All Obi-Wan wanted was to be a Jedi Knight, to go out into the galaxy and be an agent of goodness, of order, of the light." --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Stars Writing: 5/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Plot: 4.5/5 Stars Memorability: 4/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // This is the second novel I have read by Kiersten White, and though it is a stark difference from Hide, I absolutely loved Padawan. This is the perfect novel for those wanting to read about Obi-Wan Kenobi’s journey of self-discovery on his way to becoming a better padawan. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Disney Lucasfilm Press Page Count: 416 pages Release Date: July 26, 2022 Series: Star Wars Tag: Fiction, Young adult, Fantasy, Science fiction, LGBTQ+, Middle grade, Star wars, Space --- // Review // I want to start off this review by addressing the controversy that has erupted over Padawan‘s assistance in confirming Obi-Wan Kenobi as bisexual (also potentially asexual). Personally, I am glad that Kiersten White decided to include this in her novel in order to bring about more diversity within Star Wars. As a huge Star Wars fan and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I believe it is important that people are able to see themselves in media, and the inclusion of Obi-Wan’s sexuality in Padawan is a major step towards this in a beloved series. Also, I must commend White for not only including this in her novel but also making it casual in the text. Obi-Wan’s sexuality is not flaunted to be shown only as a token of diversity but is authentically shown as a part of his character. Not only is it important to have diversity in media, but it is equally essential to make it realistic, relatable, and meaningful. So, thank you Kiersten White for making an already loved character in the Star Wars fandom that much more important for members of the LGBTQ+ community. --- "'...I was living in fear for so long. Afraid to fail, afraid to let others down, afraid of loss, afraid of even being afraid.' --- Now, into the novel itself. Kiersten White does a fantastic job of taking a well-known character yet introducing new aspects while staying true to the known Obi-Wan Kenobi. Now, this novel seems to be aimed more toward middle grade/young adults, and the maturity of Obi-Wan reflects this. Taking place long before The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan is a struggling padawan who is at odds with his master, Qui-Gon Jinn. Though dedicated to the ways of the Jedi, Obi-Wan is seen struggling with connecting to the force. He feels as if he is being held back by his master and is not able to go on missions like his fellow padawans. In the Star Wars films and shows (and yes, I have yet to watch Obi-Wan Kenobi—don’t worry, I’ll watch it soon) we see an already trained Obi-Wan, one who is connected to the force and sure in his abilities. However—though staying true to Obi-Wan’s nature—Padawan explores the uncertainty that Obi-Wan struggles with while growing up in the Jedi Order. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Obi-Wan struggle with connecting to the force, since it seems in the movies that he has no problem doing so. His battle with his training made his character that much more deep and realistic. I have to mention that I found it funny how similar young Obi-Wan is to Anakin in Attack of the Clones. Around 28:10 in Attack of the Clones, Anakin complains to Padmé that Obi-Wan is holding him back. In Padawan, Obi-Wan complains through his narration that Qui-Gon is holding him back. It is eerily similar but also funny since Obi-Wan and Anakin’s relationship is like that of father-son, as Anakin says at 22:00 in Attack of the Clones. Gosh, I feel like I’m writing an essay and stating my evidence. But, I love Star Wars so why not? I think it is worth mentioning that as long as you have seen the prequels, you should have no problem understanding the events of this novel. The story starts off at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant where Obi-Wan is being rebellious and skipping meditation (the Jedi equivalent of not eating your vegetables, I’m sure). From there, he discovers that Orla Jareni left the way to an unexplored planet called Lenahra. It is inhabited by a group of seemingly force-sensitive kids around the same age as Obi-Wan, though some are younger. Kiersten White describes a rich and lively planet that is sometimes hostile to its inhabitants, yet sometimes not. As Obi-Wan navigates this new and supposedly deadly world, he also develops his connection to the force and his strength in using it. He vows to help the people he has met on Lenahra, even if his return to Coruscant reveals his expulsion from the Jedi Order. Staying true to his character, Obi-Wan wishes only to help those and bring some lightness to even the furthest corner of the galaxy. The plot itself was excellent yet had more to do with internal struggles and evolution than that of Star Wars‘ iconic battles and light saber fights. If you go into this novel expecting loads of action and battles, you might be disappointed. However, I found the exploration of Obi-Wan’s doubts and fears to be crucial to understanding the character further. There was plenty of action towards the end of the novel, but as I said, this is not an action-focused story. Obi-Wan’s meddling with the mystery behind Lenahra causes some issues for him and the inhabitants which he must face if he wishes to truly help the planet and its people. Also, throwing it back to Attack of the Clones once more, Padawan mentions how Obi-Wan came to know Dex, which I thought was a clever easter egg and was a detail that got me excited. Overall, I had a lot of fun with this novel and enjoyed its pleasant new characters and exploration of Obi-Wan’s character and background. I highly recommend it to any Star Wars fan, especially those who love Obi-Wan Kenobi. It’s essentially a Star Wars coming-of-age, which I love. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 23, 2022
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Jul 23, 2022
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Jul 09, 2022
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Hardcover
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1639883878
| 9781639883875
| 1639883878
| 3.16
| 61
| unknown
| Jun 01, 2022
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liked it
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Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- A huge thank you to Andy Fr Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- A huge thank you to Andy Frye and Atmosphere Press for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I am unable to provide a full list of content warnings due to my inability to finish reading the novel. Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading. --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 3/5 Stars Characters: 3/5 Stars Writing: 4/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Plot: 2/5 Stars Memorability: 4/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // I enjoyed many aspects of this novel but also was slightly disappointed with the execution of this 90s-filled time travel story. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Atmosphere Press Page Count: 356 pages Release Date: June 1, 2022 Series: None Tag: Fiction, Adult, Science fiction, LGBTQ+, Music, Time travel, 90s --- // Review // Promising a nostalgia-filled story for those fortunate enough to experience the 90s, Ninety Days in the 90s follows the time-traveling excursions of Darby, a music store owner who just wants to relive the past. I was fairly excited about this novel because although I was born after the 90s, I still love music and movies from the decade. A lot of the novel focuses on the pop culture of the time, even from the very start. This has its pluses and minuses, as the references to 90s culture at the start of the novel seem to take away from the actual 90s setting during the rest of the book. The setting was by far the best part of Ninety Days in the 90s. Darby wishes to redo her past in order to change her future and is able to do so by traveling to Chicago in 1996 through the Grey Train. The Grey Train was explained fairly well and was an interesting part of the book. It was nice to know how the time travel aspect worked. Darby is thrust back into the 90s to reunite with old lovers, friends, jobs, and music. Unfortunately, I found that the plot felt repetitive and slow-moving. Darby traveling back in time is perhaps the most exciting part of the book to me. I will say that I cannot judge the second half of the novel, but the first half was definitely not for me. Though I enjoyed the 90s vibe and culture, I didn’t feel like anything important to the book occurred within the first half of the book. Though the idea that Darby traveled back in time itself is spectacular, the events of the novel seemed to have little to no effect on Darby’s character. I wish that the leap back in time would have contributed to Darby’s journey of self-discovery and reconciling herself with the past. It would have made her character more enjoyable and realistic while also adding meaning to the plot. I called this book quits past the halfway point because it felt like nothing was going anywhere, and I accepted that the book just wasn’t for me. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t the target audience, but I had a hard time reading this book. Like I said though, there were definitely things that I really enjoyed and loved reading about. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 25, 2022
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Jul 30, 2022
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Jul 07, 2022
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Paperback
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1534484361
| 9781534484368
| 1534484361
| 4.02
| 2,024
| Apr 19, 2022
| Apr 19, 2022
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it was ok
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Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- Thank you to Margaret K. Mc Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- Thank you to Margaret K. McElderry Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. I am unable to provide a full list of content warnings since I was unable to finish reading this novel. --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 2/5 Stars Characters: 2/5 Stars Writing: 2/5 Stars Setting: 4/5 Stars Plot: 1/5 Stars Memorability: 2/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // While I had been looking forward to reading this novel, I was ultimately disappointed by the slow pace and could not get interested in the book. I didn’t finish reading Sofi and the Bone Song, but perhaps that’s because of a recent book slump. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books Page Count: 416 pages Release Date: April 19, 2022 Series: None Tags: Fiction, Young adult, Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+, Lesbian, Music, Magic --- // Review // Recently I have found it very difficult to enjoy reading, so my thoughts on this novel may not be typical. I’ve heard great things about Sofi and the Bone Song and was very excited to receive an ARC. I looked forward to reading this book, but as I started to read it I became very disinterested in the story. The characters and plot did not necessarily hold my attention and I was very bored. However, it would not be fair of me to condemn this novel when I didn’t even finish it. This is why, unlike my other DNFs, I gave this novel two stars rather than one. It was very promising, I was just unable to get into the novel. It is noteworthy that the setting and world that Tooley created are magnificent and clearly well put together. As I said, this book just did not hold my attention. --- // Wrap Up // I recommend this to people who enjoy fantasy. Just because I wasn’t able to enjoy this book doesn’t mean you will be unable to. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 16, 2022
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Apr 04, 2022
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Dec 31, 2021
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Hardcover
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1534493794
| 9781534493797
| 1534493794
| 4.08
| 70,754
| Apr 05, 2022
| Apr 05, 2022
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it was ok
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Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- Thank you to Simon & Schust Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- Thank you to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I am unable to provide a full list of content warnings due to being unable to finish this book. Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading. --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 2/5 Stars Characters: 1/5 Stars Writing: 2/5 Stars Setting: 2/5 Stars Plot: 3/5 Stars Memorability: 2/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // The first book I read by Rachael Lippincott was Five Feet Apart, and I loved it! So, I was very excited when I found out that Lippincott was writing a sapphic novel with their wife. I had high anticipations for She Gets the Girl but was, unfortunately, let down. Whether it’s my general dislike for rom-coms or whether the unrealistic characters threw me off, I was unable to finish reading this novel. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Page Count: 384 pages Release Date: April 5, 2022 Series: None Tags: Fiction, Young adult, Contemporary, Romance, LGBTQ+, Enemies to lovers, Lesbian, Rom-com (Romantic comedy), Sapphic --- // Characters // One of my least favorite parts of this novel is its characters. I so desperately wanted to love the characters, yet they were incredibly too unrealistic and unrelatable for me to connect with or care about them. Told in dual-POV, She Gets the Girl follows the stories of Alex and Molly, two gay women both leaving home to go to college in Pittsburgh. Just before leaving her hometown, Alex breaks up with her girlfriend as the result of an argument over Alex’s unwillingness to commit to a relationship. Molly on the other hand has a crush on Cora Myers, a girl who is totally cool yet practically doesn’t know Molly exists. From the start it is very obvious that Molly and Alex will get together, it’s just a matter of how it happens. Before reading, I was looking forward to the hate-love relationship between the two that was promised. Unfortunately, even before the two characters met, I found myself indifferent to their lives and relationships. They both seemed dull, like there was something crucial missing to them that would have made them lively and realistic. --- // Writing and Setting // The writing is not as compelling as I would have preferred. It’s your typical YA contemporary novel. I found it appealing that the events of She Gets the Girl take place at a college, rather than high school (which seems to be very popular with YA novels). It was something fresh in an otherwise dull novel. --- // Plot // The plot was what kept me reading as long as I did. I was struggling to get through the book, as it is very slow-paced and disjointed at first (for the first 20% of the book, at least). I only ended up reading to the 20% mark, because I was just so bored. However, I read that far for the promise of two new college students trying to get girlfriends but falling in love with each other instead. I was excited when I first got the chance to read this book because of the premise, however, so many other issues were hard to overlook and made this book unreadable (for me at least). --- // Overall Review // I’m not opposed to trying to read this novel again another time. There wasn’t necessarily anything wrong with it, it just wasn’t for me. I find that I hardly ever like contemporary novels, and especially not rom-coms. If I do, there has to be something unique about the book, it seems. Regardless, if you are a fan of Rachael Lippincott’s works and are looking for a sapphic rom-com to read, She Gets the Girl will be perfect for you. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 04, 2022
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Jan 16, 2022
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Nov 06, 2021
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Hardcover
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1633375099
| 9781633375093
| 1633375099
| 4.09
| 784
| Sep 06, 2021
| Sep 06, 2021
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it was amazing
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Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- A huge thank you to Boyle & Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- A huge thank you to Boyle & Dalton and Natalie Symons for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. // Book Content Warnings: death, murder, kidnapping, pedophilia, alcoholism, mental illness, self-harm, eating disorder, attempted drowning, homophobia (slurs), racism, sexual harassment, sexual assault, violence // – There are some graphic and disturbing scenes in this novel, so please educate yourself on the content warnings before reading, as I might have missed some. --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 5/5 Stars Plot: 5/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Stars Writing: 5/5 Stars Memorability: 5/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // Lies in Bone is a curiosity-inducing novel that examines the fragility of humanity and truth through the lens of a teen in the 80’s. Full of family secrets, lies, and discoveries, Natalie Symon’s thrilling novel took me on an electrifying ride with its vulnerable and realistic characters. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Boyle & Dalton Page Count: 402 pages Release Date: September 6, 2021 Series: None Genre: Fiction, Adult, Young adult, Coming of age, Mystery, Romance, Suspense, Thriller, LGBTQ+ --- // Book Description (from Goodreads) // Told by a tart-tongued young woman with a love of Bruce Springsteen, Lies in Bone is at once a mystery and coming-of-age tale fueled by dark secrets involving love, murder, and the truths worth lying for. On Halloween 1963, eleven-year-old Chuck Coolidge and his brother Danny are lost in a toxic smog covering the steel town of Slippery Elm, Pennsylvania. When the smog lifts, half the town is sick and twenty people are dead. And Danny is missing. Now, over twenty years later, Chuck’s teenage daughter Frank plots escape from this “busted and disgusted” town. When a murdered child is found in the river, investigators link the crime to the disappearance of Danny in ’63, and Frank’s life is turned upside down. In the face of her worst fears, she must uncover her family’s dark past if she wants to keep her sister Boots from the hands of The State. Led to discover the unimaginable truth about Danny’s disappearance, Lies in Bone culminates in a shocking eleventh-hour reveal and an emotionally charged finale. --- // Characters // Lies in Bone boasts a large cast of realistic and complex characters who are utterly human. I felt such deep connections to many of the characters, especially Frank, the main character whose story Lies in Bone tells. Frances (Frank) Coolidge is a fiery, determined, and responsible teen whose family is anything but functional. She’s the best big sister who’s always looking out for her little sister, Boots. Frank’s entire life is thrown upside down when her family moves to Slippery Elm to take care of her grandmother. Frank meets her best friend Ray, the taboo gay kid in a small town, and begins to adjust to her future in a dreary small town in a house full of secrets. Frank learns things she never knew about her family, specifically that she has a missing uncle, Danny. Her dad, Chuck, apparently neglected to tell her that on Halloween 1963, his little brother went missing and his own mother thought he was responsible. Frank begins her own investigation into the family secrets that her grandmother and father refuse to discuss. She refuses to give up until the very end, she is determined to solve a 20+-year-old cold case because it is just too personal. One of my favorite characters, Ray, is Frank’s best friend. I loved the realistic inclusion of a gay and POC character, and the criticism of homophobia. Ray is a relief in the continual darkness of a small town in the ’80s that is wrapped up in murders and disappearances. Frank’s mysterious and seriously messed up father, Chuck Coolidge, is a bundle of good and bad. I have mixed feelings about him, just as Frank does. To be honest, Frank, the 16-year-old, is more responsible than her father. To give Chuck some grace, he was looked upon as the murderer of two young boys at a young age, one of the boys being his own little brother. But still, his actions are questionable. Now, while I may love Ray, I love Boots a whole lot more. She is the most adorable character who is just along for the crazy and disturbing ride. I felt so sorry for Boots, as she is a young child experiencing the horrendous events in this novel. One of the aspects I most admire about this book’s characters is the growth all of them undergo. I was able to watch Frank and Boots grow up and adapt amidst the chaos. --- // Writing and Setting // The novel was full of fast-paced and slower-paced sections that balanced out perfectly and created a thrilling adventure. It was dark, twisted, terrifying, and disturbing. I loved reading about the dark corners of the small town of Slippery Elms during the late ’80s. The novel takes place in the ’80s (I love, love, love media set in the ’70s-’80s) in the decrepit small town of Slippery Elms that has a history of child disappearances and murders. The atmosphere was chilling and sinister, adding more to the suspense of the story. --- // Plot // There were so many twists-and-turns and ups-and-downs throughout Lies in Bone that I was shaking with anticipation. Discovering answers to questions burning in my mind was satisfying yet torturous since more mysteries were introduced along the way. Frank describes the moment her life began to plummet into darkness as the ominous move to Slippery Elms to take care of her grandmother. The start of the novel builds up deliciously to an apogee full of thrills. Murder, disappearances, family secrets, town secrets, crooked characters, and shady events can all be found within the pages of this anxiety-inducing novel. I truly do not want to say much about specific events in this novel, as every little discovery was a magnificent discovery for me and I do not want to ruin that experience for everyone else. --- // Overall Review // Lies in Bone is one of the most thrilling novels I have read in a long time. It has paved its way onto my list of favorite books. It was perfect in many aspects and kept me intrigued until the very end. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 02, 2021
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Nov 12, 2021
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Oct 05, 2021
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Paperback
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3.55
| 3,670
| Jan 25, 2022
| Jan 25, 2022
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it was ok
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Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. // Content warnings: death, disease, guns, violence // – I am unable to provide a full list of content warnings since I did not finish reading this novel. --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 2/5 Stars Plot: 1/5 Stars Setting: 2/5 Stars Characters: 1/5 Stars Writing: 4/5 Stars Memorability: 1/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // While I wish I could say that this novel lived up to my expectations, but I, unfortunately, cannot. Just like This Is Where It Ends, the novel falls short on its diversity, plot, and realness. I ended up not finishing the novel after being stuck at 55% for a long time. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire Page Count: 320 pages Release Date: January 25, 2022 Series: None Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Science fiction, Suspense, Contemporary, LGBTQ+ --- // Book Description (via Goodreads) // From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of This Is Where It Ends comes another heartbreaking, emotional and timely page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The Hope Juvenile Treatment Center is ironically named. No one has hope for the delinquent teenagers who have been exiled there; the world barely acknowledges that they exist. Then the guards at Hope start acting strange. And one day…they don’t show up. But when the teens band together to make a break from the facility, they encounter soldiers outside the gates. There’s a rapidly spreading infectious disease outside, and no one can leave their houses or travel without a permit. Which means that they’re stuck at Hope. And this time, no one is watching out for them at all. As supplies quickly dwindle and a deadly plague tears through their ranks, the group has to decide whom among them they can trust and figure out how they can survive in a world that has never wanted them in the first place. --- // Characters // The novel is split between the POV’s of three characters: Logan, Grace, and Emerson. Logan is the sister of Leah, and both of them are living at Hope Juvenile Treatment Center, a place for troubled teens. Emerson is a non-binary teen also at this center. And Grace? I honestly forget who she is as a character. This is a major issue with the novel: most if not all the characters are flat, unrealistic, and tokenized. So are their relationships. If This Is Where It Ends was performative, At The End of Everything was even more so. The first chapter is pretty much dedicated to going through all of the characters at Hope and naming off their gender, sexuality, and race. During the first chapter I could already tell that the characters would be sloppily represented. This seems to be an issue I have with Nijkamp’s novels: the sloppy representation. But besides the characters’ identities, I didn’t relate to or become attached to any of them. They were all flat and unrealistic, making it hard to sympathize with them in their hardships. --- // Writing and Setting // This novel is split between 3 POV’s: Grace, Emerson, and Logan. The writing is descriptive but basic. The novel takes place in a world where a mutation of the Black Plague is ravaging the world. It seems as if this situation was meant to reflect but be a more dramatized version of our world today and the pandemic. The setting was decent but left me unsatisfied and not thrilled. For a suspense novel there was hardly any tension. The main characters are troubled teenagers who have been sent to Hope Juvenile Treatment Center, a place that (not surprisingly) is not really treatment oriented. --- // Plot // After an unusual day at Hope, the guards abandon the kids without a mention of why. The kids ‘escape’ and come in contact with a blockade at the entrance of the nearest town, preventing them from truly escaping their nicely named prison. They discover that the world is currently at the mercy of a black plague mutation. At the plague begins to infect those within Hope, the kids must band together to take care of one another and live. I cannot speak for the second half of the novel, as I DNFed at 55%, but the first half of the novel was slow-moving, not compelling, and chaotic. There was so much going on, yet I felt as if the story dragged. And a lot of the story was pointless in terms of the kids’ survivals. --- // Overall Review // I gave this novel two stars because it has promise, but it was just not for me. With lazy diversity, chaotic yet slow story-lines, and flat characters, I couldn’t continue reading this novel past 55%. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || TikTok || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 26, 2021
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Sep 08, 2021
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Jul 31, 2021
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Hardcover
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1529357691
| 9781529357691
| B08RDBLCQ3
| 3.71
| 304
| Aug 19, 2021
| Aug 19, 2021
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it was amazing
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Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- Thank you to Hodder Studio and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in ex Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- Thank you to Hodder Studio and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All quotes are taken from The Origins of Iris by Beth Lewis. // Content warnings: suicide, abuse (emotional and physical), sexual assault, insanity, language, homophobia, misogyny, and violence // Trigger warnings and spoilers are marked. --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 5/5 Stars Plot: 5/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Stars Writing: 5/5 Stars Memorability: 5/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // There is so much to say about this heavy and realistic novel that deals with topics uncommonly talked about. It is one of my favorite novels because of it’s ability to convey deep, heavy, and horrific topics in a way that is bearable and yet truthful. --- "They say love is blind. Blind to white lies and small failings. Blind to pain. Blind to cruelty. They are right. I was blind to it all." --- // Other Information // Publisher: Hodder Studio Page Count: 336 pages Release Date: August 19, 2021 Series: None Genre: Fiction, Adult, LGBTQ+, Thriller --- // Book Description (via Goodreads) // Author of the critically-acclaimed debut The Wolf Road, Beth Lewis returns with her brand new novel The Origins of Iris where Wild meets Sliding Doors. ‘I opened my eyes and the woman wearing my face opened hers at the same time.’ Iris flees New York City, and her abusive wife Claude, for the Catskill Mountains. When she was a child, Iris and her father found solace in the beauty and wilderness of the forest; now, years later, Iris has returned for time and space to clear her head, and to come to terms with the mistakes that have led her here. But what Iris doesn’t expect in her journey of survival and self-discovery is to find herself – literally. Trapped in a neglected cabin deep in the mountains, Iris is grudgingly forced to come face to face with a seemingly prettier, happier and better version of herself. Other Iris made different choices in life and love. But is she all she seems? Can she be trusted? What is she hiding? As a storm encroaches, threatening both their lives, time is running out for them to discover why they have been brought together, and what it means for their futures. An important, searing novel about one woman’s journey in fleeing an abusive relationship and confronting the secrets of her past. --- // Characters // Lewis’ characters are flawed, but in that way they are human. The novel follows the journey of Iris/Jane to the center of her discourse; her grief, guilt, scars, past and future. Iris is married to Claude, her abuser and wife; her love and her pain. As I mentioned, all of the characters are flawed and most horrible people, including Iris. *TRIGGER WARNING AND SPOILER* (view spoiler)[ It is revealed that Iris rapes Claude after being abused by her for many years throughout their marriage. (hide spoiler)] For a large portion of the novel, Iris is alone in the woods where she has escaped to discover happiness and what she has been missing from life since meeting Claude. This allows the reader to slowly descend in Iris’ “madness” with her. The way the novel is written helps the reader become ingrained into the story as a spectator, a fly on the wall. --- "I had broken my life. Snapped it clean in two. Into a then and now, a before and after. All because I’d loved the wrong woman." --- // Writing and Setting // The thing that makes The Origins of Iris so unique is the way that the novel presents issues like abuse within LGBTQ+ marriages. I have never before read a novel or seen a show/movie where this topic is discussed. It is a very real issue and I’m so glad that this novel handles it so well. The novel flashes back and forth between ‘Before’ and ‘After’. ‘Before’ her and Claude’s relationship reaches its peak, and ‘After’. Iris’ world is heavy and dark, full of pain, abuse, grief, and guilt. The atmosphere of the novel is super heavy, sucking the reader into the black hole that is Iris’ situation. I think what really makes this novel a masterpiece is it’s openness. And the ending, I must say, is brilliant. The way it is left open for the reader to interpret Iris’ future is a great decision on the author’s part. --- "I wanted out. Wanted oblivion and quiet darkness. wanted an end to the pain and guilt and fear. My life had been so full of fear and sadness for so long." --- // Plot // The Origins of Iris is obviously a heavy novel. And the journey through this heaviness is fairly paced. I definitely see how the novel could appear slow to some, as Iris is alone for all of the ‘After’ chapters. Iris ventures to the woods where she used to come with her father, who she had a difficult relationship with. Not only is she trying to deal with her and Claude’s relationship and her guilt over her father’s suicide, but she is also trying to find herself. *SPOILER* (view spoiler)[In the process, she quite literally finds herself, a different version of her with a different life full of different regrets. This was an interesting twist, and it’s sort of left up to the reader to interpret. Did Iris’ interactions with Iris really occur, or was it just a spiral into insanity? It’s up to you, just like Iris’ future. (hide spoiler)] --- "I could end it all right now. I should. But then she’d win. And no one will ever know what she did." --- // Overall Review // I firmly believe that The Origins of Iris is a novel everyone should read. It is twisted, dark, horrifying, yet a prime example of the atrocities of humankind. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || TikTok || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 17, 2021
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Aug 21, 2021
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Jul 22, 2021
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Kindle Edition
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unknown
| 3.97
| 6,314
| Nov 01, 2021
| Nov 01, 2021
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it was amazing
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Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- Thank you so much to Lake Union Publishing, Amazon Publishing, and Paulette Kennedy for p Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- Thank you so much to Lake Union Publishing, Amazon Publishing, and Paulette Kennedy for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. // Content warning: self-harm, suicidal ideation, implied incest, child abuse (non-sexual), sexual abuse, domestic abuse, marital rape, verbal abuse, consensual sexual content, forced captivity, murder, racism, assault, mild violence, mild drug use, alcoholism, arson, death, drowning, child and pregnancy loss, war, blood, sexism, misogyny, abandonment, toxic power dynamics // – thank you so much to Paulette Kennedy for providing a full list of content warnings!!! --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 5/5 Stars Plot: 5/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Stars Writing: 5/5 Stars Memorability: 5/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // Parting the Veil is the perfect mix of romance, horror, mystery, and historical fiction. Haunting and dark, Paulette Kennedy’s debut novel is an excellent journey to the discovery of family secrets that threaten the world of Eliza Sullivan and her goal of freedom. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Lake Union Publishing Page Count: 387 pages Release Date: November 1, 2021 Series: None Genre: Fiction, Historical fiction, Gothic, Thriller, Horror, Romance, Adult, LGBTQ+ --- // Book Description (via Goodreads) // Some houses hold secrets that are meant to be kept forever… When Eliza Sullivan inherits an estate from a recently deceased aunt, she leaves behind a grievous and guilt-ridden past in New Orleans for rural England and a fresh start. Eliza arrives at her new home and finds herself falling for the mysterious lord of Havenwood, Malcolm Winfield. Despite the sinister rumors that surround him, Eliza is drawn to his melancholy charm and his crumbling, once-beautiful mansion. With enough love, she thinks, both man and manor could be repaired. Not long into their marriage, Eliza fears that she should have listened to the locals. There’s something terribly wrong at Havenwood Manor: Forbidden rooms. Ghostly whispers in the shadows. Strangely guarded servants. And Malcolm’s threatening moods, as changeable as night and day. As Eliza delves deeper into Malcolm’s troubling history, the dark secrets she unearths gain a frightening power. Has she married a man or a monster? For Eliza, uncovering the truth will either save her or destroy her. --- // Characters // Parting the Veil follows Eliza Sullivan (the badass mc) and her journey of love, self-forgiveness, and freedom. Just a quick mention, I loved that even though the novel takes place in England in 1899, Paulette Kennedy did not hesitate to represent the LGBTQ+ community. Eliza is not only a badass lady in the 1890’s, but also bisexual. A large portion of the novel is dedicated to her romance with the Lord of Havenwood, Malcolm Winfield. As kindhearted and romantic as he seems, some dark secret is growing beneath the surface of his character that Eliza is forced to face. Malcolm was such a complex character, that I found myself drawn into trying to figure him out. Kennedy’s characters were lively and complex, perfectly written for the historical romance and thriller novel that she concocted. Not to mention the romance that was written, it’ll leave you absolutely breathless. --- // Writing and Setting // The author’s writing is just absolutely perfect and turns the atmosphere of the novel into someone sinister. I loved the writing style that Kennedy exhibited, and am so excited for their future works. As I mentioned, Parting the Veil takes place in 1899 in England. Eliza has moved there to claim her deceased aunt’s estate and potentially find more freedom than America offered, but in doing so she finds that the society of England is perhaps even more inhibiting. Like I said earlier, the atmosphere is perfect for the novel. It’s sinister, dark, and mysterious. --- // Plot // The plot was perhaps my favorite part of the novel (hard to have a favorite part when the entire novel is perfection.) The amount of twists and turns Kennedy wrote had me sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation. I’m not even kidding you, I literally stayed up til 1 in the morning on vacation reading this novel because I could not stop. The most amazing thing about the mysterious plot Kennedy wrote, is that I had no idea what was going to happen. I was as in the dark as Eliza the entire novel. It takes a true master of mystery to completely deceive your reader and leave them in the unknown. --- // Overall Review // I don’t have enough good words to say about Parting the Veil. It is by far one of my favorite novels, and just for reference, I am not a huge fan of romance or historical fiction. And yet, I absolutely loved it and recommended it to literally all of my friends and family. I desperately need someone to discuss this novel with, everyone. It was just too good. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || TikTok || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 24, 2021
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Jul 26, 2021
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Jun 28, 2021
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Paperback
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0062820257
| 9780062820259
| 0062820257
| 4.22
| 65,678
| May 05, 2020
| May 05, 2020
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it was amazing
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Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. //TW: transphobia, drugs// ~Quick Statistics~ Overall: 5/5 Stars Plot: 5/5 Stars Setting: 5/ Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. //TW: transphobia, drugs// ~Quick Statistics~ Overall: 5/5 Stars Plot: 5/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Stars Writing: 5/5 Stars Memorability: 5/5 Stars ~Quick Review~ I cannot express in words how beautiful, representative, and breathtaking this novel is. I would have finished Felix Ever After in a day had I not had other things to do, this novel is just excellent. Felix Ever After voiced so many issues that I’m sure many people have struggled with also. Felix Ever After is a magnificent example of finding and loving yourself, even when the world says you should do otherwise. ~Other Information~ Publisher: Balzer + Bray Page Count: 354 pages ~Book Description (via Goodreads)~ Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle.... But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself. ~Characters~ Felix is a queer, black, and trans male trying to navigate his way through the confusion of relationships, questioning one’s identity, and transphobia. Personally, I found Felix very relatable and found it comforting that the issues he struggles with throughout the novel are also issues that I struggle with. A large portion of the novel is focused on Felix’s parents and how accepting they are of his identity. Felix struggles to understand why his father won’t use his name, but also helped pay for top surgery, etc. Unaccepting parents is a huge thing within the LGBTQIA+ community, as is transphobia and homophobia within our own community. Felix Ever After tackles this topic as well, and Felix has to try and filter through who he really is friends with based upon how they treat him and others. Besides this, Felix is lonely. He wants to fall in love and have a connection with someone (who doesn’t?) The problem for Felix is that he feels unlovable because of his gender, sexuality, race, etc. This idea of being unlovable fuels Felix to try and find self-love, and to find that special someone who will love him. Ezra, Felix’s best friend (and potential love interest, no spoilers I promise!), was very likable throughout the novel. I rooted for Felix and Ezra every single chapter they had together, and the slow-burn, ah! Ezra comes from a wealthy (but kind of rough) family. As Felix’s best friend, Ezra takes every chance he gets to protect him from the transphobic people at St. Cat’s, their school. Other characters in the novel include: Declan - a jerk of the highest order, but Felix is starting to wonder… could he be something more? Marisol - Felix’s ex, a feminist yet a transphobe… also a jerk. Leah - absolute sweetheart of a friend who sticks by Felix’s side at his worst. Austin - Leah’s cousin who has a crush on Ezra, but is also secretly a piece of wet cabbage who I’d gladly throw in the trash. ~Writing and Setting~ Callender tackles some difficult and hefty, yet very important topics in this novel. Discussions of transphobia, homophobia, racism, and privilege are prominent and well represented throughout the novel. Besides this, Callender’s writing is just perfect for the feel of Felix Ever After; it gives the book a raw, emotional feel to it that brought me to tears in a few parts. Felix Ever After takes place in New York during modern times, and all of the characters listed go to St. Catherine’s. ~Plot~ I loved the flow and feel of this book. It was chaotic and it was beautiful. The chaos of the plot perfectly reflects Felix’s feelings about himself, his relationships, and the world. When you don’t know how you feel about yourself and your identity, the world feels like it’s crashing down around you - this is the feel you get as you read the novel. ~Overall Review~ Felix Ever After touched my heart and holds a special place among the books I’ve read. It’s just so raw, and full of emotion, life, anger, pain, love, sadness, and happiness that you cannot miss reading this novel. Amazon | Author's Website ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 04, 2021
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Apr 14, 2021
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Mar 17, 2021
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Hardcover
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4.07
| 42,881
| Jun 02, 2020
| Jun 02, 2020
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really liked it
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Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- // Content warning: death of a parent, homophobia, racism, bullying, panic attacks, be Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- // Content warning: death of a parent, homophobia, racism, bullying, panic attacks, being outed, medical emergency // --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 4/5 Stars Plot: 5/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Characters: 3/5 Stars Writing: 5/5 Stars Memorability: 5/5 stars --- // Quick Review // You Should See Me in a Crown is an authentic novel about finding yourself, happiness, and a good relationship. In a town where being yourself (even in 2020) is a challenge, Liz Lighty manages to make her prom an event to remember. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Scholastic Press Page Count: 336 pages Release Date: June 2, 2020 Series: None Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Realistic fiction, Romance --- // Book Description (via Goodreads) // Liz Lighty has always believed she’s too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it’s okay — Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor. But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz’s plans come crashing down . . . until she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen. There’s nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington. The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She’s smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true? --- // Characters // The depth and liveliness of the characters is incredibly well-written. The story follows Liz Lighty, a black and queer teen whose dream is to get into Pennington for her mom. Liz does her best to fit in at Campbell’s high school where she’s an outsider. And while this might normally work, Liz now has to stand out if she wants to earn the scholarship money to allow her to follow her dreams. Along the way she meets Mack, the super cool redhead who also happens to be running for prom queen. One thing that I really enjoyed about this novel is how realistic and sweet Liz and Mack’s relationship is. The build up to their romance is perfect and full of love. Too often WLW relationships in novels or movies are flimsy and not well though out, however this was not the case with You Should See Me in a Crown. Besides Mack and Liz’s relationship, which I’m sure we’re all here for, the other characters were not very complex. They all seemed to be your stereotypical side characters, friends, and enemies. With basic side characters, it made this book have the feeling of watching an early 2000’s movie, just much gayer. The only side character that I really felt had depth was Jordan Jennings, Liz’s ex-friend. --- // Writing and Setting // If you are a fan of Kacen Callender’s writing style, then you will definitely be a fan of Leah Johnson’s. It is simplistic yet unapologetically teenager-esque. And while some may not like the cheesiness and cliche that comes along with prom and teenage romance, I loved it in this novel. The novel takes place in 2020 in Campbell, Indiana. Campbell is a small town where prom is the ultimate event of the year and where bleached blonde girls claw each other to win prom queen. --- // Plot // I really enjoyed the plot of this novel, and it was one of my favorite aspects of the book (besides Mack and Liz’s relationship). Liz’s dream is to go to Pennington, just like her mom wanted her to. While Liz’s mom isn’t around anymore, unfortunately due to sickle cell disease, Liz still wants to carry on with her original plan. It’s only when Liz doesn’t get the scholarship to Pennington that she starts to panic. When her brother, Robbie, insists that she run for prom queen to win the prize, a scholarship, Liz enlists her group of friends to help her. With the help of her impossibly determined friends, Liz begins to climb the social ladder and step into the light, something her introvert self is not used to. What Liz doesn’t realize though, is that in a town not too accepting of those different than them, Liz might just find that special someone. Mack is a fiery and enthusiastic redhead who is new in Campbell, and Liz can’t help but notice how much she is beginning to like her. The growth of Liz throughout the novel is very apparent. From introvert to extrovert overnight, Liz is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her dreams, even if it means tearing down a system that benefits the queens of the school. I loved that this novel shows the complexity in one’s life. We all have obligations, relationships, and passions that intermingle and conflict, and sometimes we have to choose between them. High school is already hard enough, yet Liz has to deal with her future, her present, and her past all at one time. She has to make sure she can get into college, spend time with her friends and family, build a relationship with Mack, care for her little brother, and discover herself. Liz is strong, and it’s something I admire. --- // Overall Review // While cliché at times, You Should See Me in a Crown is a cute gay romance about being unapologetically yourself, even if the world around you won’t appreciate your beauty. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || TikTok || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 07, 2021
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Oct 08, 2021
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Aug 12, 2020
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Hardcover
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149262246X
| 9781492622468
| 149262246X
| 3.68
| 147,098
| Jan 05, 2016
| Jan 05, 2016
|
liked it
|
Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- // Content warning: death, mass shooting, sexual assault, physical abuse, suicide, hom Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- // Content warning: death, mass shooting, sexual assault, physical abuse, suicide, homophobia // --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 3/5 Stars Plot: 2/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Characters: 2/5 Stars Writing: 4/5 Stars Memorability: 4/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // I’ve been wanting to read this novel for well over two years, but never got around to it. I had heard great things and was looking forward to reading a novel with diversity that also deals well with heavy topics. However, I found that instead of the 5 star read I expected, I was fairly disappointed. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire Page Count: 282 pages Release Date: January 5, 2016 Series: None Genre: Fiction, Young adult, LGBTQ+, Realistic fiction, Suspense, Contemporary, Thriller --- // Book Description (via Goodreads) // Everyone has a reason to fear the boy with the gun… 10:00 a.m.: The principal of Opportunity, Alabama’s high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve. 10:02 a.m.: The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class. 10:03: The auditorium doors won’t open. 10:05: Someone starts shooting. In 54 minutes, four students must confront their greatest hopes, and darkest fears, as they come face-to-face with the boy with the gun. --- // Characters // This Is Where It Ends is split between the POV’s of four characters: Claire, Tomas, Sylvia, and Autumn. Tomas and Sylvia are siblings, Autumn and Sylvia are dating, and Claire dated Autumn’s brother, Tyler. One of the things I was most excited for going into this novel was the split POV and the promised diversity. While I think the split POV was perfectly executed and made the novel even more suspenseful, the diversity was lacking. Despite showcasing many different characters with different races, sexualities, and abilities, I felt as if they were all treated as token characters. The author made a point to specifically say who was what, and this made the characters identities feel flimsy and unrealistic. Rather than building up or showing the chemistry between Sylvia and Autumn, Nijkamp instead points out constantly that they are together and ‘meant for one another’. Which, I really wanted to care about their relationship, I really did, but I just couldn’t. As I was reading it was like ‘Oh, nice. They’re together… moving on.’ Despite these issues, however, I was attached and emotionally invested in the main characters and even some of the side characters. I cried during the deaths and was upset/stunned after finishing the novel. One of the biggest issues that is actually somewhat problematic for this novel is the character of Tyler, who *SPOILER* (view spoiler)[is the shooter and Autumn’s brother. (hide spoiler)] Obviously, Tyler’s character is the main antagonist and a huge part of the novel. Which make’s his characteristic flaws even more disappointing. I started reading This Is Where It Ends expecting a realistic (yet fictionalized) and well-handled novel about a school shooting. I had hoped that the novel would deal with this topic well and represent it truthfully. However, this is where Tyler puts a pin in that representation. Tyler is somewhat of an ‘evil’ character, yet he is killing people in the school for what seems to be no reason. The author doesn’t explain how or why Tyler has gotten to the point where he feels all alone and determines shooting up the school is the best way to deal with his demons. It is explained multiple times that Tyler is doing this because he is alone, yet it’s never explained why he feels that way, or what happened to make this so. This lack of his character’s background makes him almost like a Disney villain; he’s doing horrible things yet we’re just supposed to go along and not question why. --- // Writing and Setting // As I mentioned, the use of multiple POV’s add an even more suspenseful and eventually heart-shattering atmosphere to the novel. I read This Is Where It Ends fairly quickly because the writing style was so simplistic yet perfect to carry me along. The setting, I feel, is where this novel excelled. No matter its shortcoming in the characters and plot, This Is Where It Ends is highly suspenseful and terrifying. The novel brings every student’s worst fear to life and throws the reader into a terrifying fictionalized account of a school shooting, a common tragedy in today’s world. --- // Plot // I would like to say that I loved the plot, but one of the best parts is that this novel moves fast. While the it is definitely heartbreaking, the actual events in the novel felt more like a B-list movie than a ‘realistic’ story about a school shooting. Like I said before, Tyler’s character is pretty much cartoonized and a joke, which makes the events in the novel seem unrealistic and almost lazy. There were so many things going on in this novel besides the shooting that it felt as if Nijkamp was trying to pack This Is Where It Ends full of nonsense. A huge portion of the story is focused on Sylvia and Autumn’s relationship, which isn’t authentic anyways. And then another huge portion is focused on Claire and her friend Chris’ potential relationship. Which, by the way, seems pretty ill-timing since Clare and Chris are attempting to get help and Claire’s brother is literally in the school with the shooter? The one thing I will say is that despite its flaws, the promised suspense is definitely there. This Is Where It Ends definitely succeeds as a thriller, but not so much a representation of mass shootings and their victims. --- // Overall Review // There was a lot wrong with this novel, and I was so disappointed after waiting so long to read it. Despite its flaws, This Is Where It Ends was suspenseful and fast-paced, and actually managed to make me shed a tear (I know, I’m an emotionless person when it comes to books). However, I would not recommend reading it if you are looking for a realistically diverse account of a fictionalized school shooting. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || TikTok || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 19, 2021
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Aug 20, 2021
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May 18, 2020
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Hardcover
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1627792120
| 9781627792127
| 1627792120
| 4.46
| 1,102,492
| Sep 29, 2015
| Sep 29, 2015
|
really liked it
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Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- To check content warnings f Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- To check content warnings for all of the books you read, go to the Trigger Warning Database. --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 4.5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Stars Writing: 5/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Plot: 4/5 Stars Memorability: 5/5 Stars --- // Other Information // Publisher: Henry Holt & Company Page Count: 465 pages Release Date: September 29, 2015 Series: Six of Crows #1, Grishaverse #4 Tags: Fiction, Young adult, Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+, Adventure, Magic, High fantasy, Dark fantasy --- // Review // I was very excited to re-enter Bardugo’s Grishaverse by reading Six of Crows. As always, I was late to the game but after finishing the Shadow and Bone trilogy, I was almost unable to hesitate reading the Six of Crows duology. As always, Bardugo’s writing is straight-up magic. She has a way of transporting the reader to the fascinating worlds she creates. Ketterdam, though far different from Ravka, was just as intriguing. I was absolutely in love with this novel’s characters. Kaz Brekker, Inej Ghafa, Jesper Fahey, Wylan, Nina Zenik, and Matthias are all flawed, deep, and clearly thought-out characters. I had no trouble distinguishing them from one another—though I did watch the Netflix show prior to reading this, so maybe that helped. Bardugo truly has a gift for creating lovable yet humanly flawed characters that drive the story forward. The depth of her characters is something I admire. I cannot even choose which character was my favorite. While Six of Crows is primarily a fantasy novel, it has an air of mystery that left me in awe at every turn. Kaz’s aptitude for mysteriousness is undeniable and incredible. Six of Crows was the perfect mixture of action, darkness, and fantasy. I felt most of the pacing was well done, although it did take me a while to read this book. Alas, it was not the book that was lacking… it was my free time. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 2022
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Dec 05, 2022
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May 18, 2020
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Hardcover
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