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1668000229
| 9781668000229
| 1668000229
| 3.53
| 26,596
| Jul 18, 2023
| Jul 18, 2023
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None
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Notes are private!
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0
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not set
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not set
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Apr 23, 2023
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Hardcover
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1662507623
| 9781662507625
| 1662507623
| 4.05
| 16,016
| Feb 01, 2023
| Feb 01, 2023
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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 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 Stars Characters: 4/5 Stars Writing: 5/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Plot: 4/5 Stars Memorability: 4/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // The Witch of Tin Mountain is a beautifully written yet wonderfully chilling novel that left me speechless. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Lake Union Publishing Page Count: 332 pages Release Date: February 1, 2023 Series: None Tags: Fiction, Adult, Fantasy, Thriller, Romance, Horror, Paranormal, Historical fiction, Gothic --- // Review // I was very excited for this novel because I loved Kennedy’s first book, Parting the Veil. Due to my anticipation, I dove into the world of The Witch of Tin Mountain. It absolutely lived up to my expectations. Filled with rich detail and a chilling plot, I was in love with this novel. The book starts with a mysterious scene, one that made me want to know more. As the novel progressed, I found myself sinking further into my chair because of the eeriness and mystery within the pages. The characters were well written and had believable personalities and understandable struggles that brought them to life on the page. I did have some trouble distinguishing between some of the characters due to changes in point-of-view and time periods. However, these changes were necessary for the plot. The setting was stunning. Kennedy has beautifully incorporated the Ozarks into her novel, creating a crackling atmosphere for her characters to journey through. Overall, I loved this novel and look forward to Kennedy’s future works. --- 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 18, 2023
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Jan 31, 2023
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Aug 24, 2022
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Paperback
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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
| 2,023
| 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
| 70,793
| 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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1250790824
| 9781250790828
| 1250790824
| 3.44
| 2,463
| Jul 12, 2022
| Jul 12, 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 Wednesd 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 Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. // Content Warnings: mental and physical abuse, violence, suicide, dental trauma, guns, postpartum depression, drug usage, animal death, blood, and abuse by an alcoholic parent // Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some in my review. --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 3.5/5 Stars Characters: 3/5 Stars Writing: 5/5 Stars Setting: 3/5 Stars Plot: 3/5 Stars Memorability: 4/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // I find it very difficult to review this novel because I am not quite sure how I feel about it. There were many intriguing aspects that I loved but there were also many things that I didn’t enjoy about Wake the Bones. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Wednesday Books Page Count: 320 pages Release Date: July 12, 2022 Series: None Tags: Fiction, Young adult, Fantasy, Contemporary, Romance, Horror, Paranormal, Urban fantasy, Gothic --- // Review // Wake the Bones is an unsettling yet beautifully crafted tale of sacrifice, love, and magic. Full of hidden horrors, the novel follows the story of four young adults navigating a farm that holds an evil power set on their destruction. When I first started this novel, I was absolutely in love with the characters. They were beautifully written. Laurel, Isaac, Ricky, and Garrett all help out on Uncle Jay’s (Laurel’s uncle) farm and have been friends since they were little. The main character, Laurel, lost her mother at a young age and now her whole world is changed drastically by the reveal of true wickedness that has invaded the land she loves and tends to. The relationships between the characters were obvious at the start. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed and adored them. Isaac and Garrett’s and Laurel and Ricky’s relationships were written very well and colorfully. A great aspect of Wake the Bones is that not only is the plot driven by a devil-like threat, but also the character’s inner struggles. Isaac struggles to be himself in the small town the story describes. Although he would like to be with Garrett, he wishes to leave while Garrett wishes to stay and live the life he has thus known. Similarly, Ricky and Laurel’s relationship is along the lines of the enemies-to-lovers trope. Both of these added tensions to the scenes that already felt suspenseful. However, I felt that the character development was somewhat lacking. The story contains magic but also takes place in a world fairly similar. Laurel is somewhat aware of the powers she has, but her friends disregard the validity of her claims… until the second half of the novel. They all of a sudden believe in magic? It felt unrealistic and like it came out of nowhere. Also, though Laurel was already used to having magic, she claimed to be incapable of having control of her powers. Except, when she has to use them in a life or death scenario, all of a sudden she becomes an expert in using the earth to fight off a demon? And it is not as if there was a time skip between her being unable to control her powers and not; this takes place on the same day. I would have liked to of seen her fail a little bit before getting a hang of using her magic. It would have been more realistic and made more sense. I was absolutely in love with the first half of the book. The suspense beautifully built up and made me anticipate when Laurel would finally fight the villain of this story. The first half was solid and well-paced, unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the second half. All of a sudden it felt rushed and did not flow well, or make sense. A big reveal occurs yet there is hardly any time before Laurel is fighting with the ‘devil’. The twist and turns really had no effect on the story because there was no time to see the characters react and adapt to them. This made major parts of the novel lose their emphasis. Overall, there was a lot of potential and good aspects, but the novel fell short in the second half. However, I still enjoyed reading Wake the Bones and would recommend it to those looking for a paranormal novel full of exciting characters, a rural setting, and a similar feeling to Texas Chainsaw Massacre. --- 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 08, 2022
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Jul 17, 2022
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Oct 15, 2021
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Hardcover
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1633375099
| 9781633375093
| 1633375099
| 4.09
| 784
| Sep 06, 2021
| Sep 06, 2021
|
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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B0DWVBSBQF
| 4.69
| 13
| unknown
| Mar 20, 2021
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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. --- Thank you to Witchlight Pre 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 Witchlight Press and Katy Nicholas for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All quotes are taken from The Last Place on Earth by Katy Nicholas. // Book Content Warnings: death, mentions of torture, disease, mentions of sexual assault, mentions of abuse, violence, mentions of suicide // There will be spoilers for the first novel in this review! --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 4/5 Stars Plot: 3.5/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Stars Writing: 5/5 Stars Memorability: 3/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // While not exceeding my love of the first novel in the series, The Last Place on Earth presents a fresh and broad array of challenges that Katy Nicholas’ lovable characters must endure. Nicholas’ latest book is full of suspense, mystery, and high-stakes. After reading As the World Falls Down‘s sequel, I cannot wait for the third novel in this unpredictable series. --- “Trouble was coming, looming on the horizon like a violent storm. And we were directly in its path.” --- // Other Information // Publisher: Witchlight Press Page Count: 330 pages Release Date: March 20, 2021 Series: Cities in Dust #2 Genre: Fiction, Adult, Young adult, Apocalyptic, Post-apocalyptic, Dystopian, Science fiction, Romance --- // Book Description (from Amazon) // Five years on from a devastating virus, Halley Clarke and Nate Reynolds find themselves back in Siren Bay where they fell in love. The peace is soon shattered when Halley begins to experience strange visions. The London community isn’t fairing much better either-Claire is missing, and not even psychic-conduit Eve can find her. Fortunately, Halley’s new abilities prove useful in locating the runaway teen. But what has spooked Claire enough to make her flee? As Halley’s visions intensify, a ghost from her past reaches out. He has the answers Halley so desperately wants. But he also has a story to tell her which comes with a dire warning; the broken man is heading to London, and it will have fatal consequences for someone Halley loves unless they can change the course of the future. --- // Characters // While full of characters from the first novel (Halley, Nate, Eve, Claire, and the rest of the crew), The Last Place on Earth is also full of new and unfamiliar characters that left me curious. Nicholas does a great job of adding fresh twists to their story while still taking their series in one direction. If you are not familiar with Halley, the main character, to-be mama bear, and all-around badass, then you are missing out. Halley was my favorite character in this novel due to her unmistakable motivation to protect everyone she loves. She is utterly selfless, which I really admire. And, would it really be a review of this novel if I didn’t mention Nate? The perfect man for Halley? No, it wouldn’t be. Nate is, again, amazing. He is kind, understanding, smart, and a total sweetheart. I enjoyed how the love between Nate and Halley, even in the darkest of times, shines through. Nicholas does a great job of making their characters realistic and making it feel like Halley and Nate are right in front of you, acting out the chaos that can be found within the novel’s pages. Introduced in this novel, most importantly, is Halley’s father. After reading As the World Falls Down I was desperate to discover the story behind Halley’s heritage, and The Last Place on Earth delivered it to me. The novel actually changes POV’s at one point, about 47% through, to Sam’s, where we learn about his past. His section was my favorite part of the novel because it was something fresh and unexpected. Plus, it answered so many questions that had been left unanswered after the first book. One thing I want to acknowledge is that the characters are incredibly intertwined in this series in the past and present. It becomes especially evident during the switch to Sam’s POV. It’s one of the little things that I thought was really neat. --- “There was no way that we would all come out of this alive. No matter what we did. No matter what scenario played out.” --- // Writing and Setting // Nicholas’ writing has a way of drawing one in with a pleasant introduction, just to engulf you in a world of chaos and horrors. Once again, the world of the Cities in Dust series is magnificent. It is dark and yet bright, despairing yet hopeful. The Last Place on Earth adds more to the world Nicholas created, yet also creates new questions about it. --- // Plot // The book picks off right where As the World Falls Down ends. Halley and Nate have just found Rebecca, Halley’s aunt, dead. Halley is devastated and not ready to return to the rest of the survivors, so she and Nate take a stop at the place where they first met. After some recuperation, Nate and Halley travel back to the rest of the survivors to find that chaos has erupted. Claire is missing, a strange man may bring about the decimation of their family, and Halley keeps seeing spectral figures. Halley must navigate the past to learn how to best fight against foes in the future. Unfortunately, I was frustrated at first with the novel. It took me a while to become really intrigued by the story. For the first half of the book, none of my answers were questioned and more were introduced. The only thing that kept me reading was my need to have my questions answered. However, I am so glad I kept reading because once the POV switched from Halley’s to her father’s I became fascinated with the story. The second half of the novel was my favorite and redeemed my opinion of it. It became fast-paced and answered my questions while also delving deeper into the world of the series. --- “‘Every lifetime, no matter where in the universe you end up, you find each other. Every. Single. Time. Death is nothing but a minor inconvenience to the two of you.'” --- // Overall Review // The Last Place on Earth left me excited for the next novel in this fantastic and intriguing series. --- 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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Sep 24, 2021
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Oct 29, 2021
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Aug 03, 2021
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ebook
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B094XMQBSY
| 3.75
| 57
| unknown
| Jul 12, 2021
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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 Orion Dash and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- Thank you Orion Dash and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I am unable to offer content warnings for this novel, as I DNFed it. However, be aware that there is mature content. --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 2/5 Stars Plot: 3/5 Stars Setting: 2/5 Stars Characters: 1/5 Stars Writing: 1/5 Stars Memorability: 2/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // I was really disappointed with this novel. I had a huge issue with the writing and characters that made me not finish reading, which I do not typically do. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Orion Dash Page Count: 208 pages Release Date: July 12, 2021 Series: None Genre: Fiction, Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Mystery --- // Book Description (via Goodreads) // A wedding dress. A love letter. A secret that will change everything… When Maggie Burnett discovers her mother’s beautiful wedding dress just days after she passes away, she wonders why she’d been told it was missing… Pinned to the waistband is a note that reads: ‘E, je t’aime. LS x’. ‘E’ must be Elizabeth, her mother, but who is ‘LS’? Could he be the father she’s never known? As Maggie’s seemingly happy life in London unravels, she decides it’s time to go home to Norfolk and figure out the truth once and for all. Even if it means running into Nick Forster, her secret childhood crush. What if this journey to the past is the key to a new beginning? --- // Characters // One of my biggest issues was with the characters in the novel. I didn’t care about any of the characters, especially Maggie, the main one. It was interesting to me that despite this being an adult romance novel, which is very clear even within the first 10% of the book, that all of the characters are written like teenagers in fanfiction on Wattpad. That sounds really harsh, but it’s how I feel about the book’s characters. And don’t get me wrong, the characters being written like a fanfiction isn’t necessarily bad. It’s that, them being teen-esque, and how none of them were likable or relatable that made the characters poorly written and not realistic. --- // Writing and Setting // I found it ill-fitting that the novel was written in a middle grade type style while the content within was pretty mature. It’s a weird mixture of middle grade and adult that put me off immediately. There was nothing remarkable about the setting, but nothing off-putting either. (I’m pretty sure) the novel takes place in the UK, London, maybe? --- // Plot // The plot itself is what motivated me to read as far as I did. Maggie is facing the death of her mother, the infidelity of her long-term boyfriend, and a quest to discover who her father was. One of the highlights of the novel that convinced me not to continue reading this novel was when Ed, Maggie’s boyfriend of many years who she thinks will propose soon, cheats on her. Maggie doesn’t really seem to care, which is crazy to me. --- // Overall Review // While I’m not a fan of romances anyways, I was by no means a fan of this novel. The Love Note might be a good read for fans of cheesy fanfic type romances, but not this bookworm. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || TikTok || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
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2
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Aug 22, 2021
Aug 17, 2021
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Aug 22, 2021
Aug 17, 2021
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Jul 12, 2021
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Kindle Edition
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unknown
| 3.97
| 6,320
| 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 |
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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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1509228675
| 9781509228676
| 1509228675
| 4.42
| 62
| unknown
| Jan 15, 2020
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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 Katy Nicholas for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- Thank you to Katy Nicholas for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All quotes are taken from As the World Falls Down by Katy Nicholas. // Content warning: sexual assault/harassment, abuse, death, reference to miscarriage, disease, violence, drowning, suicide, consensual sexual content // --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 5/5 Stars Plot: 4.5/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Stars Writing: 5/5 Stars Memorability: 5/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // As the World Falls Down takes the reader on a journey of discovery, adventure, love, and trust. A perfect beginning to the Cities in Dust series, this novel is nothing like I have ever read before. --- "Welcome to the end of the world. The apocalypse. The end times. The closing credits. The last scene of a bad B-movie to which I'd been given a front row seat." --- // Other Information // Publisher: Wild Rose Press Page Count: 408 pages Release Date: January 15, 2020 Series: Cities in Dust #1 Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Adult, Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Science fiction, Romance --- // Book Description (via Goodreads) // Years after a mysterious plague wipes out humanity, Halley Clarke leaves the safety of home to search for other survivors. She finds Nate Reynolds, a young man devastated by loneliness and despair. Instantly, there is an inexplicable connection between them, and it becomes clear that this was no ordinary virus. They soon discover they aren’t the only ones changed by the virus or guided by strange feelings or voices. Their lives and the survival of humanity rests on uncovering answers and understanding their new world. Will the truth they unearth bring them closer together or tear them apart? --- // Characters // I fell in love with practically each and every one of the characters in this novel; Halley Clarke, Nate Reynolds, and Eve being among my favorite. Oh, and when I said each and every one, that did not include Halley's asshole step-father, Andrew. Halley and Nate's romance left me breathless; I literally love them together. Their relationship is just the perfect mix of wholesomeness and spice. And not gonna lie, we all need a Nate in our lives. I'm not even gonna attempt to talk about everything wrong with Andrew. There's too much and too little time. Plus he's just an asshat. --- "I envied them, huddled together in a place they found comfort in, frozen in a loving embrace until they finally became dust." --- // Writing and Setting // I cannot express how amazing Katy Nicholas' writing style is. Literally, I have no words. So here is a quote just to show you how fantastic their writing is. "...the night sky was dark and moonless, splashed with thousands of twinkling lights and the fain smudges of faraway galaxies. Unhindered by light pollution, the magnificent spectacle of the universe spread out across the deep blue yonder, observed only by the few remaining humans inhabiting planet Earth." As for the setting, it's unlike anything I have ever seen before. Nicholas has managed to expertly combine a post-pandemic ridden world with a sci-fi and dystopian atmosphere. It is unclear when the novel takes place (or I just forgot the date), but it is definitely in modern times, if not in the future. --- "I hated that he was in so much pain, and I hated that, this time, I was the cause of it. I hated that I'd lacked the courage to leave my aunt's sooner. I hated that she'd stopped me every time I'd tried to leave. I hated knowing she'd clearly not been looking for other survivors all this time, for whatever reason. I hated my mother for leaving me. I hated Andrew. I hated the apocalypse." --- // Plot // The story revolves around Halley's goal of finding other survivors, no matter how much risk her endeavors put her at. Her goal succeeds and she finds Nate, the love of her life (and every reader's.) I thought that this turn of events, though not surprising, was very well written and I loved it. The only (tiny) complaint I have about the plot is that the story seemed very slow in the beginning, so it took me a little bit to get into the novel. However, after that, I was hooked. --- // Overall Review // I am so excited for the rest of the Cities in Dust series. As the World Falls Down was the perfect start to a timeless post-apocalyptic series that I will be talking about to everyone I know for the rest of my life. I will actually be reviewing the sequel, The Last Place on Earth, soon, most likely in mid-September (so many books to read and review until then.) So, look out for that! --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || TikTok || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
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1
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Jul 28, 2021
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Jul 31, 2021
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Jun 25, 2021
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Paperback
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0062820257
| 9780062820259
| 0062820257
| 4.22
| 65,692
| 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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B08FBLQ3B4
| 3.70
| 738
| Aug 07, 2020
| Aug 07, 2020
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really liked it
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Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- Thank you so much to NetGalley and Serial Box for providing me with an ARC of this novel Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- Thank you so much to NetGalley and Serial Box for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All quotes are taken from The Haunting of Beatrix Greene by Rachel Hawkins, Ash Parsons, and Vicky Alvear Schecter. // Content warning: death, violence, gore, mature content // --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 4/5 Stars Plot: 3/5 Stars Characters: 2/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Writing: 4/5 Stars Memorability:4/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // A mediocre novel, The Haunting of Beatrix Greene features a haunting yet very predictable tale. Not to say that its predictability makes it any less horrifying and creepy. --- "'Twenty years ago... my mother killed my little brother. Then she killed herself.'" --- // Other Information // Publisher: Serial Box Page Count: Release Date: August 7, 2020 Series: The Haunting of Beatrix Greene #0.1 Genre: Fiction, Adult, Young adult, Horror, Historical fiction, Gothic, Paranormal, Mystery, Supernatural, Fantasy, Historical, Romance --- // Book Description (via Goodreads) // In Victorian England, a savvy spiritual medium must outsmart the most important client of her career: a scientist determined to expose frauds like her. But their game of wits has fatal consequences when a vengeful spirit answers their summons. If they cannot put aside their prejudices—and growing passion—and find a way to banish the ghost together, one of them could be its next victim. Get a sneak peek of The Haunting of Beatrix Greene by bestselling authors Rachel Hawkins, Ash Parsons, and Vicky Alvear Schecter. --- // Characters // I have to start of my review of the characters by saying that this is where the novel lacked the most. I felt that while the idea of the characters was interesting, it was not executed well. I don’t know whether this stems from the fact that there were three authors collaborating on this novel, but the novel still lack consistent characters. Besides the inconsistencies with the characters, I also found that they were mostly flat and didn’t have a life to them. However, I did love the interactions between the characters. I thought that these were written perfectly. The novel follows the journey of Beatrix Greene, a medium who’s… not really a medium. Her assistant, Harry, was by far my favorite character; he’s just adorable, aloof, and hilarious. --- "It undid her. Thoroughly. This man, this odd, distant man, who had grown up in a house of blood and terror and was even now looking at her, with all her own demons, and seeing her. Truly seeing her. Admiring her. Understanding her. Oh, it was foolish and mad, and she might regret it, but right now, she could not see how." --- // Writing and Setting // When I first heard that The Haunting of Beatrix Greene was written by 3 different authors collaborating together, I was very excited because I thought that all of them would bring something different to the table. However, I found that this was not the case. Despite being descriptive and perfectly spooky, there was no difference between the chapters written by the three authors. Personally, my favorite part of this novel was its haunting atmosphere. The Haunting of Beatrix Greene captures the spookiness and peril of the situation perfectly. The Ashbury Manor, a haunted manor FYI, is a place that Beatrix and Harry must explore to prove it is haunted. --- "It is not the first night screams have rung through the halls of Ashbury Manor. It will not be the last." --- // Plot // I have mixed feelings about the plot. On the one hand, investigating a haunted murder mystery seems very interesting to me. On the other, I felt that the mystery itself was not very present. However, the spookiness that was promised was definitely there! I kept glancing at the corners of my room during the night wondering what was lurking there... perhaps the ghosts from the novel. --- "...she had been the dead. Been possessed by the dead. It was real, and suddenly Beatrix was part of this... place. This haunting." --- // Overall Review // While I do feel that there were some issues that could be improved upon, The Haunting of Beatrix Greene is a spooky and promising start to the series that Rachel Hawkins, Ash Parsons, and Vicky Alvear Schecter have created. --- 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 24, 2021
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Sep 09, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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B0DM25LTN5
| 3.56
| 3,527
| Nov 10, 2020
| Nov 10, 2020
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liked it
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Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- Thank you to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion 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 NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All quotes are taken from Rebel Rose by Emma Theriault. // Content warning: death, beheading, violence, mentions of mature content // --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 3/5 Stars Plot: 3/5 Stars Characters: 1/5 Stars Setting: 4/5 Stars Writing: 4/5 Stars Memorability: 2/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // I put off reading Rebel Rose until last week, and unfortunately? I was quite disappointed with this novel. Despite it not being my cup of tea, this Beauty and the Beast ‘retelling’ is a sure favorite for fans of the classic fairy tale. --- "The happenstance of someone’s birth should not determine whether or not they are impoverished. It is up to those of us with power in whatever form to work to make the lives of everyone better, starting with those less fortunate than us…" --- // Other Information // Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Page Count: 352 pages Release Date: November 10, 2020 Series: The Queen’s Council #1 Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Fantasy, Retellings, Historical fiction, Fairy tales, Romance, Beauty and the beast --- // Book Description (via Goodreads) // Happily ever after is only the beginning as Belle takes on the responsibility of becoming queen and learns to balance duty, love, and sacrifice, all while navigating dark political intrigue—and a touch of magic. It’s 1789 and France is on the brink of revolution. Belle has finally broken the Enchantress’s curse, restoring the Beast to his human form and bringing life back to their castle in the province of Aveyon. But in Paris, the fires of change are burning, and it’s only a matter of time before the rebellion arrives on their doorstep. Not so very long ago, Belle dreamed of leaving her provincial home for a life of adventure. But now she finds herself living in a palace, torn between her past as a commoner, and her future as royalty. While Belle grapples with her newfound position, there are those who would do anything to keep her from power. When she stumbles across a magic mirror that holds a dire warning, Belle wants nothing more than to ignore the mysterious voice calling her to accept a crown she never desired. But violent factions of the revolution may already be lurking within her own castle, and doing nothing would endanger everything she holds dear. With the fate of her country, her love, and her life at stake, Belle must decide if she is ready to embrace her own strength–and the magic that ties her to so many female rulers before her–to become the queen she is meant to be. Rebel Rose is the first in the Queen’s Council series, an empowering fairy tale reimagining of the Disney Princesses-and the real history behind their stories-like you’ve never seen before. --- // Characters // Rebel Rose tells the story of Belle, my favorite Disney princess, and her life after the events of Beauty and the Beast. To be honest, the characters in this novel were my least favorite part of the novel. It seemed as if the author didn’t spend enough time figuring out and creating authentic characters. First off, the characters are drastically different from the classic tale. Which I would be all for if the characters themselves were well-written. Since the novel is marketed as a retelling, it would have been nice to see a fresh twist on the characters. However, this was not the case. I had no emotional attachments to the characters and frankly could not have cared less about their journeys in the novel. The only bright side to the characters is the LGBTQ+ representation. I thought that Emma Theriault actually represented her queer characters very well. Rather than using her characters as tokens, their sexuality is integrated very well into the plot and story. Hercule Garoutte (aka LaFou) is gay like he is in the live-action 2017 Beauty and the Beast. However, rather than making him a stereotype like the movie, the author dove deeper into the reasoning behind his love for Gaston. Another character, Marguerite, is lesbian; her sexuality is also handled well. The one thing that this novel does well with its characters is its representation. Despite taking place during the French Revolution, Emma Theriault authentically represents LGBTQ+ characters. --- "They could have stood there forever, twined together and perfectly still in the midst of the chaos that had engulfed the castle, and she would have been happy." --- // Writing and Setting // One of the best parts of this novel is the writing and setting. I found the author’s way of writing beautiful and perfectly descriptive. I also was intrigued by the way the author grounded the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast in a more realistic world. I found this aspect to be the most exciting for me, as it was a brilliant way that the author attempted to put a spin on the story. --- // Plot // The story started off very promising, but as the story continued I became less and less sucked into the novel. The story seemed to drag for a long portion of the story. However, I did find it interesting how Belle must conquer her struggles in a time when chaos is emerging across the country. --- "I told you once before to trust your instincts. You've suppressed them for so long you no longer recognize them for what they are - a warning." --- // Overall Review // I will most likely not bother reading the rest of the series, as I didn't enjoy most of the novel. However, there are some positive aspects to the novel that makes it a worthwhile read for lovers of the well-known tale. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || TikTok || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
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1
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Jul 22, 2021
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Jul 23, 2021
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Aug 26, 2020
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ebook
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4.07
| 42,884
| 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 |
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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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1627792120
| 9781627792127
| 1627792120
| 4.46
| 1,102,956
| Sep 29, 2015
| Sep 29, 2015
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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 |
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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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0062567985
| 9780062567987
| 0062567985
| 4.05
| 21,397
| Oct 02, 2017
| Oct 03, 2017
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it was amazing
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Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- // Content warning: PTSD, murder, blood, death, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, slave Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. --- // Content warning: PTSD, murder, blood, death, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, slavery, insinuations of sexual assault // --- // 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 // The Last Namsara is a magical novel that leads the reader on an adventure of discovery through the eyes of a badass main character. Think How to Train Your Dragon but more adult and even better. --- // Other Information // Publisher: HarperTeen Page Count: 421 pages Release Date: October 3, 2017 Series: Iskari #1 Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Adult, Fantasy, High fantasy, Dragons, Adventure, Magic, Enemies to lovers --- // Book Description (via Goodreads) // In the beginning, there was the Namsara: the child of sky and spirit, who carried love and laughter wherever he went. But where there is light, there must be darkness—and so there was also the Iskari. The child of blood and moonlight. The destroyer. The death-bringer. These are the legends that Asha, daughter of the king of Firgaard, has grown up learning in hushed whispers, drawn to the forbidden figures of the past. But it isn’t until she becomes the fiercest, most feared dragon slayer in the land that she takes on the role of the next Iskari—a lonely destiny that leaves her feeling more like a weapon than a girl. Asha conquers each dragon and brings its head to the king, but no kill can free her from the shackles that await at home: her betrothal to the cruel commandant, a man who holds the truth about her nature in his palm. When she’s offered the chance to gain her freedom in exchange for the life of the most powerful dragon in Firgaard, she finds that there may be more truth to the ancient stories than she ever could have expected. With the help of a secret friend—a slave boy from her betrothed’s household—Asha must shed the layers of her Iskari bondage and open her heart to love, light, and a truth that has been kept from her. --- // Characters // Everything about Ciccarelli’s characters are perfection. I loved loved loved the main character, Asha’s, badassery and her attitude of taking no shits. And Torwin? A totally adorable and perfect fictional crush. I think we should just admire Asha and Torwin’s enemies to lovers arc. Literally, can you ask for anything better??? I should also mention the dragons, who for some reason, appeared in my mind like Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon. I immediately loved the introduction of dragons into the story, they’re not only super important in the world of the Iskari series, but they’re also essentially dogs. Big, fiery, dangerous dogs. But adorable nonetheless. I’d probably name mine something jazzy. Maybe Nerezza or Persephone. Someone get me a dragon so I can name it. --- // Writing and Setting // Ciccarelli’s writing style is straight up art. I mean that literally. Reading The Last Namsara was an experience that I won’t ever forget. The story takes place in the anti-dragon kingdom of Firgaard in which Asha is rejected by those around her for a mistake she made as a young child in telling stories to dragons. The mythology and background is heavily focused on in this novel, which can be off-putting at first but sets the rest of the series up for a mythical adventure. The world-building in the novel is realistic and heavy, perfect for high fantasy lovers. --- // Plot // The adventure that Asha embarks upon to prevent her marriage to king of the assholes is not only filled with pain, struggle, and courage but also love. The twists and turns in this novel are a promising start to the series. By the end of the novel, I was staring at my wall trying to comprehend how I became so easily sucked into the world of betrayal, magic, and adventure that I had read about. --- // Overall // I’m so excited to read the next two novels in the Iskari trilogy. The Last Namsara is a solid start to a high fantasy series that will leave readers intrigued but also satisfied, I’m sure. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || TikTok || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
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1
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Jul 31, 2021
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Aug 08, 2021
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May 18, 2020
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Hardcover
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B0DSZZHCHF
| 3.81
| 668,258
| Jun 04, 2013
| Jun 04, 2013
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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. --- // Content Warnings: ableis Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- // Content Warnings: ableist language, body shaming, suicide attempt by self-sacrifice, alcohol consumption, blood and gore depiction, murder and attempted murder, physical and psychological torture, knife and gun violence, kidnapping, hostage situation, war themes, emesis, airship accident, death of a loved one, physical assault, animal death // To check content warnings for all of the books you read, go to the Trigger Warning Database. --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 4/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Stars Writing: 5/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Plot: 3/5 Stars Memorability: 4/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // While I didn’t enjoy Siege and Storm as much as I enjoyed Shadow and Bone, I loved the new characters and the exciting new information gained about the Grishaverse series’ world throughout the novel. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. Page Count: 435 pages Release Date: June 4, 2013 Series: Shadow and Bone #2 Tags: Fiction, Young adult, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Adventure, Magic, High fantasy, Dark fantasy, Dark, YA fantasy --- // Review // I thoroughly enjoyed the sequel to Shadow and Bone. I cannot believe that I waited this long to read a series this entertaining and brilliant. Although I did not enjoy Siege and Storm as much as the first novel in the series, I loved re-entering the rich world that Leigh Bardugo created. Fair warning, there will be spoilers for Shadow and Bone in this review. Leave now or forever hold your peace. The novel takes place after the events of the first. Mal and Alkina have escaped the Darkling—for now—and are staying low in the hopes of retaining their freedom. The book jumps right into the action with the discovery that the Darkling did survive the ending of Shadow and Bone… and he has a new power that has made him supposedly stronger than ever before. Alina is thrown back into the dangerous ambitions of the Darkling, who won’t rest until he is able to control all of Ravka—and the world. Just like the first book, the setting is magnificently built and described. The world-building of the entire series is excellent, but I do wish that Bardugo would delve more into the other countries besides Ravka. Perhaps this will happen in the last novel or the other series (I am currently reading Ruin and Rising… wish me luck). Though showcasing characters from the first book, Siege and Storm also introduces us to the characters of Sturmhond/Nikolai, Tamar, and Tolya. Nikolai quickly became my favorite character of the entire series so far, and I cannot wait to see what happens with his character. As always, the characters were deep, realistic, and compelling. With the introduction of Nikolai came another love interest and struggle in Alina’s life. Personally, I am still here for Mal and Alina’s relationship. I think that their history together makes their relationship truly important, and Mal does not wish to use Alina for political gain unlike Nikolai or the Darkling. However, I would not be entirely upset if Nikolai and Alina do end up together… he’s Nikolai, I mean, come on! The plot itself was fantastic and moved at a quick pace, though there were some parts that felt slow and drawn-out. I enjoyed the new discoveries that were made along the way and cannot wait to find out the next piece of the puzzle. My favorite part of this book was Alina’s character development. In the first novel, she is hesitant, weak, and kind. She hesitates to kill an animal despite what her hesitation puts at stake—her life and those of many others across the entire world. In Siege and Storm, she becomes much more powerful, ruthless, and quick to take control. I honestly hope that she becomes a villain somewhat. I think it would complete her character arc and really drive home the point that is brought up many times throughout the series—“What is infinite? The universe and the greed of men.” – Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone Overall, Siege and Storm is a solid sequel and build-up to the finale of the Shadow and Bone trilogy. I hope to be reviewing Ruin and Rising soon because I cannot wait to find out what happens to Alina Starkov and her friends. --- FOLLOW ME: Twitter || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts ...more |
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1
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Jul 30, 2022
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Aug 25, 2022
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May 18, 2020
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Hardcover
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3.97
| 577,045
| Jun 17, 2014
| Jun 17, 2014
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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. --- // Content Warnings: classi Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- // Content Warnings: classism, victim blaming, facial difference discrimination, persecution for witchcraft (mentioned), rape and sexual assault (recounted), parental abandonment (implied), trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide attempt as self-sacrifice (recounted), alcohol consumption, blood and gore depiction, dead bodies, eyeball trauma, branding, physical sickness and scars, death of a brother, son, girlfriend, and friend (recounted), murder and attempted murder, explosions, knife violence, physical assault, poisoning, captivity, blackmail, hostage situation, exile/banishment, war themes, animal death (recounted), and hunting // --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 4/5 Stars Characters: 4/5 Stars Writing: 5/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Plot: 3/5 Stars Memorability: 4/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // Ruin and Rising is a stunning yet bittersweet conclusion to the Shadow and Bone trilogy. Filled with shocking and saddening moments, the final installment to the dark fantasy series had me absolutely entranced and wanting for more. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. Page Count: 422 pages Release Date: June 17, 2014 Series: Shadow and Bone #3 Tags: Fiction, Young adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Magic, High fantasy, Dark fantasy, YA fantasy --- // Review // Fair warning, there will be spoilers for Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm in this review. Leave now or forever hold your peace. Ruin and Rising starts right after the end of Siege and Storm with beloved characters far below ground under the Apparat’s watch. The previous two novels build up to the key moments in this novel and much—but not all—of Ruin and Rising lived up to my expectations. Leigh Bardugo’s writing is almost magical, transporting readers to a chaotic and dark Ravka on the brink of destruction. The stakes are high in this conclusion, and I was constantly aching to know what would happen next and which one of my favorite characters might not make it out. The setting was absolutely stunning. Bardugo was able to paint a hopeless, gritty scene that made me hold my breath. I fell even more in love with all of the characters throughout this story. Most importantly, I loved Mal and Alina’s character development. I was not crazy about Mal as a character in the earlier novels, though I did enjoy his and Alina’s relationship. Ruin and Rising shows them at their lowest, but also shows the growth of their connection. Alina’s evolution throughout the novels is truly brilliant. Alina is the perfect example of the human hunger for power and how quickly it can corrupt those who defiantly oppose it in others. I was in support of Alina becoming a villain, but I think that Alina’s development here is a perfect juxtaposition to the Darkling and adds more to both of their characters. The plot focuses mainly on politics and the war, which I thought would become tiresome. However, Ruin and Rising is just as entertaining as others. There were many twists and turns that took me completely by surprise but thankfully didn’t come out of nowhere. They made sense but were also intriguing and unexpected. Unfortunately, I am somewhat disappointed with the ending of the novel. The final battle between Alina and the Darkling was very underwhelming and rushed. There were some shocking moments, but overall I was frustrated with the pacing and the events. The results of the battle seemed to completely undermine the excellent character development that took place throughout the entire series. However, I also understand the need for some of the events. My main issue is the handling of Alina’s power, which I dislike completely and feel is totally ridiculous considering her struggle to utilize them and let them not take control of her. It is especially frustrating since Alina is the main character. The ending of the novel does accomplish some good things. It would have been completely unrealistic had there been an entirely happy ending. The bittersweet ending that occurs felt real, saddening, yet understandable. It is the one part of the ending I enjoyed besides Mal and Alina’s relationship. Overall, Ruin and Rising is a good conclusion to the Shadow and Bone trilogy that I had fun reading. Books hardly ever make me emotional, but I did almost shed a tear or two during the final battle. Didn’t think I would feel bad for the Darkling in this book, but here we are. --- 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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Aug 25, 2022
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Sep 04, 2022
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May 18, 2020
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Hardcover
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B007NKMQGQ
| 3.92
| 1,064,987
| Jun 05, 2012
| Jun 05, 2012
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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. --- // Content warnings: classi Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews. Listen to this review and more on my podcast, Maya's Reviews. --- // Content warnings: classism, ableist language, fatmisia, slavery (mentioned), kiss without consent, blood and gore depiction, dead bodies and physical injuries, death of a friend and parents (mentioned), murder, attempted murder, kidnapping (hostage situation and blackmail), war themes, violence, graphic animal death // Please educate yourself on the content warnings for this novel before reading, as I may have missed some in my review. --- // Quick Statistics // Overall: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Stars Writing: 5/5 Stars Setting: 5/5 Stars Plot: 5/5 Stars Memorability: 5/5 Stars --- // Quick Review // Shadow and Bone has been popular for quite some time, but it wasn’t until recently that I bought the trilogy and Six of Crows duology. Now, I am finally reading the Shadow and Bone trilogy, and next, I will read Six of Crows, hopefully. I guess you could say I am gearing up to watch the Netflix series. As always, I am late to the game. But my hesitation to read popular series had no effect on the fact that I loved this novel. --- // Other Information // Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. Page Count: 369 pages Release Date: June 5, 2012 Series: Shadow and Bone #1 Tag: Fiction, Young adult, Mystery, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Adventure, Magic, Enemies to lovers, High fantasy, Friends to lovers --- // Review // I have absolutely nothing but good things to say about Shadow and Bone. For those who are like me and hesitate to read popular series for fear of being let down, fear not… for the first novel in this series is phenomenal. I’ll be reviewing the rest of the trilogy soon and doing an episode on my podcast on the entire Shadow and Bone trilogy within the week. Shadow and Bone is hands-down one of the best fantasy novels that I have read in a long time, if not ever. It has quite literally everything I love about books: magic, good antagonists, amazing characters, complex world-building, romance, action, adventure, mystery, twists and turns. I cannot get enough of this book, its world, and its characters. I am utterly obsessed. I get the hype now; it is truly deserving of it. I don’t think I have been as obsessed with a book series since The Hunger Games. Shadow and Bone follows the upheaval of Alina Starkov’s life as she discovers she has magical powers. She is thrust into a life completely unlike that she is used to. Separated from her best friend since childhood, Mal, she feels hopeless as she tries to navigate her new life and the powers she just became acquainted with. Ever present in the background is the Darkling, one of the most powerful Grisha (the magic users of the series). All of the characters have depth and distinct personalities, making them worth reading and caring about. This level of depth assisted in making the love interests actually interesting. The love triangle was set up beautifully. I could envision Alina with both Mal and the Darkling. And while I will not spoil anything, I can say that I completely get Alina’s mistakes in choosing who to be with at first… I am not stronger than the Sun Summoner, okay? Leigh Bardugo has a way of writing that makes the words leap off the page and become true before you. The world-building itself was fantastic, rich, and lively. But Bardugo’s talent for description perfectly accentuated the unique and interesting world she created. Shadow and Bone features Ravka, a country torn by war and separated by the Shadow Fold, a place of darkness almost impossible to survive. Not only was the setting and world-building perfection, but the magic system was too. Instead of being forced to just accept the way that magic works in the novel, Bardugo allows the reader to become acquainted with the unique magic that Grisha can possess. I have to mention that I loved the character development that Alina undergoes throughout the book. I was happy to see that instead of immediately being able to control and use her powers, Alina struggled with everything for a good portion of the novel before being able to truly step into her role as a Grisha. It was refreshing to see something realistic, especially since one must suspend reality to read any fantasy book, let alone one as rich as this. The story maintained a perfect pace for every part of the book. By not focusing too much on slow-moving details and focusing on important parts of the plot, Bardugo created a masterpiece. I was captivated by the progression of Shadow and Bone and its twists and turns. I’m usually pretty good at guessing the outcome of novels/movies—a gift I inherited from my mom, who is always spoiling things for everyone without having even watched/read anything—but I was absolutely in the dark for this book and was shocked by the major reveals. Nothing is as it seems, which I appreciated. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Shadow and Bone and cannot wait to explore the rest of the Grishaverse. I highly recommend that you read the series, even if you are a scaredy-cat like I am. --- 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 27, 2022
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Jul 29, 2022
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May 18, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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20 of 20 loaded