”A wolf is only as strong as his heart, and my heart belongs completely to you. So who really has the power here?”
As always, Samantha Young doesn’t disappoint. I’ve been reading her books for so many years that I’ve lost count by now. From young adult paranormal to new adult contemporary to adult contemporary and now, adult paranormal...I’ve loved every book that I’ve ever read from her and this one is no different. I do have to say, though, that I think this is one of the best books that she’s written in a while.
I love love LOVE Conall (werewolf) and Thea (hehe, what is she?). They were so sexy, so funny, so compelling and so sweet together in this world (ok fine, mostly Scotland) filled with werewolves, vampires and all manner of paranormal creatures. Conall and Thea were a pair of broken souls who found a way to heal and find family in each other. It was just so beautiful and I can’t wait to continue on with this series!...more
Buddy read with my fellow Maria V. Snyder-fanatic, Maggie!!!
Unless you missed my binge of Maria V. Snyder books this time, last year – which comprisedBuddy read with my fellow Maria V. Snyder-fanatic, Maggie!!!
Unless you missed my binge of Maria V. Snyder books this time, last year – which comprised of 6 novels and 3 novellas, mind you – you’d know that she’s one of my all-time favourite authors and SUPER UNDERRATED (why must you sleep on her and Mary E. Pearson, Goodreads???). So, you can imagine my excitement when she announced a new series that sounded like:
Tomb Raider [image]
meets
The Mummy [image]
Well…this was nothing like either of those. xD BUT, I still loved it a lot!!!
So, what IS it about, if it’s nothing like Tomb Raider OR The Mummy? Well, Goodreads, I’m so very glad you asked! :P
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The story takes place in an underground desert city (literally in the shape of a levelled-funnel) called Zirdai. The rich live in the cool, dark levels with clean water and easy access to food, whereas the poorer you are, the closer you are to the scorching-hot surface – way too close to the sun – and the less sanitary your water is.
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Also, there are fun, fluffy and flying (hehe alliteration, lol) creatures called velblouds, which reminded me of Falkor, from A Neverending Story!!!
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It centres around the stubbornly logical Shyla, who is “sun-kissed” because of her unnaturally light-coloured hair, and an outcast from society, who shun her, thinking her cursed by the Sun Goddess. One of the few people who never judged her for the way she was born was her friend, Banqui, the archaeologist employed by the Water Prince, who controls the city. However, when a certain historical artefact, the Eyes of Tamburah, are stolen, Shyla is blamed for the theft and Banqui is imprisoned as leverage.
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Despite not believing the Eyes to have any magical abilities, in order to save her only friend – sadly enough – Shyla agrees to find them for the Water Prince, under the supervision of the gruff guard, Rendor.
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While on her journey to recover the Eyes, Shyla’s journey is wrought with danger and betrayal, from Heliacal Priestess to secret organisations to even the Water Prince, himself.
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I absolutely loved this book, especially Shyla and Rendor, both as individuals, as well as together, as a couple. Shyla was so smart and logical, which is refreshing to see, since most protagonists that I read about think with their hearts, rather than their heads. I also really enjoyed seeing how loyal she was to the ones she cared about. Rendor was such a great companion, as well. Yes, he was a tad gruff and stoic at first, but then you see the layers of him as a person peel back as the story progresses. I thought that they made a great pair who complimented each other. Their romance was so adorable and sweet!!! <3
I can’t wait for the sequel to release (grrrr I’m bitter that it was pushed back from next MONTH to next YEAR ughhh). I can’t tell you what it was that was missing, which made me rate this four-stars, rather than five, but regardless, this gives you all plenty of time to pick this sand-filled gem up! ;)...more
I will admit…if you plan to jump into this, expecting a Dark Shores kind of vibe, you’ve picked up the wrong book, haha. Yes, you can begin this series with either book, but they’re both extremely different, in my opinion. This is longer, slower, and more political. In fact, it took me about 20 chapters to get into this book. 20 CHAPTERS! That’s almost unheard of for me, when it comes to a Danielle L Jensen book. But once I read past that point, I could. not. put. it. down!!!
While Dark Shores was a fast-paced, action-packed adventure with gods battling in the sea and island tribe skirmishes, Dark Skies is very different, in comparison. Rather, Dark Skies is very reminiscent of classic YA political fantasies, such as: Poison Study, The Kiss of Deception, The Winner's Curse, The Queen's Rising and Ash Princess.
“The pillow descended again with a violent force. ‘You,’ Malahi said, once she was through beating him, ‘are the handsome, god-marked warrior with at least a dozen songs written about him. All my ladies swoon when you walk into the room. You’re the one the imagine riding in on a white horse—’ ‘My horse is black,’ he interrupted, which she rewarded with another smack of the pillow. ‘On a BLACK horse to save them when they are in distress.’ ‘Why can’t anyone ride in to save me when I’M in distress?’”
For the life of me, I can’t understand how so many people switched from #TeamMarcus to #TeamKillian??? Certainly, he had some cute moments and funny one-liners here and there, but…he was so much less compelling than Marcus!!! The first turn off for me, I will admit, is how disparaging he was towards books. Aka MY LIFE. Everyone loses my interest if they hate reading; I’m sorry. (No, I’m not. :P) When he said, “you lost me at ‘favourite linguistic texts’” to Lydia, I was like BOY, BYEEEEE xD My strategical prodigy, Marcus, would NEVER! But, I guess, being god-marked by Tremon, the god of war, means that as long as Killian is brawny, he doesn’t have much to worry about. Aside from losing my interest, that is, lols.
Also, Marcus would move heaven and earth to protect Teriana, but Killian just went along with whatever the princess said, leaving Lydia constantly caught and endangered in the crossfire??? Big yikes. :/ Plus, Marus and Teriana communicated with each other and discussed problems LIKE ADULTS, which is ironic because Lydia is much more mature than Teriana. So, I don’t know if you could tell, but I’m still firmly #TeamMarcus. ;)
Now, I will say that I much prefer Lydia as a lead female protagonist. Teriana had a tendency to be abrasive and rude; whereas Lydia, for the most part, was really sweet and loyal, even when she was scared out of her wits! Also, I loved how relatable she was with her head constantly buried in a book and reorganising other people’s libraries, hehe. I, too, would’ve tried to learn how to swordfight by reading about it, because reading is how I learn most things! :D
In this book, Lydia is forced to flee her comfy life in Celendrial after a foiled assassination attempt, and ends up in the foreign kingdom of Mudamora, a place she hadn’t even heard of until now. There, she has to fight to survive in order to make it home to save her father, Teriana, the Maarin people, and the Cel Empire itself from the man who ordered her assassination. I loved watching her evolve from a demure bibliophile into the determined fighter she had buried deep inside her this entire time, as well as learning her true origins.
As always, my love for the Dark Shores series has not wavered. Romance. Politics. Battles. Adventure. Ancient Rome. Fantasy. Mythology. Magic. It’s everything that I love! Now, that Gilded Serpent’s release date is fast approaching, I can’t wait to see what happens next in the story as Marcus, Teriana, Killian and Lydia’s arcs finally converge as the timelines come together....more
I just re-read this and thought it was FINALLY time for a review!!! (I swear, my RTC pile is just as likely to crush me as my TBBuddy read with Zoe!!!
I just re-read this and thought it was FINALLY time for a review!!! (I swear, my RTC pile is just as likely to crush me as my TBR pile, haha)
“This was how it was supposed to feel. Like standing on a cliff high above a turquoise sea, terrified to jump but desperate for the thrill of the fall.”
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Welcome, welcome to the Dark Shores, where “East must never meet West”!
This decree causes two mighty empires to exist side-by-side with no knowledge that the other exists, save for myths and legends passed down by travellers and believed to be no more than mere stories or rumours.
The Maarin, a seafaring race, are the only ones who know how to navigate the Endless Seas between them. In the East is the Celendor Empire (aka “the Empire”) that functions much like an Ancient Roman society, complete with everything from senators to legionnaires. I’m not entirely certain what their beliefs are (agnostic? atheist?) because unlike the Ancient Romans, in the Empire, paganism is punishable by death.
Naturally, of course, the Maarin and the Dark Shores (the empire in the West, which is made up of Arinoquia, Derin, Gamdesh, Katamarca, Mudamora and the Uncharted Lands) worship the Six gods (aka “the Six”), but not the Seventh, who is known only as the Corruptor, due to being a dark god.
By the way, if you wanted a master-list of the seven gods to keep track of, here you go: - Gespurn: God of the Elements - Madoria: Goddess of the Seas - Lern: God of the Beasts - Yara: Goddess of the Earth - Hegeria: Goddess of Body and Spirit - Tremon: God of War - The Seventh: God of the Dark, aka the Corrupter
“There are as many paths as there are travellers.”
In terms of other world building, xenthier crystal paths exist within Reath (the planet comprised of the Dark Shores and the Celendor Empire), which instantly transport people and goods. The Empire currently has mapped paths within its own territories for efficiency purposes, but have yet to map the other paths that exist in the Dark Shores and the Endless Seas, due to being unaware that this other hemisphere even existed until now.
PSA: This is NOT a series about piracy. It’s an Ancient Roman-inspired fantasy. If you go into this expecting actual piracy to take place, you WILL be disappointed (or at least, pleasantly surprised, lol)!
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“And she could feel every year of it, the city so deeply steeped in history and blood, life and death, that it seemed almost sentient. As though even if it were devoid of people, it would still be alive.”
Teriana is the daughter of Captain Tesya of the Quincense and the heir Triumvir of the Maarin Trade Consortium. When she confides in her best friend, Lydia, about the Dark Shores, a secret that her people have sworn to die for in order to protect, Senator Cassius becomes aware of another hemisphere just waiting for him to conquer…or so he thinks. Taking hundreds of Maarin sailors prisoner, including those on her mother’s ship – who she considers family, Cassius successfully interrogates and blackmails Teriana into agreeing to guide his legions across the Endless Seas to the Dark Shores. Once she has completed her task, their accord stipulates that she and her people are free to go. This conquest will be led by Marcus, the Legatus of the 37th Legion, who is meant to establish a Cel foothold in the Dark Shores.
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“Just because you can't do something doesn't make it impossible.”
Teriana is not my favourite when it comes to Danielle L Jensen’s female protagonists. I like her, but she can be rather abrasive (which could definitely be attributed to being raised as a fierce pirate) and naïve about how the world works. Why would you divulge a secret that your people have sworn to protect? A secret that literally protects the lives of an entire bloody hemisphere? Come on, Teriana. You’re smarter than that…
She’s also caught in between wanting to save her fellow Maarin sailors and coming to care for the legionnaires who she’s guiding on this journey. She realises that they’re more than just some weapons for the Celendor Empire. They’re real people with distinctive personalities and have just as little say as she does in their situation. They don’t want to conquer these people either, but its either they follow their orders, or die and other legionnaires will be happy to take their place.
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“It was all shades of grey: moral justification for immoral ends. A good man pushed into the role of a villain - not just for the sake of his own survival, but for that of his men.”
Marcus, however, IS my favourite male protagonist of Danielle’s! He’s just – GAH! – amazing! He’s a strategical prodigy, which prompted him to quickly rise in the ranks of the legionnaires and become the Legatus of the 37th Legion, turning it into an elite and undefeated one, much to the Empire’s pride. However, Marcus doesn’t want to be doing this. Like the rest of his men, they were stolen from their parents and forced into service, broken down and rebuilt into killing machines. Marcus, though, has some secrets of his own that may come back to haunt him as they’re used as leverage against him.
He has to juggle dealing with Teriana – so that she gets her people back, conquering the Dark Shores with as little bloodshed as possible, protecting his men from harm, and navigating Senate politics…oh, and a secret illness along with PTSD, as well. Despite all this, he’s so sweet and I love him SO MUCH. He deserves all the happiness in the world. My poor baby goes through A LOT. :(((
“I don't know if what's left of me is worth anything, whether it is enough, but it's yours.”
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I absolutely LOVE this series. I honestly can’t tell you whether I prefer this or The Bridge Kingdom. They’re both high-quality series in my eyes. This book has epic world-building from an Ancient Roman-esque society to meddlesome gods, a sweet enemies-to-lovers romance, political intrigue from blackmail-driven conquest to island village skirmishes, and exciting, fast-faced adventures from sea voyages to legion battles. I can’t name a single thing that I don’t like about this book…maybe the length because I didn’t want it to end? It’s just perfect to me!
“I know a real man owns his actions. He doesn't hide behind a mask.”
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I highly, highly recommend giving this a go! It deserves so much more hype! It’s one of the better Greco-Roman series I’ve ever read, and I’ve read quite a number of them! <3...more
‘Twas a buddy read with my bestie, Tabi, even though she completely left me in the dust, haha!
Right, so...this was an AMAZINGLa Belle et la Bête rete‘Twas a buddy read with my bestie, Tabi, even though she completely left me in the dust, haha!
Right, so...this was an AMAZINGLa Belle et la Bête retelling!!! And trust me, I’ve read half a dozen of them by now (Beastly, Cruel Beauty, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Uprooted, Hunted). Why no, I don’t have a problem…Why would you even think that?! ;)
I especially enjoyed the fact that, like Meagan Spooner’s Hunted, we were able to see inside the mind of the beast! I think that this book ranks just under Rosamund Hodge’s Cruel Beauty as my favourite retelling of this classic tale. <3 Just like Hodge’s interpretation, Kemmerer’s has one heck of an opening line:
“There is blood under my fingernails. I wonder how many of my people I’ve killed this time.”
Doesn’t that just hook you in?!!! Unlike most faery tale retellings, Kemmerer’s blurs the lines between urban fantasy and high fantasy, which admittedly, is why I was initially hesitant to pick this book up. But you needn’t worry! Less than five of the sixty chapters actually take place in our world. The novel is almost exclusively set in the parallel land of Emberfall.
“‘My father is dead, my lady. My whole family is dead.’ He pulls back, meeting my gaze, but his voice doesn’t change. ‘That monster killed them all.’”
We all know how this tale goes by now…Once upon a time, a handsome prince lived in a beautiful castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was selfish and arrogant. One night, an unexpected intruder arrived in his chambers, seeking to become the future queen. The prince shared a bed with her and turned the woman away. Scorned, the woman revealed herself as a beautiful enchantress. As punishment, she cursed the castle and all who lived there. After each season, she would transform him into a hideous beast, unless he could learn to love another and earn their love in return. After which, the curse would be broken. Unfortunately for the prince, this is his last season to do so, or he would remain a beast for all time. Filled with despair and empty of hope, he wondered who could ever learn to love a beast?
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“I’d forgotten this. How I could never solve anything before. How I was something to be shoved into back rooms or left playing lookout in the alley, because I never had anything to offer.”
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Harper was a simply lovely protagonist, who was so brave, kind, and caring. While she may not have been born a princess, she certainly carried herself like one! Captured from the streets of Washington, D.C. at eighteen and suffering from a mild case of cerebral palsy (when one falls on the mild side of the spectrum, one can walk unaided), she has a lot going on at home, as well: Her fatherleft them with a mountain of debt owed to criminals, her brother is expected to find a way to pay back that debt, and her motheris dying from cancer. Needless to say, being abducted to a magical land and given the duty of breaking a curse isn’t something else she wants to add to her to-do list. Either way, she comes to truly care for the people of Emberfall, which makes her rather conflicted internally: Should she stay in Emberfall and help the people who cannot help themselves? Or should she return home to treasure the few, precious moments she has left with her mother and help her brother resolve their debt? Harper is definitely one of my new, favourite protagonists.
“They believe her limp is the result of a war injury, but Harper is quick to correct them. ‘I was born this way,’ she'll snap, ‘and I'm going to die this way, so teach me to work around it.’ They love her for it.”
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Rhen was a wonderful prince and I definitely swooned at some points! I really felt for him because, with the exception of Grey, he’s been alone for so long, repeating the curse over and over again, season after season, and in that time, no one has come to love him. He’s lost the family that he loved AND the trust of his people, who thought he had deserted them. He might even lose his country itself to a neighbouring country trying to invade, and if he fails to break the curse this season, he’ll permanently be a beast that could kill his people without hesitation.
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"Grey stands in the doorway, one child on his shoulders, half-covered by the cloak. Another is in his arms, sound asleep and drooling against the front of his uniform. Snow dusts all three of them."
MY HEART! <3
BUT, despite how much I loved Rhen, the star of the show for me was Grey, the commander of the royal guard! I love the tall, dark, and handsome / strong, silent, and brooding male trope haha! So sexy! ;) He was so brave, risking his life by facing down the beast each season, and so loyal, continuing to stay by Rhen’s side, after all this time. I have no idea who I prefer Harper to be with romantically, but she has sizzling chemistry with the both of them! <3 The last time I felt so passionately this way was with the Infernal Devices trio – Will, Jem, and Tessa – by Cassandra Clare!
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My only complaint is that the enchantress, Lilith, was a pretty one-dimensional villain. We never got to hear her side of the story or even feel some sympathy for her. But all in all, she was a pretty sadistic and cruel antagonist that made this story even more compelling!
And can we talk about that epilogue?! I need A Heart So Fierce and Broken pronto!!! January 2020 cannot come quickly enough! I haven’t read Kemmerer’s more recent ventures into contemporary fiction, but I did read her X-Men-esque Elemental series in the early 2010s. This was such an improvement, from her plots to her characters, and even her writing style! I’m so proud of how far she’s come! This is a must-read, especially if you love faery tale retellings, or even a good love story! :D...more
“Wield your assets like a blade, Cousin. No man has invented a corset for our brains. Let them think they rule the world. It’s a queen who sits on th
“Wield your assets like a blade, Cousin. No man has invented a corset for our brains. Let them think they rule the world. It’s a queen who sits on that throne. Never forget that. There’s no reason you can’t wear a simple frock to work, then don the finest gown and dance the night away. But only if it pleases you.”
[image] Who else was legitimately obsessed with all 56Nancy Drew novels, all 21Famous Five novels, and the 4 classicSherlock Holmes novels growing up??? I had binoculars, monoculars, magnifying glasses, listening devices, codebreaking books, fingerprinting kits...the whole works! I literally thought that I’d be a detective or a forensic investigator in the future!!! (Then, I realised that I’m rubbish at sciences and there went that dream… xD)
My favourite course that I’ve ever taken was a Forensics Science elective in high school (and I’m currently a Master’s student at uni, so how sad is that, by the way?), where we learnt how to investigate a crime scene, forensic anthropology, forensic odontology, blunt force trauma, blood spatter, ballistics, hair and fibres, fingerprints, arson, forgery, handwriting analysis, serial killers, presenting evidence in a courtroom, and more! We even got to create our own crime scenes (leaving behind trace evidence to use as clues), whilst also having to solve the cases of our classmates! Needless to say, when Maica recommended this to me, I was ecstatic! Thanks so much, lovely! <3
Unfortunately, this buddy read with Saman and Bhavik was only a 4-star rating because, despite my enjoyment of the novel, for a mystery…I shouldn’t have correctly guessed the murderer by CHAPTER FOUR. I’m not going to spoil Jack the Ripper’s identity for you, but I found that the author’s choice for the serial killer came across as lazy plotting. It was too neat and easy. I would’ve liked something a bit more complex. A bunch of possible suspects with equally viable motives would’ve greatly improved this novel. As the novel progressed, the author also left glaringly obvious hints as to the killer’s identity, which was completely unnecessary. I would’ve preferred it to be more of a surprise. All great mysteries hinge on varying degrees of subtlety, something that this book certainly lacks. [image]
Having said that, there’s this Canadian crime drama telly series, named Motive, which I love. The gist of it is that every episode begins with the revelation of both the victim and the killer. The audience must piece together the evidence and clues throughout the episode along with the homicide detective, to make the connection between the victim and the killer, making this show a “whydunit”, rather than a typical “whodunit”. I approached this book from the same angle, once I figured out Jack’s identity. Since we were told the identities of the victims and the killer was fairly obvious, I spent the duration of the novel trying to determine the motive behind the killer’s actions. I highly recommend doing this, as well. It will definitely improve your enjoyment of this novel!!! Regardless, the Sherlock Holmes deduction-game style of writing was very entertaining! :D
“You simply need to hone your powers of deduction, Wadsworth. Look at the obvious and go from there. Most people ignore what’s right before their eyes. They believe they see, but oftentimes only view what they want.”
[image] Audrey Rose Wadsworth was an absolutely wonderful protagonist. She was a firm believer in gender equality and refused to conform to English society’s conventions in the 1880-era. Her sassy personality also resonates with us, living today in the 21st century. She’s not a doormat, who is satisfied in a meek position that’s subservient to a man. Rather than enjoying social teas like her peers, she preferred to spend her time studying forensic science in her Uncle’s laboratory. She was very kind and wished to bring justice to all of the murdered women that society had no care for, as they held unsavoury positions as prostitutes. If I had one complaint about her character, it would be the fact that her internal feminist monologue was awfully repetitive. The same thing was said over and over again in a variety of ways, which would grate on anyone’s nerves, no matter how much I agreed with it.
“I’d do everything in my power to solve this case for Miss Nichols. And for any other voiceless girl or woman society ignored.”
As Maica promised, I was completely enamoured by Thomas Cresswell!!! <3 Sorry, Maica, but I’m stealing him away! MINE MINE MINE!!! :P Despite his boldness and arrogance, I also found him to be simultaneously witty and charming. I adored his entertaining banter with Audrey and how he loved to tease her. He was also incredibly sweet: “'I went to several shops trying to find the exact scent...' He looked at his hands. 'I wanted to purchase it for you.'” Their scenes together made me so happy and giddy! His detective skills were also fan-bloody-tastic as he channelled his inner-Sherlock Holmes, perhaps even putting Holmes to shame (not really, but it felt like it, at times). I have a feeling that he’ll make it onto my never-ending book-boyfriend list in no time!!! [image]
I really loved this book, which was an excellent début novel, and I can’t wait to read Hunting Prince Dracula and Escaping from Houdini. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy historical romances and mystery novels! :)...more
"Bravery isn’t the absence of fear, but the willingness to stay the course in spite of it."
It’s a good thing that Varsha and I decided to randomly b
"Bravery isn’t the absence of fear, but the willingness to stay the course in spite of it."
It’s a good thing that Varsha and I decided to randomly buddy read this!!! Who knows when I would’ve gotten to it, otherwise? Talk about a happy, albeit unexpected, surprise!
Why aren’t more people talking about this amazing book??? I mean, it has faeries, ogres, Feeding Trees, witches, curses, and faery gifts!!! What’s not to like??? This was also such a great adventure!!!
There was some false advertising though. Whilst this story felt like a faery tale, this is not a Sleeping Beauty retelling. In all honesty, if you go into this book with that mind-set, I guarantee you that you’ll be extremely disappointed.
In fact, if I were to call it a retelling of anything, I’d say it’s a retelling of the movie, Princess of Thieves (2001) with Keira Knightley! Have you seen it? It’s so good! The premise is a feminist retelling of Robin Hood, where Gywn uses her swashbuckling skills to save Robin Hood (her father), Will Scarlett, and even England itself from the dastardly Prince John, with the help from King Richard the Lionheart’s illegitimate son, Prince Philip. Let’s see…
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The title is the Princess of Thieves Thorns? The daughter of the nobles royals, Robin Hood and Lady Marian Prince Stephen and Princess Rose? A girl named Gwyn Princess Aurora? A girl disguised as a boy to conceal her identity? A girl talented with a bow and arrow faery staff? A girl helping Prince Philip Niklaas, who wants to gain royal power? A girl whose motive is to save her father brother from execution? A girl who needs the prince’s help to fight Prince John Queen Ekeeta? A girl with a close, brother-like best friend, Froderick Thyne? Etc…
"Because they are strong enough to know the truth, and proving that to themselves will make them stronger." Ror sits up straighter in the saddle. "And perhaps, if men were brought up to be gentler people, women wouldn't have need of protectors. Have you ever thought of that?"
I shake my head. "Men aren't going to change, Ror. Men are what they are."
"And women are more than what you allow them to be. Women can be strong, Niklaas. If given the chance, they can handle the world, maybe even handle it better than a man. "
Princess Aurora was such an empowering protagonist. Not only was she very capable in a fight (what a bad-arse! :P), but she was also a true heroine, willing to sacrifice herself in order to save her people, as their future Queen. She was completely believable, whilst masquerading as a boy, and had to deal with the internal struggle of how truthful she should be with her traveling companion, Niklaas.
Prince Niklaas spent the majority of the novel bantering and sparring with Aurora (or Ror), much to my delight. <3 He was such an amazing person, who only wanted to be loved and have the opportunity to live without a curse looming over his head. He was also quite selfless, willing to put himself into dangerous situations, regardless if there’s a personal benefit to him, or not. He’s quite protective of the people that he cares about and I found him to be quite a sweet prince.
Needless to say, these two were wonderful characters and greatly contributed to my enjoyment of this novel.
I highly recommend this to those who enjoy faery tales, fantasy adventures, and the girl-dressed-as-a-boy trope! :D...more
“Do you think a life has any value if one doesn’t leave some mark upon the world?”
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WOW. What a book. What. A. Book. How do I even begin to describe this masterpiece??? V.E. Schwab just may have outdone herself this time (and this is the eleventh book I've read of hers, omg)! I don’t know how she could possibly top this book in the future. Not only is this her best-written book to date, but you can also see that it’s her most personal one, as well. You can see how much love and care went into this, which is probably why it’s also been in the works for as many years as it has. It’s truly amazing to see how artists pour so much of themselves into their art.
“What she needs are stories. Stories are a way to preserve one’s self. To be remembered. And to forget. Stories come in so many forms: in charcoal, and in song, in paintings, poems, films. And books. Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives – or to find strength in a very long one.”
One of the best parts of this book is honestly the plot itself, with all of the twists and turns that it entails, and what an unpredictable path that the story takes, so I’m not going to ruin it for anyone by going into too much detail. Sorry, but you don’t want to ruin the wonderful surprises for yourself.
“The darkness claimed he’d given her freedom, but really there is no such thing for a woman, not in a world where they are bound up inside their clothes, and sealed inside their homes, a world where only men are given leave to roam.”
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Meet Adeline LaRue. A young, spirited, French girl who, unfortunately, happened to be born in the wrong time and place, where women were unable to have the freedom that she desired. Rather, they were expected to marry young, tend to the homes, and bear children for their husbands. This goes against everything Addie wanted in life, such as exploration and adventure. She wanted to carve her own mark onto the world, rather than going through the motions of a life dictated as being proper for a woman in the small French town of Villon during the 1700s. She didn’t want to merely EXIST. She wanted to LIVE.
“And no matter how desperate or dire, never pray to the gods that answer after dark.”
Thus, when her wedding day came around, and she was faced with a man she did not love and a life she did not want…she ran. Ran to plead with the gods for another sort of life, a better life, where she could live her dreams, rather than damning herself as the other women in her village have. She didn’t want her spirit to die along with her freedom. She wanted to see everything the world had to offer. She didn’t want to waste it because society decided that it was time that she should settle down, not when she hadn’t even begun to live.
“I gave you what you asked for, Adeline. Time, without constraint. Life without restriction. You cursed me to be forgotten. You asked for freedom. There is no greater freedom than that. You can move through the world unhindered. Untethered. Unbound.”
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Unfortunately, it happened to be dark when she said her prayers, and it wasn’t a benevolent god who answered. A trickster offered her a deal, a deal she foolishly accepted in her desperation for freedom. But Addie wasn’t one to lay down and submit at the first sign of hardship. No, for 300 years she’ll play a game of cat and mouse with the god who took all of her desires and fashioned it into a curse that she refused to surrender to.
“This is the silence of a chess game being played. And this time, Addie has to win.”
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As we watch Addie over her 300 years of life, we see that she desires to hear three words more than any others … “I remember you.” And finally, after all these years, she meets Henry, a Jewish bookseller, who is as lost as she is, with monsters of his own, and who, for some reason, remembers her name. Over the course of this novel, we watch Addie, the god and Henry in this beautiful dance throughout time, and wonder how these three lives will ultimately come together and, unfortunately, how this poignant story will come to an end.
(Despite my five-star rating though, I will admit that I wanted a bit MORE from this novel. Considering that we were promised a love story of 300 years between a girl no one remembers and the devil, I felt a tad cheated because that's not really what this was. I won't go into detail because #spoilers, but I definitely felt that this was a case of false advertisement.)
“Being forgotten … is a bit like going mad. You begin to wonder what is real, if you are real. After all, how can a thing be real if it cannot be remembered?”
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I will say that this is a very slow, yet compelling novel. It’s very romantic, yet bittersweet. It definitely has the vibe of a historical novel as we travel with Addie over her 300 years of life, but it is also most definitely supernatural as you see the darkness trying to wear down Addie’s spirit, as she travels through the centuries, completely and utterly alone. I absolutely adored this and devoured it as fast as I could (something I definitely regret now, because you can only read a book for the first time once…but how could I have stopped myself? It’s simply THAT GOOD). So, do yourselves a favour and pick up this gem of a novel when it releases in the upcoming months. <3...more
WHOO HOO! I’m happy to announce that Crystal Storm’s trudging plot was a fluke! I loved this finale.
Wowza, Morgan Rhodes certainly has something against grandmothers...each one was literally the source of every problem in this series.
If I had one complaint, it would be that this instalment was wrapped up a little too nicely. Literally everyone gets a happy ending. Even Amara gets redemption, despite having done nothing to deserve it. And idiotic Lucia gets all the glory, when Jonas, Nic, Magnus and Cleo were the actual brave ones.
I won’t lie though...the final chapter was so cute and sweet and everything I ever wanted for Magneo. Needless to say, this series took me only a matter of DAYS to binge and it’s now firmly on my list of favourites. Why it isn’t as popular as Throne of Glass is beyond me. It’s just as large in scope! Falling Kingdoms deserves all of the hype and more. ...more
Ok, I’m now I’m convinced that Morgan Rhodes is PURE EVIL!!! What even was that ending?!
Here I am, reading the book, Re-read, part five, with Alison!
Ok, I’m now I’m convinced that Morgan Rhodes is PURE EVIL!!! What even was that ending?!
Here I am, reading the book, quite calmly I might add...when suddenly everything gets turned upside down at the end?!!! Magnus, Cleo, Nic, Jonas, and yes...even Lucia better be ok in the next book! I can’t handle anyone else dying!!!
The plot was rather underwhelming in this instalment and frankly, for the first two thirds of this novel, I was completely and utterly bored. Why Lucia is considered as a major character is beyond me. I felt that I spent more time with her than Cleo, the series’ ACTUAL PROTAGONIST.
Also, there was not nearly enough Magneo in this book. Let’s spend less time caring about Lucia and her issues, and more time with kissy-kissy scenes between Magnus and Cleo. Thank you!...more
Whoa. I did not expect that! THAT’S what’s in the crystals?!!! :O Oh myyy...
Yay! My ship is sailing whooooo hooooo! MRe-read, part three, with Alison!
Whoa. I did not expect that! THAT’S what’s in the crystals?!!! :O Oh myyy...
Yay! My ship is sailing whooooo hooooo! Magneo for life!!! It’s about time Magnus recognised how he really felt about Cleo! My babies!!! <3
Also, Jonas. Grrr. Can’t he do anything correctly?! So bloody USELESS. I felt worse for Felix, rather than Jonas. Eek. And I’m STILL indifferent to Lucia. I find her entire plot line to be rather tedious, if I’m being honest.
THAT’S HOW YOU END IT?!!! My only saving grace is that I took so long to get to this sequel that all six instalments ofRe-read, part two, with Alison!
THAT’S HOW YOU END IT?!!! My only saving grace is that I took so long to get to this sequel that all six instalments of this series are already released.
Ok wow. So this was a roller coaster of emotions. Honestly, I saw the ratings for this and was quite worried ... what are you lot smoking? This was amazing! I was on the edge of my seat, SO WORRIED for my babies.
Cleo is an amazingly brave protagonist. I love her so much. I feel so bad for her, considering everything that she’s been through. Magnus, I also love and feel bad for. He’s had such a rough upbringing and just wants to be loved and ... ok I ship him and Cleo SO HARD.
I’m kind of indifferent to Lucia though? I hated her chapters. I literally couldn’t care less about her, so hopefully she’ll become a more endearing character in the future instalments?
Regardless, I’m going to start book three now because that was a heck of an abrupt ending!
P.S. I read this entire book in THREE HOURS! Yes, folks, it’s THAT ADDICTING!...more
“I don’t mind being a moth. I would probably start eating silk if it meant that I could fly.”
This book took way too long to read and it had absolutely“I don’t mind being a moth. I would probably start eating silk if it meant that I could fly.”
This book took way too long to read and it had absolutely nothing to do with the novel itself. Trying to keep up with my reading in conjunction with my university work is a bloody nightmare! *cries*
This was a buddy read with my Aussie mate, Laura! <3 Enjoy your win for now! It’ll be short-lived! MUAHAHA! ;)
Back to this novel, it was just as addicting as The Winner’s Curse. I don’t know how Marie Rutkoski does it, but her writing just hooks you in and grabs a hold of you, refusing to let you go, even for a moment. And I loved every moment of it! Having said that, this was such an improvement upon the first instalment. The plot was better than ever before, and the twists and turns kept surprising me consistently! Gone were the frivolous flirtations and the nonsensical romance. Now, the stakes are even higher and the action makes you perch at the edge of your seat out of worry for your beloved characters.
Kestrel is forced to make the hardest of decisions for “the greater good”, by even sacrificing innocent people, since the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. She is simultaneously presented with the task of outwitting the Emperor, and even her own father, the General of the Emperor’s armies. Treason runs amok at court as everyone engages in betrayals, deceptions, and revenge to gain the upper hand in the game of politics and power. I didn’t even mind Kestrel and Arin’s secret meetings, where they gathered in order to avoid the ever-watchful and unescapable eyes of the spies creeping about in every corner.
“Kestrel saw all of her mistakes, strung in such a crowded, ugly line that it was difficult to tell which one had come first.”
If anyone happened to miss Kestrel’s obvious intelligence in the first book, Rutkoski portrays it even better here. She’s such a complex heroine, who consistently questions if she is doing the right thing, as she tries to make the choices that will result in the most minimal amount of causalities.
“It made no sense. Its senselessness was painful. How had Kestrel become someone who didn’t make sense?”
Kestrel is such a capable strategist, who isn’t completely consumed with life at court or moping after Arin’s absence. Rather, she is perfectly content when plotting, scheming, and outwitting all of those who oppose her, most especially her future father-in-law, the Emperor. I have so much respect for her as protagonist. I just wish that we saw more like her in YA fantasy.
Admittedly, this book barely makes any corrections to the problems that I had over the lack of world-building and the lack of fantasy elements in the previous book, which is the sole reason that this book did not receive a full 5-star rating.
In addition, when it comes to YA fantasy, I need to be fully invested in the entire principal cast, in order to give it the highest rating…and I’m still of the opinion that Arin is bloody useless. He’s naïve, obsessive, and impulsive – the exact opposite of Kestrel, which is why I just can’t picture them as a couple. Friends?Yes.Lovers?No.
I was hard-core shipping Kestrel and Verex, her future husband, on the other hand (Yes, I know; he cares for someone else, but tell that to my heart. It’s got other ideas :P). Verex was so genuine, sweet, and kind, that I found him to be such an endearing character. I have a pretty good idea about who Kestrel is destined to be with, but that doesn’t mean that I have to be happy about it… :-/
The cliffhanger absolutely killed me and if Kestrel doesn’t make it out, unscathed, I might actually hurt someone! No one hurts my baby, Kestrel! NO ONE!*insert angry face here* Kestrel’s father could also choke for all I care. His consistent treatment of his daughter is awful and he has absolutely no concept of familial loyalty. She constantly tries to help and protect him, but I guess that it doesn’t matter to him. Ugh. What a pathetic excuse for a father.
Well, I’m off to begin the third and final book, The Winner’s Kiss, now, and I hope that it holds up to these amazing first two instalments! :D They have certainly lived up to the hype, thus far!...more
Buddy re-read, part one, with Mary! (finally lol :P)
“The books we love, they love us back. And just as we mark our places in the pages, those pages leBuddy re-read, part one, with Mary! (finally lol :P)
“The books we love, they love us back. And just as we mark our places in the pages, those pages leave their marks on us. I can see it in you, sure as I see it in me. You're a daughter of the words. A girl with a story to tell.”
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WOW. I don’t think that I have any coherent thoughts at the moment. What an addicting novel!
This was just a rollercoaster ride from start to finish. I started off enjoying the exquisite writing style and then, the story crescendoed into something more, keeping me perched at the edge of my seat in anticipation of what’s to come.
I’d also like to say that I’m an emotional wreck because everyone that I thought I trusted...turned out to be someone else entirely, complete with unsavoury agendas. I’m also very sad because I lost a few beloved characters and a number of my ships crashed and burned. WHY???!*cries* Thank you, oh so very much, Jay Kristoff! Grrr….
So, what’s this brilliant book about?
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Mia Corvere originated from a respectable family…that is, until her father is hanged for his part in a rebellion. At age ten, the life that she had always known and the family that she held dear were ripped away from her in a moment. It is then that she avows to seek revenge upon all those who had wronged her and her family.
“Never flinch…Never fear. And never, ever forget.”'
In order to avenge her family, however, Mia must acquire training in the brutal art of assassination. As a result, she seeks tutelage at the Red Church, where she learns all that she can, so that she can begin checking off the names on her list. But first, now that she has chosen Red Church, the Red Church must choose her. If she wants to become a true assassin, she must be at the top of one of the four classes: blades, poisons, manipulation, or thievery. Does Mia have what it takes to exact her revenge?
“Beauty you're born with, but brains you earn.”
I’d like to give a shout-out to Mr Kindly, the talking cat, made of shadows! <3 He’s Mia’s secret weapon, who feeds upon her fear and provides some much-needed sassy commentary! ;) Mia also appears to have some magical abilities, where she can control the shadows themselves…SO COOL!
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Furthermore, I really loved the sweet romance between Tric and Mia…And by the way, I DEMAND AN ANSWER ABOUT THAT ENDING!!! Anddddd...bonus points for sexy times! ;)
I definitely appreciated the balance of light and dark scenes throughout the novel, which prevented it from being either too happy or too sad. I will admit though, that it took me until Chapter 8, before I fell head-over-heels for this book, because it took a while to get accustomed to the purple prose-esque writing style (very much in the vein of Laini Taylor, in my opinion…but x 100!) and the abundance of footnotes. I found the footnotes to be rather unnecessary, albeit interesting. I initially read this book in an e-book format, which meant that all of the footnotes were collected at the end of the chapter. By the time that I got there, I had no idea as to what Jay Kristoff was referring to anymore! Ugh. After a while, I just stopped trying to read them, and it didn’t hinder my understanding of the world, plot, or characters at all.
On the other hand, I did really enjoy the mythology that was included in this world and the fact that it was a world of three rotating suns (hence the title, Nevernight), as well. And my Ancient Roman-loving heart was in complete adoration of Kristoff's Ancient Roman-esque society, complete with a Senate and legionnaires. I'M ALL HERE FOR IT! I swear that I'll die of happiness if gladiators and chariot races come into play in the future! <3
Also, in addition to the quote at the start of this review, there is another that especially resonates with me: “Too many books. Too few centuries.” Isn’t that the truth?! ;)
All things considered, this was an extraordinary book that I highly recommend it to anyone who is literate...seriously. xD I even completely ignored studying for a very important midterm in order to finish this riveting tale. If that doesn’t persuade you, I don’t know what will! :P
✨ Helena ✨
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