Once again, I am proven to have the absolute worst taste in characters because they almost always end up evil or dead.

The Queen Will Betray You is the YA fantasy sequel to The Princess Will Save You, and I'm honestly not sure how to feel about it. The cover of this specific book is why I decided to read the series, but I can't really tell if I liked the sequel better than the first book.
While the first book focused on adventure and action, this one was definitely more political. I'm not typically a fan of political fantasies if there's not much action involved, so unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one as much. Basically, every prince or princess or other heir is struggling to regain their thrones, mostly from the same two evil women. While I thought this book would delve into Luca's backstory and history, he felt kind of irrelevant to me, and despite the added POVs that should have given a clearer picture, I just felt that the storyline dragged. The ending itself felt a bit rushed and I'm unsure of how I feel about the epilogue, but I intend to finish the series soon.
The reason I'm conflicted about this book is that I definitely started to appreciate more of the characters. While most of the villains and newer characters didn't amuse me, the main cast from the last one carried the story. I'm still not the biggest fan of Amarande or Osana, although the former definitely experienced a little bit of depth. As I said before, I wish Luca had a bit more depth and exploration because even this book didn't do enough for me. Ula and Urtzi are definitely my favorites, and they better get more page time in book three. I also really liked Taillefer, which is bad cause he's a jerk, but his motives are just intriguing.
Fans of fantasy adventures with political intrigue, friends-to-lovers romance, and royal drama will enjoy The Queen Will Betray You.

3.5/5

"'Ruling isn't the only way to lead.'"

The King Will Kill You is the final installation of the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky trilogy, and while I think it's definitely necessary for the conclusion to the series, I'm not sure if I'm really a fan. The only reason this exists is because of a last-minute epilogue from the prior book that reintroduced an entirely irrelevant conflict, and for that reason, I think this book was destined to fall flat compared to the first two.
The first book was mostly action/adventure; the second was primarily politics but with a handful of action scenes...but this book was almost entirely politics and I'm just not really a big fan of political fantasies. There were only a few scenes that really intrigued me, and the ending felt very convenient and anticlimactic. Like I said, I think it's necessary for a satisfying conclusion to the series but whether or not it's worth it, I'm not sure. There are a handful of enjoyable scenes, but they're balanced with a bunch of scenes that I didn't really care for, and it all felt rather predictable.
Additionally, I didn't really feel connected to any of the characters in this one. Amarande finally reached a character arc, but she was always pretty strong to begin with, so she just gained a bit of depth. Honestly, I kinda found Luca to be irrelevant in this one. As much as it pains me to say it, he hasn't really mattered all that much to the plot for a while. Ferdinand and Osana's relationship came out of nowhere, but surprisingly Ferdinand really grew on me in this one (probably because he was the only subject of action scenes). I wish Ula and Urtzi got more page time because I really liked them. Also, Geneva is just Gisela Sencen from Keeper of the Lost Cities with all of her "legacy" crap, and the rest of the antagonists didn't impress me either.
The King Will Kill You provides a satisfying conclusion to the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky series, perfect for fans of romantic and political fantasies.
3.25/5

Link to Libby Annotations

By some miracle, I managed to call every single plot twist in this book, and I have no idea how.

A Fate Inked in Blood has been on my Netgalley TBR since October, but I'm glad I finally got around to it because I just got the biggest unnecessary ego rush. I don't know much about Norse mythology, so the worldbuilding was pretty unique to me, and it definitely gave Beowulf vibes too.
The story follows Freya, a shield maiden prophesized to unite the world, as she leaves her home and enters a world of politics and war. There were a fair amount of action scenes that kept me entertained, but I can safely say I was more invested in calling the plot twists...and I did. I was unreasonably proud of myself for solving them, and I think that's why I enjoyed the book as much as I did. My only issue with the plot was that there were several instances of Freya and Bjorn picking fights with each other, making out, and then going back to being cold toward each other. I'm not a fan of will they/won't they romances, so it just got on my nerves at times.
I wasn't super invested in any of the characters, probably because I was convinced that half of them were evil. I liked Freya's personality and I think she has an interesting background, especially with info revealed at the end. However, her monologues about her lust got on my nerves, and I was tired of her fawning over Bjorn at times. I went back and forth between hating and liking Bjorn because his dirty jokes annoyed me, but I like tragic backstories, so I thought he was cool, too (although the Leo Valdez meets Rhysand personality was a bit much for me). The rest of the characters aren't really likable, but I think that's kind of the point...even if I wish there were more than two decent characters.
A Fate Inked in Blood is a Norse mythology-inspired romantasy story that I think would appeal to fantasy fans of all kinds.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

3.75

We'll see how book two goes, but this series might quickly join my favorites shelf.

We Shall Be Monsters borrows elements from Frankenstein and Indian mythology to create a lush world filled with magic and monsters, not born but made. I absolutely adored the worldbuilding, mostly because it relies heavily on parallels from the story's history, and I'm always a fan of unavoidable fate. It's also well-explained (as long as you don't skim the lore sections like I accidentally did at first), and I really like the imagery.
And the plot? Every time I thought I got a grasp on where the story was going, it became more complex and twisty, and I enjoyed every second of it. There's necromancy (in a sense), mythological magic, demons and other creatures, and plenty of "adventure." I did manage to predict some of the main plot twists, but usually not until right before they were announced, and I was still sort of shocked by them. The ending is cruel, and I can't say much else for spoiler purposes, but given my experience with one of the author's other series (Timekeeper), I'm prepared to be sad.
I also loved most of the characters. Kajal was incredibly complex, but I really enjoyed her narration, and her relationship with Lasya reminded me a lot of Ephyra and Beru from There Will Come a Darkness. Kutaa is amazing, and everyone needs an undead dog in their life. I didn't like the rest of the side characters as much because I felt they ruined the vibe between Kajal and Tav. And Tav? Look, the butterfly boy prince from history with some mythology tied into his backstory completely stole the show for me. If anything happens to him (and I'm sure this won't end well for a variety of reasons), I'm not going to be happy.
We Shall Be Monsters is the first book in what I anticipate to be one of my favorite fantasy series, and when book two releases, I will be buying it immediately.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4.5/5

"Until we are all free, we are none of us free."

We Set the Dark on Fire reminded me a lot of Victoria Lee's The Fever King and the movie Level 16. It's a story of romance and rebellion in a world that resembles our own. I just want to start off by saying that this book is classified as "fantasy," but the fantasy elements are really weak, so if you go into it expecting a true fantasy novel, you're bound to be disappointed. I would sooner consider this dystopia than fantasy.
Every upper-class man must marry two women, raised to fulfill one of two roles: the Primera (the "equal" one who acts basically as a business partner) and the Segunda (the "fun" wife). Dani and her rival, Carmen, must marry a politician named Mateo, but Dani quickly becomes embroiled in the La Voz rebel group, putting her in a precarious position. There isn't much action until the end, and most of the book is filled with political maneuvering, which isn't usually something I enjoy. I also called the main plot twist pretty early on, but I think this reads as a younger YA (with the exception of one scene) and I forgave the predictability because I think it was still subtle.
The main character, Dani, is very pragmatic, which I liked in a main character. I also enjoyed how she recited lines she was taught in "wife school" and slowly learned to find her own way in the world. I thought Carmen was a bit harder to understand, but her carefree manner and her backstory paint an interesting character that I'm hoping to see more of in book two. I did find their romance to be a little abrupt, especially considering Dani forgave Carmen very early on in the rivals-to-lovers arc. For some reason, Sota ended up being my favorite character? I don't have a reason, and he still kind of creeps me out, so I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being evil... I didn't find the rest of the cast particularly appealing, but I did like the dynamics between Dani and Mateo's mothers.
We Set the Dark on Fire is the first book in a duology about the sparks of rebellion and the flames of love, and while I didn't find it to be my favorite, I think that readers expecting less fantasy will enjoy it much more than I did.

3.5/5

In the most recent case of Abby Getting Too Invested in Books...I may or may not have laid on the floor and cried to the extent that my parents were genuinely concerned for my wellbeing...

Sorcery of Thorns has been on my TBR for a while, and I pushed it off because I somehow got the impression that it was a "cozy fantasy," which I don't usually enjoy as much, and now I'm mad at myself for not reading it sooner because I enjoyed it way more than I expected to. It's about libraries and magic books, which should've been a selling point for me, to be honest.
The plot was way more fast-paced and intriguing than I anticipated, and I was unbelievably happy about that. The story revolves around Elisabeth Scrivener, who is training to be a warden of the library when she is thrown into a world of magic, politics, and evil sorcerers with crazy powerful spells. There were plenty of action scenes, and for over half of the book, I was holding my breath, hoping that all of the characters would live. The scene in the garden at the ball? I was internally screaming the entire time, and I'm already excited for when I get to reread it.
I also really enjoyed the character dynamics between the main trio. I loved Elisabeth's connection to the books as well as her devotion to her cause, and also the fact that she's the main sword-wielder for the group. Nathaniel reminded me a lot of Marvel's Loki (I think because of the green aesthetic) and Lockwood from Lockwood & Co., and I've said it before, but almost every sarcastic and "arrogant" character with a tragic backstory earns my favor, and he was no different. Silas, though, was my favorite. I don't really have a good reason, especially because I thought he was pretty cool from the first encounter and never stopped to consider why. He reminds me of Gus (the talking cat) from the really obscure Rose series by Holly Webb that I read when I was 10, and also, the way he treats Nathaniel reminded me of Merlin and Arthur's dynamic from BBC's Merlin. Overall, I just loved the dynamics between the three of them, but Silas was my favorite.
Filled with magic, adventure, mystery, and romance, Sorcery of Thorns is an excellent read for fantasy fans of all kinds.

4.5/5

This book reminded me why I hate love triangles...especially because I know what happens in book three and that none of this matters.

I first read Throne of Glass about three years ago, and I liked it, but I've been meaning to reread it ever since I reread ACOTAR because I enjoyed it more, although I don't remember anything about it. So, here we are, beginning a rereading journey that'll probably take 10 months with the Libby waits. Do I like this book as I did the first time? Unfortunately, I don't think so. However, I do vaguely remember being unimpressed with the first three books, so I am admittedly sort of only reading this for the fourth book.
Celaena is an assassin who is freed from the mine where she's been enslaved for nearly a year in order to join a competition to become the king's assassin. There's a bit of mystery involved with competitors disappearing, but overall, I feel like the pacing slowed immensely in the second half. Political maneuvering, a love triangle involves little actual romance, and a few glimpses of Trials that are quickly forgotten - I just felt like the focus was on the wrong scenes for part of the book, and I found that the ending "big" scene was a little underwhelming. Plus, I guessed the plot twist (and, yes, I read the book before, but I remembered literally nothing worth mentioning) pretty early on.
This book also introduces a ton of characters that are important for the series, but I don't know if I was particularly drawn to any of them. I forgot Kaltain existed, and while I remembered Nehemia, I wasn't really attached to her. Celaena was okay, and I know she gets better in later books, but in this one, there are a lot of details the author includes about her just to make her seem relatable, and it kind of annoyed me at times, especially because she wasn't particularly interesting. I didn't mind Chaol, but I was conflicted about his dynamics with Dorian because they just felt...off from how I remembered them. Dorian was my favorite, but I think it's only because I remember him from later on in the series. Based on this book alone, he'd probably not be as interesting to me.
Throne of Glass is the first book in a popular fantasy series that contains a lot of well-loved tropes and is sure to be enjoyed by readers just beginning to get into the genre.

3.75/5
Link to Libby Annotations

"Crier had been Designed. Crier was Made. But in the moment Ayla first touched her, Crier had learned what it felt like to be born."

Crier's War is a YA sci-fi story with familiar "AI rebellion" tropes, and it sat on my TBR for probably three or four years before I saw a special edition of it for a good price and knew I finally had to get it. I didn't know much about the book itself going into it besides that it was a story of romance and revolution, and because I haven't read many stories with these tropes, I actually enjoyed the worldbuilding.
The reader joins two POV characters, Ayla and Crier, in a world teetering on the brink of revolution. Ayla is a human who wants nothing more than to get revenge on the Automae, specifically Lady Crier. Crier is an Automae who is approaching an arranged marriage with a man who wishes to end humankind altogether. When Ayla takes the place of Crier's handmaiden, the two are immersed in a world of politics, lies, and ulterior motives. I wish there had been a bit more action, considering the story centers around a rebellion; I didn't get much sense of danger or tension. There were a handful of plot twists, none of which I predicted, but I also didn't find any of them to be too crazy.
The cast of main characters is relatively small, and I think I struggled to connect with some of them because most had some sort of ulterior motive or "evilness." I liked Benjy at first, but then I got bad vibes from him. I didn't care for Rowan or Faye or any of those side characters. I can't reveal the character I found most interesting for spoiler reasons, but I'm hoping he's involved in book two more. Ayla was a bit harder to relate to than Crier, mostly because I found her to be too stubborn for her own good, although I liked her as a main character. I liked Crier a bit more just because she showed a little more emotion (although I suppose there's symbolism in the "robot" feeling more passion than a human at times).
Crier's War is an enemies-to-sorta-lovers YA sci-fi story about the weight of love in the midst of a revolution.

3.5/5

The best way I can describe this book is Heartstopper in space.

The Stars Too Fondly is listed as a sapphic rom-com and cozy sci-fi, but I really don't think that description gives any clue as to the depth and weight conveyed within the story. I really didn't find it to be too much of a "rom-com" (I don't like rom-coms typically, so this worked in my favor), and while I see where the "cozy" sci-fi comes from, there is a LOT more going on than what I would expect from something labeled as "cozy."
Told through a handful of mediums (traditional prose, secret internal monologues, archived conversations, etc), this book details the story of a friend group of queer young scientists as they navigate the stars in search of a spaceship crew that disappeared nearly 19 years ago. The pacing is a bit slow at times, which is why I think this counts as "cozy" (most of the story takes place in one setting). That being said, there is a fair amount of angst, which I enjoyed greatly, and the ending was much more meaningful than I think any true rom-com could've managed. I did find some of the plot twists to be predictable, but that wasn't a huge deal. I also want to note that some "sci-fi" elements read more as "science fantasy," which I saw as a main complaint in other reviews and while I didn't mind it, I do think it's important for people to understand this isn't the most scientific of sci-fis.
This book really emphasizes found family vibes, too. While I struggled a bit to connect to the main character, Cleo, and her romance with Billie (the ship's holographic captain), I was rooting for them by the end. Kal and Abe reminded me a lot of Elle and Tao from Heartstopper, but I thought they were neat as side characters. Ros was my favorite, mostly because they were mysterious, angsty, and done with everyone else's crap. I thought the villain was pretty well done in making the reader dislike them, but I do think they were "defeated" pretty easily.
The Stars Too Fondly is a sapphic sci-fi novel about a found family of queer scientists that balances cozy vibes with themes of the dangers of progress.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

3.5/5

"Give me children, or else I die."

Just a few notes before I actually start some semblance of a "review": I read this book on my own accord (not for a class). This is the first "classic" I've read on my own. Therefore, I almost certainly missed a bunch of themes and nuances, and I apologize if something went over my head. Additionally, I thought my decision to read this on my own time would make me enjoy it more (as I have a tendency to initially dislike books that were assigned to me), but honestly, the experience was about the same; it just felt less academic, and my annotations - which I will include below - aren't very intelligent.

So, The Handmaid's Tale itself. I chose this as my first "on my own" classic to read, given the current circumstances involving reproductive rights for women, and while I am satisfied with it, I will admit that I think has fallen into the trap of Abby's Extremely High Expectations. And, as it seems to be with most classics I read, I like the concepts but not the execution.

"One detaches oneself. One describes."

This quote right here sums up the narration style for the novel, and something I struggled with. Almost the entire story is a series of observations, some of which have what I perceived to be little meaning in relation to the story as a whole. Do I understand why? Yes. Complacency is one of the themes of the novel, and by observing rather than analyzing or acting, Offred is protecting herself. She says at one point, "If it’s a story I’m telling, then I have control over the ending. Then there will be an ending, to the story, and real life will come after it. I can pick up where I left off." The narration is the only thing in this world that Offred has control of, and I really like that idea. While it's an interesting concept, it's not a super interesting read and the narration style was part of the reason I had to require myself to read a certain page amount each day.
That being said, I really did enjoy the themes and messages that this book expressed, especially regarding bodily autonomy. I'll include some of the quotes I bookmarked below:

"There is more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia. Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from."

"We were a society dying, said Aunt Lydia, of too much choice."

"Maybe none of this is about control. Maybe it isn’t really about who can own whom, who can do what to whom and get away with it, even as far as death. Maybe it isn’t about who can sit and who has to kneel or stand or lie down, legs spread open. Maybe it’s about who can do what to whom and be forgiven for it. Never tell me it amounts to the same thing."

"We are two-legged wombs, that’s all: sacred vessels, ambulatory chalices."

"You are a transitional generation, said Aunt Lydia. It is the hardest for you. We know the sacrifices you are being expected to make."

I won't ramble on for much longer, as I know there's nothing about this book I could say that hasn't already been said. This is one of the few classics I've read that I have relatively few issues with, and, especially in our current age, I think it deserves the recognition it gets.
I'm not going to give The Handmaid's Tale a number rating, as I feel like it's not fair to rate books of this kind for how much (or little) I enjoyed them, but all I'll say is that it's one of the few classics that I hope to reread some day.
Link to Libby Annotations