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abby_ace_of_books
This book is for everyone who watched BBC's Merlin and thought Morgana and Gwen should have ended up together.
Lady's Knight is a cozy YA fantasy about knights, dragons, witches, and girls with big plans. The stakes aren't super high, the narration is comedic, and the world has very loose references to Arthurian legend. To be honest, I'm not usually a fan of cozy or low-stakes fantasy, so I think the reason I didn't enjoy this book as much as I hoped is because of this. I still highly recommend this book to others; it just didn't particularly stand out to me.
Gwen wants to be a knight, and Isobelle wants to be rescued by one. Once Isobelle finds out that she will be the prize for the next jousting tournament, she and Gwen come up with a plan: Isobelle will help Gwen enter and win the tournament, and in exchange, Isobelle will not be married off to the winning knight. As other reviewers have said, the plot is fairly predictable, and the stakes are relatively low, but I think the comedic nature of the story definitely carries it. Outside of the humor, I didn't find it to be anything particularly new or unique. The pacing also felt a little slow, but again, the narration makes up for that.
This could also be the beginning of a reading slump, but I didn't feel super connected to any of the characters. I really did like the dynamic between Isobelle and Gwen; I think they complemented each other well. I just didn't find them to be super three-dimensional. I did like Isobelle's character arc, and I appreciated Gwen's perspective on the lives of nobles. I struggled a bit to differentiate between all of Isobelle's friends (I just kept picturing the girls from Sofia the First), but I did like the banter between them. Overall, I liked the characters; I just didn't think they were super complex.
Lady's Knight is a fun-spirited YA fantasy - probably fitting for the younger side of YA - that explores the love between a lady and her knight.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
3.5/5
Lady's Knight is a cozy YA fantasy about knights, dragons, witches, and girls with big plans. The stakes aren't super high, the narration is comedic, and the world has very loose references to Arthurian legend. To be honest, I'm not usually a fan of cozy or low-stakes fantasy, so I think the reason I didn't enjoy this book as much as I hoped is because of this. I still highly recommend this book to others; it just didn't particularly stand out to me.
Gwen wants to be a knight, and Isobelle wants to be rescued by one. Once Isobelle finds out that she will be the prize for the next jousting tournament, she and Gwen come up with a plan: Isobelle will help Gwen enter and win the tournament, and in exchange, Isobelle will not be married off to the winning knight. As other reviewers have said, the plot is fairly predictable, and the stakes are relatively low, but I think the comedic nature of the story definitely carries it. Outside of the humor, I didn't find it to be anything particularly new or unique. The pacing also felt a little slow, but again, the narration makes up for that.
This could also be the beginning of a reading slump, but I didn't feel super connected to any of the characters. I really did like the dynamic between Isobelle and Gwen; I think they complemented each other well. I just didn't find them to be super three-dimensional. I did like Isobelle's character arc, and I appreciated Gwen's perspective on the lives of nobles. I struggled a bit to differentiate between all of Isobelle's friends (I just kept picturing the girls from Sofia the First), but I did like the banter between them. Overall, I liked the characters; I just didn't think they were super complex.
Lady's Knight is a fun-spirited YA fantasy - probably fitting for the younger side of YA - that explores the love between a lady and her knight.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
3.5/5
Phoenixes >>>>> Dragons
Of Flame and Fury is a YA romantasy debut focusing around one of my favorite fantasy features: phoenixes. I've always been a lover of phoenixes in books, so I had to request this as soon as I saw it on Netgalley. I was mildly surprised by the truly wild nature of phoenixes in this book, and I really appreciated the questions of freedom and exploitation of nature.
I've seen a lot of reviews comparing this to Fourth Wing, but I honestly preferred this book immensely. Kel is a phoenix tamer who trains phoenixes for racing, and she's desperate for the money that comes with winning. The only issue? She'll need to work with her rival, Warren "Coup" Coupers. I thought the pacing and action were well done, and maybe I'm finally breaking out of a two-month-long reading slump, but I read this in two days, and it kept my attention piqued the whole time. Some of the plot twists were a bit predictable, but there was one major one that I missed completely. I thought the balance of romance and fantasy worked well. Overall, I just really enjoyed the fast-paced, action-packed plot of this book. My only complaint is that the ARC didn't include the epilogue, so I definitely missed some closure there, but I'm hoping this becomes a series.
I liked most of the characters, too, and I really enjoyed the dynamic between the Howlers. Bekn was the unsung hero, in my opinion. I mean, dude wears a fancy apron to cook pancakes...we love him for that. I really liked Dira as well, and her friendship with Kel was nice to see. I wasn't super fond of Rahn, but I think that was because we didn't have much time to connect with her. Kel was fine as a protagonist; I liked seeing her connection with her phoenix, Savita, and her character arc was super fun. I didn't mind Coup too much, and while I wouldn't say he's my favorite book boy ever, he's definitely better than a lot of them. If there ends up being a sequel, I'll be interested to see how the dynamics change with certain developments here.
Of Flame and Fury is the perfect YA romantasy for fans of magical creatures and magical competitions.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4/5
Of Flame and Fury is a YA romantasy debut focusing around one of my favorite fantasy features: phoenixes. I've always been a lover of phoenixes in books, so I had to request this as soon as I saw it on Netgalley. I was mildly surprised by the truly wild nature of phoenixes in this book, and I really appreciated the questions of freedom and exploitation of nature.
I've seen a lot of reviews comparing this to Fourth Wing, but I honestly preferred this book immensely. Kel is a phoenix tamer who trains phoenixes for racing, and she's desperate for the money that comes with winning. The only issue? She'll need to work with her rival, Warren "Coup" Coupers. I thought the pacing and action were well done, and maybe I'm finally breaking out of a two-month-long reading slump, but I read this in two days, and it kept my attention piqued the whole time. Some of the plot twists were a bit predictable, but there was one major one that I missed completely. I thought the balance of romance and fantasy worked well. Overall, I just really enjoyed the fast-paced, action-packed plot of this book. My only complaint is that the ARC didn't include the epilogue, so I definitely missed some closure there, but I'm hoping this becomes a series.
I liked most of the characters, too, and I really enjoyed the dynamic between the Howlers. Bekn was the unsung hero, in my opinion. I mean, dude wears a fancy apron to cook pancakes...we love him for that. I really liked Dira as well, and her friendship with Kel was nice to see. I wasn't super fond of Rahn, but I think that was because we didn't have much time to connect with her. Kel was fine as a protagonist; I liked seeing her connection with her phoenix, Savita, and her character arc was super fun. I didn't mind Coup too much, and while I wouldn't say he's my favorite book boy ever, he's definitely better than a lot of them. If there ends up being a sequel, I'll be interested to see how the dynamics change with certain developments here.
Of Flame and Fury is the perfect YA romantasy for fans of magical creatures and magical competitions.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4/5
Review to come whenever I'm emotionally stable enough to make coherent sentences
5/5 though...
5/5 though...
"'I met a girl, wed a princess and now find myself married to a queen. I would be a poor husband, indeed, if I did not stand her most loyal subject.'"
Destiny is the third and final installation in the Fractured Kingdom trilogy, and although I have a few mixed feelings about the ending, I think most readers will be satisfied. I received all three books as Netgalley ARCs, so I'm incredibly lucky to have been able to read these books relatively close together in time. I know they were published before under a different name/publisher, so I'd be interested to see what all has changed. That being said, I enjoyed this series and I'm glad I got a chance to read it.
This book is more plot-focused than the first two, which I think works both for and against it. I would say that at least 40% of the total page time is spent in the POVs of the various antagonists, which - while helpful in some cases - severely drags the pacing in others. I also thought the first 70% of the book was significantly slower than the ending, but because the ending was so quickly paced, I didn't mind it too much. Also, some plot points felt more convenient than they had been in past books, but again, I didn't mind it too much. Overall, I did enjoy the storyline and had fun reading this book, I just found it to be a bit more heavy-handed on the plot than in previous books, perhaps even too much so.
I also found the characters to be a bit flatter in this one. Most of their development has apparently occurred in earlier books because none of them really changed in this one. While I did appreciate Persephone's mixed feelings on certain developments and enjoyed seeing her kindness juxtaposed against Mordesius's cruelty, she just felt a bit generic compared to book one. Azriel felt the same way; his snark has been replaced with constant simping, which isn't bad...it's just obnoxious at times. I didn't mind Rachel and Zdeno, but they weren't really relevant. Mordesius is just as evil as ever. I still liked the characters, I just wish they were a bit more dynamic.
Destiny is the nail-biting conclusion to the Fractured Kingdom trilogy, perfect for fans of The Princess Bride.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
3.75/5
Destiny is the third and final installation in the Fractured Kingdom trilogy, and although I have a few mixed feelings about the ending, I think most readers will be satisfied. I received all three books as Netgalley ARCs, so I'm incredibly lucky to have been able to read these books relatively close together in time. I know they were published before under a different name/publisher, so I'd be interested to see what all has changed. That being said, I enjoyed this series and I'm glad I got a chance to read it.
This book is more plot-focused than the first two, which I think works both for and against it. I would say that at least 40% of the total page time is spent in the POVs of the various antagonists, which - while helpful in some cases - severely drags the pacing in others. I also thought the first 70% of the book was significantly slower than the ending, but because the ending was so quickly paced, I didn't mind it too much. Also, some plot points felt more convenient than they had been in past books, but again, I didn't mind it too much. Overall, I did enjoy the storyline and had fun reading this book, I just found it to be a bit more heavy-handed on the plot than in previous books, perhaps even too much so.
I also found the characters to be a bit flatter in this one. Most of their development has apparently occurred in earlier books because none of them really changed in this one. While I did appreciate Persephone's mixed feelings on certain developments and enjoyed seeing her kindness juxtaposed against Mordesius's cruelty, she just felt a bit generic compared to book one. Azriel felt the same way; his snark has been replaced with constant simping, which isn't bad...it's just obnoxious at times. I didn't mind Rachel and Zdeno, but they weren't really relevant. Mordesius is just as evil as ever. I still liked the characters, I just wish they were a bit more dynamic.
Destiny is the nail-biting conclusion to the Fractured Kingdom trilogy, perfect for fans of The Princess Bride.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
3.75/5
I'm sorry, but if your dog's name is Fatima, I'm not taking you seriously.
We Were Liars is a book I would not have picked up on my own. My sister read it and hated it so much that she wanted me to suffer with her...and she also told me most of the plot twists ahead of time. Did this affect my reading of the book? Certainly. Would I have enjoyed it without knowing the plot twists ahead of time? No, I think I would've disliked it more.
Because let's be honest, the plot twist is the only thing that made this book popular. The prose is okay; it's a bit purple-prosey, so I understand why some people not like it. And while the plot twist itself and the foreshadowing is kind of enjoyable, the whole book felt more like a series of snapshots rather than a series of scenes. I'd like to say I would've been able to call the plot twist without knowing it ahead of time, as there were a few tiny details I did pick up on but I also had a new theory that was completely wrong, so I have no idea if I would've called the real plot twists. That being said, I've seen similar plot twists before in other books, so I wasn't too shocked by this one and didn't find it too incredibly unique.
Also, I hated all of the characters. I think that's the point, but whenever I read a book where I can't support any of the characters, I tend to dislike it. The two traits I can't handle in characters are a) stupid and b) rich as their only personality...and unfortunately these characters fall into the latter category. I found Cadence to be one of the most intolerable main characters I've ever read about, and the rest of the cast was either super bland or super annoying. Again, I know this is the point, I'm just not a fan of it.
I don't typically read books like We Were Liars, so take my review with a grain of salt, but I honestly didn't find it special enough to deserve as much hype as it gets.
3/5
We Were Liars is a book I would not have picked up on my own. My sister read it and hated it so much that she wanted me to suffer with her...and she also told me most of the plot twists ahead of time. Did this affect my reading of the book? Certainly. Would I have enjoyed it without knowing the plot twists ahead of time? No, I think I would've disliked it more.
Because let's be honest, the plot twist is the only thing that made this book popular. The prose is okay; it's a bit purple-prosey, so I understand why some people not like it. And while the plot twist itself and the foreshadowing is kind of enjoyable, the whole book felt more like a series of snapshots rather than a series of scenes. I'd like to say I would've been able to call the plot twist without knowing it ahead of time, as there were a few tiny details I did pick up on but I also had a new theory that was completely wrong, so I have no idea if I would've called the real plot twists. That being said, I've seen similar plot twists before in other books, so I wasn't too shocked by this one and didn't find it too incredibly unique.
Also, I hated all of the characters. I think that's the point, but whenever I read a book where I can't support any of the characters, I tend to dislike it. The two traits I can't handle in characters are a) stupid and b) rich as their only personality...and unfortunately these characters fall into the latter category. I found Cadence to be one of the most intolerable main characters I've ever read about, and the rest of the cast was either super bland or super annoying. Again, I know this is the point, I'm just not a fan of it.
I don't typically read books like We Were Liars, so take my review with a grain of salt, but I honestly didn't find it special enough to deserve as much hype as it gets.
3/5
I came for the plot, but I stayed for some of the worldbuilding concepts because, wow, were they fun.
Unlock the Dark reminded me a lot of Margaret Rogerson's Sorcery of Thorns and Amie Kaufman's The Isles of the Gods, and I absolutely loved the vibes. I wasn't expecting to love the magic system as much as I did, but there were a lot of concepts that I thought were super unique or just fun in general (a memory plague, "lore" magic, witches that just kind of exist, and casual magic in general). If the author chooses to write more in this world, I will read all of it because I think it has such high potential.
The plot itself was a little disappointing at times for me, but I still would've read it in one sitting if I had the time. The beginning starts off strong: Elia's brother is basically taken by the god of death and forced to become one of his servants, so she agrees to assist a prince on a heist in exchange for saving her family. I honestly wish this book was longer because I felt like a lot of the cooler ideas and action scenes could have been fleshed out much more. Emphasis seemed to be put on the wrong parts of the storyline while important or interesting scenes were rushed, and the romance itself felt a bit instalove-y. One of the plot points mentioned in the blurb for the book doesn't happen until over the halfway point. That being said, I really enjoyed the story, and while it wasn't anything completely novel, I just loved the vibes. As I said, I'd love a sequel series or some sort of spinoff in this world.
I think the characters also just drew me into the story. Elia's family is so sweet, and I wanted them all to be okay. Saya is sassy but loving, Isak is stoic and loyal, Orin is so sensitive but so strong, and Myron just deserves all the hugs in the world. I really liked Elia as a protagonist. Her magic was unique, and I thought her personality and care for her siblings really worked well in making her story compelling. Again, the romance did feel a bit forced at times, but I didn't mind it too much. Trys reminded me a lot of Lysander from The Isles of the Gods, and I've said it before, but I'll say it again: snarky princes hiding their sadness with humor are my favorites. The cast dynamics are just perfect.
If you're looking for a quick and unique fantasy read that has some cozy vibes mixed with a dash of adventure, Unlock the Dark is the book for you.
4.25/5
Unlock the Dark reminded me a lot of Margaret Rogerson's Sorcery of Thorns and Amie Kaufman's The Isles of the Gods, and I absolutely loved the vibes. I wasn't expecting to love the magic system as much as I did, but there were a lot of concepts that I thought were super unique or just fun in general (a memory plague, "lore" magic, witches that just kind of exist, and casual magic in general). If the author chooses to write more in this world, I will read all of it because I think it has such high potential.
The plot itself was a little disappointing at times for me, but I still would've read it in one sitting if I had the time. The beginning starts off strong: Elia's brother is basically taken by the god of death and forced to become one of his servants, so she agrees to assist a prince on a heist in exchange for saving her family. I honestly wish this book was longer because I felt like a lot of the cooler ideas and action scenes could have been fleshed out much more. Emphasis seemed to be put on the wrong parts of the storyline while important or interesting scenes were rushed, and the romance itself felt a bit instalove-y. One of the plot points mentioned in the blurb for the book doesn't happen until over the halfway point. That being said, I really enjoyed the story, and while it wasn't anything completely novel, I just loved the vibes. As I said, I'd love a sequel series or some sort of spinoff in this world.
I think the characters also just drew me into the story. Elia's family is so sweet, and I wanted them all to be okay. Saya is sassy but loving, Isak is stoic and loyal, Orin is so sensitive but so strong, and Myron just deserves all the hugs in the world. I really liked Elia as a protagonist. Her magic was unique, and I thought her personality and care for her siblings really worked well in making her story compelling. Again, the romance did feel a bit forced at times, but I didn't mind it too much. Trys reminded me a lot of Lysander from The Isles of the Gods, and I've said it before, but I'll say it again: snarky princes hiding their sadness with humor are my favorites. The cast dynamics are just perfect.
If you're looking for a quick and unique fantasy read that has some cozy vibes mixed with a dash of adventure, Unlock the Dark is the book for you.
4.25/5
Don't mind me spending the first 50% of the book rooting for An-xi and Chang-en to end up together...
The Blood Phoenix is the sequel to Of Jade and Dragons, and I just want to start by saying that if you're here for the romance, I would recommend not reading the sequel and just pretending book one ended however you wanted it to. You won't be happy with this book. If you enjoyed the fantasy/political intrigue aspects...maybe continue? Look, I'm gonna be honest right away and say the ending isn't super satisfying. If the author doesn't end up doing some sort of spin-off series, I'm going to be disappointed because she said this is a duology, and the story ends here...which I'm not happy about.
Two years have passed since the events of book one. Ying has been hiding from Ye-yang after he took on the role of High Commander, but when attacks by the pirates called the Blood Phoenixes force her back to the capital, she must face Ye-yang once more. Meanwhile, Nian is navigating life as the betrothed of the High Commander...despite her growing feelings for Ye-kan. The book alternates between Ying and Nian's POVs, and while I saw a lot of reviews hating Nian's POVs, I didn't mind them too much. While Ying's POVs tend to have more action, Nian's are a nice break from the tension (for the most part) and provide some much-needed answers. The pacing is a bit slow at times, and there are some time jumps that I felt were a bit awkward, but overall, I enjoyed the first 80% of the book or so. The ending is where I'm tempted to drop my rating, but I'm holding out hope for closure in some other form (and also, the shock factor of some plot twists was pretty intense).
This book had my opinions about certain characters completely flipped around. I was really invested in An-xi and Chang-en's friendship for some reason...I just found it really compelling. I did miss the dynamics between Ying and Ye-kan, but I liked Ye-kan and Nian even more in some respects. While their connection did feel a bit forced at the beginning, I liked seeing how Nian's strengths lie in Ying's weaknesses, and I enjoyed seeing Ye-kan grow into his leadership roles...and their chemistry was well-done. I also apologize, but I'm not a fan of Ye-yang. I found him a bit manipulative and was really hoping for a corruption arc based on the events of book one. He just felt a bit flat in this book, too. Ying was fine, but I felt like she was constantly worried about Ye-yang, and it made her POV a little less fun for me.
The Blood Phoenix is the sequel to Of Jade and Dragons that takes place in a fantasy "silkpunk" world and mixes political intrigue with a splash of romance and action.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
3.5/5
The Blood Phoenix is the sequel to Of Jade and Dragons, and I just want to start by saying that if you're here for the romance, I would recommend not reading the sequel and just pretending book one ended however you wanted it to. You won't be happy with this book. If you enjoyed the fantasy/political intrigue aspects...maybe continue? Look, I'm gonna be honest right away and say the ending isn't super satisfying. If the author doesn't end up doing some sort of spin-off series, I'm going to be disappointed because she said this is a duology, and the story ends here...which I'm not happy about.
Two years have passed since the events of book one. Ying has been hiding from Ye-yang after he took on the role of High Commander, but when attacks by the pirates called the Blood Phoenixes force her back to the capital, she must face Ye-yang once more. Meanwhile, Nian is navigating life as the betrothed of the High Commander...despite her growing feelings for Ye-kan. The book alternates between Ying and Nian's POVs, and while I saw a lot of reviews hating Nian's POVs, I didn't mind them too much. While Ying's POVs tend to have more action, Nian's are a nice break from the tension (for the most part) and provide some much-needed answers. The pacing is a bit slow at times, and there are some time jumps that I felt were a bit awkward, but overall, I enjoyed the first 80% of the book or so. The ending is where I'm tempted to drop my rating, but I'm holding out hope for closure in some other form (and also, the shock factor of some plot twists was pretty intense).
This book had my opinions about certain characters completely flipped around. I was really invested in An-xi and Chang-en's friendship for some reason...I just found it really compelling. I did miss the dynamics between Ying and Ye-kan, but I liked Ye-kan and Nian even more in some respects. While their connection did feel a bit forced at the beginning, I liked seeing how Nian's strengths lie in Ying's weaknesses, and I enjoyed seeing Ye-kan grow into his leadership roles...and their chemistry was well-done. I also apologize, but I'm not a fan of Ye-yang. I found him a bit manipulative and was really hoping for a corruption arc based on the events of book one. He just felt a bit flat in this book, too. Ying was fine, but I felt like she was constantly worried about Ye-yang, and it made her POV a little less fun for me.
The Blood Phoenix is the sequel to Of Jade and Dragons that takes place in a fantasy "silkpunk" world and mixes political intrigue with a splash of romance and action.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
3.5/5
Yeah, this is going to be occupying half the free space in my brain for the next month and a half at least...
Hazelthorn is my second C.G. Drews book, and it's confirmed the author's spot on my auto-read list. Similar to Don't Let the Forest In, Hazelthorn is a mix of fantasy and horror for a YA audience but with an added focus on a locked-room(ish) murder mystery. I've been really getting into fantasy murder mysteries, and this one did not disappoint. Also...the prose. The style, the word choices, the vibes - it's also beautifully haunting, and I did not want to put the book down.
After the death of Evander's guardian, he is labeled the sole inheritor of the Lennox-Hall legacy: mansion, grounds, wealth, and all...but Evander is convinced that Byron Lennox-Hall was murdered. Evander employs the help of Byron's grandson, Laurie (the very person who tried to kill Evander a few years before), to find the murderer before they come for Evander too. I absolutely loved the vibes of the story, and while I can't say too much because of spoilers...I'm really starting to think I might enjoy horror (at least when it's mixed with fantasy). Surprisingly enough, I managed to call probably the most unexpected plot twist, and I sort of caught the murderer, but that's because the foreshadowing is so well-written and subtle (and I've also played way too many rounds of Betrayal at this point). The botanical horror aesthetics, the touching storylines, the "I'd literally let you consume me" romances - I absolutely loved this book, and I'm already excited for when I reread it (hopefully during spooky season).
I feel like I highlighted half of the dialogue between Evander and Laurie because it was the perfect mixture of banter, angst, and yearning. There's a line specifically that's going to live rent-free in my head forever now (I'll add it below my review because it contains spoilers). I absolutely loved Evander as a character; his journey of self-discovery was so fun, and his emotions were incredibly vivid. I loved Laurie, too, especially with his initially mysterious nature and the playboy vibes I got from him at first. There's so much I want to say about both of them, but you need to experience it for yourself. Also, the romance...I shouldn't adore it as much as I do.
Do yourself a favor and read Hazelthorn...and go into it blind. Trust me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
5/5
(Also, Betrayal haunt with this theme when? Please?)
Spoilers: Read at your own Risk
"'God was stronger than me when he made Adam and didn't fall in love with him.'" Literally stop. I was waiting for this quote - I wanted the rib symbolism so badly - but I'm never going to stop thinking about it now.
Hazelthorn is my second C.G. Drews book, and it's confirmed the author's spot on my auto-read list. Similar to Don't Let the Forest In, Hazelthorn is a mix of fantasy and horror for a YA audience but with an added focus on a locked-room(ish) murder mystery. I've been really getting into fantasy murder mysteries, and this one did not disappoint. Also...the prose. The style, the word choices, the vibes - it's also beautifully haunting, and I did not want to put the book down.
After the death of Evander's guardian, he is labeled the sole inheritor of the Lennox-Hall legacy: mansion, grounds, wealth, and all...but Evander is convinced that Byron Lennox-Hall was murdered. Evander employs the help of Byron's grandson, Laurie (the very person who tried to kill Evander a few years before), to find the murderer before they come for Evander too. I absolutely loved the vibes of the story, and while I can't say too much because of spoilers...I'm really starting to think I might enjoy horror (at least when it's mixed with fantasy). Surprisingly enough, I managed to call probably the most unexpected plot twist, and I sort of caught the murderer, but that's because the foreshadowing is so well-written and subtle (and I've also played way too many rounds of Betrayal at this point). The botanical horror aesthetics, the touching storylines, the "I'd literally let you consume me" romances - I absolutely loved this book, and I'm already excited for when I reread it (hopefully during spooky season).
I feel like I highlighted half of the dialogue between Evander and Laurie because it was the perfect mixture of banter, angst, and yearning. There's a line specifically that's going to live rent-free in my head forever now (I'll add it below my review because it contains spoilers). I absolutely loved Evander as a character; his journey of self-discovery was so fun, and his emotions were incredibly vivid. I loved Laurie, too, especially with his initially mysterious nature and the playboy vibes I got from him at first. There's so much I want to say about both of them, but you need to experience it for yourself. Also, the romance...I shouldn't adore it as much as I do.
Do yourself a favor and read Hazelthorn...and go into it blind. Trust me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
5/5
(Also, Betrayal haunt with this theme when? Please?)
Spoilers: Read at your own Risk
"'God was stronger than me when he made Adam and didn't fall in love with him.'" Literally stop. I was waiting for this quote - I wanted the rib symbolism so badly - but I'm never going to stop thinking about it now.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The best way I can describe this book is silly.
I read Matched because my sister said I should, and I decided to go for it because why not...it's not that long, and really, what's the worst that could happen? The answer? I want to know how the story ends, but I do not want to go through the process of reading any of it. Which is why I hope my sister will finish the series for me...
Take every dystopian book you've ever read, pick out the blandest pieces of plot/worldbuilding, mush them all together, and you'll get this book. I almost wish I read this on Kindle because then I could annotate any time the book stole plot points from other popular books (and then I see people reviewing this and saying it's "fresh" and "original" and I almost lose my mind). What's the plot you may ask? The (Secretly Evil) Government decides who you marry. Cassia is given two Boys to pick from: Childhood Best Friend (Blonde) or Mysterious Daddy Issue Neighbor (Burnette). Also, her job is literally to "Sort" things...whatever that means. Most of the book is spent in Cassia's mind as she ruminates over how she should love Xander (Love Interest #1) but she's drawn to Ky (Love Interest #2) because he loves hiking (definitely not a surprise tool that will help us later) and poetry (even though everyone in this world can read but not write...which I don't really understand because you just copy the letters??). The plot only picks up in the last, like, 30 pages, and even then, everyone is incredibly emotionless. The dystopian elements themselves are fine, if a bit unoriginal. I don't think anyone actually starts this book with the idea that the Government is good. The plot is just slow, the commentary kind of bland, and overall the whole book feels like I took one of those green pills before I started it.
As with any popular YA dystopia, there's a love triangle...only this one is pretty clear who the better option is. Cassia is surprisingly like other girls at first, which is kind of bad because her only personality is "I'm in love but I can't be." And then she reveals that she likes poetry and that she wants to learn how to write...and then she isn't like other girls. Xander has about as much personality as a saltine cracker (he's like Mal from Shadow and Bone but 100x worse). Ky was okay at first until Cassia started simping for him 24/7, and then I got annoyed with him by default...sorry dude. He is the better love interest though. None of the other characters matter. Her best friend appears, like, twice and her parents feel like they're on the verge of divorce the whole time.
Look, if you really want to read Matched ... go for it. I could definitely see it being someone's guilty pleasure read. Just don't expect it to knock you off your feet.
2.25/5
I read Matched because my sister said I should, and I decided to go for it because why not...it's not that long, and really, what's the worst that could happen? The answer? I want to know how the story ends, but I do not want to go through the process of reading any of it. Which is why I hope my sister will finish the series for me...
Take every dystopian book you've ever read, pick out the blandest pieces of plot/worldbuilding, mush them all together, and you'll get this book. I almost wish I read this on Kindle because then I could annotate any time the book stole plot points from other popular books (and then I see people reviewing this and saying it's "fresh" and "original" and I almost lose my mind). What's the plot you may ask? The (Secretly Evil) Government decides who you marry. Cassia is given two Boys to pick from: Childhood Best Friend (Blonde) or Mysterious Daddy Issue Neighbor (Burnette). Also, her job is literally to "Sort" things...whatever that means. Most of the book is spent in Cassia's mind as she ruminates over how she should love Xander (Love Interest #1) but she's drawn to Ky (Love Interest #2) because he loves hiking (definitely not a surprise tool that will help us later) and poetry (even though everyone in this world can read but not write...which I don't really understand because you just copy the letters??). The plot only picks up in the last, like, 30 pages, and even then, everyone is incredibly emotionless. The dystopian elements themselves are fine, if a bit unoriginal. I don't think anyone actually starts this book with the idea that the Government is good. The plot is just slow, the commentary kind of bland, and overall the whole book feels like I took one of those green pills before I started it.
As with any popular YA dystopia, there's a love triangle...only this one is pretty clear who the better option is. Cassia is surprisingly like other girls at first, which is kind of bad because her only personality is "I'm in love but I can't be." And then she reveals that she likes poetry and that she wants to learn how to write...and then she isn't like other girls. Xander has about as much personality as a saltine cracker (he's like Mal from Shadow and Bone but 100x worse). Ky was okay at first until Cassia started simping for him 24/7, and then I got annoyed with him by default...sorry dude. He is the better love interest though. None of the other characters matter. Her best friend appears, like, twice and her parents feel like they're on the verge of divorce the whole time.
Look, if you really want to read Matched ... go for it. I could definitely see it being someone's guilty pleasure read. Just don't expect it to knock you off your feet.
2.25/5
Everyone is lucky that I couldn't annotate my digital copy of this book because there would have been a lot of screaming.
Vesuvius has been on my TBR pretty much since I saw the cover, and I'm so glad I got to read it early because this is the most invested I've been in a book in a while. The world and the characters immediately drew me in, and if I would've had the chance, I probably would have read this book in one sitting. The ending leaves a possibility of a second book, and I would love to read more if the author chooses to continue expanding this into a series.
The story follows two boys living in Pompeii: Felix, a thief who has lost the memories of his past, and Loren, a temple attendant with a penchant for seeing the future...even when he doesn't want to. I found the story pacing to be well-done, although there were a few chapters in the middle where it dragged a bit. I also wish the implications of part of the ending were touched on a bit more, just because it would've had more emotional impact. The story excels at balancing political intrigue with action, romance, and angst. While I did call most of the plot twists, I still found them exciting and looked forward to each chapter. There were some subplots that didn't have the most satisfactory endings, so that's why I'm hoping for a sequel, but I'm still happy with the way the story ended.
The characters were my favorite part of this book. Felix (as most thief-type characters are) was charming and his POV chapters were fun, but I also loved learning about his backstory. Loren was so sweet, but his character arc was so touching. I've seen some other reviews saying he didn't feel as detailed as Felix, but I personally thought he was really fleshed out. Livia and Aurelia were super kind as well, and I surprisingly grew to like Elias by the end even though I didn't like him at first. The villains were cunning, and while there were a few side characters that I thought could've used a bit more personality, I still loved them all. The romance between Felix and Loren was sweet but also angsty, and I really appreciated how they communicated their feelings realistically.
Vesuvius is a YA historical fantasy novel featuring a diverse cast of characters and exciting mysteries and romances, all centered around a volcano on the verge of explosion.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4.5/5
Vesuvius has been on my TBR pretty much since I saw the cover, and I'm so glad I got to read it early because this is the most invested I've been in a book in a while. The world and the characters immediately drew me in, and if I would've had the chance, I probably would have read this book in one sitting. The ending leaves a possibility of a second book, and I would love to read more if the author chooses to continue expanding this into a series.
The story follows two boys living in Pompeii: Felix, a thief who has lost the memories of his past, and Loren, a temple attendant with a penchant for seeing the future...even when he doesn't want to. I found the story pacing to be well-done, although there were a few chapters in the middle where it dragged a bit. I also wish the implications of part of the ending were touched on a bit more, just because it would've had more emotional impact. The story excels at balancing political intrigue with action, romance, and angst. While I did call most of the plot twists, I still found them exciting and looked forward to each chapter. There were some subplots that didn't have the most satisfactory endings, so that's why I'm hoping for a sequel, but I'm still happy with the way the story ended.
The characters were my favorite part of this book. Felix (as most thief-type characters are) was charming and his POV chapters were fun, but I also loved learning about his backstory. Loren was so sweet, but his character arc was so touching. I've seen some other reviews saying he didn't feel as detailed as Felix, but I personally thought he was really fleshed out. Livia and Aurelia were super kind as well, and I surprisingly grew to like Elias by the end even though I didn't like him at first. The villains were cunning, and while there were a few side characters that I thought could've used a bit more personality, I still loved them all. The romance between Felix and Loren was sweet but also angsty, and I really appreciated how they communicated their feelings realistically.
Vesuvius is a YA historical fantasy novel featuring a diverse cast of characters and exciting mysteries and romances, all centered around a volcano on the verge of explosion.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4.5/5