Take a photo of a barcode or cover
1.16k reviews by:
abinthebooks
For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.
RATING: Cover - 5 stars, Writing - 5 stars, Characters - 5 stars, Humor - 5 Stars, Pacing - 5 stars, Enjoyment - 5 Stars, OVERALL RATING - ⭐️5⭐️ STARS
The only thing I have to say is...I’m fucking sobbing and I didn’t finish my homework today because I needed to finish this book. Ok I’m done
The only thing I have to say is...I’m fucking sobbing and I didn’t finish my homework today because I needed to finish this book. Ok I’m done
I just reread this book on Wattpad for the 6th time, and I wasn’t disappointed.
This book gets me in my feels, and Macy and Sam are my babies.
This book gets me in my feels, and Macy and Sam are my babies.
Retelling(s) - Mulan
OWN VOICES
Wow, what a ride! This book was phenomenal in so many different ways! I loved everything about this book, and I'm even going to be bold enough to say that this might be on my favorites of 2020! [b:Spin the Dawn|42815556|Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars, #1)|Elizabeth Lim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542674036l/42815556._SY75_.jpg|58477266] was pitched to me (and everyone else), as "Fashion Runway meets Mulan". If that doesn't sound amazing to you in the first place, my question is why?
The first part of the book held up to a Mulan retelling. The second part of this book took an unexpected and great turn. The second part of this book we follow Edan and Maia going on an adventure (I'll talk more about them later).
I mainly picked this book up though for the Mulan retelling aspect. Mulan is in my top 5 Disney Princess, (probably number three, right after the tie between Belle and Rapunzel). I've never actually read a Mulan retelling and my curiosity was piqued. Here's to say, I wasn't disappointed.
We follow a a first person point of view of our main character Maia. Maia's family has fallen on hard times. Her mother died when she was just a girl, and her three brothers are sent off to war. Her father was once one of the best tailors in the land, but now he's a shell of himself. Maia was the only person in her family with the skills for a thread, and needle. But she's a woman, and in her society woman cannot become tailors. As a young girl, her dream was to become the master tailor, the emperors tailor, and all her dreams a crushed until hope arrives at her doorstep. Her father has been called to court, to compete in a series of trails to become the master tailor. Maia knows her father is not fit for the task, and so she takes her fathers place, and poses as her older brother hoping to become the imperial tailor.
THE CHARACTERS
I first want to talk about Maia. Maia is everything I want in a female main character. She's feminist (but so much so that your drowning in feminism), she's brave and strong, and she'll do anything for the people she loves. I loved her. She was such a fun character, and it was so fun spending my time in her head.
I also wanted to talk about Edan, and the romance between him and Maia. Oh my god they are so fucking adorable, I cannot take them! Edan is such a fun, mysterious character, but he isn't your typical "brood" if that makes sense. Sure he's mysterious and secretive, but I just found his character fresh in a way. He was funny, and charismatic and super smart too. I'm going to grace you with some adorable quotes so hold your horses.
“But I would give up the sun and moon and stars if it meant saving him.”
“It was the tale of a boy, too. A boy who could fly but not swim. A boy with the powers of the gods but the shackles of a slave. A boy who loved me.”
AND
“She gave off a little neigh when I reached to touch her cheek. I fell in love with her immediately.
"You like her more than me," Edan pouted.
"That's not hard to do." I petted her mane again; then offered Edan a small smile. "But thank you.”
THE WORLD
Then I want to talk about the world! The world was so damn cool! I loved the magic system, and the certain things, and people who could wield it, plus the backstory of magic and the mythology for the gods and goddesses was so interesting. And the ancient Chinese culture woven in (see what I did there) was just so fun and interesitng,
THE WRITING
Wow the writing in this book was beautiful! [a:Elizabeth Lim|6926374|Elizabeth Lim|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1508017352p2/6926374.jpg] has such a way with words. Her metaphors melded in with her writing was so pretty, and I loved every second of it.
“Seize the wind," I whispered. "Don't become the kite that never flies.”
“Above, the stars faded behind the misty sky, and the sun fanned its light upon us. We melted into each other until the dawn slid into dusk, and the sun paled into the moon, and the stars, once lost, became found again.”
AND
“I'd battled ghosts and touched the stars. I'd climbed a mountain to the moon and conquered the fury of the sun.”
Overall, this book was phenomenal! Definitely check it out if you haven't already. i'm really excited for my copy of [b:Unravel the Dusk|36683940|Unravel the Dusk (The Blood of Stars, #2)|Elizabeth Lim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572261457l/36683940._SY75_.jpg|58477276]
* * *
Me after reading this - So how much is the sequel you say? - REVIEW TO COME
OWN VOICES
Wow, what a ride! This book was phenomenal in so many different ways! I loved everything about this book, and I'm even going to be bold enough to say that this might be on my favorites of 2020! [b:Spin the Dawn|42815556|Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars, #1)|Elizabeth Lim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542674036l/42815556._SY75_.jpg|58477266] was pitched to me (and everyone else), as "Fashion Runway meets Mulan". If that doesn't sound amazing to you in the first place, my question is why?
The first part of the book held up to a Mulan retelling. The second part of this book took an unexpected and great turn. The second part of this book we follow Edan and Maia going on an adventure (I'll talk more about them later).
I mainly picked this book up though for the Mulan retelling aspect. Mulan is in my top 5 Disney Princess, (probably number three, right after the tie between Belle and Rapunzel). I've never actually read a Mulan retelling and my curiosity was piqued. Here's to say, I wasn't disappointed.
We follow a a first person point of view of our main character Maia. Maia's family has fallen on hard times. Her mother died when she was just a girl, and her three brothers are sent off to war. Her father was once one of the best tailors in the land, but now he's a shell of himself. Maia was the only person in her family with the skills for a thread, and needle. But she's a woman, and in her society woman cannot become tailors. As a young girl, her dream was to become the master tailor, the emperors tailor, and all her dreams a crushed until hope arrives at her doorstep. Her father has been called to court, to compete in a series of trails to become the master tailor. Maia knows her father is not fit for the task, and so she takes her fathers place, and poses as her older brother hoping to become the imperial tailor.
THE CHARACTERS
I first want to talk about Maia. Maia is everything I want in a female main character. She's feminist (but so much so that your drowning in feminism), she's brave and strong, and she'll do anything for the people she loves. I loved her. She was such a fun character, and it was so fun spending my time in her head.
I also wanted to talk about Edan, and the romance between him and Maia. Oh my god they are so fucking adorable, I cannot take them! Edan is such a fun, mysterious character, but he isn't your typical "brood" if that makes sense. Sure he's mysterious and secretive, but I just found his character fresh in a way. He was funny, and charismatic and super smart too. I'm going to grace you with some adorable quotes so hold your horses.
“But I would give up the sun and moon and stars if it meant saving him.”
“It was the tale of a boy, too. A boy who could fly but not swim. A boy with the powers of the gods but the shackles of a slave. A boy who loved me.”
AND
“She gave off a little neigh when I reached to touch her cheek. I fell in love with her immediately.
"You like her more than me," Edan pouted.
"That's not hard to do." I petted her mane again; then offered Edan a small smile. "But thank you.”
THE WORLD
Then I want to talk about the world! The world was so damn cool! I loved the magic system, and the certain things, and people who could wield it, plus the backstory of magic and the mythology for the gods and goddesses was so interesting. And the ancient Chinese culture woven in (see what I did there) was just so fun and interesitng,
THE WRITING
Wow the writing in this book was beautiful! [a:Elizabeth Lim|6926374|Elizabeth Lim|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1508017352p2/6926374.jpg] has such a way with words. Her metaphors melded in with her writing was so pretty, and I loved every second of it.
“Seize the wind," I whispered. "Don't become the kite that never flies.”
“Above, the stars faded behind the misty sky, and the sun fanned its light upon us. We melted into each other until the dawn slid into dusk, and the sun paled into the moon, and the stars, once lost, became found again.”
AND
“I'd battled ghosts and touched the stars. I'd climbed a mountain to the moon and conquered the fury of the sun.”
Overall, this book was phenomenal! Definitely check it out if you haven't already. i'm really excited for my copy of [b:Unravel the Dusk|36683940|Unravel the Dusk (The Blood of Stars, #2)|Elizabeth Lim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572261457l/36683940._SY75_.jpg|58477276]
* * *
Me after reading this - So how much is the sequel you say? - REVIEW TO COME
[b: Cinder|36381037|Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)|Marissa Meyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507557775l/36381037._SY75_.jpg|15545385] - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
[b: Scarlet|12296|The Scarlet Letter|Nathaniel Hawthorne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404810944l/12296._SY75_.jpg|4925227] - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
[b: Cress|13206828|Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3)|Marissa Meyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470057005l/13206828._SY75_.jpg|18390772] - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s official, I’m obsessed with this series. All I do is think about these characters. I love them so much, each and every one of them. The friendships are so pure, and the romances are great, and I just genuinely love these characters with my whole heart.
Cinder: She’s the OG, she’s what started the revolution and she should be highly more appreciated. She’s also a badass who’s gonna murder her aunt
Kai: A kind of dumb, and highly clueless emperor who’s Cinders love interest, and doesn’t know what to believe, but hey he’s cute so that’s all that matters
Scarlet: A no nonsense, angry badass with a fiery (see what I did their) temper
Wolf: An adorable baby who’s the only one for Scarlett; he’s just a really big softie
[b: Scarlet|12296|The Scarlet Letter|Nathaniel Hawthorne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404810944l/12296._SY75_.jpg|4925227] - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
[b: Cress|13206828|Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3)|Marissa Meyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470057005l/13206828._SY75_.jpg|18390772] - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s official, I’m obsessed with this series. All I do is think about these characters. I love them so much, each and every one of them. The friendships are so pure, and the romances are great, and I just genuinely love these characters with my whole heart.
Cinder: She’s the OG, she’s what started the revolution and she should be highly more appreciated. She’s also a badass who’s gonna murder her aunt
Kai: A kind of dumb, and highly clueless emperor who’s Cinders love interest, and doesn’t know what to believe, but hey he’s cute so that’s all that matters
Scarlet: A no nonsense, angry badass with a fiery (see what I did their) temper
Wolf: An adorable baby who’s the only one for Scarlett; he’s just a really big softie
*4.5
This was so good omg. I started this at about 11 PM last night, and stayed up till 3 AM just binge reading this. I was very invested in these characters, and the mystery plot. Feeling lazy so I'm not writing a full review lol
This was so good omg. I started this at about 11 PM last night, and stayed up till 3 AM just binge reading this. I was very invested in these characters, and the mystery plot. Feeling lazy so I'm not writing a full review lol
This book just made my heart feel so full. These characters are so adorable together and I just love them so much. To lazy to write a full review tho so
’”You just want me there because I’m a pretty, young, blonde thing?”
“Absolutely,” I say with a smile. “But also because I can’t think of a single thing that would make that night more enjoyable than to spend the night with the literal personification of sunshine and happiness.”’
This is basically what happens when you mesh together Legally Blonde and Clueless. The end result gives you a main character that resembles Elle Woods and her iconic love for pink and Cher Horowitz and her at-first-glance air headed nature. You could definitely see the nods to Legally Blonde—most prominently with our Elle Woods variant Abbie (hey we share the same name!) going from having a shitty boyfriend breaking up with her to getting revenge on him. Abbie loved pink, is passionate about her job, cares deeply about the people she loves, and has a low self-worth (all very similar traits to Elle and Cher).
Despite this book having very similar plot points and ideas to Legally Blonde and Clueless, I really enjoyed this story, like a lot more than I thought I would. I didn’t even know if I’d actually read any Christmas books this month, but I’ve been hearing so many amazing things about this story that I couldn’t not pick it up. And I’m so happy I did.
I loved Abbie’s personal character growth, and the way she worked on her self-worth and confidence throughout the story. At the beginning of the book, she’s still very much caught up in the manipulations and past abuse of her ex boyfriend. I loved the journey of her learning to love herself, and who she was as a person.
Her relationship with Damien was also so incredible to read. He was so sweet, and caring and he literally worshipped the ground she walked on. They were also such a good match for each other, and Damian was always getting Abbie to see her self-worth and the best parts about herself, and he wouldn’t let her change herself one bit for him. I also loved how they both mutually agreed that they didn’t want children and that was that. No surprise baby bullshit, they just didn’t want kids and that was the end of it. It was refreshing to read about a book couple who’s HEA doesn’t include babies.
Also 10/10 smut, so many good steamy scenes with A+ dirty talk. My praise kink was going wild ngl. I think the age-gap aspect makes it even better. Usually age-gap romances aren’t something I read, but this worked so well for the story being told, and the characters themselves.
I’m excited to read the rest of the books connected to this one because I just loved this book so much and all the supporting characters. I really loved this so much, and I’m super happy I did. I can’t wait to read more Christmas books this month, this was a great start for December. Highly recommend.
➸ 4.5 stars
“Absolutely,” I say with a smile. “But also because I can’t think of a single thing that would make that night more enjoyable than to spend the night with the literal personification of sunshine and happiness.”’
This is basically what happens when you mesh together Legally Blonde and Clueless. The end result gives you a main character that resembles Elle Woods and her iconic love for pink and Cher Horowitz and her at-first-glance air headed nature. You could definitely see the nods to Legally Blonde—most prominently with our Elle Woods variant Abbie (hey we share the same name!) going from having a shitty boyfriend breaking up with her to getting revenge on him. Abbie loved pink, is passionate about her job, cares deeply about the people she loves, and has a low self-worth (all very similar traits to Elle and Cher).
Despite this book having very similar plot points and ideas to Legally Blonde and Clueless, I really enjoyed this story, like a lot more than I thought I would. I didn’t even know if I’d actually read any Christmas books this month, but I’ve been hearing so many amazing things about this story that I couldn’t not pick it up. And I’m so happy I did.
I loved Abbie’s personal character growth, and the way she worked on her self-worth and confidence throughout the story. At the beginning of the book, she’s still very much caught up in the manipulations and past abuse of her ex boyfriend. I loved the journey of her learning to love herself, and who she was as a person.
Her relationship with Damien was also so incredible to read. He was so sweet, and caring and he literally worshipped the ground she walked on. They were also such a good match for each other, and Damian was always getting Abbie to see her self-worth and the best parts about herself, and he wouldn’t let her change herself one bit for him. I also loved how they both mutually agreed that they didn’t want children and that was that. No surprise baby bullshit, they just didn’t want kids and that was the end of it. It was refreshing to read about a book couple who’s HEA doesn’t include babies.
Also 10/10 smut, so many good steamy scenes with A+ dirty talk. My praise kink was going wild ngl. I think the age-gap aspect makes it even better. Usually age-gap romances aren’t something I read, but this worked so well for the story being told, and the characters themselves.
I’m excited to read the rest of the books connected to this one because I just loved this book so much and all the supporting characters. I really loved this so much, and I’m super happy I did. I can’t wait to read more Christmas books this month, this was a great start for December. Highly recommend.
➸ 4.5 stars
God I loved this book! - REVIEW TO COME
Book I for the Reading Rush - The first book you touch
Book I for the Reading Rush - The first book you touch
2nd read:
9/10 would still recommend
*4.5
* * *
1st read:
*4.5
I really don’t know why I didn’t read Percy Jackson earlier but I love it. The story is so unique and different to anything I’ve read, and it was nice to finally have an MC that was closer to my age range (kinda).
Annabeth and Percy are adorable and their probably one of my biggest ships of all time, and the trio is absolutely amazing. I love this book and excited to continue with the Percy Jackson series!
9/10 would still recommend
*4.5
* * *
1st read:
*4.5
I really don’t know why I didn’t read Percy Jackson earlier but I love it. The story is so unique and different to anything I’ve read, and it was nice to finally have an MC that was closer to my age range (kinda).
Annabeth and Percy are adorable and their probably one of my biggest ships of all time, and the trio is absolutely amazing. I love this book and excited to continue with the Percy Jackson series!