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When Kerri Maniscalco shared the news of her new series, I was thrilled and couldn't wait to finally hold Kingdom of the Wicked in my hands. I have always loved witches, but became more obsessed with them since [b:Serpent & Dove|40024139|Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove, #1)|Shelby Mahurin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549476128l/40024139._SY75_.jpg|61991324], and I definitely wanted more demons in books thanks to [a:Margaret Rogerson, Sorcery of Thorns|19355581|Margaret Rogerson, Sorcery of Thorns|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png].
The heart of the story are definitely Emilia and Wrath. While seperately, both didn't excite me as much as they could have, I loved every scene they shared. The tension between them was there, sometimes so strongly I wanted to slap them for not taking a step towards the other, and sometimes so slightly that I kept giggling like an idiot. However, it was the banter between them that I enjoyed the most. Give me two characters that are supposed to be enemies, but have to work together and spend their time just teasing each other back and forth, and I will sell my soul personally to the devil.
Otherwise, while the plot was interesting and had some great twists added to it, I wasn't as invested in the mystery as I had been with the [b:The Stalking Jack the Ripper Series Hardcover Gift Set|43885047|The Stalking Jack the Ripper Series Hardcover Gift Set|Kerri Maniscalco|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561643440l/43885047._SX50_.jpg|68278863] series. This mostly came from the fact that I couldn't really find my way into the worldbuilding, and often didn't understand the magic system. Still, I can see a lot of potential for it to be developed more in the sequel as it does open many doors that we haven't been through yet.
What did stick with me were the endless theories I have due to that ending that had me gasping. AND I BADLY NEED THE SEQUEL TO KNOW MORE ABOUT EVERYTHING.
Overall, this was a great first book of a series that might have some weaknesses in the worldbuilding and magic system aspect but we can't know for sure, as the potential is there and the adventure surely hasn't ended. Despite that, Emilia and Wrath's banter is worth everything, and I can't wait to see how sexy it will get in the upcoming books. BECAUSE IT BETTER BE.
If you want to know more about my thoughts on Kingdom of the Wicked, check out The Book Talk With Wifey live chat where I ( @drawingandreading) and @_ckarys discuss the book during our December #booktalkwithwifey readalong live chat!
The heart of the story are definitely Emilia and Wrath. While seperately, both didn't excite me as much as they could have, I loved every scene they shared. The tension between them was there, sometimes so strongly I wanted to slap them for not taking a step towards the other, and sometimes so slightly that I kept giggling like an idiot. However, it was the banter between them that I enjoyed the most. Give me two characters that are supposed to be enemies, but have to work together and spend their time just teasing each other back and forth, and I will sell my soul personally to the devil.
Otherwise, while the plot was interesting and had some great twists added to it, I wasn't as invested in the mystery as I had been with the [b:The Stalking Jack the Ripper Series Hardcover Gift Set|43885047|The Stalking Jack the Ripper Series Hardcover Gift Set|Kerri Maniscalco|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561643440l/43885047._SX50_.jpg|68278863] series. This mostly came from the fact that I couldn't really find my way into the worldbuilding, and often didn't understand the magic system. Still, I can see a lot of potential for it to be developed more in the sequel as it does open many doors that we haven't been through yet.
What did stick with me were the endless theories I have due to that ending that had me gasping. AND I BADLY NEED THE SEQUEL TO KNOW MORE ABOUT EVERYTHING.
Overall, this was a great first book of a series that might have some weaknesses in the worldbuilding and magic system aspect but we can't know for sure, as the potential is there and the adventure surely hasn't ended. Despite that, Emilia and Wrath's banter is worth everything, and I can't wait to see how sexy it will get in the upcoming books. BECAUSE IT BETTER BE.
If you want to know more about my thoughts on Kingdom of the Wicked, check out The Book Talk With Wifey live chat where I ( @drawingandreading) and @_ckarys discuss the book during our December #booktalkwithwifey readalong live chat!
What a joyful adventure this has been!
In February, @_ckarys and I have decided to pick up this book for our monthly #BookTalkWithWifey readalong. We were immeditaly intrigued by the tropes of arranged marriage as well by this beautiful cover done by no one else but Charlie Bowater. Risking to have yet another Charlie Bowater cursed book as last year, the majority of books with her cover artworks didn't please us. But let me tell you: the curse is broken, and I loved this book.
To dive into the world of Wickery was a pure joy as I found myself very intrigued by the magic system that is tied to the worldbuilding. I loved how colorful their magic is, how each color is tied to an element and a god or goddess and how the amount of fortes one can cast plays a part in status and power. This was especially so intriguing because we were not only able to experience and learn what casting the fortes means for the protagonists but also what it means in each country or for the social status one has.
However, the heart of this story were the two protagonists Adraa and Jatin whose relationship, banter, sass, and strength carried the whole story. It was an absolute delight to follow these two, who become allies to fight the underground criminals while they both are not aware of who the other is. Their banter made me laugh, their relationship made me grin, and I did root for both of them from the very beginning. Both Adraa and Jatin were convincing characters I immediately fell in love with, and I adored how well they worked as partners. As much as I also loved the secondary characters, Adraa and Jatin knew how to steal my heart from the beginning.
This book was a delightful ride, and I truly enjoyed it a lot. I could have wished for more dramatic plottwists or some more painful moments that would've killed me, but that's on me for loving to suffer. And while there has definitely been a moment of suffering, this book is one with a lighter tone which I did appreciate as the focus was wholly on the two protagonists, and my heart really warms when I think of them.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
In February, @_ckarys and I have decided to pick up this book for our monthly #BookTalkWithWifey readalong. We were immeditaly intrigued by the tropes of arranged marriage as well by this beautiful cover done by no one else but Charlie Bowater. Risking to have yet another Charlie Bowater cursed book as last year, the majority of books with her cover artworks didn't please us. But let me tell you: the curse is broken, and I loved this book.
To dive into the world of Wickery was a pure joy as I found myself very intrigued by the magic system that is tied to the worldbuilding. I loved how colorful their magic is, how each color is tied to an element and a god or goddess and how the amount of fortes one can cast plays a part in status and power. This was especially so intriguing because we were not only able to experience and learn what casting the fortes means for the protagonists but also what it means in each country or for the social status one has.
However, the heart of this story were the two protagonists Adraa and Jatin whose relationship, banter, sass, and strength carried the whole story. It was an absolute delight to follow these two, who become allies to fight the underground criminals while they both are not aware of who the other is. Their banter made me laugh, their relationship made me grin, and I did root for both of them from the very beginning. Both Adraa and Jatin were convincing characters I immediately fell in love with, and I adored how well they worked as partners. As much as I also loved the secondary characters, Adraa and Jatin knew how to steal my heart from the beginning.
This book was a delightful ride, and I truly enjoyed it a lot. I could have wished for more dramatic plottwists or some more painful moments that would've killed me, but that's on me for loving to suffer. And while there has definitely been a moment of suffering, this book is one with a lighter tone which I did appreciate as the focus was wholly on the two protagonists, and my heart really warms when I think of them.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Trying to express how I feel about this book turns out a lot harder than I would have thought. I definitely did send hundreds of voice messages to my friends screaming about everything I felt reading this, but summing it up? Writing it down? It's hard.
I belong to one of the few people, apparantly, who didn't hate Nesta. Was she my favorite character? Not really. Was I excited for her book? Absolutely. I knew it was right to tell Nesta's story before anyone else's from the Inner Circle, and I knew that there was more to her than what she let us all believe in the books prior. I was excited to be in her head, to feel what she feels, and see her heal. And all of it did pay off, as I ended up loving her and this story.
[b:A Court of Mist and Fury|17927395|A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2)|Sarah J. Maas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546406996l/17927395._SY75_.jpg|25126749] is and stays my favorite book of this series. However, before the other installements weren't even able to come as close to the emotional level this book offered; A Court of Silver Flames, however, does. This story had the same essence of ACOMAF without making it feel like a repetition or being too predictable.
As much as we see Feyre heal, grow and become High Lady of the Night Court during ACOMAF, we now are able to follow Nesta as she is healing, understanding who she is, where she belongs and finding her place, not only beside Cassian but also in life. We're finally able to look closer into Nesta's soul, understanding her origin of trauma, the source of her behavior and what emotions are behind that mask of cold arrogance.
Her relationship with Cassian is one that I had wanted ever since these two met in ACOMAF. To have such a tension as they do by simply being in the same room, as secondary characters in the books prior, had to mean something, and they proved that in this book. I loved how they complete each other, how well they work, and how they always are equals. Nesta and Cassian are just so perfect for each other! (And that smut is just *chef's kiss* even if it did shock me as I was not expecting that degree of it! But who am I to complain? hahaha)
Overall, I just purely loved this book. It reminded me of why I come to love the characters and world of this series, it gave me hope, it made me laugh, it made me cry. And as much as ACOMAF stays my favorite installement, this one surely comes very close to it.
(and now let me go and make up 43979347 theories on what could happen in the next two books, and they better have the ships I want!)
I belong to one of the few people, apparantly, who didn't hate Nesta. Was she my favorite character? Not really. Was I excited for her book? Absolutely. I knew it was right to tell Nesta's story before anyone else's from the Inner Circle, and I knew that there was more to her than what she let us all believe in the books prior. I was excited to be in her head, to feel what she feels, and see her heal. And all of it did pay off, as I ended up loving her and this story.
[b:A Court of Mist and Fury|17927395|A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2)|Sarah J. Maas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546406996l/17927395._SY75_.jpg|25126749] is and stays my favorite book of this series. However, before the other installements weren't even able to come as close to the emotional level this book offered; A Court of Silver Flames, however, does. This story had the same essence of ACOMAF without making it feel like a repetition or being too predictable.
As much as we see Feyre heal, grow and become High Lady of the Night Court during ACOMAF, we now are able to follow Nesta as she is healing, understanding who she is, where she belongs and finding her place, not only beside Cassian but also in life. We're finally able to look closer into Nesta's soul, understanding her origin of trauma, the source of her behavior and what emotions are behind that mask of cold arrogance.
Her relationship with Cassian is one that I had wanted ever since these two met in ACOMAF. To have such a tension as they do by simply being in the same room, as secondary characters in the books prior, had to mean something, and they proved that in this book. I loved how they complete each other, how well they work, and how they always are equals. Nesta and Cassian are just so perfect for each other! (And that smut is just *chef's kiss* even if it did shock me as I was not expecting that degree of it! But who am I to complain? hahaha)
Overall, I just purely loved this book. It reminded me of why I come to love the characters and world of this series, it gave me hope, it made me laugh, it made me cry. And as much as ACOMAF stays my favorite installement, this one surely comes very close to it.
(and now let me go and make up 43979347 theories on what could happen in the next two books, and they better have the ships I want!)
Have you ever come across a book that has been deeply loved by the community, but you were too scared of picking it up? The Gilded Ones was definitely such a book for me. This is why I was so happy that we picked it for the March #BookTalkWithWifey readalong, because now I had no excuses to dive into this world, and be left speechless.
The Gilded Ones is a high fantasy series filled with strong women, diversity, mythology, and an unjust world that will make you angry. The question of the patriarchy and what it can do to women, and what it does to woman is one we constantly encounter between the lines of this book. Questions such as the one of purity are being explicitly thrown into this book, questions of equality, of rights, of the do's and dont's are a constant reminder of what we need to ask ourselves, too, outside of this world.
All of the above are being answered and shown through the main protagonist Deka who after her blood reveals to be gold not red is proven impure. Her only choice is to suffer the Death Mandate or leave and join a group of warriors who are like her. What follows are weeks and months of training, battle, and more questions while the alaki warriors are being prepared to kill and erase the empire's biggest threat.
To say I loved this book would be an understatement. The hype and love The Gilded Ones is receiving across several book communities is one this story deserves. The message this book conveys is strong, and cuts deeper than a blade. There were moments where I had to pause, calming myself to not let anger take over me. And then there were moments filled with so much hope and love that I found myself smiling and laughing. The strongest aspect were the females who found themselves all in one place after they were doomed impure and had to live through traumatic experiences. Their determination to live, their hope for a better future, but also their friendship carried the story throughout the book. I have enjoyed their bonding, the trust they put into each other, their understanding and acceptance they held for the other, and have never felt a story carry out the message of women supporting women as much as this one. As one reads their stories, finds out their pasts, sees their strength and weaknesses, the wish to become as strong as they are grows bigger and bigger.
When I first grasped the extent of the unjust worldbuilding, I couldn't imagine how I would be able to finish the book. Women needing to prove being pure, seeing as lesser, confined to their homes, veiled, called out names, abused, raped, killed. And still, there was hope in it. First some sprinkels between chapters, then glowing on each page, shining through each line. It became hard to put down the book, the destiny of this women became personal, I wanted to know what would happen next, what they will need to endure, how they will surive it.
The reason why I am not rating this story with five stars is the pacing. Very often, time jumps happen throughout the stories that maybe didn't necessarily take away anything from the plot, but could have served to flesh out the relationships and the characters' development more. To name an example, we see barely the beginning of the training session that is supposed to last weeks before it says that the time has passed. While I usually enjoy fast paced stories more, there were moments where I wished for the pace to slow down, to give us more time to pause and give more room to deepen the development. Especially in the beginning it threw me off. This also goes for the romantic aspect of the story. As much as I didn't anticipate and expect a romance happening, I was excited to see it, and was glad it was a minor storyline. Still, I felt it would have needed more time to explore the relationship as it quickly developed, and I wasn't able to immediately feel for the couple.
This, however, doesn't change the fact that is story has captivated me. I'm very excited to see where Deka's journey will continue in the sequels, and what world will await us there after the ending of this book.
The Gilded Ones is a high fantasy series filled with strong women, diversity, mythology, and an unjust world that will make you angry. The question of the patriarchy and what it can do to women, and what it does to woman is one we constantly encounter between the lines of this book. Questions such as the one of purity are being explicitly thrown into this book, questions of equality, of rights, of the do's and dont's are a constant reminder of what we need to ask ourselves, too, outside of this world.
All of the above are being answered and shown through the main protagonist Deka who after her blood reveals to be gold not red is proven impure. Her only choice is to suffer the Death Mandate or leave and join a group of warriors who are like her. What follows are weeks and months of training, battle, and more questions while the alaki warriors are being prepared to kill and erase the empire's biggest threat.
To say I loved this book would be an understatement. The hype and love The Gilded Ones is receiving across several book communities is one this story deserves. The message this book conveys is strong, and cuts deeper than a blade. There were moments where I had to pause, calming myself to not let anger take over me. And then there were moments filled with so much hope and love that I found myself smiling and laughing. The strongest aspect were the females who found themselves all in one place after they were doomed impure and had to live through traumatic experiences. Their determination to live, their hope for a better future, but also their friendship carried the story throughout the book. I have enjoyed their bonding, the trust they put into each other, their understanding and acceptance they held for the other, and have never felt a story carry out the message of women supporting women as much as this one. As one reads their stories, finds out their pasts, sees their strength and weaknesses, the wish to become as strong as they are grows bigger and bigger.
When I first grasped the extent of the unjust worldbuilding, I couldn't imagine how I would be able to finish the book. Women needing to prove being pure, seeing as lesser, confined to their homes, veiled, called out names, abused, raped, killed. And still, there was hope in it. First some sprinkels between chapters, then glowing on each page, shining through each line. It became hard to put down the book, the destiny of this women became personal, I wanted to know what would happen next, what they will need to endure, how they will surive it.
The reason why I am not rating this story with five stars is the pacing. Very often, time jumps happen throughout the stories that maybe didn't necessarily take away anything from the plot, but could have served to flesh out the relationships and the characters' development more. To name an example, we see barely the beginning of the training session that is supposed to last weeks before it says that the time has passed. While I usually enjoy fast paced stories more, there were moments where I wished for the pace to slow down, to give us more time to pause and give more room to deepen the development. Especially in the beginning it threw me off. This also goes for the romantic aspect of the story. As much as I didn't anticipate and expect a romance happening, I was excited to see it, and was glad it was a minor storyline. Still, I felt it would have needed more time to explore the relationship as it quickly developed, and I wasn't able to immediately feel for the couple.
This, however, doesn't change the fact that is story has captivated me. I'm very excited to see where Deka's journey will continue in the sequels, and what world will await us there after the ending of this book.
From time to time, I feel intrigued to pick up a New Adult book to just quickly read through, and get a quick and easy break from my beloved fantasy worlds. This book promised to be a game changer as it was supposed to show a more realistic relationship in this genre, albeit it did use many of the common stereotypes, tropes and cliches. Overall, it was nice to see a different outcome than one usually encounters in the NA romance genre, but there surely were problematic aspects. In the end, I must confess I much rather read the unrealistic, romantic stories whenever I feel in the mood to pick up such a book of this genre, and if I do have an urge for something more realistic, it‘s not the shelf of NA romance books I go to.
German review:
Der Grund warum ich mich dazu entschied, Mit dir falle ich zu lesen, war, dass meine Arbeitskollegin überrascht war, dass Inka Lindberg einen New Adult Roman geschrieben hat. Ich selbst kannte die Youtuberin nicht und nach ein bischen Recherche war mein Interesse doch geweckt, wie ein realistischerer New Adult Roman wohl aussehen könnte. Muss zugeben, dass ich einerseits beruhigt war zu sehen, inwiefern die Youtuberin die Kliches des NA Genres angeht, aber gleichzeitig war ich selbst oft von den Charakteren genervt, was hauptsächlich am „Tell“ statt dem „Show“ lag. Im Großen und Ganzen war es recht interessant mal eine Beziehung wie diese thematisiert zu sehen, wobei die drei Male im Jahr, in denen ich zu NA aus purer Ablenkung greife, mich doch lieber mit den unrealistischen, nicht ernst zu nehmenden Liebesgeschichten beschäftige, die ich nach drei Sekunden wieder vergesse.
Alles in allem ist Inka Lindbergs Debüt etwas für NA-Leser*innen, die mal etwas anderes erleben wollen, die selbst genug von den romantisierten toxischen Beziehungen haben. Leser*innen, die sich einfach nur leicht ablenken wollen und eine nette Liebesgeschichte erwarten, kommen hier nicht auf ihre Kosten.
German review:
Der Grund warum ich mich dazu entschied, Mit dir falle ich zu lesen, war, dass meine Arbeitskollegin überrascht war, dass Inka Lindberg einen New Adult Roman geschrieben hat. Ich selbst kannte die Youtuberin nicht und nach ein bischen Recherche war mein Interesse doch geweckt, wie ein realistischerer New Adult Roman wohl aussehen könnte. Muss zugeben, dass ich einerseits beruhigt war zu sehen, inwiefern die Youtuberin die Kliches des NA Genres angeht, aber gleichzeitig war ich selbst oft von den Charakteren genervt, was hauptsächlich am „Tell“ statt dem „Show“ lag. Im Großen und Ganzen war es recht interessant mal eine Beziehung wie diese thematisiert zu sehen, wobei die drei Male im Jahr, in denen ich zu NA aus purer Ablenkung greife, mich doch lieber mit den unrealistischen, nicht ernst zu nehmenden Liebesgeschichten beschäftige, die ich nach drei Sekunden wieder vergesse.
Alles in allem ist Inka Lindbergs Debüt etwas für NA-Leser*innen, die mal etwas anderes erleben wollen, die selbst genug von den romantisierten toxischen Beziehungen haben. Leser*innen, die sich einfach nur leicht ablenken wollen und eine nette Liebesgeschichte erwarten, kommen hier nicht auf ihre Kosten.
WHAT WAS THAT ENDING???!!!
But let’s start from the beginning, shall we?
When I started the first chapters of Elusion of Freedom, which is a first in a series, I immediately had to think of the Netflix show Tribes of Europa because of the mix of fantasy and science fiction elements. But what didn’t work for me in that show, worked perfectly well in the book. That was mostly due to the quick pace that led us readers through the world and story. The story is filled with action-packed scenes, mysterious elements and twists that kept me turning the pages. We follow Vayn who after surviving an attack in his home finds himself in the Order where he becomes a soldier. However, the same creatures that have destroyed his homeland, have come to the Order after years, and his father gets killed. From there on, the only thing keeping Vayn going is the revenge he is seeking. We meet a vast cast of characters, which despite the confusion it stirred in me, was something I come to enjoy. I didn’t expect was to find a romance element. But we do, and if you know me, this is something I always need in a book.
However, as much as I love a fast-paces read, it is also often the reason why I often find issues with certain elements. In this case, as with many other books, slowing down the pace would have helped to show us a better insight in the development and personality of the characters or their relationships. Often times, I wished for certain parts to be shown more as I found myself going back sometimes rereading parts because of the confusion I felt.
Overall, this is an exciting world with an intriguing plot and interesting characters to follow. That ending surely had me gaping and screaming, and I’m excited to see how this story will continue in the sequels!
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy!
But let’s start from the beginning, shall we?
When I started the first chapters of Elusion of Freedom, which is a first in a series, I immediately had to think of the Netflix show Tribes of Europa because of the mix of fantasy and science fiction elements. But what didn’t work for me in that show, worked perfectly well in the book. That was mostly due to the quick pace that led us readers through the world and story. The story is filled with action-packed scenes, mysterious elements and twists that kept me turning the pages. We follow Vayn who after surviving an attack in his home finds himself in the Order where he becomes a soldier. However, the same creatures that have destroyed his homeland, have come to the Order after years, and his father gets killed. From there on, the only thing keeping Vayn going is the revenge he is seeking. We meet a vast cast of characters, which despite the confusion it stirred in me, was something I come to enjoy. I didn’t expect was to find a romance element. But we do, and if you know me, this is something I always need in a book.
However, as much as I love a fast-paces read, it is also often the reason why I often find issues with certain elements. In this case, as with many other books, slowing down the pace would have helped to show us a better insight in the development and personality of the characters or their relationships. Often times, I wished for certain parts to be shown more as I found myself going back sometimes rereading parts because of the confusion I felt.
Overall, this is an exciting world with an intriguing plot and interesting characters to follow. That ending surely had me gaping and screaming, and I’m excited to see how this story will continue in the sequels!
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy!
AAAAAAAH WOODSHILL! I'm so happy to be back!
Ever since I binge read the first three books last year, I knew that coming back to Woodshill and seeing familiar faces again will be a great pleasure, and it was.
The reason why it did take me so long, and why I kept putting it off, was not that I wasn't eager to finish this series, but that I had to mentally prepare myself for a romance trope I'm everything but fond of: the student/professor relationship. As much as I loved Everly and Nolan as secondary characters in [b:Trust Again|29756850|Trust Again (Again, #2)|Mona Kasten|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1459541963l/29756850._SX50_.jpg|50115709], I had zero interest in reading their love story. There is just something unrealistic about a relationship between an university professor and one of his students, that has lost his appeal ever since Aria and Ezra from Pretty Little Liars became annyoing to me. (And trust me, I adored that ship in the beginning! Now? Not so.) However, after reading two New Adult romance books that didn't satisfy me in a way Mona Kasten used to do, and knowing that I will adore the next and final book of the Again series according to my friend's fangirling, I decided to push through this. And I did. But it turned into a enjoyable binge read instead.
The romantic relationship between Nolan and Everly took me by a suprise. I must say from all tragic backstories (and there are sure a lot in this series), I have felt the ones of these two characters the most. I loved to see how Everly found a way to work on her trauma through the writing assignemts, and thus opened her heart to the one man she felt safe with - her professor Nolan. As I have loved Nolan's character in Trust Again a lot already, I was partly afraid he would get out of character in order to appeal to Everly. But this was not the case. He stayed the funny, supportive, open-minded professor Dawn, the protagonist of the second book, got to know. And his relationship to Everly felt realistic. His support and help in terms of her texts touched me, and them spending time together because of Dawn's manuscripts didn't feel forced. I actually enjoyed seeing their relationship slowly developing, and to my suprise, didn't feel it at all as if it were cringe-worthy or forced for the sake of the story.
Honestly, I still don't consider myself a fan of the student/professort trope, but I'm definitely more down to read one if it is as well executed as the one between Nolan and Everly. There is a reason why Mona Kasten made me love this genre, and it's this series.
Ever since I binge read the first three books last year, I knew that coming back to Woodshill and seeing familiar faces again will be a great pleasure, and it was.
The reason why it did take me so long, and why I kept putting it off, was not that I wasn't eager to finish this series, but that I had to mentally prepare myself for a romance trope I'm everything but fond of: the student/professor relationship. As much as I loved Everly and Nolan as secondary characters in [b:Trust Again|29756850|Trust Again (Again, #2)|Mona Kasten|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1459541963l/29756850._SX50_.jpg|50115709], I had zero interest in reading their love story. There is just something unrealistic about a relationship between an university professor and one of his students, that has lost his appeal ever since Aria and Ezra from Pretty Little Liars became annyoing to me. (And trust me, I adored that ship in the beginning! Now? Not so.) However, after reading two New Adult romance books that didn't satisfy me in a way Mona Kasten used to do, and knowing that I will adore the next and final book of the Again series according to my friend's fangirling, I decided to push through this. And I did. But it turned into a enjoyable binge read instead.
The romantic relationship between Nolan and Everly took me by a suprise. I must say from all tragic backstories (and there are sure a lot in this series), I have felt the ones of these two characters the most. I loved to see how Everly found a way to work on her trauma through the writing assignemts, and thus opened her heart to the one man she felt safe with - her professor Nolan. As I have loved Nolan's character in Trust Again a lot already, I was partly afraid he would get out of character in order to appeal to Everly. But this was not the case. He stayed the funny, supportive, open-minded professor Dawn, the protagonist of the second book, got to know. And his relationship to Everly felt realistic. His support and help in terms of her texts touched me, and them spending time together because of Dawn's manuscripts didn't feel forced. I actually enjoyed seeing their relationship slowly developing, and to my suprise, didn't feel it at all as if it were cringe-worthy or forced for the sake of the story.
Honestly, I still don't consider myself a fan of the student/professort trope, but I'm definitely more down to read one if it is as well executed as the one between Nolan and Everly. There is a reason why Mona Kasten made me love this genre, and it's this series.
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOREVER TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS BOOK AND OMG I FINALLY DID!!!!!
It has been a year since one of my bestest friends has read Dream Again, and kept telling me to pick up the books, read them, and fangirl with her. It has been a year, since she gifted me the first three books of this series for my birthday, and I decided the first lockdown might be the perfect opportunity to indulge in them. And it has been a year since this one kept sitting on my shelf, telling me to finally pick it up. If you want to know why it took so long, I would recommend you to read my review of [b:Hope Again|41037123|Hope Again (Again, #4)|Mona Kasten|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533322366l/41037123._SY75_.jpg|64059911] because that book was the reason. But now I tackled both, and don't know how I should say goodbye to Woodshill for good.
Blake has been my favorite secondary character of the whole Again series! I loved his unconditional support, his stupid advices, how open he was, and if there wasn't a book dedicated to him, I might have ended up being the one spamming Mona Kasten to write it. But luckily, here is the book, and it was amazing.
In the beginning, I didn't know how to feel about the fact that the story is told through Jude's POV. Jude is a character we haven't met before unlike with the previous books where we got to know the characters as side characters first. After her dreams to be an actress in Hollywood got shattered, she packs up her things and finds herself in front of her brother's house who lives in Woodshill. Ready to start over, she now has to live in the house with her brother - and his three roommates. Among them is Blake. Who not only is her brother's best friend, but also her ex-boyfriend. Whose heart she broke in order to pursue her dreams in L.A. Now these two have to live under the same roof, and if you're a fan of the "there's only one bed in the cabin" trope, you can guess that this situation is just *chef's kiss*. Blake hates Jude, and there's not one opportunity he misses to show her how unwelcome she is. In the meantime, Jude tries everything to forget her terrible past in Hollywood, and start anew in Woodshill, while also not upsetting Blake more than she already does with her presence.
Let me tell you, there's lots of hate, there are a lot of unspoken words between them, and there's LOTS OF TENSION. I'm a sucker for the hate-to-love trope, but when the two characters have been in a relationship before? Man, it takes it to a whole different level. Both of them know each other quite well despite that both have also change. So whenever they can, they will expose each other, and this just builds up the tension more. Be it moments of "You remembered that?", "You still do that when ...", or just very familiar ways of touching.
Honestly, I have loved reading their love story, and it was hard to put down the book, and do something else. All I could think of was what might happen next, and I was too eager to find out.
In the end, I loved that Jude was a character who wasn't familiar with Woodshill and the people there. Just as we got to meet everyone and get to know everything through Allie's eyes in [b:Begin Again|35996274|Begin Again (Again, #1)|Mona Kasten|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1502379529l/35996274._SY75_.jpg|50115686], we now were able to meet everyone anew, and see Woodshill again as newcomers. It was a wonderful conclusion to a wonderful New Adult series, and Dream Again has easily become my favorite.
And what now? I feel like rereading Begin Again. I'm somehow not ready to say goodbye to Woodshill and all these characters yet.
Actual Rating: 4.5/5 stars
It has been a year since one of my bestest friends has read Dream Again, and kept telling me to pick up the books, read them, and fangirl with her. It has been a year, since she gifted me the first three books of this series for my birthday, and I decided the first lockdown might be the perfect opportunity to indulge in them. And it has been a year since this one kept sitting on my shelf, telling me to finally pick it up. If you want to know why it took so long, I would recommend you to read my review of [b:Hope Again|41037123|Hope Again (Again, #4)|Mona Kasten|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533322366l/41037123._SY75_.jpg|64059911] because that book was the reason. But now I tackled both, and don't know how I should say goodbye to Woodshill for good.
Blake has been my favorite secondary character of the whole Again series! I loved his unconditional support, his stupid advices, how open he was, and if there wasn't a book dedicated to him, I might have ended up being the one spamming Mona Kasten to write it. But luckily, here is the book, and it was amazing.
In the beginning, I didn't know how to feel about the fact that the story is told through Jude's POV. Jude is a character we haven't met before unlike with the previous books where we got to know the characters as side characters first. After her dreams to be an actress in Hollywood got shattered, she packs up her things and finds herself in front of her brother's house who lives in Woodshill. Ready to start over, she now has to live in the house with her brother - and his three roommates. Among them is Blake. Who not only is her brother's best friend, but also her ex-boyfriend. Whose heart she broke in order to pursue her dreams in L.A. Now these two have to live under the same roof, and if you're a fan of the "there's only one bed in the cabin" trope, you can guess that this situation is just *chef's kiss*. Blake hates Jude, and there's not one opportunity he misses to show her how unwelcome she is. In the meantime, Jude tries everything to forget her terrible past in Hollywood, and start anew in Woodshill, while also not upsetting Blake more than she already does with her presence.
Let me tell you, there's lots of hate, there are a lot of unspoken words between them, and there's LOTS OF TENSION. I'm a sucker for the hate-to-love trope, but when the two characters have been in a relationship before? Man, it takes it to a whole different level. Both of them know each other quite well despite that both have also change. So whenever they can, they will expose each other, and this just builds up the tension more. Be it moments of "You remembered that?", "You still do that when ...", or just very familiar ways of touching.
Honestly, I have loved reading their love story, and it was hard to put down the book, and do something else. All I could think of was what might happen next, and I was too eager to find out.
In the end, I loved that Jude was a character who wasn't familiar with Woodshill and the people there. Just as we got to meet everyone and get to know everything through Allie's eyes in [b:Begin Again|35996274|Begin Again (Again, #1)|Mona Kasten|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1502379529l/35996274._SY75_.jpg|50115686], we now were able to meet everyone anew, and see Woodshill again as newcomers. It was a wonderful conclusion to a wonderful New Adult series, and Dream Again has easily become my favorite.
And what now? I feel like rereading Begin Again. I'm somehow not ready to say goodbye to Woodshill and all these characters yet.
Actual Rating: 4.5/5 stars
If you had asked me before I was reading this book which of the three realms - Sleep, Dreams, and Nightmares - I would want to spend time in, I wouldn't have hesitated to answer the one of Dreams! But the deeper I dived into Dream Country, the more I found myself questioning my own answer, questioning the fine line between a Dream and a Nightmare, and the more entranced with the concept of these three.
Dream Country follows the triplet gods of Sleep (Theo), Dreams (Fanta), and Nightmares (Tores) who have been seperated from each other by the Gates of Horn and Ivory ever since the murder of their mother. Each of them being a suspect in the murder, they have come to feel distrust for each other. Until one day, one mortal seems to have the power to destroy the gates and change their worlds.
This book was a ride, everyone! From the very beginning, I was lured into this world, curious about the mysterious death of the All-Mother, and found myself desperately wanting to know all the answers.
We get to meet the worlds of the mortals, Pangaea, the realm of Sleep, Zion, the world of Nightmares, Os Pesadelos, and Dream Country. Each one of them captivated me with their own atmosphere, different magic, and fascinating culture. I loved to see how each realm was not only connected to their god or goddess, but also to each other. I loved to discover their customs, the landscapes, the way of life in the realms, and to find out what minor gods chose to live in which realm.
And in the middle of this amazing world, we have our triplets. Seperated for years. Each dealing with their own realm, their own struggles, and the same question of who is the murderer of their mother. I loved the dynamic between Theo, Fanta, and Tores, and to see how their personalities are connected to their powers and realms, but also how flawed they were. Because the narration follows the perspective of Theo and Tores, it took me longer to warm up to Fanta than to the other two gods. Despite the fact, that the story focuses heavily on the three siblings, I enjoyed that we also got to meet other characters, and the role they play in the gods' lives. Especially Iara became a favorite of mine.
Even though the worldbuilding is broad and in times complex, the story progresses in a fast pace, only slowing down when we learn more of the world and its characters, especially during the middle of the book. What I truly appreciated was the writing of Ashaye Brown, and the beautiful descriptive language that introduced us to the world and religion of the Majority. Particularly the excerpts of the Holy Theologos, the scripts of the religion, were beautifully written, and helped me get transported even deeper into the celestial world, adding a depth to the story, that feels like this is, in fact, a mythological lore of its own.
The reason why I have settled for a four-stars-rating is that I found some answers came too easily to the protagonists. As this world seems to be filled with more mysteries than just the murder of the All-Mother, I wished that they could have stumbled upon a few answers instead of being oblivious to some solution until it became handy for the storyline.
Overall, this is an amazing read with an unique worldbuilding inspired by Kenyan, Brazilian, Caribbean, and Greek mythology and culture that just waits to entrance you.
Thank you to OnWe Publishing for sending me an ARC in exchange of an honest review!
Dream Country follows the triplet gods of Sleep (Theo), Dreams (Fanta), and Nightmares (Tores) who have been seperated from each other by the Gates of Horn and Ivory ever since the murder of their mother. Each of them being a suspect in the murder, they have come to feel distrust for each other. Until one day, one mortal seems to have the power to destroy the gates and change their worlds.
This book was a ride, everyone! From the very beginning, I was lured into this world, curious about the mysterious death of the All-Mother, and found myself desperately wanting to know all the answers.
We get to meet the worlds of the mortals, Pangaea, the realm of Sleep, Zion, the world of Nightmares, Os Pesadelos, and Dream Country. Each one of them captivated me with their own atmosphere, different magic, and fascinating culture. I loved to see how each realm was not only connected to their god or goddess, but also to each other. I loved to discover their customs, the landscapes, the way of life in the realms, and to find out what minor gods chose to live in which realm.
And in the middle of this amazing world, we have our triplets. Seperated for years. Each dealing with their own realm, their own struggles, and the same question of who is the murderer of their mother. I loved the dynamic between Theo, Fanta, and Tores, and to see how their personalities are connected to their powers and realms, but also how flawed they were. Because the narration follows the perspective of Theo and Tores, it took me longer to warm up to Fanta than to the other two gods. Despite the fact, that the story focuses heavily on the three siblings, I enjoyed that we also got to meet other characters, and the role they play in the gods' lives. Especially Iara became a favorite of mine.
Even though the worldbuilding is broad and in times complex, the story progresses in a fast pace, only slowing down when we learn more of the world and its characters, especially during the middle of the book. What I truly appreciated was the writing of Ashaye Brown, and the beautiful descriptive language that introduced us to the world and religion of the Majority. Particularly the excerpts of the Holy Theologos, the scripts of the religion, were beautifully written, and helped me get transported even deeper into the celestial world, adding a depth to the story, that feels like this is, in fact, a mythological lore of its own.
The reason why I have settled for a four-stars-rating is that I found some answers came too easily to the protagonists. As this world seems to be filled with more mysteries than just the murder of the All-Mother, I wished that they could have stumbled upon a few answers instead of being oblivious to some solution until it became handy for the storyline.
Overall, this is an amazing read with an unique worldbuilding inspired by Kenyan, Brazilian, Caribbean, and Greek mythology and culture that just waits to entrance you.
Thank you to OnWe Publishing for sending me an ARC in exchange of an honest review!
REVIEW 2021, reread
Rereading Allie and Kaden's story felt like being welcomed home. In this case, it really was what I needed after finishing the two remaining books of this series, [b:Hope Again|41037123|Hope Again (Again, #4)|Mona Kasten|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533322366l/41037123._SY75_.jpg|64059911] and [b:Dream Again|46025348|Dream Again (Again, #5)|Mona Kasten|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1559516153l/46025348._SY75_.jpg|70912328]. I just wasn't ready to say good-bye to Woodshill yet. I never expected to love books of this genre this much, but I ended up being more invested in these characters that I would wish to admit. So instead of saying good-bye, and hoping for more installements in the Again-series, I wanted to be welcomed back. And I did. With Begin Again, I was able to be back in Woodshill, see the magic, remind myself how this book made me unexpectedly fall in love with this genre.
Just as last year, I binge-read this book in a day. I was able to turn off my thoughts, transport myself to a different place, and enjoy the development of Kaden and Allie's relationship. And I do have to admit, I just love these two so much - despite all their flaws.
As easy, it was to ease back into this story, as hard it was when I came to the end - yet again. I have a strong feeling, these books will become a comfort read for me whenever I feel like I don't want to occupy my mind with thoughts, or worldbuilding.
I guess, until next time. Because I can feel another reread coming soon!
REVIEW 2020
This book served as my introduction to the New Adult romance genre, and I guess any other wouldn't have resulted in me actually finding interest in this genre. I absolutely enjoyed this book, and definitely crave to pick up some more NA books in the future.
As for the story, I loved the concept of Allie and Kaden being roommates without actually wanting to. The intensity that came out of their very relationship kept me on the edge of the seat most of the times, forcing me to turn the pages in lightning speed, eager to get to know more. And yasss you guessed it right, this was a binge-read. In a day. No regrets.
While the story uses enough tropes and cliches, and was partly predictable, I enjoyed to follow Allie through her journey to start a new life, find new friends, herself and begin new chapter.
Rereading Allie and Kaden's story felt like being welcomed home. In this case, it really was what I needed after finishing the two remaining books of this series, [b:Hope Again|41037123|Hope Again (Again, #4)|Mona Kasten|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533322366l/41037123._SY75_.jpg|64059911] and [b:Dream Again|46025348|Dream Again (Again, #5)|Mona Kasten|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1559516153l/46025348._SY75_.jpg|70912328]. I just wasn't ready to say good-bye to Woodshill yet. I never expected to love books of this genre this much, but I ended up being more invested in these characters that I would wish to admit. So instead of saying good-bye, and hoping for more installements in the Again-series, I wanted to be welcomed back. And I did. With Begin Again, I was able to be back in Woodshill, see the magic, remind myself how this book made me unexpectedly fall in love with this genre.
Just as last year, I binge-read this book in a day. I was able to turn off my thoughts, transport myself to a different place, and enjoy the development of Kaden and Allie's relationship. And I do have to admit, I just love these two so much - despite all their flaws.
As easy, it was to ease back into this story, as hard it was when I came to the end - yet again. I have a strong feeling, these books will become a comfort read for me whenever I feel like I don't want to occupy my mind with thoughts, or worldbuilding.
I guess, until next time. Because I can feel another reread coming soon!
REVIEW 2020
This book served as my introduction to the New Adult romance genre, and I guess any other wouldn't have resulted in me actually finding interest in this genre. I absolutely enjoyed this book, and definitely crave to pick up some more NA books in the future.
As for the story, I loved the concept of Allie and Kaden being roommates without actually wanting to. The intensity that came out of their very relationship kept me on the edge of the seat most of the times, forcing me to turn the pages in lightning speed, eager to get to know more. And yasss you guessed it right, this was a binge-read. In a day. No regrets.
While the story uses enough tropes and cliches, and was partly predictable, I enjoyed to follow Allie through her journey to start a new life, find new friends, herself and begin new chapter.