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Daisy Jones and the Six might be a fictional band from the 80s, but the hype around this band has been very real. And just like one plays a song to see if the band truly rocks, I thought it‘s time to try out this book to see if the hype over Taylor Jenkins Reid‘s novels are worth it.
Now Daisy Jones and the Six is probably a book I wouldn‘t have picked up without the hype. I‘m not the biggest fan of books about music and bands, and the narrating format is something that usually has me running in the other direction. But something made me decide to pick up this story as my first book by the author. And it‘s definitely a decision I don‘t regret.
First things first. It takes time to get into it. The story is narrated through interviews, the characters contributing their memories for the imaginative author to put everything into a bigger picture. The imaginative author wants to offer the fans of the band some insight, an unknown story, and mainly the reason why this band disappeared during the peak of their career. But to understand all of that, the story begins way before Daisy Jones and the Six have been a thing. That, and the narrating style made it a bit hard to truly get into the story. I mean, we already know they‘ll end up being a band, right? Why not get there quicker? However, as one continues through the story, this decision makes sense. It‘s important to get to know the characters first, and each of them had so many layers that we never get to fully see. I mean, after all, they just share what they want to tell. From the very beginning, I was mostly intrigued by the character of Daisy. She is just what you would expect picking up this book. A stunning woman that was a neglected girl, meeting the wrong people, drinking the wrong pills, but massively talented. And yet, her story grabs you.
It took me much longer to be interested in the story of Billy and the members of The Six than the story of Daisy. I could truly imagine why everyone was fascinated with her, because my fascination grew with each page.
I wasn‘t as intrigued by the story as a whole until the band formed. From there on, I was just flipping those pages, waiting for the big downfall - or anything. Because something had to happen. We know they split up. We know there‘s a big secret on why. However, instead of big drama, we‘re presented with slow agony involving the two main characters. And while that was fully unexpected, I liked how it was executed. I like how it didn‘t need more than these emotions, and how these were transported through the pages. Until the very end, I didn‘t know whether the characters would give in or not. Not knowing what to expect, and I loved the story for that more than I thought I would.
If there‘s one thing I‘m looking for now, it‘s the adaptation of this book because this story definitely deserves to be watched on screen. And I‘m ready to hear the music!
Now Daisy Jones and the Six is probably a book I wouldn‘t have picked up without the hype. I‘m not the biggest fan of books about music and bands, and the narrating format is something that usually has me running in the other direction. But something made me decide to pick up this story as my first book by the author. And it‘s definitely a decision I don‘t regret.
First things first. It takes time to get into it. The story is narrated through interviews, the characters contributing their memories for the imaginative author to put everything into a bigger picture. The imaginative author wants to offer the fans of the band some insight, an unknown story, and mainly the reason why this band disappeared during the peak of their career. But to understand all of that, the story begins way before Daisy Jones and the Six have been a thing. That, and the narrating style made it a bit hard to truly get into the story. I mean, we already know they‘ll end up being a band, right? Why not get there quicker? However, as one continues through the story, this decision makes sense. It‘s important to get to know the characters first, and each of them had so many layers that we never get to fully see. I mean, after all, they just share what they want to tell. From the very beginning, I was mostly intrigued by the character of Daisy. She is just what you would expect picking up this book. A stunning woman that was a neglected girl, meeting the wrong people, drinking the wrong pills, but massively talented. And yet, her story grabs you.
It took me much longer to be interested in the story of Billy and the members of The Six than the story of Daisy. I could truly imagine why everyone was fascinated with her, because my fascination grew with each page.
I wasn‘t as intrigued by the story as a whole until the band formed. From there on, I was just flipping those pages, waiting for the big downfall - or anything. Because something had to happen. We know they split up. We know there‘s a big secret on why. However, instead of big drama, we‘re presented with slow agony involving the two main characters. And while that was fully unexpected, I liked how it was executed. I like how it didn‘t need more than these emotions, and how these were transported through the pages. Until the very end, I didn‘t know whether the characters would give in or not. Not knowing what to expect, and I loved the story for that more than I thought I would.
If there‘s one thing I‘m looking for now, it‘s the adaptation of this book because this story definitely deserves to be watched on screen. And I‘m ready to hear the music!
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Would it be appropriate to just post tons of fire emojis here for you to understand how hot this book is? Because hot damn.
Just like with Punk 57, picking up this book was solely motivated by a very convincing friend of mine who devoured these books as if they‘re the oxygen she needs. Of course, after reading Punk 57, I was intrigued to read the books about the three mysterious men appearing at the end of the book but I was in no hurry, and truth be told, the blurbs didn‘t intrigue me as much. But sometimes one needs a little push in order to have a hell of a time. So at this place, I want to thank my friend for the push, and blame her for the person I‘ll become due to this series.
Despite the bully romance mentioned above, I haven’t really read anything that comes close to the Dark Romance subgenre, and therefore, didn’t know what to expect. But Corrupt is a hell of an addictive read that I managed to finish it in two days despite the fact that I wasn‘t even home, and mostly out and about. I sacrificed sleep for this, and I have no regrets. Sleep was simply the last thing on my mind when Michael and the boys were right there. The four Horsemen are so intriguing, I can‘t wait to read the rest of the series after getting so many good glimpses at them (though, I do wonder if I‘ll be able to end up liking Damon at this point). I loved the whole concept of them being some kind of privileged kids that put on some masks to go and wreak some havoc which ended up badly for three out of four. The fact that the first installement focused on Michael kind of allowed to still keep the mystery of his friends a secret, while he was trying all he could to avenge them sitting in jail for three years. And while I‘m not the biggest fan of flashbacks in books, I really loved how his past with Rika played such a big role into understanding why their relationship was so strained in the present. I really loved the suspense the plot brought along, keeping my emotions on an all-time-high. I was flying through these pages, devouring the chapters, and don‘t get me started on how hot it is. (May I remind you I just wanted to post fire emojis and be done with it?)
The only thing I wasn‘t the biggest fan of was how quickly Rika was ready to forgive and forget, and what it actually took for these two idiots (because they are idiots) to realize that them playing games is their freaking love language, and they should finally just give in and call them a thing. I would lie if I didn‘t say that I would have wished for some more scenes of them bonding, or sharing their experiences on an emotional level as it was mostly games between them.
Now I can‘t wait to get to Hide Away, especially not after that scene. (If you know, you know!) Honestly, I can already tell I‘ll sell my soul to the four horsemen.
And lastly,
Would it be appropriate to just post tons of fire emojis here for you to understand how hot this book is? Because hot damn.
Just like with Punk 57, picking up this book was solely motivated by a very convincing friend of mine who devoured these books as if they‘re the oxygen she needs. Of course, after reading Punk 57, I was intrigued to read the books about the three mysterious men appearing at the end of the book but I was in no hurry, and truth be told, the blurbs didn‘t intrigue me as much. But sometimes one needs a little push in order to have a hell of a time. So at this place, I want to thank my friend for the push, and blame her for the person I‘ll become due to this series.
Despite the bully romance mentioned above, I haven’t really read anything that comes close to the Dark Romance subgenre, and therefore, didn’t know what to expect. But Corrupt is a hell of an addictive read that I managed to finish it in two days despite the fact that I wasn‘t even home, and mostly out and about. I sacrificed sleep for this, and I have no regrets. Sleep was simply the last thing on my mind when Michael and the boys were right there. The four Horsemen are so intriguing, I can‘t wait to read the rest of the series after getting so many good glimpses at them (though, I do wonder if I‘ll be able to end up liking Damon at this point). I loved the whole concept of them being some kind of privileged kids that put on some masks to go and wreak some havoc which ended up badly for three out of four. The fact that the first installement focused on Michael kind of allowed to still keep the mystery of his friends a secret, while he was trying all he could to avenge them sitting in jail for three years. And while I‘m not the biggest fan of flashbacks in books, I really loved how his past with Rika played such a big role into understanding why their relationship was so strained in the present. I really loved the suspense the plot brought along, keeping my emotions on an all-time-high. I was flying through these pages, devouring the chapters, and don‘t get me started on how hot it is. (May I remind you I just wanted to post fire emojis and be done with it?)
The only thing I wasn‘t the biggest fan of was how quickly Rika was ready to forgive and forget, and what it actually took for these two idiots (because they are idiots) to realize that them playing games is their freaking love language, and they should finally just give in and call them a thing. I would lie if I didn‘t say that I would have wished for some more scenes of them bonding, or sharing their experiences on an emotional level as it was mostly games between them.
Now I can‘t wait to get to Hide Away, especially not after that scene. (If you know, you know!) Honestly, I can already tell I‘ll sell my soul to the four horsemen.
And lastly,
Will I ever get enough of Nick and Charlie? I don‘t think so. I mean they are Nick and Charlie so how could I?
This little novella takes place about two years after the events of Heartstopper Vol. 1, and Nick is graduating from High School, and all ready for his new life at university. However, if one is in a relationship with someone who needs to be left behind as Charlie‘s got one more year at school ahead of him, new issues and worries arise. Questions about long distance, the strength of one‘s relationship and letting go vs. holding onto are being posed, and lots of emotions come with the anticipation of a big change.
What I love the most about these two is how real they feel. And how their issues are embedded into the story. While I‘m not the biggest fan of the miscommunication trope, I feel Alice Oseman did everything about it right. These two find themselves in a scary time of their life, determining what this new chapter will mean for both of them, and I loved how Alice once more dealt with the topic. A thing about the Heartstopper stories that I love so much is how much one can take from them as a reader. Not only do I have a blast reading the graphic novels and this novella but I also learn so much from it. Usually love stories can be filled with so much unnecessary drama to keep us on edge, but with Nick and Charlie, it‘s real, it‘s adorable, it‘s sometimes painful and then hopeful.
Honestly, this novella is one everyone should read. Whether you know the Heartstopper comics or not as you can read Nick and Charlie perfectly fine without having read the comics.
I‘m just so happy these stories exist. That Alice Oseman exists. That young readers have these stories to fill their hearts.
This little novella takes place about two years after the events of Heartstopper Vol. 1, and Nick is graduating from High School, and all ready for his new life at university. However, if one is in a relationship with someone who needs to be left behind as Charlie‘s got one more year at school ahead of him, new issues and worries arise. Questions about long distance, the strength of one‘s relationship and letting go vs. holding onto are being posed, and lots of emotions come with the anticipation of a big change.
What I love the most about these two is how real they feel. And how their issues are embedded into the story. While I‘m not the biggest fan of the miscommunication trope, I feel Alice Oseman did everything about it right. These two find themselves in a scary time of their life, determining what this new chapter will mean for both of them, and I loved how Alice once more dealt with the topic. A thing about the Heartstopper stories that I love so much is how much one can take from them as a reader. Not only do I have a blast reading the graphic novels and this novella but I also learn so much from it. Usually love stories can be filled with so much unnecessary drama to keep us on edge, but with Nick and Charlie, it‘s real, it‘s adorable, it‘s sometimes painful and then hopeful.
Honestly, this novella is one everyone should read. Whether you know the Heartstopper comics or not as you can read Nick and Charlie perfectly fine without having read the comics.
I‘m just so happy these stories exist. That Alice Oseman exists. That young readers have these stories to fill their hearts.
In short:
woah, this book is anything but what I expected. A story that sets the full focus on its characters that either immediately pulled me in or made me grow more obsessively attached to them as I kept reading. If you love great, complex, moralley grey characters and the omnipresent question of who will betray the other and if it will cost you a great deal of pain, then this is the book for you.
In anything but short:
Often you‘ll come across books that are hyped. For different reasons, of course, but the voices are loud enough: it needs to be read. And very often, it sets the expectations rather high, so impossibly high that it‘s hard for the story to meet them. But some still do. Some are still able to meet all your expectations and excel them. But what I love is when my expectations aren‘t met. At all. And yet, I find myself totally at the mercy of the words within the pages, suprised at how much I hadn’t known I need that type of story, meeting characters that have me in chokehold, which is exactly what The Atlas Six accomplished. And maybe more.
One thing that I need to start off is this: it‘s definitely not a story for everyone. While this book is one that discusses magic in every sense possible, it doesn‘t read much like a fantasy novel. No, I would be much more inclined to compare it to literary fiction. Putting the essence of the characters in the focus, not the action. And maybe this story is proof that one doesn‘t need to slay a dragon for a book to be magical. Not that magic doesn‘t play a very important role in this story. It does, very much so. But I can easily see this story set in a different genre, erasing the magical elements, and yet the characters would shine. Because the first and most important aspect of this story are the characters. Their drive, their motivation and their development. However, I do think this would make a much less intriguing storyline if the magical component had been erased. I love how much bigger the picture gets because it’s magical. So it‘s needed. For the suspense, but also for establishing how a fantasy novel doesn‘t have to necessarily follow the traditional build-up to work. Not in the slightest.
It‘s the characters who shine in this book. Six being the magical number here (honestly, how come books with a main cast of six always do their thing to me? Is this some wicked spell doing its work here, anyway moving on…). Some characters immediately had me obsessing over them (Libby and Nico), others needed some warming up to them (Tristan and Reina), and others had me intrigued, wondering whether how much of a mess they will turn me into once I totally hand over my heart to them (Parisa and Callum). However, it‘s not only them individually that I find immensly interesting, but them interacting with each other. I loved seeing them together, trusting and not trusting each other. Working together, only to set it up for potential betrayal. Each of them is so complex, hiding so much more than we can see, not letting me go. Really, with these characters it‘s just „Head empty. Only them.“ I never knew what to expect next with them, and they kept surpising me, making sure I fell for them even more. Chapter by chapter. Page by page. I‘m at their mercy. Totally. And I know I‘ll pay for it. (I just know it!)
Honestly, I understand the hype. I truly do. Because once you let these characters get control of your body and soul, they won‘t let you go. But I can also see why this book might not end up being what you wanted. Because truth be told, it‘s very character-driven. In fact, if you‘re looking for a solid and exciting plot, you might end up not being as happy as I do. Simply because the characters are the plot, what they do, what drives them is what carries this story. The Society itself is more or less just the setting of it. Not that I minded it, but I can see how it can be hard for anyone prefering a plot-driven story.
However, this is not saying that this story completely lacks of a plot, and I‘m positive that we get to see more of the mechanisms of the Society and the action being involved in the sequel, but The Atlas Six mainly gives us an understanding of the characters and where to place them in this dark academia world.
As for the worldbuilding itself - it‘s intriguing. I mean it‘s about the library of Alexandria. Which bibliophile wouldn‘t be immediately obsessed about that fact? I certainly was. But the main aspect of magic and this world we learn is through the academic studies the characters go through. The writing is partly dense, partly philosophic, partly too smart for my own good. I loved how scientific the element of magic had been dealed in this book, because to the contrary of what I usually come across (i.e. magic being tied heavily to feeling it), the explanation in this one goes a bit further it. One needs to study the history, the mechanism, the science behind it which actually fits perfect in the dark academia setting - but takes some time getting used to it, mostly due to the writing (and maybe because I kept telling myself I‘m too dumb to understand it, so that‘s on me).
To put this review to an end - and free you from your misery, in case you‘re still reading it (high five if you are) - all I have left to say is: this book is so damn good. Pro tip: make sure you get the time to binge! Really, trust me on this one.
*goes to stare at the incredible stunning character artwork inside of the book, and cries because missing the characters already*
woah, this book is anything but what I expected. A story that sets the full focus on its characters that either immediately pulled me in or made me grow more obsessively attached to them as I kept reading. If you love great, complex, moralley grey characters and the omnipresent question of who will betray the other and if it will cost you a great deal of pain, then this is the book for you.
In anything but short:
Often you‘ll come across books that are hyped. For different reasons, of course, but the voices are loud enough: it needs to be read. And very often, it sets the expectations rather high, so impossibly high that it‘s hard for the story to meet them. But some still do. Some are still able to meet all your expectations and excel them. But what I love is when my expectations aren‘t met. At all. And yet, I find myself totally at the mercy of the words within the pages, suprised at how much I hadn’t known I need that type of story, meeting characters that have me in chokehold, which is exactly what The Atlas Six accomplished. And maybe more.
One thing that I need to start off is this: it‘s definitely not a story for everyone. While this book is one that discusses magic in every sense possible, it doesn‘t read much like a fantasy novel. No, I would be much more inclined to compare it to literary fiction. Putting the essence of the characters in the focus, not the action. And maybe this story is proof that one doesn‘t need to slay a dragon for a book to be magical. Not that magic doesn‘t play a very important role in this story. It does, very much so. But I can easily see this story set in a different genre, erasing the magical elements, and yet the characters would shine. Because the first and most important aspect of this story are the characters. Their drive, their motivation and their development. However, I do think this would make a much less intriguing storyline if the magical component had been erased. I love how much bigger the picture gets because it’s magical. So it‘s needed. For the suspense, but also for establishing how a fantasy novel doesn‘t have to necessarily follow the traditional build-up to work. Not in the slightest.
It‘s the characters who shine in this book. Six being the magical number here (honestly, how come books with a main cast of six always do their thing to me? Is this some wicked spell doing its work here, anyway moving on…). Some characters immediately had me obsessing over them (Libby and Nico), others needed some warming up to them (Tristan and Reina), and others had me intrigued, wondering whether how much of a mess they will turn me into once I totally hand over my heart to them (Parisa and Callum). However, it‘s not only them individually that I find immensly interesting, but them interacting with each other. I loved seeing them together, trusting and not trusting each other. Working together, only to set it up for potential betrayal. Each of them is so complex, hiding so much more than we can see, not letting me go. Really, with these characters it‘s just „Head empty. Only them.“ I never knew what to expect next with them, and they kept surpising me, making sure I fell for them even more. Chapter by chapter. Page by page. I‘m at their mercy. Totally. And I know I‘ll pay for it. (I just know it!)
Honestly, I understand the hype. I truly do. Because once you let these characters get control of your body and soul, they won‘t let you go. But I can also see why this book might not end up being what you wanted. Because truth be told, it‘s very character-driven. In fact, if you‘re looking for a solid and exciting plot, you might end up not being as happy as I do. Simply because the characters are the plot, what they do, what drives them is what carries this story. The Society itself is more or less just the setting of it. Not that I minded it, but I can see how it can be hard for anyone prefering a plot-driven story.
However, this is not saying that this story completely lacks of a plot, and I‘m positive that we get to see more of the mechanisms of the Society and the action being involved in the sequel, but The Atlas Six mainly gives us an understanding of the characters and where to place them in this dark academia world.
As for the worldbuilding itself - it‘s intriguing. I mean it‘s about the library of Alexandria. Which bibliophile wouldn‘t be immediately obsessed about that fact? I certainly was. But the main aspect of magic and this world we learn is through the academic studies the characters go through. The writing is partly dense, partly philosophic, partly too smart for my own good. I loved how scientific the element of magic had been dealed in this book, because to the contrary of what I usually come across (i.e. magic being tied heavily to feeling it), the explanation in this one goes a bit further it. One needs to study the history, the mechanism, the science behind it which actually fits perfect in the dark academia setting - but takes some time getting used to it, mostly due to the writing (and maybe because I kept telling myself I‘m too dumb to understand it, so that‘s on me).
To put this review to an end - and free you from your misery, in case you‘re still reading it (high five if you are) - all I have left to say is: this book is so damn good. Pro tip: make sure you get the time to binge! Really, trust me on this one.
*goes to stare at the incredible stunning character artwork inside of the book, and cries because missing the characters already*
Once more I totally loved this volume of Heartstopper; however, this one didn‘t put an as big grin on my face as the previous volumes. And for a justifiable reason. Charlie‘s mental health is a big and very important topic in the fourth installement, and I loved how it was narrated and dealt with. I can truly see how this book is inspirational as well as motivational for its audience, especially but not only the younger readers. One of the key qualities of Nick and Charlie is the constant support and understanding they offer each other. That‘s just so pure and wholesome to watch.
I already am impatiently waiting for Volume 5!
I already am impatiently waiting for Volume 5!
Nick + Charlie = sweet, adorable, wholesome!
Name another couple that plasters a grin to your face like this, I dare you!
Once more, these two just made me happy! I loved to see the whole squad go to Paris, and as someone who misses the city a lot it was so fun to see them at places such as the Louvre and Shakespeare & Company!
Aside from all the fluff though, there‘s also the serious topic of mental health being discussed. I‘m curious to see where this will lead and how the author will deal with it. But I‘ve got so much faith in it. I just love how Nick and Charlie are there for each other. You can feel the love so deeply!
Name another couple that plasters a grin to your face like this, I dare you!
Once more, these two just made me happy! I loved to see the whole squad go to Paris, and as someone who misses the city a lot it was so fun to see them at places such as the Louvre and Shakespeare & Company!
Aside from all the fluff though, there‘s also the serious topic of mental health being discussed. I‘m curious to see where this will lead and how the author will deal with it. But I‘ve got so much faith in it. I just love how Nick and Charlie are there for each other. You can feel the love so deeply!
After that cliffhanger of Heartstopper Vol. 1, it took me 0.0001 seconds to pick up the next installement, and see where these two adorable sweethearts will take me. Did my serotonin level get even higher? Absolutely. Was I grinning like an idiot? Yup. And was this one just as beautiful as Volume 1? Totally!
However, what also stood out a lot in the second volume of Heartstopper was Nick trying to figure out his sexuality. I loved to see that being an important part of this story just as much as Nick and Charlie enjoying their time together. And ugh, they are so adorable. I was getting a sugar rush!
On to volume three now!!!!
However, what also stood out a lot in the second volume of Heartstopper was Nick trying to figure out his sexuality. I loved to see that being an important part of this story just as much as Nick and Charlie enjoying their time together. And ugh, they are so adorable. I was getting a sugar rush!
On to volume three now!!!!
Everyone stop whatever you‘re doing, and pick up Heartstopper!
But beware of the side effects, of which some are constant happiness, lots of giggling, cheeks hurting so much from the dominant grin plastered on your face, and the highest serotonin level you can get.
No wonder this comic got adapted, no wonder it‘s being loved, and no wonder the hype is so big. The love story of Nick and Charlie is probably the most adorable thing I‘ve ever seen, and totally deserves all the spotlight it receives. Nothing I‘ve ever read was this wholesome, and the urge to go back and reread it is one I will never fight.
Hearstopper is a must-read!
But beware of the side effects, of which some are constant happiness, lots of giggling, cheeks hurting so much from the dominant grin plastered on your face, and the highest serotonin level you can get.
No wonder this comic got adapted, no wonder it‘s being loved, and no wonder the hype is so big. The love story of Nick and Charlie is probably the most adorable thing I‘ve ever seen, and totally deserves all the spotlight it receives. Nothing I‘ve ever read was this wholesome, and the urge to go back and reread it is one I will never fight.
Hearstopper is a must-read!
What I liked about this book:
the writing, the concept, the twist,
and everything up from chapter thirty.
What I didn‘t like about this book:
the pacing, the protagonist, the plot,
and everything up until chapter twenty-seven.
Okay, I might be a bit exaggerating on the last part. But to be honest, it‘s rather hard to explain all my feelings for this book so let me try to put it this way: Nothing really excited me throughout up until I hit the last 50ish pages of this book. And those last chapters? They were formidable, brilliant, full of twists and reveals, making a great exit and leaving us with crumbs to feed off until we wait for the sequel. But the question that I‘m posing here is: Is it really worth it to push through 250 pages that feel rather bland only to have a big bang at the end? No, but also yes. But then again, no. Let me explain here.
I‘ve got three main issues with this book: the pacing, the protagonist and the plot - as stated above. And while I can overlook a lacking protagonist when the plot is well done or a underdeveloped plot when the characters are intriguing, I can‘t really ignore the issue when both of these elements feel off. The premise itself is intriguing. Our world as we know it, but with shadow magic out in the open. Didn‘t we all wonder what it would be like if our shadow had its own will or the very least some magic? I certainly did after watching Peter Pan, I won‘t deny that. This is why I was excited to see what Holly Black exactly will do with these elements. Shadows have been a very popular element in the fantasy genre, after all, and I always like to see a new twist brought to them. However, the plot felt anything but exciting. We barely get a glimpse of the magical world aside from some alternated shadows and whispers of those gone rogue. The plot itself resolves around the mysteries, the secrets and thievery of old tomes. Which still could have been exciting if all of that wasn‘t tied to our protagonist Charlie Hall who was my second issue. As the main character, we spent most of our time in Charlie‘s head, and therefore there‘s lots of time the story takes for us to get to know her. However, we never truly get more than what is already established early on, and that is: “There‘d always been something wrong with Charlie Hall. Crooked, from the day she was born. Never met a bad decision she wasn‘t willing to double down on. Had fingers made for picking pockets, a tongue for lying, and a shriveled cherry pit for a heart.“ Reading those lines, you know the character. Anything else is just a repetition of what has already been told. Yes, told and definitely not shown. Because as much as Charlie Hall has a reputation and is one to make bad decisions, we don‘t really see that side much until maybe the last 50ish pages. Charlie Hall is not more than the words being used to describe. No, let‘s scratch that. She isn‘t even truly what the words describe her to be. She might be introduced to us as a morally grey character, but there‘s nothing really morally grey about her aside from a past as a con artist and a thief, and her constant pull to go back to it. And that was rather tedious. Now add to a plot that doesn‘t really give much away, and a character that feels rather dull a pacing that is so slow, and it‘s hard to keep up with the story. Because let me tell you this book is very slow. And whenever we get some climatic events, those are interrupted by chapters of flashbacks that feel a) out of place b) unnecessary as the information could have been included differently and c) uninteresting for the plot or character aside from maybe two exceptions.
Now why did I end up not disliking the book at all? And I truly don‘t. Mainly because the last fifty pages were a true hit, that were tying all the elements nicely together, revealing twists I didn‘t see coming (but to be fair, I lost all interest to even try to spot any twists), and is leaving us eager for the sequel. Having managed to finish the book lots of things that have been an issue for me while reading became less infuriating once I knew why there were needed. The ending offers new paths and an intriguing insight to the magical world, and is closely tied to the only character that was somewhat of interest: Vince, Charlie‘s boyfriend. When I tell you the last fifty pages were brilliant, I mean it.
However, considering that my edition of Book of Night is 300 pages long, and 250 of those feel more like a chore, the question whether one really wants to push through those to figure out why the twist is so formidable, is one I need to leave up to you. Would I have picked up the book knowing that? Maybe, depending on my curiosity and the time I had on my hands. What I know for sure is that this would have easily become a DNF if it weren‘t for the fact that I was reading it for a readalong that I co-host. So maybe that bit of knowledge is helpful in terms of motivating you to push through it.
Now, not everything was bad up until the point of excitement which for me started shortly before chapter thirty. The concept in itself is interesting and fun, letting me pose questions about what magic shadows truly hold. The writing is simply beautiful, and was what kept me going even if I really wasn‘t intrigued by the content of it. And there were some moments and scenes which were fascinating and thrilling. Unfortunately, that just wasn‘t enough to make me get invested in the story at all. The ending being the big exception here. Again, that one was just what I wished this book would have been from the start.
Generally, I didn‘t dislike the book. But I also didn‘t like it as a whole. The ending pays off, yes. But the question is who is strong enough to push through until that point. Yet, I am excited for what the sequel has in store for us as of now. I can‘t tell whether I will keep up that excitement until the release day or whether I will completely lose my interest when it comes out, but that‘s a worry for the future me. Overall, this story is pretty much okay which is the reason why I‘m settling on three stars as a rating.
Oh, and before I end this review, there‘s no such saying as „no man can jump over his own shadow“ in German. The saying that does exist is to „jump over you own shadow“ as in to overcome your limits, to dare something you usually wouldn‘t do. Pretty much the opposite of what is being explained in the book. Which is a bit of misinformation I just couldn‘t overlook, and I was massively annoyed by it.
the writing, the concept, the twist,
and everything up from chapter thirty.
What I didn‘t like about this book:
the pacing, the protagonist, the plot,
and everything up until chapter twenty-seven.
Okay, I might be a bit exaggerating on the last part. But to be honest, it‘s rather hard to explain all my feelings for this book so let me try to put it this way: Nothing really excited me throughout up until I hit the last 50ish pages of this book. And those last chapters? They were formidable, brilliant, full of twists and reveals, making a great exit and leaving us with crumbs to feed off until we wait for the sequel. But the question that I‘m posing here is: Is it really worth it to push through 250 pages that feel rather bland only to have a big bang at the end? No, but also yes. But then again, no. Let me explain here.
I‘ve got three main issues with this book: the pacing, the protagonist and the plot - as stated above. And while I can overlook a lacking protagonist when the plot is well done or a underdeveloped plot when the characters are intriguing, I can‘t really ignore the issue when both of these elements feel off. The premise itself is intriguing. Our world as we know it, but with shadow magic out in the open. Didn‘t we all wonder what it would be like if our shadow had its own will or the very least some magic? I certainly did after watching Peter Pan, I won‘t deny that. This is why I was excited to see what Holly Black exactly will do with these elements. Shadows have been a very popular element in the fantasy genre, after all, and I always like to see a new twist brought to them. However, the plot felt anything but exciting. We barely get a glimpse of the magical world aside from some alternated shadows and whispers of those gone rogue. The plot itself resolves around the mysteries, the secrets and thievery of old tomes. Which still could have been exciting if all of that wasn‘t tied to our protagonist Charlie Hall who was my second issue. As the main character, we spent most of our time in Charlie‘s head, and therefore there‘s lots of time the story takes for us to get to know her. However, we never truly get more than what is already established early on, and that is: “There‘d always been something wrong with Charlie Hall. Crooked, from the day she was born. Never met a bad decision she wasn‘t willing to double down on. Had fingers made for picking pockets, a tongue for lying, and a shriveled cherry pit for a heart.“ Reading those lines, you know the character. Anything else is just a repetition of what has already been told. Yes, told and definitely not shown. Because as much as Charlie Hall has a reputation and is one to make bad decisions, we don‘t really see that side much until maybe the last 50ish pages. Charlie Hall is not more than the words being used to describe. No, let‘s scratch that. She isn‘t even truly what the words describe her to be. She might be introduced to us as a morally grey character, but there‘s nothing really morally grey about her aside from a past as a con artist and a thief, and her constant pull to go back to it. And that was rather tedious. Now add to a plot that doesn‘t really give much away, and a character that feels rather dull a pacing that is so slow, and it‘s hard to keep up with the story. Because let me tell you this book is very slow. And whenever we get some climatic events, those are interrupted by chapters of flashbacks that feel a) out of place b) unnecessary as the information could have been included differently and c) uninteresting for the plot or character aside from maybe two exceptions.
Now why did I end up not disliking the book at all? And I truly don‘t. Mainly because the last fifty pages were a true hit, that were tying all the elements nicely together, revealing twists I didn‘t see coming (but to be fair, I lost all interest to even try to spot any twists), and is leaving us eager for the sequel. Having managed to finish the book lots of things that have been an issue for me while reading became less infuriating once I knew why there were needed. The ending offers new paths and an intriguing insight to the magical world, and is closely tied to the only character that was somewhat of interest: Vince, Charlie‘s boyfriend. When I tell you the last fifty pages were brilliant, I mean it.
However, considering that my edition of Book of Night is 300 pages long, and 250 of those feel more like a chore, the question whether one really wants to push through those to figure out why the twist is so formidable, is one I need to leave up to you. Would I have picked up the book knowing that? Maybe, depending on my curiosity and the time I had on my hands. What I know for sure is that this would have easily become a DNF if it weren‘t for the fact that I was reading it for a readalong that I co-host. So maybe that bit of knowledge is helpful in terms of motivating you to push through it.
Now, not everything was bad up until the point of excitement which for me started shortly before chapter thirty. The concept in itself is interesting and fun, letting me pose questions about what magic shadows truly hold. The writing is simply beautiful, and was what kept me going even if I really wasn‘t intrigued by the content of it. And there were some moments and scenes which were fascinating and thrilling. Unfortunately, that just wasn‘t enough to make me get invested in the story at all. The ending being the big exception here. Again, that one was just what I wished this book would have been from the start.
Generally, I didn‘t dislike the book. But I also didn‘t like it as a whole. The ending pays off, yes. But the question is who is strong enough to push through until that point. Yet, I am excited for what the sequel has in store for us as of now. I can‘t tell whether I will keep up that excitement until the release day or whether I will completely lose my interest when it comes out, but that‘s a worry for the future me. Overall, this story is pretty much okay which is the reason why I‘m settling on three stars as a rating.
Oh, and before I end this review, there‘s no such saying as „no man can jump over his own shadow“ in German. The saying that does exist is to „jump over you own shadow“ as in to overcome your limits, to dare something you usually wouldn‘t do. Pretty much the opposite of what is being explained in the book. Which is a bit of misinformation I just couldn‘t overlook, and I was massively annoyed by it.
Since we already got a good taste of Kai Mori in Corrupt (if you know, you know), my excitement for this installement was over the roofs, and let me tell you: quiet waters run deep and can be just as hot.
In Hide Away we get a new perspective and an expansion of the plot aside from the romance. The Four Horsemen are split, tension is built up, and former friends are now enemies. What I loved were the ties between Damon and Kai‘s plot, mostly because of the connections to Banks, our female protagonist who was so different from Rika. Just as Rika seemed to be the perfect fit for Michael as they both like to play games, Banks and Kai match on so many levels: they‘re both ragining beneath the quiet demeanor they‘ve put on, both intrigued by the mystery of The Pope, and both desperately hunting down for Damon, though for different reasons. In comparison to Corrupt, I definitely enjoyed the plot more as it tied more elements to each other, revealed new mysteries and built up more ground for the upcoming books.
Both Kai and Banks were intriguing characters, and I prefered being in their heads much more than in Michael‘s and Rika‘s. However, since a lot of the backstory focused as well on Banks‘ connection to the Torrance, and the present storyline was tied to hunting down Damon, I felt this aspect overshadowed a little bit the romance between Kai and Banks, which made it harder for me to get invested in their relationship opposed to the romance between Michael and Rika in Corrupt. What I definitely appreciated more about Hide Away though were the two protagonist on their own. Kai brings a fresh new perspective to why the four Horsemen need Devil‘s Night, what it means to be out of prison and start a new life which is tainted by the past whereas the mystery of Banks and her connections to Damon brought out new insights to the many secrets the people in Thunder Bay carry with them. While I would‘ve wished for more scenes focusing entirely on them crossing the bridge to each other, I can‘t deny that I‘ve felt these two were perfect for each other and the hostile energy between them added a lot of tension one couldn‘t deny.
Aside from the main couple of this book, I also loved to see the roles of the other characters within this story, and how much they‘ve changed over the course of the last years. The Four Horsemen‘s bond is just so complex and painfully beautiful, it was hard to watch them changed and hurting, especially considering the broken bond between Damon and Will. I also loved to see Banks‘ bond to David and Lev because they‘ve become some kind of big brothers themselves.
Overall, Hide Away is more convincing and intriguing in terms of plot. Despite the fact that the romance was a tiny bit weaker, I loved to see the energy between Kai and Banks and felt them more intriguing as characters (and yes, it‘s hot!). What Hide Away definitely does is not letting you stop reading the series, because it sets an incredible groundwork for the next installement, and opens up new plot elements that will keep you excited.
In Hide Away we get a new perspective and an expansion of the plot aside from the romance. The Four Horsemen are split, tension is built up, and former friends are now enemies. What I loved were the ties between Damon and Kai‘s plot, mostly because of the connections to Banks, our female protagonist who was so different from Rika. Just as Rika seemed to be the perfect fit for Michael as they both like to play games, Banks and Kai match on so many levels: they‘re both ragining beneath the quiet demeanor they‘ve put on, both intrigued by the mystery of The Pope, and both desperately hunting down for Damon, though for different reasons. In comparison to Corrupt, I definitely enjoyed the plot more as it tied more elements to each other, revealed new mysteries and built up more ground for the upcoming books.
Both Kai and Banks were intriguing characters, and I prefered being in their heads much more than in Michael‘s and Rika‘s. However, since a lot of the backstory focused as well on Banks‘ connection to the Torrance, and the present storyline was tied to hunting down Damon, I felt this aspect overshadowed a little bit the romance between Kai and Banks, which made it harder for me to get invested in their relationship opposed to the romance between Michael and Rika in Corrupt. What I definitely appreciated more about Hide Away though were the two protagonist on their own. Kai brings a fresh new perspective to why the four Horsemen need Devil‘s Night, what it means to be out of prison and start a new life which is tainted by the past whereas the mystery of Banks and her connections to Damon brought out new insights to the many secrets the people in Thunder Bay carry with them. While I would‘ve wished for more scenes focusing entirely on them crossing the bridge to each other, I can‘t deny that I‘ve felt these two were perfect for each other and the hostile energy between them added a lot of tension one couldn‘t deny.
Aside from the main couple of this book, I also loved to see the roles of the other characters within this story, and how much they‘ve changed over the course of the last years. The Four Horsemen‘s bond is just so complex and painfully beautiful, it was hard to watch them changed and hurting, especially considering the broken bond between Damon and Will. I also loved to see Banks‘ bond to David and Lev because they‘ve become some kind of big brothers themselves.
Overall, Hide Away is more convincing and intriguing in terms of plot. Despite the fact that the romance was a tiny bit weaker, I loved to see the energy between Kai and Banks and felt them more intriguing as characters (and yes, it‘s hot!). What Hide Away definitely does is not letting you stop reading the series, because it sets an incredible groundwork for the next installement, and opens up new plot elements that will keep you excited.