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alyshadeshae
This went massively meta. I got a bit confused at some parts and had to backtrack, but overall enjoyed it.
I'm wondering if each book is going to tackle a new genre and play on that.
I'm wondering if each book is going to tackle a new genre and play on that.
Picking up right where the first part of this duet left off, I was able to jump right into the story and enjoy how Cooper and Emily dealt with their issues. This one does not end on a cliffhanger and is wonderfully done! Stories like these are why I love reading Gina Drayer's books and her books have almost single-handedly turned me back to regularly reading romance novels along with all the other genres I love!
NOTE: I received this book as an ARC, but that did not influence my review in any way.
NOTE: I received this book as an ARC, but that did not influence my review in any way.
I am so in love with this book series! And this book is such a wonderful conclusion to the series (although more in this universe would be awesome, too!) that it's hard to know where to start with singing it's praises. My absolute favorite part would be a massive spoiler, so I'm not giving that away, but you'll probably know it when you reach it. While there is still plenty of well-written and well-described violent scenes, there's nothing like the horrific cannibalistic scene from [b:Indigo|34670388|Indigo (Dark Republic #2)|D.L. Young|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490299808l/34670388._SY75_.jpg|55709412], thankfully! (That scene was so well done, though, that I was literally holding my reader at arm's length and trying not to drop it in disgust! The mark of a good book is the reactions it elicits from it's readers!!)
NOTE: I received this book as an ARC, but I've also pre-ordered it and my review is uninfluenced by how I received it. I really just love these books! <3
NOTE: I received this book as an ARC, but I've also pre-ordered it and my review is uninfluenced by how I received it. I really just love these books! <3
2019.09.25
I've calmed down a bit since I wrote my very short letter/review to Chanel last night. I'm still raw and emotional, though, but I feel that I managed to type up something a little more like a review.
But how do you review a book like this? "I liked the part where she talked about how painful everything is." What? Really?! Like, it's all painful! And you liked it? Geez, okay. ... See? It's hard. It's especially hard when you know exactly how hard it is to come forward with something like this. It's even harder when you realize that you don't know how hard it was to live through her experience because maybe you weren't as brave as she was.
So, below is my attempt at a proper review. I'm leaving my letter at the bottom because maybe Chanel will read it. Maybe it will bring her a smile to know that she helped just one more person. Maybe, just maybe, it will help her. She talks about the internet comments she would read during the trial and then about the comments she saw when her victim statement was published. Maybe she's still reading the comments. And if so, Chanel, again, thank you.
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So everyone remembers #StanfordRapistBrockTurner, right? And how the victim was often just "unconscious woman" or Emily Doe because she wanted to remain anonymous?
The woman he attacked is no longer anonymous. Her name is Chanel Miller. She is a badass survivor and a personal hero of mine. Chanel has also written a book about the entire experience.
The book is painful, raw, heartbreaking, and hard to read. I cried through the majority of it. I broke down completely through the last third of the book. Ugly crying. Sobbing. Screaming. I had a panic attack.
Some survivors may want to avoid this book. But so many more will, I believe, feel empowered by Chanel's words. Reading her account of everything (from the day of the party through her attacker's release from jail through the aftermath of it all) is cathartic, in a way. Chanel definitely describes every aspect of everything she can. There are graphic details in this book. They are painful and ugly and hard to hear. They are what Chanel deals with daily. They are what other survivors deal with every second of their lives.
I firmly believe that if you think you're the kind of person who doesn't need to read this book that you're the kind of person who needs to read it the most.
If you care about victims' and women's rights, you need to read this book. Chanel Miller used the fuck out of her voice and it's the best thing I've seen in a while.
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2019.09.24
To Chanel Miller:
I cannot properly review your book at the moment. It's powerful. It's brutal. It's necessary. It's hard. It's raw. But you know all this. You must know this. Your writing is perfect. Your own voice is brilliant.
I ugly cried and loudly sobbed through the last third of your book. It hurt. It ripped open old wounds and triggered a panic attack at one point. There is so much that I can't bring myself talk about, but your words helped. Thank you. Just, thank you.
I've calmed down a bit since I wrote my very short letter/review to Chanel last night. I'm still raw and emotional, though, but I feel that I managed to type up something a little more like a review.
But how do you review a book like this? "I liked the part where she talked about how painful everything is." What? Really?! Like, it's all painful! And you liked it? Geez, okay. ... See? It's hard. It's especially hard when you know exactly how hard it is to come forward with something like this. It's even harder when you realize that you don't know how hard it was to live through her experience because maybe you weren't as brave as she was.
So, below is my attempt at a proper review. I'm leaving my letter at the bottom because maybe Chanel will read it. Maybe it will bring her a smile to know that she helped just one more person. Maybe, just maybe, it will help her. She talks about the internet comments she would read during the trial and then about the comments she saw when her victim statement was published. Maybe she's still reading the comments. And if so, Chanel, again, thank you.
-----
So everyone remembers #StanfordRapistBrockTurner, right? And how the victim was often just "unconscious woman" or Emily Doe because she wanted to remain anonymous?
The woman he attacked is no longer anonymous. Her name is Chanel Miller. She is a badass survivor and a personal hero of mine. Chanel has also written a book about the entire experience.
The book is painful, raw, heartbreaking, and hard to read. I cried through the majority of it. I broke down completely through the last third of the book. Ugly crying. Sobbing. Screaming. I had a panic attack.
Some survivors may want to avoid this book. But so many more will, I believe, feel empowered by Chanel's words. Reading her account of everything (from the day of the party through her attacker's release from jail through the aftermath of it all) is cathartic, in a way. Chanel definitely describes every aspect of everything she can. There are graphic details in this book. They are painful and ugly and hard to hear. They are what Chanel deals with daily. They are what other survivors deal with every second of their lives.
I firmly believe that if you think you're the kind of person who doesn't need to read this book that you're the kind of person who needs to read it the most.
If you care about victims' and women's rights, you need to read this book. Chanel Miller used the fuck out of her voice and it's the best thing I've seen in a while.
-----
2019.09.24
To Chanel Miller:
I cannot properly review your book at the moment. It's powerful. It's brutal. It's necessary. It's hard. It's raw. But you know all this. You must know this. Your writing is perfect. Your own voice is brilliant.
I ugly cried and loudly sobbed through the last third of your book. It hurt. It ripped open old wounds and triggered a panic attack at one point. There is so much that I can't bring myself talk about, but your words helped. Thank you. Just, thank you.
I absolutely did not expect that ending... And after the warning in the acknowledgements, I'm both excited and hesitant to start the next one!
Sssooooo meta. I'm enjoying it, but I'm not sure if it's because the story is entertaining, the concept is interesting, or both. It's definitely keeping my attention, though!
Okay, not too much of a spoiler, but I love me a good Arthurian tie-in! It was a genuinely nice surprise (I thought the title was a coincidence, but clearly not!) while reading and just added more depth (for me) to everything that was happening! Starting the next one right now because I can't wait!!
Bruh... Like, I stayed up until 2a finishing this one!! Also, it's a little trippy simultaneously reading two series from the same author because it makes it that much easier to spot the similarities.