cozysabie's Reviews (183)

"A Dragon without its Rider is a tragedy.
A Rider without their dragon is dead."
Article one, Section one, The Dragon Rider's Codex

"Dont borrow tomorrow's trouble"

This book was amazing in every sense of the way. The world building, the war & political additions, the tension between the characters and the character building alone was worth 5 stars. The events, plots and unexpected events themselves just elevate the book and makes it worth every hype it's received. If you've ever wanted to experience a book and live on the edge, while forgoing your life responsibilities and reading only this book till you finish, then Fourth Wing is the book to do that.
Not only is this book amazing from every aspect I've mentioned above, but it also represents chronic illness and how to learn to become great because of it, rather than despite of it. This is just one of the many important lessons Yarros conveys in the book.

This book follows Violet, who was always intended to join the Scribes Quadrant, just like her father. However, as her father passed away & she grew up around her mother, the general; she is forced to join the Rider's Quadrant and must train so abruptly to join it. Of course, Violent has a chronic condition, which makes her a target & weaker then others. Its so lovely watching her rise above this stereotype & proving others (AND herself) wrong. Here are some of my favourite Violet quotes:

"The Archives are still the only place that feels like home in this giant fortress, the only place where I still feel my father's presence." - Violet Sorrengail

"I barely recognise myself in the mirror. I look like a rider. I still feel like a scribe." - Violet Sorrengail

"You are sad?" Andarna asks, her voice soft.
"Just visiting the Archives. No need to worry," I tell her.
"It's hard to love a second home as much as the first one."
I swallow, "It's easy when the second home is the right one."

AND then what about the new MMC who ends up stealing everyone's heart, Xaden Riorson. Here are some of my favourite quotes from him:

"Hope is a fickle, dangerous thing. It steals your focus and aims it toward the possibilities instead of keeping it where it belongs • on the probabilities." - Xaden Riorson

"You gave me your heart and I'm keeping it."- Xaden Riorson

AND NOW FOR THE MAIN PART: DRAGONS! So many dragons in Fourth Wing but we get to know two very well & a third one a bit as well. They are all fierce, have their own personality and shape each character in a beautiful way. Some of my favourite quotes from the dragons are:

"You are the smartest of your year. The most cunning.
You defended the smallest with ferocity. And strength of courage is more important than physical strength." - Tairn

"There is no stronger bond than that bteween two mated dragons. It goes beyond the depth of human love or adoration ot a primal, undeniable requirement for proximity. One Cannot survive without the other" - Colonel Kaori's Field guide to Dragonkind

SHORT REVIEW:
One for my Enemy is an amazing book that is inspired by Romeo & Juliet & basing the tale on the Eastern Folklore of Baba Yaga. Recently, there have been retells to paint Baba Yaga in a different style and this story separates Baba Yaga from Marya Antonova as a few other stories have done. Reading “One for my Enemy” had the addition of a theatrical flow without it actually being a theatre prose.

This book has multiple POV, with two love stories happening at the same time. Sisterhood/Brotherhood is another important topic that Blake addresses, in two different ways. This book delves deeply into the fact that when we choose to love someone, we must accept that they will hurt us in ways we cannot fathom. This could be anyone, from your partner, to your siblings/parents and anyone else you open your heart to. This book shows just how much of a limitation we have in controlling our future, even if we have all the power in the world. We all must accept that in the end: Life consist of sacrifices and loss and it is what we make out of it in the end.

"Sometimes Koschei is not Koschei. When he is not, he comes to his house. It is the same house his wife once occupied, along with his now-grown sons. Not much has changed inside his house for decades, only it's empty now.
Such is the case when time goes by: emptiness"

"I wont lie to you, not everything in this life is so straightforward. But we are Yaga's daughters. We earn our right to success by the sacrifices we make." - Marya Antonova

This would have never happened if you'd never existed •
If she'd never loved you •
If you hadn't wronged her, wronged us, wronged me"- Baba Yaga

"Where do you want to go?" - Lev
"Anywhere" A different life, a different world, somewhere under different stars. Any place but here and now. "Nowhere." - Sasha
"We might not have time for an entire book." - Sasha

"She loved me," he said again, "and I know you wouldn't cheapen our life together simply because you are suffering, Yaga. Maybe she never lovevd me like she loved Dimitri Fedorov, but there are other loves. There are better loves," he informed her, defensive, "loves that enrich us, that dont cost us our lives and our sanity •" - Stas Maksimov

"Dont you dare die, Lev Fedorov ... We were supposed to have more time, We were supposed to have a book, Lev, you promised me a long story" - Sasha Antonova

"Listen, I always knew we were a long story, but I think I underestimated it. Can you imagine, lover after death? Even I couldn't have guessed that. And I really am an optimist."- Lev Fedorov

This is simply what this life is , Sashenka. Sacrifice and loss. So long as you remain a part of it, that's all you'll be capable of feeling. It's all you'll be able to do. Your only gifts will be what you can take, what you can break, and what you can ruin. This life is a thief, Sasha. It takes and takes, and then maybe you die or maybe you dont. But either way, this life will try to leave you empty-handed unless you learn to strike first." - Marya Antonovs

GENRE: Fantasy - Pirates
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐.5/5
FORMAT: eBook
Would I recommend to others?: Yes, especially if you love reading about Pirates

Spoiler

& Sirens

Review:
After reading a Fantasy book about Pirates, I was hooked & decided to give this book a go! I am definitely glad I did & I first heard about the book through FairyLoot's subscription as one of the Book Merch was inspired by this book. "Daughter of the Pirate King" follows a strong FMC, who is the daughter of the pirate king (I know I'm stating the obvious from the title but still). We follow her adventure in the sea as she runs a ship filled with female crew! This is definitely a light read but I would not describe it as a cozy read. There was never a dull moment in this book, as Alosa and Riden build their relationship & get to know one another. This book also has "found family" trope, with each of the crew member being a significant part of the team

Spoiler

in comparison to Riden's brother, who doesnt really care about his crew much). The introduction of the siren part was also really fun, as it added to the sea mythical atmosphere.

I was definitely excited to move on to book two!

"Why must everything we love be taken from us? Why can't we hold what we love forever in our hands, safe and warm and whole?"

GENRE: Fantasy YA
FORMAT: eBook
RATED: ⭐⭐⭐.5/5

I started reading this book as there was going to be a fandom item included in the June YA Book Box Subscription from Fairyloot. This is a cute book, definitely more on the young adult side, but its so interesting as we follow Mina's journey. It is set in a mythical realm & right from the beginning, we see how much Mina is willing to sacrificed for those she loves. This was my first book reading about Asian Folklore & it was so interesting! There were dragons, which as anyone who loves Fantasy knows is just a huge bonus point. The book is so touching & shows the length people will go for their loved ones & their country. The world building was beautiful, with me feeling like I was there half of the time, in a beautiful realm with different creatures AND the ending, how we learn more about the characters we've been reading about was pretty amazing.