I think the major issue with this book was that it was all-over the place and I couldn't connect to a single character. In the moments I began to like a character, a few chapters later, an aspect of them would be introduced that would completely change my mind. 

I will admit, the plot was rather interesting, but I wish it had been expanded over the course of a few books, instead of cramped into one standalone. I think a common misconception is that it's similar to Cinder by Marissa Meyer. While the very beginning does appear so, the plot turns around and comes out much differently. As well, in my opinion, Cinder is a better crafted novel with writing that doesn't sound immature. Cinder also really does feel like a retelling (despite being set in space) while it takes a lot of effort to see where Stitching Snow connects to Snow White, aside from the main character's "real" name. I'd elaborate, but...spoilers.

The characters felt really flat, especially Essie and Dane. I didn't quite understand if I was supposed to like Dane, either, considering how on-and-off Essie's opinions of him were and how problematic his behavior was. He basically treats her horribly and uses her within the first half of the book and then does a 180 and we're supposed to appreciate him? It all felt really messy and the character development was extremely hurried. I also wasn't sure why Essie needed to wait so long before they got together. It was decent of Dane to accept that, but why was it necessary? 

As well, I also wish the backstory between the Garamites and Essie's people was explained better. It could honestly make a really good prologue, but when pushed into the novel as a side plot without any real explanation, I didn't quite appreciate it. Obviously it was necessary for the plot, but it could have been done much better.

All in all, this book had the potential to be really good, but fell short in essentially every category. 

-Book Hugger

Did I really...never write a review? Whoops.

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THIS BOOK IS AMAZING! EVERYONE GO READ IT RIGHT NOW, OKAY?????

Review to come soon. I promise.

Stay tuned, Book Hugger

www.bookhuggerreviews.com

Full review here for the entire series: http://bookhuggerreviews.com/shiver-quartet-review/

-Book Hugger

Rating: ***** Suggested Age: 13

I had heard many great things about The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken from many people on bookstagram (the book community on instagram). They weren’t wrong. While I wasn’t exactly expecting it to be another dystopian book (note to self: actually read the summary), I wasn’t disappointed with it in the slightest. The Darkest Minds is full of action and did its duty in keeping me on the edge of my seat the whole entire time. Bracken writes very well and I found all of her characters enjoyable to read about. I did find the humor between Chubs and Liam rather pathetic, but I’ve never been all that fond of insult-humor (I’m more of a dry, sarcastic person). Needless to say, I wasn’t laughing at every joke made, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book in the slightest. As I previously mentioned, I love the characters. Ruby and Chubs both love books, so that’s a plus, and Liam is so kind and caring. I feel like it would be amazing to spend a day with these characters…

When I finished The Darkest Minds I wanted the next book right away. Sadly, Never Fade is not in my possession and won’t be for a little while, at least until I can get to Barnes and Noble. Suffice to say, I will be busying myself with other books in the meantime.

-Book Hugger

for more reviews like this, check out my blog www.bookhuggerreviews.com

I went back and finished it. I finished this book. I couldn't before because THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED. IT IS SAD. DREADFULLY SO. But I finished it now and I feel better. It's still dreadfully sad, but I needed to finish it and I feel better about that. Also I found some new quotes, this book is full of them, lines that make you want to dance and scream and sing.

-Book Hugger

I will not be writing a review for this book, so check out my blog if you want other reviews! http://www.bookhuggerreviews.com

I read this book at the beginning of January and I loved it. I was expecting to, and needless to say, it met my expectations. I was swept into the world, the plot, and the character's lives. Sabaa Tahir had me hooked from the very first page and I so desperately want to read A Torch Against the Night now. Oh my gosh, An Ember in the Ashes was amazing.

First, you have a wonderful set of characters. I loved Laia and Elias both so much, though I'm not sure how I feel about Heline. Part of me likes her, but another part finds some of her opinions (especially those toward slaves) off-putting and narrow-minded. Not to mention, despite popular opinion, I don't really see Laia and Elias together...I ship them with others...which brings me to my main complaint--there's a love triangle. I honestly do not understand why authors insist upon including love triangles. I cannot get one guy to like me, let alone two. How do these girls do it? It just seems so unrealistic and it's annoying how the main character will spend the next 7,000 years flitting between the two. MAKE UP YOUR MIND, GIRL.

Anyway, off of that rant...my only other slight complaint was that I foresaw some of the plot twists. Was I really supposed to be that surprised at that one "huge" thing towards the end, because I was not. I saw it a mile away. I mean, maybe we were supposed to? Though, I still loved loved loved this book and the majority of it kept me thinking non-stop.

I highly recommend you pick this book up. You've got an amazing cast of characters (also, somehow I haven't expressed my GIGANTIC love for Keenan?), a fantastic and unique plot, and a world completely different from the usual fantasy/dystopian. Though, one question...what genre is this? Goodreads seems to be confused with the categorizing of it. It seems like fantasy, but at the same time has dystopian aspects...so...I dunno, man.

BUT ANYWAY, go pick this book up!

-Book Hugger

For more reviews like this, check out my blog at http://www.bookhuggerreviews.com

Rating: ***** Suggested Age: 13

Summary: “It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…

Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?” (Summary found on Goodreads).

Even a week or so after finishing Lady Midnight, I still cannot stop thinking about it. Words cannot express how brilliant Cassandra Clare is and how much I love her books. She is my second favorite author, next to J.K. Rowling, and Lady Midnight was a beautiful reminder of how much I love her and the Shadowhunter world. The characters are fantastic and well-developed. My list of favorites is extremely long, but Mark, Julian, and Emma are definitely at the top! I actually didn’t like Christina that much and Perfect Diego was awful. I also loved how artistic Julian is (like Clary!) and just his character in general. I felt everything he felt and hurt whenever he hurt (which was a lot, thanks Cassie…). I cared so much about Mark as well and reading about him pained me so much. Emma is funny, blunt, and a total breath of fresh air. She is assertive and strong, traits not usually found in protagonists of YA fiction. The plot is also quite brilliant and my travel back into Clare’s world was fabulous. The mystery is wonderful and throughout the whole book I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what was possibly going on. When I read in the back that all the chapter titles came from “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allen Poe, I thought that was one of the coolest things ever. I remember reading that poem a few years ago in school and now that it has a place in an amazing fiction book, I’m even more intrigued by it.

Like usual, my only complaint is the ending. CASSANDRA CLARE, WHY? WHY? WHY? What kind of person does that? Lord of Shadows (book two) comes out April of 2017. APRIL of 2017! APRIL! 2017! That’s more than a year from now. That’s more than a year that I have to wait to find out what happens next. For a few days after finishing Lady Midnight, I didn’t even know what to do with myself. However, my friend finished it shortly after me and we have been talking about it since, so I’m not completely alone with my feelings. I am very thankful for my bookish friends:)

So, thank you, Cassandra Clare, for making me happy, and then making me sad. The moment I got Lady Midnight was such a happy time and I literally hugged the book for a little while, just standing in Barnes and Noble, like any normal person would. Then when I finished it, I wanted to scream, but not because it was bad, not at all. Sometimes good books just make you very unhappy because they’re over. I do not like endings. (Who does?)

I have multiple favorite quotes from this book, so bear with my while I list them off:)

“No one is ever the villain of their own story.” -Christina to Emma, page 605. This quote reminded me that there are two sides to every story and that someone might make a mistake and not realize that they did. Maybe that person is under the impression that someone else made the mistake instead. The human specimen does not like to admit they are wrong.

“Heroes aren’t always the ones who win. They’re the ones who lose, sometimes. But they keep fighting, they keep coming back. They don’t give up. That’s what makes them heroes.” -Clary to Emma in a flashback, page 596. I just really liked this. It’s true and quite honest. I kind of hope an author (maybe me?) can write a book with the heroes of the story not winning…

“I read once that explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog. You find out how it works, but the frog dies in the process.” -Mark to Emma (I don’t have the page number for this one, oops…) This quote is just funny. The instant I read it, I had to mark it down. On top of being hilarious, it’s very true. An explained joke isn’t a good joke.

Anyway, what I’m trying to say with this review is that you need to read this book now. Like right now. But if you haven’t read The Mortal Instruments, you should read those first or you will be faced with spoilers. Basically, just read all of Cassandra Clare’s books. That’s a good idea.

-Book Hugger

for more reviews check out my blog: www.bookhuggerreviews.com, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Okay, I don't ordinarily change my ratings. Actually, I've never done it before. But it's come to my awareness that I missed somethings when I was reading this book and have revoked my approval of Rowaelin. He is possessive and honestly the scenes with them are disgusting and THIS IS NOT A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP. I am glad I can see this now and hopefully I will be changing for the better so that I can be more aware of these issues. This is not the kind of relationship teenagers should be getting awareness from, who cares if he has velvet wrapped steel.
I'm not going to deny that I enjoyed Empire of Storms, but I didn't love it as much as I said I did. I'm working to be a more honest person who is TRUE to my emotions. I didn't love this when I read it and I rated it 5 stars anyway because I felt like I had to. Newsflash, last year me, you can dislike a hyped book or even a hyped book from a series you love.

I'm still going to read Tower of Dawn and I'm not changing my review on my blog because let's be real 1-no one reads my blog and 2-that would take a lot of time.

Original review:
“Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will always love you.”

Empire of Storms exceeded my expectations. While I wasn't on-board with the who Aelin ended up with, I grew to appreciate said character. However, it'd be a spoiler if I said something so...guess you better read the book! Anyway, I loved this book so much. The characters I started out disliking became new favorites. I never thought I'd love Elide, Lorcan, or Manon, but I did. The character development was brilliant and I loved the way the characters were shaped by the events around them.

“He was hers and she was his and they had. found each other across centuries of bloodshed and loss, across oceans and kingdoms and war.”

As usual, Sarah J. Maas created a masterpiece. Her writing is so beautiful and the world she created is so intricate. It's writers like her that inspire me. With all the hate going around at the release of Empire of Storms, I'd like to say this: Sarah J. Maas is queen and even if she wasn't, there is absolutely no reason for someone to give her death threats. That's absurd. Complete and utter absurdity. She's an amazing author, despite the majority of my reviews being four-stars, and I can't wait to read anything else she writes (A Court of Mist and Fury is calling for me).

“The world will be saved and remade by the dreamers.”

Now, let's talk about that ending. WHAT WAS THAT??? THAT CAN'T BE LEGAL. NOPE. NOPE. NOPE. Two, not one, but two ships decided to sink (not literal ships, relationships) and it ended on a cliffhanger. A bad one. I don't like this. Not one bit. Here I was, starting this book thinking it was the final book of the series, but no...there's more. Gotta love Sarah J. Maas, destroyer of ships and breaker of hearts. Actually, we do love her, quite a lot, to be honest.

Anyway, if you haven't read this yet, but you love the Throne of Glass series, I highly highly suggest you drop whatever you're doing and read it. Honestly. Go do it.

Now, if you want to read some nice ol' rants about what happened in this book... So SPOILERS BELOW, READ IF YOU DARE.

~where is Aelin? where where where?

~I didn't like Rowaelin, honestly, but I'm gradually being pulled to the dark side because my babe Chaol ISN'T HERE.

~I wasn't happy with the absence of Chaol at first, but I'm gradually becoming more comfortable with him not being there. It shows the true change in Aelin's character. Chaol was Celaena's boyfriend, and friend. Now that she's Aelin, she's changed. Rowan loves her for herself and Chaol loved her for Celaena. While I might love him to pieces, I don't believe there was a place for Chaol in Empire of Storms, just as there is no longer a place for him in her heart.

~Also...Manon and Dorian?? I heard the shipping beforehand, but I can't say I actually thought it would happen. Dorian's character really changed and I don't see him as that precious little snowflake anymore. Especially now that he's dating Manon, I see him as a rougher, more damaged character. He has been through a lot and it shows in his traits. AS USUAL, MAAS KILLED IT WITH THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. Anyone who saw their girlfriend get beheaded wouldn't exactly be the same and I'm so glad she expressed that. It isn't blatantly said that he's messed up now, but he's no longer the little boy that needs to be protected (okay, he never was, but I like to think he was little when the series started). This is because of every. single. thing. that has happened to him. Shall we list all the tragic happenings? Eh, memory road is far too long.

-Book Hugger

This book is quiet. For having such a long title, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe says so much in few words, says so much in gestures and moments and long silences. It speaks without needing to say anything. And I think that is remarkable.

I read this book in maybe two hours on the PSAT morning (as a senior, school started at 11 for me). Once I started, I couldn't stop. It captivated me in everything that it is. As the title suggests, it's a story about discovery, both of the self and the outer world. It is a story about summers, spent talking and not talking. It is a story about love, but to have that love, both boys have to discover themselves first; they have to discover the secrets of their own worlds before they discover the entire universe's secrets. For Ari, this means learning about his brother, for Dante, this means exploring what it means to be himself.

"Another secret of the universe: Sometimes pain was like a storm that came out of nowhere. The clearest summer could end in a downpour. Could end in lightning and thunder.” 

I will admit that I cried (which, given how often I mention this, makes me sound as though I cry a lot reading, but I swear I don't), excessively. This book just...means a lot to me. It's hard to truly express how much a book means to me without 1. giving away the ending and 2. becoming a blubbering mess. I suppose you'll just have to take my word for it.

On the level of technicalities, this book plays off of subtleties. It covers a long period of time, there isn't a lot of actual plot, and some of the scenes felt unnecessary (I got the point of the arm breaking scene, but it felt weirdly placed). However, these are all technicalities, as I said, and at the end of the day, this book's reliance on subtleties and between-the-lines writing saves it. Everything felt under the surface and I love that so much in a piece of literature.

I don't enjoy reading things and having all the answers.

Aristotle and Dante lives up to its name. I think somewhere in this book I too discovered some of the secrets of the universe.

-Book Hugger