galacticvampire's Reviews (366)

Individually, I love all the elements of this book. It's the story of a girl who can see ghosts and is invited to a secret society and a free pass at Yale. It's the story of an overachiever nerd with a ridiculous name who has to take care of her. It's dual pov going back and forth between now and before he disappeared. There's murder, and rituals, and a shady academic setting.

I really really enjoyed Darlington's narration, because he's a quirky brooder. I liked the plot, and the choice to slowly unravel the setting by going back and forth between the present and when Alex first arrives. The climax was a little predictable and honestly a bit underwhelming considering how much the dark academia genre has evolved in the last few years.

Overall, it was a great read, even if it isn't the best Leigh Bardugo has to offer when it comes to writing. I needed more pzass, more seasoning, but still was a fulfilling meal.

I think I like the concept of this book more than the execution. The pacing is always a little off and the climax is a quite bland, but I really enjoyed the characters and their journeys.

Part of my disappointment is probably because from the tags to the blurb this is marketed as a romance, but while it indeed is central to the story, it isn't really what the story is about, and I didn't think the plot was the author's strongest suit.

It still was quite fun to read, and the humour was spot on.

This might be a controversial opinion but I really like how different the tone in Solitaire is from the rest of the Oseman-verse.

Yes, it's edgy teen. But that fits perfectly with the vibe of a depressed teenager who doesn't like socialising and is extremely worried about her little brother.

Both the lightness of Heartstopper and the nihilism of Solitaire are part of a teenage experience and having this balance is great.

The plot is a little hiperbolic and dramatic but tbh, that's exactly how I saw the world at 16.

The author has a good hand for the descriptions. I'm completely sold on how beautiful the dresses are and how cool the magic is.

But the protagonist is a sack of potatos—no. a single potato. She's one of the blandest, most boring protagonists I've ever encountered and I felt no desire to root for her.

She's supposed to be this master tailor or something but she *cheats* every step of the way. And oh, the audacity to compare it to Mulan. The love interest immediately clocks her a girl because in no way they could hint even a possibility of interest in a man, no.

By the way, there is a hint of potential in a relationship with the princess and I think that lesbianism would've elevated this story by MILES.

This is more of a memoir than anything and I found it quite boring. It's really well written but not my thing

Alphabet Squadron is probably one of the most thematically-strong instalments of Star Wars. It's not trying to hook you with an adventure or with a cast of charismatic characters (although both of these are quite interesting), but trying to make you question the morality of a justice system, how far should violence go for "the greater good" and really really focus on the individuals in a war.

The empire is not a faceless mass of evil. Is a system made by people that for better of for worse were stimulated to every act of corruption possible. And the New Republic isn't just full of dashing heroes, but soldier tired of the fight and scared senseless of the war and its unavoidable end. The humanisation is great, specially because it never tries to play it as a both-siding. Freed is great at balancing the nuances without gratuitously excusing the Empire for its horrific deeds.

The climax is emotional and trilling (my only caveat being Wyl's part in it) and the end felt fulfilling in a bittersweet way.

The Alphabet Squadron trilogy is introducing me to a new love: full-on war stories. 60% of this book is spent in battle. Ships flying, bombs exploding and heavy strategising, which I understand not being everyone's cup of tea, but I ate it up!

Even then, in the end of the day, this is a character-study. Alexander Freed is using the Star Wars background to ask the price of fighting, what happens to the survivors and weight of not seeing any option but to continue an endless cycle of violence.

Chass and Quell were definitely my favourite characters exactly because they embody those themes. Chass' helplessness at her future and suicide ideation were almost as painful ad Quell's unwillingness to let go of guilt and shame. Their chapters hurt but were also beautiful.

The rest of the cast also really felt real in their struggles, and while I really sympathised for Wyl's desire to stop fighting, I admit I skimmed some of his and Nath's chapters. Hera's presence was just on the right dose: enough to fulfil my wish for seeing her without stealing the spotlight of the real story being told. 

I feel there isn't much to say bere that I haven't already in the other two books. The series is still thrilling. I still ate it up. This is still my top dystopia ever.

It will take me a long time to forget this cast. They are all fucked up and cruel and violent and, in the end, just doing their best.

The reason why I took a quarter star on thie one is because I DID almost drop the book on that last 20%. Not because is bad (it's absolutely awesome) but because I just couldn't deal anymore with so much pain, suffering and grief.

I legitimately cried in the middle of the street while listening to this audiobook, and I rarely get this touched. But I'm glad I pushed through it, because it was absolutely worth it.

I feel like Pierce Brown broke into my house and punched me in the face.

This is both better than the first book, as it rises the scope of the war and shows just how truly a challenge overthrowing the Society will be for the Sons of Aries, and worse, because the charm of the institute and that cast is just unparalleled.

I can see why a lot os people didn't like this as a sequel but I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and felt it was a honourable continuation of both plot and themes.

(GOD and he knows how to write a thrilling ending. Gory Damn.)

For the girlies who loved The Hunger Games at 13, Red Rising is the spiritual sucessor for an adult audience, with a dystopian society who brutalizes their young.

And I mean *brutalizes*. This book is dripping blood and violence and I swallowed it up. And the best part is that it does it all without it just being meaningless action. All the bloodshed only reinforces the themes of how far you should go for change and how cruelty is banalized for the status quo.

Darrow is an incredible main character and the narrator for the audiobook makes his pov come alive. It's filled with emotion and compassion without painting him a flawless hero.

Overall, Red Rising was one of my best reads of the year and definitely got the spot as my favourite dystopias ever.