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heartbrekker's Reviews (797)
When you realize that once you tried to ignore the thoughts in your head that this relationship was toxic because other people didn't agree, and now you've come back to it and cannot hold back. The toxicity and uncomfortableness in this book is utterly real.
First off I'm so thankful to Lauren for sending me this arc in a trade because after the publishers emailed me saying they had no more physical arcs, I was basically devastated. BUT NOW THAT IS CHANGED AND YOU GUYS DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK. Words always seem to fail me on my favorite reads. They never fully convey my feels, but I'm gonna try!
.
#1 I just gotta mention how PERFECTLY COHESIVE VR and RR are- I'm not gonna talk about it much because spoilers, but when we see familiar faces and the convergence in the two tales.. I basically was a screaming, squawking, fangirl mess!
#2 REECE MURPHY DESERVES THE WORLD AND MORE! OH HOW MY BABY WAS SUFFERIN SO MUCH!
#3 ERIN BOWMAN'S QUOTE GAME AND COMMENTARY HAVE MOVED TO NEW LENGTHS, AND I AM ON THE GROUND DEAD AT THE GLORIOUSNESS OF THEM ALL!
.
Examples:
"It is fear that fosters silence, that breeds ignorance, that causes half-truths to be printed over fact. It is fear that has kept me dutiful so far. No more"
🏜
"I won't be a journalist today, I'll be a writer of fiction. I'll deal in whispers and sensations and legends."
🛤
'"Now what's the [SPOILERS!] name?"
"Funny," she says, "but I don't feel all that inclined to help you further. Perhaps you should have asked that before shutting me back in my cage."
"What's [the] name Charlotte?"
"Don't call me that."
"What's [the] g*****n name?"
Silence.'
💥
"All right, Charlotte Vaughn. If you say so." [This quote has much more to do with just MY FEELS!]
🐎
Now I have loved the Wild West since I was a little girl, and Erin Bowman has always held a special place in my heart. You can tell how much research she does because all of it seems as realistic as a textbook.
.
I also love that she adds in strong female protagonists. In the first book Kate showed her strength in her cunning intelligence (though stubborn she may have been) and other worldly aim, and now in the second book, I love the contrast to where the main female isn't great with a shot. She rather wishes to be a journalist and proves her strength through her attitude and words. Charlotte and Kate both don't conform to the barriers women of their time so often dealt with (they both do it differently as well!), and while they're women in westerns that fit these descriptions, they're a tremendous amount who fit the "dutiful" female role. I ultimately just loved both of these protagonists and what they stood for.
.
Also I just LOVED Reece! My lil' baby was suffering the whole entire time, and I just wanted to envelope him in a hug of protection. He was really adorable and hysterical. His commentary with Charlotte was AMAZING, and I applaud everything about their interaction and tension!
.
I also loved the contrast in the setting of both books. Erin brushes upon this in her authors note, but you really see the difference in the 10 years separating these two books.
The train aspect gave me chills because it was first off new to the story and then reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows Hell on Wheels, and I just felt completely nostalgic from that. The time changes were perfectly done, and I applaud Erin Bowman.
.
Anyway, Retribution Rails releases November 7, 2017, and y'all best believe I'll be waiting by my mailbox for my preorder! Though before that I'll be meeting Erin Bowman at TX Teen Book Festival, so you know I'll be thanking her in person for her western tales! But pick RR and the preceding book VR up because you guys won't regret it!
.
#1 I just gotta mention how PERFECTLY COHESIVE VR and RR are- I'm not gonna talk about it much because spoilers, but when we see familiar faces and the convergence in the two tales.. I basically was a screaming, squawking, fangirl mess!
#2 REECE MURPHY DESERVES THE WORLD AND MORE! OH HOW MY BABY WAS SUFFERIN SO MUCH!
#3 ERIN BOWMAN'S QUOTE GAME AND COMMENTARY HAVE MOVED TO NEW LENGTHS, AND I AM ON THE GROUND DEAD AT THE GLORIOUSNESS OF THEM ALL!
.
Examples:
"It is fear that fosters silence, that breeds ignorance, that causes half-truths to be printed over fact. It is fear that has kept me dutiful so far. No more"
🏜
"I won't be a journalist today, I'll be a writer of fiction. I'll deal in whispers and sensations and legends."
🛤
'"Now what's the [SPOILERS!] name?"
"Funny," she says, "but I don't feel all that inclined to help you further. Perhaps you should have asked that before shutting me back in my cage."
"What's [the] name Charlotte?"
"Don't call me that."
"What's [the] g*****n name?"
Silence.'
💥
"All right, Charlotte Vaughn. If you say so." [This quote has much more to do with just MY FEELS!]
🐎
Now I have loved the Wild West since I was a little girl, and Erin Bowman has always held a special place in my heart. You can tell how much research she does because all of it seems as realistic as a textbook.
.
I also love that she adds in strong female protagonists. In the first book Kate showed her strength in her cunning intelligence (though stubborn she may have been) and other worldly aim, and now in the second book, I love the contrast to where the main female isn't great with a shot. She rather wishes to be a journalist and proves her strength through her attitude and words. Charlotte and Kate both don't conform to the barriers women of their time so often dealt with (they both do it differently as well!), and while they're women in westerns that fit these descriptions, they're a tremendous amount who fit the "dutiful" female role. I ultimately just loved both of these protagonists and what they stood for.
.
Also I just LOVED Reece! My lil' baby was suffering the whole entire time, and I just wanted to envelope him in a hug of protection. He was really adorable and hysterical. His commentary with Charlotte was AMAZING, and I applaud everything about their interaction and tension!
.
I also loved the contrast in the setting of both books. Erin brushes upon this in her authors note, but you really see the difference in the 10 years separating these two books.
The train aspect gave me chills because it was first off new to the story and then reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows Hell on Wheels, and I just felt completely nostalgic from that. The time changes were perfectly done, and I applaud Erin Bowman.
.
Anyway, Retribution Rails releases November 7, 2017, and y'all best believe I'll be waiting by my mailbox for my preorder! Though before that I'll be meeting Erin Bowman at TX Teen Book Festival, so you know I'll be thanking her in person for her western tales! But pick RR and the preceding book VR up because you guys won't regret it!
“Legend was the sort of wool that people willingly pulled over their eyes especially when it came to heroes.”
I absolutely ADORED this debut. I still cannot believe all its twists and turns. They were fantastic!
Hesina is a wonderful protagonist just trying to obtain answers and find her way to rule in court. She has a strained relationship with her brother, which was one of the shining stars for me while reading. There’s this stereotype in royalty that siblings will stab the other in the back, and I loved seeing Joan play with this idea whether she intentionally did or not.
The sibling advisors/ friends to Hesina, Lilian and Cayian, were another aspect that really left me scratching my chin. They both are such contradictories in and of themselves, and their love for each other and this kingdom is wild. Frankly, there’s so many avenues I could go down to talk about them, but alas, I can’t because that’d mean spoilers.
Now there is a divide in the culture between soothsayers and non-soothsayers. There is this intense hatred towards them, and it is very reminiscent in my eyes of witches in western culture (aka burning). It’s hard to witness, especially in Hesina’s POV, because she’s sympathetic to them. She tries her hardest to help and do what’s right, but she also cannot support them fully because many in her court and country despise them. It’s a main point of contention in the politics of this world, and it’s interesting to watch Hesina navigate it. Again, she tries her hardest to help, but there’s only so much a ruler can do since their hands are tied in politics.
Also I just need to put in here that the character Akira is wonderful. One of my favorite parts to this story will forever be him in the courthouse, and no, I’m not giving anymore context than THAT.
A few more things about this story is that Joan has an easy and beautiful writing style. By easy I mean you move through it like water. There’s no real bumps that make it awkward, and being a huge pace lover, I was content.
I think the plot twists will catch a few off guard. I certainly didn’t see any of them coming until right before or in the moment. They’re well thought out and add intense new qualities to the story. They’re game changers and good ones at that! There’s a part of me that really wants a prequel all about those who usurped the original royalty a thousand (I think?) years ago.
Something I actually loved about this novel is that Hesina is constantly growing. In the ARC I read, there’s this quote about wielding a knife, and over the course of the novel her opinion about it eventually changes. She truly goes through a whirlwind of character growth.
Now the only reason I knocked my original 5 star to 4.5 is because I haven’t really thought about this story too much after the fact.
P.S. JOAN HAS GREAT QUOTE GAME! Ughh I can’t BEGIN to tell y’all how many times I screeched at her powerful and beautiful quotes. I have a whole notes section dedicated to them.
Thank you to Joan He for a digital ARC, and then Albert Whitman for a physical one. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I absolutely ADORED this debut. I still cannot believe all its twists and turns. They were fantastic!
Hesina is a wonderful protagonist just trying to obtain answers and find her way to rule in court. She has a strained relationship with her brother, which was one of the shining stars for me while reading. There’s this stereotype in royalty that siblings will stab the other in the back, and I loved seeing Joan play with this idea whether she intentionally did or not.
The sibling advisors/ friends to Hesina, Lilian and Cayian, were another aspect that really left me scratching my chin. They both are such contradictories in and of themselves, and their love for each other and this kingdom is wild. Frankly, there’s so many avenues I could go down to talk about them, but alas, I can’t because that’d mean spoilers.
Now there is a divide in the culture between soothsayers and non-soothsayers. There is this intense hatred towards them, and it is very reminiscent in my eyes of witches in western culture (aka burning). It’s hard to witness, especially in Hesina’s POV, because she’s sympathetic to them. She tries her hardest to help and do what’s right, but she also cannot support them fully because many in her court and country despise them. It’s a main point of contention in the politics of this world, and it’s interesting to watch Hesina navigate it. Again, she tries her hardest to help, but there’s only so much a ruler can do since their hands are tied in politics.
Also I just need to put in here that the character Akira is wonderful. One of my favorite parts to this story will forever be him in the courthouse, and no, I’m not giving anymore context than THAT.
A few more things about this story is that Joan has an easy and beautiful writing style. By easy I mean you move through it like water. There’s no real bumps that make it awkward, and being a huge pace lover, I was content.
I think the plot twists will catch a few off guard. I certainly didn’t see any of them coming until right before or in the moment. They’re well thought out and add intense new qualities to the story. They’re game changers and good ones at that! There’s a part of me that really wants a prequel all about those who usurped the original royalty a thousand (I think?) years ago.
Something I actually loved about this novel is that Hesina is constantly growing. In the ARC I read, there’s this quote about wielding a knife, and over the course of the novel her opinion about it eventually changes. She truly goes through a whirlwind of character growth.
Now the only reason I knocked my original 5 star to 4.5 is because I haven’t really thought about this story too much after the fact.
P.S. JOAN HAS GREAT QUOTE GAME! Ughh I can’t BEGIN to tell y’all how many times I screeched at her powerful and beautiful quotes. I have a whole notes section dedicated to them.
Thank you to Joan He for a digital ARC, and then Albert Whitman for a physical one. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
1.75-2??
The story was enjoyable, but it didn't live up to the hype that everyone has for it, which is upsetting. Though I am super excited to start DOTSQ.
Edit: I DNFed DOTSQ. WHOOPS.
The story was enjoyable, but it didn't live up to the hype that everyone has for it, which is upsetting. Though I am super excited to start DOTSQ.
Edit: I DNFed DOTSQ. WHOOPS.
4.25
The first thing I'm going to say about this story is that I LOVED it. Second thing I'm going to say about this story is that it is not a light hearted fantasy in the slightest. Gaughen tackles a lot of intense topics like rape, abusive relationships, genocide, etc. in this book.
I think some reviewers have given it a lesser rating because they weren't ready to handle these topics since they didn't know anything about this book besides the synopsis.
I, on the other hand, knew of the more intense topics, and I thought this book was extremely well done. Shalia is a very different protagonist that we're usually subject to. She reminded me a lot of the strong women in history who would be forced to marry in a relationship and then have no power. Shalia was basically thrust into a new world where she had no allies, no friends, and no one to truly help her adjust to this new life.
You could say she was in a den full of lions in a sense.
Though I loved how she had to take her strength and power in other ways that I've never seen done in YA really at all. It was really refreshing!
I think my favorite aspect of the story was the relationships between characters- specifically Shalia and her brother Kairos. I'm not going into too much detail, but the emphasis on their relationship in this story just really left my heart feeling warm or my thoughts on my own older brother. The book is also dedicated to Gaughen's brother, and it only makes me happier because you can tell that Kairos and Shalia's relationship is truly a centerpiece to this story.
I really want to talk about the entrancing plot, but I think I'd end up spoiling it in all honesty- THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES DOWNNN.
They're a few slow parts, but I enjoyed them since it was necessary, in my opinion, to the flow and plot of the novel.
The first thing I'm going to say about this story is that I LOVED it. Second thing I'm going to say about this story is that it is not a light hearted fantasy in the slightest. Gaughen tackles a lot of intense topics like rape, abusive relationships, genocide, etc. in this book.
I think some reviewers have given it a lesser rating because they weren't ready to handle these topics since they didn't know anything about this book besides the synopsis.
I, on the other hand, knew of the more intense topics, and I thought this book was extremely well done. Shalia is a very different protagonist that we're usually subject to. She reminded me a lot of the strong women in history who would be forced to marry in a relationship and then have no power. Shalia was basically thrust into a new world where she had no allies, no friends, and no one to truly help her adjust to this new life.
You could say she was in a den full of lions in a sense.
Though I loved how she had to take her strength and power in other ways that I've never seen done in YA really at all. It was really refreshing!
I think my favorite aspect of the story was the relationships between characters- specifically Shalia and her brother Kairos. I'm not going into too much detail, but the emphasis on their relationship in this story just really left my heart feeling warm or my thoughts on my own older brother. The book is also dedicated to Gaughen's brother, and it only makes me happier because you can tell that Kairos and Shalia's relationship is truly a centerpiece to this story.
I really want to talk about the entrancing plot, but I think I'd end up spoiling it in all honesty- THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES DOWNNN.
They're a few slow parts, but I enjoyed them since it was necessary, in my opinion, to the flow and plot of the novel.
I want to begin this review by stating I believe I found my favorite book of the year, and its name is COBAB.
It’s been a while since I’ve become as obsessed with a book as COBAB. Not only was the writing completely up my alley in description, humor, and pacing, but it also had one of the best casts I’ve read about in a while.
Zélie was incredible. I mean, yes, she is a tad bit irrational and spontaneous, especially when you compare her to Tzain or Amari, but I loved that about her. She has values and a temper, and you really see her passion for her beliefs and ideals. Specifically in the end, I found her to be incredibly powerful. Her storyline really is just hard to read sometimes due to her experiences, and Tomi is able to mesh this fantasy world with real life struggles in our day and age. Especially after reading Heart of Darkness in my English class, COBAB really hit me as one of severe importance.
Now the POV of an internally struggling boy named Inan just- GUYS I CANNOT SPEAK OF THIS BOY WITHOUT SPOILERS BECAUSE HE IS MY FAVORITE BUT HE BRINGS SO MUCH PAIN AND HE IS IN SO MUCH PAIN AND LIKE I WANNA BE EDNA IN THE INCREDIBLES AND SLAP HIM WITH A NEWSPAPER LIKE YES YOU ARE VERY CONFUSED AND STRUGGLING ON WHAT TO BELIEVE BUT BOY JUST AHHHHHHH!!!!
If the line above is any indication- I love Inan’s character to death mostly because of the struggles he delves into. He isn’t a character readers will agree with many times, but his role in this story just really took me by surprise. Inan is honestly my favorite character even though he made me wanna scream and pull out my hair, but those characters are sometimes the one’s who leave the greatest imprint.
Lastly, I’m not going to talk about this much, but the story mostly follows incredible racism/ basically genocide against a group of people. Some people may find certain parts very hard to read, but I personally found them powerful and enlightening for lack of a better word.
Amari’s character growth was by far my favorite and also the absolute best. I went from moderately enjoying her POV to screaming from the rooftops for more. Amari is such an important figure and symbol within this story for so many reason.
Edit: I’m not sure if I agree with everything I previously said in this review. I really did enjoy it 110% at the time, but years later I’m just a different person with different tastes.
It’s been a while since I’ve become as obsessed with a book as COBAB. Not only was the writing completely up my alley in description, humor, and pacing, but it also had one of the best casts I’ve read about in a while.
Zélie was incredible. I mean, yes, she is a tad bit irrational and spontaneous, especially when you compare her to Tzain or Amari, but I loved that about her. She has values and a temper, and you really see her passion for her beliefs and ideals. Specifically in the end, I found her to be incredibly powerful. Her storyline really is just hard to read sometimes due to her experiences, and Tomi is able to mesh this fantasy world with real life struggles in our day and age. Especially after reading Heart of Darkness in my English class, COBAB really hit me as one of severe importance.
Now the POV of an internally struggling boy named Inan just- GUYS I CANNOT SPEAK OF THIS BOY WITHOUT SPOILERS BECAUSE HE IS MY FAVORITE BUT HE BRINGS SO MUCH PAIN AND HE IS IN SO MUCH PAIN AND LIKE I WANNA BE EDNA IN THE INCREDIBLES AND SLAP HIM WITH A NEWSPAPER LIKE YES YOU ARE VERY CONFUSED AND STRUGGLING ON WHAT TO BELIEVE BUT BOY JUST AHHHHHHH!!!!
If the line above is any indication- I love Inan’s character to death mostly because of the struggles he delves into. He isn’t a character readers will agree with many times, but his role in this story just really took me by surprise. Inan is honestly my favorite character even though he made me wanna scream and pull out my hair, but those characters are sometimes the one’s who leave the greatest imprint.
Lastly, I’m not going to talk about this much, but the story mostly follows incredible racism/ basically genocide against a group of people. Some people may find certain parts very hard to read, but I personally found them powerful and enlightening for lack of a better word.
Amari’s character growth was by far my favorite and also the absolute best. I went from moderately enjoying her POV to screaming from the rooftops for more. Amari is such an important figure and symbol within this story for so many reason.
Edit: I’m not sure if I agree with everything I previously said in this review. I really did enjoy it 110% at the time, but years later I’m just a different person with different tastes.