This was a wonderful wrap-up to the trilogy. There were times when I was very frustrated with Bitterblue's character and how she handled things, but taking a step back and looking at her situation, I think the author's writing was very realistic. A young girl, dealing with tons of personal/family issues while also trying to heal a whole country...no wonder at times she acted immature and complain-y. Overall though, I enjoyed the book. My favorite characters were all back, plus the introduction of some great new ones. I think the way this author touches on many different types of relationships, and the inherent issues in each, is so impressive. It also makes for a deeper read, if that's what you are looking for. Also, the combination of the two previous "companion" novels at the end of this one was masterfully handled. And I truly loved the idea of a trilogy that was not linear...such an original concept!

There are a couple things about this book that weren't my favorite: too much repetition of love/trust drama that really doesn't develop enough and Tris' inability to hold/use a gun (that while a completely realistic situation, is mentioned just a few too many times). However, those things honestly pale in comparison to the world the author has created here. It is so well developed, so much background and detail and character interplay in one young adult novel that I am beyond impressed. I never wanted to put the book down and would have read it all at once if life didn't get in the way. The story itself is fantastic and the idea behind it is scarily possible. I also enjoy that the author has made it realistic...there are many character flaws and people actually die, even the ones you like. And the reveal at the end of this book is so cool: the same kinds of flaws that caused the faction experiment to begin with have cropped up again in the people who are not "Divergent" (which now just seems a very awesome label for people who can see things from more than one point of view...something our world could really use more of). So smart and intelligently written.

It is so impressive to me that she can write so many pages following the daily lives of these same characters and make it so interesting to read. Admittedly, people keep getting added, etc. but still. Of course, there are the slower parts and the parts that seem unusually action filled to all be in the same people's lifetimes, but overall just wow. She really doesn't cease to amaze. I love every second reading this book. And even sharing Jamie and Claire's spotlight with Roger and Bree is not raining on the amazing storytelling. On a side note, I am super glad Young Ian is back. And the closing line of this book is by far ones of my favorites that I have ever read.

I quite enjoyed this retelling of Pride and Prejudice. It is true, though I had never really thought about it, how little we actually see of Darcy in Austen's book. We have no idea what his thoughts were or how he changed his mind about Elizabeth, etc. I think that the author did a wonderful job writing from his point of view and working on his character transformation, particularly regarding women and social station. The author nailed what I would call the "turning point" in Darcy and using his sister as the catalyst/helping character for that was genius. I respected also her use of some of the original dialogue between the characters as well as some new bits of her own that seamlessly fit in. Overall, a great spin-off.

I love the Romanovs. I always have. And I have always through Rasputin was a fascinating personality. But for some reason I never thought to look past his surface, so I was very surprised to hear he had a family...and daughters! Silly to think that he wouldn't have, but there you go. This story was incredibly well thought out and researched and I very much enjoyed reading it. Maria, as a character, was so real. The conflict of loving her father but at the same time becoming disillusioned with him was portrayed wonderfully. And the entire story-line that included Sasha, their meeting, first betrayal, love, second betrayal and the ending (where I would like to believe you saw his true feelings) were all well mixed drama and romanticism. And it was also super interesting to read about what happened to all the characters after the revolution...Maria led a crazy life after her father's death! And the implication that she stole the files on the reality of Rasputin's death was both a fun ending and very thought-provoking. Very fun and well done.

I always enjoy Philippa Gregory's books. Wonderful mixes of history, war, love and ambition told in a very fast paced, easy to swallow, way. This is the first time I have read anything that isn't directly about the Tudors though, who I am obsessed with, so it was super interesting to read this novel that I didn't already know the story for. I, of course, have looked up more about Elizabeth Woodville and her family and sons (I can't believe I had never heard such a juicy story about feudal England as the mystery of her sons in the Tower!) since finishing and I think the author had a great mix of facts mixed with her own interpretations and a wonderful sprinkling of witchcraft (which I also love). Overall, very fun to read historical fiction.

A wonderful sequel to the heartbreaking Bronze Horseman. I thought the story was slightly choppier than it could have been since it began with telling Alexander's story from the beginning, mixed with his present time story and Tatiana's present story, as well as flashbacks from both of them to their time together. It was a lot to take in. However, yet again the author writes these two characters in such an amazing way. Their love for each other, their fights to be reunited and their struggles separately as well. The demons of their past as well as their future. All mixed in with the realities of time spent apart and how to handle such a love as theirs without knowledge that the other is even alive. I feel like these characters and their love come alive for me and it was excruciating to only be able to read so fast. The supporting characters in this novel were, in my opinion, not quite as good as those from the first...but in the end everything pales before A and T anyways. I cried from joy at the ending and cannot wait to see where their story takes them now.