madieanne's Reviews (337)

oh my GOD!! you people weren’t lying when you said this is one of the best sequels ever written. 

packed with action, catching fire was brutal and intense. it was honestly hard to read at times, but i could not, for the life of me, stop reading. 

nobody writes a spooky gothic atmosphere like hannah whitten!!

the foxglove king has been on my radar for a few years now, and i’m so glad i finally picked it up! i read whitten’s wilderwood duology a few years back and loved it, so it’s no surprise i enjoyed this one too. 

the knight and the butcherbird is my favorite work of harrow’s by a landslide. if you’re looking for a beautiful short story, pick this up!

despite being right up my alley, it took me years to read the hunger games. published in 2008, nearly 17 years ago, the book has maintained its relevance amidst societal changes. i feel that now, especially considering the world’s current political climate, is the perfect time to read this book.

it's safe to say i’m not impressed. i liked the narration, but that’s about it.

where do i even begin? i have never read a book like city of nightmares, and i mean that as a compliment and an insult. 

the first 40% was fucking hilarious. the lore surrounding the city of newham and its citizens cracked me up. with simple yet vivid imagery, it was easy to dive right into the world. 

ness, the main character, was a massive wuss, and i found her character incredibly refreshing initially. but then i hit the 50% mark and ness’ inability to function properly under most circumstances became annoying. her internal monologue was very repetitive. like, i get it! you’re a coward and all you care about is your safe space! i don’t need a reminder every few paragraphs.

city of nightmares is a unique read, but i don’t see myself picking up the sequel any time soon.

while the first 30% was promising, the subsequent 70% left a sour taste in my mouth. 

please check TW’s before reading.

“sicknesses of the mind are viewed with a shame not associated with illnesses of the body, but isn't the brain an organ like the heart or lungs? people will shun an insane person more than they would someone with plague, which is ironic. madness isn't catching like a cough.“

i had incredibly high hopes for blood and moonlight. while it didn’t meet my expectations in some areas, it ended up surprising me in ways i did not expect.

what surprised me most about this story was the mental health rep. erin beaty handled topics such as schizophrenia and the stigma surrounding mental illness with respect and grace. in my experience, it’s rare to find fantasy books that tackle these issues, and as a mental health advocate, i appreciated the manner in which beaty highlighted these issues.

the fast-paced plot kept me intrigued, though it was a tad predictable. i figured out the killer within the first few chapters, but the story was no less thrilling. i also found the atmosphere to be lacking. blood and moonlight is marketed as a medieval fantasy, but the dialogue and world-building came across as very modern.

the romance between cat and simon was tender and sweet. i loved them together, and i can’t wait to see what they do in the second installment.

blood and moonlight was a solid read, and i will be picking up more books from the author in the future. 

“maybe the shame would go away if people were just honest. then mental affliction would be considered no stranger than swollen joints or digestion problems, and could be accommodated with the same compassion…”

am i missing something? 

there are so many rave reviews, and while the writing is undoubtedly gorgeous, that’s the only thing this short story has to offer. the six deaths of the saint is lacking in every other area. 

beautiful message and a unique concept, but a not so great execution. 

a mind-blowingly brilliant conclusion to the wayward pines trilogy!!

the last town was an action-packed, emotional rollercoaster from page one. i was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down. 

the character growth in the last town was phenomenal. while reading the first two books, i was conflicted about ethan’s character. i honestly wasn’t sure if he would redeem himself in the final installment, but i was pleasantly surprised! 

i couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion to one of my all-time favorite trilogies!