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"Flotsam! Jetsam! I want you to keep an extra-close watch on this pretty little daughter of his. She may be the key to Triton’s undoing…." ~ [b:Poor Unfortunate Soul: A Tale of the Sea Witch|27416133|Poor Unfortunate Soul A Tale of the Sea Witch|Serena Valentino|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1457203717l/27416133._SX50_.jpg|47465201]
3.5 stars
Ursula's backstory is definitely more vivid and developed compared to the Evil Queen's in [b:Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen|6124802|Fairest of All A Tale of the Wicked Queen|Serena Valentino|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360570756l/6124802._SX50_.jpg|6303264]. Ursula's relationship with Triton is so complex and interesting; I can totally see him being a controlling, patriarchal ruler. I actually admire what Ursula did with her life: she becomes a businesswoman and goes after everything she wants. Honestly, if it wasn't for her deadly contracts, I would've called her a heroine. There is just enough balance between Ursula's backstory and Ariel's adventure. The only issue I have with this series is that, even though all the worldbuilding is fascinating, there are SO. MANY. CHARACTERS. It's easy to keep track of the classic heroes and villains, such as Ursula and Ariel in this book, but then there are the Odd Sisters, the Nanny, the princes, Princess Tulip, etc. Plus, the Nanny ends up having another name! Since all the characters appear in multiple books, I have to keep Googling all their backstories and motivations. I think it's an unnecessary complication for a middle-grade book series.
Final thoughts:
- I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves reading fairytale retellings. If you're someone who loves anti-heroes and villains in Disney movies, these books are great reads! There are just enough pages for you to become invested in the story.
- This is one of those series where it's important to read the books in order. I accidentally started out of order and I'm still confused.
3.5 stars
Ursula's backstory is definitely more vivid and developed compared to the Evil Queen's in [b:Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen|6124802|Fairest of All A Tale of the Wicked Queen|Serena Valentino|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360570756l/6124802._SX50_.jpg|6303264]. Ursula's relationship with Triton is so complex and interesting; I can totally see him being a controlling, patriarchal ruler. I actually admire what Ursula did with her life: she becomes a businesswoman and goes after everything she wants. Honestly, if it wasn't for her deadly contracts, I would've called her a heroine. There is just enough balance between Ursula's backstory and Ariel's adventure. The only issue I have with this series is that, even though all the worldbuilding is fascinating, there are SO. MANY. CHARACTERS. It's easy to keep track of the classic heroes and villains, such as Ursula and Ariel in this book, but then there are the Odd Sisters, the Nanny, the princes, Princess Tulip, etc. Plus, the Nanny ends up having another name! Since all the characters appear in multiple books, I have to keep Googling all their backstories and motivations. I think it's an unnecessary complication for a middle-grade book series.
Final thoughts:
- I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves reading fairytale retellings. If you're someone who loves anti-heroes and villains in Disney movies, these books are great reads! There are just enough pages for you to become invested in the story.
- This is one of those series where it's important to read the books in order. I accidentally started out of order and I'm still confused.
One of my favorite books of 2020 so far!
5 STARS ALL THE WAY!!!!
This novel is a retelling of the classic [a:Jane Austen|1265|Jane Austen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588941810p2/1265.jpg] novel [b:Persuasion|2156|Persuasion|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385172413l/2156._SY75_.jpg|2534720]. [a:Alexa Donne|16817128|Alexa Donne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1493943389p2/16817128.jpg] does a fantastic job making subtle, sometimes not so subtle, references to Austen's novel. The obvious references are the characters' names matching up. One of the main characters is named Captain Eliot Wentworth, a nod to Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth in the original novel. It was so much fun to read through this book and find all the subtle references. When Evy almost falls and hits her head, it reminds me of when Louisa hit her head in Austen's novel. Also, there's a beautiful letter written to our heroine, a nod to one of Wentworth's most famous acts in "Persuasion." Overall Donne did a phenomenal job in writing a retelling and reinventing the story.
My favorite aspect of this retelling was how Donne incorporated modern life into the novel. Specifically, there are themes of sexism, body shaming, classism, and the struggles of lgbtq+ characters. Our main heroine, Leo, struggles to work in a world of men. In one profound scene early on in the book, Leo is body-shamed publicly and by someone she trusts. It's a brutal moment, but one of my favorites because I related to it. Even today with more relatable female characters in books and movies, it's rare for there to be a plus-sized or just medium-sized female character. I love that Leo is still depicted as beautiful and that there isn't one perfect beauty standard.
This novel also has FANTASTIC LGBTQ+ CHARACTERS! Evy, one of the best characters in the book, is looking for a woman while everyone else is looking for a husband. I love how quick she is to question heteronormative ideas. My favorite character is absolutely Daniel Turan. With Daniel, Donne creates a realistic and endearing portrayal of an asexual person. As someone who is asexual, Daniel's character resonated strongly with me. When he shares his feelings and thoughts with Leo, I found myself saying: that's exactly what I think! Asexual representation in books and media is so important because I've read all of three books with asexual characters, so there's hardly any representation out there.
As a small note, I am impressed with Carina's character arc. She is the opposite of her sister Leo; Carina is outgoing, bubbly, flirtatious, and extroverted. Since Carina has so much confidence, she tends to act selfishly. I really didn't think Carina cared about Leo until Leo sat down with her sister and told her everything. That was such a beautiful and moving scene. I got the feeling that Carina really understood what she had done wrong. From there on, Carina uses her confidence to boost up her sister and be her friend. An excellent example of women supporting women!
Final thoughts: the ending came as a complete shock. There were a few plot twists I didn't see coming! I was sad to have the book over so quickly and I kinda wish there was a sequel because I'm not ready to say goodbye to these characters! Not everything in the plot was wrapped up, specifically the peaceful protest plot. It was so important when it was first mentioned and then it disappeared??? I think a rebelling lower class would have made for prime plot filler! I actually thought the protestors were going to be the main focus of the novel because of how important they seemed at the time. This was the only issue I had with the plot.
5 STARS ALL THE WAY!!!!
This novel is a retelling of the classic [a:Jane Austen|1265|Jane Austen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588941810p2/1265.jpg] novel [b:Persuasion|2156|Persuasion|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385172413l/2156._SY75_.jpg|2534720]. [a:Alexa Donne|16817128|Alexa Donne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1493943389p2/16817128.jpg] does a fantastic job making subtle, sometimes not so subtle, references to Austen's novel. The obvious references are the characters' names matching up. One of the main characters is named Captain Eliot Wentworth, a nod to Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth in the original novel. It was so much fun to read through this book and find all the subtle references. When Evy almost falls and hits her head, it reminds me of when Louisa hit her head in Austen's novel. Also, there's a beautiful letter written to our heroine, a nod to one of Wentworth's most famous acts in "Persuasion." Overall Donne did a phenomenal job in writing a retelling and reinventing the story.
My favorite aspect of this retelling was how Donne incorporated modern life into the novel. Specifically, there are themes of sexism, body shaming, classism, and the struggles of lgbtq+ characters. Our main heroine, Leo, struggles to work in a world of men. In one profound scene early on in the book, Leo is body-shamed publicly and by someone she trusts. It's a brutal moment, but one of my favorites because I related to it. Even today with more relatable female characters in books and movies, it's rare for there to be a plus-sized or just medium-sized female character. I love that Leo is still depicted as beautiful and that there isn't one perfect beauty standard.
This novel also has FANTASTIC LGBTQ+ CHARACTERS! Evy, one of the best characters in the book, is looking for a woman while everyone else is looking for a husband. I love how quick she is to question heteronormative ideas. My favorite character is absolutely Daniel Turan. With Daniel, Donne creates a realistic and endearing portrayal of an asexual person. As someone who is asexual, Daniel's character resonated strongly with me. When he shares his feelings and thoughts with Leo, I found myself saying: that's exactly what I think! Asexual representation in books and media is so important because I've read all of three books with asexual characters, so there's hardly any representation out there.
As a small note, I am impressed with Carina's character arc. She is the opposite of her sister Leo; Carina is outgoing, bubbly, flirtatious, and extroverted. Since Carina has so much confidence, she tends to act selfishly. I really didn't think Carina cared about Leo until Leo sat down with her sister and told her everything. That was such a beautiful and moving scene. I got the feeling that Carina really understood what she had done wrong. From there on, Carina uses her confidence to boost up her sister and be her friend. An excellent example of women supporting women!
Final thoughts: the ending came as a complete shock. There were a few plot twists I didn't see coming! I was sad to have the book over so quickly and I kinda wish there was a sequel because I'm not ready to say goodbye to these characters! Not everything in the plot was wrapped up, specifically the peaceful protest plot. It was so important when it was first mentioned and then it disappeared??? I think a rebelling lower class would have made for prime plot filler! I actually thought the protestors were going to be the main focus of the novel because of how important they seemed at the time. This was the only issue I had with the plot.
This is an ARC book review provided by NetGalley.
"Cogsworth raised his brow. 'I do not think an agent of the revolution would pass Mrs. Potts's scrutiny nor meet her standards.'" ~ [b:The Queen's Council Rebel Rose|52277788|The Queen's Council Rebel Rose (The Queen's Council, #1)|Emma Theriault|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1586961159l/52277788._SY75_.jpg|73626965]
4.5 stars
I can't wait for November 2020 when everyone will be discussing this lovely new book! [a:Emma Theriault|19616334|Emma Theriault|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1570490045p2/19616334.jpg] did a magical job with this retelling. Theriault neatly weaves her own story into the "Beauty and the Beast" classic. The writing is eloquent, imaginative, gorgeous, and wholly impressive. The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is because I wish there would be a sequel and I wanted the book to be even longer! However, there is something to be said for an impressive standalone novel, those are pretty rare. Some of my favorite aspects of this novel was Belle and Adam's relationship, the worldbuilding of Aveyon, the incorporation of magic, the diverse characters, and the nods to the Disney classic.
Okay, I have to start with Belle and Adam's relationship. Their dynamic is GOALS! Theriault depicted the couple's relationship exactly as I imagined it would be post-curse. Belle and the Beast are my favorite Disney couple so I had high expectations. Theriault did not disappoint! Adam is so supportive and thoughtful, even when Belle and he don't agree on everything. They balance each other out so well! #couplegoals Also, I loved how Theriault handled worldbuilding in this novel. The castle and the village from the original Disney movie were explored more and in great depth. I could picture every little location clearly in my head. The background of the curse and how magic continued to be present in this novel was another wonderful part of the plot. The scenes between Belle and the enchantress were so intriguing! This book explored so many unexpected aspects of the original "Beauty and the Beast" tale.
The moments that made me emotional was whenever Belle or another character references their past. Belle and Adam deal with their mental health issues post-curse, Belle has a heart-to-heart talk with Mrs. Potts about how to be strong and even LeFou showing up in the last 100 pages was exciting. Speaking of LeFou, I love how his new story turns out; even better than I expected! One final thought: I respect the way Theriault included a diverse cast of characters in this story. One of the new characters we meet is black and gay and beautiful! In this case, the new character comes out and the other characters treat the situation like its no big deal. This was handled so well; their identity was acknowledged and then the character went back to their work and doing what they loved. There are several other new characters with a similar situation, and this was an added bonus to an already magnificent novel.
"Cogsworth raised his brow. 'I do not think an agent of the revolution would pass Mrs. Potts's scrutiny nor meet her standards.'" ~ [b:The Queen's Council Rebel Rose|52277788|The Queen's Council Rebel Rose (The Queen's Council, #1)|Emma Theriault|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1586961159l/52277788._SY75_.jpg|73626965]
4.5 stars
I can't wait for November 2020 when everyone will be discussing this lovely new book! [a:Emma Theriault|19616334|Emma Theriault|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1570490045p2/19616334.jpg] did a magical job with this retelling. Theriault neatly weaves her own story into the "Beauty and the Beast" classic. The writing is eloquent, imaginative, gorgeous, and wholly impressive. The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is because I wish there would be a sequel and I wanted the book to be even longer! However, there is something to be said for an impressive standalone novel, those are pretty rare. Some of my favorite aspects of this novel was Belle and Adam's relationship, the worldbuilding of Aveyon, the incorporation of magic, the diverse characters, and the nods to the Disney classic.
Okay, I have to start with Belle and Adam's relationship. Their dynamic is GOALS! Theriault depicted the couple's relationship exactly as I imagined it would be post-curse. Belle and the Beast are my favorite Disney couple so I had high expectations. Theriault did not disappoint! Adam is so supportive and thoughtful, even when Belle and he don't agree on everything. They balance each other out so well! #couplegoals Also, I loved how Theriault handled worldbuilding in this novel. The castle and the village from the original Disney movie were explored more and in great depth. I could picture every little location clearly in my head. The background of the curse and how magic continued to be present in this novel was another wonderful part of the plot. The scenes between Belle and the enchantress were so intriguing! This book explored so many unexpected aspects of the original "Beauty and the Beast" tale.
The moments that made me emotional was whenever Belle or another character references their past. Belle and Adam deal with their mental health issues post-curse, Belle has a heart-to-heart talk with Mrs. Potts about how to be strong and even LeFou showing up in the last 100 pages was exciting. Speaking of LeFou, I love how his new story turns out; even better than I expected! One final thought: I respect the way Theriault included a diverse cast of characters in this story. One of the new characters we meet is black and gay and beautiful! In this case, the new character comes out and the other characters treat the situation like its no big deal. This was handled so well; their identity was acknowledged and then the character went back to their work and doing what they loved. There are several other new characters with a similar situation, and this was an added bonus to an already magnificent novel.
3.5 stars
"The palace underestimates the resourcefulness of women forced into a dark and dangerous place." ~ [b:Cinderella Is Dead|43900612|Cinderella Is Dead|Kalynn Bayron|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574698353l/43900612._SY75_.jpg|68309452]
This is one of the most anticipated YA novels of early 2020 AND THE HYPE HAS BEEN IMMENSE! It seems like everybody around me is reading this book. Since I was so excited about this novel, I tore through the book in a matter of hours. While this novel wasn't what I expected, it is a necessary read. Having diversity in all books is important, whether or not I enjoyed this one's plot.
I didn't realize how much of a dystopian book this was going to be...the reader knows right off the bat that it's supposed to take place 200 years after Cinderella's death, but that could be anytime. Honestly, since Cinderella is set so far back in time, I expected this book to be set in the 20th or 21st century. However, I didn't mind the dystopian themes in this novel as it was handled adeptly. The characters of Sophia and Constance won me over! I love their romantic relationship but I think their friendship is even better. Their personalities fit each other SO PERFECTLY and I'm happy Sophia finally found someone willing to pursue a relationship with her. I love feminist fairytale retellings, so how could I not love this book? It's all about women supporting women and equal rights for all genders.
I would've rated this book higher if not for the plot structure and writing style. Personally, the writing style wasn't for me. The writing was filled with too much mystery as if the reader was supposed to know the subtext of what every character was saying. For example, there's a scene near the end of the book when Sophia, Constance, and Amina start discussing the "Snow White" fairytale out of nowhere. They talked about it for more than a page which leads me to believe that this exchange was somehow important? All I can think of is that the author will be writing a "Snow White" retelling in the future.
The plot structure annoyed me at times. I had so many unanswered questions but instead of explaining more about how magic works in this world, the characters just hang out at Amina's house. It almost feels like the characters get too much time to bond and 50 pages are wasted with no plot. I prefer character growth over a fast-paced plot, but this book didn't have enough plot for me. Also, since Amina's character has a surprise in store for the reader at the end of the book, I don't see why the reader had to spend so much time at Amina's house after all. By the way, I thought it was weird that Sophia wasn't mentioned at all in the epilogue; after all, it is her book! While I had reasons to dislike this book, I will still recommend it to people. Overall it's only personal creative choices that I disliked. I have nothing to critique concerning the integrity of the story.
"The palace underestimates the resourcefulness of women forced into a dark and dangerous place." ~ [b:Cinderella Is Dead|43900612|Cinderella Is Dead|Kalynn Bayron|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574698353l/43900612._SY75_.jpg|68309452]
This is one of the most anticipated YA novels of early 2020 AND THE HYPE HAS BEEN IMMENSE! It seems like everybody around me is reading this book. Since I was so excited about this novel, I tore through the book in a matter of hours. While this novel wasn't what I expected, it is a necessary read. Having diversity in all books is important, whether or not I enjoyed this one's plot.
I didn't realize how much of a dystopian book this was going to be...the reader knows right off the bat that it's supposed to take place 200 years after Cinderella's death, but that could be anytime. Honestly, since Cinderella is set so far back in time, I expected this book to be set in the 20th or 21st century. However, I didn't mind the dystopian themes in this novel as it was handled adeptly. The characters of Sophia and Constance won me over! I love their romantic relationship but I think their friendship is even better. Their personalities fit each other SO PERFECTLY and I'm happy Sophia finally found someone willing to pursue a relationship with her. I love feminist fairytale retellings, so how could I not love this book? It's all about women supporting women and equal rights for all genders.
I would've rated this book higher if not for the plot structure and writing style. Personally, the writing style wasn't for me. The writing was filled with too much mystery as if the reader was supposed to know the subtext of what every character was saying. For example, there's a scene near the end of the book when Sophia, Constance, and Amina start discussing the "Snow White" fairytale out of nowhere. They talked about it for more than a page which leads me to believe that this exchange was somehow important? All I can think of is that the author will be writing a "Snow White" retelling in the future.
The plot structure annoyed me at times. I had so many unanswered questions but instead of explaining more about how magic works in this world, the characters just hang out at Amina's house. It almost feels like the characters get too much time to bond and 50 pages are wasted with no plot. I prefer character growth over a fast-paced plot, but this book didn't have enough plot for me. Also, since Amina's character has a surprise in store for the reader at the end of the book, I don't see why the reader had to spend so much time at Amina's house after all. By the way, I thought it was weird that Sophia wasn't mentioned at all in the epilogue; after all, it is her book! While I had reasons to dislike this book, I will still recommend it to people. Overall it's only personal creative choices that I disliked. I have nothing to critique concerning the integrity of the story.
3.5 stars
"Bring me to their cherished Rose
And bring this chapter to a close.
By smoke, by fire, and by night,
Touch the spindle I shall ignite.
Sleep will come to their fair Rose,
Forever trapped in her repose."
~ [b:Mistress of All Evil: A Tale of the Dark Fairy|34220302|Mistress of All Evil A Tale of the Dark Fairy (Villains #4)|Serena Valentino|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495803202l/34220302._SX50_.jpg|55271944]
While reading the other books in the Villains series I occasionally felt empathy for the villains. All of their backstories are tragic, especially Ursula's. However, I related to Maleficient the most. Her backstory reads like a feminist parable. Maleficient's only crime (initially) is that she's not fulfilling society's beauty standards. I credit Serena Valentino's writing because I wanted to pick a fight with the three Good Fairies by the end of this book. Honestly, they were the true villains of this story! I have no hard feelings toward Maleficient. All her *evil* deeds had a solid reason behind them. If anything, this novel has endeared me towards her as a character.
I was desperately hoping that Aurora would get a chance to use her powers! It was a disappointment when that storyline was scrapped. I understand that Aurora needed to be protected from herself, but by erasing her powers that she never got a chance to experience, it read like a part of her soul was being stolen from her. I don't have any critiques except that I wish the novel was longer and I thought Maleficent and Aurora deserved a confrontation. So many new characters, worldbuilding, and plot points were introduced in this book. I spent all my reading time trying to untangle the knotted web. I wish the novel were longer so that I could make sense of all the characters.
"Bring me to their cherished Rose
And bring this chapter to a close.
By smoke, by fire, and by night,
Touch the spindle I shall ignite.
Sleep will come to their fair Rose,
Forever trapped in her repose."
~ [b:Mistress of All Evil: A Tale of the Dark Fairy|34220302|Mistress of All Evil A Tale of the Dark Fairy (Villains #4)|Serena Valentino|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495803202l/34220302._SX50_.jpg|55271944]
While reading the other books in the Villains series I occasionally felt empathy for the villains. All of their backstories are tragic, especially Ursula's. However, I related to Maleficient the most. Her backstory reads like a feminist parable. Maleficient's only crime (initially) is that she's not fulfilling society's beauty standards. I credit Serena Valentino's writing because I wanted to pick a fight with the three Good Fairies by the end of this book. Honestly, they were the true villains of this story! I have no hard feelings toward Maleficient. All her *evil* deeds had a solid reason behind them. If anything, this novel has endeared me towards her as a character.
I was desperately hoping that Aurora would get a chance to use her powers! It was a disappointment when that storyline was scrapped. I understand that Aurora needed to be protected from herself, but by erasing her powers that she never got a chance to experience, it read like a part of her soul was being stolen from her. I don't have any critiques except that I wish the novel was longer and I thought Maleficent and Aurora deserved a confrontation. So many new characters, worldbuilding, and plot points were introduced in this book. I spent all my reading time trying to untangle the knotted web. I wish the novel were longer so that I could make sense of all the characters.
This is an ARC book review for NetGalley.
"'This is a witch's cottage,' I reminded myself. 'Strange things happening is the normal state of affairs around here, I should think. Might as well get used to it.'" ~ [b:A Curse of Ash and Embers|39726935|A Curse of Ash and Embers (Tales of the Blackbone Witches, #1)|Jo Spurrier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535114976l/39726935._SY75_.jpg|61411799]
This book is vastly underrated! After the first chapter, I was drawn in immediately to Elodie's adventures. She's such a spitfire for a main character! Besides a few scenes, it's women who run the show in this book and I love every minute of it. What's excellent about Elodie as a character is that she takes pride in her work; even though this novel has feminist themes, Elodie working as a servant and cooking and cleaning never felt sexist. Elodie likes to take care of Aleida and it's what makes me admire her. All the women in this book do everything - including kick butt!
One of my favorite moments in the book:
"'I would murder someone for a cup of coffee right now,' she said by way of greeting.
'Can't help you there, I'm afraid. Tea?'
'Sure.'"
I love this moment between Aleida and Elodie! They've just settled into an unsteady, hesitant friendship. They are sharing a rarely calm moment in the cottage. Their everyday sarcasm is perfectly hilarious! This scene is important enough for there to be a break in the plot's action; at this moment, the reader sees how well Aleida and Elodie work together. They have a shared humor and natural chemistry which foreshadows how their relationship will be if Aleida teaches Elodie magic.
I'm excited to see how the rest of the series turns out. I want to know more about the wizard Elodie met in the first part of the story - his predictions turned out to be true, so he has to be more than just some background character. How will Elodie and Aleida's relationship be moving forward? Is Elodie going to become good friends with the earthspirit that's helping her? I'm dying to know more information about the earthspirit's powers! I can't wait to discover why Elodie was sent to Aleida! One final thought: I was picturing Gyssha as Madam Mim from Disney's "The Sword in the Stone" the entire time I was reading!
"'This is a witch's cottage,' I reminded myself. 'Strange things happening is the normal state of affairs around here, I should think. Might as well get used to it.'" ~ [b:A Curse of Ash and Embers|39726935|A Curse of Ash and Embers (Tales of the Blackbone Witches, #1)|Jo Spurrier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535114976l/39726935._SY75_.jpg|61411799]
This book is vastly underrated! After the first chapter, I was drawn in immediately to Elodie's adventures. She's such a spitfire for a main character! Besides a few scenes, it's women who run the show in this book and I love every minute of it. What's excellent about Elodie as a character is that she takes pride in her work; even though this novel has feminist themes, Elodie working as a servant and cooking and cleaning never felt sexist. Elodie likes to take care of Aleida and it's what makes me admire her. All the women in this book do everything - including kick butt!
One of my favorite moments in the book:
"'I would murder someone for a cup of coffee right now,' she said by way of greeting.
'Can't help you there, I'm afraid. Tea?'
'Sure.'"
I love this moment between Aleida and Elodie! They've just settled into an unsteady, hesitant friendship. They are sharing a rarely calm moment in the cottage. Their everyday sarcasm is perfectly hilarious! This scene is important enough for there to be a break in the plot's action; at this moment, the reader sees how well Aleida and Elodie work together. They have a shared humor and natural chemistry which foreshadows how their relationship will be if Aleida teaches Elodie magic.
I'm excited to see how the rest of the series turns out. I want to know more about the wizard Elodie met in the first part of the story - his predictions turned out to be true, so he has to be more than just some background character. How will Elodie and Aleida's relationship be moving forward? Is Elodie going to become good friends with the earthspirit that's helping her? I'm dying to know more information about the earthspirit's powers! I can't wait to discover why Elodie was sent to Aleida! One final thought: I was picturing Gyssha as Madam Mim from Disney's "The Sword in the Stone" the entire time I was reading!
"And they made it work. The Mors Navis now carried a crew of fifty-three girls, six cats, and one goat. They’d made this ship both a weapon and a home." ~ [b:Seafire|37822534|Seafire (Seafire, #1)|Natalie C. Parker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519742447l/37822534._SX50_.jpg|55913489]
First of all, I love Caledonia Styx. I totally understand why other readers dislike her; she is definitely not an easy-to-like character. She's a stubborn know-it-all but I admire her drive and determination. I understand why she makes the decisions she does. I find Caledonia VERY relatable for a female protagonist. She's not a perfect hero; I see her as more of an anti-hero. Her mother is her hero and she doesn't want to let her down, and this is something I deal with too. It takes Caledonia many years to learn to shape her own destiny. I love Caledonia's steadfast loyalty to her crew, lost family, and her best friend.
Caledonia's detailed character arc is my favorite aspect of this novel, but I also enjoyed the friendships between the female pirates aboard the Mors Navis. I was impressed with the intricate character building author Natalie C. Parker did with each of the girls. By the end of the book, I felt like I had known all the girls for years! Hime was another character I really enjoyed getting to know. It was so neat how Parker incorporated Hime's sign language seamlessly into the book. I noticed it, but not in a negative way. I was glad that this important piece of Hime's backstory was explained, but I like that Parker didn't make Hime less capable as a character. I'm so relieved Hime stayed aboard the ship after all!
As for critiques, I wasn't a fan of how many characters died in the first forty pages. Honestly, it was really overwhelming. As soon as Pisces was badly injured, I almost DNF (did not finish) the book. At that point, I was ready to close the book for good. It always sucks when characters die, but this was a risky way to start off the series. Also, I didn't understand the point of getting rid of *spoiler* to replace her with Nettle. Nettle is a subpar character compared to her predecessor. With her risky behavior, absence of loyalty, and general selfishness, I'm shocked Nettle didn't become a villain before the end of the book. I haven't decided if I'm going to finish this series because I got enough out of this one book. Maybe I'll pick up the next book in a few years. I'm glad I finally read this book and I appreciate the feminist themes in it.
First of all, I love Caledonia Styx. I totally understand why other readers dislike her; she is definitely not an easy-to-like character. She's a stubborn know-it-all but I admire her drive and determination. I understand why she makes the decisions she does. I find Caledonia VERY relatable for a female protagonist. She's not a perfect hero; I see her as more of an anti-hero. Her mother is her hero and she doesn't want to let her down, and this is something I deal with too. It takes Caledonia many years to learn to shape her own destiny. I love Caledonia's steadfast loyalty to her crew, lost family, and her best friend.
Caledonia's detailed character arc is my favorite aspect of this novel, but I also enjoyed the friendships between the female pirates aboard the Mors Navis. I was impressed with the intricate character building author Natalie C. Parker did with each of the girls. By the end of the book, I felt like I had known all the girls for years! Hime was another character I really enjoyed getting to know. It was so neat how Parker incorporated Hime's sign language seamlessly into the book. I noticed it, but not in a negative way. I was glad that this important piece of Hime's backstory was explained, but I like that Parker didn't make Hime less capable as a character. I'm so relieved Hime stayed aboard the ship after all!
As for critiques, I wasn't a fan of how many characters died in the first forty pages. Honestly, it was really overwhelming. As soon as Pisces was badly injured, I almost DNF (did not finish) the book. At that point, I was ready to close the book for good. It always sucks when characters die, but this was a risky way to start off the series. Also, I didn't understand the point of getting rid of *spoiler* to replace her with Nettle. Nettle is a subpar character compared to her predecessor. With her risky behavior, absence of loyalty, and general selfishness, I'm shocked Nettle didn't become a villain before the end of the book. I haven't decided if I'm going to finish this series because I got enough out of this one book. Maybe I'll pick up the next book in a few years. I'm glad I finally read this book and I appreciate the feminist themes in it.
3.5 stars
"I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Yet another Reg playing at being a witch." ~ [b:These Witches Don't Burn|36484081|These Witches Don't Burn (These Witches Don't Burn, #1)|Isabel Sterling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541163363l/36484081._SX50_.jpg|58195438]
A sweet, easy beach read. I love all the cozy, mystery vibes in this book! Perfect for reading with an oversized sweater, warm tea, and an indie playlist. It's a fun, modern take on witches. This book is a guaranteed "good" one; a sweet and easy read. The romance is fun, light, and breezy. Honestly, I could see this being a Hallmark Halloween mystery movie.
A few issues I had: I'm seeing this book advertised everywhere as a new feminist magic adventure. It certainly is an adventure, and there are plenty of female characters, but there's nothing inherently feminist about the book. I'm at a loss as to why the book is being praised for this reason??? The novel isn't anti-feminist, but it's not blatantly feminist either. In fact, the main heroine Hannah doesn't save the day. She has her guy friends/allies step in whenever possible, and I have no problem with that, but I would've liked Hannah to contribute to the plot a little more. The secondary characters handle all the action. Even Hannah's badass and powerful grandmother (aka the coven leader) doesn't get enough page time. The reader knows hardly anything about her! Plus, for a book focused on witches and covens, I'm shocked not more magic was mentioned. Hannah is trying to blend in with the Regs, but I couldn't tell you what she does with her magic! She only uses her powers a few times. If this book had been just a 100 pages longer, more character development and thrilling suspense could've been built. Maybe the next book will expand on Hannah as the main character?
"I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Yet another Reg playing at being a witch." ~ [b:These Witches Don't Burn|36484081|These Witches Don't Burn (These Witches Don't Burn, #1)|Isabel Sterling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541163363l/36484081._SX50_.jpg|58195438]
A sweet, easy beach read. I love all the cozy, mystery vibes in this book! Perfect for reading with an oversized sweater, warm tea, and an indie playlist. It's a fun, modern take on witches. This book is a guaranteed "good" one; a sweet and easy read. The romance is fun, light, and breezy. Honestly, I could see this being a Hallmark Halloween mystery movie.
A few issues I had: I'm seeing this book advertised everywhere as a new feminist magic adventure. It certainly is an adventure, and there are plenty of female characters, but there's nothing inherently feminist about the book. I'm at a loss as to why the book is being praised for this reason??? The novel isn't anti-feminist, but it's not blatantly feminist either. In fact, the main heroine Hannah doesn't save the day. She has her guy friends/allies step in whenever possible, and I have no problem with that, but I would've liked Hannah to contribute to the plot a little more. The secondary characters handle all the action. Even Hannah's badass and powerful grandmother (aka the coven leader) doesn't get enough page time. The reader knows hardly anything about her! Plus, for a book focused on witches and covens, I'm shocked not more magic was mentioned. Hannah is trying to blend in with the Regs, but I couldn't tell you what she does with her magic! She only uses her powers a few times. If this book had been just a 100 pages longer, more character development and thrilling suspense could've been built. Maybe the next book will expand on Hannah as the main character?
4.5 stars
"Perhaps the Black Cottage had changed her. Or perhaps there were more sides to a woman than he had ever understood." ~ [b:One Dark Throne|29923707|One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns, #2)|Kendare Blake|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487862160l/29923707._SY75_.jpg|50306201]
This series is SO POWERFUL that I had to wait to read book two for when I was in the right emotional state. To summarize, this series is the perfect combination of [b:A Game of Thrones|13496|A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)|George R.R. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562726234l/13496._SY75_.jpg|1466917] and [b:The Selection|10507293|The Selection (The Selection, #1)|Kiera Cass|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1322103400l/10507293._SY75_.jpg|15413183]. Have you been wanting to read the "Game of Thrones" series but you don't have the time for several lengthy books? This series is similar, but it won't be as time-consuming.
I can confirm that I am still rooting for Katharine. Don't get me wrong, she's definitely evil but it's so clear that she's been possessed. Katharine has also been abused for a long time and deserves some power of her own. Katharine is my favorite character because she's determined and loyal. I can relate to her struggles with mental health and self-doubt; I wish she had a better relationship with her wonderful sisters!
Final thoughts:
- I ship Katharine and Pietyr. They have had some missteps but they genuinely care for each other. Pietyr literally climbed down into the *spoiler* to find out what happened to his girl! She really brings out the best in him. Also, Pietyr is one of the few people who loves Katharine unconditionally.
- One of my few critiques for this series is the vast supply of minor characters - I don't mind it but it becomes so confusing after a while! Jules's family is difficult to keep track of between the affairs, secrets, and magic. I would have rather have read about Arsinoe's poison abilities than Madrigal's sister drama. I wish more time was spent on explaining the queens' magic instead of the backstories of every minor character. Despite these critiques, I can't wait to continue the series!
"Perhaps the Black Cottage had changed her. Or perhaps there were more sides to a woman than he had ever understood." ~ [b:One Dark Throne|29923707|One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns, #2)|Kendare Blake|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487862160l/29923707._SY75_.jpg|50306201]
This series is SO POWERFUL that I had to wait to read book two for when I was in the right emotional state. To summarize, this series is the perfect combination of [b:A Game of Thrones|13496|A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)|George R.R. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562726234l/13496._SY75_.jpg|1466917] and [b:The Selection|10507293|The Selection (The Selection, #1)|Kiera Cass|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1322103400l/10507293._SY75_.jpg|15413183]. Have you been wanting to read the "Game of Thrones" series but you don't have the time for several lengthy books? This series is similar, but it won't be as time-consuming.
I can confirm that I am still rooting for Katharine. Don't get me wrong, she's definitely evil but it's so clear that she's been possessed. Katharine has also been abused for a long time and deserves some power of her own. Katharine is my favorite character because she's determined and loyal. I can relate to her struggles with mental health and self-doubt; I wish she had a better relationship with her wonderful sisters!
Final thoughts:
- I ship Katharine and Pietyr. They have had some missteps but they genuinely care for each other. Pietyr literally climbed down into the *spoiler* to find out what happened to his girl! She really brings out the best in him. Also, Pietyr is one of the few people who loves Katharine unconditionally.
- One of my few critiques for this series is the vast supply of minor characters - I don't mind it but it becomes so confusing after a while! Jules's family is difficult to keep track of between the affairs, secrets, and magic. I would have rather have read about Arsinoe's poison abilities than Madrigal's sister drama. I wish more time was spent on explaining the queens' magic instead of the backstories of every minor character. Despite these critiques, I can't wait to continue the series!
"The truth of you is yet to come . . . I know only that you were once a queen and may be again." ~ [b:Two Dark Reigns|37486213|Two Dark Reigns (Three Dark Crowns, #3)|Kendare Blake|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518542871l/37486213._SY75_.jpg|56756327]
Katharine is still my favorite, Mirabella and Arsinoe's sisterhood is everything, the mainland sucks, I miss Natalia, Emilia is venomous, and Braddock the bear continues to be the real hero of this series.
In the previous book, [b:One Dark Throne|29923707|One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns, #2)|Kendare Blake|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487862160l/29923707._SY75_.jpg|50306201], it was easy to see why everyone had stopped stanning Katharine. However, in this novel, the reader gets a sense of how much Katharine DOES NOT WANT TO BE EVIL. My heart broke every time she said she wanted to be a "good queen" and all she wanted was for her island to be at peace. Ohmygosh this girl is trying SO HARD to be a hero, not a villain, but she can never catch a break! Pietyr is the only person giving her a chance. Katharine's storyline reminds me so much of Anakin Skywalker. Similar to Katharine, Anakin has evil voices tempting him down the wrong path. He tries to save his wife, just like Katharine tries to have a good relationship with her sisters, but both are doomed by everyone else.
After reading this book, I believe Emilia displays all the traits of a toxic friend/unhealthy relationship. She steers Jules clear of all her friends and family, always tells Jules she is wrong and dismisses everything Jules has to say. Everyone ships Jules x Emilia and I HAVE NO IDEA WHY. Emilia has some good intentions but I believe her to be very harmful. If Emilia had been a male character exhibiting these traits, she would have been called out by now. At the start of the book, I just about screamed when Emilia told Jules to abandon Camden/not take her familiar everywhere. Just because Emilia has a crush on Jules that gives her the right to tell her to abandon her pet?! I don't think so. Honestly, all my favorite moments in the book were when Mirabella, Arsinoe, and Billy hung out and worked together.
Katharine is still my favorite, Mirabella and Arsinoe's sisterhood is everything, the mainland sucks, I miss Natalia, Emilia is venomous, and Braddock the bear continues to be the real hero of this series.
In the previous book, [b:One Dark Throne|29923707|One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns, #2)|Kendare Blake|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487862160l/29923707._SY75_.jpg|50306201], it was easy to see why everyone had stopped stanning Katharine. However, in this novel, the reader gets a sense of how much Katharine DOES NOT WANT TO BE EVIL. My heart broke every time she said she wanted to be a "good queen" and all she wanted was for her island to be at peace. Ohmygosh this girl is trying SO HARD to be a hero, not a villain, but she can never catch a break! Pietyr is the only person giving her a chance. Katharine's storyline reminds me so much of Anakin Skywalker. Similar to Katharine, Anakin has evil voices tempting him down the wrong path. He tries to save his wife, just like Katharine tries to have a good relationship with her sisters, but both are doomed by everyone else.
After reading this book, I believe Emilia displays all the traits of a toxic friend/unhealthy relationship. She steers Jules clear of all her friends and family, always tells Jules she is wrong and dismisses everything Jules has to say. Everyone ships Jules x Emilia and I HAVE NO IDEA WHY. Emilia has some good intentions but I believe her to be very harmful. If Emilia had been a male character exhibiting these traits, she would have been called out by now. At the start of the book, I just about screamed when Emilia told Jules to abandon Camden/not take her familiar everywhere. Just because Emilia has a crush on Jules that gives her the right to tell her to abandon her pet?! I don't think so. Honestly, all my favorite moments in the book were when Mirabella, Arsinoe, and Billy hung out and worked together.