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3.5 stars
"THAT NIGHT, IMMANUELLE dreamed of beasts: a girl with a gaping mouth and the yellowed teeth of a coyote; a woman with moth wings who howled at the rising..." ~ [b:The Year of the Witching|49789629|The Year of the Witching|Alexis Henderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576699031l/49789629._SY75_.jpg|72550738]
This is the ideal spooky fall read! It's great for fans of horror who still want to be able to sleep at night. Alexis Henderson's writing reminded me of classical horror and fantasy authors such as [a:Edgar Allan Poe|4624490|Edgar Allan Poe|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1454522972p2/4624490.jpg] and [a:Shirley Jackson|13388|Shirley Jackson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1550251468p2/13388.jpg] due to her elegant prose. This story is so gripping, so unexpected, that I couldn't put it down! Every scene in the Darkwood gave me goosebumps.
While the story was fun and entertaining, I really couldn't connect with the character of Immanuelle. I kinda wanted her to see her practice more magic and seek out Vera earlier in the book. Since witchcraft is spoken about so often, I wish more spells were cast! I half expected Immanuelle to become a witch by the end of the book. There's a lot of buildup to magic and mystery, which I love, but sometimes the suspense went nowhere. Like, we got one scene with Vera? For a character that was supposed to be so important, I thought this was strange. This is one of those books where I would've loved it more if the plot was more straightforward and fast-paced. The pacing was a little slow at times, especially in the beginning. I didn't really care about the town at all because they were so cruel, so I didn't so much explanation of its origins. Overall I'm glad to have expanded my horizons to read more horroresque books, and I'm grateful that this one wasn't overtly violent or sexual.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Crows roosted in the branches of the oaks and birches in the nearby forest, though they sang no songs. The silence was as thick as the morning’s fog, and it was broken only by the sound of Immanuelle’s lullaby, which echoed through the foothills and distant fields like a dirge."
"Immanuelle was a strong reader. As a matter of fact, reading was one of the few things she felt she was truly good at, one of the few things she prided herself on."
"'Nonsense,' the shopkeeper spoke around the stem of his pipe. 'There’s a book for everyone. There must be something that catches your eye.'"
"Her hands trembled as she accepted the woman’s gift. The book was heavy, and strangely warm to the touch, as though blood flowed through its binding. As she grasped it, Immanuelle felt no fear at the presence of the women, no shame at their nakedness. The strangest sensation settled over her. It was a kind of unmooring, as if her soul wasn’t bound to her body anymore."
"Maybe because you’re a bad, creed-breaking heir who has a taste for such ideas."
"Either they left the forest together, or not at all."
"THAT NIGHT, IMMANUELLE dreamed of beasts: a girl with a gaping mouth and the yellowed teeth of a coyote; a woman with moth wings who howled at the rising..." ~ [b:The Year of the Witching|49789629|The Year of the Witching|Alexis Henderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576699031l/49789629._SY75_.jpg|72550738]
This is the ideal spooky fall read! It's great for fans of horror who still want to be able to sleep at night. Alexis Henderson's writing reminded me of classical horror and fantasy authors such as [a:Edgar Allan Poe|4624490|Edgar Allan Poe|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1454522972p2/4624490.jpg] and [a:Shirley Jackson|13388|Shirley Jackson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1550251468p2/13388.jpg] due to her elegant prose. This story is so gripping, so unexpected, that I couldn't put it down! Every scene in the Darkwood gave me goosebumps.
While the story was fun and entertaining, I really couldn't connect with the character of Immanuelle. I kinda wanted her to see her practice more magic and seek out Vera earlier in the book. Since witchcraft is spoken about so often, I wish more spells were cast! I half expected Immanuelle to become a witch by the end of the book. There's a lot of buildup to magic and mystery, which I love, but sometimes the suspense went nowhere. Like, we got one scene with Vera? For a character that was supposed to be so important, I thought this was strange. This is one of those books where I would've loved it more if the plot was more straightforward and fast-paced. The pacing was a little slow at times, especially in the beginning. I didn't really care about the town at all because they were so cruel, so I didn't so much explanation of its origins. Overall I'm glad to have expanded my horizons to read more horroresque books, and I'm grateful that this one wasn't overtly violent or sexual.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Crows roosted in the branches of the oaks and birches in the nearby forest, though they sang no songs. The silence was as thick as the morning’s fog, and it was broken only by the sound of Immanuelle’s lullaby, which echoed through the foothills and distant fields like a dirge."
"Immanuelle was a strong reader. As a matter of fact, reading was one of the few things she felt she was truly good at, one of the few things she prided herself on."
"'Nonsense,' the shopkeeper spoke around the stem of his pipe. 'There’s a book for everyone. There must be something that catches your eye.'"
"Her hands trembled as she accepted the woman’s gift. The book was heavy, and strangely warm to the touch, as though blood flowed through its binding. As she grasped it, Immanuelle felt no fear at the presence of the women, no shame at their nakedness. The strangest sensation settled over her. It was a kind of unmooring, as if her soul wasn’t bound to her body anymore."
"Maybe because you’re a bad, creed-breaking heir who has a taste for such ideas."
"Either they left the forest together, or not at all."
4.5 stars
"I might be queen, but you were meant to be so much more." ~ [b:The Storm Crow|38330596|The Storm Crow (The Storm Crow, #1)|Kalyn Josephson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1540301055l/38330596._SY75_.jpg|59987150]
So glad I listened to Jesse the Reader's recommendation in this video: click here to watch. Or else I would've known about this book which is criminally underrated! This series has quickly become my favorite YA duology. The series concept is so original like I have trouble comparing it to any other series! There are no annoying YA tropes, no forced romances between the characters, and no predictable plot points. What it does have is amazing diversity, an empowering feminist message, and the greatest representation of mental illness in the YA genre. I can't say enough positive things about this book!
As someone who suffers from depression and anxiety, I found Thia's struggles to be relatable and comforting. I never like my favorite characters to suffer, but I appreciate the accurate depiction of mental illnesses. Thia's struggles only make her stronger and I love that! Thia is a brilliantly written female heroine for every possible reason. She's independent, empathetic, and hardworking. Her connection with the crows is so fascinating, especially how she works so hard to protect them.
What I love the most about this character is that she isn't focused on falling in love with the prince in this story. I loved that this author took the enemies to lovers trope and turned it on its head! I mean, I love that trope, but I liked seeing a new kind of story too. It felt so right for Ericen and Thia's relationship to be enemies to friends to...yeah we don't really know what they are right now, but so far it's enemies to friends and that's so wholesome! I loved everything about this magnificent novel and it's ideal for fans of [b:An Enchantment of Ravens|30969741|An Enchantment of Ravens|Margaret Rogerson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486244049l/30969741._SY75_.jpg|51586838] and [b:Among the Beasts & Briars|50622362|Among the Beasts & Briars|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581362704l/50622362._SY75_.jpg|60423336].
Some of my favorite quotes:
"I didn’t have the energy to get out of bed, and lying there made me lethargic until my limbs became weights holding me down. My head would hurt, turning my thoughts slow and difficult, each one taking more effort than it was worth, until all I wanted was to fall asleep again. But sleep made it worse."
"I’d been depressed. I still was. The hard edge in Caliza’s eyes softened. How long had I yearned for that sympathy? Now that I had it, I wanted it to go away. It made me feel pathetic."
"Welcome to the life of a woman. Men say stupid crap to us all the time."
"'Darkness spreads quickly,' I replied. 'Quicker than light.'"
"I held the papers up. 'So which am I? Proud warrior or despondent thinker?' He tapped the one of me in the chair. 'I was actually going for excessive tea drinker in that one.'"
"I might be queen, but you were meant to be so much more." ~ [b:The Storm Crow|38330596|The Storm Crow (The Storm Crow, #1)|Kalyn Josephson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1540301055l/38330596._SY75_.jpg|59987150]
So glad I listened to Jesse the Reader's recommendation in this video: click here to watch. Or else I would've known about this book which is criminally underrated! This series has quickly become my favorite YA duology. The series concept is so original like I have trouble comparing it to any other series! There are no annoying YA tropes, no forced romances between the characters, and no predictable plot points. What it does have is amazing diversity, an empowering feminist message, and the greatest representation of mental illness in the YA genre. I can't say enough positive things about this book!
As someone who suffers from depression and anxiety, I found Thia's struggles to be relatable and comforting. I never like my favorite characters to suffer, but I appreciate the accurate depiction of mental illnesses. Thia's struggles only make her stronger and I love that! Thia is a brilliantly written female heroine for every possible reason. She's independent, empathetic, and hardworking. Her connection with the crows is so fascinating, especially how she works so hard to protect them.
What I love the most about this character is that she isn't focused on falling in love with the prince in this story. I loved that this author took the enemies to lovers trope and turned it on its head! I mean, I love that trope, but I liked seeing a new kind of story too. It felt so right for Ericen and Thia's relationship to be enemies to friends to...yeah we don't really know what they are right now, but so far it's enemies to friends and that's so wholesome! I loved everything about this magnificent novel and it's ideal for fans of [b:An Enchantment of Ravens|30969741|An Enchantment of Ravens|Margaret Rogerson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486244049l/30969741._SY75_.jpg|51586838] and [b:Among the Beasts & Briars|50622362|Among the Beasts & Briars|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581362704l/50622362._SY75_.jpg|60423336].
Some of my favorite quotes:
"I didn’t have the energy to get out of bed, and lying there made me lethargic until my limbs became weights holding me down. My head would hurt, turning my thoughts slow and difficult, each one taking more effort than it was worth, until all I wanted was to fall asleep again. But sleep made it worse."
"I’d been depressed. I still was. The hard edge in Caliza’s eyes softened. How long had I yearned for that sympathy? Now that I had it, I wanted it to go away. It made me feel pathetic."
"Welcome to the life of a woman. Men say stupid crap to us all the time."
"'Darkness spreads quickly,' I replied. 'Quicker than light.'"
"I held the papers up. 'So which am I? Proud warrior or despondent thinker?' He tapped the one of me in the chair. 'I was actually going for excessive tea drinker in that one.'"
This is a NetGalley ARC book review.
"The centre of the Beanstalk had been gutted and reshaped with wood from an ancient oak to build a dining hall for all Dark Creatures alike. Many feared Klara's ability to see through glamoured appearances." ~ Crowned a Traitor
This is a novel where the concept is more engaging than the plot. I loved the synopsis - a girl becomes a Dark Queen, but before she takes the throne she goes on a crazy, unexpected adventure. However, the story was too fast-paced for my liking and the plot felt too empty. Klara was an interesting main character, but not one I bonded with. It felt like her only goal was to be her father's heir and that's it. Her character development felt flat and I didn't even get the feeling that her father wanted an heir to begin with...Overall I struggled to finish this book and I was shocked to see that it was under 300 pages! There is so much worldbuilding going on in every chapter that it overtook the plot completely. Even just a hundred more pages would've been better. There wasn't enough time for me to learn the names of all the characters, remember their goals, and understand the mythology.
"The centre of the Beanstalk had been gutted and reshaped with wood from an ancient oak to build a dining hall for all Dark Creatures alike. Many feared Klara's ability to see through glamoured appearances." ~ Crowned a Traitor
This is a novel where the concept is more engaging than the plot. I loved the synopsis - a girl becomes a Dark Queen, but before she takes the throne she goes on a crazy, unexpected adventure. However, the story was too fast-paced for my liking and the plot felt too empty. Klara was an interesting main character, but not one I bonded with. It felt like her only goal was to be her father's heir and that's it. Her character development felt flat and I didn't even get the feeling that her father wanted an heir to begin with...Overall I struggled to finish this book and I was shocked to see that it was under 300 pages! There is so much worldbuilding going on in every chapter that it overtook the plot completely. Even just a hundred more pages would've been better. There wasn't enough time for me to learn the names of all the characters, remember their goals, and understand the mythology.
"It was the house that disfigured the land." ~ [b:Mexican Gothic|53152636|Mexican Gothic|Silvia Moreno-Garcia|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575673549l/53152636._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73647361]
I'm so grateful that this book lived up to the hype! I read this book in a day...it was so good; I couldn't stop reading. This was just the right amount of horror for me, just enough to creep you out, but not enough to make you paranoid. Noemí is such a badass heroine that I grew to love the more the story progressed. She is everything you could want in a heroine and more. The plot twists kept me guessing until the very last moment, the characters were faced with modern dilemmas, and the darkness of the house feels like its own character.
This novel is a credit to its genre. Noemí is a new kind of gothic horror heroine; she doesn't run away screaming from the bad guys. Instead, she confronts her problems with a feminist spirit I absolutely loved! Her headstrong and resilient nature is what ends up saving her and that's such a positive message to send to female readers. Every time Noemí fought back against Virgil I wanted to jump up and down with happiness!
Another aspect I loved in this novel was the original and dynamic plot construction. Like, most horror novels and movies are predictable but [a:Silvia Moreno-Garcia|4088550|Silvia Moreno-Garcia|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1597118464p2/4088550.jpg] tossed all those annoying tropes away! She presents a wholly unique and intriguing tale that I feel like everyone will interpret differently. While the house does have a sense of evil about it, at the end of the story, I was left with the feeling that what was truly terrifying were the white supremacist characters.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Books, moonlight, melodrama."
"A woman who is not liked is a bitch, and a bitch can hardly do anything: all avenues are closed to her."
"So I'll be wed in the Church of the Holy Incestuous Mushroom?"
I'm so grateful that this book lived up to the hype! I read this book in a day...it was so good; I couldn't stop reading. This was just the right amount of horror for me, just enough to creep you out, but not enough to make you paranoid. Noemí is such a badass heroine that I grew to love the more the story progressed. She is everything you could want in a heroine and more. The plot twists kept me guessing until the very last moment, the characters were faced with modern dilemmas, and the darkness of the house feels like its own character.
This novel is a credit to its genre. Noemí is a new kind of gothic horror heroine; she doesn't run away screaming from the bad guys. Instead, she confronts her problems with a feminist spirit I absolutely loved! Her headstrong and resilient nature is what ends up saving her and that's such a positive message to send to female readers. Every time Noemí fought back against Virgil I wanted to jump up and down with happiness!
Another aspect I loved in this novel was the original and dynamic plot construction. Like, most horror novels and movies are predictable but [a:Silvia Moreno-Garcia|4088550|Silvia Moreno-Garcia|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1597118464p2/4088550.jpg] tossed all those annoying tropes away! She presents a wholly unique and intriguing tale that I feel like everyone will interpret differently. While the house does have a sense of evil about it, at the end of the story, I was left with the feeling that what was truly terrifying were the white supremacist characters.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Books, moonlight, melodrama."
"A woman who is not liked is a bitch, and a bitch can hardly do anything: all avenues are closed to her."
"So I'll be wed in the Church of the Holy Incestuous Mushroom?"
3.7 stars
"Daddy always said twilight was good for ghost raising because it’s an in-between time, when the barrier between worlds seems to grow thin as tissue paper and the ghosts are at their lonesomest." ~ [b:Ghost Wood Song|53098065|Ghost Wood Song|Erica Waters|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576126814l/53098065._SX50_SY75_.jpg|63892625]
Definitely enjoyed this unusual story, but I wish the plot hadn't moved at a glacial pace. Like the suspense was there already, so the slow pace felt heavy. The story didn't start picking up until halfway through, but that's when the story grew compelling. The fiddle is almost like a character itself - it's crazy that such an ordinary object can advance the plot forward. Also, the mystery of who killed Jim kept me going all the way until the epilogue.
This story was difficult to get into, especially with all the side characters. Like I know it's important to the story that Shady has such a big family, but I only cared about Aunt Ena! The rest of the characters felt underdeveloped or frustrating to read about; like Kenneth's loyalties were all over the place and Shady's mother never listened to what her daughter had to say! The only character I could root for was Shady. It was intriguing to learn more about the fiddle's backstory and if it was magical or not. This novel bends and plays with reality so much that sometimes it feels like you're reading a contemporary fiction story, other times the paranormal element is super strong! My favorite moment was when the Shadow Man's identity was revealed...I did not see that one coming! Overall this story was a fun read, but the unrelenting suspense was too much for me.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"I linger in the woods after Sarah and Orlando head home. The sun has gone down, and the woods are hushed, shadows spilling like ink through the trees."
"I’ve lived with ghosts my whole life, but this is the first time I’ve ever felt haunted."
"'I’m not Veronica Mars, teen detective,' I say, crossing my arms."
"'Aren’t you tired of it, Aunt Ena?' I say. 'Tired of what, darlin’?' 'Tired of letting the Franks of the world make us scared?' I glance at her and see her shudder, wrapping her arms around herself...Should I take you home first, Aunt Ena?' She’s quiet a long time. 'No, don’t take me home.'"
"But then I realize the person you choose to love isn’t the one who shows up when you ask them to. It’s the person who shows up even when you don’t. Maybe even when you don’t want them to. Sarah would have come if I’d asked, but I didn’t have to ask Cedar."
"Daddy always said twilight was good for ghost raising because it’s an in-between time, when the barrier between worlds seems to grow thin as tissue paper and the ghosts are at their lonesomest." ~ [b:Ghost Wood Song|53098065|Ghost Wood Song|Erica Waters|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576126814l/53098065._SX50_SY75_.jpg|63892625]
Definitely enjoyed this unusual story, but I wish the plot hadn't moved at a glacial pace. Like the suspense was there already, so the slow pace felt heavy. The story didn't start picking up until halfway through, but that's when the story grew compelling. The fiddle is almost like a character itself - it's crazy that such an ordinary object can advance the plot forward. Also, the mystery of who killed Jim kept me going all the way until the epilogue.
This story was difficult to get into, especially with all the side characters. Like I know it's important to the story that Shady has such a big family, but I only cared about Aunt Ena! The rest of the characters felt underdeveloped or frustrating to read about; like Kenneth's loyalties were all over the place and Shady's mother never listened to what her daughter had to say! The only character I could root for was Shady. It was intriguing to learn more about the fiddle's backstory and if it was magical or not. This novel bends and plays with reality so much that sometimes it feels like you're reading a contemporary fiction story, other times the paranormal element is super strong! My favorite moment was when the Shadow Man's identity was revealed...I did not see that one coming! Overall this story was a fun read, but the unrelenting suspense was too much for me.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"I linger in the woods after Sarah and Orlando head home. The sun has gone down, and the woods are hushed, shadows spilling like ink through the trees."
"I’ve lived with ghosts my whole life, but this is the first time I’ve ever felt haunted."
"'I’m not Veronica Mars, teen detective,' I say, crossing my arms."
"'Aren’t you tired of it, Aunt Ena?' I say. 'Tired of what, darlin’?' 'Tired of letting the Franks of the world make us scared?' I glance at her and see her shudder, wrapping her arms around herself...Should I take you home first, Aunt Ena?' She’s quiet a long time. 'No, don’t take me home.'"
"But then I realize the person you choose to love isn’t the one who shows up when you ask them to. It’s the person who shows up even when you don’t. Maybe even when you don’t want them to. Sarah would have come if I’d asked, but I didn’t have to ask Cedar."
4.5 stars
"It’s a dangerous time to be female." ~ [b:Serpent & Dove|40024139|Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove, #1)|Shelby Mahurin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549476128l/40024139._SY75_.jpg|61991324]
The above GIF fits perfectly with what Reid is always saying lol. WOW THIS BOOKS DESERVES ITS HYPE. The worldbuilding is spectacular, the characters are dynamic and the dialogue is oh so witty. The themes of religion vs. witchcraft are so intriguing and I love that it was presented through a feminist lens. At first, I couldn't be bothered to care for Reid's POV chapters because I instantly loved Lou's character and her POV. The witches are so much cooler than the chasseurs! However, I loved the contention between Lou and Reid and ultimately I enjoyed their relationship unfolding.
Quick side note: Coco is my favorite character! I can't believe she's only a side character! She NEEDS her own novella. I find her even more interesting than Lou. Coco is such an unusual witch and I can't wait to learn more about blood witches like her in the next book. Coco had some of the best snarky lines. I loved her relationship with Lou; she's such a loyal friend. I'm not a fan of Coco x Beau and I prefer Coco x Ansel which seems like a healthier relationship. However, I think Coco is pretty badass when she's single! As for the negative aspects of this novel, for a debut, there are hardly any! At first, Reid cursing every other sentence threw me for a loop but now I love it. "Why the fuck is everyone in this kingdom trying to murder my wife?" will go down in YA novel history as ONE OF THE GREATEST LINES.
Final thoughts:
- Ever since I've seen the gifs of Sam Heughan as Reid Diggory, I want Sam to play Reid sooooo badly!
- Every time Lou stood up for herself against the Archbishop I screamed YAAAAAAAS QUEEN!
- I totally relate to Lou's crazy love for sticky buns.
- I want to explore the East End with Lou and Reid RIGHT. NOW.
- The Archbishop can only look like Claude Frollo from the Disney "Hunchback" movie.
- THE FINAL LINE OF THE BOOK made me laugh so hard. Thank you [a:Shelby Mahurin|17999118|Shelby Mahurin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1525367708p2/17999118.jpg], I've always wanted to laugh like that!
"It’s a dangerous time to be female." ~ [b:Serpent & Dove|40024139|Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove, #1)|Shelby Mahurin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549476128l/40024139._SY75_.jpg|61991324]
The above GIF fits perfectly with what Reid is always saying lol. WOW THIS BOOKS DESERVES ITS HYPE. The worldbuilding is spectacular, the characters are dynamic and the dialogue is oh so witty. The themes of religion vs. witchcraft are so intriguing and I love that it was presented through a feminist lens. At first, I couldn't be bothered to care for Reid's POV chapters because I instantly loved Lou's character and her POV. The witches are so much cooler than the chasseurs! However, I loved the contention between Lou and Reid and ultimately I enjoyed their relationship unfolding.
Quick side note: Coco is my favorite character! I can't believe she's only a side character! She NEEDS her own novella. I find her even more interesting than Lou. Coco is such an unusual witch and I can't wait to learn more about blood witches like her in the next book. Coco had some of the best snarky lines. I loved her relationship with Lou; she's such a loyal friend. I'm not a fan of Coco x Beau and I prefer Coco x Ansel which seems like a healthier relationship. However, I think Coco is pretty badass when she's single! As for the negative aspects of this novel, for a debut, there are hardly any! At first, Reid cursing every other sentence threw me for a loop but now I love it. "Why the fuck is everyone in this kingdom trying to murder my wife?" will go down in YA novel history as ONE OF THE GREATEST LINES.
Final thoughts:
- Ever since I've seen the gifs of Sam Heughan as Reid Diggory, I want Sam to play Reid sooooo badly!
- Every time Lou stood up for herself against the Archbishop I screamed YAAAAAAAS QUEEN!
- I totally relate to Lou's crazy love for sticky buns.
- I want to explore the East End with Lou and Reid RIGHT. NOW.
- The Archbishop can only look like Claude Frollo from the Disney "Hunchback" movie.
- THE FINAL LINE OF THE BOOK made me laugh so hard. Thank you [a:Shelby Mahurin|17999118|Shelby Mahurin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1525367708p2/17999118.jpg], I've always wanted to laugh like that!
