Take a photo of a barcode or cover
obscurepages's Reviews (410)
With a sibling rivalry that leads only to death, a dark and intricate magic system, rich North African-inspired world-building and history, a page-turning plot, and a palpable romance, A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy certainly has all the elements for a great story. Reading this book was enjoyable and definitely enthralling! At the end of the book, I was left wanting more.
“Even if I had to become the wicked girl of my nightmares, a maelstrom of marrow and blood, I would do whatever it took to stay alive.”
A River of Royal Blood follows Princess Eva who is born with the magick of marrow and blood. Though she hates this magick, she must learn how to use it if she wants to live and ascend to the throne, because Queens of Myre are chosen only through the Rival Heir tradition, a tradition where sisters fight to death. The thing is, before the tradition can even start, someone tries to kill Eva. Believing that it was her sister behind the attack, she decides to try and learn her magick if she truly wants to survive. Looking for a decent mentor is hard though, since her magick is rare and hasn’t been seen since the first ever Queen of Myre who had the same magick as hers. Fortunately, she finds Baccha, a powerful fey who also uses the magick of marrow and blood. And so, Eva’s journey to learning about her power and their history, and preparing for the Rival Heir tradition starts. The journey is not an easy one, though. Along the way, she encounters more assassination attempts, deaths, secrets, revelations, and a grand scheme that seems much bigger than Eva first thought of.
The characters were interesting, and it was enjoyable reading the story through Eva’s perspective. However, I do find myself wanting more of some of the characters, particularly, Eva’s sister, Isa. They didn’t talk much in the book, and although Eva’s flashbacks mostly consisted of memories with Isa, it would have been nice to see them interact in the present. I really wanted to feel and witness that sibling rivalry and how twisted and complicated their current relationship is because of the tradition. The same goes for other minor characters: Falun, Mirabel, Captain Anali, Aketo, and more.
The romance had just the right amount of tension and intrigue, and although I like Aketo and his chemistry with Eva, I can’t help but feel wary of his character. There might be more to his background and his intentions and let’s hope we learn more of that in the sequel.
My absolute favourite thing about this book is the world-building. The Queendom of Myre, and the entire world of Akhimar, has such a rich culture and history that had me so invested. As readers go along the story, they find bits and pieces of the world through the places, the paintings in the palace, the different races and tribes (human, bloodkin, fey, and khimaer). I also love how the readers learn the history of their world along with Eva. As she goes through her lessons with Baccha, Baccha shares with her stories of how their world came to be, how their country was established, how the queens and the deadly tradition started, and even the start of their magic system.
Embracing oneself is a big part of the overall theme of this book, especially in Eva’s character arc. Eva detests here magick because she had witnessed just how dangerous it can be, even with her loved ones. All throughout the book, it’s been mentioned and discussed how she needs to embrace her magick of marrow and blood because it’s a part of her, not just a tool to wield or control.
The plot was definitely a page-turner. I wanted to know more about Eva and her magick, and just how she’ll survive the tradition. There were a few plot twists that I had already seen coming, and perhaps it’s because I quickly spotted several foreshadowings, so those definitely took away the shock value for me. The ending also left many questions and new mysteries, and I’m both frustrated and excited because of it. I can’t help but feel like the story could have been longer, but at the same time I’m now excited to get my hands on the sequel and continue Eva’s journey.
(This review was first published on The Nerd Daily).
“Even if I had to become the wicked girl of my nightmares, a maelstrom of marrow and blood, I would do whatever it took to stay alive.”
A River of Royal Blood follows Princess Eva who is born with the magick of marrow and blood. Though she hates this magick, she must learn how to use it if she wants to live and ascend to the throne, because Queens of Myre are chosen only through the Rival Heir tradition, a tradition where sisters fight to death. The thing is, before the tradition can even start, someone tries to kill Eva. Believing that it was her sister behind the attack, she decides to try and learn her magick if she truly wants to survive. Looking for a decent mentor is hard though, since her magick is rare and hasn’t been seen since the first ever Queen of Myre who had the same magick as hers. Fortunately, she finds Baccha, a powerful fey who also uses the magick of marrow and blood. And so, Eva’s journey to learning about her power and their history, and preparing for the Rival Heir tradition starts. The journey is not an easy one, though. Along the way, she encounters more assassination attempts, deaths, secrets, revelations, and a grand scheme that seems much bigger than Eva first thought of.
The characters were interesting, and it was enjoyable reading the story through Eva’s perspective. However, I do find myself wanting more of some of the characters, particularly, Eva’s sister, Isa. They didn’t talk much in the book, and although Eva’s flashbacks mostly consisted of memories with Isa, it would have been nice to see them interact in the present. I really wanted to feel and witness that sibling rivalry and how twisted and complicated their current relationship is because of the tradition. The same goes for other minor characters: Falun, Mirabel, Captain Anali, Aketo, and more.
The romance had just the right amount of tension and intrigue, and although I like Aketo and his chemistry with Eva, I can’t help but feel wary of his character. There might be more to his background and his intentions and let’s hope we learn more of that in the sequel.
My absolute favourite thing about this book is the world-building. The Queendom of Myre, and the entire world of Akhimar, has such a rich culture and history that had me so invested. As readers go along the story, they find bits and pieces of the world through the places, the paintings in the palace, the different races and tribes (human, bloodkin, fey, and khimaer). I also love how the readers learn the history of their world along with Eva. As she goes through her lessons with Baccha, Baccha shares with her stories of how their world came to be, how their country was established, how the queens and the deadly tradition started, and even the start of their magic system.
Embracing oneself is a big part of the overall theme of this book, especially in Eva’s character arc. Eva detests here magick because she had witnessed just how dangerous it can be, even with her loved ones. All throughout the book, it’s been mentioned and discussed how she needs to embrace her magick of marrow and blood because it’s a part of her, not just a tool to wield or control.
The plot was definitely a page-turner. I wanted to know more about Eva and her magick, and just how she’ll survive the tradition. There were a few plot twists that I had already seen coming, and perhaps it’s because I quickly spotted several foreshadowings, so those definitely took away the shock value for me. The ending also left many questions and new mysteries, and I’m both frustrated and excited because of it. I can’t help but feel like the story could have been longer, but at the same time I’m now excited to get my hands on the sequel and continue Eva’s journey.
(This review was first published on The Nerd Daily).
This was absolutely hilarious from start to finish! It was hella queer, funny, and touching, too. Not to mention that the narrators/voice actors of the audiobook were amazing! I feel like some of the dialogues got sidetracked for a bit, but honestly, the whole thing was just great! Definitely an enjoyable read, and a memorable one for me, too.
Spellhacker is one of my most anticipated releases this 2020 and I adored reading it! It’s absolutely delightful! With queer characters everywhere and a fast-paced and fun story, you just can’t help but enjoy this book!
Good writing
The writing style is good! Spellhacker is told in the first person point of view and that really allowed me to get to know the main character and see the story unfold the way she saw it. The tone is light and fun, but it can also get exciting or thrilling and even emotional.
Memorable characters
There are a lot of memorable characters in this book.
Diz, the main character, is great. She’s hilarious and talented, but also very insecure and maybe a little bit emotionally stunted, too. She had bad experiences in the past, which makes it understandable that she’s afraid of letting herself feel. Still, there were moments that I was frustrated at her. Fortunately, she redeemed herself and I loved her character development! I also loved that I was sucked into her thoughts and feelings. Reading the story through her perspective was exciting!
The minor characters are also memorable. Remi is too precious for this world, Jaesin is such a dad, and Ania is amazing! I loved the dynamic between all four of them (hooray for found-family tropes!), and in a way, I can relate to Diz and her fear of parting ways.
And yes, there are numerous queer characters in the book and it’s absolutely delightful to read about them and know that it’s perfectly normal in their world.
Fast-paced and fun plot
Spellhacker has a fast-paced and a fun plot. I remember reading only the first chapter, and there were already action and adventure. I loved that!
The plot also touched on some points that made me more invested in the story, e.g. anti-capitalism, frequent natural disasters on their planet (which can be likened to global warming). There are some plot twists that were a little predictable for me though, so it wasn’t much of a surprise but I still managed to enjoy it.
Romance is also a significant part of the story, and y’all there was definitely a lot of pining. The chemistry was good and I couldn’t help but root for that pairing!
Awesome world-building
I also loved the world-building in this story. The author created such an interesting world, one filled with magic and science but also riddled with natural disasters. Would have loved to know more about their planet though. There were different fictional countries and cities mentioned, but there weren’t much details about them. A map would have been a nice addition as well!
(This review was first published on Enthralled Bookworm as part of the Spellhacker Blog Tour hosted by The Fantastic Flying Book Club.)
Good writing
The writing style is good! Spellhacker is told in the first person point of view and that really allowed me to get to know the main character and see the story unfold the way she saw it. The tone is light and fun, but it can also get exciting or thrilling and even emotional.
Memorable characters
There are a lot of memorable characters in this book.
Diz, the main character, is great. She’s hilarious and talented, but also very insecure and maybe a little bit emotionally stunted, too. She had bad experiences in the past, which makes it understandable that she’s afraid of letting herself feel. Still, there were moments that I was frustrated at her. Fortunately, she redeemed herself and I loved her character development! I also loved that I was sucked into her thoughts and feelings. Reading the story through her perspective was exciting!
The minor characters are also memorable. Remi is too precious for this world, Jaesin is such a dad, and Ania is amazing! I loved the dynamic between all four of them (hooray for found-family tropes!), and in a way, I can relate to Diz and her fear of parting ways.
And yes, there are numerous queer characters in the book and it’s absolutely delightful to read about them and know that it’s perfectly normal in their world.
Fast-paced and fun plot
Spellhacker has a fast-paced and a fun plot. I remember reading only the first chapter, and there were already action and adventure. I loved that!
The plot also touched on some points that made me more invested in the story, e.g. anti-capitalism, frequent natural disasters on their planet (which can be likened to global warming). There are some plot twists that were a little predictable for me though, so it wasn’t much of a surprise but I still managed to enjoy it.
Romance is also a significant part of the story, and y’all there was definitely a lot of pining. The chemistry was good and I couldn’t help but root for that pairing!
Awesome world-building
I also loved the world-building in this story. The author created such an interesting world, one filled with magic and science but also riddled with natural disasters. Would have loved to know more about their planet though. There were different fictional countries and cities mentioned, but there weren’t much details about them. A map would have been a nice addition as well!
(This review was first published on Enthralled Bookworm as part of the Spellhacker Blog Tour hosted by The Fantastic Flying Book Club.)
The Bone Houses is one gripping story filled with adventure, magic, horror, mystery, and the beautiful yet heartbreaking telling of death and grief. Safe to say, I adored reading this book!
Gripping writing
I loved the writing style of the author in this book! It was mysterious, fast-paced, thrilling, and melancholic as well. As a result, it was gripping and I just couldn't help getting sucked in to the story. There were parts where I held my breath and gasped, parts where my heart ached and I teared up a little, parts where I was just so excited and bewildered. It was a nice roller coaster of emotions, and for me, the author did it brilliantly.
I also specifically loved how the author told little stories and flashbacks within the book. It was atmospheric, and I was left thinking that the storytelling was ace.
Flawed yet awesome characters
Here's a confession: I immediately liked the main character, Ryn! She was fierce and stubborn, and had so much love and determination for her family. And yet, just when I thought I finally knew and understood her character, I uncovered more things about her.
I adored Ellis as well. He was strange and uncertain about a lot of things but I warmed up to him as well. There was a lot of mystery and struggle surrounding his character, and it was nice to see him go on a journey and discover the truth. (And to be honest, I had my suspicions about him and I was right!)
The minor characters were also great, but I'm gonna be honest and say that the goat was my absolute favorite. (Yep. The goat. You'll know what I mean when you read this book!)
Fast-paced and mysterious plot
I loved how the plot was fast-paced and intriguing. Every chapter there was new detail to be found, a new secret to be discovered, a new flashback to be seen, a new plot twist to be unveiled. It felt like I really was in the adventure together with the main characters and at the end, I loved going in this journey with them—from the village of Colbren, to the forest, to the mountains, the mines, and more.
Some plot twists I already anticipated, but there were more that managed to shock me and kept me guessing on how the story will end.
Nice world-building
The Bone Houses also had a nice world-building. It had elements of Welsh mythology (which according to the author was the inspiration of this book), and it was great! The author incorporated these Welsh myths and for me, that just made the story more fantastical.
This was such a great read! Definitely a good book if you're up for some spooky, adventurous vibes. 4 stars!
(This book review was first published on Enthralled Bookworm.)
Gripping writing
I loved the writing style of the author in this book! It was mysterious, fast-paced, thrilling, and melancholic as well. As a result, it was gripping and I just couldn't help getting sucked in to the story. There were parts where I held my breath and gasped, parts where my heart ached and I teared up a little, parts where I was just so excited and bewildered. It was a nice roller coaster of emotions, and for me, the author did it brilliantly.
I also specifically loved how the author told little stories and flashbacks within the book. It was atmospheric, and I was left thinking that the storytelling was ace.
Flawed yet awesome characters
Here's a confession: I immediately liked the main character, Ryn! She was fierce and stubborn, and had so much love and determination for her family. And yet, just when I thought I finally knew and understood her character, I uncovered more things about her.
I adored Ellis as well. He was strange and uncertain about a lot of things but I warmed up to him as well. There was a lot of mystery and struggle surrounding his character, and it was nice to see him go on a journey and discover the truth. (And to be honest, I had my suspicions about him and I was right!)
The minor characters were also great, but I'm gonna be honest and say that the goat was my absolute favorite. (Yep. The goat. You'll know what I mean when you read this book!)
Fast-paced and mysterious plot
I loved how the plot was fast-paced and intriguing. Every chapter there was new detail to be found, a new secret to be discovered, a new flashback to be seen, a new plot twist to be unveiled. It felt like I really was in the adventure together with the main characters and at the end, I loved going in this journey with them—from the village of Colbren, to the forest, to the mountains, the mines, and more.
Some plot twists I already anticipated, but there were more that managed to shock me and kept me guessing on how the story will end.
Nice world-building
The Bone Houses also had a nice world-building. It had elements of Welsh mythology (which according to the author was the inspiration of this book), and it was great! The author incorporated these Welsh myths and for me, that just made the story more fantastical.
This was such a great read! Definitely a good book if you're up for some spooky, adventurous vibes. 4 stars!
(This book review was first published on Enthralled Bookworm.)
Jane Anonymous is a gripping and deeply emotional story. It explores trauma and healing, and offers you suspense and heartbreak along the way.
My thoughts
An interesting read and a deeply emotional story. That’s what this novel is. I was curious about this book because I wanted to know how the author will tackle such topic and how the characters will go through their journey. Safe to say, I was not disappointed.
The writing style of the author is great for this story. Not only did it grip my attention, it also provoked my emotions. As I read, I was able to connect with the main character Jane and her perspective, her thoughts, her trauma, her confusion, her struggle for closure, and her struggle to get back to normalcy. The exploration of trauma was really good and the alternating “THEN” and “NOW” perspectives made it more compelling. As a reader, I saw how Jane’s experiences in those seven months affected her life, her personality, her mind, her friends and her family.
The plot, although it was great, there were some aspects that were kind of predictable to me and there were still some subplots or questions that seemed unanswered. It would have been nice to get some answers about those certain things.
I also feel like the author could expounded more on certain elements. For example, most of the book was Jane recounting her experience and narrating her struggle on trying return to her normal life. It wasn’t until the end that we started to see Jane actually healing. And although I liked the ending, I would have liked to see more of that healing process and how she will overcome or accept her trauma.
Overall, this was a great read! My actual rating: 3.5 stars.
Content warnings: kidnapping, emotional manipulation, PTSD, self-harm, depression, mentions of sexual assault
I also created a playlist inspired by Jane Anonymous as part of my blog tour stop! You can listen to it here.
(This book review was first published on Enthralled Bookworm as part of the Jane Anonymous Blog Tour hosted by The Fantastic Flying Book Club.)
My thoughts
An interesting read and a deeply emotional story. That’s what this novel is. I was curious about this book because I wanted to know how the author will tackle such topic and how the characters will go through their journey. Safe to say, I was not disappointed.
The writing style of the author is great for this story. Not only did it grip my attention, it also provoked my emotions. As I read, I was able to connect with the main character Jane and her perspective, her thoughts, her trauma, her confusion, her struggle for closure, and her struggle to get back to normalcy. The exploration of trauma was really good and the alternating “THEN” and “NOW” perspectives made it more compelling. As a reader, I saw how Jane’s experiences in those seven months affected her life, her personality, her mind, her friends and her family.
The plot, although it was great, there were some aspects that were kind of predictable to me and there were still some subplots or questions that seemed unanswered. It would have been nice to get some answers about those certain things.
I also feel like the author could expounded more on certain elements. For example, most of the book was Jane recounting her experience and narrating her struggle on trying return to her normal life. It wasn’t until the end that we started to see Jane actually healing. And although I liked the ending, I would have liked to see more of that healing process and how she will overcome or accept her trauma.
Overall, this was a great read! My actual rating: 3.5 stars.
Content warnings: kidnapping, emotional manipulation, PTSD, self-harm, depression, mentions of sexual assault
I also created a playlist inspired by Jane Anonymous as part of my blog tour stop! You can listen to it here.
(This book review was first published on Enthralled Bookworm as part of the Jane Anonymous Blog Tour hosted by The Fantastic Flying Book Club.)
Listened to the audiobook on Spotify and I loved it! This is definitely the ending I hoped for in Openly Straight and I'm so glad to see Rafe and Ben happy now.
I love that so many things are explored here in this book, not just sexuality and its fluidity. There's also misogyny, bigotry, feminism, war and history, the pressure on a highschool student (I keep wondering just how busy Ben is and how he's doing all these stuff and can still somehow SURVIVE), and so much more. This was an absolute delight from start to finish. It's the contemporary book I've been waiting for.
I love that so many things are explored here in this book, not just sexuality and its fluidity. There's also misogyny, bigotry, feminism, war and history, the pressure on a highschool student (I keep wondering just how busy Ben is and how he's doing all these stuff and can still somehow SURVIVE), and so much more. This was an absolute delight from start to finish. It's the contemporary book I've been waiting for.
Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I adore Leigh Bardugo with all my heart. So when she announced Ninth House her debut adult novel, I was beyond excited! I loved her YA works and I was excited and curious to just what she could bring to the table for her adult debut.
Following Ninth House's release, I've heard a lot of great things, some that are not-so-great (mostly about the slow pace), and some content warnings from others. I was excited and nervous at the same time. But now that I've read it, here's what I can say:
Ninth House is a deliciously dark read—one that can make you feel weary one moment, then grab hold of your emotions and ensnare you the next.
Content warnings: Gore, blood, drug abuse, child rape, sex (or acts and things relating to sex), sexual assault/non-consensual acts of sex, murder (graphic descriptions of dead bodies and actual acts of murder). These are not to be taken lightly.
Excellent writing style
Loved Bardugo's writing style here in Ninth House. The story is told in alternating timelines; one from the past (last fall) and the other from the present (winter to early spring). I absolutely loved how every chapter is entwined with the next one even if they're told from different timelines. It's haunting, it's raw, it's dark, but also a bit gloomy.
I also loved how the author was able to show people, as in real people and their real struggles. People trying to get by and survive every single day, people trying to forget about their horrific past, people doing something they shouldn't because of enough motive or reward, mean people and the mean things they do to others, women trying to survive in a world dominated by men, and more.
Captivating characters
The author treated her characters with such regard and she built them bit by bit with every backstory, every detail, every word and language they spoke, every thought, every logic and reasoning. The result was captivating characters you couldn't just get enough of.
Alex, oh my dear namesake, is full of sorrow and fear and snark and such tenacity that can only be blamed on the years she spent trying to survive. I loved how I kept finding new details about her all throughout the book, like there's always something that will surprise you just when you thought you already knew her.
Darlington is a pleasant character that had me yearning for more. In the book, he's described as the "gentleman of Lethe" and that's exactly what he is. He's intelligent, talented, charming, full of passion, and I could even say righteous (because he is, I swear!). I'm excited to see what the next book has in store for his character.
Minor characters also made the story so intriguing including Dawes, Detective Turner, Dean Sandow, Professor Belbalm, and of course, the Bridegroom.
Intricate plot
In a way, this book feels like a darker, bolder episode of Supernatural (you know, the one about two brothers fighting ghosts, ghouls, monsters, and witches, the show I'm particularly fond of, the show that's already on its last season, but anyway, no one needs to know about my other woes). It's a murder mystery entangled with the occult and all paranormal things.
It's definitely slow-paced, and one might think it's going nowhere or nothing's happening, but as for me, I really like how the plot took some time to brew. I felt like there are so many details, so much stories to absorb. There are certain parts of the book when I thought "these don't matter/these don't seem like a big deal", but I read on and they do. Whether it is something to add to the plot later or something to build the character.
Exquisite world-building
The world-building in Ninth House is just so exquisite. The dark magic, the secret societies, the supernatural—all of it is just so alluring and atmospheric and I can't help but fall in love with it.
Most of the chapters have these "excerpts" in the beginning, taken from diaries and manuals regarding the societies, their history, and their magic. I loved it so much and it definitely helped me as a reader paint a picture of these secret societies.
Of course, there's also mythology and magic embedded in the story, and I'm excited for more in the next book!
Overall, definitely a great read for me! Actual rating 4.5 stars. An excellent book to end my year and the decade!
(This book review was first published in Enthralled Bookworm.)
Following Ninth House's release, I've heard a lot of great things, some that are not-so-great (mostly about the slow pace), and some content warnings from others. I was excited and nervous at the same time. But now that I've read it, here's what I can say:
Ninth House is a deliciously dark read—one that can make you feel weary one moment, then grab hold of your emotions and ensnare you the next.
Content warnings: Gore, blood, drug abuse, child rape, sex (or acts and things relating to sex), sexual assault/non-consensual acts of sex, murder (graphic descriptions of dead bodies and actual acts of murder). These are not to be taken lightly.
Excellent writing style
Loved Bardugo's writing style here in Ninth House. The story is told in alternating timelines; one from the past (last fall) and the other from the present (winter to early spring). I absolutely loved how every chapter is entwined with the next one even if they're told from different timelines. It's haunting, it's raw, it's dark, but also a bit gloomy.
I also loved how the author was able to show people, as in real people and their real struggles. People trying to get by and survive every single day, people trying to forget about their horrific past, people doing something they shouldn't because of enough motive or reward, mean people and the mean things they do to others, women trying to survive in a world dominated by men, and more.
Captivating characters
The author treated her characters with such regard and she built them bit by bit with every backstory, every detail, every word and language they spoke, every thought, every logic and reasoning. The result was captivating characters you couldn't just get enough of.
Alex, oh my dear namesake, is full of sorrow and fear and snark and such tenacity that can only be blamed on the years she spent trying to survive. I loved how I kept finding new details about her all throughout the book, like there's always something that will surprise you just when you thought you already knew her.
Darlington is a pleasant character that had me yearning for more. In the book, he's described as the "gentleman of Lethe" and that's exactly what he is. He's intelligent, talented, charming, full of passion, and I could even say righteous (because he is, I swear!). I'm excited to see what the next book has in store for his character.
Minor characters also made the story so intriguing including Dawes, Detective Turner, Dean Sandow, Professor Belbalm, and of course, the Bridegroom.
Intricate plot
In a way, this book feels like a darker, bolder episode of Supernatural (you know, the one about two brothers fighting ghosts, ghouls, monsters, and witches, the show I'm particularly fond of, the show that's already on its last season, but anyway, no one needs to know about my other woes). It's a murder mystery entangled with the occult and all paranormal things.
It's definitely slow-paced, and one might think it's going nowhere or nothing's happening, but as for me, I really like how the plot took some time to brew. I felt like there are so many details, so much stories to absorb. There are certain parts of the book when I thought "these don't matter/these don't seem like a big deal", but I read on and they do. Whether it is something to add to the plot later or something to build the character.
Exquisite world-building
The world-building in Ninth House is just so exquisite. The dark magic, the secret societies, the supernatural—all of it is just so alluring and atmospheric and I can't help but fall in love with it.
Most of the chapters have these "excerpts" in the beginning, taken from diaries and manuals regarding the societies, their history, and their magic. I loved it so much and it definitely helped me as a reader paint a picture of these secret societies.
Of course, there's also mythology and magic embedded in the story, and I'm excited for more in the next book!
Overall, definitely a great read for me! Actual rating 4.5 stars. An excellent book to end my year and the decade!
(This book review was first published in Enthralled Bookworm.)
Although I wasn’t fully blown away, The Winter Duke is one entertaining read filled to the brim with political intrigue.
The Winter Duke is a great read for those who yearn for political intrigue. From start to finish, it was all about politics and who’s trying to kill who, or who’s betraying who, or trying to discern who exactly is the enemy and the ally. It was a game of secrets and betrayals and trying to find the right decision.
As for me, although I did like the book, I wasn’t too keen on how the story was told. I felt like it dragged on and not many exciting events or action happened (which I would have liked). The story did have some plot twists near the end, but I guess I wanted something grander especially because the synopsis excited me a lot.
I liked the characters enough, but I wasn’t too invested in them. Ekata was an okay main character. I could feel her frustration and her fear as she took on the role of the grand duke. I wish she could have done more, but I feel like that’s not her personality. Inkar is probably my favorite character in The Winter Duke. She was fierce and brave, and definitely what Ekata needs in her life. If Ekata is ice, Inkar is the fire—they complemented each other really well and I loved that.
I also loved the queer representation in this book and how sexuality is a normal thing in their fictional world. It didn’t bring any complication to the plot nor is it a problem in their society. That was a nice thing to see in a YA fantasy novel like this.
(This review was first published on Enthralled Bookworm.)
The Winter Duke is a great read for those who yearn for political intrigue. From start to finish, it was all about politics and who’s trying to kill who, or who’s betraying who, or trying to discern who exactly is the enemy and the ally. It was a game of secrets and betrayals and trying to find the right decision.
As for me, although I did like the book, I wasn’t too keen on how the story was told. I felt like it dragged on and not many exciting events or action happened (which I would have liked). The story did have some plot twists near the end, but I guess I wanted something grander especially because the synopsis excited me a lot.
I liked the characters enough, but I wasn’t too invested in them. Ekata was an okay main character. I could feel her frustration and her fear as she took on the role of the grand duke. I wish she could have done more, but I feel like that’s not her personality. Inkar is probably my favorite character in The Winter Duke. She was fierce and brave, and definitely what Ekata needs in her life. If Ekata is ice, Inkar is the fire—they complemented each other really well and I loved that.
I also loved the queer representation in this book and how sexuality is a normal thing in their fictional world. It didn’t bring any complication to the plot nor is it a problem in their society. That was a nice thing to see in a YA fantasy novel like this.
(This review was first published on Enthralled Bookworm.)
I received an e-arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Tor Books!
I went into this book not really knowing anything other than the synopsis and that it’s queer.
I never knew that it will blow me away with such a beautiful, breathtaking, wholesome story. Because that’s what this book is: a beautiful, breathtaking, wholesome story from start to finish.
(Sorry, my mind went blank somewhere around here. I was trying to think of other things to describe this book, but I don’t think they’ll ever be enough! *cries*)
For starters, The House in the Cerulean Sea is wonderfully-written. It was able to capture the emotions and thoughts of the characters and project it to the readers. It was also funny, yet poignant and deep. I couldn’t simply stop reading, and if I did, the story stayed on my mind.
This book is character-driven, and the characters are just amazing. I loved Linus’s character arc. He starts as this obedient and loyal employee who feels small and unseen. At the end of the book he’s not any of those things anymore, and I loved that! He discovers and realizes many things, and he grows and he learns. My favorites would have to be the kids though, specifically Chauncey (the unidentifiable green blob) and Lucy (the Antichrist (yep, you read that right indeed)). They’re just so pure! I loved Arthur and Zoe as well. They completed the story and I loved that Arthur got some character development, too!
The plot, though simple, is incredibly profound. Linus is a case worker and the fate of this rundown orphanage and the dangerous, yet extraordinary kids lie in his decision and recommendation. The story follows Linus and his one month stay at Marsyas Island Orphanage. It’s slow going, but Linus gets to know the kids and the caretakers. He gets to know the island and the prejudice against the orphanage. He realizes the unfairness of many things. He realizes where he belongs. He finally finds his own home. Along the way, there are secrets, riots, self-realizations, love, and healing. It’s wholesome, pure, and absolutely perfect.
Above all, this is a story that teaches us to be kind, that the world is not merely black and white, and that it’s okay to feel small once in a while. I’m completely blown away by it. I fell in love with this story and I’ll forever cherish it in my heart.
In conclusion, The House in the Cerulean Sea is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2020. Five stars!
(This review was first published on Enthralled Bookworm.)
I went into this book not really knowing anything other than the synopsis and that it’s queer.
I never knew that it will blow me away with such a beautiful, breathtaking, wholesome story. Because that’s what this book is: a beautiful, breathtaking, wholesome story from start to finish.
(Sorry, my mind went blank somewhere around here. I was trying to think of other things to describe this book, but I don’t think they’ll ever be enough! *cries*)
For starters, The House in the Cerulean Sea is wonderfully-written. It was able to capture the emotions and thoughts of the characters and project it to the readers. It was also funny, yet poignant and deep. I couldn’t simply stop reading, and if I did, the story stayed on my mind.
This book is character-driven, and the characters are just amazing. I loved Linus’s character arc. He starts as this obedient and loyal employee who feels small and unseen. At the end of the book he’s not any of those things anymore, and I loved that! He discovers and realizes many things, and he grows and he learns. My favorites would have to be the kids though, specifically Chauncey (the unidentifiable green blob) and Lucy (the Antichrist (yep, you read that right indeed)). They’re just so pure! I loved Arthur and Zoe as well. They completed the story and I loved that Arthur got some character development, too!
The plot, though simple, is incredibly profound. Linus is a case worker and the fate of this rundown orphanage and the dangerous, yet extraordinary kids lie in his decision and recommendation. The story follows Linus and his one month stay at Marsyas Island Orphanage. It’s slow going, but Linus gets to know the kids and the caretakers. He gets to know the island and the prejudice against the orphanage. He realizes the unfairness of many things. He realizes where he belongs. He finally finds his own home. Along the way, there are secrets, riots, self-realizations, love, and healing. It’s wholesome, pure, and absolutely perfect.
Above all, this is a story that teaches us to be kind, that the world is not merely black and white, and that it’s okay to feel small once in a while. I’m completely blown away by it. I fell in love with this story and I’ll forever cherish it in my heart.
In conclusion, The House in the Cerulean Sea is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2020. Five stars!
(This review was first published on Enthralled Bookworm.)
Red, White & Royal Blue is a delightful, heartwarming, and hilarious story that will surely make you cry, laugh, and ultimately, fall in love. This is one of my most anticipated reads this year, and boooyyy, it did not disappoint.
Y'all this book. I just feel like, this book has almost all the things I want to see in a contemporary novel: the angst, the fluff, the drama, the smut (YES, THE SMUT. This book is NOT YOUNG ADULT. The author has stressed this out so many times already.), lovable characters, excellent dialogue, interesting plot, family and friends themes, identity theme, coming-to-terms-with-sexuality bits, pining, enemies-to-lovers trope, and probably a lot more things but I just can't remember them as of this moment! But anyway, I'll try to talk about them one by one.
Great writing
There's something about the author's writing style that just gets me. It's not complicated, instead it's light and hilarious. But at the same time, it can also get elegant and poignant. And of course, at other parts, it's also very steamy. The author just managed to pull me in with her words, and evoked several emotions (and tears) out of me, and it's just so good. Some flashback parts confused me a little bit though, but other than that, I loved it.
Precious characters (yes, even the minor characters are precious)
I am not even kidding when I tell you all the characters are precious. Even the minor characters are precious, not just Alex and Henry!
Alex has so much charm and tenacity and wit. Best of all, he has a heart of gold. He truly does. With his aspirations in life, his goals, you can see it and it's amazing. I have to commend the way the author handled his coming-to-terms-with-his sexuality part. There was a line there that says, "I thought I knew my identity, that there were no questions left." For me, that was just so good and so real, because it shows that no matter how old we get, we're still going to discover new things about ourselves, and that questioning your sexuality and coming to terms with it has no age limit and that it's a totally different experience for everybody.
Henry, oh Henry. He is this bright and lovable character who's holding too much burden on his shoulders. There's a lot of struggle in Henry's character arc (I'm not saying Alex didn't have struggle, he did!, but Henry's story will break your heart), a lot of loneliness and fear and repressed emotions, and he deserves all the happiness and love in the world. He deserves it. At one point in the book, he goes, "I'm as much of a person and a part of this family as you. I deserve to be happy as much as any of you do." It's heartbreaking and also perfect and brave. I love this guy.
And of course, the minor characters. Wow. June, Nora, Bea, Pez, President Mom, Shaan, Zahra, Raphael Luna, EVERYONE. All of them has a distinct character, has their own story to share, and they all made this book extraordinary.
Nerve-wrecking, heart-aching plot
What I loved about the plot is that it's not just your usual pining romance, learning-to-love, finding-your-true-self kind of plot. There's also politics in it, so it definitely added thrill and emotions and complexity. And although I'm not the best at politics nor am I a 100% familiar with American politics, I LOVED IT.
On other hand, the plot does remind a little bit of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (if you've read both Simon vs. and RWRB, you'll know what I'm talking about). And I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I just feel like I should have realized it immediately. But apart from that, everything is great—the angst, the fluff, the plot twists, the turn of events.
I can't believe I'm doing it (I've been holding off on giving five stars recently for some reason, I didn't even give Gideon the Ninth full 5 stars), but damn, I give 5 stars to this book! I just loved it so much! And thank God, it's already been optioned for film! Yep! You heard that right! Red, White & Royal Blue has been optioned film! SCREAM WITH ME AAAAAAHHHHHHH
Also, content warning: vulgar language/profanity and sexually explicit scenes(not in the level of Fifty Shades or anything, but there are steamy scenes).
(This book review was first published on Enthralled Bookworm.)
Y'all this book. I just feel like, this book has almost all the things I want to see in a contemporary novel: the angst, the fluff, the drama, the smut (YES, THE SMUT. This book is NOT YOUNG ADULT. The author has stressed this out so many times already.), lovable characters, excellent dialogue, interesting plot, family and friends themes, identity theme, coming-to-terms-with-sexuality bits, pining, enemies-to-lovers trope, and probably a lot more things but I just can't remember them as of this moment! But anyway, I'll try to talk about them one by one.
Great writing
There's something about the author's writing style that just gets me. It's not complicated, instead it's light and hilarious. But at the same time, it can also get elegant and poignant. And of course, at other parts, it's also very steamy. The author just managed to pull me in with her words, and evoked several emotions (and tears) out of me, and it's just so good. Some flashback parts confused me a little bit though, but other than that, I loved it.
Precious characters (yes, even the minor characters are precious)
I am not even kidding when I tell you all the characters are precious. Even the minor characters are precious, not just Alex and Henry!
Alex has so much charm and tenacity and wit. Best of all, he has a heart of gold. He truly does. With his aspirations in life, his goals, you can see it and it's amazing. I have to commend the way the author handled his coming-to-terms-with-his sexuality part. There was a line there that says, "I thought I knew my identity, that there were no questions left." For me, that was just so good and so real, because it shows that no matter how old we get, we're still going to discover new things about ourselves, and that questioning your sexuality and coming to terms with it has no age limit and that it's a totally different experience for everybody.
Henry, oh Henry. He is this bright and lovable character who's holding too much burden on his shoulders. There's a lot of struggle in Henry's character arc (I'm not saying Alex didn't have struggle, he did!, but Henry's story will break your heart), a lot of loneliness and fear and repressed emotions, and he deserves all the happiness and love in the world. He deserves it. At one point in the book, he goes, "I'm as much of a person and a part of this family as you. I deserve to be happy as much as any of you do." It's heartbreaking and also perfect and brave. I love this guy.
And of course, the minor characters. Wow. June, Nora, Bea, Pez, President Mom, Shaan, Zahra, Raphael Luna, EVERYONE. All of them has a distinct character, has their own story to share, and they all made this book extraordinary.
Nerve-wrecking, heart-aching plot
What I loved about the plot is that it's not just your usual pining romance, learning-to-love, finding-your-true-self kind of plot. There's also politics in it, so it definitely added thrill and emotions and complexity. And although I'm not the best at politics nor am I a 100% familiar with American politics, I LOVED IT.
On other hand, the plot does remind a little bit of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (if you've read both Simon vs. and RWRB, you'll know what I'm talking about). And I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I just feel like I should have realized it immediately. But apart from that, everything is great—the angst, the fluff, the plot twists, the turn of events.
I can't believe I'm doing it (I've been holding off on giving five stars recently for some reason, I didn't even give Gideon the Ninth full 5 stars), but damn, I give 5 stars to this book! I just loved it so much! And thank God, it's already been optioned for film! Yep! You heard that right! Red, White & Royal Blue has been optioned film! SCREAM WITH ME AAAAAAHHHHHHH
Also, content warning: vulgar language/profanity and sexually explicit scenes
(This book review was first published on Enthralled Bookworm.)