I think it took me about six hours to read The Fallen Kingdom, and they were six of the most emotional hours of my life. Any book that causes me such major emotional turmoil absolutely deserves five stars, as in my opinion it’s a clear indication that the author did such a phenomenal job with every part of their story. I started this book extremely stressed and concerned for these characters and that didn’t go away until the very last chapter. Major kudos, Elizabeth May.

In this finale, the stakes are higher and the emotions more intense than either of the previous books combined. May wrote the end of both the human and fae worlds so vividly, and that plus several complex character arcs and dynamics made a story I just couldn’t put down. Legitimately all I did today was read; I finished the second book in the trilogy in the morning, and started this one almost immediately after.

The friendships and romance are some of my absolute favorites. Aileana, Derrick, and the twins make an amazing team. Aileana and Kiaran have become one of my most loved fictional couples, and that list is rather exclusive. I lost count of how many laughs, gasps, and swoons they caused.

I can’t say much about the last sixty pages due to major spoilers, but I will say this: no matter what you predict or how you prepare, you won’t be ready for the roller coaster ahead. I certainly wasn’t. Up until now, only one book ever made me emotional enough that I almost cried, and even then, I didn’t. I just don’t cry when I read. One event and its aftermath had me unbelievably close to tears. Another had me equally close to throwing my phone—since I was reading this digitally—across the room because I could not accept the series ending in such a way. The final
chapter had me happier and more relieved than I can properly express. Talk about cutting it close.

Anyway, emotional rambling is about as much as you’ll get from me. I loved this book. I loved this trilogy. The Falconer is a hidden gem, and I can’t recommend it enough.

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The first half of The Vanishing Throne didn’t immediately capture my interest the way its predecessor did. By the time I was halfway done I was intrigued enough and figured I’d give this four stars just like The Falconer. But then I read the second half, and if I wasn’t completely invested in these characters and their story before, I certainly am
now.

I love Aileana, Kiaran, Aithinne, and Derrick so much. I love them with my entire being. They’re well-written and complex with interesting dynamics between the four of them, as well as plenty of banter. Derrick is still my favorite sassy pixie. Kiaran and Aithinne are now one of my favorite sibling duos. I liked Aithinne’s friendship with Aileana. What I liked most of all, though, was Aileana and Kiaran‘s relationship. These two will be the freaking death of me!!! They’re so cute, almost too cute to handle, and the number of times they’ve made me emotional is just not fair. I didn’t know what I was signing up for when I picked up the first book. I mean, I don’t regret it, but damn, warn a girl.

As for the story, once again, May did a brilliant job writing something unique with high stakes that I never wanted to stop reading. This is the second time I’ve sped through one of her books, and to me, that’s quite indicative of her talent.

And some of the plot twists? I did not see them coming. I was not emotionally prepared. Fun fact: I accidentally read the first line of the third book’s synopsis and ended up spoiling something. Even with that tidbit in my mind, I wasn’t able to predict what happened in the final chapters of this book, and I had a lot of predictions. All I’ll say is that I am STRESSED and I need the third book now. So I’m going to go start reading.

My best friend marathoned this trilogy last summer and has been desperate for me to read it ever since. Now that I finally have, I can definitely understand why she loves The Falconer. I really enjoyed it, too.

May’s steampunk Scotland is a world unlike any I’ve read before, both because I’ve yet to read a book set in Scotland and because of the fascinating gadgets. Not only are there many present in the world, but the protagonist Aileana is an inventor; we frequently see her tinkering and, even though it’s not something I could ever do, I found it quite interesting.

I also found May’s take on the fae very interesting. There are the traditional human-like creatures that can’t lie, as well as hounds and dragons and one brilliant, snarky pixie. I enjoyed seeing how she took traditional myths and made them her own, adding tidbits of intriguing information throughout the story.

The characters, though—they steal the show. Aileana is an upper class girl different from her peers and often scorned because of it. She prefers inventing to partying and, ever since her mother died a year prior, hunting fae to socializing. I liked her, and I especially liked that, even though she personally has no interest in ball gowns and marriage and the like, she didn’t look down on those who did.

The love interest, Kiaran, is a faery that trains Aileana and helps her hunt other fae. He’s quite mysterious and aloof, and it took some time for him to grow on me. But he did, and by the end of the book I wanted to hide him and keep  him safe from both worlds. He’s a very complex character, and I look forward to falling more in love with him as I continue the series. (For a lesbian, I have a surprisingly long list of fictional guys I love, and he’s the newest addition.)

All of the side characters were well-written too. My favorite is, without a doubt, Derrick. He’s a sassy little pixie obsessed with honey and clothes and I would like him to be my friend. It’s also really sweet how much he cares about Aileana. Their friendship is my new favorite thing.

And Aileana and Kiaran’s relationship? Gold. I haven’t read many allies to lovers stories, but these two have me wanting more. I will say that the romance is scarcely present in this book, though, with the exception of Aileana crushing on Kiaran. No matter what she says, that’s what she was doing, and no one can convince me otherwise. Their dynamic was a lot of fun, and as the story progressed it got more emotional than I was expecting. I ship them so much and I hope things work out for them.

The story starts off on a quick note and hardly slows down. I sped through this in less than a day because I was constantly wanting to know what happened next. As the end approached I was more and more nervous, and rightfully so. While the book doesn’t end on a massive cliffhanger, it does end in a way that has me very eager to read but very concerned for the second installment. I’m going to go start that now. I definitely recommend this book; it’s a hidden gem in the YA fantasy genre.

I was excited for more content in the Folk of the Air world, and this little novella collection certainly delivered. Cardan is one of my favorite lovable dumbasses, so I devoured these stories in just a few hours. Also, the entire book is absolutely gorgeous. Rovina Cai’s illustrations are stunning, and I think her portrayal of Cardan is among the best I’ve seen.

Now for some thoughts regarding each novella.

Some of these made me laugh, and others really made me pity Cardan. It’s a super short book, easy to speed through, and if you’re a fan of this series, I can’t recommend it enough. Cardan might hate stories, but I love them.

I knew after reading only ten pages of Sick Kids in Love that I’d love it, and I was right. Moskowitz wrote such a compelling, realistic story, and I sped through it. I loved Isabel’s friends and Sasha’s family, and I loved Isabel and Sasha most of all. They were well-written, and their friends-to-lovers arc might be one of my all-time favorites. Nearly every interaction between them was adorable or amusing or both. I know I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time, and I can definitely see myself rereading it either as a pick-me-up or just because I miss Sasha.

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After how King of Fools ended, I was extremely nervous for this book, and rightfully so. From cover to cover, Queen of Volts was full of action, twists, and emotion, everything I love in series finales. I laughed and grieved and feared alongside the characters, hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

Foody expertly managed the main plot and all of the subplots, always keeping the story intriguing. There were five narrators and numerous side characters, but I was never bored or confused. Even when I was reading from someone’s perspective that didn’t interest me as much as Enne’s or Levi’s, I was entertained. By the end of the book, I was invested in literally everyone’s lives and relationships and well-being.

And speaking of Enne and Levi, oh my god, these two. I can’t put into words how much pain they caused me as I read this book. The miscommunication and repressed feelings and angst and yearning were nearly the end of me. You know how in the movie Moana, when Heihei realizes they’re on a boat in the middle of the ocean, he just screams and screams? That was me internally every time Enne and Levi almost made up, almost made out, and then got interrupted somehow or upset with each other. As if the intensity of the situation wasn’t stressful enough, I was also suffering from all of the romantic and sexual tension between these two.

I loved this book so much. Even though it was frequently painful, it also reminded me why I loved the series. I can confidently say these books are on my all-time favorites list, and the characters will always hold a special place in my heart. Please read The Shadow Game trilogy; just make sure to buckle in first, ‘cause it’s a wild ride.

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This was my introduction to Duyvis’ work, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. While the book’s concept was certainly intriguing, the execution, unfortunately, fell flat.

One positive is that the short chapters made this a very quick read despite the story’s rather slow pace. I also liked that it was set in Amsterdam and featured an autistic protagonist, as neither of those are elements I’ve seen in a science fiction book prior to this one.

Aside from those few things, though, I can’t think of much else I liked. The state of this futuristic world wasn’t entirely clear; I still don’t know what tabs are, or why some technology worked but not all. I’m also curious about what the world is like outside of the comet’s impact zone, as it’s never mentioned. Sure, it’s not truly important, but inquiring minds want to know.

Lastly, I found the last third of the book quite confusing. What was likely intended to be a conflict for the protagonist felt more like Duyvis going back and forth trying to decide how to end the story, and then ignoring those imperfections while editing. The very end was satisfying, I admit, but I wasn’t a fan of the path that led to it.

On the Edge of Gone wasn’t my cup of tea, but it might be yours. If you’re looking for more autism representation in non-contemporary novels, or a sci-fi that isn’t quite so focused on technology, I recommend this. Just don’t go in with super high expectations. Personally, I plan to read more from Duyvis, and hopefully will enjoy those stories much more.

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Ortiz’s debut is brilliantly written, with complex characters, epic dragons, and high stakes. I loved Lana and Team Puerto Rico, and their friendships with each other and other players. I loved the idea of Blazewrath, and the matches were so much fun to read. While I would’ve liked to see Lana in a romantic relationship with someone, I respect that she wasn’t. My only issue with this book was that, though the story captured my attention, it didn’t consistently hold my attention until the last third of the book. Nonetheless, I’ll definitely be reading the sequel. I want more of Team Puerto Rico and their dragons. Highly recommended.

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CW: death, child death, murder, violence, ableism, racism, sexism, child abuse, cancer

I remember loving McDowell’s debut, Just for Clicks, when I read it a couple of years ago. One Way or Another has been on my tbr since it was announced, and I’m happy to say that McDowell is now two for two when it comes to amazing contemporaries with relatable characters and relationships you can’t help but root for, perfect to read in a single afternoon. I mean, I read this in two afternoons, but my point still stands.

I’ll admit, sometimes I found the concept of the two fates confusing. Which one was real? Were either of them real, or were they intricate imaginings of what could happen? Even after finishing the book, I’m not sure. But I can look past that because I thoroughly enjoyed Paige and Fitz’s story. I even grew to sort of like Harrison. Sure, there was some drama that seemed unnecessary, but that’s to be expected in this genre. I also don’t mind, given the good writing and the abundance of sweet moments, with and without kissing, we got to counterbalance the drama.

I truly believe Kara McDowell’s books deserve more love, and am baffled as to why they haven’t received more. I can confidently say she’s one of my top ten contemporary/romance writers. Pick up One Way or Another. Heck, I might again at some point while I wait for more from this author. It’s a fun, cute and cozy read despite its flaws.

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This is undoubtedly one of the slowest, most confusing books I’ve ever read. That being said, I like what Ness did with this novel. He created complex characters and an intriguing world where literally nothing is as it seems. You never know exactly what’s going on, and for every answer you get, there are at least five new questions.

While the intrigue was maintained, I won’t lie: sometimes, the slow pacing was off-putting. However, the desire to know what the fudge was happening paired with the extremely short chapters kept me reading. I also quite liked Regine and Tomasz.

Thank you, Erika, for pushing me to read this for the last couple of years. I’m glad I finally did. More Than This is better than the Chaos Walking trilogy, even if half the time, I had no clue what was real and I never knew what to expect. Now I can recommend it alongside you. It’s a twisted story, but one that’s worth the read.

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