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828 reviews by:
olivialandryxo
Review also on my blog.
I wasn't expecting to love this book nearly as much as I did.
The basic plot is this: the daughter of a famed general purchases a slave at an auction on impulse and has to hide her growing feelings for him while deciding whether she would rather marry or join the military. Some say the first half is slow, and while I can see why they'd think that, I think it's more along the lines of allowing readers to get used to the world and the characters. In my opinion, it was done very well; the story never felt forced or drawn out. Then the second half came, and everything went down. This was when the intensity came, and the emotions along with it. If I loved everything about the first half, then I adored everything about the second half.
I want to make it clear: I love Kestrel Trajan. She's one of my new favorite female leads. She's not the best fighter, with only ordinary skills, but she's a talented strategist and has a passion for music, particularly the piano. I loved the refreshing take Marie put on her character: she relied on strategy and distance in combat, rather than actual combat skills. In this way, she was very different from any other girls I've read about. Having lost her mother at a young age, she was both empathetic as a girl of her age should be and tough as a general's daughter would be expected to be. The two were equally balanced, and it made her very interesting.
Arin, though, I have mixed feelings for. I can't specify why without spoiling, but for those who have read it: the second half. You'll know exactly what I mean. He was charismatic and dedicated, but I never knew what to expect from him. While that is a good thing, it also put me in that uncomfortable position of having a love-hate relationship with him. Sometimes I liked him, and often I didn't. I understood his reasoning, but I also couldn't stand it. Looking beyond that, though, I loved his character and his backstory. Again, saying too much would spoil it, but let me just say that it was fantastic.
I loved the world of Valoria. It had slight Ancient Rome vibes, but was still completely different and lovely...in a bit of a terrifying way. If that makes sense. It seemed like a nice place to live, but wrongly acquired and equipped with a strict, expectant government and society. I think living there would be fun at my age, but also stressful, with the choice of enlisting or marrying coming much too soon. The world was well-written and creative, and I was left with only one question. Early on it's mentioned that captured runaway slaves had their ears and nose cut off because it was a punishment that didn't impede their work. Wouldn't lack of hearing count as an impediment? And for cooks, lack of smell, too? I would think that they would punish with other methods: beatings, maybe, or possibly the loss of a finger or two...while it would be difficult to recover from the latter, I imagine having eight fingers would be easier to work with than having no ears.
I really enjoyed the friendship between Kestrel and Jess. She was the best friend I wish I had, always there for you to support you, but also constantly teasing. The dynamic between them was fun and just fabulous, and I hope nothing happens to her or their bond in the rest of the trilogy.
Then, of course, there's the romance between Kestrel and Arin. As a lady and a slave, respectively, any bond is clearly not allowed. But, obviously, I hoped for one; I do consider myself a hopeless romantic after all, and forbidden love happens to be particularly intriguing to me if it's done well. And in this case, it certainly was. I shipped them basically from the beginning...until the second half, that is. From there, I wasn't sure what to think. Part of me still wanted it to happen so badly, and the other part of me was very skeptical and almost against it. Currently, I don't know where I stand on their romance, but I hope to love it again after continuing the trilogy.
Like I said before, the first half was enjoyable but mostly uneventful. Then I get to the second, and everything that could happen does. It's so hard not to just talk about absolutely everything, but that's what my video review is for. Okay...I had a slight idea of the original twist, but I didn't see anything after that coming. All I could do was keep turning pages and hope for the best for Kestrel...okay, and Arin too, although I wasn't as worried about him for varying reasons. But regardless, the story was a mostly wild ride and I absolutely loved it.
So, yes, if you couldn't tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, much more than I thought I would, and I'll be reading the sequel as soon as I can.
I wasn't expecting to love this book nearly as much as I did.
The basic plot is this: the daughter of a famed general purchases a slave at an auction on impulse and has to hide her growing feelings for him while deciding whether she would rather marry or join the military. Some say the first half is slow, and while I can see why they'd think that, I think it's more along the lines of allowing readers to get used to the world and the characters. In my opinion, it was done very well; the story never felt forced or drawn out. Then the second half came, and everything went down. This was when the intensity came, and the emotions along with it. If I loved everything about the first half, then I adored everything about the second half.
I want to make it clear: I love Kestrel Trajan. She's one of my new favorite female leads. She's not the best fighter, with only ordinary skills, but she's a talented strategist and has a passion for music, particularly the piano. I loved the refreshing take Marie put on her character: she relied on strategy and distance in combat, rather than actual combat skills. In this way, she was very different from any other girls I've read about. Having lost her mother at a young age, she was both empathetic as a girl of her age should be and tough as a general's daughter would be expected to be. The two were equally balanced, and it made her very interesting.
Arin, though, I have mixed feelings for. I can't specify why without spoiling, but for those who have read it: the second half. You'll know exactly what I mean. He was charismatic and dedicated, but I never knew what to expect from him. While that is a good thing, it also put me in that uncomfortable position of having a love-hate relationship with him. Sometimes I liked him, and often I didn't. I understood his reasoning, but I also couldn't stand it. Looking beyond that, though, I loved his character and his backstory. Again, saying too much would spoil it, but let me just say that it was fantastic.
I loved the world of Valoria. It had slight Ancient Rome vibes, but was still completely different and lovely...in a bit of a terrifying way. If that makes sense. It seemed like a nice place to live, but wrongly acquired and equipped with a strict, expectant government and society. I think living there would be fun at my age, but also stressful, with the choice of enlisting or marrying coming much too soon. The world was well-written and creative, and I was left with only one question. Early on it's mentioned that captured runaway slaves had their ears and nose cut off because it was a punishment that didn't impede their work. Wouldn't lack of hearing count as an impediment? And for cooks, lack of smell, too? I would think that they would punish with other methods: beatings, maybe, or possibly the loss of a finger or two...while it would be difficult to recover from the latter, I imagine having eight fingers would be easier to work with than having no ears.
I really enjoyed the friendship between Kestrel and Jess. She was the best friend I wish I had, always there for you to support you, but also constantly teasing. The dynamic between them was fun and just fabulous, and I hope nothing happens to her or their bond in the rest of the trilogy.
Then, of course, there's the romance between Kestrel and Arin. As a lady and a slave, respectively, any bond is clearly not allowed. But, obviously, I hoped for one; I do consider myself a hopeless romantic after all, and forbidden love happens to be particularly intriguing to me if it's done well. And in this case, it certainly was. I shipped them basically from the beginning...until the second half, that is. From there, I wasn't sure what to think. Part of me still wanted it to happen so badly, and the other part of me was very skeptical and almost against it. Currently, I don't know where I stand on their romance, but I hope to love it again after continuing the trilogy.
Like I said before, the first half was enjoyable but mostly uneventful. Then I get to the second, and everything that could happen does. It's so hard not to just talk about absolutely everything, but that's what my video review is for. Okay...I had a slight idea of the original twist, but I didn't see anything after that coming. All I could do was keep turning pages and hope for the best for Kestrel...okay, and Arin too, although I wasn't as worried about him for varying reasons. But regardless, the story was a mostly wild ride and I absolutely loved it.
So, yes, if you couldn't tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, much more than I thought I would, and I'll be reading the sequel as soon as I can.
Review is also on my blog.
Video coming tomorrow.
Some people say this book is overhyped. Others say it's a fabulous high fantasy. I'm thrilled to say that, after finally reading it, I'm on the latter team. :D
It was a crazy story of magic, friendship, and the hunter vs the hunted. There was so much action and suspense, but it wasn't overwhelming. It was perfectly balanced with sea travel and consequences of prior actions. I didn't have much time to read it at first, but I was engaged from the first page. Today I read the entire second half in a matter of hours. Sarah J. Maas's blurb on the cover is a perfect description.
I loved Safi; she's a new favorite character. She was extremely impulsive, and a brave, loyal friend and companion. She was a Truthwitch, able to tell truths from lies, and that gave her a definite advantage throughout the story. I also loved her snarky attitude and her quick retorts, both to people she found irritating and people against Iseult. She was ambitious and dedicated to anything she set her mind to, and I loved seeing how that and other things shaped her character throughout the story.
Iseult is also a new favorite. She was the calm one, the one that stopped to think things through and help Safi out of difficult situations. She was a Threadwitch, able to see emotions and bonds around everyone except herself and others with her skill, and it both helped and hurt her as the story progressed. She was also part of a tribe that few respected and even fewer liked, and faced insults and jabs regularly. I admired the way she stood up to all of it and didn't seem to let it get to her. I was really worried for her in the middle chunk of the book, and relieved everything worked out eventually.
Then there's the guys, Merik and Aeduan. The former was a Windwitch, able to assist with sailing and fly in short bursts, and the latter a Bloodwitch, able to smell and track other people's blood. Merik took some time to get used to, but I ended up loving him and giving him a spot on my list of favorite guys. Aeduan, though, I'm really not sure about. He was very well-written and I liked his character arc, but I didn't know what to think of him. For most of the book I wanted him to go away, and in the last quarter or so a love-hate relationship was born. I guess I'll have to read the sequel to figure it out. ;)
I loved the world Susan created. The magic system was rich, clear, and realistic, and the world itself was vibrant in every way: history, culture, people. It was very interesting to read about and adventure through, but also kind of terrifying. I love when authors can do that to readers - rope them into a fictional world as pages are turned. I have to say, though, that with the way things ended, I wouldn't want to live there...unless Noden's Gift was an option. :) (If you've read it, you'll get it.)
One of my absolute favorite parts of this book was the strong spotlight on friendship. Safi and Iseult had a deep, genuine bond, and they were each other's confidants, supporters, and best friend. It's become typical for girls in YA, no matter the genre, to be wary of each other or to only associate if something was wrong. In this book, it was the polar opposite and I loved it. The Threadsister bond they had was something I dream of, both to read about and personally experience. I could say the same about Merik and Kullen, who were Threadbrothers. The only difference between their bond and Safi and Iseult's was their gender; otherwise it seemed identical. So in this case, there were two heartwarmingly strong bonds with no romantic ties - kudos to Susan on that.
Another thing I thoroughly enjoyed was the lack of romance. Yes, you heard me right; a high fantasy with two strong friendships and no romances. Perfect, right? Yes, absolutely. The only hint of any romance was between Safi and Merik, and that was nearly nonexistent until the last chunk of the story. Instead they had a steadily growing platonic bond, with friendly teases and taunts exchanged, but their loyalties still exclusively elsewhere. Nonetheless, the possibility of more lies in the sequel, and of course, I ship them now. How could I be a hopeless romantic if I didn't? ;)
Then, there's the twists. Where do I start? This story was yet another that could be a second definition of the word "rollercoaster." I thought I knew what was going to happen, and I thought I knew who had what planned, but I didn't. If I guessed something, the complete opposite happened. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire second half, and I'm going to guess that's why I sped through it in a few hours. I mean, I didn't even notice pages turning or time ticking, I just had to know what was going to happen. So, again, kudos to Susan. :D
All in all, this book was everything I hoped for and more; a great start to my reading month and exactly what I needed after DNFing a book. I'm going to go look for fan art as I anxiously await the sequel. :)
Video coming tomorrow.
Some people say this book is overhyped. Others say it's a fabulous high fantasy. I'm thrilled to say that, after finally reading it, I'm on the latter team. :D
It was a crazy story of magic, friendship, and the hunter vs the hunted. There was so much action and suspense, but it wasn't overwhelming. It was perfectly balanced with sea travel and consequences of prior actions. I didn't have much time to read it at first, but I was engaged from the first page. Today I read the entire second half in a matter of hours. Sarah J. Maas's blurb on the cover is a perfect description.
I loved Safi; she's a new favorite character. She was extremely impulsive, and a brave, loyal friend and companion. She was a Truthwitch, able to tell truths from lies, and that gave her a definite advantage throughout the story. I also loved her snarky attitude and her quick retorts, both to people she found irritating and people against Iseult. She was ambitious and dedicated to anything she set her mind to, and I loved seeing how that and other things shaped her character throughout the story.
Iseult is also a new favorite. She was the calm one, the one that stopped to think things through and help Safi out of difficult situations. She was a Threadwitch, able to see emotions and bonds around everyone except herself and others with her skill, and it both helped and hurt her as the story progressed. She was also part of a tribe that few respected and even fewer liked, and faced insults and jabs regularly. I admired the way she stood up to all of it and didn't seem to let it get to her. I was really worried for her in the middle chunk of the book, and relieved everything worked out eventually.
Then there's the guys, Merik and Aeduan. The former was a Windwitch, able to assist with sailing and fly in short bursts, and the latter a Bloodwitch, able to smell and track other people's blood. Merik took some time to get used to, but I ended up loving him and giving him a spot on my list of favorite guys. Aeduan, though, I'm really not sure about. He was very well-written and I liked his character arc, but I didn't know what to think of him. For most of the book I wanted him to go away, and in the last quarter or so a love-hate relationship was born. I guess I'll have to read the sequel to figure it out. ;)
I loved the world Susan created. The magic system was rich, clear, and realistic, and the world itself was vibrant in every way: history, culture, people. It was very interesting to read about and adventure through, but also kind of terrifying. I love when authors can do that to readers - rope them into a fictional world as pages are turned. I have to say, though, that with the way things ended, I wouldn't want to live there...unless Noden's Gift was an option. :) (If you've read it, you'll get it.)
One of my absolute favorite parts of this book was the strong spotlight on friendship. Safi and Iseult had a deep, genuine bond, and they were each other's confidants, supporters, and best friend. It's become typical for girls in YA, no matter the genre, to be wary of each other or to only associate if something was wrong. In this book, it was the polar opposite and I loved it. The Threadsister bond they had was something I dream of, both to read about and personally experience. I could say the same about Merik and Kullen, who were Threadbrothers. The only difference between their bond and Safi and Iseult's was their gender; otherwise it seemed identical. So in this case, there were two heartwarmingly strong bonds with no romantic ties - kudos to Susan on that.
Another thing I thoroughly enjoyed was the lack of romance. Yes, you heard me right; a high fantasy with two strong friendships and no romances. Perfect, right? Yes, absolutely. The only hint of any romance was between Safi and Merik, and that was nearly nonexistent until the last chunk of the story. Instead they had a steadily growing platonic bond, with friendly teases and taunts exchanged, but their loyalties still exclusively elsewhere. Nonetheless, the possibility of more lies in the sequel, and of course, I ship them now. How could I be a hopeless romantic if I didn't? ;)
Then, there's the twists. Where do I start? This story was yet another that could be a second definition of the word "rollercoaster." I thought I knew what was going to happen, and I thought I knew who had what planned, but I didn't. If I guessed something, the complete opposite happened. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire second half, and I'm going to guess that's why I sped through it in a few hours. I mean, I didn't even notice pages turning or time ticking, I just had to know what was going to happen. So, again, kudos to Susan. :D
All in all, this book was everything I hoped for and more; a great start to my reading month and exactly what I needed after DNFing a book. I'm going to go look for fan art as I anxiously await the sequel. :)
Review also on my blog.
Book talk video.
This book was more than I'd ever expected it to be, and an extremely wild ride I loved every page of.
The story could fit into multiple genres - mystery, paranormal, romance. But ultimately, I would classify it as a psychological thriller. Every chapter had me hungry for more, and with Mara, I never knew for sure what was real and what wasn't. It had the potential to be confusing, especially with the fast pacing, but it was brilliantly managed. I loved the writing - insane, but beautifully haunting and intriguing. I've never read anything like this before.
Mara was a very troubled lead, and understandably so. She and her three friends had gotten into an accident and she was the only survivor; hallucinations and panic attacks follow her from Rhode Island to Florida, courtesy of her PTSD. I admired her stubbornness and bravery, pitied her situation and insecurity, and felt her anxiety when she couldn't tell what was real. I loved that she was an artist and sketched in her free time, even though it occurred less frequently as everything went downhill. I wouldn't want to be her, but I just love Mara Dyer. <3
I won't try to deny it: I love Noah Shaw. Was he your typical perfect, British boy with a cliché backstory? Yes. Was he an arrogant jerk that dated basically every girl for at least a little while? Yes. Did I fall in love with him anyway? Yes. Am I ashamed of it? No. Not at all. I'll own it. He's one of my new favorite male leads. I mean, really - if I love Rhys ([b:A Court of Thorns and Roses|16096824|A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1460846517s/16096824.jpg|21905102]) and Daemon ([b:Obsidian|12578077|Obsidian (Lux, #1)|Jennifer L. Armentrout|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328275091s/12578077.jpg|17588854]), how could I not love Noah? It's basically impossible. ;)
The book started off in Laurelton, Rhode Island, but not very far in Mara's family moved to Miami, Florida. The descriptions of Mara's reality were simple and strong, but my favorites were the (very helpfully labeled) flashbacks and hallucinations, as odd as it may seem. The latter was spooky but beautiful, and the former outright crazy. I loved that Michelle blended the reality and hallucinations so seamlessly, to the point where I didn't realize it was fake until Mara did some time later. Kudos on that.
I loved the family dynamic in this book. Most books, save contemporaries, don't have a family presence, but this one did. I'm so happy about it too, even if it seems odd. Everyone was genuine and loving, and had a distinct role and personality. Mara's dad wanted to spend more time with his wife and children, but his job as a lawyer complicated that. Mara's mom wanted to help Mara but couldn't understand and didn't get the full story. Daniel was the protective older brother, and Joseph the cute, amusing younger brother. I loved his interactions with Noah. :)
Then there's Mara and Noah's relationship. It started off awkward and complicated, morphed to a friendship, and from there it was a slow, reluctant romance. Those tend to be my favorite kind, and this was no exception. I can't say a lot more without spoiling one thing or another, but I will say this much: I ship Mara and Noah so much. <3
This book was an extremely wild ride. I was hooked from the beginning, with the Ouija board, to the end, with all of the scheming. There were so many twists, and it was made even more real and intense by Mara's decreasing grip on reality. Over the past few days, I read about half the book. Today alone, I zipped through the other half, because that's when everything went down. And I mean everything. It was absolutely nuts, and I was on the edge of my seat, loving every solitary page.
Basically, this book was everything I hoped for and more, even though I went into this nearly blind and with low expectations. I'll definitely be reading the sequel as soon as I can, and if you haven't read this yet, go do it. ;)
Book talk video.
This book was more than I'd ever expected it to be, and an extremely wild ride I loved every page of.
The story could fit into multiple genres - mystery, paranormal, romance. But ultimately, I would classify it as a psychological thriller. Every chapter had me hungry for more, and with Mara, I never knew for sure what was real and what wasn't. It had the potential to be confusing, especially with the fast pacing, but it was brilliantly managed. I loved the writing - insane, but beautifully haunting and intriguing. I've never read anything like this before.
Mara was a very troubled lead, and understandably so. She and her three friends had gotten into an accident and she was the only survivor; hallucinations and panic attacks follow her from Rhode Island to Florida, courtesy of her PTSD. I admired her stubbornness and bravery, pitied her situation and insecurity, and felt her anxiety when she couldn't tell what was real. I loved that she was an artist and sketched in her free time, even though it occurred less frequently as everything went downhill. I wouldn't want to be her, but I just love Mara Dyer. <3
I won't try to deny it: I love Noah Shaw. Was he your typical perfect, British boy with a cliché backstory? Yes. Was he an arrogant jerk that dated basically every girl for at least a little while? Yes. Did I fall in love with him anyway? Yes. Am I ashamed of it? No. Not at all. I'll own it. He's one of my new favorite male leads. I mean, really - if I love Rhys ([b:A Court of Thorns and Roses|16096824|A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1460846517s/16096824.jpg|21905102]) and Daemon ([b:Obsidian|12578077|Obsidian (Lux, #1)|Jennifer L. Armentrout|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328275091s/12578077.jpg|17588854]), how could I not love Noah? It's basically impossible. ;)
The book started off in Laurelton, Rhode Island, but not very far in Mara's family moved to Miami, Florida. The descriptions of Mara's reality were simple and strong, but my favorites were the (very helpfully labeled) flashbacks and hallucinations, as odd as it may seem. The latter was spooky but beautiful, and the former outright crazy. I loved that Michelle blended the reality and hallucinations so seamlessly, to the point where I didn't realize it was fake until Mara did some time later. Kudos on that.
I loved the family dynamic in this book. Most books, save contemporaries, don't have a family presence, but this one did. I'm so happy about it too, even if it seems odd. Everyone was genuine and loving, and had a distinct role and personality. Mara's dad wanted to spend more time with his wife and children, but his job as a lawyer complicated that. Mara's mom wanted to help Mara but couldn't understand and didn't get the full story. Daniel was the protective older brother, and Joseph the cute, amusing younger brother. I loved his interactions with Noah. :)
Then there's Mara and Noah's relationship. It started off awkward and complicated, morphed to a friendship, and from there it was a slow, reluctant romance. Those tend to be my favorite kind, and this was no exception. I can't say a lot more without spoiling one thing or another, but I will say this much: I ship Mara and Noah so much. <3
This book was an extremely wild ride. I was hooked from the beginning, with the Ouija board, to the end, with all of the scheming. There were so many twists, and it was made even more real and intense by Mara's decreasing grip on reality. Over the past few days, I read about half the book. Today alone, I zipped through the other half, because that's when everything went down. And I mean everything. It was absolutely nuts, and I was on the edge of my seat, loving every solitary page.
Basically, this book was everything I hoped for and more, even though I went into this nearly blind and with low expectations. I'll definitely be reading the sequel as soon as I can, and if you haven't read this yet, go do it. ;)
Review also on Heir of Glitter.
5 opinions I had video.
This was a great book. It was good in a way that you didn't realize until you just so happen to be halfway done with it after reading for a few hours.
I loved the story. It was unique, but also simple and fun. The main goal was for Emily to do all the things on the list Sloane left for her and hopefully figure out where her best friend had gone. But along the way, there were friendships and crushes formed and lost, and traditional teenage drama; it was written in a way that made it stand out. I enjoyed it, and sped through it quicker than I thought I would. :)
I liked Emily, I did. But it took some time for me to really like her, and feel for her. While I related to her more in the beginning, when she was shy and awkward, I liked her a lot more in the end, when she was bold but not arrogant. I feel like there should be more girl leads like that in YA that are naturally like that, rather than developing over the course of the story. Don't get me wrong, I do like character development, and Emily's was solid, but I just felt like I had seen it so many times before. Hopefully this makes sense. ;)
My favorite character was Sloane, hands down. She might have seemed like a stereotypical wild girl, but I loved her. I wish she was in the story more. Yes, there was a handful of flashbacks and a bit of time with her and Emily together, but I just wanted more of her. I couldn't really relate to her, the exception being her spontaneity. I can't really explain why, but she just seemed like the kind of girl I would love to know personally.
My feelings for Frank are similar to my feelings for Emily. I liked him, but I didn't really like him until around three-quarters through. I can't pinpoint why, except maybe that he just felt a bit too much like an adorably awkward good boy, and again, I'd read that before. I know this will most likely be seen as an unpopular opinion, but it just took me longer to find the appeal in him everyone else did instantly. :/
This book took place in a small town in Connecticut, and I'm pretty sure that's a first for me. I don't think I've ever read a book with that setting, as minor and odd as that may sound. It was interesting, but as with many contemporaries, described simply and minimally. However, as I've said before, it doesn't bother me because it's a real place and therefore doesn't require much detail. ;) (My favorite place/part was the beach behind Frank's house.)
I loved Emily and Sloane's friendship. It's easily one of the best I've read about in a contemporary, and it was just so amazing to read about. Some people might've seen it as cliché, the shy girl and wild girl becoming best friends and being each other's around-the-clock confidant, but I didn't. To me it was a friendship I dream of having. Close friendships between two girls will probably always be a weak spot for me in books.
Then there's the budding romance between Emily and Frank. Again, this will most likely be an unpopular opinion, but it took me some time before I decided to ship them. I mean, if I didn't really like them right away, how could I ship them right away? In the end, though, when I had decided I did like them both, I also knew they just fit together. :)
There weren't any major twists in this book, but I thought it was intriguing to see how Emily would interpret the things on the list and gather the courage to do them. Some of them made me feel awkward or nervous for her, but others were enjoyable: skinny-dipping, for one, and also dancing until dawn. This is what kept me reading, and rather quickly, I might add. ;)
This book had a few flaws, but in general I found it to be very enjoyable and worth the hype. I'll definitely have to look into more of Morgan Matson's books. :D
5 opinions I had video.
This was a great book. It was good in a way that you didn't realize until you just so happen to be halfway done with it after reading for a few hours.
I loved the story. It was unique, but also simple and fun. The main goal was for Emily to do all the things on the list Sloane left for her and hopefully figure out where her best friend had gone. But along the way, there were friendships and crushes formed and lost, and traditional teenage drama; it was written in a way that made it stand out. I enjoyed it, and sped through it quicker than I thought I would. :)
I liked Emily, I did. But it took some time for me to really like her, and feel for her. While I related to her more in the beginning, when she was shy and awkward, I liked her a lot more in the end, when she was bold but not arrogant. I feel like there should be more girl leads like that in YA that are naturally like that, rather than developing over the course of the story. Don't get me wrong, I do like character development, and Emily's was solid, but I just felt like I had seen it so many times before. Hopefully this makes sense. ;)
My favorite character was Sloane, hands down. She might have seemed like a stereotypical wild girl, but I loved her. I wish she was in the story more. Yes, there was a handful of flashbacks and a bit of time with her and Emily together, but I just wanted more of her. I couldn't really relate to her, the exception being her spontaneity. I can't really explain why, but she just seemed like the kind of girl I would love to know personally.
My feelings for Frank are similar to my feelings for Emily. I liked him, but I didn't really like him until around three-quarters through. I can't pinpoint why, except maybe that he just felt a bit too much like an adorably awkward good boy, and again, I'd read that before. I know this will most likely be seen as an unpopular opinion, but it just took me longer to find the appeal in him everyone else did instantly. :/
This book took place in a small town in Connecticut, and I'm pretty sure that's a first for me. I don't think I've ever read a book with that setting, as minor and odd as that may sound. It was interesting, but as with many contemporaries, described simply and minimally. However, as I've said before, it doesn't bother me because it's a real place and therefore doesn't require much detail. ;) (My favorite place/part was the beach behind Frank's house.)
I loved Emily and Sloane's friendship. It's easily one of the best I've read about in a contemporary, and it was just so amazing to read about. Some people might've seen it as cliché, the shy girl and wild girl becoming best friends and being each other's around-the-clock confidant, but I didn't. To me it was a friendship I dream of having. Close friendships between two girls will probably always be a weak spot for me in books.
Then there's the budding romance between Emily and Frank. Again, this will most likely be an unpopular opinion, but it took me some time before I decided to ship them. I mean, if I didn't really like them right away, how could I ship them right away? In the end, though, when I had decided I did like them both, I also knew they just fit together. :)
There weren't any major twists in this book, but I thought it was intriguing to see how Emily would interpret the things on the list and gather the courage to do them. Some of them made me feel awkward or nervous for her, but others were enjoyable: skinny-dipping, for one, and also dancing until dawn. This is what kept me reading, and rather quickly, I might add. ;)
This book had a few flaws, but in general I found it to be very enjoyable and worth the hype. I'll definitely have to look into more of Morgan Matson's books. :D
Review also on Heir of Glitter.
Trilogy overview video.
I finished this book, and that means I'm truly done with this trilogy. I don't know how to feel about this; it was absolutely amazing and easily a new favorite, but the end was so bittersweet.
The story took so many turns I almost keep up, despite a bit of a lull early on. Regardless, I loved it, and that the haunting beauty of the writing remained. It was definitely a fast-paced read, and the thrill of the new details added to the plot allowed me to read this in a day. Abilities were explored, boundaries were pushed. Everything that shouldn't have happened did happen, but luckily it all worked out in the end. I was honestly worried there would be loose ends, or that our beloved characters wouldn't get what they deserved, but there was no need. The trilogy was wrapped up like a present with a bow on top. ;)
Jacob was definitely at his best in this book. His doubt was present but lessening, and his abilities took unexpected but amazing turns. I loved seeing him grow even more as a lead and learn how to control his powers, especially in the climactic end battle and what followed. And, as weird as it will sound, I liked that he struggled. One of my biggest pet peeves when reading about leads coming to terms with unknown powers is when they can harness them instantaneously; in this book, this trilogy, that doesn't happen with Jacob. I also loved how he stepped up to be a leader when he was expected to be, even with no clue what he was doing. He's easily on my list of top ten favorite male leads. :D (Not counting fae/Shadowhunters/warlocks/other non-humans haha.)
Emma was at her best as well. She didn't go through as much growth as Jacob did; she was still the stubborn, hotheaded girl she always has been. But she seemed to become more human, if that makes sense. In the last two books she acted like this unbreakable, tough leader, and I admired that, but here she showed more emotion and felt even more real. She was on my list of favorite female leads from the beginning, but her actions and personality definitely bumped her up a few spots. <3
The majority of this book remained in London, where the second left off. But beyond that, readers are transported between the past and the present, and so many other locations (albeit briefly) through many other loops. I admired Ransom's ability to weave such a complex world out of our real one, and make me love it so much. Especially with the reveal in the end; after that, I would love to have a peculiarity and live in the peculiar world. :D
Ever since the beginning, I've loved the family dynamic between Miss Peregrine and her peculiars, and just the ymbrynes and children in general. Even though they were absent for much of the story, they reappeared in the end and my feelings on them didn't change. :)
I'm not really sure how to summarize Jacob and Emma's relationship. By the end of the second book I shipped them and was excited to see how their romance developed in this one. It's hard to explain without spoiling, but I guess I could say it dwindled? With everything that was going on I can understand that, but I was worried as the end got closer that it would stay that way. I won't give away any more details, but I will say this: if you ship them, it's okay! ;)
I'm sorry if you're tired of hearing this, but this book was a genuine rollercoaster. The first 50 pages were great, but then there was a slight lull until around page 100 (??) before everything went down. After that, there was never a dull moment. It messed with me and had me hooked, and I loved it. :D
All in all, this book was a spectacular end to a favorite trilogy. I swear, each book is better than the last, and this one topped the other two by a lot. I thought the second would be my favorite, but this one is, without a doubt. If there were more books, I would read them, but since there's not, I'll just love what I have. ;)
Trilogy overview video.
I finished this book, and that means I'm truly done with this trilogy. I don't know how to feel about this; it was absolutely amazing and easily a new favorite, but the end was so bittersweet.
The story took so many turns I almost keep up, despite a bit of a lull early on. Regardless, I loved it, and that the haunting beauty of the writing remained. It was definitely a fast-paced read, and the thrill of the new details added to the plot allowed me to read this in a day. Abilities were explored, boundaries were pushed. Everything that shouldn't have happened did happen, but luckily it all worked out in the end. I was honestly worried there would be loose ends, or that our beloved characters wouldn't get what they deserved, but there was no need. The trilogy was wrapped up like a present with a bow on top. ;)
Jacob was definitely at his best in this book. His doubt was present but lessening, and his abilities took unexpected but amazing turns. I loved seeing him grow even more as a lead and learn how to control his powers, especially in the climactic end battle and what followed. And, as weird as it will sound, I liked that he struggled. One of my biggest pet peeves when reading about leads coming to terms with unknown powers is when they can harness them instantaneously; in this book, this trilogy, that doesn't happen with Jacob. I also loved how he stepped up to be a leader when he was expected to be, even with no clue what he was doing. He's easily on my list of top ten favorite male leads. :D (Not counting fae/Shadowhunters/warlocks/other non-humans haha.)
Emma was at her best as well. She didn't go through as much growth as Jacob did; she was still the stubborn, hotheaded girl she always has been. But she seemed to become more human, if that makes sense. In the last two books she acted like this unbreakable, tough leader, and I admired that, but here she showed more emotion and felt even more real. She was on my list of favorite female leads from the beginning, but her actions and personality definitely bumped her up a few spots. <3
The majority of this book remained in London, where the second left off. But beyond that, readers are transported between the past and the present, and so many other locations (albeit briefly) through many other loops. I admired Ransom's ability to weave such a complex world out of our real one, and make me love it so much. Especially with the reveal in the end; after that, I would love to have a peculiarity and live in the peculiar world. :D
Ever since the beginning, I've loved the family dynamic between Miss Peregrine and her peculiars, and just the ymbrynes and children in general. Even though they were absent for much of the story, they reappeared in the end and my feelings on them didn't change. :)
I'm not really sure how to summarize Jacob and Emma's relationship. By the end of the second book I shipped them and was excited to see how their romance developed in this one. It's hard to explain without spoiling, but I guess I could say it dwindled? With everything that was going on I can understand that, but I was worried as the end got closer that it would stay that way. I won't give away any more details, but I will say this: if you ship them, it's okay! ;)
I'm sorry if you're tired of hearing this, but this book was a genuine rollercoaster. The first 50 pages were great, but then there was a slight lull until around page 100 (??) before everything went down. After that, there was never a dull moment. It messed with me and had me hooked, and I loved it. :D
All in all, this book was a spectacular end to a favorite trilogy. I swear, each book is better than the last, and this one topped the other two by a lot. I thought the second would be my favorite, but this one is, without a doubt. If there were more books, I would read them, but since there's not, I'll just love what I have. ;)
Review also on Heir of Glitter.
Spoiler review video.
3.5 stars
plot: 10 out of 20
characters: 20 out of 20
setting: 20 out of 20
relationships: 19 out of 20
twists: 10 out of 20
79 out of 100
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST TWO BOOKS BEWARE OF SPOILERS.
I loved this trilogy, but I have to admit: this was my least favorite. There were some things I really enjoyed, and others that I didn't. One thing in particular was disappointing to me. :/
Before I get to the things I wasn't a fan of, I want to say that the middle of this book was amazing. It was fast-paced and action-packed, and if the whole book had been similar to that with the happy ending I desired, I would've been over the moon. Unfortunately, though, that wasn't the case. The first third of the book (150-200 pages) was slow and contained more planning than doing. The middle more than made up for that, but I also wasn't a fan of Eliza's storyline. I tolerated her chapters, but tended to try to read them faster so I could get back to the original crew that I loved. And, I'm not going to lie, the ending disappointed me. As the last book in the trilogy, the end of this book meant the end of Karou and Akiva and everyone else's story, and it wasn't what I'd hoped. They did get a happy ending, but not in the way I wanted. :/
However, on a happier note, all the characters I loved were as awesome as ever, and the few I wasn't sure about became as much.
Karou has definitely become one of my favorite female characters. She was strategic and tough, loyal and caring. I loved everything about her: how she treated those close to her, how she managed to (mostly) stay collected and positive throughout everything, and her epic blue hair. I also loved that she was more mediator than fighter, especially as the odd one out: she was chimera, but the only one in a human body. Her attitude toward her job as both a leader and the resurrectionist was refreshing and inspiring, and she was just amazing. I would've loved for the series to end with her back in a Kirin body, but am okay she remained in her human one. I mean, to get a new body, she would've had to die, and I don't want that. ;)
Akiva proved himself early on, and that was a relief for me since I wasn't sure about him in the second book. He was a firm feminist, believing not only in Liraz and his seraphim sisters, but especially in Karou. Early in the story, he told himself that Karou could make her own decisions and wasn't a prize to be won, and I cheered inwardly after reading that. He also was a respectable leader, and an admirably brave fighter. I loved him, and he definitely saved his spot on my favorite male leads list. :D
There were many sidekicks and minor characters, and for the sake of length I won't go in-depth about them. Just know that they were all determined, brave, loyal, and so lovable, all of them: Liraz, Ziri, Zuzana, Mik, and more. :)
Throughout the trilogy, Laini's writing was gorgeous, and seemed to become more so as it progressed. This was especially true regarding the world of Eretz. The rioting world of Earth was great, but I loved the war-torn, slowly healing environment she created for the parallel world of seraphim and chimera. I could easily picture the horrors and beauties of everyday life there, and honestly wouldn't mind living in the end version of it. :)
My favorite part of this whole trilogy was the lasting friendship Karou and Zuzana had. It was demonstrated from the start of the first book and stayed true until the end of this one. In many fantasy books and others as well, friendships between the main character and their human friend tend to fade away. This is because either the friend never finds out, or they do and choose to leave. But even after Zuzana found out everything about Karou, the chimera, the seraphim, and the war, she stuck around, determined to help. I loved that so much. <3
I also loved Karou and Akiva's romance. They went through so much in the past two books, and that didn't let up in this one. Theirs was a rocky road, and not with the sweetness the ice cream undoubtedly has. It was difficult, but the slow-burn relationship that came out of it was a joy to read about. <3 With all of my raving, you might wonder why I didn't give this element a full score. And that's because I was disappointed, on their behalf, that they didn't get the happy ending I wanted so badly. Yes, a happy ending did come, but it wasn't what I wanted from the end of their story. :/
My other big issue was that nothing really surprised me. I suspected something was odd about Eliza from fairly early on, and even though I wasn't spot-on, I just didn't care very much. As for the betrayal around three-quarters through, I had a feeling something similar was coming about that too. And the twist at the very end was the main cause of my disappointment. I know something had to happen, because nothing can just be easy, but I didn't like it. :|
This book had a few too many flaws for it to be a favorite on its own, but the trilogy as a whole exceeded all the expectations I had when starting the first book last December. ;)
Spoiler review video.
3.5 stars
plot: 10 out of 20
characters: 20 out of 20
setting: 20 out of 20
relationships: 19 out of 20
twists: 10 out of 20
79 out of 100
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST TWO BOOKS BEWARE OF SPOILERS.
I loved this trilogy, but I have to admit: this was my least favorite. There were some things I really enjoyed, and others that I didn't. One thing in particular was disappointing to me. :/
Before I get to the things I wasn't a fan of, I want to say that the middle of this book was amazing. It was fast-paced and action-packed, and if the whole book had been similar to that with the happy ending I desired, I would've been over the moon. Unfortunately, though, that wasn't the case. The first third of the book (150-200 pages) was slow and contained more planning than doing. The middle more than made up for that, but I also wasn't a fan of Eliza's storyline. I tolerated her chapters, but tended to try to read them faster so I could get back to the original crew that I loved. And, I'm not going to lie, the ending disappointed me. As the last book in the trilogy, the end of this book meant the end of Karou and Akiva and everyone else's story, and it wasn't what I'd hoped. They did get a happy ending, but not in the way I wanted. :/
However, on a happier note, all the characters I loved were as awesome as ever, and the few I wasn't sure about became as much.
Karou has definitely become one of my favorite female characters. She was strategic and tough, loyal and caring. I loved everything about her: how she treated those close to her, how she managed to (mostly) stay collected and positive throughout everything, and her epic blue hair. I also loved that she was more mediator than fighter, especially as the odd one out: she was chimera, but the only one in a human body. Her attitude toward her job as both a leader and the resurrectionist was refreshing and inspiring, and she was just amazing. I would've loved for the series to end with her back in a Kirin body, but am okay she remained in her human one. I mean, to get a new body, she would've had to die, and I don't want that. ;)
Akiva proved himself early on, and that was a relief for me since I wasn't sure about him in the second book. He was a firm feminist, believing not only in Liraz and his seraphim sisters, but especially in Karou. Early in the story, he told himself that Karou could make her own decisions and wasn't a prize to be won, and I cheered inwardly after reading that. He also was a respectable leader, and an admirably brave fighter. I loved him, and he definitely saved his spot on my favorite male leads list. :D
There were many sidekicks and minor characters, and for the sake of length I won't go in-depth about them. Just know that they were all determined, brave, loyal, and so lovable, all of them: Liraz, Ziri, Zuzana, Mik, and more. :)
Throughout the trilogy, Laini's writing was gorgeous, and seemed to become more so as it progressed. This was especially true regarding the world of Eretz. The rioting world of Earth was great, but I loved the war-torn, slowly healing environment she created for the parallel world of seraphim and chimera. I could easily picture the horrors and beauties of everyday life there, and honestly wouldn't mind living in the end version of it. :)
My favorite part of this whole trilogy was the lasting friendship Karou and Zuzana had. It was demonstrated from the start of the first book and stayed true until the end of this one. In many fantasy books and others as well, friendships between the main character and their human friend tend to fade away. This is because either the friend never finds out, or they do and choose to leave. But even after Zuzana found out everything about Karou, the chimera, the seraphim, and the war, she stuck around, determined to help. I loved that so much. <3
I also loved Karou and Akiva's romance. They went through so much in the past two books, and that didn't let up in this one. Theirs was a rocky road, and not with the sweetness the ice cream undoubtedly has. It was difficult, but the slow-burn relationship that came out of it was a joy to read about. <3 With all of my raving, you might wonder why I didn't give this element a full score. And that's because I was disappointed, on their behalf, that they didn't get the happy ending I wanted so badly. Yes, a happy ending did come, but it wasn't what I wanted from the end of their story. :/
My other big issue was that nothing really surprised me. I suspected something was odd about Eliza from fairly early on, and even though I wasn't spot-on, I just didn't care very much. As for the betrayal around three-quarters through, I had a feeling something similar was coming about that too. And the twist at the very end was the main cause of my disappointment. I know something had to happen, because nothing can just be easy, but I didn't like it. :|
This book had a few too many flaws for it to be a favorite on its own, but the trilogy as a whole exceeded all the expectations I had when starting the first book last December. ;)
Review also on Heir of Glitter.
5 things that shocked me the most video.
plot: 20 out of 20
characters: 20 out of 20
setting: 20 out of 20
relationships: 20 out of 20
twists: 20 out of 20
100 out of 100
I gave the first book 5 stars, because I absolutely loved it. If I could, I would give this book 10 stars, because somehow it blew its predecessor out of the water. *heart eyes*
This book started shortly after where the first left off. The event that ended book one has landed Mara in a hospital, close to being institutionalized. I was immediately hooked, for the second time in a row, and I felt so bad for Mara. Throughout the entire book, I was guessing what was real and what wasn't, and on the same rollercoaster Mara and Noah were. This was easily one of the most intense books I've ever read, and I loved every page. :D
Two things are for sure: one, Mara was a troubled character, and two, that made it all the more entertaining. I hope I don't sound weird, but it's true. She thought she was being stalked, but no one except Noah believed her. If she told anyone else or showed any signs, she would be seen as crazy, and one of her main goals was to avoid that. The other was to get to the bottom of her issue, with Noah's help, and along the way I felt so bad for her. She was brave through everything because she had to be, when really she was never far from breaking down. I wanted to help her. <3
Then we have one of my new favorite characters, Noah. I'm honestly not sure why he's my favorite, but he is. Actually, he has been all along. He was still a bit of a stereotypical rich boy with family trouble, but he also became so much more. He was dedicated to helping Mara with her fears and being proper, and was willing to do almost anything to please her parents so they could continue seeing each other. He was like so many other guys I've read about, but simultaneously so unique. :)
I was familiar with Miami already, based off my memory of the first book, and honestly that was good enough. The settings weren't a primary focus but I could visualize the hospitals, the therapy, Mara's house, Noah's. I processed the detail I noticed in my frantic search to know what happened next and used my memories for the rest. I'm totally satisfied with that; the thrill was too much for me to take in much else. ;)
Mara's family remained present in this book and I liked that. Even better, they were all worried for Mara and wanted to help in any way they could. It made Mara's investigation with Noah that much harder, and while it was slightly aggravating, I loved how realistic it was. ;)
I loved the progression of Mara and Noah's romance. They want nothing more than to stand by one another and be as helpful as possible. It wasn't insta-love in the first book and never felt like anything close to that in this one. Mara was afraid, so Noah put everything on hold to help her get over that even though it wasn't what he wanted to do. It was the right thing for Mara, and to him that was more important than his desires. I think that's one of the biggest reasons I love him so much. I can't wait to see what happens with them next. :D
You guessed it: this book was a rollercoaster. Honestly though, any other word wouldn't do it justice. From the first page to the last, I was completely absorbed and desperate to know how things played out. At times, I would accidentally tune out what other people were saying to me because I forgot about the real world. It was just that good, and that gripping. :D
All in all, this book was a fabulous sequel, and I'm positive I have a new favorite trilogy. I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on the third and final installment. <3
5 things that shocked me the most video.
plot: 20 out of 20
characters: 20 out of 20
setting: 20 out of 20
relationships: 20 out of 20
twists: 20 out of 20
100 out of 100
I gave the first book 5 stars, because I absolutely loved it. If I could, I would give this book 10 stars, because somehow it blew its predecessor out of the water. *heart eyes*
This book started shortly after where the first left off. The event that ended book one has landed Mara in a hospital, close to being institutionalized. I was immediately hooked, for the second time in a row, and I felt so bad for Mara. Throughout the entire book, I was guessing what was real and what wasn't, and on the same rollercoaster Mara and Noah were. This was easily one of the most intense books I've ever read, and I loved every page. :D
Two things are for sure: one, Mara was a troubled character, and two, that made it all the more entertaining. I hope I don't sound weird, but it's true. She thought she was being stalked, but no one except Noah believed her. If she told anyone else or showed any signs, she would be seen as crazy, and one of her main goals was to avoid that. The other was to get to the bottom of her issue, with Noah's help, and along the way I felt so bad for her. She was brave through everything because she had to be, when really she was never far from breaking down. I wanted to help her. <3
Then we have one of my new favorite characters, Noah. I'm honestly not sure why he's my favorite, but he is. Actually, he has been all along. He was still a bit of a stereotypical rich boy with family trouble, but he also became so much more. He was dedicated to helping Mara with her fears and being proper, and was willing to do almost anything to please her parents so they could continue seeing each other. He was like so many other guys I've read about, but simultaneously so unique. :)
I was familiar with Miami already, based off my memory of the first book, and honestly that was good enough. The settings weren't a primary focus but I could visualize the hospitals, the therapy, Mara's house, Noah's. I processed the detail I noticed in my frantic search to know what happened next and used my memories for the rest. I'm totally satisfied with that; the thrill was too much for me to take in much else. ;)
Mara's family remained present in this book and I liked that. Even better, they were all worried for Mara and wanted to help in any way they could. It made Mara's investigation with Noah that much harder, and while it was slightly aggravating, I loved how realistic it was. ;)
I loved the progression of Mara and Noah's romance. They want nothing more than to stand by one another and be as helpful as possible. It wasn't insta-love in the first book and never felt like anything close to that in this one. Mara was afraid, so Noah put everything on hold to help her get over that even though it wasn't what he wanted to do. It was the right thing for Mara, and to him that was more important than his desires. I think that's one of the biggest reasons I love him so much. I can't wait to see what happens with them next. :D
You guessed it: this book was a rollercoaster. Honestly though, any other word wouldn't do it justice. From the first page to the last, I was completely absorbed and desperate to know how things played out. At times, I would accidentally tune out what other people were saying to me because I forgot about the real world. It was just that good, and that gripping. :D
All in all, this book was a fabulous sequel, and I'm positive I have a new favorite trilogy. I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on the third and final installment. <3
Find my full review and more on Heir of Glitter.
This book was just amazing. It was a fun, cute, and emotional ride, dealing with finding friendship, budding romance, grief, loss, and mystery.
One main character, Vic, has a brain disorder called Moebius that causes facial paralysis; in his case, he can't blink, smile, or frown. But he was still mostly treated like a normal person, with the exception of a few standard bullies, and he was written like one as well. The disorder came with struggles, but it wasn't the focus of his story. The focus of his story was to scatter his father's ashes in places that mean a lot to him, and the rest of the gang comes in to help along the way. Mad, Baz, Zuz, and Coco: I loved them all. They each had their quirks and their histories, their reasons and their secrets. The friendship they had was steady and loyal, one I would dream of having, and their ready acceptance of Vic made it all the better.
The two main characters, Vic and Mad, experience falling in love in a time of mutual grief and initially shy away from it before slowly accepting and embracing it. Their budding romance was really cute, but didn't take over the story.
One of my favorite things was the way the story was told. Each chapter started with Vic and Mad, respectively, being individually interviewed by the police for a crime that, in the beginning, we know nothing about. Then shortly after, it switches to a time before that, and the story is told in chunks as it rotates between past and present. I thought it was an interesting spin on the story, and I loved the way the details of the crime were slowly unveiled so that I kept turning pages.
All in all, David Arnold has a wonderful storytelling talent. I've yet to read his debut [b:Mosquitoland|18718848|Mosquitoland|David Arnold|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1402661616s/18718848.jpg|26584442], but if it's anywhere as fun, cute, and emotional as this one, I'll definitely need to.
This one has earned a place on my favorites shelf, and I highly recommend you all check it out when it's released in September.
This book was just amazing. It was a fun, cute, and emotional ride, dealing with finding friendship, budding romance, grief, loss, and mystery.
One main character, Vic, has a brain disorder called Moebius that causes facial paralysis; in his case, he can't blink, smile, or frown. But he was still mostly treated like a normal person, with the exception of a few standard bullies, and he was written like one as well. The disorder came with struggles, but it wasn't the focus of his story. The focus of his story was to scatter his father's ashes in places that mean a lot to him, and the rest of the gang comes in to help along the way. Mad, Baz, Zuz, and Coco: I loved them all. They each had their quirks and their histories, their reasons and their secrets. The friendship they had was steady and loyal, one I would dream of having, and their ready acceptance of Vic made it all the better.
The two main characters, Vic and Mad, experience falling in love in a time of mutual grief and initially shy away from it before slowly accepting and embracing it. Their budding romance was really cute, but didn't take over the story.
One of my favorite things was the way the story was told. Each chapter started with Vic and Mad, respectively, being individually interviewed by the police for a crime that, in the beginning, we know nothing about. Then shortly after, it switches to a time before that, and the story is told in chunks as it rotates between past and present. I thought it was an interesting spin on the story, and I loved the way the details of the crime were slowly unveiled so that I kept turning pages.
All in all, David Arnold has a wonderful storytelling talent. I've yet to read his debut [b:Mosquitoland|18718848|Mosquitoland|David Arnold|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1402661616s/18718848.jpg|26584442], but if it's anywhere as fun, cute, and emotional as this one, I'll definitely need to.
This one has earned a place on my favorites shelf, and I highly recommend you all check it out when it's released in September.
Review also on Heir of Glitter.
Video to come.
plot: 20 out of 20
characters: 20 out of 20
setting: 20 out of 20
relationships: 20 out of 20
twists: 20 out of 20
100 out of 100
This review is spoiler-free for this book and previous books in the series.
I simultaneously wanted to read this book and didn't. I was excited to find out how the trilogy would end, and sad that it would be over soon. I flew through it in a day, and let me tell you, it was everything I had hoped and more... with a heaping side of feels, of course. ;)
The story started shortly after the second ended, and once again, I was instantly hooked. I haven't really read any thrillers, but I know a good one is supposed to keep you guessing and not wanting to put down the book. That was the case here, but multiplied by fifteen. So I guess you could say that this was a really freaking good thriller. It was more intense than ever, and I loved every page, especially in the end. Because while I was sad that it was ending, everything wrapped up exactly how I had hoped. :D
Mara goes through a lot in this book, and after finishing it I can definitely say this is when she becomes a morally ambiguous character. But she was written so well, and there was excellent reasoning behind her actions, so I didn't mind. I've really come to love and care for Mara, and as I was reading I wanted to hug her and help her in any way I could. Throughout the book, she only had one true goal, and I admired her dedication to fulfilling it. I thought her struggle to differentiate hallucination from reality was executed very well, and to be honest, I was struggling with her. She's definitely secured a place on my favorite heroines list. :)
I was really worried for Noah throughout this book, but he pulled through... sort of. I won't say any more than that. But I will restate the obvious thing, that has only increased as I made my way through the trilogy: I love Noah. He's one of my favorite male leads. Yes, he follows a handful of stereotypes. No, I don't care. He's just amazing, and I can't really explain it beyond that. I mean, I could, but spoilers, so I won't. I can say that he was so determined and caring and selfless but still kind of arrogant like in the beginning, but I loved it all. :D
This is the book where the story strays from Miami. Certain events cause a road trip up to New York for Mara, Jamie, and Stella. Readers are taken on a hectic journey up the east coast and it was an enjoyable ride. (No pun intended.) It was slow and messy and difficult, so it was realistic given their situation, and I liked it. I didn't like their struggle, but you get what I mean. New York was also an eventful place. I've never been, but it was described well enough that I could imagine the busy, bustling city as they ventured around it. :)
Mara's family kind of takes the back burner due to certain circumstances, but in their absence we see Mara, Jamie, and Stella's friendship shine. Each of them is different and they (mostly) complement one another. I loved their encouragement and support through everything. :D
Mara and Noah's romance also goes to another level. There were a ton of complications, but I remained hopeful and it paid off. I can safely say that they're one of my favorite fictional couples and can't wait to see their development in Noah's book. <3
If the first two were roller-coasters, then this one was the craziest, loopiest one yet. Literally from page one I had absolutely no idea what was going to happen or where the story might go. I thought I had ideas and I didn't. I didn't think certain things would happen but they did. This book seriously deserves an award for best thriller. I might be slightly biased since I haven't read any other thrillers, but honestly this book is the best, most wild ride. The ending was especially crazy, and I was legitimately worried. I can't say anything else, just READ IT. ;)
All in all, this exceeded my expectations and was definitely one of the best series conclusions I've ever read. I'll definitely have to buy the second book and this one, because owning all three is a must for me. The trilogy has earned a place on my top ten all-time favorite series list, for sure. If you haven't started it yet, or have started it and haven't finished it, you really should! I absolutely love it, and I think you will too. :D
Video to come.
plot: 20 out of 20
characters: 20 out of 20
setting: 20 out of 20
relationships: 20 out of 20
twists: 20 out of 20
100 out of 100
This review is spoiler-free for this book and previous books in the series.
I simultaneously wanted to read this book and didn't. I was excited to find out how the trilogy would end, and sad that it would be over soon. I flew through it in a day, and let me tell you, it was everything I had hoped and more... with a heaping side of feels, of course. ;)
The story started shortly after the second ended, and once again, I was instantly hooked. I haven't really read any thrillers, but I know a good one is supposed to keep you guessing and not wanting to put down the book. That was the case here, but multiplied by fifteen. So I guess you could say that this was a really freaking good thriller. It was more intense than ever, and I loved every page, especially in the end. Because while I was sad that it was ending, everything wrapped up exactly how I had hoped. :D
Mara goes through a lot in this book, and after finishing it I can definitely say this is when she becomes a morally ambiguous character. But she was written so well, and there was excellent reasoning behind her actions, so I didn't mind. I've really come to love and care for Mara, and as I was reading I wanted to hug her and help her in any way I could. Throughout the book, she only had one true goal, and I admired her dedication to fulfilling it. I thought her struggle to differentiate hallucination from reality was executed very well, and to be honest, I was struggling with her. She's definitely secured a place on my favorite heroines list. :)
I was really worried for Noah throughout this book, but he pulled through... sort of. I won't say any more than that. But I will restate the obvious thing, that has only increased as I made my way through the trilogy: I love Noah. He's one of my favorite male leads. Yes, he follows a handful of stereotypes. No, I don't care. He's just amazing, and I can't really explain it beyond that. I mean, I could, but spoilers, so I won't. I can say that he was so determined and caring and selfless but still kind of arrogant like in the beginning, but I loved it all. :D
This is the book where the story strays from Miami. Certain events cause a road trip up to New York for Mara, Jamie, and Stella. Readers are taken on a hectic journey up the east coast and it was an enjoyable ride. (No pun intended.) It was slow and messy and difficult, so it was realistic given their situation, and I liked it. I didn't like their struggle, but you get what I mean. New York was also an eventful place. I've never been, but it was described well enough that I could imagine the busy, bustling city as they ventured around it. :)
Mara's family kind of takes the back burner due to certain circumstances, but in their absence we see Mara, Jamie, and Stella's friendship shine. Each of them is different and they (mostly) complement one another. I loved their encouragement and support through everything. :D
Mara and Noah's romance also goes to another level. There were a ton of complications, but I remained hopeful and it paid off. I can safely say that they're one of my favorite fictional couples and can't wait to see their development in Noah's book. <3
If the first two were roller-coasters, then this one was the craziest, loopiest one yet. Literally from page one I had absolutely no idea what was going to happen or where the story might go. I thought I had ideas and I didn't. I didn't think certain things would happen but they did. This book seriously deserves an award for best thriller. I might be slightly biased since I haven't read any other thrillers, but honestly this book is the best, most wild ride. The ending was especially crazy, and I was legitimately worried. I can't say anything else, just READ IT. ;)
All in all, this exceeded my expectations and was definitely one of the best series conclusions I've ever read. I'll definitely have to buy the second book and this one, because owning all three is a must for me. The trilogy has earned a place on my top ten all-time favorite series list, for sure. If you haven't started it yet, or have started it and haven't finished it, you really should! I absolutely love it, and I think you will too. :D