4.5 stars

I didn't go into this book expecting much, but I really enjoyed it!

I think the only issue I had was that the plot seemed to be lacking a bit. Meaning, basically, that I didn't really know what the point of the plot was. It wasn't boring, in fact I was invested from the beginning. What I'm trying to say is that while it was interesting, the story seemed to meander.

I loved just about everything else. I'm not even kidding.

First of all, this book helped me realize that I need more magical realism in my life. I loved how whimsical it was! It was set in a fairly modern albeit remote village, sans technology, but it read/felt like a fantasy. There were roses growing from one of the MC's wrist, painted moons hung in trees, witches, glass pumpkins, and lovesickness cures that involved eggs in every color of the rainbow. It was so fun to read!

A blurb on the cover says this is a story about "the secrets we keep and the lies we tell," and that couldn't be more true. There was so much intrigue in this story, as bits and pieces were revealed of various plots and back-stories. Information was given enough to be satisfying, and then held back to make the book intriguing and me curious. I wanted to know what had happened prior to the story, and how it would be dealt with presently.

I loved the family aspects in this book. Miel and Aracely, Sam and Yasmin, the Bonner sisters... Even though I didn't like the sisters themselves, I loved their relationship and the close bond they had. As for the other four, they weren't technically related, but they were so familiar and I loved their dynamic. I would say I loved that Miel and Sam were as close as siblings, but there's something between them that fits into a different category and I love that a bit more.

There was so much diversity in this book and I absolutely loved it. Miel, Sam, Aracely, and (I'm pretty sure) Yasmin are all POC. There's gay/bisexual (it isn't clarified) rep and a transgender character. I can't relate any of it, but it seemed accurate, especially after reading the author's note.

I'll stop here, because I think you can all tell how much I loved this book. The only issue I had was the meandering plot; otherwise I loved basically everything about it. If you're looking for a magical realism to read, definitely try this one! I can't recommend it enough.

I don't quite know what to make of this book.

It was definitely a unique idea, and I loved the spin on Darwin's ideas. This was also my first alternate history story, which made this an interesting read. I've read retellings of fairytales, but not of history. I enjoyed reading about the fabrications, and how they affected this version of World War I.

However, the pacing was off to me. It took me some time to get into the story, because the beginning felt slow. Then the story picked up, and I moved through the middle fairly quickly. But in the last couple of days I read considerably slower, because the last 30% or so dragged, in my opinion. I became bored with Alek's chapters, and must admit I skimmed the last 25% more than I read it. And the ending felt anticlimactic. There was information dropped in the last few pages that seemed important. Then all of a sudden the story is over, and while I can see how it might be a cliffhanger, I'm not really interested. Nothing happened to keep my attention, not really.

Alek was a problem for me. He seemed immature and much younger than a 16-year-old prince should be. I'm not saying he has to have the mind of and act like a grown man, but he sounded 11. He had a strategic mind, but he also seemed unwilling to understand his advisors', who were grown men, logic. For most of the story he felt like a stereotypical troubled prince, and only really started to listen to others in the concluding chapters of the story.

The redeeming factor in this book was Deryn, who in my mind was like a steampunk Mulan. She wanted to be an airman, but couldn't because she was born a girl. Instead of dealing with that, she pretended to be a boy so she could go to service school. I liked her personality, especially her tomboyish nature and her fierce determination to achieve her dreams while also accomplishing her duties. Her act was quite convincing, too.

(I know this isn't a retelling, but a Li Shang type character would've been awesome.)

Also, I liked the message lizards and the Huxleys, but the fact that the Leviathan was actually a whale was kind of disturbing.

While I did enjoy some parts of the story, I didn't like Alek and the pacing was too uneven for my tastes. I won't be continuing the trilogy.

3.5 stars

I have mixed feelings on this one.

POSITIVES:
- much better than the original. Personally, I despised the original "Romeo & Juliet," so I was very pleased when this one was considerably less horrible.
- the world and magic system. Viyara was a very interesting city, with the upper and lower levels and three high houses. There were a lot of secrets and mystery interwoven, particularly in the past of the city. I enjoyed the details of the Ruining, as it was unlike what I've read before.
- the characters. While all of them definitely had faults, they were much more likable and realistic than those in the original play. Maybe that's a harsh judgment considering the play is centuries old, but in my opinion it's true. Runajo was determined, Juliet was interestingly loyal, Paris was unusually flawed but admirably kindhearted (for lack of a better word), and Romeo was generous and a hopeless romantic. (Much like me.) Also, once I got to know him, Vai was great too.
- the fresh take on the romance. Early on things happen that lead Romeo and Juliet to believe the other is dead, so their relationship existed only in flashbacks and memories. I enjoyed this a lot, because one of the main reasons I disliked the play was the speed at which their love developed.
- there was nothing similar to the balcony scene, either in the play or the movie. I'm very thankful for this. XD

NEGATIVES:
- the pacing. The recurring pattern of this story seemed to be a spurt of action, and then a lot of repercussions and planning. It was uneven, and there were times where the story dragged some. Also, there were a couple of info dumps that I really wasn't a fan of.
- the twists. Or should I say lack thereof? I don't mean to be harsh. There were events that surprised me, but they were few and far between. The ending had little impact on me, and the twist in the final pages was actually one I predicted. Granted, I predicted it barely a chapter prior, but it still lessened my surprise factor.
- the convenience. The important parts of the story and the action-packed ones seemed kind of rushed. Juliet and Runajo had a couple of scenes with a lot of potential, as did Romeo and Paris. Yet for the most part, they lasted a couple of pages at most. It was a little disappointing.

I DID enjoy this, don't get me wrong. It was definitely better than Shakespeare's, in my opinion. But it also wasn't everything I had hoped it would be, so at the moment I'm not sure if I'll pick up the sequel if it releases.

4.5 stars

Thank you Erika for pressuring me into reading this book over Twitter. XD

L I K E S
» no romance!!
» Kate is a very complex lead. She acts like an awful person when all she wants is her father's acceptance. Her character development is great.
» August is so sweet. He's a monster but he doesn't want to be one, he wants to be human. He also has good character development, and I loved his passion for music. It went beyond a method for taking souls.
» the world-building. Verity was a very interesting city, divided in half and uneasily peaceful. I've read divided cities before, but Victoria just had a way of making this one stand out that I can't describe. I also liked that each territory was a trait; Verity, Fortune, Prosperity...
» the uniqueness of everything. It was a dystopian with three very distinct kinds of monsters, Corsai, Malchai, and Sunai. I've never read anything like it before. I also appreciated that there was no clear morality. It wasn't a story of good defeating evil, or if anti-heroes. It was morally ambiguous, which made t even more interesting.
» pacing. Even with what felt like a slightly slower and more meandering plot, the pacing had me hooked. I couldn't stop reading, and that's how I finished the book today. I read nearly 300 pages this afternoon alone.

D I S L I K E S
» I'm not exactly sure what the plot itself was supposed to be. It was unclear throughout the entire story. I knew of temporary goals that characters had, accomplished and replaced as the book went on, but beyond that I don't know. What was the main, overall point of the story? Maybe I missed it, but whether it's me or not, that was my one issue with this.

O V E R A L L
I really enjoyed this book, and I wish I'd picked it up sooner! I was pleasantly surprised. And I'll definitely be reading the sequel, because THAT ENDING. Also, I'm curious. ;)

4.5 stars

This would be a 5-star read if there wasn't a specific scene that I found to be grossly misogynistic/controlling. I know that in the time period this book is set in, male dominance was a common, everyday thing. Women did housework and raised children. One of the things that made me like this, though, was that Jane and eventually Gifford (G) ignored those standards. Yet there was a scene about 75% through that ruined that image for me. I won't say specifically due to spoilers, as it is close to the end. But Jane made a choice that G didn't approve of, so he took actions he thought were simply fulfilling his duty to protect her. I thought differently. Granted, the time period is different so therefore society was too, and G did later realize his wrongdoing. Regardless, the action itself bothered me enough for it to still be on my mind a few hours later, so I had to lower my rating.

Otherwise, I absolutely loved this book. It was a perfect blend of real history and added fantasy.

List of what I liked:
- Jane was an introverted bookworm and against the standard protocol for young women in society. She was so relatable, and honestly what I think I'd be like if I lived in her time.

- G had a great character arc throughout the story. He first appeared as a brooding guy that wanted nothing to do with Jane or marriage in any form. He preferred running through fields and forests while spending his days as a horse. His growth by the end of the book was significant.

- Edward and the other characters, major and minor. There were a lot of them throughout the story, but I never got them confused. They were all clearly individuals, and I loved and hated them to a varying degree.

- The writing read as if it was all done by one author, rather than three. I couldn't tell who wrote what chapter. If there weren't three names on the cover, I'd assume it was one woman. They blended their writing styles really well.

- Horse jokes, witty banter, snarky one-liners, and Tangled references. This book is easily the funniest I've ever read, and one of few to make me genuinely laugh out loud while reading. If I had tabs or a highlighter while I read, I would've either used all the tabs or run the highlighter dry.

- The fantasy elements were incorporated smoothly into the historical society. I want to say this book takes place in the 16th century, but I'm not quite sure because I don't really pay attention in history class. I do know that it took place during the Tudor dynasty, after King Henry VIII (the guy that had six wives and killed five of them) died. Edward was the boy-king, Elizabeth wanted the best for him, and Mary wanted to chop everyone's heads off. That's historically accurate, right? Anyway, I thought the idea of the Edians was really creative and well-done, and I liked that they were used in a historical setting.

- The pacing was balanced. In the beginning, the story was slower but still entertaining. As it went on it started to pick up, and the last 40% was thrilling. There were twists sprinkled in throughout, but the best ones and all the action happened toward the end. It never felt rushed, though.

- The ending was so hopeful and cute and perfect and I loved it all. A short epilogue set a couple of years in the future would've been nice for certain reasons. An epilogue in general would've worked. But even without it, I thought everything was wrapped up nicely.

Basically, I really liked this book. Even with the issue I did have, everything else was so great it's still a new favorite. If you haven't read this, you definitely should.

4.5 stars

I had a long review for this, and somehow it got erased. I don't remember what was in it, but this was a very enjoyable, diverse, thrilling story.

4.5 stars

L I K E S
» Katharine, Arsinoe, and Mirabella were all very original, individual main characters. As I read I found myself invested in all three of them, even though at the start I only cared for Katharine. Now I'm attached to all three, and don't know whose side to take.

» Each queen had their own family and troubles, giving each their own story while also weaving them together into one.

» The magic in this book was interesting and thoughtful. There are three main classes of magic as well as a handful of subclasses, and each had unique abilities.

» I thought it was interesting that Fennbirn Island was one island, but divided into cities for each main magical class with neutral areas for the queen and council. I also liked the way the island was described as living, in a sense.

» The story was very unique and enjoyable. I've read of fights for a crown, but none to this degree or of this nature. I thought it was a well-executed idea.

» Romance took the back seat. It was there, and it did complicate things, but it wasn't the main focus. I would like it very much if this happened in more stories.

» The friendships were very sweet and I rooted for all of them. Well, until one thing happened with one person toward the end. But I still like all the others, and I think the developments in them will be interesting in the sequel.

» The final chapters were completely unexpected, and I was hooked. I wanted to make sure everyone was okay, and the end completely caught me by surprise.

D I S L I K E S
» There were a lot of characters. Many were named once or twice and appeared throughout, but didn't actually do much of anything. I would've appreciated a character glossary, similar to the one in Falling Kingdoms. And if a character isn't significant, why do they need a name? Take Renata, for example. She's a council member there to oversee the ceremonies. She has no real role, yet she has a name for me to remember.

» The pacing in the beginning was uneven, and kind of slow. It wasn't too severe, as I still read this fairly quickly, but there were times when it wasn't as intriguing. Beyond the halfway point it was fine, though, and that's when I was really hooked.

» One character rescued another, and then the rescued character went unconscious. When they woke up, the rescuer laid close to help them both keep warm in the weather. This led to implied sex (though it was skipped over) and I thought this was unnecessary. They knew each other for a few hours, and most of that time only one was awake. That's extreme insta-love and I didn't care for it.

» There were a handful of moments that seemed especially dark to me, and I found a bit disturbing. They were uncommon and only amounted to maybe five, but I'm kind of squeamish and didn't appreciate them.

O V E R A L L

I really enjoyed this book, despite the flaws I found. The good far outweighed the not-so-good, and I need the sequel now, please.

What a spectacular book to end the month with. I never expected this to be a new favorite, but it surprised me and became one anyway.

At this point in time I can't think of anything I disliked about the book, so I'll just make a list of reasons why you should read it if you haven't. (Other than "because I said so," which is still perfectly valid haha.)

» It's a stand-alone fantasy. That never happens and we should appreciate it now that is has. I love the wild ride of a fantasy story without the tortuous wait between books and commitment to a series. Currently 50% content with it being a stand-alone and 50% wanting a sequel about Denna and Mare doing ANYTHING.

» An adorable, slow-burn, girl-girl romance. It's a bit of a hate-to-love story also, but not entirely. It's more of a "this girl was shoved into my life and I don't like it but hey she's kind of adorable and what are these feelings" story. Yes, that's a thing. Regardless of what we call it, they're adorable and my new OTP and tied with Mnemba and Kara (Unicorn Tracks by Julia Ember, also a must-read) for my #1 lesbian couple.

» Denna was a clever princess prepared to do what she must for her kingdom. Mare was a defiant princess that preferred riding and training horses to being a princess. Together they were just perfect. Oh, and the side characters were great too. I loved Ellaeni and Nils.

» Mixed in with the romance is an assassination mystery plot along with some magic and it was brilliant. There was a red herring that I totally fell for and the reveal hurt. It honestly hurt. Did I mention this book gives you feelings??

» I loved the magic system. There are six gods, and with each god there's a certain magic Affinity. There are people that support magic and people against it, and though that specifically is nothing new I thought it was executed well here.

Overall I absolutely adored this book. I would love a sequel, even though the ending tied things up and left me satisfied in a warm fuzzy way. If you haven't read this, please do it for me. You won't regret it. *heart eyes*

I read this earlier in the year for school. It was only my second Shakespeare experience and I didn't like it. Maybe going in with low expectations was part of the problem, but I'm just not interested in classics at the moment. I also didn't like the crude jokes. Although there was an Olivia and I didn't mind reading her parts, so long as they were short. And I think Olivia and Viola should've ended up together.

Endless thanks to the publisher for the early copy!!

So, to give you an idea of how much I liked this, I would've read it in a single morning if I had the time to. I went into this without many expectations, and it was a lovely surprise.

L I K E S

» The characters were so raw and real. Kit is a popular girl isolating herself in an attempt to cope with her father's death in a car accident. David is a solitary boy on the autism spectrum, and he's honestly so sweet. I liked them both, but I just can't even with David.

» The family dynamics. Kit and her mom have issues throughout the book as they deal with loss and grief in their own way, but they come together and I loved it. And David's family, especially his sister Lauren, are so supportive and protective of him. It was great.

» Kit and David first met because Kit didn't want to sit with her friends. From there they developed a friendship and they helped one another out in different ways. The step up to something more was also amazing, and can I just say that David sounds like an adorable boyfriend..? Because he DOES.

» The story was always interesting. To be honest, it was much better than I thought it would be. The second half was especially gripping, and if I could've read the last 80 pages last night to find out what happened I would've. Regardless, I was absolutely riveted up the very last page, even in the orthodontist's office. And that twist? I never, ever expected it!!

» The ending was perfect. I can't say how, because spoilers, but just trust me. SQUEE.

» Oh, and this also happens to be a diverse story. Kit is Indian-American, and David, as I said, is on the autism spectrum.

D I S L I K E S

» I've got nothing.

O V E R A L L

I loved this book so much, it's one of my new favorite contemporaries. This is definitely one to watch out for when it comes out.