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828 reviews by:
olivialandryxo
4.5 stars
This is similar to The Hammer of Thor, which I read earlier this year. By that I mean that while I did enjoy this book, found it amusing, and do consider it a new favorite, I can't quite give it a perfect rating. My problem with THOT was that it seemed to drag a bit and didn't seem to need quite so many pages. While I will admit this was slightly slow at times, I think the real issue is I find the writing too simple. It's good, but simple. And I believe that's because I simply am growing out of Rick's writing. I turned 16 recently, and although MG (upper, as it may be) can be read by anyone, I'm beyond the intended age group.
However, that aside, I absolutely loved this book. I'm sure you all know by now that I love Rick's series. They were a major part of making me a reader. The characters, the story, the friendships, the witty humor and sarcasm... all of it is as amazing as I expected it to be. I especially love the haikus at the start of each chapter. I might like them more than his classic, comedic chapter titles in PJO and MC. Rick is just really good at fun, humorous books that still have great stories.
Edit, because I wrote this after midnight and forgot something. This book has older, out, and happy lesbian parents that are prominent in the story and care so much for their adopted daughter. It's wonderful. And it's casually mentioned that Apollo is bi. YES YES YES. (Hi, other authors, follow his lead, please and thank you. 😊)
So while the writing was a bit too simple for me, I loved this book. I'll definitely be continuing the series, if I manage to wait for the third one to come out. 😉
ALSO, THAT WAS NOT A NICE WAY TO END A BOOK. YOU DON'T BRING BACK A CHARACTER IN THE LAST CHAPTER.
(Interpret that how you want. 😇)
This is similar to The Hammer of Thor, which I read earlier this year. By that I mean that while I did enjoy this book, found it amusing, and do consider it a new favorite, I can't quite give it a perfect rating. My problem with THOT was that it seemed to drag a bit and didn't seem to need quite so many pages. While I will admit this was slightly slow at times, I think the real issue is I find the writing too simple. It's good, but simple. And I believe that's because I simply am growing out of Rick's writing. I turned 16 recently, and although MG (upper, as it may be) can be read by anyone, I'm beyond the intended age group.
However, that aside, I absolutely loved this book. I'm sure you all know by now that I love Rick's series. They were a major part of making me a reader. The characters, the story, the friendships, the witty humor and sarcasm... all of it is as amazing as I expected it to be. I especially love the haikus at the start of each chapter. I might like them more than his classic, comedic chapter titles in PJO and MC. Rick is just really good at fun, humorous books that still have great stories.
Edit, because I wrote this after midnight and forgot something. This book has older, out, and happy lesbian parents that are prominent in the story and care so much for their adopted daughter. It's wonderful. And it's casually mentioned that Apollo is bi. YES YES YES. (Hi, other authors, follow his lead, please and thank you. 😊)
So while the writing was a bit too simple for me, I loved this book. I'll definitely be continuing the series, if I manage to wait for the third one to come out. 😉
ALSO, THAT WAS NOT A NICE WAY TO END A BOOK. YOU DON'T BRING BACK A CHARACTER IN THE LAST CHAPTER.
(Interpret that how you want. 😇)
First reread, June 2017. This was just as cute and fluffy and wonderful as the first time I read it! I'd forgotten most of the story so it was almost like reading it for the first time again. Some bits were a bit cringey and/or cliché, but Anna and Étienne and co totally make up for it. I love everything about this book. It's my favorite of the trilogy and probably my favorite fluff book ever. 😍
Original read, late 2015. Super cute and absolutely amazing!! I'll definitely be picking up Lola & The Boy Next Door. :)
Original read, late 2015. Super cute and absolutely amazing!! I'll definitely be picking up Lola & The Boy Next Door. :)
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
[second read, September 2020]
I read Girl on the Verge for the first time a few years ago and loved it. Even recently I’ve recommended it when people ask for thrillers, and I realized I didn’t remember much of it. So when I found a copy at the library, I impulsively decided to reread and see if it was as good as I used to say it was.
It was even better.
I appreciate what Dunn pulled off now more than I ever could have in 2017. To put such three-dimensional characters, layered relationships, and a mind-boggling plot in less than 300 pages AND make it all work? Truly brilliant.
If you read the synopsis and the first few chapters, it’s incredibly easy to figure out who the antagonist is. But don’t dismiss the book yet. It’s a complex psychological thriller with an underlying mystery that becomes more prominent as the story progresses.
Since this was a reread, admittedly, a few events didn’t have quite the same impact on me as they did the first time, or as they might on a new reader. I was tempted to lower my rating to four stars until the last chapter, which contains the most shocking twist of all. Trust me, it works. I completely forgot about said twist, and for that, my rating will stay at five stars. It even shocked my sister, who has more experience with thrillers than I do. Sometimes I tell her about books that I’m reading, the level of detail dependent on whether or not she’s interested in picking it up herself. Since she wasn’t super interested in this one’s premise, I gave her the spoiler-filled rundown, and she didn’t expect it either. Major props to Dunn for that.
On an unrelated note, I want to take a moment to appreciate the love interest Ethan, who did not deserve any of the wild, traumatizing things he got roped into. I’m extremely gay, but I still love reading about soft boys—Ethan definitely fits that description. He’s a competitive ballroom dancer that’s too shy to talk to the girl he likes, and he’s just so wholesome. I love to see it. And the romance? So cute!
As it’s a short book, I don’t think there’s much else to say. I’m so glad I reread Girl on the Verge. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading more by Dunn!
Representation:
• Kan is Thai-American. Her family on her mom’s side is Thai.
CW: physical & emotional abuse, manipulation, discussion of domestic violence (prior to story), suicide (off-page & prior to story), self-harm, kidnapping, captivity, sexual harassment, death/murder
[first read, June 2017]
Early copy provided by Netgalley. This doesn't affect my opinions or my review.
THIS BOOK. THIS FREAKING BOOK.
I was reading three books at once, then decided to focus on this one. I read it in a day and don't regret it at all. It blew my expectations out of the water and I loved every page.
This actually just released today, so I feel it's appropriate that I finished it. I'm going to be recommending it a lot. For such a short book, it really packed a punch and kept me on the edge of my seat. Seriously, I haven't done anything other than read in about three hours.
I loved everything about this book. The characters, the family, the romance, absolutely everything. You should see my Kindle notes. They're all over the place. Then again, so am I. I went into this happy to have an early copy, because I was looking forward to it, but I wasn't in desperate need of it or expecting much from it. Don't let this go under the radar. It's amazing.
One thing I liked that I haven't seen before was a Thai-American character. Kan, short for Kanchana, struggled to balance the expectations of her Thai family and the desire to have an American life. I'm not Thai, so further comments are out of my lane. But anyway, I loved that her family was present, even though her mother worked a lot, and I especially loved her grandmother. I also liked the tidbits of Thai culture and the Thai food that was woven into the story.
One other thing I want to bring up is that both Kan and the love interest Ethan have unique hobbies, something I want to see more of in YA. Kan designs and sews clothes, and Ethan is a competitive ballroom dancer. Yes, please! I've seen a handful of designers before, but never a ballroom dancer. I loved it, even if it seems minor.
I applaud Pintip for making such a small book so impactful and thrilling. This is slightly more than 250 pages and yet the story is so intricate and gripping. Even though I knew the basis of what would happen due to the synopsis, I was in nearly a constant state of shock as I read. I loved the last quarter, especially! I never expected it, and I couldn't have ever guessed that ending.
All in all, I loved everything about this book. It was an epic read, perfect for bingeing and definitely a new favorite.
I read Girl on the Verge for the first time a few years ago and loved it. Even recently I’ve recommended it when people ask for thrillers, and I realized I didn’t remember much of it. So when I found a copy at the library, I impulsively decided to reread and see if it was as good as I used to say it was.
It was even better.
I appreciate what Dunn pulled off now more than I ever could have in 2017. To put such three-dimensional characters, layered relationships, and a mind-boggling plot in less than 300 pages AND make it all work? Truly brilliant.
If you read the synopsis and the first few chapters, it’s incredibly easy to figure out who the antagonist is. But don’t dismiss the book yet. It’s a complex psychological thriller with an underlying mystery that becomes more prominent as the story progresses.
Since this was a reread, admittedly, a few events didn’t have quite the same impact on me as they did the first time, or as they might on a new reader. I was tempted to lower my rating to four stars until the last chapter, which contains the most shocking twist of all. Trust me, it works. I completely forgot about said twist, and for that, my rating will stay at five stars. It even shocked my sister, who has more experience with thrillers than I do. Sometimes I tell her about books that I’m reading, the level of detail dependent on whether or not she’s interested in picking it up herself. Since she wasn’t super interested in this one’s premise, I gave her the spoiler-filled rundown, and she didn’t expect it either. Major props to Dunn for that.
On an unrelated note, I want to take a moment to appreciate the love interest Ethan, who did not deserve any of the wild, traumatizing things he got roped into. I’m extremely gay, but I still love reading about soft boys—Ethan definitely fits that description. He’s a competitive ballroom dancer that’s too shy to talk to the girl he likes, and he’s just so wholesome. I love to see it. And the romance? So cute!
As it’s a short book, I don’t think there’s much else to say. I’m so glad I reread Girl on the Verge. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading more by Dunn!
Representation:
• Kan is Thai-American. Her family on her mom’s side is Thai.
CW: physical & emotional abuse, manipulation, discussion of domestic violence (prior to story), suicide (off-page & prior to story), self-harm, kidnapping, captivity, sexual harassment, death/murder
[first read, June 2017]
Early copy provided by Netgalley. This doesn't affect my opinions or my review.
THIS BOOK. THIS FREAKING BOOK.
I was reading three books at once, then decided to focus on this one. I read it in a day and don't regret it at all. It blew my expectations out of the water and I loved every page.
This actually just released today, so I feel it's appropriate that I finished it. I'm going to be recommending it a lot. For such a short book, it really packed a punch and kept me on the edge of my seat. Seriously, I haven't done anything other than read in about three hours.
I loved everything about this book. The characters, the family, the romance, absolutely everything. You should see my Kindle notes. They're all over the place. Then again, so am I. I went into this happy to have an early copy, because I was looking forward to it, but I wasn't in desperate need of it or expecting much from it. Don't let this go under the radar. It's amazing.
One thing I liked that I haven't seen before was a Thai-American character. Kan, short for Kanchana, struggled to balance the expectations of her Thai family and the desire to have an American life. I'm not Thai, so further comments are out of my lane. But anyway, I loved that her family was present, even though her mother worked a lot, and I especially loved her grandmother. I also liked the tidbits of Thai culture and the Thai food that was woven into the story.
One other thing I want to bring up is that both Kan and the love interest Ethan have unique hobbies, something I want to see more of in YA. Kan designs and sews clothes, and Ethan is a competitive ballroom dancer. Yes, please! I've seen a handful of designers before, but never a ballroom dancer. I loved it, even if it seems minor.
I applaud Pintip for making such a small book so impactful and thrilling. This is slightly more than 250 pages and yet the story is so intricate and gripping. Even though I knew the basis of what would happen due to the synopsis, I was in nearly a constant state of shock as I read. I loved the last quarter, especially! I never expected it, and I couldn't have ever guessed that ending.
All in all, I loved everything about this book. It was an epic read, perfect for bingeing and definitely a new favorite.
Early copy from Netgalley. This doesn't affect my opinions or my review.
I've been waiting for this book since I finished Anomaly in September 2015 and it was 100% worth the wait. It exceeded all of my expectations and was honestly just an amazing read.
I don't know where to begin. Everything was fantastic. I loved Josie and Reid and their romance, and all of the new characters. I loved that Josie's normal friend Hannah wasn't ditched in the midst of the chaos. I loved that Josie and her mom were trying to fix their relationship and how much Josie cared for her little brother. The story was fast-paced and full of humor, love, deception, intrigue, nerdy references, and completely unexpected twists. This is also an #ownvoices anxiety story, and although I don't have anxiety I can say I think it had good rep.
I just loved every bit of this sequel. My favorite parts were Josie and Reid's romance and also the ending. It was wild and intense, and went in a direction I never would've guessed. It was satisfying, hopeful, and honestly perfect. I'm happy with how Josie's story ended, but I'd also read anything else I could get my hands on.
All in all, this was a wonderful book. I loved reading it, and I'll be recommending Anomaly for a long, long time. If you like sci-fi, action, and romance, give it a shot! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, much like I was.
I'm kind of sad it's over, but I'm excited to see what Tonya writes next. ❤️
I've been waiting for this book since I finished Anomaly in September 2015 and it was 100% worth the wait. It exceeded all of my expectations and was honestly just an amazing read.
I don't know where to begin. Everything was fantastic. I loved Josie and Reid and their romance, and all of the new characters. I loved that Josie's normal friend Hannah wasn't ditched in the midst of the chaos. I loved that Josie and her mom were trying to fix their relationship and how much Josie cared for her little brother. The story was fast-paced and full of humor, love, deception, intrigue, nerdy references, and completely unexpected twists. This is also an #ownvoices anxiety story, and although I don't have anxiety I can say I think it had good rep.
I just loved every bit of this sequel. My favorite parts were Josie and Reid's romance and also the ending. It was wild and intense, and went in a direction I never would've guessed. It was satisfying, hopeful, and honestly perfect. I'm happy with how Josie's story ended, but I'd also read anything else I could get my hands on.
All in all, this was a wonderful book. I loved reading it, and I'll be recommending Anomaly for a long, long time. If you like sci-fi, action, and romance, give it a shot! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, much like I was.
I'm kind of sad it's over, but I'm excited to see what Tonya writes next. ❤️
First reread, June 2017. 3.5 stars. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, so I added half a star to my rating. However, I still don't like it nearly as much as I like Anna. Whereas in that book the cute excused the cringe, in this one there wasn't enough cute to make it work. I think Lola was a bit too dramatic, and that a lot of her problems could've been solved with simple communication. I liked her dads, especially Andy, but I think they were a bit too strict. In the end I thought Lola and Cricket were cute, but there was a lot of awkward moments leading up to it and I wish there was a bit more talking about their more developed relationship.
Original read, November 2015. I had issues with Lola. I didn't like this nearly as much as I liked Anna. (full review on my blog – https://heirofglitter.wordpress.com/2015/11/20/lola-the-boy-next-door-review/#more-467)
Original read, November 2015. I had issues with Lola. I didn't like this nearly as much as I liked Anna. (full review on my blog – https://heirofglitter.wordpress.com/2015/11/20/lola-the-boy-next-door-review/#more-467)
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First reread, June/July 2017: 5 stars.
I never thought this would happen, but this has replaced Anna as my new favorite in the trilogy. It was so cute and I honestly can't think of any cringeworthy moments. In my opinion, the story was full of awkward, relatable moments rather than cringeworthy ones. And as much as I like Anna, it made me cringe sometimes. Anyway. I could relate so much to Isla, even Josh at times, and I felt for them both. They need hugs and also they're absolutely adorable. Awkward, unsure, passionate. Yes please. I used to think they made up too easily, but now I think it was perfect. And the best part of the book was the reunion/meeting of all seven of them - Anna, Étienne, Mer, Lola, Cricket, Isla, and Josh - don't fight me on this. The following scene was the cutest EVER, don't fight me on this either. If I had to wish for one thing to be different, I'd wish for an epilogue about all of them. Otherwise, I have to say it was honestly perfect. This is my new favorite in the trilogy. ❤️
(If any of you are curious, for me it's Isla, Anna, Lola, though I love all three.)
Original read, early 2016: 4.5 stars
I loved this book. It was fun, cute, and enjoyable, and the characters were great. My favorite parts were the reunion/meeting and what came right after. I just think that Isla and Josh made up too easily, and I wish there had been an epilogue.
* full review on my blog :)
I never thought this would happen, but this has replaced Anna as my new favorite in the trilogy. It was so cute and I honestly can't think of any cringeworthy moments. In my opinion, the story was full of awkward, relatable moments rather than cringeworthy ones. And as much as I like Anna, it made me cringe sometimes. Anyway. I could relate so much to Isla, even Josh at times, and I felt for them both. They need hugs and also they're absolutely adorable. Awkward, unsure, passionate. Yes please. I used to think they made up too easily, but now I think it was perfect. And the best part of the book was the reunion/meeting of all seven of them - Anna, Étienne, Mer, Lola, Cricket, Isla, and Josh - don't fight me on this. The following scene was the cutest EVER, don't fight me on this either. If I had to wish for one thing to be different, I'd wish for an epilogue about all of them. Otherwise, I have to say it was honestly perfect. This is my new favorite in the trilogy. ❤️
(If any of you are curious, for me it's Isla, Anna, Lola, though I love all three.)
Original read, early 2016: 4.5 stars
I loved this book. It was fun, cute, and enjoyable, and the characters were great. My favorite parts were the reunion/meeting and what came right after. I just think that Isla and Josh made up too easily, and I wish there had been an epilogue.
* full review on my blog :)
Early copy from Netgalley. This doesn't affect my opinion or my review.
DNF, 63%.
I wanted to like this book. I tried to like it. And honestly, it was good. Good enough to get two stars instead of one. The story was interesting and its uniqueness was the main reason I requested it. However, it was much slower than I anticipated. I read all of part one, over half the book, and they didn't even get to Eden, the mysterious new planet. You can see why that would be disappointing. On top of that, the main character Emmett was really unlikable. He was irritating, arrogant, entitled, and seemed focused only on winning. That might seem cruel, but from what I read, that's what I got from him. I liked, even loved the other characters, but he was unbearable to me. I think I liked literally everyone more than I liked him. Also, the nyxia (a substance found on Eden) seemed a bit too convenient, with it's only known limits being it couldn't create food or water. Otherwise it can be shifted into anything. How helpful.
Around the 45% mark I was torn between continuing and marking it as dnf. Then something happened and one of my favorite characters died, and honestly it was entirely Emmett's fault. After that I knew I was done. I wasn't even intrigued by the interlude right before part two. As bad as this might sound, I was relieved when I got to part two because that's when I let myself stop. Oops.
But in all honesty, I'm making the story sound much worse than it is. Despite what I've said so far, I did like it. I fully believe that Emmett was the main reason I didn't enjoy this book. If anyone else was the protagonist, I think I would've loved it. Maybe that's harsh in itself, but I just really, really didn't like Emmett.
One thing I really liked about this book was the diversity. Nearly all of the characters were POC and of varying ethnicities; Japanese, Chinese, Palestinian, Swiss, Brazilian, Kenyan. I can't speak for any of the rep, but I liked the inclusion.
Lastly, the sleepover scene was my favorite thing. It could've been better if only a certain death wasn't the cause of it. I'll be bitter about that death for a while, most likely. Sorry not sorry.
So, yeah, good book, but slow pace and an insufferable main character. I couldn't make it through, but I still highly recommend this to anyone interested when it comes out in September.
DNF, 63%.
I wanted to like this book. I tried to like it. And honestly, it was good. Good enough to get two stars instead of one. The story was interesting and its uniqueness was the main reason I requested it. However, it was much slower than I anticipated. I read all of part one, over half the book, and they didn't even get to Eden, the mysterious new planet. You can see why that would be disappointing. On top of that, the main character Emmett was really unlikable. He was irritating, arrogant, entitled, and seemed focused only on winning. That might seem cruel, but from what I read, that's what I got from him. I liked, even loved the other characters, but he was unbearable to me. I think I liked literally everyone more than I liked him. Also, the nyxia (a substance found on Eden) seemed a bit too convenient, with it's only known limits being it couldn't create food or water. Otherwise it can be shifted into anything. How helpful.
Around the 45% mark I was torn between continuing and marking it as dnf. Then something happened and one of my favorite characters died, and honestly it was entirely Emmett's fault. After that I knew I was done. I wasn't even intrigued by the interlude right before part two. As bad as this might sound, I was relieved when I got to part two because that's when I let myself stop. Oops.
But in all honesty, I'm making the story sound much worse than it is. Despite what I've said so far, I did like it. I fully believe that Emmett was the main reason I didn't enjoy this book. If anyone else was the protagonist, I think I would've loved it. Maybe that's harsh in itself, but I just really, really didn't like Emmett.
One thing I really liked about this book was the diversity. Nearly all of the characters were POC and of varying ethnicities; Japanese, Chinese, Palestinian, Swiss, Brazilian, Kenyan. I can't speak for any of the rep, but I liked the inclusion.
Lastly, the sleepover scene was my favorite thing. It could've been better if only a certain death wasn't the cause of it. I'll be bitter about that death for a while, most likely. Sorry not sorry.
So, yeah, good book, but slow pace and an insufferable main character. I couldn't make it through, but I still highly recommend this to anyone interested when it comes out in September.
3.5 stars
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one, but for the most part it was still really good.
I had two big issues while reading. One, the writing. While I like A.G. Howard's style, some bits were ridiculous and others were repetitive. For example, "I know that wild blue hair and those lips that taste of silk, licorice, and danger." Just no. I mean, silk and danger don't taste like anything. Then, throughout the story, it was brought up over and over that Morpheus had a cockney accent. Okay, cool. It doesn't need to be brought up so often. That, and the fact that nearly every time he was talking to Alyssa he added "luv" at the end. It's more of a personal thing, but just ... please stop?
And second, Morpheus himself. I think everyone that has read this likes him much more than Jeb, and I thought I would too, given my tendency to love arrogant, mysterious love interests. But nine times out of ten I just couldn't stand him. He's so manipulative and excessively cocky, and I found I didn't care about him much at all. I think he could redeem himself in the final book, though it would take a lot, but I wasn't even remotely concerned when his fate was revealed in the end. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
On that note, I didn't really like Jeb either. My problems with him weren't as prominent as my problems with Morpheus, but I just wasn't a fan. It felt like he constantly needed either reassuring or rescuing, and I'm not here for that. I didn't care very much when his fate was revealed, either. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(I just realized that at the moment, there are no love interests in any of A.G.'s books that I like. Oops.)
However, I thought Alyssa was awesome. I loved her narration, her determination, and honestly just everything about her. She had flaws for sure, but I was rooting for her. I loved seeing her come to terms with her netherling side, and embrace her magic and then finally her wings. Also, her sass and her general attitude toward Morpheus was absolutely wonderful, even though she did care for him.
The story felt slower than it was in the first book, and there was a sad lack of Wonderland. It did pick up majorly in the second half, and the end has practically guaranteed the third book will take place mostly in Wonderland, but I was a little disappointed. I love A.G.'s dark, twisted version of it, even though it was a bit creepy sometimes, and I wanted to revisit it. But hey, more reason to want book three!
I'll be very happy if the entirety of book three is as thrilling as the second half of this one, because that was one wild ride. The only way it could've been better is if there had been less drama with Morpheus and Jeb. Alyssa and her mom working together is great, and the whole prom scene was just epic. And can we talk about that ending? It wasn't quite the cliffhanger I'd heard it was, but it definitely wasn't what I expected and I'm still eager for more.
Oh, and if the thing Ivory told Alyssa earlier on could just not happen, that would be awesome. 😊
Now on to the final book!
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one, but for the most part it was still really good.
I had two big issues while reading. One, the writing. While I like A.G. Howard's style, some bits were ridiculous and others were repetitive. For example, "I know that wild blue hair and those lips that taste of silk, licorice, and danger." Just no. I mean, silk and danger don't taste like anything. Then, throughout the story, it was brought up over and over that Morpheus had a cockney accent. Okay, cool. It doesn't need to be brought up so often. That, and the fact that nearly every time he was talking to Alyssa he added "luv" at the end. It's more of a personal thing, but just ... please stop?
And second, Morpheus himself. I think everyone that has read this likes him much more than Jeb, and I thought I would too, given my tendency to love arrogant, mysterious love interests. But nine times out of ten I just couldn't stand him. He's so manipulative and excessively cocky, and I found I didn't care about him much at all. I think he could redeem himself in the final book, though it would take a lot, but I wasn't even remotely concerned when his fate was revealed in the end. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
On that note, I didn't really like Jeb either. My problems with him weren't as prominent as my problems with Morpheus, but I just wasn't a fan. It felt like he constantly needed either reassuring or rescuing, and I'm not here for that. I didn't care very much when his fate was revealed, either. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(I just realized that at the moment, there are no love interests in any of A.G.'s books that I like. Oops.)
However, I thought Alyssa was awesome. I loved her narration, her determination, and honestly just everything about her. She had flaws for sure, but I was rooting for her. I loved seeing her come to terms with her netherling side, and embrace her magic and then finally her wings. Also, her sass and her general attitude toward Morpheus was absolutely wonderful, even though she did care for him.
The story felt slower than it was in the first book, and there was a sad lack of Wonderland. It did pick up majorly in the second half, and the end has practically guaranteed the third book will take place mostly in Wonderland, but I was a little disappointed. I love A.G.'s dark, twisted version of it, even though it was a bit creepy sometimes, and I wanted to revisit it. But hey, more reason to want book three!
I'll be very happy if the entirety of book three is as thrilling as the second half of this one, because that was one wild ride. The only way it could've been better is if there had been less drama with Morpheus and Jeb. Alyssa and her mom working together is great, and the whole prom scene was just epic. And can we talk about that ending? It wasn't quite the cliffhanger I'd heard it was, but it definitely wasn't what I expected and I'm still eager for more.
Oh, and if the thing Ivory told Alyssa earlier on could just not happen, that would be awesome. 😊
Now on to the final book!
Victoria's books are so easy for me to read and I love it. I sped through this in a day, just like I did with TSS. And I have to say, I liked this one a lot more.
In TSS I found the story slow, meandering, and altogether not the best. Here it was a constantly wild ride, full of gruesome, amusing, tense, and even sweet moments. I read TSS in a day because it was an easy read. I think I read this in that same time span because it was honestly gripping.
Kate and August were amazing characters. I loved them both. They were the same people I loved in the first book, while also growing and facing new struggles. They complemented each other, too; Kate's ruthlessness and August's compassion. And as I was reading, I found a lot of similarities between Kate and Lila, from ADSOM. I don't know if that's just me reaching, but I liked it nonetheless. I have to say, though, while I love August, I don't think I love him the same way everyone else does.
One thing I was really happy about was the continued lack of romance. At one point I was worried something would develop, because in this one case I don't ship the protagonists, but it lasted about two pages. Everything was fine. Normally I'd be on board, but this is one of the only YA series I know of without romance, so. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I'm sure I and many others have said it before, but I'll say it again: I love the monsters Victoria created. In most cases monsters are black and white, good and bad. In this duology, there's a lot more to it. There's a huge gray area for humans and monsters alike. And once again, I love how unique the Corsai, Malchai, and Sunai are. I don't know about you, but after reading these books I've got some pretty high standards for any future monstrous reads.
One of my favorite things about Victoria's books is the writing. It's simple and flowing, but extremely addicting. I get hooked and then I don't want to stop until I've read it all. On top of that, she weaves in complex storylines, and manages the perfect blend of intensity and humor. It made me happy to see that the puns and one-liners I loved in ADSOM and TSS were back full-swing in this book.
For example, this conversation between Alice and Kate:
"You know what I keep asking myself?"
"Why your hair isn't as good as mine?"
Moving on, I have to say the ending, even the book in general, didn't have a huge emotional affect on me. It was a thrilling ride, no doubt, and I cared about the story and characters, but everyone said the end would destroy you. I didn't feel that way. If I'm being honest, it barely made me sad at all. I had a feeling something like this would happen, although I didn't know the circumstances. Maybe it's bad of me to keep comparing this to ADSOM, since they're completely different, but ADSOM had me extremely invested emotionally, and this book just... didn't.
Other things I liked: Ilsa's quiet awesomeness. Allegro, because cats in stories are the best. Spending time in Prosperity before everything went down in Verity. And, as minor as it is, the Wardens' usernames in their online chat; pun goals. 😂
So all in all, this was a wonderful book. I really enjoyed reading more with these characters, in this world, even if I didn't have any sort of emotional connection to them. It was a monstrously good finale. 😉
(Don't judge my monstrously bad pun. Okay, I'll stop.)
In TSS I found the story slow, meandering, and altogether not the best. Here it was a constantly wild ride, full of gruesome, amusing, tense, and even sweet moments. I read TSS in a day because it was an easy read. I think I read this in that same time span because it was honestly gripping.
Kate and August were amazing characters. I loved them both. They were the same people I loved in the first book, while also growing and facing new struggles. They complemented each other, too; Kate's ruthlessness and August's compassion. And as I was reading, I found a lot of similarities between Kate and Lila, from ADSOM. I don't know if that's just me reaching, but I liked it nonetheless. I have to say, though, while I love August, I don't think I love him the same way everyone else does.
One thing I was really happy about was the continued lack of romance. At one point I was worried something would develop, because in this one case I don't ship the protagonists, but it lasted about two pages. Everything was fine. Normally I'd be on board, but this is one of the only YA series I know of without romance, so. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I'm sure I and many others have said it before, but I'll say it again: I love the monsters Victoria created. In most cases monsters are black and white, good and bad. In this duology, there's a lot more to it. There's a huge gray area for humans and monsters alike. And once again, I love how unique the Corsai, Malchai, and Sunai are. I don't know about you, but after reading these books I've got some pretty high standards for any future monstrous reads.
One of my favorite things about Victoria's books is the writing. It's simple and flowing, but extremely addicting. I get hooked and then I don't want to stop until I've read it all. On top of that, she weaves in complex storylines, and manages the perfect blend of intensity and humor. It made me happy to see that the puns and one-liners I loved in ADSOM and TSS were back full-swing in this book.
For example, this conversation between Alice and Kate:
"You know what I keep asking myself?"
"Why your hair isn't as good as mine?"
Moving on, I have to say the ending, even the book in general, didn't have a huge emotional affect on me. It was a thrilling ride, no doubt, and I cared about the story and characters, but everyone said the end would destroy you. I didn't feel that way. If I'm being honest, it barely made me sad at all. I had a feeling something like this would happen, although I didn't know the circumstances. Maybe it's bad of me to keep comparing this to ADSOM, since they're completely different, but ADSOM had me extremely invested emotionally, and this book just... didn't.
Other things I liked: Ilsa's quiet awesomeness. Allegro, because cats in stories are the best. Spending time in Prosperity before everything went down in Verity. And, as minor as it is, the Wardens' usernames in their online chat; pun goals. 😂
So all in all, this was a wonderful book. I really enjoyed reading more with these characters, in this world, even if I didn't have any sort of emotional connection to them. It was a monstrously good finale. 😉
(Don't judge my monstrously bad pun. Okay, I'll stop.)
Blog review.
5 reasons to read it video: https://youtu.be/D1D4TsGHI8E
A surprisingly enjoyable read. *claps*
There's an alternate Earth called Ashra, where all the monsters - called curra - live. In old times, there were portals that allowed humans to visit Ashra and curra to visit Earth, but now the portals have closed and humans have spun the legacies of their former friends into the tales we know today. The antagonist wants to find the key that will reopen the portals so he can dominate both worlds, but the key can only be found via the Orb, and only the MC Agatha can do so. It's even cooler than it sounds.
Agatha is a 13-year-old girl in foster care, a wannabe rebel but overall good girl, and has a rough home life. She's the last of the Knights, the warriors of Ashra that previously guarded the portals, and the one that must read the Orb and track down and destroy the key. My favorite thing about her is how realistic she acts. She's not one of those heroines that is thrown into a new world, starts off unsteadily, and then suddenly becomes what she needs to be. She started off unsteadily and remained that way. She has a lot of self-doubt, fear, and is generally unsure of whether she's truly right for the role she's supposed to play. She also is very inquisitive and wants to know everything about Ashra, the curra, and the job she's training for.
My other favorite thing about this book was that there was no romance, or even the hint of one. Don't get me wrong, I love romance in stories, but finding a book without any is uncommon and refreshing. Much of the middle chunk of the book is Agatha journeying to the elfin village to be trained, along with her two companions Jonah and Dathid. Jonah is described as looking like the Grim Reaper and has abilities similar to what one might have, but is actually a Knight Crawler - a guardian of Knights. Dathid is the faerie prince. Instead of any romantic feelings or rivalries, the only relationship between the three is a strong, encouraging friendship. I loved it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'll definitely read the second one. :D
If you need more encouragement to pick it up, it features things like: a sassy pet pegasus, unicorns, faeries, elves, an ocean you can walk on top of, a scene that gives vibes similar to those from the Disney movie Inside Out, and a cave where anything you think of becomes real. Read it!! ;)
5 reasons to read it video: https://youtu.be/D1D4TsGHI8E
A surprisingly enjoyable read. *claps*
There's an alternate Earth called Ashra, where all the monsters - called curra - live. In old times, there were portals that allowed humans to visit Ashra and curra to visit Earth, but now the portals have closed and humans have spun the legacies of their former friends into the tales we know today. The antagonist wants to find the key that will reopen the portals so he can dominate both worlds, but the key can only be found via the Orb, and only the MC Agatha can do so. It's even cooler than it sounds.
Agatha is a 13-year-old girl in foster care, a wannabe rebel but overall good girl, and has a rough home life. She's the last of the Knights, the warriors of Ashra that previously guarded the portals, and the one that must read the Orb and track down and destroy the key. My favorite thing about her is how realistic she acts. She's not one of those heroines that is thrown into a new world, starts off unsteadily, and then suddenly becomes what she needs to be. She started off unsteadily and remained that way. She has a lot of self-doubt, fear, and is generally unsure of whether she's truly right for the role she's supposed to play. She also is very inquisitive and wants to know everything about Ashra, the curra, and the job she's training for.
My other favorite thing about this book was that there was no romance, or even the hint of one. Don't get me wrong, I love romance in stories, but finding a book without any is uncommon and refreshing. Much of the middle chunk of the book is Agatha journeying to the elfin village to be trained, along with her two companions Jonah and Dathid. Jonah is described as looking like the Grim Reaper and has abilities similar to what one might have, but is actually a Knight Crawler - a guardian of Knights. Dathid is the faerie prince. Instead of any romantic feelings or rivalries, the only relationship between the three is a strong, encouraging friendship. I loved it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'll definitely read the second one. :D
If you need more encouragement to pick it up, it features things like: a sassy pet pegasus, unicorns, faeries, elves, an ocean you can walk on top of, a scene that gives vibes similar to those from the Disney movie Inside Out, and a cave where anything you think of becomes real. Read it!! ;)