This was a quick read and I really enjoyed it. It’s not my favorite or entirely original, but it was fun. I liked Margaret’s interpretation of fairies, and the idea of human Craft. The writing was pretty without being excessive, and the world-building was very well-done.

I liked the characters too. Isobel was a strong, capable, and passionate protagonist, with a gift for painting and a clever mind. Rook was a fierce fairy prince, but also one of the sweetest, most caring beings ever. Best fairy male award goes to Rook.

Their relationship was definitely insta-love and a driving factor in the story. But, looking past those things, they fit together and I ship them. They’re very ship-able. That’s a word now. Consent was a huge part of their relationship from the beginning, when Isobel made Rook promise not to touch her without permission unless she was in danger. He kept that promise, always making sure she was okay, asking, learning, helping. I know of a couple of other male fairies that could learn from him. 🌚

This was almost a five star read, but there were two things I didn’t really like in this book. One, upon introduction, Rook had the attitude of a petulant child with magical powers. I noticed this specifically when he came to take Isobel to his court for trial. Having read the whole book, I can understand why he acted this way, but I didn’t like it. Two, I really wish there had been more detail in the ending. The epilogue was nice, but I still had questions after reading the last page. And seeing as this is a standalone, I don’t think those questions will be answered.

All in all, this was a fun, better quality fairy story. I recommend it to those in search of a more lighthearted fantasy, and as an alternative to all SJM books. 🤗

“‘Is that so terrible? You say it as though it’s the most awful thing you can imagine. It isn’t as though I’ve done it on purpose. Somehow I’ve even grown fond of your—your irritating questions, and your short legs, and your accidental attempts to kill me.’
‘That’s the worst declaration of love I’ve ever heard!’”

2.5 stars

I’m definitely in the minority here.

I wanted to like this, I really did. I enjoyed the DOSAB trilogy when I read it a couple of years ago, and I was so excited for this book. It was one of the most hyped fantasy releases last year, though unfortunately it didn’t live up to that hype.

I’m familiar with Laini’s flowery writing style, and I thought I’d like it. But this time around, it felt like too much, and it overwhelmed the story. I think the prose made this longer than it needed to be.

Ironically, I didn’t find the world-building all that great. We’re told about some parts of history, but not that much about Weep itself. Yeah, it’s the lost city, its name was erased from memory, and they need help from outsiders to fix their mysterious problem. But where are the details? The culture, the customs? There was so much description, particularly regarding the myths and the dreamscapes, but what about the real city? Is there a reason the gods and godspawn are blue?

I liked Lazlo and I liked Sarai, but I didn’t really care about either one of them. They had personality but not depth, if that makes sense. I knew them without actually knowing them. It felt like Laini only scratched the surface of their characters.

I could say the same about the side characters. There were a lot of them, but they didn’t seem to really be important. They were introduced and then tossed aside until they could help further the story. I liked Calixte and Tzara and their relationship, but it was mentioned two or three times before it was forgotten about. Lazlo essentially forgot about Calixte, who had so much potential, once he met Sarai. Thyon also had potential, as an alchemist that seemed to have a change of heart, but in the end all he did was continue Lazlo’s story. The same goes for Feral, Ruby, and Sparrow, the other godspawn in the citadel. They stood to the side and did nothing so many times, when they could’ve been amazing and influential.

The story was slow and meandering, with a focus on myth and magic rather than action. In some cases that doesn’t bother me, but the first 300-350 pages had nothing really significant. Only after that did things start to pick up, and by then it would’ve taken a miracle for me to truly care. I thought about dnfing this a few times, but held out because the ending was supposed to be amazing.

It wasn’t. I can’t even say it really shocked me, because I practically guessed the twist after Thyon and Lazlo’s midnight interaction. A few small details were unexpected, but that was really it. The ending itself would’ve been devastating if I was invested in the story and the characters, but I wasn’t. To be quite honest, I don’t think Lazlo made the right choice in the end.

I like fantasy books with romance, and I liked Lazlo and Sarai together until it took over the story. I might be a hopeless romantic, but I like romance to accompany a good plot, not become the plot. After a couple of dreams together, they spent days thinking of only the other person. Their emotions got in the way of their logic. No thanks.

The one thing I can say for sure that I liked is the dreams Lazlo and Sarai shared. They were sweet, vivid, and magical. They ate cake, created wings in order to fly, and explored Lazlo’s old library. Those scenes were nice to read, and worth an extra half star.

I think I covered everything. I wanted to love this book, but the writing was a bit too flowery, the romance a bit too overpowering, and everything else fell flat. It’s unlikely that I’ll read the sequel, or any of Laini’s other books. However, if you want to read this, go for it! There’s a good chance you’ll like it, because like I said, I’m in the minority here.

CW: gore

I didn’t know much going into this, only what was on the back cover and that it’s one of Erika’s favorite books. I was surprised by how much I liked it.

The writing style took some getting used to. The characters used “yer” and “ain’t” and “tho,” and words ending in -tion were spelled -shun. It was kind of off-putting at first, but after a while it didn’t bother me.

I think this was a really creative story. It takes place on a new planet, where there’s aliens and nothing is as it seems. Literally nothing. Characters that should be dead don’t die. Characters that shouldn’t do. Basically everything is a lie. It made for an interesting, twisty read.

If Todd wasn’t twelve, I probably would’ve hated him. But he was only twelve, so that’s definitely why he came off as immature. Not holding that against him. But he was so angry, so easily, and while I get he was young and in a tough situation, I think he went a bit over the top sometimes. However, I liked his development in the second half of the story and look forward to seeing how it continues in book two.

I liked Viola. She was a well-developed character and a good friend to Todd, even when he didn’t really deserve it. She was only twelve or thirteen as well, but she was fighting against sexism in New World and she was kind of awesome.

The other characters were all alright. Some were good, some were bad, and then a few were horrible. I liked Todd’s parents, two gay men that took him in after his mom died. I really disliked all of the Prentisstown men, and three in particular need to die or go away or something.

Manchee was the best character in the book, hands down. He was sweet and funny and he stayed loyal to Todd through everything. Todd hated him originally, something I honestly can’t comprehend, but grew to love him. Honestly, the dog is always the best character and always will be.

Parts of the book were slower, because there was a lot of journeying. It didn’t bother me too much though. There was enough action and suspense mixed in to satisfy me.

I liked the ending, but it didn’t really make me feel anything. I heard it was a massive cliffhanger, but I’m not sure I agree. It was definitely suspenseful and I can tell it leads to the second book, and that’s about it.

The last thing I want to say is that there was a scene in this book that had me choked up. It was so heartbreaking and I was so bitter. Erika was absolutely right when she told me it would be bad. My status update shows that. I can’t say what because of spoilers, but omg that hurt. It didn’t make me cry, but it got close. This is only the second book to ever do so. I think that says something.

All in all, a good book. I recommend it cautiously, because it’s an unexpected heartbreaker. Have fun!

4.5 stars

CW: domestic abuse, self-harm, racism

I really enjoyed this book. It was a unique, magical story, and very intriguing. The characters (one was Korean-American) had a lot of depth, and I loved the slow-burn romance. Some parts of the story were a bit slow and the ending was a bit confusing, but I liked it. Definitely an underrated book, and one I highly recommend!

2.5 stars

CW: harassment, emotional abuse, kissing without consent

This is supposed to be a psychological thriller. I disagree. I was never hooked, and honestly it felt like nothing really happened. The writing was nice and the story whimsical, but it definitely wasn’t a thriller; it was too boring and mellow for that.

I also didn’t really care about the characters. Wink and her siblings were alright, but Midnight was so naïve and needed to grow a backbone, if I’m being honest. The Yellows were bland, and then there’s Poppy. I despised Poppy. She was an entitled, arrogant rich girl and a horrible person. I disliked her immediately and it only went downhill from there.

And throughout the entire second half, I was so confused. I know what the “bad thing” in the synopsis was supposed to be, but it didn’t have any effect on me. The end was confusing, and it felt unfinished.

I didn’t hate this book, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. I recommend this to anyone that likes whimsy and unlikable protagonists. It’s an odd book, though, so I feel you’ll either love it or not.

Words can’t describe how much I love this book. I went in with fairly high expectations, as I’d seen many people raving about how amazing it was. I wasn’t disappointed.

I LOVE THIS BOOK.

I’m not black or Japanese, so I can’t speak on that rep. I’ve seen reviewers of color talking about how well racial microaggressions are handled, though.

I used to identify as biromantic asexual, before deciding aromantic fit me better. Regardless, I was so happy to read about a protagonist with that orientation, as I and others can say it’s a first. I really liked how it was addressed. The biromantic half did kind of take the back burner, though in the beginning Alice had a girlfriend. The main focus is her asexuality. There were so many relatable lines, and it managed to be informative while still very entertaining. The book talks about how sex is deemed an integral part of relationships, and why it and emotion should really be separate. I agree wholeheartedly with everything this book said.

(Seriously, I annotated just about every page. If I’d used tabs, I would’ve run out, I’m sure.)

I thought all of the characters were well-written and realistic. Alice was so relatable and I could really relate to her. Takumi was the absolute sweetest. I loved the two of them together with all my heart, and I also loved Alice’s friendship with Feenie. They fought and they didn’t talk for long periods of time, but they came back to each other in the end. I think it’s more accurate that way, and it shows how strong their connection really is.

Other things I liked:
- Alice was in college, and still deciding what she wanted to do with her life.
- She worked in a library.
- Takumi had twin nieces and they were adorable.
- The Halloween party, because of Alice and Takumi’s nerdy costumes and the very important discussion that followed a specific scene. (You’ll know if you’ve read it.)
- Alice and Ryan were great friends.
- The interior design aspect.
- This book is vey therapy-positive. Alice sees a therapist early on, and goes back a few times. She talks a lot with him, and he gives valuable advice. I think more books could follow this example.

I loved everything, okay? Highly recommended if you want a fluffy, relevant, diverse contemporary!! 😍

3.5 stars

I liked this book, but I think it’s my least favorite of V’s so far. The idea was interesting and unique, but 90% of the book felt like a lot of build-up, and the last 10% seemed kind of rushed. I was also kind of confused by some things; it took me a long time to realize that the man in Mackenzie’s memories was her grandpa, and that he was dead while her dad was alive. That’s not necessarily a story flaw, just a personal issue. The one flaw I can think of is the slow pacing, which honestly detached me from the story. I liked Mackenzie and Wesley’s friendship and their banter, as well as the lack of romantic development between them. That will likely change, but for now I do like it.

All in all, I found this to be a very meh read. I don’t think I’ll read the sequel, but I’ll eagerly await more from V nonetheless.

Find my (spoiler-free) review and more on Heir of Glitter!

This was a good origin story, but much slower-paced than I would've liked and no major surprises until the last 60 pages. Anne was a good lead but seemed unrealistically smart for her age, and Teach's controlling nature bothered me. However, it was entertaining still, and I found the time period interesting. I may or may not pick up the sequel when it comes out. :)

** Quotes may not be accurate if compared to finished copy. Early copy received from Penguin Teen. **

This was a fun story and I enjoyed it, but there were a couple of issues.

My biggest issue was the racial slurs. The love interest is Romani, and he and his tribe are commonly referred to as Gypsies. Anna (mc) was quick to learn after Gábor initially pointed it out to her, but others weren't. Beyond the halfway point I can't recall any uses of the term, but it was scattered throughout the first half.

The other issue was the sexism. I realize that for a story set in the mid-1800's this is unfortunately realistic, but I don't quite understand why it was included. If magic can be incorporated into this time period, why couldn't even a little bit of gender equality? This doesn't truly affect my view of the book, but it's something that stayed in my mind throughout.

I really liked Anna. She was a fierce, likable lead, if a bit indecisive and dramatic. But honestly, aren't we all? She desired magic but didn't let her lack of it stop her from living life. She stood up for what she thought was right and went through with her plans even if others thought it wasn't right. I liked the latter quality because it was presented differently. Rather than do what she wanted because she believed she was superior, as other protagonists do, she did things because she believed they were right. She considered other options and suggestions of those close to her before making a choice. She was an admirably strong heroine, and a handful of her quotes stuck out to me as I read.

"You should not dismiss me because I am only a girl. Even a small dog can bite. And [...] a microorganism smaller than the head of a pin can kill a grown man." -page 209

"I would not be one of those girls who remade herself and her beliefs for the attentions of a man, even for Gábor. He would have to love me for myself—or not at all." -page 251

"How could these men accept my help [...] and then reject my plea? Because I was a woman did not mean I was witless." -page 261

One thing I like about reading historical fantasy is seeing how the things I've grown up learning are intertwined with new fantastical elements, and what's changed. I think it's really interesting, and this book was no exception. I think it was unique that the Circle was prevailed over monarchs in some countries, while the opposite was true in others.

On that note, the magic system was intriguing. There were four classes of magic, each with control over separate sections of life/nature. They draw power from another realm called the Binding, once/if their magic is successfully confirmed during a test at a young age. Readers find this out gradually, so it never feels like an info dump.

I liked Gábor as a character, but I wasn't as sure about his developing romance with Anna. Class division played a part at first, and that didn't really bother me. What did bother me was Gábor's attitude toward the situation. He loved Anna, and that much was clear. But he acted like their societal differences were the end of the world. At one point he leaves Anna to avoid difficulty, but also because he doesn't agree with a choice she made. He wasn't controlling, he just needed to get his life together. I do think Anna and Gábor have potential to be a cute couple in later books.

One thing I really enjoyed was the familial aspects of the story. Even though all of her immediate family remains in England while she goes to Hungary with her grandmother, Anna always has relatives nearby. They care about her, and it's genuine. Gábor excluded, everyone that takes part is family in some way. They were all supportive and helpful, and there were no rivalries or petty problems.

The last thing I'll say is that I loved the setting of this book. The very beginning took place in England, but the majority was in Hungary. I don't recall ever reading a book set in Hungary, or even involving Hungarian family/lineage. This book had both, and I enjoyed learning about small details of the country's history. Also, it sounds like a gorgeous place, even in the forest/marshy area the family residence is in.

Oh, and the last 150 pages were especially exciting. I never saw that twist coming. It feels like the story could end there, rather than continue into a second book, but I can also see how that would work.

I did have issues with this book, mainly the racial slurs and the romance, but otherwise it was enjoyable. I'm not quite sure yet, but I think I'll continue with this series when the second book is released. This was a fun read!