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828 reviews by:
olivialandryxo
4.5 stars
CW: anxiety, ableism
I don’t have general or social anxiety disorder. I don’t have selective mutism. I’m not deaf. It’s not my place to comment on the representation for any of these identities, though I’ve seen reviewers with anxiety say that part is very well done and relatable. If I find reviewers with selective mutism or deafness that have read this, I’ll edit this review accordingly.
Secondly, let me address the ableism. It wasn’t a constant theme, but in many scenarios throughout the first half of the book, Steffi’s mom does make ableist comments regarding her mutism and anxiety. She seems to come around in the second half, though that doesn’t excuse her actions in past or present.
Okay, now let me just say that I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was so much better and so much cuter than I expected, and I flew through it.
Steffi was a really relatable main character. I loved her friendship with Tem and her romance with Rhys. She had two sets of supportive parents, as her mom and dad divorced and remarried, and an awesome doggo. She worked at a kennel, so there were a bunch of other doggos as well, and that made it even better.
Tem was a really loyal friend, and a bit dramatic at times, but good nonetheless. They were opposites but they really fit together, and they came back to each other even after a big fight. I liked their dynamic.
Then there’s Rhys, an absolute marshmallow that must be protected. He was a tad sexist from time to time, but Steffi talked him through it and all was well. I loved him so much. He was supportive and sweet and snarky, all in one. He was a great character individually, and a super cute boyfriend.
I really liked Steffi’s and Tem’s younger siblings, Bell and Davey. They were both really little, around four I think, and they were really cute. Davey saw Bell in a fairy costume and wanted to be a fairy as well. He got to borrow her wings and it made him so happy. This scene made me smile.
Another good thing about this book is that it’s sex-positive. Steffi and Rhys have sex twice, maybe three times. (I’m clueless in this area so I’m not sure if one scene counts as sex or not lol oops. My ace side is showing.) These scenes aren’t my cup of tea, but they’re important. Sex is treated as a taboo thing in YA and it should be normalized. It also made me feel a bit better about myself, because they didn’t seem to know what they were doing and neither did I. 😂
This book is also therapy-positive. Toward the start Steffi is in a regular session, and later on there’s an emergency, last-minute session. Her therapist Jane was really nice and understanding, and she seemed to really help Steffi. I haven’t read many books where the main character has a positive therapy experience, though I might just be reading the wrong ones. It was refreshing to see that while reading this.
My big issue is that the end seemed kind of rushed. Steffi had a fight with Tem, a fallout with Rhys, and a meeting with her parents, and all of it happened in less than fifty pages. Then things were resolved, and the book was over. I think another chapter or two would’ve been beneficial.
So for the most part, I really enjoyed this. I liked the positive family dynamics, the strong friendship, the sweet romance, and of course the doggos. If you’re looking for a fluffy read that also discusses heavier topics, I highly recommend this one. 💕
(Also, not gonna lie, I’m jealous that the UK cover is so much prettier than the US one. When I buy my own copy I’m going to try to get that edition.)
CW: anxiety, ableism
I don’t have general or social anxiety disorder. I don’t have selective mutism. I’m not deaf. It’s not my place to comment on the representation for any of these identities, though I’ve seen reviewers with anxiety say that part is very well done and relatable. If I find reviewers with selective mutism or deafness that have read this, I’ll edit this review accordingly.
Secondly, let me address the ableism. It wasn’t a constant theme, but in many scenarios throughout the first half of the book, Steffi’s mom does make ableist comments regarding her mutism and anxiety. She seems to come around in the second half, though that doesn’t excuse her actions in past or present.
Okay, now let me just say that I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was so much better and so much cuter than I expected, and I flew through it.
Steffi was a really relatable main character. I loved her friendship with Tem and her romance with Rhys. She had two sets of supportive parents, as her mom and dad divorced and remarried, and an awesome doggo. She worked at a kennel, so there were a bunch of other doggos as well, and that made it even better.
Tem was a really loyal friend, and a bit dramatic at times, but good nonetheless. They were opposites but they really fit together, and they came back to each other even after a big fight. I liked their dynamic.
Then there’s Rhys, an absolute marshmallow that must be protected. He was a tad sexist from time to time, but Steffi talked him through it and all was well. I loved him so much. He was supportive and sweet and snarky, all in one. He was a great character individually, and a super cute boyfriend.
I really liked Steffi’s and Tem’s younger siblings, Bell and Davey. They were both really little, around four I think, and they were really cute. Davey saw Bell in a fairy costume and wanted to be a fairy as well. He got to borrow her wings and it made him so happy. This scene made me smile.
Another good thing about this book is that it’s sex-positive. Steffi and Rhys have sex twice, maybe three times. (I’m clueless in this area so I’m not sure if one scene counts as sex or not lol oops. My ace side is showing.) These scenes aren’t my cup of tea, but they’re important. Sex is treated as a taboo thing in YA and it should be normalized. It also made me feel a bit better about myself, because they didn’t seem to know what they were doing and neither did I. 😂
This book is also therapy-positive. Toward the start Steffi is in a regular session, and later on there’s an emergency, last-minute session. Her therapist Jane was really nice and understanding, and she seemed to really help Steffi. I haven’t read many books where the main character has a positive therapy experience, though I might just be reading the wrong ones. It was refreshing to see that while reading this.
My big issue is that the end seemed kind of rushed. Steffi had a fight with Tem, a fallout with Rhys, and a meeting with her parents, and all of it happened in less than fifty pages. Then things were resolved, and the book was over. I think another chapter or two would’ve been beneficial.
So for the most part, I really enjoyed this. I liked the positive family dynamics, the strong friendship, the sweet romance, and of course the doggos. If you’re looking for a fluffy read that also discusses heavier topics, I highly recommend this one. 💕
(Also, not gonna lie, I’m jealous that the UK cover is so much prettier than the US one. When I buy my own copy I’m going to try to get that edition.)
3.5 stars
I’m not sure how to rate this book. I don’t quite know what to think of this book.
I really liked the setting. Wonderland was wonderfully absurd, and I liked the references to the original story. It was fun to read about, though sometimes the descriptions were unclear. It took me more than half the book to realize the Duke was an actual pig, and often I found myself picturing the king as a young boy, around Cath’s age or younger, instead of a grown man.
I found Cath to be a rather flimsy protagonist for the majority of the story. I loved that she was a baker, and the treats she made sounded delicious. Other than that, she was fairly plain.
I loved Jest. He took a bit of time to warm up to, but he ended up stealing my heart. He was an enigmatic, charismatic fool, and definitely my favorite character.
I didn’t like Cath’s parents whatsoever. Her dad tended to be really passive, and her mom was aggressive and obsessed with reputation. She expected Cath to look and act like the perfect lady, and held her to ridiculously high expectations. She also made some comments about Cath’s weight, and told her to be more conscious of her dessert intake. It’s a minor thing, but it rubbed me the wrong way. Be wary, if comments like that bother you.
I didn’t like the king, either. He was a giggling, blubbering, incompetent man, and he threw parties instead of dealing with the issues in his kingdom. I’m not sure why he had his heart set on marrying Cath, other than a love for her baking. It was obvious that he had no idea what he was doing at any point in their relationship, and he also failed to realize how forced her hand was.
Also, I’m not sure why he thought she was an appropriate person to pursue? It’s not mentioned exactly how old Cath is, I assume around eighteen, but it’s said early on that the king is about fifteen years older. That puts him somewhere in his early thirties. So why does he want to marry a girl so much younger?? It’s not *really* that bad, but if you think about it, he was over twenty when she was less than ten. That’s a bit weird, in my opinion.
As for the plot, it was really slow. I liked it, I was intrigued, but nothing exciting/significant happened until the last ~150 pages. It was mainly Cath denying her love for Jest, accepting it, dreaming of the bakery she wanted to open, and being ordered around by her parents. There was a lot of minor details. I did like the croquet scene, the hatter’s tea party performance, and the ball where Jest was introduced, though. They were fun to read.
I’d heard that the end was heartbreaking, but I can’t say I agree. Cath thought she could outsmart a prophecy and she couldn’t. If she’d listened to those around her, it probably could’ve been avoided. It was sad, don’t get me wrong, but it was honestly all her fault. The aftermath, when she turned into the Queen of Hearts we know, was really just alright. I did like the ending, but it was nothing spectacular.
And I think that’s a good way to describe this book as a whole. It was good and fun to read, but I wasn’t very emotionally invested and it wasn’t amazing.
I’m not sure how to rate this book. I don’t quite know what to think of this book.
I really liked the setting. Wonderland was wonderfully absurd, and I liked the references to the original story. It was fun to read about, though sometimes the descriptions were unclear. It took me more than half the book to realize the Duke was an actual pig, and often I found myself picturing the king as a young boy, around Cath’s age or younger, instead of a grown man.
I found Cath to be a rather flimsy protagonist for the majority of the story. I loved that she was a baker, and the treats she made sounded delicious. Other than that, she was fairly plain.
I loved Jest. He took a bit of time to warm up to, but he ended up stealing my heart. He was an enigmatic, charismatic fool, and definitely my favorite character.
I didn’t like Cath’s parents whatsoever. Her dad tended to be really passive, and her mom was aggressive and obsessed with reputation. She expected Cath to look and act like the perfect lady, and held her to ridiculously high expectations. She also made some comments about Cath’s weight, and told her to be more conscious of her dessert intake. It’s a minor thing, but it rubbed me the wrong way. Be wary, if comments like that bother you.
I didn’t like the king, either. He was a giggling, blubbering, incompetent man, and he threw parties instead of dealing with the issues in his kingdom. I’m not sure why he had his heart set on marrying Cath, other than a love for her baking. It was obvious that he had no idea what he was doing at any point in their relationship, and he also failed to realize how forced her hand was.
Also, I’m not sure why he thought she was an appropriate person to pursue? It’s not mentioned exactly how old Cath is, I assume around eighteen, but it’s said early on that the king is about fifteen years older. That puts him somewhere in his early thirties. So why does he want to marry a girl so much younger?? It’s not *really* that bad, but if you think about it, he was over twenty when she was less than ten. That’s a bit weird, in my opinion.
As for the plot, it was really slow. I liked it, I was intrigued, but nothing exciting/significant happened until the last ~150 pages. It was mainly Cath denying her love for Jest, accepting it, dreaming of the bakery she wanted to open, and being ordered around by her parents. There was a lot of minor details. I did like the croquet scene, the hatter’s tea party performance, and the ball where Jest was introduced, though. They were fun to read.
I’d heard that the end was heartbreaking, but I can’t say I agree. Cath thought she could outsmart a prophecy and she couldn’t. If she’d listened to those around her, it probably could’ve been avoided. It was sad, don’t get me wrong, but it was honestly all her fault. The aftermath, when she turned into the Queen of Hearts we know, was really just alright. I did like the ending, but it was nothing spectacular.
And I think that’s a good way to describe this book as a whole. It was good and fun to read, but I wasn’t very emotionally invested and it wasn’t amazing.
It’s been years since I read anything by Veronica Roth, and reading this was really nostalgic for me.
I definitely don’t love Divergent like I used to, so honestly I’m not sure why I picked this up. It was available to borrow as an ebook from my library, so I went with it. At only 30 pages, it took very little time to read.
**Allegiant spoilers below, if you don’t already know the ending**
It wasn’t terrible, but to be honest it just felt pointless. Nothing happened. It had a few good quotes, but it was really just filler. It took place five years after Tris died and the factions are gone, and it’s about Tobias “moving on.” In this case that means a relationship with Christina, and I’m just not here for that.
**end spoilers**
There’s nothing else to talk about. I didn’t hate it, but I also think Veronica should’ve just left the characters at the end of Allegiant. I’m glad I got this from the library.
I definitely don’t love Divergent like I used to, so honestly I’m not sure why I picked this up. It was available to borrow as an ebook from my library, so I went with it. At only 30 pages, it took very little time to read.
**Allegiant spoilers below, if you don’t already know the ending**
It wasn’t terrible, but to be honest it just felt pointless. Nothing happened. It had a few good quotes, but it was really just filler. It took place five years after Tris died and the factions are gone, and it’s about Tobias “moving on.” In this case that means a relationship with Christina, and I’m just not here for that.
**end spoilers**
There’s nothing else to talk about. I didn’t hate it, but I also think Veronica should’ve just left the characters at the end of Allegiant. I’m glad I got this from the library.
Review also on Heir of Glitter.
5 things I loved about it video.
This book deserves every bit of hype it gets and more. If the fact that I read it in a day isn't proof of that, I'm not sure what is. :D
The story might not seem like the most original, and it probably isn't. But it's also one of those stories that's just so freaking good you don't care. At least, I didn't care. It follows three separate protagonists - a princess, a prince, and a rebel - all with very different lives, personalities, and perspectives. Each of them and others narrated different chapters in third person, and I was never confused. I could keep them all straight, and their plot-lines as well. I loved trying to piece things together about how the three stories might intercept: enough for me to read nearly the entire book in a day. ;)
My favorite character was definitely Cleo. She was the princess of Auranos, and an amazing, stubborn, sassy girl. I loved her so much, and her chapters were my favorite to read. I loved her ambition, and her dedication to her family, and just everything about her. I think I can honestly say that she's my favorite princess that isn't from a Disney story. :)
Jonas was a good, strong male lead, but I didn't like him. I felt bad for what he experience early on in the story, but didn't agree with his logic or desires. He was the main character that wasn't royal, and actually despised them all with a passion due to a single one's actions. To say he had a temper would be an understatement, and although he showed slight signs of potentially improving in the end, I'm not sure about him. I'll give him a chance in the sequel though. ;)
I really wasn't sure what to think of Magnus. I know his name kept making me think of my favorite glitter-loving warlock, but the two couldn't be more different. This Magnus was the Prince of Limeros and had zero magic. He also had secret romantic feelings that I can say for sure separated him from any other male leads I've read about so far. And while I can say I loved Cleo and disliked Jonas, I don't know where I stand with Magnus. I'll have to read the sequel to find out for sure. ;)
I loved the world of Mytica. All three kingdoms and their cultures and beliefs were so intricate and differing. I could imagine the luxury and lush forests of Auranos, the threadbare villages of Paelsia, and the harsh, ever-colder land of Limeros. They were all described vividly, and I could tell that much thought was put into their creation. For me, Mytica was the kind of world that you get so immersed in and knowledgeable about but still want to learn more, experience more. It was just fabulous.
My favorite thing in this book, though, had to be all the family relationships. Cleo was close to her older sister and her father. Jonas had a small family, and the fate of one motivated him for the entirety of the book. Magnus wasn't close to either of his parents, but loved and protected his younger sister throughout everything. It was wonderful to read a captivating high fantasy like this one, and find that it's full of families. I loved that.
There really wasn't any romance in this book, and once again, it was refreshing. There was some infatuation and a couple of royal engagements, but nothing solid developed. Of course, I still found people to ship, and romance will probably factor in somewhere in the next five books, but that's not the point. XD
I know I've said this a lot recently, but this book was a rollercoaster. I was hooked from the very beginning, by the prologue, and stayed that way until the very end. Even with my emotional attachment varying between characters, I needed to know what happened to everyone. The last 120 pages or so were especially crazy, and seriously messed with my heart. I can't say much more than that, but if you've read it, you'll know. ;)
So all in all, this book has proved to be worthy of a spot on my favorites shelf, and I'll definitely be continuing with this glorious high fantasy series. :D
5 things I loved about it video.
This book deserves every bit of hype it gets and more. If the fact that I read it in a day isn't proof of that, I'm not sure what is. :D
The story might not seem like the most original, and it probably isn't. But it's also one of those stories that's just so freaking good you don't care. At least, I didn't care. It follows three separate protagonists - a princess, a prince, and a rebel - all with very different lives, personalities, and perspectives. Each of them and others narrated different chapters in third person, and I was never confused. I could keep them all straight, and their plot-lines as well. I loved trying to piece things together about how the three stories might intercept: enough for me to read nearly the entire book in a day. ;)
My favorite character was definitely Cleo. She was the princess of Auranos, and an amazing, stubborn, sassy girl. I loved her so much, and her chapters were my favorite to read. I loved her ambition, and her dedication to her family, and just everything about her. I think I can honestly say that she's my favorite princess that isn't from a Disney story. :)
Jonas was a good, strong male lead, but I didn't like him. I felt bad for what he experience early on in the story, but didn't agree with his logic or desires. He was the main character that wasn't royal, and actually despised them all with a passion due to a single one's actions. To say he had a temper would be an understatement, and although he showed slight signs of potentially improving in the end, I'm not sure about him. I'll give him a chance in the sequel though. ;)
I really wasn't sure what to think of Magnus. I know his name kept making me think of my favorite glitter-loving warlock, but the two couldn't be more different. This Magnus was the Prince of Limeros and had zero magic. He also had secret romantic feelings that I can say for sure separated him from any other male leads I've read about so far. And while I can say I loved Cleo and disliked Jonas, I don't know where I stand with Magnus. I'll have to read the sequel to find out for sure. ;)
I loved the world of Mytica. All three kingdoms and their cultures and beliefs were so intricate and differing. I could imagine the luxury and lush forests of Auranos, the threadbare villages of Paelsia, and the harsh, ever-colder land of Limeros. They were all described vividly, and I could tell that much thought was put into their creation. For me, Mytica was the kind of world that you get so immersed in and knowledgeable about but still want to learn more, experience more. It was just fabulous.
My favorite thing in this book, though, had to be all the family relationships. Cleo was close to her older sister and her father. Jonas had a small family, and the fate of one motivated him for the entirety of the book. Magnus wasn't close to either of his parents, but loved and protected his younger sister throughout everything. It was wonderful to read a captivating high fantasy like this one, and find that it's full of families. I loved that.
There really wasn't any romance in this book, and once again, it was refreshing. There was some infatuation and a couple of royal engagements, but nothing solid developed. Of course, I still found people to ship, and romance will probably factor in somewhere in the next five books, but that's not the point. XD
I know I've said this a lot recently, but this book was a rollercoaster. I was hooked from the very beginning, by the prologue, and stayed that way until the very end. Even with my emotional attachment varying between characters, I needed to know what happened to everyone. The last 120 pages or so were especially crazy, and seriously messed with my heart. I can't say much more than that, but if you've read it, you'll know. ;)
So all in all, this book has proved to be worthy of a spot on my favorites shelf, and I'll definitely be continuing with this glorious high fantasy series. :D
Full (spoiler-free) review and more on Heir of Glitter.
I enjoyed Falling Kingdoms immensely when I read it over the summer, and so you can believe I was thrilled to see this was on hold for me at my school library. Rebel Spring wasn’t quite as action-packed as its predecessor, but still full of suspense. To be honest, I think it was the tiniest bit better than the first book. :)
Also, I'm 100% TEAM CLEO.
I feel so bad for Cleo, being forced into a marriage with Magnus! I still don't like him, but I think he's starting to be less of an ice cube and more of a human... slightly.
If Cleo takes down Gaius by using Lucia against him that'll be SO epic!
And I honestly thought Jonas and/or Magnus were going to die in the end. Honestly, I wouldn't have minded either way, but I'm intrigued to see how this goes!
I enjoyed Falling Kingdoms immensely when I read it over the summer, and so you can believe I was thrilled to see this was on hold for me at my school library. Rebel Spring wasn’t quite as action-packed as its predecessor, but still full of suspense. To be honest, I think it was the tiniest bit better than the first book. :)
Also, I'm 100% TEAM CLEO.
If Cleo takes down Gaius by using Lucia against him that'll be SO epic!
And I honestly thought Jonas and/or Magnus were going to die in the end. Honestly, I wouldn't have minded either way, but I'm intrigued to see how this goes!
Full (spoiler-free) review and more on Heir of Glitter.
Definitely my favorite in the series so far. It was a perfect blend of alliances, betrayals, kissing, and killing. The last 100 pages were absolutely insane. Cleo is still my favorite character and I loved the romantic tension. I'm very excited but also very scared for the fourth book... I'm glad it's already on hold for me at the library. If you haven't started this series yet, I definitely recommend you do! :)
Definitely my favorite in the series so far. It was a perfect blend of alliances, betrayals, kissing, and killing. The last 100 pages were absolutely insane. Cleo is still my favorite character and I loved the romantic tension. I'm very excited but also very scared for the fourth book... I'm glad it's already on hold for me at the library. If you haven't started this series yet, I definitely recommend you do! :)
*incoherent fangirling* I desperately need [b:Crystal Storm|23367261|Crystal Storm (Falling Kingdoms, #5)|Morgan Rhodes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1458655374s/23367261.jpg|42926537]. I absolutely loved this book, it was crazy and fabulous. Each book is better than the last. Other than that I can't summarize my thoughts, so if you'd like you can read my full, spoiler-free review on Heir of Glitter. :)
LUCIA IS PREGNANT, CLEO AND MAGNUS (MAGNEO??) IS MY NEW OTP, AND I HATE GAIUS, AMARA, TIMOTHEUS, AND KYAN. ALSO HOW THE FLIPPING FUDGE IS ASHUR STILL ALIVE?! WILL HE AND NIC LIVE HAPPILY EVER ALONGSIDE CLEO AND MAGNUS?! PLEASE LET THAT HAPPEN.