OMG!! Where do I even start with this book??

My thoughts are so jumbled right now and I'm in disbelief, to be quite honest. I'm going to wait on my review in favor of attempting to make it somewhat coherent. Until then, know it's my favorite read of 2017 so far. I don't think that will change, even with the remaining 352 days. This book was absolutely freaking AMAZING and I can't stress that enough. This book is the epitome of the phrase "never a dull moment," and I can't tell you how many times my eyes were wide, my jaw dropped, and/or my heart was pounding. Cleo and Magnus are two of my favorite characters ever, and the dynamic between them is priceless and precious. They are too. The other characters were great too, and I loved and hated them on a varying scale, depending on who they were. I hate Gaius (but that's nothing new) and Kyan and Amara and Selia and Kurtis, and they all deserve... let's just say horrible things. I felt really bad for Lucia, too. I did mostly like her though. I also liked (well, sort of) how you really didn't know who to trust. Throughout this entire book, I trusted exactly 2 people and I was afraid for literally everyone's life. Morgan Rhodes is an evil genius and I love her for it, although at the moment I can't believe she pulled a cliffhanger like that and is now making us wait until NOVEMBER FREAKING 3RD for the last book. NOT COOL, NOT COOL AT ALL.

For now, that's all I can do. Better, more detailed review will *hopefully* come soon...ish. As soon as I get my emotions and thoughts under control. It might take a little while. :)

Also, this series is one where each book is better than the last. So I'm even more excited/terrified for the 6th (and LAST OMG) book.

If you'd like to chat/rant/freak out about this book with me, feel free to send me a private message on my Twitter!

*chants* MAGNEO, MAGNEO, MAGNEO. Ahem. Sorry, I really, really ship them, can you tell? There needs to be a good romantic scene between them, and a HAPPILY EVER AFTER, GOSH DANG IT.

I can't believe Selia was plotting the ritual all along! And Nic is dead?! I'm sad Olivia is dead, but NOT NIC. My heart was already breaking when I thought he died after Amara's speech, and now he's the new vessel for Kyan. HOW DO YOU FIX THAT? IT HAS TO BE FIXED.

Lucia had a daughter and didn't die! Yay! Well, she didn't die giving birth. Hopefully Lyssa grows up with a mother. PLEASE LET HER GROW UP WITH A MOM. And can she also have the freaking epic powers her mom has, too? While we're at it? I'd rather she'd live a full life with her mom rather than have magic, but both would be nice.

So Cleo has the magic of the water Kindred in her now. I really, REALLY hope that doesn't kill her. She's my absolute favorite in this series, though Magnus is a close second, and SHE HAS TO LIVE. I kind of hope she uses the magic to get rid of all her enemies and reclaim her throne, because she needs that back. She needs Magnus too. I hope she uses it against Selia, Amara, Kyan, and the other gods in some epic battle and wins. That would be EPIC.

Last thing: that cliffhanger. IN WHAT WORLD IS THAT OKAY?! I hate Kurtis so much, more than Selia or Amara or Kyan or Gaius. He's pretty close to the same level as Amarantha and Maeve, for the record. I can't believe he BURIED MAGNUS ALIVE. That's not okay, at all. MAGNUS CANNOT DIE. HE NEEDS TO HAVE A HAPPILY EVER AFTER WITH CLEO.

Also, is it just me, or are Jonas and Lucia maaaaaaybe going to grow on each other? *smirk*

How do you cope when you finish the last book in one of your favorite series???

Damn, this was good. It was so, so good. I don’t have words to describe how good this was.

I was invested in this book before it came out. The cliffhanger in the fifth book stayed with me for an entire year, and I knew without a doubt that I’d love this. It gave me so many feelings, and I loved it so much.

These characters have come so far since the first book, and I’m sad to let them go. Cleo is still my favorite, Magnus a close second, and I grew to like and care for the rest of the ensemble. Jonas was my least favorite earlier in the series, but now I even like him. Lucia and Magnus had amazing character arcs. Even Amara wasn’t as insufferable. The end of her story has me curious. I really ship Ashur and Nic, by the way. Their relationship was on the back burner for a lot of this book because of various obstacles, but they’re happy in the end and that’s what matters.

I love Magnus and Cleo so much!! They’re one of my top ships. I was so worried for them throughout this book, and I’m so glad they both survived. Their feelings for each other were so strong and I was honestly so desperate for them to get their happy ending. All that business with Cleo and the water Kindred, with Magnus and Kyan, was nerve-wracking. But then after everything, they were okay, they were king and queen, and Cleo is having a son!!! I love how their story ended, they definitely deserve it, but why don’t I get more information?!!?? I need to know about their baby boy!! Novella? Pretty please?

Everything hit the fan in the second half of this book, as expected. The Kindred were great, intricate antagonists, and I never knew what to expect. They almost took over the world, almost destroyed the world, almost sunk my ship and ground it to powder. That’s definitely a way to get my heart beating faster. And the final face-off in the Auranian palace was so great! It was intense, and then the orbs were shattered and my favs finally got their ending together.

Immediately after finishing this, I ordered the first four books in this series from Amazon so I could have the complete hardcover set. I don’t know what else to do, honestly. I’m over the moon happy right now, because no one important died, but I also wish there was more. I’m mourning the end of the series, but it’s the happiest mourning period I’ve had.

My emotions are keeping me from making sense. Oops.

I’ve rambled enough. Long story short, I absolutely loved this finale, and this series is in my top five of all time. The end.

3.5 stars

CW: attempted rape

I’m quite happy with how quickly I read this, though unfortunately that’s as far as it goes. I had high expectations, but ultimately this was just an average read.

I didn’t really care about the characters. I didn’t love them or hate them. Each had something worth liking: Lada was fierce, Radu was sweet, and Mehmed ... well, he was just there. He was sexist and honestly only survived because of Lada and Radu. Probably my least favorite character.

The love triangle was such a mess. Both siblings loved Mehmed, but he loved Lada. He only loved Radu as a friend, because in this time period two boys couldn’t be in love (and he’s clueless tbh). I felt bad for Radu, and also for Mehmed just because he had no idea what he was doing to the siblings by choosing one. I also think a bit of communication would’ve helped a lot, but Lada and Radu only ever argued. And Mehmed was the sultan, so if Radu talked to him, maybe there could’ve been a new decree or something. But no, it’s always about drama.

People say that they like the sibling relationship, but I’m not sure I agree. In my opinion, there wasn’t much there to like or dislike. Lada and Radu were polar opposites and apart for a good portion of the story. They had their moments together, but they weren’t amazing or anything.

The story was much slower than I thought it would be. I liked the concept and the time period. I found it unique. However, there wasn’t a lot of action. Politics drove the story more than action did, and while I was intrigued, I think it could’ve been more balanced. I did like the action scenes we were given; Lada fighting is really something else.

I’m surprised that, in all the reviews I’ve seen, no one has mentioned the attempted rape. That’s not to say that no one has mentioned it, only that I haven’t seen anything. So if you’re interested in this but rape is a trigger for you, be careful.

I think I’ve covered everything? I know I was critical, but I did like this book. I’ve heard the second one is better, so I’ll probably give it a try.

This was my first graphic novel and it was a really fun read!! I loved returning to this world, and I'm so glad Iko finally got her own story. Seeing all of my favorite characters again was great too, particularly the Cress and Thorne moments. And after that cliffhanger, I'm excited for the sequel!! 😍

Also, the art was really good!! I liked the simplistic feel to it.

And that scene at the end of the Scarlet and Wolf chapter... AHHG. 💔

If you liked TLC and want a quick read, definitely check this out!!

4.5 stars

I finally read this gorgeous book, and I’m glad I did. I loved the whimsical plot and the lyrical writing, the magic and the intrigue. I especially loved the Nomeolvides women, and their dynamic as a multigenerational family. They were all strong, fierce in their own way, and honestly admirable. I liked Fel and Bay, too.

This book has Latinx, bisexual, and genderqueer rep, but I don’t fall under any of those identities and therefore can’t speak on them.

I wouldn’t call this book a favorite, but I did really enjoy it. I look forward to reading more from Anna-Marie.

CW: gore, violence, self-harm (for blood magic), childbirth

It’s currently 12:30 in the morning and I’m very glad it’s spring break, because I really wanted to finish this before going to bed.

It was worth it.

I loved Audrey’s debut, Of Fire and Stars, and while I didn’t love this book quite as much, it was still very enjoyable. The pacing was slow and uneven at times, and I do think this could’ve been around fifty pages shorter, but otherwise I had no issues. I thought the story was very unique, and I loved the characters, protagonists and antagonists alike.

I liked that she chose to write this in the OFAS world, because it allowed me some familiarity going in while still exploring somewhere new. You can read this without reading OFAS, as it takes place a century or two earlier (if I remember correctly); however, you should still read OFAS.

Anyway, I just really liked this book. The magic system was intricate and interesting, and the slow-burn romance gave me a lot of emotions. Also, there’s a dragon. She’s kind of evil and not the *main* focus, but whatever. I haven’t read enough YA fantasies with dragons, so this was fun.

It’s also more diverse than I originally realized. The protagonist Asra is bisexual as is the antagonist Ina, and Asra ends up in a m/f relationship. I’m not bisexual, but I’ve seen many a thread on how ending up with someone of the opposite gender doesn’t invalidate the sexuality you identify as, and I think this book represented that well.

There’s also genderfluid rep; some of the gods are referred to as they/them. The love interest, his sister, and some other characters are black. I can’t speak on any of this rep, as I don’t fit either of these identities.

This ended up being longer than I intended and I’m tired, so I’ll end it here. Just know that this was very good, and if you’re looking for underrated and/or unique fantasy, I highly recommend Audrey’s books.

I was excited to read this because I haven’t read much LGBTQIAP+ MG. I expected f/f fluff, but that’s not what this novel is about. This is a story of loss, resilience, family, friendship, art, and discovering yourself.

First of all, Ivy Aberdeen deserves a hug. She went through so much physically and emotionally, and she was forced to grow up faster when a tornado destroyed her family’s house. She was twelve, so her voice was understandably young, but it was also strong. She overcame so many obstacles, some tougher than others and over a longer time period, and again, I just wanted to give her a hug.

This book skillfully tackles many complex, flawed relationships. Each member of Ivy’s family dealt with losing their home in a different way, and they challenged each other. Ivy had twin baby brothers, and as the middle child she resented her younger siblings for further complicating everything but still loved her family. This was an interesting dynamic, unlike others I’ve read before, and I think it was written really well.

Ivy also had complications with her best friend Taryn and her new friend June. She distanced herself from Taryn after losing her house and beginning to question her identity, and also had to balance that with her crush on June. It was a mess at times, but that’s okay. It fits with the rest of the story, and again, I think it was really written well.

This is the first MG novel I’ve read (though I’m sure there are others, or will be soon) where the protagonist is figuring out their sexuality. I liked this because it shows that no one is too young to be questioning. In doing so, it also called out heteronormative stereotypes.

One of my favorite things was that Ivy had a sort of mentor to help her through this part of her life and give encouragement. Robin was a gay black woman engaged to a bisexual woman, and she was very kind, almost motherly to Ivy when she needed it. Toward the end, Ivy also had help from her older sister’s best friend Gigi, who was gay as well. The presence of LGBTQIAP+ side characters had a positive impact on Ivy and even the story as a whole.

I wouldn’t call this book a favorite, but it was surprisingly impactful. It was enjoyable and it’s very relevant to modern society. I hope more people read it and spread its messages. ❤️

Review also on Heir of Glitter.

SPOILER-FREE

3.5 stars

plot: 15 out of 20
characters: 14 out of 20
setting: 20 out of 20
relationships: 12 out of 20
twists: 14 out of 20
75 out of 100

I loved [b:Truthwitch|21414439|Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1)|Susan Dennard|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1428675822s/21414439.jpg|40715259], so I went into this book aware that it was Susan's debut but still with fairly high expectations. Some were met, and others weren't. This wasn't an amazing or perfect book, but it was mostly entertaining. :)

This book is a sort of mix between steampunk and apocalyptic, as it takes place in 1800's Philadelphia but with more technology and also deals with zombies rising. Just a fun, average time, right? No? Okay then, moving on. I can definitely say the story is creative, as I've never read anything like it before. It was also entertaining, because while the content was quite the opposite of lighthearted, it felt like a light read to me. That doesn't make me weird, does it? It probably does. Whatever. Hopefully you get it. ;)

I was never quite sure what to make of Eleanor, and that hasn't changed even after finishing the novel. She was part what I love in heroines, and part what I don't. Meaning that she was brave and loyal and defied society's expectations, but also a bit too stubborn for my tastes. I also thought that she had moments where she was a bit whiny or distracted by petty things. Don't get me wrong, I understand why; her upbringing and the time period are more than enough of an explanation. She just...grated on my nerves, sometimes, I guess? Hopefully that makes sense. :)

(Let's see how many times I end up saying "hopefully" in this review.)

I also couldn't make up my mind on Daniel. He had the typical demeanor of all those arrogant guys I love (*cough*Noah Shaw*cough*), but I didn't love him. I didn't hate him or anything like that, but to me it felt like his arrogance was different from other guys'. We're going to pretend that makes sense because I don't know how else to phrase that. But the point I'm trying to make is, basically, that he had a handful of chivalrous or amusing moments that made me like him, but was mostly just average. :)

I did especially like the setting of this book. It takes place in Victorian times, and as far as I know this is the first story I've read set in the 1800's outside of England. I found it to be very unique, and I liked reading about how the reality of the time was combined with the steampunk elements. :)

For once, the relationships in a book have rendered me speechless. I know, that never happens. Well, almost never. But anyway, I'm going to give this explaining thing a try. I really liked Eleanor and Jie's friendship, particularly because (a) it wasn't shallow or only for appearances/reputations and (b) Eleanor didn't really have any other friends. Her differences from other girls made her a bit of a misfit, so to speak. (If you've read this you'll get the joke.)

Eleanor and her mother didn't get along, as is expected with a traditional woman and a rebellious (for lack of a better word) girl. Maybe it'll improve later, I don't know.

As for Eleanor and Daniel, well, any YA reader knows a romance is bound to come up, especially because there's such a difference in their societal positions. Normally I'd be all for it, but this time I only was sometimes. I know that's weird for me, but hopefully it makes sense, because I (oh-so-conveniently) can't think of a better explanation. ;)

I think talking about twists is always the hardest for me, because I have to convey my feelings without giving anything away. It's definitely harder for books with a ton of twists, but less crazy ones can still be a challenge. In my opinion, this book falls into the latter category. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't predictable or anything like that, but nothing truly took me by surprise. I went in expecting a roller-coaster but didn't quite get one. I really hope it doesn't sound harsh when phrased like that, but it's true. Despite that, though, I still enjoyed the story. ;)

All in all, this book was a fun read but just didn't quite meet my expectations. I may or may not continue the trilogy, but regardless I'll recommend it: if you like steampunk and/or apocalyptic reads and are maybe looking for a happy medium, give this a shot. :)

3.5 stars

CW: suicide, suicidal thoughts/ideation, sexual abuse, physical abuse/assault, bullying, depression, violence, self-harm, attempted rape, stillbirth

This is a hard book to rate and to review. Sometimes it was good, others it was only average; however, it was consistently very strange.

I’ve never read any of SDH’s books before, and I liked the blend of contemporary and sci-fi. I liked the concept of the sluggers too; while they were present, they were a unique take on aliens. I think it was interesting and kind of weird that whether or not they caused the end of the world hinged on just a button. They completely disappeared in the second half of the book, though, so I have no idea if Henry pressed the button or not. Way to leave me hanging, Shaun.

I definitely didn’t expect this book to be quite so deep and philosophical. Henry wasn’t sure whether to press the button or not, and he really picked apart the good and bad parts of the world. He seemed to focus more on the bad, but with recent events in his life I can kind of understand why. He had almost a superior, “I don’t care” attitude, and repeatedly said that nothing we did mattered in the grand scheme of things, we are the ants in the universe, the universe will continue as usual even after humans die and Earth is no more, etc, etc. I already knew these things, but I was surprised that they were such a recurring theme.

All of the main characters in this book felt like stereotypes on steroids. Henry was the loner, Marcus the “misunderstood” popular guy and bully, Audrey the supportive and encouraging friend, and Diego the mysterious new guy. They were likable (Marcus excluded) but very plain.

One thing I did really like was Henry’s family dynamic. They start off completely dysfunctional; his mother smokes and drinks and is usually absent, his grandmother has Alzheimer’s (I think), and his older brother is just the worst. But as the story progressed, they came together, and I liked seeing it happen.

I’m not sure if Henry’s voice throughout the story should be described as raw, vulgar, both, or something else entirely. On one hand, it was refreshing, in a way, to see an author write a character that really represented how many (though not all) modern teens are. On the other, it made me a bit uncomfortable for reasons I can’t quite explain. I’m not sure where I stand on this.

I touched on this before, but the ending was very open. I’m not sure why it was written this way, but I wasn’t a fan. I want to know what happened with Henry and Diego’s relationship, if Charlie and Zooey had a baby, if Henry ever got abducted again and if so, whether or not he pressed the button. Give me details! That alone probably would’ve made this a four star read. Just saying.

Because of school, I’ve had to stretch this review out over five hours, so anything else I wanted to say has left my head. I think I covered everything.

This was a unique book, but for the most part just average. I’m interested in reading SDH’s books, and I recommend this one if you think you can handle the heavier content. 😊

« second read, March 2018 »

CW: child abuse/murder, human trafficking, attempted rape, torture

When I read this for the first time two years ago, I found it rather average and wasn’t impressed enough to continue the series. This time around, I liked it much more. I wouldn’t consider it a favorite, but rereading was definitely worth it.

I said before that I didn’t remember anything, so it would be as if I was reading for the first time. However, as I went on, I was able to recall some details. Many of the events in the last third of the book didn’t have as big an impact on me as they might have if I’d never read it before.

In general, I found all of the characters much more likable than I did previously. Mazen, Marcus, and the Commandant can all go back to whatever hell they crawled out of, but otherwise I found myself getting attached. Laia, Elias, and Helene are all flawed characters with their own struggles and strengths, and the dynamics between them were part of what kept the story interesting. Keenan wasn’t present enough for me to really have an opinion on him, but I didn’t not like him. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Izzi is such an underrated character. When Laia met her, she’d been with the Commandant for about twelve years. She endured all sorts of horrible things, including losing an eye, yet she still went out of her way to be Laia’s friend and help her gather information for the Resistance.

I already own the second one and I’ve heard it’s better, so I‘m going to dive right in!

———

« first read, February-March 2016 »

3.5 stars

An Ember In The Ashes was a great book and I enjoyed reading it, but it didn’t quite live up to the hype that surrounds it. The resemblance to Legend was strong, Elias was kind of plain, the love square was slightly overwhelming, and there were no surprising twists. Nonetheless, I plan on picking up the sequel, A Torch Against The Night , when it releases in August. ;)