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This book is solid debut and a promising start to the series.
This review can also be found here: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/review-finale-stephanie-garber/
Like Caraval and Legendary before it, Finale delivers a breathtaking story. The book opens with a series of dreams between Legend and Donatella until one day he stops visiting — which kick-starts the plot. Between finally meeting Nicolas, the girls’ mother waking up, meeting one particular witch and Legend’s coronation, the first chapters are particularly heavy in both information and events. However, they set the pace for the rest of the book, which is fast, dynamic and utterly gripping. On top of this, I could never tell where the plot and subplots were going. Finale surprised me at every turn without relying on shock value, which only made the story that much more intriguing.
While Finale is less character-driven than the previous two books, the main characters continue to grow. There is a much greater focus on Legend and how the events of the book impact him, which is shown through Tella’s perspective. Easily my favourite character, Tella is vibrant, unrelenting when it comes to getting what she wants, and completely captivating. Her thirst for life is her driving force which creates a unique dynamic with her sister, as well as the rest of the main characters.
Scarlett’s relationship with Tella has always been at the centre of the Caraval series, but their bond has matured and deepened. Rather than one of the two going off on her own to protect the other, they talk about strategies and come up with a plan together, which puts this depiction of a sister relationship firmly in my top ten favourites within the YA genre.
However, my favourite aspect of the book is the writing. It’s flowery, heavy on the metaphors, beautiful, but it’s everything the book needs. Stephanie Garber’s writing is very well suited for the story she’s written, as it not only brings the world alive but it adds a certain magical element to it that makes the reading experience that much better. I could go on about it but it would really only boil down to one word: spectacular.
Overall, Garber delivers a gripping book and a satisfying conclusion to the beloved series. Between the compelling story, the twists, and the passion that drives these characters, Finale was a sheer pleasure to read.
Like Caraval and Legendary before it, Finale delivers a breathtaking story. The book opens with a series of dreams between Legend and Donatella until one day he stops visiting — which kick-starts the plot. Between finally meeting Nicolas, the girls’ mother waking up, meeting one particular witch and Legend’s coronation, the first chapters are particularly heavy in both information and events. However, they set the pace for the rest of the book, which is fast, dynamic and utterly gripping. On top of this, I could never tell where the plot and subplots were going. Finale surprised me at every turn without relying on shock value, which only made the story that much more intriguing.
While Finale is less character-driven than the previous two books, the main characters continue to grow. There is a much greater focus on Legend and how the events of the book impact him, which is shown through Tella’s perspective. Easily my favourite character, Tella is vibrant, unrelenting when it comes to getting what she wants, and completely captivating. Her thirst for life is her driving force which creates a unique dynamic with her sister, as well as the rest of the main characters.
Scarlett’s relationship with Tella has always been at the centre of the Caraval series, but their bond has matured and deepened. Rather than one of the two going off on her own to protect the other, they talk about strategies and come up with a plan together, which puts this depiction of a sister relationship firmly in my top ten favourites within the YA genre.
However, my favourite aspect of the book is the writing. It’s flowery, heavy on the metaphors, beautiful, but it’s everything the book needs. Stephanie Garber’s writing is very well suited for the story she’s written, as it not only brings the world alive but it adds a certain magical element to it that makes the reading experience that much better. I could go on about it but it would really only boil down to one word: spectacular.
Overall, Garber delivers a gripping book and a satisfying conclusion to the beloved series. Between the compelling story, the twists, and the passion that drives these characters, Finale was a sheer pleasure to read.
This review can also be found here: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/review-red-white-royal-blue-casey-mcquiston/
The story is captivating. Casey McQuiston gives us a world where the USA didn’t slip into a regressive government, instead being lead by a fierce female president with an ambitious son and a firecracker family. It’s also an accepting world full of LGBTQ+ representation that goes beyond the relationship developing between Alex and Henry. Red White & Royal Blue offers a wide variety of sexualities that are seamlessly integrated into the story, while Alex’s own journey was heartwarming, hilarious and relatable.
McQuiston also takes time to remind us of historical figures that deviated from heterosexual standards through quotes in the emails between Henry and Alex, which I found was a lovely addition to the book as a whole.
This historical aspect is reflected upon by Alex, who wants to make his mark. At first this comes through as political ambition — he’s hardworking, incredibly dedicated, and arrogant. I didn’t initially like that about him, but the more I got to know him the more his character grew on me. Henry, on the other hand, captured my attention the first time he was introduced. In many ways he’s the opposite of Alex, but as they both grow together his character really comes out of his shell. However, it was Alex’s character development that was my favourite. Without spoiling too much, it was brave, cathartic and allowed him to break away and discover his own person.
The book wouldn’t be complete without the secondary characters. Nora, June and Pez are the kind of friends that make up a dream squad, whereas the more grown up characters provide structure and balance all while being incredibly entertaining to read through.
Red White & Royal Blue is very well written and easy to read. At first I was wary of how the events would unfold because I am not a massive fan of insta-love, but I found the plot to happen far more organically than I had anticipated. The glimpses into the past enrich the story and complete the characters while the incorporation of different types of media change the pace every now and then. In regards to the texts, the extra mile of effort that went into giving each character their own texting style was just the cherry on top.
Red White & Royal Blue truly had it all. It made me laugh, it made me giddy, it even made me tear up and I couldn’t put it down for the life of me. I would recommend it wholeheartedly to any readers who are the tiniest bit interested in what it’s about. Whether it’s the romance genre, or the LGBTQ+ aspect, this book does it very well
The story is captivating. Casey McQuiston gives us a world where the USA didn’t slip into a regressive government, instead being lead by a fierce female president with an ambitious son and a firecracker family. It’s also an accepting world full of LGBTQ+ representation that goes beyond the relationship developing between Alex and Henry. Red White & Royal Blue offers a wide variety of sexualities that are seamlessly integrated into the story, while Alex’s own journey was heartwarming, hilarious and relatable.
McQuiston also takes time to remind us of historical figures that deviated from heterosexual standards through quotes in the emails between Henry and Alex, which I found was a lovely addition to the book as a whole.
This historical aspect is reflected upon by Alex, who wants to make his mark. At first this comes through as political ambition — he’s hardworking, incredibly dedicated, and arrogant. I didn’t initially like that about him, but the more I got to know him the more his character grew on me. Henry, on the other hand, captured my attention the first time he was introduced. In many ways he’s the opposite of Alex, but as they both grow together his character really comes out of his shell. However, it was Alex’s character development that was my favourite. Without spoiling too much, it was brave, cathartic and allowed him to break away and discover his own person.
The book wouldn’t be complete without the secondary characters. Nora, June and Pez are the kind of friends that make up a dream squad, whereas the more grown up characters provide structure and balance all while being incredibly entertaining to read through.
Red White & Royal Blue is very well written and easy to read. At first I was wary of how the events would unfold because I am not a massive fan of insta-love, but I found the plot to happen far more organically than I had anticipated. The glimpses into the past enrich the story and complete the characters while the incorporation of different types of media change the pace every now and then. In regards to the texts, the extra mile of effort that went into giving each character their own texting style was just the cherry on top.
Red White & Royal Blue truly had it all. It made me laugh, it made me giddy, it even made me tear up and I couldn’t put it down for the life of me. I would recommend it wholeheartedly to any readers who are the tiniest bit interested in what it’s about. Whether it’s the romance genre, or the LGBTQ+ aspect, this book does it very well
I really liked everything about this book, but the worldbuilding was a bit confusing.
This review can also be found here: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/review-loki-where-mischief-lies-by-mackenzi-lee-will-have-fans-itching-for-more/
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into the book, but this nineteenth century murder-mystery turned out delightful. Between the plot, the characters, and the twists there was more than enough to keep me engaged throughout.
The first thing that surprised me about the book was how seamlessly Mackenzi Lee blends the Asgardian part of the book with the typical YA historical murder-mystery which takes place on Earth. Seeing London through Asgardian eyes makes it feel like it’s got a place in the larger cosmos, and it also made it come alive.
Lee does a fantastic job of describing the city from an entirely new point of view, particularly when she draws comparisons between the two places. She makes it feel vibrant and bustling despite the filth and relative morbidity that’s prevalent throughout the story. Asgard, on the other hand, is pristine and almost lazy in comparison. It is bright and idyllic, but almost cold as the court does not welcome Loki the same way it welcomes Thor.
I’ve always been fond of Loki, in the MCU, Norse mythology, as well as any other place he pops up as a character, so I was very excited when this book was announced. It did not disappoint. In the beginning of Loki: Where Mischief Lies, Loki is young, desperate to prove that he is worthy of the throne, but also too curious for his own good. While his first mistake is overlooked, his second gets him sent to Earth under the guise of investigating a magical incident. Once on Earth, the human characters in the book challenge his perception of the world and his position in a way that has him reevaluate everything he’s been taught.
He grows more compassionate of the characters around him, even going so far as to have the beginning of a romance with one of them. As far as other Asgardians go, we briefly meet Odin, Frigga and Thor, who plays the role of a secondary character. Meanwhile, on the human side, we’re introduced to a whole new set of characters that fall into the found-family trope I’m a sucker for.
The good writing also extends to the plot. As an avid YA historical mystery reader, the way the story progressed felt familiar, but that didn’t take any enjoyment away. In fact, one of the main subplots was such a surprise that I never saw it coming! The only thing that stuck out was the fact that a couple of the more important plot-twists were glaringly obvious early on. However, the book was so engaging I finished it in less than a day and I was fairly disappointed when it was over.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into the book, but this nineteenth century murder-mystery turned out delightful. Between the plot, the characters, and the twists there was more than enough to keep me engaged throughout.
The first thing that surprised me about the book was how seamlessly Mackenzi Lee blends the Asgardian part of the book with the typical YA historical murder-mystery which takes place on Earth. Seeing London through Asgardian eyes makes it feel like it’s got a place in the larger cosmos, and it also made it come alive.
Lee does a fantastic job of describing the city from an entirely new point of view, particularly when she draws comparisons between the two places. She makes it feel vibrant and bustling despite the filth and relative morbidity that’s prevalent throughout the story. Asgard, on the other hand, is pristine and almost lazy in comparison. It is bright and idyllic, but almost cold as the court does not welcome Loki the same way it welcomes Thor.
I’ve always been fond of Loki, in the MCU, Norse mythology, as well as any other place he pops up as a character, so I was very excited when this book was announced. It did not disappoint. In the beginning of Loki: Where Mischief Lies, Loki is young, desperate to prove that he is worthy of the throne, but also too curious for his own good. While his first mistake is overlooked, his second gets him sent to Earth under the guise of investigating a magical incident. Once on Earth, the human characters in the book challenge his perception of the world and his position in a way that has him reevaluate everything he’s been taught.
He grows more compassionate of the characters around him, even going so far as to have the beginning of a romance with one of them. As far as other Asgardians go, we briefly meet Odin, Frigga and Thor, who plays the role of a secondary character. Meanwhile, on the human side, we’re introduced to a whole new set of characters that fall into the found-family trope I’m a sucker for.
The good writing also extends to the plot. As an avid YA historical mystery reader, the way the story progressed felt familiar, but that didn’t take any enjoyment away. In fact, one of the main subplots was such a surprise that I never saw it coming! The only thing that stuck out was the fact that a couple of the more important plot-twists were glaringly obvious early on. However, the book was so engaging I finished it in less than a day and I was fairly disappointed when it was over.
This review can also be found here: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/the-tyrants-tomb-rick-riordan/
The Tyrant’s Tomb opens with a somber note. After the last book’s events, Apollo and Meg have made their way to Camp Jupiter with Jason’s body. The funeral that follows sets the tone — there’s a growing darkness that hangs over the characters, adding complexity to the whole story. This particularly affects Apollo, whose character growth is more obvious than ever when he is confronted with his past mistakes and does everything he can to make amends.
Apollo’s newly found empathy also extends to his relationships with the people around him. He and Meg are both more friendly towards each other. He’s grown beyond seeing her as his master and instead sees her as a younger sister. This more mature character growth applies to other characters as well. Frank, particularly, really comes into his own as Praetor in this book.
However it’s not all doom and gloom. When it comes to the side characters, Reyna brings a surprising moment of levity that also allows her character to grow right at the book’s climax. Other favourites Riordan brings back are Terminus the Statue, the Hunters of Artemis and Diana herself. These balance out the book and make it a very enjoyable read.
Following the classic Riordan model of the main quest happening in a very short time period, The Tyrant’s Tomb takes place over four days, making it fast-paced and incredibly engaging. The opening of the book captures the reader’s attention and doesn’t let go as the stakes get higher with every new situation Meg and Apollo crash land in (sometimes literally). This time, the duo have to face several challenges as well as a new Roman ruler hellbent on destroying everything they stand for.
One final thing to note is the easy LGBT+ representation that appears throughout. As with the previous books, Apollo is a raging bisexual and we get glimpses of several of his past relationships through flashbacks. Between him, Lavinia and the others there’s plenty to relate to, no matter your identity.
The Tyrant’s Tomb opens with a somber note. After the last book’s events, Apollo and Meg have made their way to Camp Jupiter with Jason’s body. The funeral that follows sets the tone — there’s a growing darkness that hangs over the characters, adding complexity to the whole story. This particularly affects Apollo, whose character growth is more obvious than ever when he is confronted with his past mistakes and does everything he can to make amends.
Apollo’s newly found empathy also extends to his relationships with the people around him. He and Meg are both more friendly towards each other. He’s grown beyond seeing her as his master and instead sees her as a younger sister. This more mature character growth applies to other characters as well. Frank, particularly, really comes into his own as Praetor in this book.
However it’s not all doom and gloom. When it comes to the side characters, Reyna brings a surprising moment of levity that also allows her character to grow right at the book’s climax. Other favourites Riordan brings back are Terminus the Statue, the Hunters of Artemis and Diana herself. These balance out the book and make it a very enjoyable read.
Following the classic Riordan model of the main quest happening in a very short time period, The Tyrant’s Tomb takes place over four days, making it fast-paced and incredibly engaging. The opening of the book captures the reader’s attention and doesn’t let go as the stakes get higher with every new situation Meg and Apollo crash land in (sometimes literally). This time, the duo have to face several challenges as well as a new Roman ruler hellbent on destroying everything they stand for.
One final thing to note is the easy LGBT+ representation that appears throughout. As with the previous books, Apollo is a raging bisexual and we get glimpses of several of his past relationships through flashbacks. Between him, Lavinia and the others there’s plenty to relate to, no matter your identity.
This review can also be found here: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/the-never-tilting-world-chupeco/
I didn’t instantly fall in love with The Never Tilting World. The first few chapters thrust the reader into a world with little to no explanation of how it works. While it relies on magic, the system used is different from what I was used to, and it took a while to figure everything out. After that, I was fascinated by it. The world-building veers from traditional fantasy as it blends aspects of our own science and technology into it without dampening the magical element.
The Never Tilting World is very well written. In terms of style it’s dynamic, easy to get through, and sucks the reader in from the beginning. However, it’s how the story is written that made it so compelling. The fact that it’s told in first person, with four separate viewpoints, means that we know what each character knows. But it also means that we are in the dark on quite a few things and learn as we go.
One of the best examples of this is when Odessa starts to gain her powers without knowing how or why. At the same time, Haidee learns about the rituals and the history of the planet. The unreliable narrators coupled with having to sort out fact from fiction kept me guessing throughout.
Of course, this guessing game is partly due to the plot. It’s well constructed and fast-paced, with well-placed breather moments so as not to overwhelm the reader. It is also surprisingly complete for a book that has a sequel. While the ending certainly opens up to one, it’s not the cliffhanger I was anticipating. The twists are unexpected. The foreshadowing is well done because events do not come as a complete surprise. They caught me off guard in the moment — especially those concerning the background characters.
It’s hard to pick what Chupeco did best in this book, but the characters are certainly one of the main reasons I was drawn in. The first character I met was Lan. I won’t mince words: her chapter opens violently and she wasn’t very likeable at first, but her evolution throughout the book was impressive.
Next we meet Arjun, Haidee and finally Odessa. Out of everyone, Haidee was definitely my favourite. She’s optimistic, trusting, smart, a little reckless and doesn’t fall into any of the tropes that sacrifice personality for being a “strong female character”. Odessa, on the other hand, is shy and yearns for more. Her path to healing the planet takes a much darker turn when she accepts the gifts the underworld brings.
The romances that develop throughout the book are distinguishable beyond the fact that one is straight and the other is not. Each couple interacts and grows in their own unique way, which further deepens each character’s personality.
Finally, a word of warning: The Never Tilting World does deal with heavier themes. Mental health is a core subject of this story. Both Odessa and Lan suffer blows to theirs, while the side characters process their own trauma in various ways. There are themes of violence that are addressed throughout the book. The fight scenes are explicit, past sexual violence is mentioned, and some physical abuse becomes plot points. If you are at all sensitive to anything mentioned, I recommend approaching this book with caution.
Rin Chupeco’s The Never Tilting World is a complex fantasy that addresses themes often avoided in the genre, while gripping its reader and not letting go until the end. I loved this first book and I can’t wait explore more of this story!
I didn’t instantly fall in love with The Never Tilting World. The first few chapters thrust the reader into a world with little to no explanation of how it works. While it relies on magic, the system used is different from what I was used to, and it took a while to figure everything out. After that, I was fascinated by it. The world-building veers from traditional fantasy as it blends aspects of our own science and technology into it without dampening the magical element.
The Never Tilting World is very well written. In terms of style it’s dynamic, easy to get through, and sucks the reader in from the beginning. However, it’s how the story is written that made it so compelling. The fact that it’s told in first person, with four separate viewpoints, means that we know what each character knows. But it also means that we are in the dark on quite a few things and learn as we go.
One of the best examples of this is when Odessa starts to gain her powers without knowing how or why. At the same time, Haidee learns about the rituals and the history of the planet. The unreliable narrators coupled with having to sort out fact from fiction kept me guessing throughout.
Of course, this guessing game is partly due to the plot. It’s well constructed and fast-paced, with well-placed breather moments so as not to overwhelm the reader. It is also surprisingly complete for a book that has a sequel. While the ending certainly opens up to one, it’s not the cliffhanger I was anticipating. The twists are unexpected. The foreshadowing is well done because events do not come as a complete surprise. They caught me off guard in the moment — especially those concerning the background characters.
It’s hard to pick what Chupeco did best in this book, but the characters are certainly one of the main reasons I was drawn in. The first character I met was Lan. I won’t mince words: her chapter opens violently and she wasn’t very likeable at first, but her evolution throughout the book was impressive.
Next we meet Arjun, Haidee and finally Odessa. Out of everyone, Haidee was definitely my favourite. She’s optimistic, trusting, smart, a little reckless and doesn’t fall into any of the tropes that sacrifice personality for being a “strong female character”. Odessa, on the other hand, is shy and yearns for more. Her path to healing the planet takes a much darker turn when she accepts the gifts the underworld brings.
The romances that develop throughout the book are distinguishable beyond the fact that one is straight and the other is not. Each couple interacts and grows in their own unique way, which further deepens each character’s personality.
Finally, a word of warning: The Never Tilting World does deal with heavier themes. Mental health is a core subject of this story. Both Odessa and Lan suffer blows to theirs, while the side characters process their own trauma in various ways. There are themes of violence that are addressed throughout the book. The fight scenes are explicit, past sexual violence is mentioned, and some physical abuse becomes plot points. If you are at all sensitive to anything mentioned, I recommend approaching this book with caution.
Rin Chupeco’s The Never Tilting World is a complex fantasy that addresses themes often avoided in the genre, while gripping its reader and not letting go until the end. I loved this first book and I can’t wait explore more of this story!