Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Rating: 4.5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy/Fairytale Retelling
Recommended Age: 13+ (some strong language)
Favorite Quote: "'The heart houses the soul, and I see that you, too, are missing something vital in the center.'"
I received an e-book version of this book for free for being a representative of Blaze Publishing. This relationship did not affect my decision in any way. Also, slight spoilers from the previous book. If you've not read the first book in this series you may not want to read this review.
Plunged through the looking glass and into Wonderland, which is a former shell of itself, we've returned back to our heroes: Enzo, Rosana, and now Zack, Peter Pan's son. And just like the previous book we're privy to split POV between multiple characters, so we also get to see the action through Alice, Hansel, and Snow's eyes just to name a few. With the mirror broken you'd think that the world is safe from Avoria's reign... but she is lurking and she will strike when you least expect it. Will all of our favorite fairytale and "real life" characters make it out alive?! You'll just have to read to find that out for yourself, but I will say that the book is definitely a very tense book. The way Jacob Devlin builds the tension and stress in this book is phenomenal and I'm going to need at least one deep tissue massage before I return to normal! Besides the tense feeling of the book, I found the plot to be very well developed and well thought out and I found the writing quality to be amazing. I also found the pacing to be perfect. It wasn't too fast of a read and it wasn't too slow as well. It was just right as Goldilocks would say.
However, I did find the character development to be a little issue for me. There is a HUGE cast of characters in this series and I found that while I received a lot of answers and back-story on many characters, that some were still lacking in being developed. The amount of characters also made it hard for me to remember who the side characters were during some moments of the book. I also think that some of the characters who lost their soul in the first book should have acted a bit more like Snow (who was one of the best developed characters in this book! Bravo to the author because Snow almost NEVER gets development in any platform with the exception being Once Upon a Time), but that's just my opinion. I was looking for signs of these characters having lost a part of themselves, but some of them acted normal. Just my opinion though, because other than that the story is FANTASTIC and I can't wait to read the next book in this series! I also need to read the side series book: The Ivory Queen. This book just came out recently and if you've not bought your copy I'd suggest doing so, especially if you love retellings!
Genre: YA Fantasy/Fairytale Retelling
Recommended Age: 13+ (some strong language)
Favorite Quote: "'The heart houses the soul, and I see that you, too, are missing something vital in the center.'"
I received an e-book version of this book for free for being a representative of Blaze Publishing. This relationship did not affect my decision in any way. Also, slight spoilers from the previous book. If you've not read the first book in this series you may not want to read this review.
Plunged through the looking glass and into Wonderland, which is a former shell of itself, we've returned back to our heroes: Enzo, Rosana, and now Zack, Peter Pan's son. And just like the previous book we're privy to split POV between multiple characters, so we also get to see the action through Alice, Hansel, and Snow's eyes just to name a few. With the mirror broken you'd think that the world is safe from Avoria's reign... but she is lurking and she will strike when you least expect it. Will all of our favorite fairytale and "real life" characters make it out alive?! You'll just have to read to find that out for yourself, but I will say that the book is definitely a very tense book. The way Jacob Devlin builds the tension and stress in this book is phenomenal and I'm going to need at least one deep tissue massage before I return to normal! Besides the tense feeling of the book, I found the plot to be very well developed and well thought out and I found the writing quality to be amazing. I also found the pacing to be perfect. It wasn't too fast of a read and it wasn't too slow as well. It was just right as Goldilocks would say.
However, I did find the character development to be a little issue for me. There is a HUGE cast of characters in this series and I found that while I received a lot of answers and back-story on many characters, that some were still lacking in being developed. The amount of characters also made it hard for me to remember who the side characters were during some moments of the book. I also think that some of the characters who lost their soul in the first book should have acted a bit more like Snow (who was one of the best developed characters in this book! Bravo to the author because Snow almost NEVER gets development in any platform with the exception being Once Upon a Time), but that's just my opinion. I was looking for signs of these characters having lost a part of themselves, but some of them acted normal. Just my opinion though, because other than that the story is FANTASTIC and I can't wait to read the next book in this series! I also need to read the side series book: The Ivory Queen. This book just came out recently and if you've not bought your copy I'd suggest doing so, especially if you love retellings!
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Fantasy/Romance (not sure why it's targeted towards the YA audience when Feyre is in her twenties I believe. Either way she's an adult).
Recommended Age: 18+. Lots of mature scenes and very strong language. LOTS of mature scenes... like a whole chapter devoted to mature scenes.
Favorite Quote: "There are good days and hard days for me - even now. Don't let the hard days win."
WARNING: Slight spoilers if you've not read the first book! Nothing spoilery from this book, but some things in the back cover blurb and in my review could spoil the first book for you. Don't read any further if you want to remain spoiler free on the first book!
"Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two." - Back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Back in Prythian again, but this is not the happy ending Feyre deserves. She's very broken from her stay Under the Mountain and she's suffering from severe depression and PTSD. She's also having to navigate her new life as a High Fae and plan a wedding... but is this the life she wants?
First of all, this book is a very longgggggggggggg book. It is 624 pages in the edition I have.... but it doesn't feel like a 624 page book. To be honest the writing is so good that you easily breeze through the book. The pacing, albeit slow in the beginning, and the plot development are beautiful. The character development is amazing as well. I learned so much more about every main and side character that I am too heavily invested to NOT read ACOWAR. I also have to say this book was way better than the first book.
The only issues I had with the book were that it ended on a cliffhanger and that while it was tremendously good I feel that it was just a segue into the final book. It was a lot of filler information and I feel that everything I read was back-story for the real story I will read in the third book. I also fill this book could have employed more diversity in it. I enjoyed the book so much though and while this book has problems with the lack of diversity I still feel the book is very well written and very enjoyable. Hopefully more diverse characters will come into play in the third book.
Genre: Fantasy/Romance (not sure why it's targeted towards the YA audience when Feyre is in her twenties I believe. Either way she's an adult).
Recommended Age: 18+. Lots of mature scenes and very strong language. LOTS of mature scenes... like a whole chapter devoted to mature scenes.
Favorite Quote: "There are good days and hard days for me - even now. Don't let the hard days win."
WARNING: Slight spoilers if you've not read the first book! Nothing spoilery from this book, but some things in the back cover blurb and in my review could spoil the first book for you. Don't read any further if you want to remain spoiler free on the first book!
"Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two." - Back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Back in Prythian again, but this is not the happy ending Feyre deserves. She's very broken from her stay Under the Mountain and she's suffering from severe depression and PTSD. She's also having to navigate her new life as a High Fae and plan a wedding... but is this the life she wants?
First of all, this book is a very longgggggggggggg book. It is 624 pages in the edition I have.... but it doesn't feel like a 624 page book. To be honest the writing is so good that you easily breeze through the book. The pacing, albeit slow in the beginning, and the plot development are beautiful. The character development is amazing as well. I learned so much more about every main and side character that I am too heavily invested to NOT read ACOWAR. I also have to say this book was way better than the first book.
The only issues I had with the book were that it ended on a cliffhanger and that while it was tremendously good I feel that it was just a segue into the final book. It was a lot of filler information and I feel that everything I read was back-story for the real story I will read in the third book. I also fill this book could have employed more diversity in it. I enjoyed the book so much though and while this book has problems with the lack of diversity I still feel the book is very well written and very enjoyable. Hopefully more diverse characters will come into play in the third book.
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Junior Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (some gore, some violence)
Favorite Quote: "This is the firmament and this is where the war will be waged."
I was provided a free copy of this book by Ahelia Publishing and I was compensated for my time reading this book. This arrangement did not affect my decision in anyway. Once again, if you've not read the first book then you might not want to read this review. No spoilers from this book, but there might be spoilers from the other books.
She'd made her Shailma so small—so small indeed—when in fact, he was bigger than anything she could think of ... or ponder ... or consider ... or understand. Her mind could not grasp just how big Simeon was. He knew all things and was aware of all things; he was everywhere at all times. Jennifer had no need to worry or fear or be concerned, yet she was all of those things. The oddest of all was that Simeon knew that his little one had found a new understanding of his bigness and that even though she was horribly afraid, she would keep going—not because of who she was, but because of who he was. Suddenly, that became enough for her, and she found the courage required to battle the great dragon. Surely, defeating that dragon would release the souls of the ones Jennifer had fought so hard to free from the cure of the Trows. Only time—and courage—held the answer to such a deep question. - back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Back in Trilleah, but we never left after the last events like we usually do. Instead, we stayed in Trilleah... but now we're caught in the beginnings of a war between the King and the land itself versus the Travelers. Who will win and who won't make it out alive? Once again I thought that Kimm Reid knocked it out of the park with her excellent writing skills. The story never gets old and never gets boring, even though this book only spanned the length of one day. The plot development that was involved in the story and the character development was very well written. The plot takes place over the span of one day and I thought that even with the short time frame that the plot was very well rounded. The story flowed naturally and it never felt forced or out of sync. The reader also became privy to not only more information about the Travelers, but also King Shrailzhar and some of his minions in this book. This was very exciting for me because I wanted to learn more about the other minor characters and I thought it was interesting how some information was given about the villains, but I didn't feel any empathy for the King as I usually do for villain backgrounds.
The only things I found problematic with the book was that the pacing was a bit slower than normal. While this was fine by me and I thought the writing was done perfectly for a slower paced story, some younger readers might not enjoy a slower paced story, but some might. I was one of those readers that didn't care about the pacing as long as it made sense, but just keep that in mind for your young readers. Despite that, I found the story engaging and wonderfully written as always. I definitely recommend this series for your young readers and for yourself!
Genre: Junior Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (some gore, some violence)
Favorite Quote: "This is the firmament and this is where the war will be waged."
I was provided a free copy of this book by Ahelia Publishing and I was compensated for my time reading this book. This arrangement did not affect my decision in anyway. Once again, if you've not read the first book then you might not want to read this review. No spoilers from this book, but there might be spoilers from the other books.
She'd made her Shailma so small—so small indeed—when in fact, he was bigger than anything she could think of ... or ponder ... or consider ... or understand. Her mind could not grasp just how big Simeon was. He knew all things and was aware of all things; he was everywhere at all times. Jennifer had no need to worry or fear or be concerned, yet she was all of those things. The oddest of all was that Simeon knew that his little one had found a new understanding of his bigness and that even though she was horribly afraid, she would keep going—not because of who she was, but because of who he was. Suddenly, that became enough for her, and she found the courage required to battle the great dragon. Surely, defeating that dragon would release the souls of the ones Jennifer had fought so hard to free from the cure of the Trows. Only time—and courage—held the answer to such a deep question. - back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Back in Trilleah, but we never left after the last events like we usually do. Instead, we stayed in Trilleah... but now we're caught in the beginnings of a war between the King and the land itself versus the Travelers. Who will win and who won't make it out alive? Once again I thought that Kimm Reid knocked it out of the park with her excellent writing skills. The story never gets old and never gets boring, even though this book only spanned the length of one day. The plot development that was involved in the story and the character development was very well written. The plot takes place over the span of one day and I thought that even with the short time frame that the plot was very well rounded. The story flowed naturally and it never felt forced or out of sync. The reader also became privy to not only more information about the Travelers, but also King Shrailzhar and some of his minions in this book. This was very exciting for me because I wanted to learn more about the other minor characters and I thought it was interesting how some information was given about the villains, but I didn't feel any empathy for the King as I usually do for villain backgrounds.
The only things I found problematic with the book was that the pacing was a bit slower than normal. While this was fine by me and I thought the writing was done perfectly for a slower paced story, some younger readers might not enjoy a slower paced story, but some might. I was one of those readers that didn't care about the pacing as long as it made sense, but just keep that in mind for your young readers. Despite that, I found the story engaging and wonderfully written as always. I definitely recommend this series for your young readers and for yourself!
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Erotica
Recommended Age: 18+ (mature scenes and strong language)
Favorite Quote: "You are mine"
I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This arrangement did not sway my opinion in anyway.
Notorious playboy and billionaire Mika Kingsley plays the game of life just like he plays at business in the boardroom...hard, fast and taking no prisoners. What he doesn't already own, he conquers and masters, bending all comers to his iron unyielding will. However, after tragedy strikes Mika finds himself desperately searching for something he can hold on to when into his new world of chaos and disarray walks... nurse Raeva... From the very first moment he lays eyes on her, he set his mind and considerable resources to acquiring her body and soul, unaware that this is one conquest that may prove more than a match for his indomitable sense of control. Raeva Ray is young, brash, educated and beautiful. Mika quickly realizes that it will take more than flash and money to tame this beautiful sexy creature. Despite outward appearances however, when it comes to navigating her way around a man's heart...Raeva is clueless. After a few failed and unhealthy relationships, she had vowed to remain single and chaste...FOREVER! Like a perfect storm brewing on the horizon, these two enigmatic souls seem charted on a collision course with fate.... Mika is determined to hide all his secrets and mistakes. But they are coming back to haunt him; he knows he could lose Raeva forever. With things flying out of control and their world falling apart, Raeva must to choose between what seems to be the truth and the truth she feels in her heart. Can Mika keep those he loves safe and avoid losing the one woman who makes him want to live for tomorrow? - back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Raeva Ray just wants her first day at her job to go well, but that's pretty much the definition of first days: nothing goes right. That is until she meets her charge's brother: Mike Kingsley. Suddenly, Raeva is thrown into a fast-paced romance that leaves her little time to wonder if they're moving too fast. When secrets are revealed and danger is uncovered will it prove too much for Raeva? While I'm not normally a romance reader, I did like the idea of the book. The book is an easy read and I thought that for the most part the main characters were well developed and complex... but unfortunately I did have a lot of issues with the book.
I thought that the pacing and plot were really off for this story. As I have said before I'm not a romance reader, but I did used to sneak read my mother's erotica books and with those books they focused on the build-up and the sexual tension between the two characters. I felt that because the pacing of this book was extremely fast-paced that the author missed an opportunity to have these two characters flirt and have that tension in the book. Almost immediately the characters do the deed whereas in other books of this similar genre I'm used to waiting until mid-way or towards the end for the characters to do that. I also feel like the book had three different plot points in it and that the book could have been told as three separate books rather than one with all the different things that was going on in the book. Another point that I didn't like about the book were some of the characters. While the main characters were well developed and complex, I felt that Mika's character came across as wwwwaaayyyyy too creepy and stalker-ish. Maybe it's because of my life experiences, but I felt very uneasy reading the book because of Mika's actions. While this was resolved at the end I feel that Raeva's character type should have ended the relationship or had a discussion with Mika in the first part of the book. I also felt that a lot of the side characters were not developed and were just plot devices. The villain of the story came out of nowhere. The villain was built to be this mysterious character, but the reasons the villain does the things he does do not correlate to how he acts in the book. As I have stated before I have a master's in Criminal Justice and part of obtaining my degree focused on learning about people as you would in a sociology or psychology class. From what I know and have learned about people like the villain (trying not to spoil this book, so sorry for the vagueness!) the warning signs should have been written into the story more. There were also a lot of plot holes too and I feel the ending isn't really complete. Lastly, I feel that the author's writing was a bit weird. She's a really good writer, but I felt that some of the phrases used in the book were awkward and were written in that way because of the genre of this book. Some of the phrases used were overtly sexual in non-erotic scenes and I felt the writing was awkward.
Overall, I felt the author wrote an okay story, but for me this book had a lot of issues that I didn't feel comfortable with. Again, this might be because of my background and my personal life experiences. I feel that if you're looking for a quick, steamy read you might like this one and all in all it's a decent read... but it just wasn't a book for me. Also, I have been in talks with letting my momma read this book so someone who reads more books in this genre can give a better review. Opinions? Would you like to read a review by my darling momma? Comment your opinions down below!
Genre: Erotica
Recommended Age: 18+ (mature scenes and strong language)
Favorite Quote: "You are mine"
I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This arrangement did not sway my opinion in anyway.
Notorious playboy and billionaire Mika Kingsley plays the game of life just like he plays at business in the boardroom...hard, fast and taking no prisoners. What he doesn't already own, he conquers and masters, bending all comers to his iron unyielding will. However, after tragedy strikes Mika finds himself desperately searching for something he can hold on to when into his new world of chaos and disarray walks... nurse Raeva... From the very first moment he lays eyes on her, he set his mind and considerable resources to acquiring her body and soul, unaware that this is one conquest that may prove more than a match for his indomitable sense of control. Raeva Ray is young, brash, educated and beautiful. Mika quickly realizes that it will take more than flash and money to tame this beautiful sexy creature. Despite outward appearances however, when it comes to navigating her way around a man's heart...Raeva is clueless. After a few failed and unhealthy relationships, she had vowed to remain single and chaste...FOREVER! Like a perfect storm brewing on the horizon, these two enigmatic souls seem charted on a collision course with fate.... Mika is determined to hide all his secrets and mistakes. But they are coming back to haunt him; he knows he could lose Raeva forever. With things flying out of control and their world falling apart, Raeva must to choose between what seems to be the truth and the truth she feels in her heart. Can Mika keep those he loves safe and avoid losing the one woman who makes him want to live for tomorrow? - back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Raeva Ray just wants her first day at her job to go well, but that's pretty much the definition of first days: nothing goes right. That is until she meets her charge's brother: Mike Kingsley. Suddenly, Raeva is thrown into a fast-paced romance that leaves her little time to wonder if they're moving too fast. When secrets are revealed and danger is uncovered will it prove too much for Raeva? While I'm not normally a romance reader, I did like the idea of the book. The book is an easy read and I thought that for the most part the main characters were well developed and complex... but unfortunately I did have a lot of issues with the book.
I thought that the pacing and plot were really off for this story. As I have said before I'm not a romance reader, but I did used to sneak read my mother's erotica books and with those books they focused on the build-up and the sexual tension between the two characters. I felt that because the pacing of this book was extremely fast-paced that the author missed an opportunity to have these two characters flirt and have that tension in the book. Almost immediately the characters do the deed whereas in other books of this similar genre I'm used to waiting until mid-way or towards the end for the characters to do that. I also feel like the book had three different plot points in it and that the book could have been told as three separate books rather than one with all the different things that was going on in the book. Another point that I didn't like about the book were some of the characters. While the main characters were well developed and complex, I felt that Mika's character came across as wwwwaaayyyyy too creepy and stalker-ish. Maybe it's because of my life experiences, but I felt very uneasy reading the book because of Mika's actions. While this was resolved at the end I feel that Raeva's character type should have ended the relationship or had a discussion with Mika in the first part of the book. I also felt that a lot of the side characters were not developed and were just plot devices. The villain of the story came out of nowhere. The villain was built to be this mysterious character, but the reasons the villain does the things he does do not correlate to how he acts in the book. As I have stated before I have a master's in Criminal Justice and part of obtaining my degree focused on learning about people as you would in a sociology or psychology class. From what I know and have learned about people like the villain (trying not to spoil this book, so sorry for the vagueness!) the warning signs should have been written into the story more. There were also a lot of plot holes too and I feel the ending isn't really complete. Lastly, I feel that the author's writing was a bit weird. She's a really good writer, but I felt that some of the phrases used in the book were awkward and were written in that way because of the genre of this book. Some of the phrases used were overtly sexual in non-erotic scenes and I felt the writing was awkward.
Overall, I felt the author wrote an okay story, but for me this book had a lot of issues that I didn't feel comfortable with. Again, this might be because of my background and my personal life experiences. I feel that if you're looking for a quick, steamy read you might like this one and all in all it's a decent read... but it just wasn't a book for me. Also, I have been in talks with letting my momma read this book so someone who reads more books in this genre can give a better review. Opinions? Would you like to read a review by my darling momma? Comment your opinions down below!
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Junior Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (a bit more gore than the other books, character death, and extreme sadness. Also, this book has more religious themes than the other ones. I know some parents who don't want their kids reading anything related to any religion, so I felt I had to point that for people who might be the same way.)
Favorite Quote: "Jennifer, Little One, I will be with you until the very end"
I was provided a free copy of the book by the publishing company and they also compensated me for my time. This did not affect my opinions in any way.
" “TAKE ME,” he wanted to scream. “LEAVE HER … PLEASE TAKE ME!” Judah begged Shemaiah to let him take Jennifer’s place, but he knew it wouldn’t be so. From the first moment that his twin sister had stepped foot in this dreadful land, Judah knew this moment would come. He didn’t realize it until right now, but as they were running, Judah pulling his sister and keeping her on her feet, he suddenly knew in his heart that everything right up to this very moment was to prepare him to release Jennifer into the hands of King Shrailzhar. The boy wanted to peel off his own skin; to step out of himself somehow or throw himself into the Sea of Acheron. He knew he couldn’t. Judah knew that Jennifer would have to pay a price that only she could pay—one that would cost her everything. One soul in exchange for many. " - Back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
This is it. The last leg of our journey. The final lap... but yet when things don't go as planned and one more requirement is left to fill before the souls can be freed.... will it be too much of a price to pay? Well, it will be for the reader. I cried while reading this book. Literally bawled like a baby. I don't spoil anything in my reviews, but there was a section in this book that just broke me. The scene was done so beautifully and was so upsetting for me that I had to include it in the recommended age thing because I feared it might be a bit upsetting for younger readers. It was wrote, as the whole series was, very beautifully and it felt very real for the emotionally invested reader like myself. Besides that one very very upsetting and soul-breaking scene I felt that the story was very good. The character and plot development felt very complete and the series as a whole felt like it came to a decent ending.
However, I had more issues with this book then the other books. I felt that the book was very slow in the beginning and that books 6 and 7 could have been pushed together into just one book. I also feel robbed by the ending. I was expecting a big reunion with the Travelers and their loved ones and for the epilogue to be about their lives after Trilleah, but it just kind of ended. I also felt confused about a few of the characters on if they were still alive or not. The ending of the book was fairly good, but I just wanted something different.
Overall, I liked this book and I loved the series! Definitely one of the best series I've read in very long time and I would recommend it for readers young and old!
Genre: Junior Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (a bit more gore than the other books, character death, and extreme sadness. Also, this book has more religious themes than the other ones. I know some parents who don't want their kids reading anything related to any religion, so I felt I had to point that for people who might be the same way.)
Favorite Quote: "Jennifer, Little One, I will be with you until the very end"
I was provided a free copy of the book by the publishing company and they also compensated me for my time. This did not affect my opinions in any way.
" “TAKE ME,” he wanted to scream. “LEAVE HER … PLEASE TAKE ME!” Judah begged Shemaiah to let him take Jennifer’s place, but he knew it wouldn’t be so. From the first moment that his twin sister had stepped foot in this dreadful land, Judah knew this moment would come. He didn’t realize it until right now, but as they were running, Judah pulling his sister and keeping her on her feet, he suddenly knew in his heart that everything right up to this very moment was to prepare him to release Jennifer into the hands of King Shrailzhar. The boy wanted to peel off his own skin; to step out of himself somehow or throw himself into the Sea of Acheron. He knew he couldn’t. Judah knew that Jennifer would have to pay a price that only she could pay—one that would cost her everything. One soul in exchange for many. " - Back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
This is it. The last leg of our journey. The final lap... but yet when things don't go as planned and one more requirement is left to fill before the souls can be freed.... will it be too much of a price to pay? Well, it will be for the reader. I cried while reading this book. Literally bawled like a baby. I don't spoil anything in my reviews, but there was a section in this book that just broke me. The scene was done so beautifully and was so upsetting for me that I had to include it in the recommended age thing because I feared it might be a bit upsetting for younger readers. It was wrote, as the whole series was, very beautifully and it felt very real for the emotionally invested reader like myself. Besides that one very very upsetting and soul-breaking scene I felt that the story was very good. The character and plot development felt very complete and the series as a whole felt like it came to a decent ending.
However, I had more issues with this book then the other books. I felt that the book was very slow in the beginning and that books 6 and 7 could have been pushed together into just one book. I also feel robbed by the ending. I was expecting a big reunion with the Travelers and their loved ones and for the epilogue to be about their lives after Trilleah, but it just kind of ended. I also felt confused about a few of the characters on if they were still alive or not. The ending of the book was fairly good, but I just wanted something different.
Overall, I liked this book and I loved the series! Definitely one of the best series I've read in very long time and I would recommend it for readers young and old!
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (some discussion of violent acts including rape. Gore. Trigger warnings.)
Favorite Quote: “They were so nearly unchanged, and yet that one thing – the color of their skin – would, in the real word, change everything.”
The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around--and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he's been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance to lose his dream forever.
What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?
The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries--including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo's dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? and if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?
In this sweeping and breathtaking new novel by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, author of the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, the shadow of the past is as real as the ghosts who haunt the citadel of murdered gods. Fall into a mythical world of dread and wonder, moths and nightmares, love and carnage.
Welcome to Weep.
Weep. The mysterious city that most say is the thing of fairytales. And we are allowed to travel with Lazlo into the forgotten village and through a tale of war, loss, tragedy, and redemption. Will we find out the secrets of Weep or will there be more trouble for our hero? And whose version of the past is the most accurate? I didn’t think this book would be the best fit for me. I’m someone who gets really disinterested in a book if the language is too flowery, if you know what I mean. But one of my friends (@ludreadsbooks on instagram! Go follow her!) was hosting a readalong and so I decided to give this book a chance. And I was so absolutely wrong with this book. The characters were amazing. So detailed, so complex, and so relatable, even the “villain” characters!! The plot was so intriguing and intricate! And Laini’s writing style fit the book so well and, after a bit, was not so scary and complex. It actually has a rhythm to it and it’s very a very beautifully written book.
However, the writing in the book can be confusing and scary for someone like me who likes less flowery language. It can take a bit of getting used to. The pacing is also incredibly slow for the first part of the book and it really only picks up after the halfway mark. Since there will be a sequel the second book should go a ton faster now that the backgrounds and descriptions are out of the way for now.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Like really enjoyed it. So much so that at a certain spoiler I became enraged at the book because it made me mad how a certain character was treated. But the book was phenomenal and I recommend it for any reader who likes high fantasy novels.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (some discussion of violent acts including rape. Gore. Trigger warnings.)
Favorite Quote: “They were so nearly unchanged, and yet that one thing – the color of their skin – would, in the real word, change everything.”
The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around--and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he's been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance to lose his dream forever.
What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?
The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries--including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo's dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? and if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?
In this sweeping and breathtaking new novel by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, author of the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, the shadow of the past is as real as the ghosts who haunt the citadel of murdered gods. Fall into a mythical world of dread and wonder, moths and nightmares, love and carnage.
Welcome to Weep.
Weep. The mysterious city that most say is the thing of fairytales. And we are allowed to travel with Lazlo into the forgotten village and through a tale of war, loss, tragedy, and redemption. Will we find out the secrets of Weep or will there be more trouble for our hero? And whose version of the past is the most accurate? I didn’t think this book would be the best fit for me. I’m someone who gets really disinterested in a book if the language is too flowery, if you know what I mean. But one of my friends (@ludreadsbooks on instagram! Go follow her!) was hosting a readalong and so I decided to give this book a chance. And I was so absolutely wrong with this book. The characters were amazing. So detailed, so complex, and so relatable, even the “villain” characters!! The plot was so intriguing and intricate! And Laini’s writing style fit the book so well and, after a bit, was not so scary and complex. It actually has a rhythm to it and it’s very a very beautifully written book.
However, the writing in the book can be confusing and scary for someone like me who likes less flowery language. It can take a bit of getting used to. The pacing is also incredibly slow for the first part of the book and it really only picks up after the halfway mark. Since there will be a sequel the second book should go a ton faster now that the backgrounds and descriptions are out of the way for now.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Like really enjoyed it. So much so that at a certain spoiler I became enraged at the book because it made me mad how a certain character was treated. But the book was phenomenal and I recommend it for any reader who likes high fantasy novels.
.jpg)
Rating: 4.5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 12+ (one mature flashback).
Favorite Quote: "'Mind you keep your eyes open in this new life Ewan,' she said with wide pupils of her own, 'you never know what you might see when you get to the big city.'"
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This did not influence my decision in any manner.
"Ewan Pendle was weird. Really weird. At least, that's what everyone told him. Then again, being able to see monsters that no one else could wasn't exactly normal. Thinking he has been moved off to live with his eleventh foster family, Ewan is instead told he is a Lenitnes, one of an ancient race of peoples who can alone see the real Creatures that inhabit the earth. He is taken in by Enola, the mysterious sword carrying Grand Master of Firedrake Lyceum, a labyrinth of halls and rooms in the middle of London where other children, just like him, go to learn the ways of the Creatures." - Amazon
When I was first contacted by the author and asked to review this book I read about it on Amazon. The first thing I saw was "If you're suffering fom Harry Potter withdrawals..." And obviously I'm always suffering. So I agreed to review it and I have to say that this is definitely the book you want to read when suffering from Harry Potter withdrawals. Ewan is a very likable orphan who's luck changes close to his 12th birthday. He finds out he's not the weird kid he's been made to believe he is... He's not weird at all. He's just a Lenitnes, a group of people who can see creatures like goblins and dragons. But, just like Harry Potter, Ewan has something special in him and with his group of friends he's determined to solve the mystery and save the Queen.
I found the book to be a very fun read! It was a quick and very easy read (I got busy with life, but every chance I had I would easily work through 100 pages), the characters are all developed and I can determine who's talking by the way the sentence is wrote, and the plot is very well thought out. The flashbacks in this book aren't out of place and the character conversation felt natural.
The only thing I need to complain about are the lack of creatures Ewan sees when he starts at the school, but hopefully if the second novel is ever released it will become a more prominent presence.
Overall, this book was very enjoyable. I want to know more about this world and about the characters. I absolutely fell in love with Mathilde and Enid and I'm so happy with how Ewan developed in the first novel. I'd love to see more of him and I think you would too! Go check out this book and make sure to leave a review telling the author how much we are in need of a sequel! Happy reading!
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 12+ (one mature flashback).
Favorite Quote: "'Mind you keep your eyes open in this new life Ewan,' she said with wide pupils of her own, 'you never know what you might see when you get to the big city.'"
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This did not influence my decision in any manner.
"Ewan Pendle was weird. Really weird. At least, that's what everyone told him. Then again, being able to see monsters that no one else could wasn't exactly normal. Thinking he has been moved off to live with his eleventh foster family, Ewan is instead told he is a Lenitnes, one of an ancient race of peoples who can alone see the real Creatures that inhabit the earth. He is taken in by Enola, the mysterious sword carrying Grand Master of Firedrake Lyceum, a labyrinth of halls and rooms in the middle of London where other children, just like him, go to learn the ways of the Creatures." - Amazon
When I was first contacted by the author and asked to review this book I read about it on Amazon. The first thing I saw was "If you're suffering fom Harry Potter withdrawals..." And obviously I'm always suffering. So I agreed to review it and I have to say that this is definitely the book you want to read when suffering from Harry Potter withdrawals. Ewan is a very likable orphan who's luck changes close to his 12th birthday. He finds out he's not the weird kid he's been made to believe he is... He's not weird at all. He's just a Lenitnes, a group of people who can see creatures like goblins and dragons. But, just like Harry Potter, Ewan has something special in him and with his group of friends he's determined to solve the mystery and save the Queen.
I found the book to be a very fun read! It was a quick and very easy read (I got busy with life, but every chance I had I would easily work through 100 pages), the characters are all developed and I can determine who's talking by the way the sentence is wrote, and the plot is very well thought out. The flashbacks in this book aren't out of place and the character conversation felt natural.
The only thing I need to complain about are the lack of creatures Ewan sees when he starts at the school, but hopefully if the second novel is ever released it will become a more prominent presence.
Overall, this book was very enjoyable. I want to know more about this world and about the characters. I absolutely fell in love with Mathilde and Enid and I'm so happy with how Ewan developed in the first novel. I'd love to see more of him and I think you would too! Go check out this book and make sure to leave a review telling the author how much we are in need of a sequel! Happy reading!
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (mature and depressing scenes).
Favorite Quote: "From my bedroom window, I watch the ghost flutter."
"In their hometown of Five Fingers, Michigan, the O'Donnells and the Angerts have mythic legacies. But for all the tall tales they weave, both founding families are tight-lipped about what caused the century-old rift between them, except to say it began with a cherry tree.
Eighteen-year-old Jack “June” O’Donnell doesn't need a better reason than that. She's an O'Donnell to her core, just like her late father was, and O'Donnells stay away from Angerts. Period.
But when Saul Angert, the son of June's father's mortal enemy, returns to town after three mysterious years away, June can't seem to avoid him. Soon the unthinkable happens: She finds she doesn't exactly hate the gruff, sarcastic boy she was born to loathe.
Saul’s arrival sparks a chain reaction, and as the magic, ghosts, and coywolves of Five Fingers conspire to reveal the truth about the dark moment that started the feud, June must question everything she knows about her family and the father she adored. And she must decide whether it's finally time for her—and all of the O'Donnells before her—to let go." - Amazon.
I have to say hands down this was the most amazing book I've probably read this month at least! I went into this book thinking it was just a Romeo and Juliet retelling but I came out of this book with a better understanding of how the world works. This is kind of a Romeo and Juliet like story (or Hatfield and McCoy if you're not up on your Shakespeare), but it involves a deeper meaning of life in general. So basically what the Romeo and Juliet story missed. Sorry Shakespeare lovers but while my favorite play will always be the tale of two star crossed lovers, I always came out of it with more questions than answers. Like Matilda says "I wonder why they didn't just change their story?". And yes I'm babbling. I don't know how to write something that can describe the way I feel towards this book. And I'm intimidated by Emily Henry's writing. Her writing was genius. She truly has a way of grabbing words and weaving them into something truly unqiue. Her characters voices had distinct tones and her plot was divine. The way she told this story was unlike how I've read a story before and I absolutely fell in love with the intermingling of at least 5 different story lines. Nothing felt awkward and nothing felt forced. And this is the type of book you can pick up and down multiple times. The story is memorable to you and sticks and sinks into you like the Whites. I can say no bad things about this book except that it's a standalone and I'd love to see more about the O'Donnells and the Angerts, but I feel that their story has ended much like everyone's does at some point. I highly recommend this book to everyone... especially if you've ever lost the biggest person in your life. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll come out with so much more than you've ever thought possible.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (mature and depressing scenes).
Favorite Quote: "From my bedroom window, I watch the ghost flutter."
"In their hometown of Five Fingers, Michigan, the O'Donnells and the Angerts have mythic legacies. But for all the tall tales they weave, both founding families are tight-lipped about what caused the century-old rift between them, except to say it began with a cherry tree.
Eighteen-year-old Jack “June” O’Donnell doesn't need a better reason than that. She's an O'Donnell to her core, just like her late father was, and O'Donnells stay away from Angerts. Period.
But when Saul Angert, the son of June's father's mortal enemy, returns to town after three mysterious years away, June can't seem to avoid him. Soon the unthinkable happens: She finds she doesn't exactly hate the gruff, sarcastic boy she was born to loathe.
Saul’s arrival sparks a chain reaction, and as the magic, ghosts, and coywolves of Five Fingers conspire to reveal the truth about the dark moment that started the feud, June must question everything she knows about her family and the father she adored. And she must decide whether it's finally time for her—and all of the O'Donnells before her—to let go." - Amazon.
I have to say hands down this was the most amazing book I've probably read this month at least! I went into this book thinking it was just a Romeo and Juliet retelling but I came out of this book with a better understanding of how the world works. This is kind of a Romeo and Juliet like story (or Hatfield and McCoy if you're not up on your Shakespeare), but it involves a deeper meaning of life in general. So basically what the Romeo and Juliet story missed. Sorry Shakespeare lovers but while my favorite play will always be the tale of two star crossed lovers, I always came out of it with more questions than answers. Like Matilda says "I wonder why they didn't just change their story?". And yes I'm babbling. I don't know how to write something that can describe the way I feel towards this book. And I'm intimidated by Emily Henry's writing. Her writing was genius. She truly has a way of grabbing words and weaving them into something truly unqiue. Her characters voices had distinct tones and her plot was divine. The way she told this story was unlike how I've read a story before and I absolutely fell in love with the intermingling of at least 5 different story lines. Nothing felt awkward and nothing felt forced. And this is the type of book you can pick up and down multiple times. The story is memorable to you and sticks and sinks into you like the Whites. I can say no bad things about this book except that it's a standalone and I'd love to see more about the O'Donnells and the Angerts, but I feel that their story has ended much like everyone's does at some point. I highly recommend this book to everyone... especially if you've ever lost the biggest person in your life. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll come out with so much more than you've ever thought possible.
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Dystopian/Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (very mature and depressing scenes. Some triggering scenes).
Favorite Quote: "Twenty five, twenty five."
A soldier is summoned to the North Pole, days before the year changes, told to fix the great Clock for a celebration. He has no idea what to do. A girl, hunted for the crime of being born, almost dies out on the ice. She is rescued by the last polar bear left alive. A library waits for them both, a library built over a span of a hundred years, forgotten in the basement of an ice shack. The world hasn't known hunger or sickness in hundreds of years. It has also forgotten love and beauty. The year is 2524. Inspired by the short stories of Ray Bradbury, this futuristic novel is set in a world where Christmas -among other things- is obsolete and a Clock is what keeps the fragile balance of peace. Written in three installments, this is the breathtaking and sensual story of how two unlikely people change the world, and each other, one book at a time. Immerse yourself into the icy cold world of this scorching hot new novel. - Amazon
I was provided a free ARC of this book in return for promotion and my honest review. This exchange did not effect my decision in anyway.
So, as you might know, I love dystopians. When I was offered a chance to read this book I jumped on it... Andddddd..... I loved it! I loved the story, the future, and how the author managed to make this unique world. The characters and plot were very well developed just enough to leave some mystery for the next book, the story pacing never dragged, and I felt the book was a great first book for the trilogy.
The only things I felt were off with the book is that the story was fast-paced, but I just got done reading a very slow paced book so I blame that. The book was also wrote in a certain tone that matched the book. Some people might be put off by it, but i thought it matched the tone of the book very well. I highly enjoyed the book and I'd highly recommend this book for anyone who is a Dystopian lover and a Hans Christian Anderson lover.
Genre: YA Dystopian/Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (very mature and depressing scenes. Some triggering scenes).
Favorite Quote: "Twenty five, twenty five."
A soldier is summoned to the North Pole, days before the year changes, told to fix the great Clock for a celebration. He has no idea what to do. A girl, hunted for the crime of being born, almost dies out on the ice. She is rescued by the last polar bear left alive. A library waits for them both, a library built over a span of a hundred years, forgotten in the basement of an ice shack. The world hasn't known hunger or sickness in hundreds of years. It has also forgotten love and beauty. The year is 2524. Inspired by the short stories of Ray Bradbury, this futuristic novel is set in a world where Christmas -among other things- is obsolete and a Clock is what keeps the fragile balance of peace. Written in three installments, this is the breathtaking and sensual story of how two unlikely people change the world, and each other, one book at a time. Immerse yourself into the icy cold world of this scorching hot new novel. - Amazon
I was provided a free ARC of this book in return for promotion and my honest review. This exchange did not effect my decision in anyway.
So, as you might know, I love dystopians. When I was offered a chance to read this book I jumped on it... Andddddd..... I loved it! I loved the story, the future, and how the author managed to make this unique world. The characters and plot were very well developed just enough to leave some mystery for the next book, the story pacing never dragged, and I felt the book was a great first book for the trilogy.
The only things I felt were off with the book is that the story was fast-paced, but I just got done reading a very slow paced book so I blame that. The book was also wrote in a certain tone that matched the book. Some people might be put off by it, but i thought it matched the tone of the book very well. I highly enjoyed the book and I'd highly recommend this book for anyone who is a Dystopian lover and a Hans Christian Anderson lover.