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samantha_randolph's Reviews (1.59k)
Short and Sweet:
I loved this charming and beautifully written story!
To Elaborate...
Lately, I've been very hesitant about reading Beauty and the Beast retellings. As I've mentioned before probably (since this consumes my life right now), I'm doing my honors thesis on 3 YA Beauty and the Beast retellings (Cruel Beauty, Beastly, and Of Beast and Beauty). I've been semi-avoiding others because I haven't wanted it to distract me from the ones I'm ridiculously analyzing. However, when I saw this one on NetGalley, I couldn't resist. It looked SO CUTE and that cover, gah! Beautiful. I decided to make an exception, and I'm so glad I did.
The writing in this story is absolutely beautiful. It's like magic itself and reminds me just a bit of The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender (prose stylistically). It reads super quickly, and I loved every bit of it.
What I love most in the incredible feel of the story. In the beginning, Sarah's parents are splitting up (no known magic at this point), and it feels so real. I absolutely adore when stories are full of magic but are so grounded in the painful realities everyday people deal with all the time. As she slowly discovers the immense magic around her, her life doesn't just up and become a fairytale. Yes, there are beasts; yes, there is a handsome boy; and yes, there are curses and magical atmospheres galore. Even so, that doesn't mean everything is perfect. Her grandmother is cold, the boy isn't all he seems, and there is no magic kiss that fixes everyone's problems.
This is definitely one to pick up in the new year. It's a completely lovely middle grade, but it can easily be enjoyed by all ages. I can't wait to read more from this author!
Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2014/12/review-beastkeeper-by-cat-hellisen.html
I loved this charming and beautifully written story!
To Elaborate...
Lately, I've been very hesitant about reading Beauty and the Beast retellings. As I've mentioned before probably (since this consumes my life right now), I'm doing my honors thesis on 3 YA Beauty and the Beast retellings (Cruel Beauty, Beastly, and Of Beast and Beauty). I've been semi-avoiding others because I haven't wanted it to distract me from the ones I'm ridiculously analyzing. However, when I saw this one on NetGalley, I couldn't resist. It looked SO CUTE and that cover, gah! Beautiful. I decided to make an exception, and I'm so glad I did.
The writing in this story is absolutely beautiful. It's like magic itself and reminds me just a bit of The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender (prose stylistically). It reads super quickly, and I loved every bit of it.
What I love most in the incredible feel of the story. In the beginning, Sarah's parents are splitting up (no known magic at this point), and it feels so real. I absolutely adore when stories are full of magic but are so grounded in the painful realities everyday people deal with all the time. As she slowly discovers the immense magic around her, her life doesn't just up and become a fairytale. Yes, there are beasts; yes, there is a handsome boy; and yes, there are curses and magical atmospheres galore. Even so, that doesn't mean everything is perfect. Her grandmother is cold, the boy isn't all he seems, and there is no magic kiss that fixes everyone's problems.
This is definitely one to pick up in the new year. It's a completely lovely middle grade, but it can easily be enjoyed by all ages. I can't wait to read more from this author!
Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2014/12/review-beastkeeper-by-cat-hellisen.html
"Ben Covington hasn't seriously dated anyone since losing his fiancée until now. After spending one night with Bell Wilde, he can't forget about her. For Bell, she isn't looking for anything serious, especially not from someone who is part of her past. As they try and fail to stay apart, the past may be the one thing that stops them from being together once and for all." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=49464
Short and Sweet:
Though the story felt really slow, the writing was beautiful, and I loved the characters.
To Elaborate...
I've been really into middle grade stories lately, so I had to pick this one up. I'm really fond of stories that tackle tough issues, and this one is no exception. Iris, a young girl in middle school, recently lost her best friend. This novel explores Iris's grief as her family moves to Oregon, and she struggles to make a new friend when she is still buried in sadness. As the title suggests, the central questions in this novel revolve around what miracles are, where they come from, why some people get them over others, etc. It's definitely not a light read, but it's a very important one. The writing and characterization are just beautiful. Iris's character is so deep, and her growth is gorgeous. I even like Boris, a boy who really wants to be her friend.
The family dynamic in this story is also excellent. Iris's mom and dad don't always understand her, but there is so much love in their family. In one part (this isn't a spoiler), her dad takes her and Boris out for a surprise skip-school day, and it's perfect. It shows just how much her parents care about her and want to make good memories with her.
While I love a lot about this book, it felt like it dragged for most of the story. Most of the plot revolves around the internal growth of Iris (which is wonderful), but it went by so slowly. The book itself is actually on the shorter side, but it took me a while to read this because I wasn't hooked. I kind of got bored with it in parts, and I would have to go do something else and then come back and read more.
Overall, I still recommend this one. The heart of the story is breathtaking and meaningful. Even though it felt like it took me a long time to get through this, I still enjoyed reading it, and I think a lot of people will really like it.
3.5 Hearts! Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2014/12/review-question-of-miracles-by-elana-k.html
Though the story felt really slow, the writing was beautiful, and I loved the characters.
To Elaborate...
I've been really into middle grade stories lately, so I had to pick this one up. I'm really fond of stories that tackle tough issues, and this one is no exception. Iris, a young girl in middle school, recently lost her best friend. This novel explores Iris's grief as her family moves to Oregon, and she struggles to make a new friend when she is still buried in sadness. As the title suggests, the central questions in this novel revolve around what miracles are, where they come from, why some people get them over others, etc. It's definitely not a light read, but it's a very important one. The writing and characterization are just beautiful. Iris's character is so deep, and her growth is gorgeous. I even like Boris, a boy who really wants to be her friend.
The family dynamic in this story is also excellent. Iris's mom and dad don't always understand her, but there is so much love in their family. In one part (this isn't a spoiler), her dad takes her and Boris out for a surprise skip-school day, and it's perfect. It shows just how much her parents care about her and want to make good memories with her.
While I love a lot about this book, it felt like it dragged for most of the story. Most of the plot revolves around the internal growth of Iris (which is wonderful), but it went by so slowly. The book itself is actually on the shorter side, but it took me a while to read this because I wasn't hooked. I kind of got bored with it in parts, and I would have to go do something else and then come back and read more.
Overall, I still recommend this one. The heart of the story is breathtaking and meaningful. Even though it felt like it took me a long time to get through this, I still enjoyed reading it, and I think a lot of people will really like it.
3.5 Hearts! Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2014/12/review-question-of-miracles-by-elana-k.html
"Nym isn't like other slaves being sold. She's secretly an Elemental, and a female one at that, meaning she shouldn't exist. When forced to reveal her abilities, a powerful war strategist to the king forces her to train to be a weapon for the country or else. Backed into a corner, Nym agrees, and everything she knows from that moment on is changed forever." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=49525
3.5/5 stars
I liked it, but it didn't wow me. The world building is excellent (as are the illustrations), but I just couldn't connect with Prue. I felt kind of distanced from the story the whole time. I even enjoyed the storyline quite a bit; I just don't think it was for me.
I liked it, but it didn't wow me. The world building is excellent (as are the illustrations), but I just couldn't connect with Prue. I felt kind of distanced from the story the whole time. I even enjoyed the storyline quite a bit; I just don't think it was for me.
"Princess Aurora lost her mother and her kingdom in the same day. Years later, with her brother captured, she is on a mission to save him and the throne. Disguised as a boy, Aurora is found by Prince Niklaas, a young man determined to find Aurora and marry her to break his own curse. As the two journey together to save a kingdom ruled by ogres, they discover a surprising friendship and a heartbreaking need to own up to the secrets they've kept buried that could tear them apart." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=49776
Short and Sweet:
I absolutely loved the strong emotional development and plot line. I finished this in a mess of feels.
To Elaborate...
When I first heard about this sequel, I was EXTREMELY hesitant. I read and loved All That Glows as a standalone. When I saw that a sequel was releasing, I was very confused and full of side eye.
However, after reading the sequel, wow. For me, this was one of the stories that I didn't realize just how badly it needed a sequel until I started reading it. No spoilers, but All That Glows leaves off pretty happily, and I was just as happy to have the characters I love end in a good place. Silly me, I didn't think it through as to how complicated everyone's lives would be after the ending, and how it couldn't really end there. (If that makes sense). Ryan Graudin absolutely blew me away with this sequel. The character development is some of the best I've seen, and I can't get enough of the beautiful and emotional writing Graudin delivers. My heart hurt so badly during so much of this story, but it was all completely worth it to get the rest of the story needed for these characters.
The only thing I wanted a little more from this book was Richard. He wasn't actually present very often (for good reason), and I understand why so much of what I love in this story comes from him being absent, but I just love him and his records. His sister, Belle, plays a stronger role than in the first book though, and I really enjoyed getting to know her character more. I especially like the friendship between her and Emrys.
If you were hesitant like me initally about having a sequel for All That Glows, don't be! I can't recommend this series or this author enough. After loving her other recent release, The Walled City, she is officially on my list of authors whose work I will buy no matter what.
Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2015/01/review-all-that-burns-by-ryan-graudin.html
I absolutely loved the strong emotional development and plot line. I finished this in a mess of feels.
To Elaborate...
When I first heard about this sequel, I was EXTREMELY hesitant. I read and loved All That Glows as a standalone. When I saw that a sequel was releasing, I was very confused and full of side eye.
However, after reading the sequel, wow. For me, this was one of the stories that I didn't realize just how badly it needed a sequel until I started reading it. No spoilers, but All That Glows leaves off pretty happily, and I was just as happy to have the characters I love end in a good place. Silly me, I didn't think it through as to how complicated everyone's lives would be after the ending, and how it couldn't really end there. (If that makes sense). Ryan Graudin absolutely blew me away with this sequel. The character development is some of the best I've seen, and I can't get enough of the beautiful and emotional writing Graudin delivers. My heart hurt so badly during so much of this story, but it was all completely worth it to get the rest of the story needed for these characters.
The only thing I wanted a little more from this book was Richard. He wasn't actually present very often (for good reason), and I understand why so much of what I love in this story comes from him being absent, but I just love him and his records. His sister, Belle, plays a stronger role than in the first book though, and I really enjoyed getting to know her character more. I especially like the friendship between her and Emrys.
If you were hesitant like me initally about having a sequel for All That Glows, don't be! I can't recommend this series or this author enough. After loving her other recent release, The Walled City, she is officially on my list of authors whose work I will buy no matter what.
Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2015/01/review-all-that-burns-by-ryan-graudin.html
"Lucy wakes up in a forest confused and alone, searching for something to give her an answer. When she finds Colin in the school next to the forest, something clicks. Adrenaline junkie Colin has lost his family, but he finds an unexpected feeling of being home with the strange new girl, Lucy. As Lucy's memories about her journey to waking up on the forest comes back, including how she died there, Colin and Lucy must face how impossible their growing feelings are becoming. As they yearn to be together, they soon realize coming closer and closer to Colin's death is the only way to be with each other." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=50043