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samantha_randolph's Reviews (1.59k)
While I really enjoyed HEXED and was looking forward to this sequel, I am absolutely blown away by how much I love it. I didn’t remember everything from book 1, so I spent the first few chapters trying to remember what all happened. There’s a nice amount of recap in it, but if you’re like me, unless you read it a week ago, that still might not help. Even though I was initially fuzzy on the details, it still took no time at all for me to connect with the story. Indigo goes to her metaphorical dark place, and she is full of so much intense emotion. This leads to her taking a lot of risks, lashing out at the people around her, and generally just giving her all to save her best friend, Paige. She is one of my absolute favorite characters I’ve read because she is so human, even with her witchy powers. She is flawed and selfish, gets jealous easily, and can be reckless, and this all makes her come to life. Surrounding her flaws, Indigo has a giant heart that makes her so three-dimensional and complex. I really, really love how she learns to embrace both light and dark sides of herself as the story progresses.
Whenever I read a sequel, I get ridiculously nervous about how the romance will play out, if there is one. I’ve read a heavy amount of sequels where the relationship goes negative or the two people are apart for 90% of the story, and it generally just all feels bad. While there were times I thought something like that was coming on in this story, I love how the author handles Bishop and Indigo. Indigo is going through so much, so naturally this will affect her love life. While the two definitely butt heads (both adorably and seriously) and fight, they have some awesome good moments as well. They’re young, and with everything happening around them, they’re still trying to find a consistent rhythm and figure out what they really mean to each other, and it’s wonderful. I also think the romance is less concentrated (if I remember correctly) here than it was in the first book. Indigo really is primarily concerned with saving Paige and struggling with her aunt, though Bishop gets plenty of story line.
The plot line keeps the action coming and throws in great twists and surprises. I couldn’t put it down, and there are SO MANY times the reader will might want to cry in anger or grief for the characters as each scenario hits. I read this in one sitting, and by the time I finished, I felt like I just wandered around in an emotionally crippling daze with a major book hangover coming on.
If you love a good witch story with heart, I can’t recommend this duology enough. It’s intense, has a kick butt main character, a swoony guy, and lots of other incredible elements. Indigo is a character I won’t forget, and I can’t wait to read more from Michelle Krys!
Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2015/05/blog-tour-charmed-by-michelle-krys/
Whenever I read a sequel, I get ridiculously nervous about how the romance will play out, if there is one. I’ve read a heavy amount of sequels where the relationship goes negative or the two people are apart for 90% of the story, and it generally just all feels bad. While there were times I thought something like that was coming on in this story, I love how the author handles Bishop and Indigo. Indigo is going through so much, so naturally this will affect her love life. While the two definitely butt heads (both adorably and seriously) and fight, they have some awesome good moments as well. They’re young, and with everything happening around them, they’re still trying to find a consistent rhythm and figure out what they really mean to each other, and it’s wonderful. I also think the romance is less concentrated (if I remember correctly) here than it was in the first book. Indigo really is primarily concerned with saving Paige and struggling with her aunt, though Bishop gets plenty of story line.
The plot line keeps the action coming and throws in great twists and surprises. I couldn’t put it down, and there are SO MANY times the reader will might want to cry in anger or grief for the characters as each scenario hits. I read this in one sitting, and by the time I finished, I felt like I just wandered around in an emotionally crippling daze with a major book hangover coming on.
If you love a good witch story with heart, I can’t recommend this duology enough. It’s intense, has a kick butt main character, a swoony guy, and lots of other incredible elements. Indigo is a character I won’t forget, and I can’t wait to read more from Michelle Krys!
Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2015/05/blog-tour-charmed-by-michelle-krys/
Short and Sweet:
This was a really adorable and surprisingly deep read.
To Elaborate...
When I first saw this, I feel completely in love with the cover. After reading, I love it even more because it fits the story PERFECTLY. It's cute, it's different, and just a little dark. The premise is kind of mixture (as I think the above description says) of Frankenstein and a fairy tale. It actually reminds me just a bit of the beginning of the movie Maleficent (which is so freaking awesome, go watch it) when Maleficent is a little girl. I imagine if their worlds had collided, they might have had similar feelings.
Most of the time, I really loved this story. The writing is great, and I love the world building. It's not over the top complex, but it packs so much hidden meaning and beauty in it that I was in awe in a lot of parts. However, sometimes the story drags a bit. It wasn't horribly slow or anything like that, but I figured out one of the twists pretty early on, and it felt like it took the main character a whileeee to figure it out (but granted, it wasn't entirely in her control, so I can't really fault her there).
The ending disappointed me just a little. It fit the story well, and it's not like it came from nowhere, but I still feel like some issues were unresolved. I think this especially is just a weird me-feeling; I can see others not agreeing with me at all, and that's totally cool! It definitely didn't make me regret reading the story or anything (I would happily reread this and probably will).
Overall, if you're looking for a fantastic and cute middle grade with a great world, I'd recommend picking this one up!
Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2015/01/review-monstrous-by-marcykate-connolly.html
This was a really adorable and surprisingly deep read.
To Elaborate...
When I first saw this, I feel completely in love with the cover. After reading, I love it even more because it fits the story PERFECTLY. It's cute, it's different, and just a little dark. The premise is kind of mixture (as I think the above description says) of Frankenstein and a fairy tale. It actually reminds me just a bit of the beginning of the movie Maleficent (which is so freaking awesome, go watch it) when Maleficent is a little girl. I imagine if their worlds had collided, they might have had similar feelings.
Most of the time, I really loved this story. The writing is great, and I love the world building. It's not over the top complex, but it packs so much hidden meaning and beauty in it that I was in awe in a lot of parts. However, sometimes the story drags a bit. It wasn't horribly slow or anything like that, but I figured out one of the twists pretty early on, and it felt like it took the main character a whileeee to figure it out (but granted, it wasn't entirely in her control, so I can't really fault her there).
The ending disappointed me just a little. It fit the story well, and it's not like it came from nowhere, but I still feel like some issues were unresolved. I think this especially is just a weird me-feeling; I can see others not agreeing with me at all, and that's totally cool! It definitely didn't make me regret reading the story or anything (I would happily reread this and probably will).
Overall, if you're looking for a fantastic and cute middle grade with a great world, I'd recommend picking this one up!
Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2015/01/review-monstrous-by-marcykate-connolly.html
"Brynn swims. That's all she can focus on. With each stroke, she pushes herself further and further away from her friends, her family, and her grief. She sees a future for herself when she swims, and she can't let anyone stop her from reaching it. However, when a new guy shows up who seems to want her and her best friend, Brynn soon discovers that winning isn't always the answer." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=49548
If you read this series, prepare to be swept up into an incredible world: layered, emotional, beautiful, and terrifying. Another must-read.
*******There may be slight spoilers ahead for The Glass Sentence (book 1) if you haven’t read it*******
To Elaborate…
Sophie returns for another adventure in The Golden Specific, sequel to the Glass Sentence. This time, a year has passed since the last book’s events, and she is still on the search for her parents. When a clue about her mother leads her on a dangerous journey, she finds a new land, new friends and enemies, and a mystery must bigger than she ever imagined.
I could tell in The Glass Sentence that as deep as Sophie traveled, this incredible world of different Ages was still just being scratched, and The Golden Specific takes everything you think you know and flips it all around. This story ventures to a different region, and thus different ages, and the complexity of this world and the interconnecting plot line is phenomenal. Time after time, I thought the ‘wow’ moments were over, only to be doubly shocked yet again. The pieces of this plot puzzle are intricate and masterfully woven.
While I normally don’t favor the two primary characters being separated in sequels, I truly enjoyed the different adventures of Theo and Sophie, who are apart for the majority of the book. There is far too much happening on both ends that the story couldn’t have possibly stayed the same and packed as much information and clues if they been together the whole time. Even apart, their bonds of friendship and the evidence that the two, Shadrack, Miles, and Mrs. Clay have indeed formed a heartwarming family still shine through. There are many important themes to this series, but what I love most are the powerful bonds between the characters that form in the most desperate of situations and between the most unlikely people. Readers meet several new characters in this book, and they, already richly complex and distinctive, fit right into this excellent cast.
There are some books where you can discuss their great qualities all day and still not feel like you’ve communicated the utter brilliance of them. The Golden Specific is one of those for me. Where I thought I couldn’t enjoy this one more than the first, I found my love for this series is indeed fully capable of expansion, much like the ages within the story. I highly, highly recommend.
Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/
*******There may be slight spoilers ahead for The Glass Sentence (book 1) if you haven’t read it*******
To Elaborate…
Sophie returns for another adventure in The Golden Specific, sequel to the Glass Sentence. This time, a year has passed since the last book’s events, and she is still on the search for her parents. When a clue about her mother leads her on a dangerous journey, she finds a new land, new friends and enemies, and a mystery must bigger than she ever imagined.
I could tell in The Glass Sentence that as deep as Sophie traveled, this incredible world of different Ages was still just being scratched, and The Golden Specific takes everything you think you know and flips it all around. This story ventures to a different region, and thus different ages, and the complexity of this world and the interconnecting plot line is phenomenal. Time after time, I thought the ‘wow’ moments were over, only to be doubly shocked yet again. The pieces of this plot puzzle are intricate and masterfully woven.
While I normally don’t favor the two primary characters being separated in sequels, I truly enjoyed the different adventures of Theo and Sophie, who are apart for the majority of the book. There is far too much happening on both ends that the story couldn’t have possibly stayed the same and packed as much information and clues if they been together the whole time. Even apart, their bonds of friendship and the evidence that the two, Shadrack, Miles, and Mrs. Clay have indeed formed a heartwarming family still shine through. There are many important themes to this series, but what I love most are the powerful bonds between the characters that form in the most desperate of situations and between the most unlikely people. Readers meet several new characters in this book, and they, already richly complex and distinctive, fit right into this excellent cast.
There are some books where you can discuss their great qualities all day and still not feel like you’ve communicated the utter brilliance of them. The Golden Specific is one of those for me. Where I thought I couldn’t enjoy this one more than the first, I found my love for this series is indeed fully capable of expansion, much like the ages within the story. I highly, highly recommend.
Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/
Short and Sweet:
I adore this action/adventure story, and I especially love the unique premise!
To Elaborate…
Imagine a world where the lands aren’t all in the same time period. From lands in an ice age to lawless barren strips, the world of The Glass Sentence is truly spectacular. The different operations and lifestyles of the different ages are absolutely fascinating, and this first book just scrapes the surface. The story opens with a debate on border closing in one of the ages, and it feels extremely realistic. It shows that no matter the time, humankind often wrestles with the same dilemmas.
There are so many good things to say about this book, but next to the world building, my favorite aspect of the story is the complex female characters. From gun-toting lady pirate captains to the heroine Sophia and especially to the antagonist, the women simply rock in this book. They have superb agency and really make the story shine. While I love middle grade stories, I sometimes feel like there is a heavy presence of male protags with a girl or two thrown in as a sidekick or a mother. This definitely isn’t always the case, but I am nevertheless surprised when a story like this perfects a balance and offers so many dynamic characters of all shapes and sizes.
What made me frantically flip the pages of this book is the conflict. You have Sophia/Shadrack’s ‘good’ side and Blanca’s ‘evil’ side, but of course, the best villains are the ones that deep in their soul believe they are doing something good, and that is exactly what Blanca is like. She is so convincing at times that I nearly forgot about all the horrible things she does without apology or guilt. Naturally, she also has a truly heartbreakingly tragic background that made me nearly cry when I realized what it was.
I can’t rec this book enough! Luckily, I have the sequel handy and ready for me to devour. :)
Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2015/07/review-the-glass-sentence-by-s-e-grove/
I adore this action/adventure story, and I especially love the unique premise!
To Elaborate…
Imagine a world where the lands aren’t all in the same time period. From lands in an ice age to lawless barren strips, the world of The Glass Sentence is truly spectacular. The different operations and lifestyles of the different ages are absolutely fascinating, and this first book just scrapes the surface. The story opens with a debate on border closing in one of the ages, and it feels extremely realistic. It shows that no matter the time, humankind often wrestles with the same dilemmas.
There are so many good things to say about this book, but next to the world building, my favorite aspect of the story is the complex female characters. From gun-toting lady pirate captains to the heroine Sophia and especially to the antagonist, the women simply rock in this book. They have superb agency and really make the story shine. While I love middle grade stories, I sometimes feel like there is a heavy presence of male protags with a girl or two thrown in as a sidekick or a mother. This definitely isn’t always the case, but I am nevertheless surprised when a story like this perfects a balance and offers so many dynamic characters of all shapes and sizes.
What made me frantically flip the pages of this book is the conflict. You have Sophia/Shadrack’s ‘good’ side and Blanca’s ‘evil’ side, but of course, the best villains are the ones that deep in their soul believe they are doing something good, and that is exactly what Blanca is like. She is so convincing at times that I nearly forgot about all the horrible things she does without apology or guilt. Naturally, she also has a truly heartbreakingly tragic background that made me nearly cry when I realized what it was.
I can’t rec this book enough! Luckily, I have the sequel handy and ready for me to devour. :)
Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2015/07/review-the-glass-sentence-by-s-e-grove/
