I like this one better than the first. There is far more action, more detail goes into the worldbuilding- not to mention that the character of Sturmhond/Nikolai is an enormous plus. He's a wonderful character, shimmering with wit and charm and personality, he just LEAPS off of the page.
I also liked seeing Alina coming into her own, learning to become a leader, learning what she's capable of. I love Alina so freaking much, it's unreal. Mal, too. I ship them so hard. I know Mal gets a lot of flack in the fandom for being "childish" and "whiny" and needy, but like- guys, that's what makes him HUMAN. He can't be perfect. He's been hurt so much but he still tries so hard, he's just so TIRED. And he'll do anything for Alina. I love these two.
Nevertheless, of course I still have issues- with the writing style, the strange pacing, and of course the background characters with zero personality. I can't tell the difference between Marie and Nadia, between Fedyor and Sergei, and Zoya (at least thus far) is just your typical Mean GirlTM. I really like David though. And his relationship with Genya is just the sweetest, most heartwrenching thing...

I love this graphic novel so much! So fun, with cute illustrations, and an...actually really heavy message behind it. I also love that the MC is russian, with a russian family and all that- it gives the story an extra...something. I don't know. Sorry, I'm rambling.

I just...I have no words. It's so amazing, there's not a single thing I don't love about it, Persepolis broke my heart and sewed it together again. Vivid, powerful, bursting with wit and charm, this account of a childhood spent in war-torn Iran is told through the eyes of a character you can't help but love and, in some measure, relate to. The simple and stylised art blends beautifully with the character's remarks and the protagonist's narrative, and the overall effect is very moving. And the fact that it's all a true story makes it so much better.
Persepolis is an absolute must-read for any graphic novel lover out there. It's probably a modern classic atp (ooh yeah and the movie is genius kthxbye)

Ugh, I hate it. If you're planning on getting into Romanian literature, please avoid this.

Are you hankering for more Grishaverse? Hanker no longer, The Language of Thorns is here. A collection of beautifully written modern fairytales that expands upon the Grisha lore and will satisfy any fan's wish to re-enter Leigh Bardugo's magical world.
But these aren't fairytales like the kind you are used to.They are gripping and thought-provoking and I love them all (except for the Nutcracker retelling, that was just...confusing to me.

Soooo Gothic. Love it.

I've been wanting to read this since well before it even came out! So when my copy finally arrived (late, as bookdepository orders tend to do), I may or may not have squealed! (No, seriously. I squealed. Loudly. Annoyingly. I woke up a few dozing pigeons who looked at me wih dignified disgust.)
To be clear, I was not at all disappointed! The book was lush and enchanting...I did have issues with it, though.
For one, the style was just... a tad simplistic for my taste? Just my opinion, though! I'm a very picky reader.
I also wasn't really into all the dramatic romance between Camille and Lazare (apart from the Notre Dame tower scene. That was just

Not gonna lie, I was disappointed. The character's interactions were awkward and boring, and the ending read as if the author knew exactly what she wanted to happen, and just smacked that on at the end. So you've got this totally slow-moving plot, and then whammo, drama, drama, drama, character death, drama, drama, marriage? The end. There were also some really cringy-to-read-about sex scenes. Sex in books doesn't normally bother me, but there was something about these ones, even though they were mild, that just made them...unpleasant. Just my opinion though.
None of the characters were really interesting - really, the saving grace of this whole book is the descriptive passages - but it's not worth it, overall, if you ask me.

I read this all in one setting. An interesting and gripping middle grade detective novel with an irresistible and believable protagonist.
Due to the time when it was written, there are some mildly cringeworthy expressions along the lines of "techno whiz" and "they Facebooked", but once you get past that it's a really good read, definitely enjoyable!
I really liked Theo as a MC. He's a kid and he ACTS it, unlike a few kid-fic protagonists I could name right off the bat. He is clever and resourceful, but his ideas and actions are believable and relatable. He's a little naive and silly, which makes him such a believeable 13 year old, but in the end he Saves The Day (with help from his uncle, thankfully! You always need a Grown Up To Drive The Car).
So yes, I liked The Abduction, it was a quick fun read with a few difficult themes that were handled safely and well. Detective novels are not a genre I usually read, but I like Theo and I am so down to read more about his legal adventures.