WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ ya romantasy ✨ fairytale with magic and curses ✨ finding happily ever after ✨ love triangle ✨ jealousy (OW/OM drama) ✨ ANGST ✨ pining/longing ✨ denial of feelings ✨ tending to wounds trope ✨ one bed ✨ mystery ✨ shocking cliffhanger
My Thoughts:
A super enjoyable and a quick read. I read this book in 4 hours because I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! The tension / angst between Evangeline and Jacks paired with the intriguing plot that slowly unfolded and that heart-stopping ending made this book one of the most enjoyable YA sequels I've ever read. I wouldn't say it's a perfect 5-stars, but it comes close, especially for a YA novel.
What I loved:
The expanded world building and background info we get on the characters. We learn so much more about the magic, curses, and history of the Magnificent North - this world is seriously so cool. Plus, we learn more about Jacks, Chaos, LaLa, and the Valors, which add a lot of depth to this story. And once again, Stephanie Garber introduces these new elements to the story in a simple, yet captivating way that only enhances the reader's understanding of the world and characters.
While book one was predictable, that wasn't the case in book two. In fact, there were plenty of times I was actually shocked by the plot twists and reveals! Especially the ending! I don't want to spoil anything about it, but damn, that was so good! Thank goodness I can start the next book immediately because I am DYING to find out what happens next!
Evangeline. I love her character growth. In book 1one, she's very naive but throughout the events of book two, she learns a lot about love, the kind of love she wants, and what it means to truly love someone. Also, I do admire that she likes to believe the best in people, even if they don't deserve it.
Jacks. Let's be honest, Jacks is a total ass 99% of the time, but that 1% of the time he actually shows feelings for Evangeline, makes me melt into a puddle. We all know it's just because he's afraid of getting his heart broken again, but damn, he's breaking my heart by holding back. ...more
4 ⭐️ Took me a second to get into but I enjoy this world and the fast-paced plot
"Always promise less than you can give, for Fates always take more. do4 ⭐️ Took me a second to get into but I enjoy this world and the fast-paced plot
"Always promise less than you can give, for Fates always take more. do not make bargains with more than one Fate. And, above all, never fall in love with a Fate."
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✨ ya romantasy ✨ fairytale with magic and curses ✨ finding happily ever after ✨ deals with the 'devil' ✨ love triangle ✨ slow burn ✨ dislike to love ✨ ANGST ✨ mystery ✨ take place in the world of Caraval but you do not need to read this series before to understand this story (I didn't)
What I liked:
The unique world. I haven’t read the Caraval series but found this easy to dive into. I was impressed that even though it’s a complicated and sometimes chaotic world, it was described and revealed in a way that was easy to understand. I also want to know more about the vampires and the Valors and what Jacks wants with the arch.
Evangeline. She’s a straight forward character - driven by love, a hopeless romantic - and oftentimes she makes mistakes because of it. And regardless of these mistakes, I liked her and understood the decisions she made. And even though Evangeline’s character is mostly concerned with love (and she’s had a few love interests by the end of this book), I found all her romance storylines interesting and I’ll be curious how each of them play out. I am also excited to learn more about her connection with the Valory Arch.
Jacks. He’s the villain you want to love. Broken. Desperate. Lonely. Hurt. And he channels all that into selfishness and getting what he wants, no matter the cost, even at the cost of others. I like how over time Evangeline humanized him but even so, he’s still the villain. So I’m curious how his character arc is going to play out.
LaLa. She's an interesting side character and I can't wait to learn more about her! I just hope she's actually going to stay friends with Evangeline because that girl really needs some allies.
Why this isn’t getting 5 stars:
It took a while to get into the story. The beginning was slow but it’s because the series is being set up so there's a lot of backstory with Evangeline and setting the stage for how she makes her way to the North. Once she finally gets there (around 25% of the way through) the story had a nice pace and kept me intrigued the entire time.
The plot twists or reveals weren’t very surprising. Maybe it’s because this is YA and I’m used to more complicated stories, but I saw most of the reveals coming. The story was still interesting and there were a few moments where I questioned some of my guesses but in the end, I ended up being right. Not a bad thing but I like being surprised.
The writing has a few sentences with lovely prose, but it’s mostly basic which didn’t impress me. But, it did make the story straightforward which I appreciated. There were also a few sentences that are descriptions or Evangeline's thoughts that are recycled throughout this story (edit: throughout this series), which I believe was done to reiterate certain points to the reader. But since I read these books back to back, it felt redundant and unnecessary. And I ended up skimming some spots.
Overall, it’s a unique story that I’m excited to keep reading. I’ve only heard amazing things about The Ballad of Never After so my expectations are high.
My Favorite Quotes:
"I believe there are far more possibilities than happily ever after or tragedy. Every story has the potential for infinite endings." _______
Not all loves happened at first; some took time to grow like seeds, or they might be like bulbs, dormant until the right season approached. _______
It was the last perfect moment before a dream ends, drops of sunshine falling like rain, lost wishes that had been found. _______
He looked like a bad decision some unfortunate person was about to make. _______
"It'd give you the world if I could. The moon, the stars, and all the suns in the universe. Anything for you, my heart." _______
3 ⭐️ Decent conclusion to the All of Us Villains duology.
"They'd found another way. They'd told a better story. Now they would end it. Together."
The 3 ⭐️ Decent conclusion to the All of Us Villains duology.
"They'd found another way. They'd told a better story. Now they would end it. Together."
The story picks up where the cliffhanger left off and is just as dark and gruesome, full of betrayal, lies, revelations, and surprises. I enjoyed the story and the character development of each of our champions. The plot twists were unexpected, and once again, some of them completely broke my heart! The sacrifices a few characters make. . . SO UNFAIR! I want to riot! But truly, there were moments that hurt, but call me a masochist because I enjoy a little pain while reading.
Just FYI, this doesn't have a traditional happy ending. It's bittersweet, with some sad and hopeful parts. It's realistic for this dark story and for how incredibly messed up these characters are.
So why am I only giving this 3-stars???
The slow-pace. Look, I'm an incredibly fast reader. Give me a good book that's 300 pages, and I'll finish it in 5 hours. But this took me one freaking month! It was too easy to put down and not exciting enough to pick back up. Sure, there were a few action-packed moments, but they ended too soon, and then there would be a massive lull until the next big scene. I truly believe 50-100 pages should have been cut.
The romantic pairings. While I actually really loved the final pairings, they happened out of the blue, were incredibly forced, and honestly, felt unnecessary. I see why these pairs happened for the storyline progression and character development, but this isn't a romantasy, so having these romances didn't fit the vibe of the story or unfold naturally. And then the one pair I actually cared about didn't get the ending they deserved!
Overall, this was a decent conclusion to this duology and I would recommend reading it if you loved the first book (gave it 5-stars). While the ending is bittersweet, the story is wrapped up well and leaves the reader satisfied.
Thank you to Tor and Tor Teen for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
Favorite Quotes:
"I'm so tired." "Of the tournament?" "Of wanting impossible things."
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The Grieves had raised Gavin to die. The Lowes had raised Alistair to kill.
Both of them deserved a better story.
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"If you're ashamed of what you're willing to kill for, then maybe it's time to ask yourself what you're willing to die for."
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After everything he's gone through, one thing remained unchanged: He'd always want what he'd never have.
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Cursed or not, there was no end to the monster story if, all along, the monster had been him.
Hudson is the only reason why I finished this story. I hate love triangles and was super pissed when I realized that wa3 ⭐️ This is a generous rating
Hudson is the only reason why I finished this story. I hate love triangles and was super pissed when I realized that was the direction the author was headed. BUT, it turns out I actually love Hudson. He's sexy, smart, honest, and powerful. His sarcasm is entertaining and his banter with Grace gave me so much satisfaction. I actually cracked a smile a few times during some of their interactions. Plus, he's so supportive of Grace and treats her like an equal, while Jaxon is so caught up in protecting her because he doesn't think she's strong enough. I don't really have anything against Jaxon, but I hope Grace ends up choosing Hudson in the end.
Let's talk about Jaxon really quickly. At this point, Tracy Wolff is just changing his character to fit this love triangle's narrative. I get he's extra protective because Grace just came back after being gone for 4 months, but the author writes him as a misogynistic jerk, which he isn't. So while I understand why his character might be this way, I didn't really believe it.
I feel like Tracy Wolff is setting things up so Flint and Jaxon end up together in the most obvious way and it annoys the hell out of me. I don't want the author to use Flint's sexuality as a way to wrap up the fallout from the love triangle because we all know Grace is going to pick Hudson in the end, leaving Jaxon wounded and depressed. Flint deserves a better love story that's not just created to be a plot point!
Also, the love triangle between Grace, Jaxon, and Hudson feels like a lazy copycat of Elena, Stefan, and Damon from The Vampire Diaries. The guys are brothers. The first love interest is the youngest brother who's sweet but carries a lot of guilt for his past actions. The second love interest is the oldest brother who's the 'bad boy' and an asshole, but deep down he's actually a good guy. Again, I think Grace will choose Hudson based on how things ended in VD.
The additional world-building was interesting but still lacking. I still need more info on all the creatures as well as the politics and power dynamics. At least we got to finally meet Cyrus. I'm curious to see what other shady shit he pulls in the next books.
The writing continues to be so wordy that I have to skim. The story is readable but I just can't stand the writing. Not much else to say about it.
Overall, the storyline and romance development were interesting, but the writing still bothers me enough that I won't be reading the next book anytime soon (or most likely ever). I will however look up spoilers because I just want to know how Husdon and Grace's relationship develops.
A special thank you to Entangled Teen for sending me Crush. As always, all opinions are my own.
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Crave Series Book Ratings:
Crave: 2.5 ⭐️ Crush: 3 ⭐️ Covet: Did not read Court: Did not read Charm: Did not read Cherish: Did not read...more
If I was a teenager I would have enjoyed this more!
The story is interesting, but the writing style and immature c2.5 ⭐️ Twilight meets Zodiac Academy
If I was a teenager I would have enjoyed this more!
The story is interesting, but the writing style and immature characters are not for me (probably bc it’s YA are written for a younger audience).
Grace is a cliche. There doesn’t seem to be anything special about her. In fact, she doesn’t seem to think so either and often notes how plain and average she is. So when she arrives at a new school, she’s shocked how everyone seems to pay her attention and even more uncomfortable if people compliment her on her appearance. And of course, the hottest guy in school who never gives anyone the time of day is suddenly interested and can’t keep away. I experienced a lot of Twilight deja vu while reading this. Grace also quotes Shakespeare, plays the drums, and tells SUPER funny jokes, so you know she’s super fucking cool in a low-key way. ...more
4 ⭐ Solid YA contemporary fantasy about witches dealing with climate change
"You should never feel like you have to make excuses or apologize for who y4 ⭐ Solid YA contemporary fantasy about witches dealing with climate change
"You should never feel like you have to make excuses or apologize for who you are."
-Great quote! 100% true.
Summary:
There are four different kinds of witches - spring, summer, autumn, and winter - where their magic is tied to and strengthened during the season of their birth.
For centuries, witches have helped maintain the climate, but as the atmosphere becomes more erratic, they are unable to keep it under control. Their last hope lies with Clara - an Everwitch - whose rare magic is tied to every season, and strong enough to bring balance to the shifting atmosphere. However, Clara's magic is volatile and has a tendency to harm those she loves most.
When Clara's magic accidentally kills her best friend, she isolates herself and closes her heart to love. It's a lonely life - one she's desperate to be free of. So when an opportunity arises to be stripped of magic, Clara must decide if using her magic to help the world is worth the price of being alone.
My Thoughts:
The story concept is refreshingly unique. Witches are a popular choice in fantasy series, but Rachel Griffin created a fascinating universe where their magic is tied to the seasons. Plus, the topic of climate change is relevant and important in our world today, so I'm glad this was the direction she went.
Clara is a stereotypical YA 'Chosen One' MC, but that didn't bother me. She's a strong protagonist who finds herself by embracing her powers. Her journey may be a bit cliche but I enjoyed it nevertheless. (Clara kind of reminded me of Elsa from the Disney movie 'Frozen').
This is YA, so there's no spice. (I'm only adding this to the review since I tend to read extremely smutty books). The main characters are 17 to 18 years old, and there are some kissing scenes, but anything past that is only alluded to and skipped over entirely. So if you're here for the spice, don't bother. However, if you enjoy sweet romance and a tender love interest, stick around.
I love Sang. He's such a freaking softie. I love his absolute kindness, belief, and trust in Clara. I love how his unconditional support allows Clara to finally discover and love herself. ♥️
There should have been a bit more relationship development between Clara and Sang. For example, I'd love to know what they talk about and bond over when not working on controlling her magic or discussing his botany project. Their romance happened relatively quickly and I needed a bit more insight as to why Sang cares for her so much already.
The story moves along quickly and feels a tad rushed at times. I have a hard time fully investing in fast-paced stories. It just doesn't usually allow for enough explanation when it comes to character / relationship development (see above). This was one of the reasons the book wasn't a 5-star for me.
Overall, The Nature of Witches wasn't necessarily profound, but it was a solid, engaging story that had me captivated from start to finish. I enjoyed it and definitely would recommend it if you're a fan of YA witchy stories.
Favorite Quotes:
"Autumn is its own kind of magic; it reminds us of the beauty in letting go.” —A Season for Everything
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"Be wary of those who will let you apologize for who you are."
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"A mess is something that needs to be cleaned up. You're not a mess. You're a force to be reckoned with."
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"You are the most magnificently disruptive thing that's ever entered my life."
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"When the only thing left is your magic, when that's all you have to rely on, you'll learn to respect it."
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"A life of isolation is too high a price for magic. A life of constantly worrying about those I love is too high a price. And I don't want to pay it."
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"He doesn't define me, but the way he sees me has given me the confidence and strength to define myself.
I think that's why I look at him like he's magic. Because to me, he is."
4.5 ⭐ In my mind, The Disappearances of Draco Malfoy is the official 7th book in the Harry Potter series.
Words: 296,116 | Chapters: 33
During that fat4.5 ⭐ In my mind, The Disappearances of Draco Malfoy is the official 7th book in the Harry Potter series.
Words: 296,116 | Chapters: 33
During that fateful night in the astronomy tower, what would have happened if Draco Malfoy made a different choice? What if he accepted Dumbledore's help?
This is that story.
Summary:
Moments before Death Eaters arrive at the astronomy tower, Dumbledore fakes Draco's death and sends him (and his parents) to Grimmauld Place.
No one is very receptive to the idea of having known Voldemort supporters at The Order of the Phoenix Headquarters, but they have nowhere else to go. If the Malfoys return to Voldemort, he will kill them for Draco's betrayal. So their only option is to stay with The Order until they devise a plan to flee the country.
After the location of Grimmauld Place is compromised, the Malfoys find themselves at the Burrow. The night of Bill and Fleur's wedding, Death Eaters attack after overtaking the Ministry. Draco is separated from his parents during the chaos and reluctantly finds himself hunting Horcruxes with the Golden Trio.
Deathly Hallows AU | Horcrux Hunting | Draco Redemption | Action | Adventure | YA Romance | Slow Burn | Enemies To Friends To Lovers
My Thoughts:
Call me crazy, but The Disappearances of Draco Malfoy is better than Deathly Hallows. I was so impressed that the writing had a similar tone and consistency to JK Rowling's, so this story seamlessly fits with the rest of the series. But honestly, this story is so much better. The plot is way more creative, the world-building is flawless, and the Draco redemption arc is everything I wanted/needed. I'm in awe that the author was somehow able to take Deathly Hallows and re-write it in a way that was new, engaging, and overall, better. Bravo! ...more
Kingdom of the Wicked is a YA fantasy novel with lots of suspense, a bit of mystery, and a slow-burn romance.
“There are victors and3 ⭐ Meh, it's okay
Kingdom of the Wicked is a YA fantasy novel with lots of suspense, a bit of mystery, and a slow-burn romance.
“There are victors and victims. Decide who you want to be. Or the choice will be made for you, witch. And I doubt you’ll like it.”
Summary:
The setting is 19th century Palermo, Sicily. Emilia and her twin sister, Vittoria, are both witches. Even though they are twins, they couldn't be any different. While Vittoria is adventurous and wild, Emilia is more reserved and traditional. Their family owns a popular Sicilian restaurant and avoids other witches for fear of notice and persecution. One night, Emilia happens upon Vittoria's mutilated body and vows to avenge her sister at any cost - even if that means using dark magic.
Desperate for help, Emilia tries conjuring a low-level demon from hell but is surprisingly met by Wrath, one of the Wicked Princes of Hell that her grandmother has warned her about since she was a child. Seeing that Wrath is already tasked with solving the murders of several other female witches on the island, Emilia decides her best chance of revenge is partnering with this devilishly attractive Prince. As they work together to solve these murders, Emilia is confronted with the painful truth that her sister was hiding something important from her. . . something that could change the world for better or worse.
My Thoughts:
I genuinely enjoyed the story, world-building, and descriptive writing. However, while there were more than a few entertaining moments, Kingdom of the Wicked didn't capture my attention. Granted, I did have high hopes because it came highly recommended on Tiktok, but I just didn't understand the hype.
First off, the plot was extremely predictable. This isn't necessarily bad, but it definitely didn't help keep my interest. It had the predictability of a fairytale story, where you get the general idea of where the story will lead within the first chapter.
There were a lot of repetitive ramblings made by Emilia. These didn't really inform the reader of anything useful, so it just felt like they were filler sentences. I found myself skimming quite a bit when this happened.
There's not a lot of explanation about the magic used by witches or demons. We see both use their powers, but I don't understand the overall magic system. This is definitely something that should be addressed better in the next book.
Many characters withheld information for no real reason but for the sake of creating mystery in the story. One prime example is how her Nonna knew about the prophecy but chose to keep it from the twins. You're telling me this overprotective grandmother wouldn't warn her granddaughters about a prophecy that potentially involves them? This, of course, is all revealed in a sudden moment of danger when there is no time for Nonna to explain. Like, come on. I enjoy drama, but this was painfully forced.
Emilia's character had many inconsistencies. The author portrays her as the more reserved, thoughtful twin. However, once her sister is murdered, she is extremely reckless and makes most of her decisions with haste, putting her in plenty of dangerous scenarios. I understand her rash behavior could be due to grief, but it didn't really come across that way. Instead, it just felt like another easy way for the author to move the story along.
The enemies-to-lovers romance hardly sizzled. Wrath is eye-candy, and Emilia is a beauty herself. However, Wrath is a demon Prince of Hell, which makes him Emilia's forbidden fruit. The romance is slow-burn, and in the end, there's only one PG-13 kissing scene. But that wasn't the real issue.
I truly didn't feel any chemistry between these two. I don't get the leap from enemies to (sort of) lovers. I needed more sexy banter and a better understanding of why either one is interested in the other besides their obvious attraction.
I still don't understand the ending. I read a lot of fantasy books, but that ending confused the hell out of me. All I could think was, "What the f*ck just happened?" The cliffhanger was fine, but the revelations in the last 30 pages didn't fit together. It felt rushed and forced.
Overall, Kingdom of the Wicked was far from a bad book, but there were too many issues that took away from my enjoyment of the story.
*I'm pretty bummed that the two recent reads that were Booktok favorites (Six of Crows and Kingdom of the Wicked) turned out to be just okay. If anyone wants to recommend a 5-star book, I'm all ears. Help me before I fall into a reading slump. . ....more
4.5 ⭐️ Captivating & thought-provoking YA fantasy novel
Before I start on my review, I want to address those of you who are skeptical about this book b4.5 ⭐️ Captivating & thought-provoking YA fantasy novel
Before I start on my review, I want to address those of you who are skeptical about this book because of what you may have heard from others who accused this story and author of being "offensive," "racist," or "homophobic." This book is set in a FICTIONAL, fantasy world with many characters who are prejudice and cruel towards other races, homophobic, and religiously intolerant. These themes are present throughout the book and may be distressing for some readers. However, in no way is the author condoning these actions. In fact, the story focuses on the young main character, Elloren, who is a kind and 'decent' person but has some deeply rooted prejudices due to her society and upbringing. Elloren is sent to study at a diverse university where she is forced to interact with other races for the first time. After getting to know these people and doing her own research, her opinions and understanding of the world gradually change.
"Real education doesn't make your life easy. It complicates things and makes everything messy and disturbing. But the alternative Elloren Gardner, is to live your life based on injustice and lies."
This is a dark yet hopeful story showing that anyone can change if they are brave enough to question their beliefs, even if that means everything they know to be true is wrong.
Brief Summary:
Elloren Gardner is the granddaughter of the last Black Witch who saved the Gardnerian people during the Realm War. And while she looks identical to her famous grandmother, Elloren was not gifted with powers.
Since her parents' death, Elloren and her two older brothers have lived a simple life in the country with their eccentric uncle. However, when an attempt on Elloren's life is made, she is sent to Verpax University along with her brothers to keep her safe. While Elloren is excited at the chance to step out of her grandmother's shadow and follow her dreams of becoming an apothecary, life at university proves to be challenging. Not only does the university admit all manner of people - including the sworn enemies of all Gardnerians - and many have not forgotten the Black Witch's role in their defeat during the Realm War, but a few jealous Gardnerians make her life a living hell.
As Elloren struggles to fit in, she makes a few unlikely friendships that challenge and ultimately change her beliefs and understanding of the world.
Things I liked:
Amazing world-building. There are many different fantasy races, which Laurie Forest thoughtfully introduces and throughout the story provides histories, cultures, and preconceived notions within each race. Since the world is so complex and this is an introduction, the pacing is a little slow but totally necessary.
The magic system is fantastical. There are many magically gifted races and creatures in this story. Elves and Amaz have rune magic, Fae have elemental magic, Gardnerians have wand magic, Icarals have fire magic, Urisks are geomancers (gem and stone magic), and Lupines are shifters and have enhanced senses. These are only a few of the races, but they each have a unique kind of magic. We were introduced to some of these magical elements in this book, but I hope we see much more of it as the series progresses.
The character development of Elloren is inspiring. Elloren goes from living a sheltered life in the country to a dynamic life at a diverse university. Her understanding of the world is challenged, and while it takes some time, her views are ultimately changed for the better. Since the book is written in the first person, the reader gets to experience first-hand what it's like for someone rooted in ignorance to search for the truth and become enlightened. We can even apply this in our own lives. If we would actively question our beliefs, listen to others, and live with compassion, our world would be a much better place.
There were a few interesting plots in this story. The first was about political unrest between the Gardnerians and the subordinate races under their rule. The second was about Elloren's trials and hardships at university, including her struggle with making friends. The third was the romantic drama between Elloren and Lukas concerning wandfasting - where two Gardnerians are bound together magically forever. Each of these plots intertwined with the overarching story of Elloren's transformation from a naive country girl to an enlightened individual with a purpose.
There really wasn't anything I didn't like, so we're just going to skip ahead to my final thoughts!
This book is more New Adult (18+) versus YA due to some of the content - sexual assault, rape, racism, homophobia, and violence. There also should be trigger warnings. But overall, I love how Laurie Forest addressed these difficult subjects. I've never read anything quite like this before. Harry Potter might come close since there are racist elements in the HP universe (Muggles vs. Pure Bloods), but this book went even further.
This is a story about realizing how your beliefs are heavily influenced by your environment and having the courage to challenge them. This is a story about self-discovery and redemption. This is a story about fighting injustice and celebrating diversity. This is a story about love and friendship. If anything of this sounds interesting to you, I highly recommend reading this book....more
Every Last Breath was a good finale to The Dark Elements series. However, I found myself less and less interest3 ⭐️ Underwhelming but still satisfying
Every Last Breath was a good finale to The Dark Elements series. However, I found myself less and less interested as this series went on. Maybe it was the continuous cringe-worthy teen dialogue or the major info dumps or repetitive descriptions. Seriously, I can only listen to Layla go on and on about Roth's 'tawny eyes' or his abs. Believe me, Layla, I heard you the first hundred times. ...more
I've only ever read the From Blood, and Ash series by Jennifer L Armentrout and absolutely loved it! I was a4 ⭐️ Entertaining teen paranormal romance
I've only ever read the From Blood, and Ash series by Jennifer L Armentrout and absolutely loved it! I was a little nervous heading into this one since it's a YA book about gargoyles and demons; however, I was pleasantly surprised. Only JLA could find a way to make gargoyles normal and even sexy. ...more
Once again, I found myself reading solely for the plot. But even that was a letdown since the characters remained one-dimensional. Let me explain.
• Shahrzad remains a mystery to me. It's obvious she loves Khalid and will do anything to protect him and her family. But besides that, I have no idea who this girl is as a person. She's constantly putting herself at odds with everyone around her - even her friends and family. When anyone in her situation would be reaching out for help, she has such a bad attitude and is aggressive towards everyone. Personally, I wasn't rooting for her because she genuinely seems like a brat with zero emotional intelligence. Now, I get why Despina called her 'Brat Calipha'.
• Khalid. Oh, Khalid. I still do not understand this man at all. Seriously, I read over 600 pages with this guy as the main character, and all I can tell you is that he is traumatized from his childhood, calculating, a great swordsman, loves Shahrzad and thinks he's a monster. I wanted to like him, to connect with him on an emotional level, but I was left empty-handed.
• Shahrzad's father, Jahandar, made me say 'WTF' more times than I can count. He brings down chaos because he's just power-hungry but masks it as protecting his daughters. That's all we get from his character, and it's not a satisfying enough answer to justify his actions. Then, he SOMEHOW manages to deal a death blow to Khalid because he took away, "His daughter/ His book. His respect." Ummmm, okay. Then after Shahrzad starts 'breaking' because her husband is dying, Jahandar has a change of heart and gives his life in exchange for Khalid's thanks to his magic. All done in the name of love. Barf. Such an unnecessary subplot to this story.
The one thing I was excited about was the element of magic. But the plot surrounding that fell totally flat. I thought this book would dive into Shahrzad's magic, and eventually, she would gain enough control over it to become the true heroine of this story. But, no. We are introduced to random characters and a cursory backstory about their connection to magic. Oh, and Shahrzad realizes (in an almost afterthought sort of way) that she can use the magic that flows through magical objects or beings - she's basically a magic parasite. That's it. Magic should play a much bigger role in the overarching storyline since Khalid is cursed and Shahrzad has magic abilities, but it doesn't.
And then, the one thing I actually enjoyed about this story - the budding romance between Shahrzad's sister, Irsa, and Rahim - ended with him dying. Great.
Also, for the last chapter, we flash forward a couple of years to see Khalid, Shahrzad, and their child enjoying a moment in their palace together. All is well. Khalid isn't a monster anymore and Shahrzad seems to gave mastered her magic. But what about the families who lost their daughters? We're just going to ignore that? Did they forgive Khalid for murdering their daughters because they found out it was to fulfill a curse? I don't know. We never find out.
Overall, I just don't like the author's fast-paced, lack of depth writing style. The storyline has such potential but came up short for me. As a YA book, I think a younger audience may enjoy it more for its simplicity and uncomplicated characters, but I found it too unrealistic....more
"'How long should a man pay for his mistakes, sayyidi?' . . . 'Until are debts are forgiven.'"
The Wrath and the Dawn is a YA fiction3 ⭐ *spoilers*
"'How long should a man pay for his mistakes, sayyidi?' . . . 'Until are debts are forgiven.'"
The Wrath and the Dawn is a YA fictional re-imagining of 1001 Nights, which is a compilation of Middle Eastern folk tales told by Scheherazade over a thousand and one nights to delay her execution by the vengeful King Shahryar.
In this story, Shahrzad volunteers to marry the caliph, Khalid, even though she is aware that he takes a new bride each night and has them executed at sunrise. Shahrzad risks her life to carry out her plans for revenge but finds herself falling in love with the monster himself.
Things I did like:
• Plot. I thought Renee Ahdieh was creative in this re-imagining of 1001 Nights. I liked that we heard a few of the original stories and saw how they correlate to this one. It was captivating enough that I read it all in one sitting. Honestly, it's the only reason I'm going to read the next book.
• Writing. I enjoyed the descriptions and details, which add to the reader's visualization of this medieval Arabic world. The story had a nice flow and good pacing.
• Magic. While the background or use of magic wasn't really explored too much, I was pleasantly surprised to see it appear in this story. Hopefully, the second book explains the history of magic, and we see it more directly used by the characters.
Things I didn't like:
• Shahrzad's character development. Shahrzad married Khalid intending to kill him for murdering her best friend (one of his previous brides). But somehow and very randomly, she starts to have feelings. It really just seemed so out of the blue, especially because Khalid didn't do anything to deserve these newfound feelings. Okay, he didn't kill her the first night and even stopped her execution a few days later. Amazing. He must be a great guy for not wanting to murder a young woman in cold blood. *Please note the sarcasm.* But seriously, in no universe would a person hell-bent on revenge (to the point of giving up their own life) start to fall for the villain - especially only after a few days.
I was also perplexed by Shahrzad's lack of emotions regarding her first physical interactions with Khalid. It doesn't outright say it, but yes, they have sex her first night. Shahrzad went to Khalid - it seems mostly out of duty - but she did not enjoy herself. This was her first time having sex, and we learn absolutely nothing about Shahrzad's emotional well-being. I don't know if that's because this is YA, and the author didn't want to dive deep into how traumatizing this would be for most, but the lack of emotions and inner dialogue was odd and unrealistic.
Overall, Shahrzad's logic is not consistent. She is willing to numb herself emotionally to marry and have sex with the murderer of her friend so she can exact revenge, but then without any real explanation, she starts having feelings for Khalid and becomes so emotionally attached that she decides to forgo all of her plans. It just doesn't make sense.
.Shahrzad lacks depth and clear motivation, which, in turn, doesn't make her a strong or lovable character..
• Khalid's character development. I genuinely don't think I know anything about Khalid except that he is the Caliph, a great swordsman, was traumatized from childhood, and kills his young brides. Even when we learn his reason for murdering the young women, there's hardly a deep dive into his emotions or inner thoughts.
I also had a huge issue with him having sex with Shahrzad the first two nights. As I said earlier, it was as consensual as can be regarding sex as a duty versus for pleasure, but we later find out that Khalid never once visited any of his other brides at night. So why Shahrzad? If he really thought she was so different and worthy, why would he violate her like that? Are we supposed to be flattered he thinks she's special? It honestly made me dislike him so much. Even his later confessions of love will never bring justification for his actions those first two nights.
Shahrzad also implies Khalid didn't enjoy himself during sex either so what was the point? It wasn't for love or even duty (because he never visited the others), so was it just because he could? That makes him an even bigger jackass. Unfortunately, we never find out why.
• Shahrzad and Khalid's relationship. I've interwoven this in the previous points, but one thing I don't understand is their connection. What about Shahrzad changes Khalid's motives and decisions and vice versa. This needed to be fleshed out more.
Their relationship also has abusive tendencies. For example, one evening, Shahrzad tried to get Khalid to explain why he kills the brides. Instead of just being open and honest (which is the healthy thing to do), he leaves in a fury and completely ignores her the next day. Shahrzad then feels bad for wanting to know the truth, apologizes, and begs him to open up to her. It was so desperate and unbecoming of our heroine. Of course, eventually, Khalid comes around, but the message of the book seems to be that if you show kindness and love to an asshole for long enough, eventually he'll change. Sorry, but that's not how the world works. In fact, it's this kind of logic that keeps people in abusive relationships. I'm bothered by this because the story is YA, and I'm worried about the impressionable young people who read it.
Overall, it was an okay read. I'm definitely only reading the next book in the series to satiate my curiosity. However, I would not recommend this book....more
I gave both of them 4-stars and was hoping The Queen of Nothing would be an epic series finale. While it was good and kept me entertained, it didn't enthrall me like the first two books. Doesn't mean I didn't like it or it's not worth reading, but it's simply not as enchanting. Here's why:
While I loved the storyline, it was rushed. So much happens in this book, and honestly, 300 pages aren't enough to properly sort through it all. The previous two books have a quick pace but it makes sense with respect to the plot. However, this is the finale - The Big Shabang! When something really important happens, I want the next few pages to take me through the emotions of the main character and its impact on the overall story. I want to sit there in shock. I want to feel something. Unfortunately, that didn't happen in The Queen of Nothing. Especially, when it came to Jude and Cardan's relationship.
*Spoilers if you haven't read The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King.*
Okay, so Jude and Cardan. While their relationship was just a subplot in The Cruel Prince, it becomes important by the end of The Wicked King and leads us to believe it will be one of the main focuses in The Queen of Nothing. Of course, it is. However, as I mentioned that the storyline is rushed, so is the development of their relationship. When Cardan and Jude FINALLY admit to their feelings for one another (which happens at separate times), we get maybe 1 or 2 pages each before moving on to the next part of the story. Like, the entire series is built on this complicated relationship and yet when the characters are finally vulnerable with each other, we hardly get to connect with them. I wanted and needed more. Glossing over these types of important developments made these moments anti-climatic.
Even though I felt the story was rushed, I did enjoy it and thought it was a good ending to this series. Overall, I'd give the series as a whole a 4-star rating and recommend it!...more
Holly Black LOVES to leave her readers in a state of shock at the end of each book! So thank the faerie gods I read this after AL4.5 ⭐️ I'm obsessed!
Holly Black LOVES to leave her readers in a state of shock at the end of each book! So thank the faerie gods I read this after ALL the books were published! I don't think I could have waited. Honestly, it's taking every part of my being to not just skip this review and jump right into The Queen of Nothing!
*I got this. Just breath.* Okay, let's get started!
I am delighted by the faerie world created by Holly Black. And in The Wicked King, we discover even more about this magical realm.
I LOVE Jude. She is just so fierce, cunning, and brave. Seriously, she needs to be my friend, or I just need to be her.
The storyline is so captivating, I read this book in one day. There's even more family, court, and political drama, and I'm here for it!
We FINALLY get some juicy romance! However, it still isn't enough! ...more
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