“To our clever Jude, who made the Folk remember why they stay in their barrows and hills, for fear of mortal ferocity.”
There's something magical a
“To our clever Jude, who made the Folk remember why they stay in their barrows and hills, for fear of mortal ferocity.”
There's something magical about Black's writing. From page one I was intrigued with Jude and her sisters, and the smooth transition to the devious world of the fey where most of the story takes place.
I shared an emotional bond with the main character, Jude, which I feel is a strong point in the novel. A book can have a brilliant plot, but to me, it's worth nothing if it's filled with flimsy characters. The pride and anguish, and even horror I experienced when watching Jude's story unfold were a thrilling experience and very well done on Black's behalf. Additionally, the relationship between Jude, her older sister Vivienne, and her twin, Taryn, were near perfect. In YA, I have found that the number one reason for the establishment of sibling relationships is so it can be used as a plot device, but in The Cruel Prince I felt none of that. It was genuine and imperfect, and I particularly loved the trust shared between Jude and Vivienne.
Despite the phenomenal characterization, I found the storyline to lag halfway through the book. Though the unforeseen twists helped the plot along, I was a little disappointed with how rushed the final chapters felt....more
"Don't you get it yet, poppet? Nothing here is ever safe. Everything wants to kill you, and you should want to kill everything." "But that's wret
3.5
"Don't you get it yet, poppet? Nothing here is ever safe. Everything wants to kill you, and you should want to kill everything." "But that's wretched!" "That's Faerie."
Despite the lack of world-building and the choppy beginning, Sparrowhawk builds up slowly to an explosive climax and conclusion. Artemisia's transformation from an innocent girl to a monster proved to be both a horrifying and thrilling experience and stands out from the rest of the fantasy genre. The colorful artwork creates an Alice in Wonderland vibe, which pairs nicely with the dark and chaotic atmosphere of the book. Dawson does an excellent job of portraying the manipulativeness of the faerie world through the use of Crispin, Artemisia's "guide." Majority of authors do not depict faeries as the cunning creatures they are, making Dawson's work all the more impressive. Although Sparrowhawk is structured like a short story due to the extremely fast pace of the plot, it was still a pleasant read.
I tried to tell him that the bigots and the racists had always been there, and he said he’d honestly never seen them like this, that he never thoug
I tried to tell him that the bigots and the racists had always been there, and he said he’d honestly never seen them like this, that he never thought they could be like this, and I said yes, I know. I said that’s how privilege works.
I'd like to start off on a positive note by thanking Tahereh Mafi for contributing a novel centering around a young, fictional Muslim character to the YA genre. Shirin shines brightly beside G. Willow Wilson's Kamala Khan and Rick Riordan's Samirah al-Abbas and I will forever fuss over the growing Muslim representation in literature.
I expected great things from A Very Large Expanse of Sea despite me not being partial to Mafi's writing. I've read many of her books, several of which I've ended up severely disliking. However, the synopsis of this particular novel was a dream come true and I was so, so excited for its release. I guess that's what led to further disappointment.
Shirin's closed-off, snarky personality and Ocean's gentle, naive ways are a refreshing reversal of roles in their relationship which I greatly appreciate especially due to everything Shirin's faced as a hijabi living in post-9/11. Her relationship with her brother is sweet and authentic, and I found the breakdancing aspect of the book to be a nice touch. Unfortunately, these were the only things I was drawn to. Shirin and Ocean's overall personality was a little too exaggerated? Unlikeable? I'm not quite sure of the word but there was something very off-putting about them.
Then, of course, there was the representation of Islam in the book- my main reason for feeling uncertain when it comes to this book. Maybe it's because I'm Pakistani-Muslim and she's Irani-Muslim, but my views are extremely different from Shirin's and at times this affected how I saw her as a character which in turn altered how I viewed the whole point of the story. But every Muslim is different, you know?...more
And once we have total power, what's to keep us from becoming villains ourselves?
I have a thing for red/blue color schemes. I alsoReread: 12/28/19
And once we have total power, what's to keep us from becoming villains ourselves?
I have a thing for red/blue color schemes. I also have a thing for superheroes and supervillains. In an ideal world, Archenemies should have been the perfect book, but we don't live in an ideal world- and Archenemies was far from perfect.
When I began the book, I was having what you would call a reading "high." I was flipping through pages faster than normal, and absolutely devouring the book. I was excited, eager, and more than ready to dive back into the black and white world of Gatlon City.
Then, the "high" wore off and I found myself stuck at the 50% mark.
Even upon the completion of Archenemies, I still cannot figure out why I enjoyed the first half, when clearly the entire book was lacking. The characters were as plain as ever, the plot was all over the place, and Nova was continually stuck between conflicting thoughts. I understand that Meyer intended for this book to show readers that the world isn't black and white- but I'm almost certain that there are more interesting ways to do so.
"Cool trick?" he ventured. "All of this," she said, speaking slowly, "and the best alias you could come up with was Sketch?" "Better to under-promise than over-deliver."
Negative comments aside, I enjoyed the last few scenes, (view spoiler)[specifically the scene with Danna infiltrating the Anarchist headquarters (hide spoiler)]. However, the cheesiness of the Nova/Adrian scenes and the infuriating back-and-forth thoughts of Nova, at this point, have become too overwhelming and I find it safe to say that they have cast a shadow over the action portion of the book. Considering this is a superhero/supervillain book, this is a major flaw.
Of course, being a fan of Meyer's, I will be looking forward to the next book. I do hope she chooses to take priority of the plot over the romance aspect because I don't think I can stand anymore Nova/Adrian scenes....more
With a gorgeous cover and a thrilling premise, it's no surprise Children of Blood and Bone makes a
Let them taste the terror they make us swallow.
With a gorgeous cover and a thrilling premise, it's no surprise Children of Blood and Bone makes a strong impression in the YA fantasy genre. The West African culture mixed with elements of magic sets the scene for a fast-paced plot with dynamic characters and relationships. Despite this, certain scenes- such as the entire romance subplot between Zélie and Inan- felt rushed, and the magic portion of the plot was poorly explained. However, the relationships between Zélie and her family were incredibly strong which is a pleasant change from other YA books....more
Shadowhunters are slow to love but once we love, we love forever.
And you thought Infinity War was the most ambitious crossover?
Queen of Air and D
Shadowhunters are slow to love but once we love, we love forever.
And you thought Infinity War was the most ambitious crossover?
Queen of Air and Darkness is the perfect conclusion to one of the darkest, most intricate trilogies in the YA fantasy genre. I had serious doubts about how Clare was going to weave all the subplots back into the main plot and somehow wrap everything up in this finale. But she did. And she included gorgeous black and white illustrations with a bonus art piece on the interior side of the dust jacket. How? I have no clue, but she did and the respect that I lost for her back during The Mortal Instruments series is bubbling back up and I can't help but feel at peace. It's an amazing thing for a reader to watch an author improve as the years pass by, especially a reader who first stumbled across her series as an angsty seventh-grader. Finishing this book filled an empty hole in my heart- one that had somehow wriggled its way in after experiencing disappointment after disappointment with The Mortal Instruments and then The Infernal Devices. It was really heartbreaking for me to swear off her books because I considered myself "not a fan," and I am immensely glad I gave The Dark Artifices a chance. I think, if I have time, I'll give her other books a chance. ...more
The fire doesn’t give, the fire takes, and takes, and takes.
Where to begin? This is the fantasy book I've wanted all my life- one tReread: 7/16/20
The fire doesn’t give, the fire takes, and takes, and takes.
Where to begin? This is the fantasy book I've wanted all my life- one that focuses on the exhilarating adventures of a flawed protagonist. No romance, no filler- just the raw story with unfiltered, well-balanced emotion.
You humans always think you’re destined for things, for tragedy or for greatness. Destiny is a myth. Destiny is the only myth. The gods choose nothing. You chose.
Rin is so human that her every word and action makes my heart drop with either excitement or dread. Even the side characters are devastatingly real which sucks because this is a WAR story and people will DIE. :( The plot and world-building are cleverly crafted and heavily based on ancient Chinese history and mythology which alone makes The Poppy War worth reading. This novel strays from the typical cliches found in fantasy and brings something new to the literary world- and I am very grateful for it....more
The only thing more lethal than a bullet was a woman with a pretty face.
The synopsis was fantastic but the story itself was lacking. The character
The only thing more lethal than a bullet was a woman with a pretty face.
The synopsis was fantastic but the story itself was lacking. The characters were pretty shallow, though there were moments I admired Jane's snark. Jackson was an interesting character, but Ireland didn't go into depth with his background; as a matter of fact, he was ignored for much of the book. As I write this review, I begin to realize Ireland never fully put together the characters or plot. Dread Nation was a wonderful idea, but doesn't seem to be properly "constructed."...more
When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist.
With all the raving reviews, I feel as though I misunderstood the book. I found Circe to be
When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist.
With all the raving reviews, I feel as though I misunderstood the book. I found Circe to be quite literally a modern retelling of ancient Greek mythology, though it seemed to be more of a compilation of weakly linked vignettes instead of one, cohesive story. While I won't deny the retelling of certain scenes from Circe's newly written point of view was interesting, most of it was dull and repetitive. The book was a chore to get through and left me wondering if the Circe I remembered reading about in the past was ever all that in the first place.
On the bright side, the Minotaur scene was phenomenal. Too bad Circe didn't spend more time in Crete....more
Though humans have kings and queens in every crevice of the earth, the ocean has only one ruler. One queen. This is my mother, and one day it will
Though humans have kings and queens in every crevice of the earth, the ocean has only one ruler. One queen. This is my mother, and one day it will be me.
After one too many mediocre YA fantasy novels, I took a much-needed break and delved into the world of mystery/thriller; it was a nice breather but my adventurous heart yearned for a world of magic- and so I returned with To Kill a Kingdom.
It was amazing; the world building was breathtaking and the main characters were both humorous and masterfully fabricated. The heartless Sea Queen made a formidable villain, though her background was not as fleshed out as the rest of the characters. Elian's thoughtful, witty nature is a refreshing contrast from growling, sassy males (authors- you know who you are.) Don't get me wrong- Elian has a sharp tongue- but there are other traits that accompany it.
“You know the routine,” Elian tells them, climbing back onto the deck. “Everything sharp or deadly in the bags.” He looks at [Lira.] “Think you’ll fit?”
Elian and Lira's relationship is a slow burn and it was a relief to have a YA fantasy focus on the plot instead of the romance. It was their subtle interactions that kept the book going (along with the action, obviously) but more specifically, it made the ending so much more intense.
“Attitude. All I get is attitude.” “It’s all you give, too.” “I give my heart and soul.” “My mistake. I wasn’t aware you had either of those things.”
(I have a soft spot for Elian and his crew because they remind me of a civil version of Kaz Brekker & Co. from Six of Crows. Except with less blood on their hands.)...more
Every time Sophie thought his name, she could hear her human parents’ voices in her mind, explaining all the reasons she should never pl
3 1/2 stars
Every time Sophie thought his name, she could hear her human parents’ voices in her mind, explaining all the reasons she should never play with fire. And yet, here she was, stepping right back into Fintan’s game.
I couldn't sleep last night because I was thinking about the last 10% of the book so much. UGH. This book is really hard to rate; the first 50% was slow and tedious, and even though Sophie and Fitz's bonding time during this period was important (and appreciated!), it made me doubt the rest of the book.
I was wrong to ever doubt Messenger's storytelling skills.
Yes, the first half is boring, but the second half is wild and introduces the heart-stopping action readers have been hoping for. The "sitting and talking" stage that took place throughout the duration of the two previous books is over, and I expect the next book to continue the fast-paced, exhilarating plot lines.
“If I fall in, you're not allowed to laugh.” “I would never. I'll even give you my cape to dry off.”
What made the second half of the book far more appealing than the two previous books was the fact that (view spoiler)[ the love triangle is finally solved! Sophitz, being canon, (unless something really bad happens) makes room for more severe problems and eases tensions between the characters. Now, Sophie and Fitz are able to focus on forwarding their relationship and dealing with their demons together. Meanwhile, Keefe and Sophie's relationship becomes more defined; their friendship reminisces of old times, and I find it suits the both of them, specifically Sophie, because she is lacking that strong, platonic bond. (hide spoiler)]
Speaking of platonic bonds- where in the world were Dex and Biana? Dex has been missing through big chunks of previous books, but Biana seems to have followed suit. I hope Messenger gives her an important role to play in the next book because I believe female friendships are crucial- and without Biana, Sophie doesn't seem to have any.
"What if I told you I stopped pressing buttons?" "I . . . don’t know what that means." "There was a moment, as the cubby was filling. Alvar was pounding on the glass, shouting things. And . . . I looked at the panel and realized one of the buttons probably opened up a drain. And I stopped pressing things."
The hive scene. The greatest scene Messenger has ever written. I'm not lying when I say I was light-headed- nauseous, even- when I read this. It's this specific scene that kept me up at night because this is Fitz we're talking about. Fitz, the Golden Boy; Fitz, the boy with the teal eyes and perfect smile. His anger issues have been explored in the past few books, but it really makes an appearance in Flashback. Although I wholeheartedly agree that these darker emotions are needed in order to make Fitz a well-defined character, I find it hard to believe how much his hatred toward Alvar has increased. As a matter of fact, I noted it to be a little too intense, although it would make sense if Alvar and Fitz's relationship previous to the betrayal were explained more.
A few lines after this scene, Sophie is so shocked by Fitz's actions, that, despite attempting to hold his hand, she is unable to, and runs outside to Keefe. At this point, I was worried the newly created Sophie/Fitz romantic relationship was destroyed and Messenger had intended to show how Sophie was picking Keefe. However, this was not the case, and the two eventually apologized and continued supporting each other. This is a proper relationship, and Messenger writes it well; I am eager for what she has in store for the couple.
"No, I’M sorry. I shouldn’t make this about me. And . . . I know there were a bunch of times yesterday when I was a total jerk and—" "Don’t. It was a horrible day. No one handles situations like that perfectly. But we got through it, and now . . . we just keep going."
The ending was a little predictable, but still saddening. It works as a segue to the second "chapter" of the Sophitz relationship- Fitz choosing between Sophie or the Vacker legacy. Knowing Fitz, I have a feeling he will choose the former because he has proven himself countless times that he is loyal to those he loves.
Sophie, on the other hand, has changed the elvin world countless times. I won't be surprised if she changes the world once more. (hide spoiler)]...more
Reread: 12/15/19 - It has its flaws, but this duology is such a fun read!
And that’s when I realize that, at the end, we’d all wished for the same t
Reread: 12/15/19 - It has its flaws, but this duology is such a fun read!
And that’s when I realize that, at the end, we’d all wished for the same thing. Just a little more time.
Whereas Warcross was all virtual reality and world-building, Wildcard is action mixed with a series of plot twists; however, sometimes simpler plots are superior to complicated ones- this sequel being the perfect example.
The nearly absent Phoenix Riders resulted in an overall dull book. Despite this, the few appearances the squad made were exhilarating and I was delighted to finally immerse myself into their diverse backstories. The introduction to Zero, Jax, and Taylor were interesting, but not enough to keep my hooked; on the other hand, what did intrigue me were the constant stream of plot twists.
“Warcross wasn’t who any of us are,” I say, mostly to myself. “No,” Roshan agrees. There’s a long pause. “It’s just something we made.”
Hideo's character has disintegrated for the most part, and what's left of him is solely for furthering the plot. The few Hideo/Emika interactions scattered throughout the book were a treat, and I found myself flipping through the pages, hoping for more. Emika's personality has dropped from little to none; her dialogue is made up of questions like "why should I trust you?" which is especially infuriating because her worries are never addressed. Nevertheless, there is one thing I truly love about Emika Chen; her ability to look beyond a person's attempts at being "good" or "evil."
Despite being told to let go of Hideo, Emika never once obliged. She saw through Hideo's words and sought out his true emotions. (view spoiler)[In the end, when he stood handcuffed before the world, she supported him and helped him back to his feet- just as Hideo did once for her. The reversal of roles at the end of the book? Loved it. (hide spoiler)]...more
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