this was much better than i thought it would be. it takes a lot of talent to do what marie lu did honestly. she is beyond spectacular with her writingthis was much better than i thought it would be. it takes a lot of talent to do what marie lu did honestly. she is beyond spectacular with her writing and i am 100% impressed. i did have a problem with the ending but that's normal with me and series honestly.
Thank you so much to Harlequin Teen for sending me a physical copy of Shadow of the Fox. Another thank you goes to NetGalley for providing me with a dThank you so much to Harlequin Teen for sending me a physical copy of Shadow of the Fox. Another thank you goes to NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy as well. All thoughts are my own and receiving copies of the book did not impact this.
Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa was a difficult book to get through. Fantasy novels for me are a little heavier for me to power through. I struggle to get through them but I knew I had to push through this one and I am so glad I did. Julie Kagawa crafted an incredible Japanese fantasy that is a beautifully intricate world. The characters are seamless and the way they flow with the world around them is just positively beautiful.
I think the best part about Shadow of the Fox is that it is an own voices Japanese fantasy. I could really feel the author’s knowledge of the stories throughout the story. The stories of these people who would otherwise never come together exploring new towns and getting to know each other, and have a shit tonne of turmoil.
The story ultimates from three perspectives: Yumeko, a half-kitsune who has lived in a temple her entire life but is now forced to protect a super precious scroll and travel to new lands. Kage, a samurai with a sword that is possessed by a demon that eats at him each time he uses it. Suki, the person who possibly the most tragic backstory in all of fiction – can’t say too much here due to spoilers. Yumeko and Kage are unlikely acquaintances who pick up a few other friends along the way. They experience countless other demons and danger that is enough to send goosebumps down your spine in fear. I really don’t want to say too much. I feel like this is one of those stories where you need to be unaware in order to enjoy it as much as possible. Hence why I want to keep this review as short as possible.
At times I found the pacing of this a little haphazard, some parts dragged and others flew by but I typically find that in books where a journey takes place. I feel that this was would be absolutely enchanting on audiobook. It also would have been incredibly interesting to hear the pronunciation of the Japanese words. I studied Japanese for a few years in high school so some words were familiar, but I still think hearing the words would be amazing.
Overall, I am really excited to see where this series goes. It is clear that Julie Kagawa has created an absolutely intricate world with awe-inspiring characters. It is something I feel blessed to have read earlier....more
After disliking The Young Elites by Marie Lu the first four times I tried to physically read it it’s definitely confusing that I decided to pick it up once more. This time I figured I’d give the whole audiobook thing another shot – after listening to parts of The Diviners on audio and enjoying. I walk my dog a lot, listen on 2 times speed and ended up travelling three hours on public transport so I basically threw through this book. I’m so glad to say that my fifth time trying I loved it. The depth of this book was mind-blowing. The characters and how they grew throughout the story. Just wow. My best friend, Alex, and I have a thing for anti-heroes as well, which Adelina is definitely. The twists to her characters let me speechless on the train and wanting to screech (I did my best not to).
I’m sure everyone’s dog knows the plot of The Young Elites since it has been a hyped series since it released in 2014. If not, here we go. Years ago a deadly fever swept through the country. Hundreds of thousands were infected. Thousands died. Some survived. However, strange things happened to some of who survived. Strange markings adorned them and they were labelled as faulty. Adelina lost her eye during this fever and her hair went white. This is something that causes her father deep pain because having a daughter who is tainted is bad for business. These individuals with the strange markings are believed to have powerful gifts though. With a group running around labelling themselves The Young Elites. After Adelina is caught and exposed for her gift she is taken in by The Young Elites. Who can she trust though with one of the king’s men threatening her sister?
I feel like the best part of The Young Elites was seeing Adelina’s growth. Going from an innocent character who had been so viciously mistreated by her father grow into a powerful character who should be feared to one who you definitely should not cross was powerful. Marie Lu captured the transformation perfectly throughout this book that left me cheering. It is beyond clear that as Adelina’s power grows so does the darkness within her and, honestly, it was so fucking awesome.
Honestly, I am so tired of good main characters who want to save the world. Can we get a character who wants to see the world burn and be the one to do it? I feel like this is what The Young Elites are delivering and I am so fucking pumped to read the next books. I know a spoiler for the third book, shout out to everyone who posted it as their status updates on Goodreads when it first came out, but honestly, I don’t think it will bother me (famous last words?). Morally grey characters are changing my life though and authors need to jump on this trend now.
The book is also super diverse. Like, fuck yes? I shouldn’t be surprised though. This is the third Marie Lu book I’ve had the privilege of reading and it is not a disappointment at all. Seeing so many people of colour, having LGBT+ rep and characters with physical flaws rising to the top is where it is at. I honestly don’t know why it took me so fucking long to finish this book because it is fucking incredible.
The other big thing I loved about The Young Elites was the sibling relationship. It truly read like a sibling relationship of two who had been raised in the same house but treated differently. It is something I have experienced and honestly, the representation of it was bringing tears to my eyes when I was walking my dog – which was a straight up mess honestly. It is so good to see these things in books, for me, because not every duo of siblings bands together against the abuse one receives, there is jealousy and undertones of hatred which Adelina definitely felt towards her younger sister.
I have two annoyances with this book, one of which is simply my own fault. Since I was listening strictly via audiobook there were sections in which I tuned out and didn’t really listen in some parts. I had to actively listen which I found difficult due to being someone who can easily tune out background music. However, despite the fact I did this I never really felt lost with the plot which was great.
My other dislike for The Young Elites had to be the romance that Adelina had. I didn’t feel it, nor did I actually ship it. It felt real last minute and rushed in some places. Definitely not something that made me want to continue listening, honestly.
Overall, despite my two tiny flaws for this book I loved it. It was super twisty and left me speechless in so many parts. It was truly such a treat to read – listen to. This book was completely action-packed as well and as someone who thrives on plot-driven stories, this is what I needed. I am so excited to continue this series and I can’t wait to see what Marie Lu does next!...more
The Diviners by Libba Bray has been on my TBR for some time now. Every time I’ve gone to pick it up I’ve been intimidated by the sheer size of this book. It is a pretty thick book and I am someone who never knows how a book will hold my attention. I’m not sure what drove me to finally pick up this paranormal treat but I am so glad I did! Even if I did choose to pick it up in my first week of university (oops). The Diviners is an absolutely delightful treat that I feel has something for everyone. With a diverse group of characters, who all get their moment in the spotlight, and a plot that you simply can’t forget this story is one that I know I will be highly recommending for months on end. I have so many positive things to say about this book that I don’t even know where to begin. I want to start with the fact that you need to read this. Even if you’re afraid of the sheer size of the book, like me. It is such a treat that I know everyone who reads my blog will enjoy.
Some fun facts though. I discovered Libba Bray’s books in my first year of high school and absolutely fell in love with her writing. I’m so shocked that it has taken me basically ten years to continue with her works. Also, this was the first book I have listened to partially on audiobook and I loved it.
What is The Diviners about? I’m sure your curious after me urging desperately for everyone to read it. Well, this book follows a series of teenagers in 1920’s New York. The era of flapper girls and where racism was still very apparent in the streets (I guess it still is). The story doesn’t end there though, this book is about a group of teenagers fighting evil spirits or entities that come to the city and do some terrible things. The plot follows several different characters and you get basically everyone’s backstories. Including the murderers. Not only that but you get the perspective of the murderer. At first this was something that frustrated me as I wanted a bit of mystery, but as the book continued I found myself getting chills down my spin when his chapters came along due to the sheer creepiness. I honestly can’t say too much on this book as a whole because it will begin to spoil this story for you and if you haven’t yet read it I definitely don’t want to give away things.
Libba Bray just weaves this intricate world that really screams at you. Due to the urban fantasy setting the world building is sneakily interwoven into the story in a way that leaves you basically breathless at how well it is done. I am not someone who typically enjoys books that head into the paranormal area but this book was in another playing field completely. I can’t wait to continue and fall more in love with these characters.
I’d have to say that Theta and Henry were my two favourite characters in this book. They both had difficult upbringings and to see them working together to accomplish their goals (and be so beautifully platonic friends) was something that I feel Libba Bray did amazingly well. There is a whole chapter dedicated to Theta’s backstory and I actually listened to it while vacuuming my house and I was sobbing by the end of it – which made mopping the floors even easier.
All the characters though are just so filled with depth. I can’t say I can remember the last time I read a fantasy book with characters who are so well created and utterly amazing. I am basically speechless on this book and I am really struggling to even begin to format my words on this one.
I think my only complaint about The Diviners is that there are hints of a love triangle forming. If you’ve read any of my past reviews you know I despise love triangles. I have a nasty habit of choosing one person and absolutely despising the other. I can’t help it. I even hate Jem from The Infernal Devices because I can’t love two. It is a difficult mess. While I didn’t want this book to end I also wanted Evie to hurry up and choose a man so my torment could end – spoiler, she doesn’t choose anyone by the end of this book.
Overall, The Diviners is well worth the hype it receives. I haven’t read a book with fantasy elements in a long time but I know this one has shot to my favourite books of 2018. It is truly a story that is woven so beautifully. I can’t help but highly recommend it because I truly think everyone will love it....more
so...that was overhyped this was incredibly flat. the whole story was one dimensional and predictable. i expected so much more and it just didn’t deliso...that was overhyped this was incredibly flat. the whole story was one dimensional and predictable. i expected so much more and it just didn’t deliver in the slightest.
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC. I also receiBuddy Reading this with my favourite Chris Hemsworth lover
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC. I also received a review copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions on Mirage are my own, receiving a copy did not impact this at all.
Trigger Warnings: kidnapping, cultural erasure, physical abuse, war themes, murder, forced body altercations, talk of grief and trauma
An important note before I get started, I am not Moroccan nor do I know much about the history and culture of Morocco. A #ownvoices review by Em does though! Make sure to check out her review here. This story is also #ownvoices Moroccan rep, but I felt it important to link a reviewer sharing their story too.
Sometimes you read a book and it just makes you go wow. It changes your life and gives you a new trope to fall in love with. Mirage by Somaiya Daud. This book is truly on a new level, authors need to step up because Somaiya is someone to look out for.
I typically don’t like science fiction. I find the writing clunky sometimes and the technological advancements are always confusing to me. Mirage is the perfect merge of fantasy though. It truly is. At times I forget this book was science fiction because I was so immersed in the world and the characters. I just really need to get across what an incredible book this is. The author is incredibly talented and you won’t waste your time if you pick this up.
Somaiya Daud’s debut novel follows Amani, a dreamer and a village girl. She dreams of an adventure out of her home, an isolated moon. That is until she is kidnapped. She is taken straight to the royal palace, fearing the worse Amani is readying herself for death. However, the life she is about to be given may be worse than death. Meeting Princes Maram, Amani is shocked to learn that the pair of them are identical. It is because of this that Amani is forced into the role of being Maram’s body double. Amani is to appear at public events, ones that are dangerous for Maram or just because she simply doesn’t want to go. Amani is swept into a new world, one filled with expectations she had never had as the daughter of a farmer.
The story features romance, danger, and the glitter of friendship. There is a large political presence throughout the story. Themes of colonisation and internalised hatred for your own culture are highlighted throughout the story. There are truly so many layers to this particular story and there are so many routes for it to take in future books which is amazing.
Mirage is a hauntingly beautiful story. This is the kind of book that stays with you. It lingers in your thoughts and drives you to think. The writing of this book had me captured from the prologue and I did not want to put this book down. If I had had my way I would have finished it in one sitting and been happy.
I’m just going to air this out early so then I can gush about this book some more. I didn’t enjoy the romance of this book. It really doesn’t feel like it plays that large of a part in the book but at the beginning, I wasn’t feeling it. It truly feels rushed, which makes sense because it’s life or death for both of them, but I would have liked more interactions and build up between the characters. It would have really cemented the chemistry between the characters initially. As the story goes along there is definitely chemistry built, but that first kiss really threw me off for a while.
My favourite part of this book was definitely Maram. I don’t think we see her enough throughout this book, we probably do but I wanted more. Maram is straight up a villain in this story and the joy I felt at not seeing her redeemed through the story? Oh yeah boy, I’m here for it. I love female characters who are shamelessly going to kill someone. The power that Maram has is definitely not used for the good of her people, much like her father. Hell, Maram doesn’t care about her people. She truly just wants the crown and doesn’t give a shit who she has step on to get it.
Not only that, but the friendship that forms between Maram and Amani is excellent. One girl is controlling the others life but the pair organically start to become friends throughout the story. It was a really interesting factor to see, and not one I was expecting. I was prepared for more insults and arguments, or at least Amani plotting Maram’s death in her mind. That is not at all what happens. It is probably due to the caring nature of Amani but, seriously, wow this author is beyond talented in her work.
Straight up though, the body double trope is now my favourite trope. I have never read a story where a character is filling in for another. Whether that be by force or choice. It was just so damn interesting to see how it came together with this story. I would have liked a bit more violence in some parts because at some points it did feel as if it was all a bit easy for Amani. However, I still loved it. From the point that she arrives, she is forced to be Maram and the reasons why were fascinating. I couldn’t put this book down and I know it’s because of this new trope.
Overall, Mirage is a story everyone needs to read. It doesn’t matter if you don’t enjoy science fiction like me. It doesn’t matter if you simply don’t want to (seriously, why?). You need to pick up this story once it releases because it is worth every second you spend reading it. The author has a talent for creating a complex and layered story that truly enchants you. You will not be able to return to normal day to day life without having Mirage in the back of your mind. A spectacular debut, I can’t wait to see what else this author does. ...more
I was a bit nervous going into The Darkest Legacy. I had read The Darkest Minds series two years ago when I was still new to the book community and loved it. However, I remembered almost nothing from it and over the years my reading tastes have changed quite a lot. It seemed I had nothing to worry about because this book was amazing. I was absolutely thrown back into the dystopian world I had grown to love in the original trilogy and given an even better lead character, Zu. This book basically had everything I love in an urban fantasy/dystopian/fantasy novel. It had snark, romance, and action. The endless action that had me gripping the book for dear life. Honestly, it was thrilling. It’s been a while since I read a book that wasn’t a romance and this was a good book to jump into.
I also want to mention quickly here that this review may contain mild spoilers for the previous The Darkest Minds series. If you haven’t read them I would advise coming back after. With that, I would also recommend reading the original trilogy before trying to jump into this one. There is a lot of character development and references that will make a lot more sense. This continuation is definitely not a spinoff.
The Darkest Legacy follows Zu, who we know well from The Darkest Minds. Zu is a yellow, which means that she can control electricity. However, since the events of In The Afterlight she is now working with government, along with Chubs and Vida. Liam and Ruby have been missing for years, has taken off due to their own free will. The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken starts off with a bang though. We are instantly thrown into a chaotic world and a series of events after Zu is blamed for a terrorist attack. Forming an uncomfortable alliance with Roman and Priyanka, Zu goes on a mission to save her name and find Ruby and Liam. There is just so much to this story and honestly, I don’t want to say too much on this plot because I feel it’s best to go in not expecting anything. There is secret keeping, murder, and a sweet romance that kind of makes you want to gush.
Where do I even start with what I actually liked about The Darkest Legacy? Hell, I gave it five damn stars. I think my favourite thing was Roman and how he constantly got common English phrases wrong. It was amusing as heck and made me laugh so much. Roman is Russian and English is obviously not his mother tongue but he tries so hard. I just loved Roman actually. Fun fact: I am actually a quarter (I believe) Russian. So, I obviously love when characters in books are as well. However, Roman was a mixture of the biggest softy and badass. It was an interesting mixture but I loved how Alexandra Bracken merged the two together.
Priyanka and Zu were also so fucking kickass. The pair of them were badass ins o many different ways that I am struggling to even draw an example. I loved the way the pair worked together and how the skills Vida had taught in the previous books were implemented through Zu. I absolutely love female characters in books and additionally, I am here for supportive female friendships. I am so happy to say The Darkest Legacy had that. Which is a major fuck yeah.
I will end what I liked there because I don’t want to spoil anything
My biggest problem with The Darkest Legacy was that one of the ‘evil’ characters is someone who likes females – I can’t specify sexuality because it is never discussed in full. I feel this will change with the sequel but I did find it a problem while reading at some points. I know a lot of people who do like females get annoyed when characters who also do are evil or killed so I just wanted to mention it. Again, I do think this will be an issue resolved in later books but for now, it was like eh.
My only other complaint was that I was so involved in The Darkest Legacy that 569 pages weren’t enough story for me. I desperately was flipping the pages wanting more. Especially with where the book leaves off. I can’t believe that it’ll be a whole years wait before the sequel to this releases. At least The Darkest Minds movie will come out before then.
Overall, Alexandra Bracken creates yet another spectacular dystopian world that I don’t want to live in. The story has all the key elements to keep you absolutely riveted and engaged. The writing style has only improved and the character development is spectacular. Not only that but the diversity is present in the story which makes it even better. Ultimately, The Darkest Legacy left me speechless. I loved the kickass characters and the sprinkling of romance throughout is barely enough to mention, which is how I love fantasy books to be....more
I always try to support Australian authors and Lynette Noni has been on my radar for a while. I just haven’t had the time to pick up one of her books. I was scanning the bookshop for a read for a flight when I came across Whisper, which I had just seen one of my close friends rave about. So, I picked it up and I am not regretting the choice at all.
Whisper by Lynette Noni follows a girl who is simply known as Jane Doe. For over two years she has not said a word. As the reader, we don’t know why for around half the book so I won’t say why in my review. Jane goes through a series of tasks each day, there is a routine. It is boring, it is torturous and it is not a way to live. Overall, Jane has no quality of life after being taken after checking herself into a mental health ward. This is ultimately one day there’s a change in the routine. She now spends time with a boy, who slowly slips in under her defences by simply being kind. However, that is not all this book is. There is betrayal, there is deceit and the class ‘the government is full of liars and people who need to be locked up’ plot lines. There are some iffy things throughout the books, which I’ve tried to mention in the trigger warnings, but overall I really did enjoy the second half of this book. The first half was incredibly flat as we get to know Jane and everyone around her. It is simply following her routine several times and learning what she knows (which is nothing).
Enough dribble because I’m trying to keep this review short. Time to jump into what I liked and didn’t like about Whisper by Lynette Noni.
L I K E S ✗ SECOND HALF OF THE BOOK WAS AMAZING
The second half of this book basically had it all. I was so enthralled in it and could not put the book or my kindle down (I alternate reading). I was shocked by some of the reveals and I was definitely kept on my toes.
✗ REMINDED ME A LITTLE OF SHATTER ME
If you know me you know I didn’t initially like Shatter Me but it is now one of my favourite series. I really did get some Shatter Me vibes throughout this book. The whole government, powers and weird love triangle really do feel very similar. However, Whisper does stand on its own with it’s twists and turns.
✗ A GOOD SET UP FOR BOOK TWO
I feel like what Whisper really was, was a set up for book two. The characters are still slightly undeveloped and there is still a long way to go with the plot. So ultimately, an incredibly good set up for book two which I hope will blow this one out of the water.
✗ SET IN AUSTRALIA
Not much to say here, I just get really excited whenever anything is set in Australia and I’ve actually been to the locations mentioned. I guess this is how people in the UK and America feel because this is literally one of the first books I’ve read that is set in Australia (Sydney to be exact).
D I S L I K ES ✗ 50% OF THE BOOK WAS FLAT
I mentioned it earlier in this review but the first 50% really was brain numbingly boring. I was ready to throw it on the DNF pile. However, I pushed through because Whisper did come some highly recommended by a friend. I’m glad I did but that beginning really should have been tightened or shortened. The repetition of what I was reading did get to me at some points.
✗ POSSIBLE LOVE TRIANGLE TO ARISE AND I HAVE A FAVE
This was a big one. I can feel a love triangle rising. I want love triangles to die unless they’re polyamorous. They’re truly the bane of my existence, especially since I think my favourite of the two guys is not going to get the girl. Seriously, I hope Lynette Noni shoots this in the foot in the next book or I will riot.
✗ FELT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE MENTAL HEALTH INCLUSION
If you’ve kept quiet for over two years due to a trauma you experienced I think there would be some side effects. Particularly with mental health. Including the fact that Jane says that she has been tortured by one of the people for two years. However, there was no mental health apart from panic attacks/anxiety (which were well represented). I feel there should have been some depression or PTSD to really solidify Jane as a character and make her appeal to me in a greater sense. I don’t believe that she came out of a lot of trauma with only anxiety.
Ultimately, Whisper did have its flaws and I am sincerely shocked by how much I enjoyed it. I am looking forward to the sequel. Hopefully the next book will be a bit more diverse as well because this…wasn’t. I really don’t know what to say about this book and I’m realizing the more I type that this review is a straight up mess. I hope it makes somewhat sense and helps you decide whether to pick up Whisper or not. ...more
I went through a few different stages while reading The Wicked Deep. My first stage was immense interest, despite what I found to be mediocre writing I was super curious about the plot. Then the book hit a snag with the romance and I was suddenly guessing everything correctly, which led me to be incredibly bored. It makes this book incredibly difficult to talk about and it seems as if I’m the only one who hasn’t fallen for the hype. I just had some serious problems with some stuff at the end that I can’t get past, some of which made me feel a bit icky (for lack of better word).
The Wicked Deep is about Penny Talbot who lives in the town of Sparrow. She cares for her mum, who has been struggling to cope since her dad went missing one summer and never returned. Nor was a body found. Her grief-stricken mother has simply stopped doing any, which has left Penny struggling to decide what to do in her future. That doesn’t matter though, because the town of Sparrow is about to have its yearly drowning season.
Sparrow is an interesting one, the history of the town has basically meant it doomed itself. In the past, the town drowned three young women for courting married and single men. The town believed these women to be witches simply because no woman could attract that much female attention. The women are drowned in the ocean. However, Sparrow did not see the last of the Swan sisters that fateful day.
For two centuries the Swan sisters have come back once a year for around a week, putting themselves in the bodies of the young girls of the town. It’s in these girls’ bodies that they drown the young boys of Sparrow, pulling them into the depths like the people of Sparrow did to them. They aren’t picky in what bodies they choose or who they drown but it all changes one summer when Hazel, the youngest of the Swan sisters, falls in love while in the body she has chosen.
Honestly, it rubbed me the wrong way. Especially with events in the book – there’s a sex scene mentioned while Hazel is in the body of the girl she chose and he doesn’t know. It just felt wrong? I honestly don’t know if it is wrong, which is super naïve of me but I can’t find anything online so I apologise, I just wanted to mention it since the girl Hazel is inhabiting is not in control of her body.
Anyway, whatever, there’s the plot. Probably the best plot description I’ve ever done. Ya girl is growing. Let’s jump into those pesky likes and dislikes.
L I K E S ✗ THE PLOT OF DREAMS
The storyline was interesting. Who doesn’t want to read about girls getting their revenge for centuries on a town? I know I do, which probably makes me a little twisted. I was just so excited for what I was going to read. It seemed too good to be true and unfortunately in this case it was. However, that doesn’t mean the storyline wasn’t interesting. It was going places, it really was, and it was one of the most twisted and intricate stories I’ve read.
✗ MORE PAST, LESS PRESENT
If this book had been 100% the Swan sisters extracting their revenge on the town it would have been better, or, if it had simply focused on the past. The inclusion of Penny Talbot ruined the story for me, so I guess that makes sense as to why the backstory was my favourite part of this book.
The backstory that focuses on the Swan sisters preferably, because you also get flashbacks throughout the book to continue building suspense and allowing you snippets of things that the characters don’t even know.
✗ WHY DID IT ALL FALL APART?
For 50% I was basically glued to my kind and desperately wanting to get to the end of the book. Once the big ‘plot twist’ dropped I was ready to DNF and put my kindle down. It seems I hate myself though because I dragged myself through the end of the book. Don’t get me wrong, I really do get why people enjoy this book. It was a dark, gritty tale that focuses on witches. For some reason, I thought it was mermaids, but that’s my fault for not reading blurbs (as usual).
D I S L I K E S ✗ ROMANCE IS A NO FROM ME
I hated the romance. It makes my skin crawl at the idea of it. Why did no one think to take it out? Why is everything done for ‘love’? It’s literally so annoying and I wanted to rip my eyeballs out of my head while reading it.
I haven’t mentioned him at all, but the love interest in Bo Carter. A mysterious stranger who comes to the town not knowing anything of the drowning secrets. He does harbour secrets though, as does literally everyone in the book.
✗ YAWN FEST FROM PREDICTABILITY
I guessed it from about chapter two, and I was so disappointed when it turned out I was right. I wanted something different in this book to make it exciting, but it didn’t. I really can’t say much without giving away spoilers, hence the weird way I’ve phrased things in this review. It really isn’t a surprise though. Though, I am curious. If you’ve read this book were you surprised?
✗ MEH WRITING
It was just bland, honestly. It lacked the magic I wanted from a book about witches and drama and murder. It was just pretty straightforward and nothing exciting. It read almost like every book I read before. On top of that, sometimes the dialogue was not how teenagers talk at all.
✗ STOP GIVING ME APOLOGIST ARCS FOR BAD PEOPLE
Blah, I’d rather not. If you’ve drowned men for centuries you don’t suddenly get forgiven because one summer you’ve decided to change your mind for a guy. No thanks. I would have really preferred that the character remained one that didn’t get forgiven. She really didn’t deserve it so it doesn’t make any sense as to why at the end of the book I was meant to believe Hazel was the best thing since sliced bread.
She’s not, by the way, nothing even comes close to sliced bread anyway. If you want to create morally grey characters please stick to them and stop trying to make me forgive them when they’re bad people.
Overall, The Wicked Deep wasn’t a bad book despite all my complaining. I just wanted more and I think that is fair of me to say because the romance was a mess. A straight up mess. Plus apologist arcs aren’t necessary so please stop including them, bad people can just be bad people. I would still probably recommend this book since I gave it three stars for that first half but also I want to drown a copy of this book.
What are your thoughts on The Wicked Deep? Have you read it? Are you going to read it? Tell me below, I’m super curious about your thoughts....more
I am trying to look at this book as a completely individual series from the Percy Jackson series. A couple reasons for this; it is not even published by Rick Riordan’s publishing industry and this book is about Indian fairytales. I know it is so easy to compare middle-grade novels that are urban fantasy to Rick Riordan but you can’t with this. Why? Mainly because this is all own voices.
Now, into what I thought about everything. The Serpent’s Secret was a book I didn’t know what to expect from it. In the classic Amber fashion, I hadn’t read the blurb. I simply jumped into the middle-grade novel in hopes of finding a new favourite. Unfortunately, I didn’t, but I did enjoy the ride this story took. It was fun.
The Serpent’s Secret by Sayantani DasGupta is a delightfully unique story. I have never read anything quite like this, or even seen anything represented in the media. This book incorporates so many parts of Bengali Indian culture. This is definitely not an area I am educated enough to speak on, so I’ll move on. On Kiranmala’s twelfth birthday everything goes wrong. She goes from being a regular sixth grader to having a demon smash through her kitchen and take her parents. This leads Kiranmala on a journey of discovery, with two charming Indian prince’s tagging along, to find her parents while also realizing that everything that they have told her in their stories is true. There are countless extra tasks thrown in that make it harder for Kiranmala, but that’s what keeps the book interesting! Kiranmala leans to be proud of her heritage throughout the novel. With the fast-paced novel, it is easy to fit all this into 368 pages.
I’ll jump into more about what I liked and dislike about The Serpent’s Secret now.
L I K E S ✗ GREAT FAIRYTALE EXPLANATIONS
I love learning about different myths, fairytales and cultures while reading. I feel that’s how I learn the most. The Serpent’s Secret is no different. As Kiranmala learns what is real and what isn’t, via interdimensional travel, the reader does as well. It felt so important to become educated on these stories while reading. These are stories I have never heard and they were detailed and amazing. I truly wish these myths and fairy tales were incorporated into mainstream media more – obviously written by own voices writers.
✗ CHARACTERS ARE ACTING THEIR AGE
I feel this is very important. Characters acting their age, when they’re young, feel so rare in books. I feel that characters are typically aged up in their personality though on paper it says they’re twelve. DasGupta really managed to capture the youth of Kiranmala. It was raw and truthful in so many elements, despite the book being an urban fantasy. It was truly refreshing.
✗ IMAGERY IS BEAUTIFUL
This is a super simple thing I liked about The Serpent’s Secret but the imagery is mind-blowing. DasGupta created such beautiful scenes with her writing that truly brought me into the book. The added illustrations throughout were incredibly enjoyable as well, definitely welcome additions to the story. Definitely, something that would entice a young reader as well!
D I S L I K E S ✗ KIND OF UNCOMFORTABLE HUMOUR
It’s not that it was uncomfortable but at times the humour felt as if it was trying too hard. Not all of it came under this category but I really was struggling to get into the characters, especially since a lot of the humour was due to the characters, not understanding Kiranmala. I also get these characters are twelve but I just felt like the humour was an element that could have been removed from the book.
✗ TOO FAST PACED AT TIMES
I believe this book is a debut? Correct me if I’m wrong, please, so this I can understand. At times this book felt pretty choppy, with characters moving between scenes in a confusing way that left me rereading paragraphs trying to find the connection. It had me struggling to get through this book in that way.
Overall, this has been a hard review to write. I don’t want to step on any own voices reviewer’s toes but I do want to promote this book for its beautiful imagery and storytelling. I know I have to stay in my lane but I really do recommend this book to everyone, especially if you have younger children in your life because I feel like education at a young age on different cultures is so important. The Serpent’s Secret was ultimately a very enjoyable book. It was fast and it was silly and it was fun. I know I keep using the word fun but it’s true. This book was super fun to read. Definitely, add it to your TBR’s if you don’t mind a little middle grade in your life!...more
Restore Me was good. Like, really good. Like, holy shit I can’t put this book down because I’m screaming good. I am shocked, honestly. I mean, I’m already shocked I even like this series since I despised the first one (my original review is still on Goodreads, somewhere). I can understand why people obsessed with this series may not like Restore Me. It’s a change. For years they thought they had the end and now there is something throwing the spanner in the works of something they love. If a negative ending this book will affect you in a negative way, I recommend waiting for the next book in the series releases due to this having a cliffhanger. I, however, a new fan, did enjoy this book.
There were so many things in this book that I loved. I mean, I gave it bloody five stars. If you know me, you know how rare I give out five stars, even if I loved a book. Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi did have its flaws. There were things that were promised that wasn’t there and all the side characters bar Kenji floated into the background and become unnecessary to the plot. That was a bit annoying, considering how much everyone has been through to get to the point of this book. I’ll get more so into what I didn’t like later, but I just wanted you to know that I didn’t think this book was perfect. I just really, really liked it and felt it deserved five stars because I basically read it in one sitting. It was intense.
I won’t say much about the plot because I’m trying to keep this review spoiler-free. So, I guess it’s time to jump straight into what I did and didn’t like about Restore Me.
L I K E S
✗ ANTI HERO PLOT LINE??
I guess this is a spoiler so I won’t say much, but I am feeling my queen Juliette possibly going the anti-hero plotline. One of my best friends (shout out Alex if you read this, love you) and I are obsessed with anti-heroes; I mean it’s how we became friends. She’s also the one who’s opinion made me try this series again. Feels a bit full circle to me. But, anyway, I would love if Juliette completely shrugged off the opinions of everyone and went straight to this plot line. This isn’t something that is exactly confirmed in Restore Me…okay, so this is me putting a theory in my likes. Don’t @ me.
✗ LOVE THE BACKSTORY
Being a new fan I’ve been reading a lot of OG fans opinions and theories on what is going to happen in Restore Me. A lot of people seem to have had had the belief that no one’s backstory would be revealed in this book. However, we get a lot of backstories. Several characters actually and I was screeching because it broke my heart and I am soft. I even shed a tear a couple times. I won’t tell you who’s backstories they are, but they hit me deep in the feels so I can’t imagine how they would hit people who have been waiting on these backstories for years.
✗ JULIETTE REMAINS MY QUEEN
I guess this is basically it for this point. I just wanted to mention how much I love my queen Juliette. At this stage I kind of want Juliette to end this series single…oops. GIVE ME A STRONG POWERFUL SINGLE WOMAN, THANK U. I just really feel her anti-hero plot line too, okay. I need this for my soul.
✗ NO ADAM REDEMPTION
I think this comes from the disappearing side characters act that happens in Restore Me. We don’t get an Adam redemption. I am very vocal about my hatred of Adam and I am not ashamed of it. I mean, there’s one scene where he acknowledges what a turd he is but acknowledgement isn’t changing or forgiveness. So, hell yeah.
✗ GIRL LOVE (okay ONE girl but still)
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
This is all I will say on the topic. It is only one other girl, but I will take the small scraps I am given and thrive. I think to say more on this would be a spoiler to be honest.
✗ REP IS STILL AMAZING
The rep remains pretty damn amazing. There is a representation of a panic attack that I felt was incredibly accurate and hard to read due to the intensity of the scene. I even had to put my Kindle down for a moment while reading it to gain my breath. There is also PTSD rep slightly throughout that I felt was important.
✗ I CANT WAIT FOR BOOK FIVE I NEED IT NOWWWWW
If you’ve finished the book, hit me up on my social media that I link at the bottom of my reviews because do I have some feelings or what. I really need to discuss this. Book five is too far away.
D I S L I K E S
✗ MISCOMMUNICATION IS HELL
Most of the conflict in this book is purely from miscommunication or lack of communication. It is honestly the most infuriating thing because of how unnecessary it is. If people just talked there wouldn’t be dumbass problems like this. Honestly. It is my biggest pet peeve in books when conflict comes from people withholding information they should have shared.
✗ GIRL HATE IS UNNECESSARY
It was this weird cringe worthy scene where an ex-girlfriend shows up and the two girls are compared + one girl isn’t impressed by the other. It just felt stupidly catty and I am not here for catty girl interactions after the one extra ‘nice’ girl we got in this book. Don’t go ruining this Tahereh. I swear to God. I will cry and send you a vial of my tears.
✗ WHY IS WARNER A LOWKEY TURD
I think that’s all I can say on this topic without spoiling. He is heading into turd territory and he needs to fix himself before he becomes Adam 2.0.
✗ DISAPPEARING OLD CHARACTERS
I mentioned this earlier in my review, but all the old characters but Kenji disappear. I don’t know why. Suddenly Castle is acting weird, Winston isn’t there and quite literally everyone drifts into the floorboards of Sector 45. It just felt slightly weak to have these old and treasured characters fade away in order for new ones. I just didn’t get the reasoning behind it. Juliette didn’t even seem to care, at all.
✗ KENJI BI…WHERE?
No seriously, where? Tahereh has coded him so much as being bisexual, or at least part of the LGBT+ community, and I know almost everyone was excited about the possibility. It just felt a bit like a waste. I understand maybe it’ll be revealed in later books. I really hope so. I’m not saying this because he was attracted to a woman in this book either. Just kill it Kenji.
Overall, is Restore Me perfect? No. Did I enjoy it immensely? Yes. I really feel like this world is one I have fall in love with and the expanding of it was something that I excited me so much since I only finished the books the other week....more
Sometimes you have to stick with a series to the end for it to be worth it. Shatter Me is this series. Ignite Me was everything and more than what I wanted or expected. It was honestly such a shock, I can barely format the words I need to describe it. This series, and book, in particular, are the definition of character development. I’m aware I’ve said this in like every book for this series, but I just can’t not. It is so well done that I want to read everything this author has ever put in the world. I obviously had some problems but I really feel as if this book is deserving of the five stars I’ve given it. I mean, I’m so damn excited for the fourth book to come out in the next few days (possibly already out when this review goes live).
Ignite Me is where shit gets real for Juliette. It’s where the climax happens and she takes charge. I honestly can’t say much about the plot without spoiling the entire book, so I’m going to try and keep this brief. She faces problems with romance; obviously, due to Adam being the turd he was always destined. The action in this book is fast paced (which, I’ll get into later in this review). There’s a lot of moments that left me with my jaw dropped, unable to believe what was happening. I was blown away, honestly. This is the conclusion to end all other conclusions.
I really didn’t talk about the plot for Ignite Me at all. So, let’s just jump into a more descriptive list of my likes and dislikes of this book. If you’ve read this book, let me know your thoughts in the comments too! Did you enjoy this series?
L I K E S ✗ KENJI IS MY FAVE
Honestly, Keni is amazing. I’ve been meaning to talk about him in my other reviews but around my love for Warner and hate for Adam I kept forgetting #oops. However, I feel like he was really spotlighted in this book. He also had the best power in my opinion, the ability to go invisible is up there for me (I mean, Violet was my favourite in The Incredibles). He doesn’t hold back and is Juliette’s best friend. It is always enjoyable to see a platonic boy/girl friendship in fiction as well, especially where neither one is interested in the other romantically. I really hope we get more of his backstory in Restore Me because I am so interested. I’ve also been seeing theories that he will be queer and I am 100% into this possible storyline.
✗ WARNER SPITS SOME TRUTH
A lot of this series has been people coddling Juliette. She hasn’t been forced to make decisions or known a lot of the information. Everyone seems to tiptoe around her in order to make her feel safe and unafraid. Which is all nice, but man does it feel like a weak main character in some parts. Warner thankfully saves the day in Ignite Me and spits some truth. He says things I’ve been thinking since the first book and it felt so good to see it on paper (well, screen, I read on my kindle). I also loved hearing that my theory was right. I love it.
✗ OK BUT REAL TALK THIS IS UP IN TOP TEN COVERS
Not much to say on this, just how fucking gorgeous is this cover? Man, I finished this book and just stared at the cover for like twenty minutes it was so beautiful. What are some of your favourite covers?
✗ JULIETTE IS MY QUEEN
Juliette reached the level of one of my ultimate favourite female characters to exist. I’m as shocked as you are. Considering it took me three reads of the first book to even get here I wasn’t expecting this at all. However, I am pleasantly surprised and not mad at all. Juliette hits all new levels in Ignite Me. She really comes into herself. She really makes decisions for herself and she really becomes the hero so many young adults need. Someone combating PTSD, anxiety and depression has the ability to be a hero and I feel like that’s important. She is honestly such a powerful young adult this series and I will not tolerate any slander against her.
✗ WARNER AND JULIETTE
I don’t think this is a topic I have to say much on either. I feel as if this is an obvious one that would have a wink wink, nudge nudge attached to it. These two have hit my ultimate OTP lists and I am absolutely in love with the pair of them together. The chemistry and the love written on the page is so clear. No matter how creepy I still think some elements are, I can definitely swoon over this OTP.
✗ WARNER DEVELOPMENT
This could also be viewed as lack of development. Warner both changes as a character and doesn’t. The changes happen through him revealing information about himself – which makes me think this story is very character driven, something I am not usually interested in – not him actively changing himself. He shares pieces of himself with Juliette and changes how we look at him, not actually changing how he thinks. Which, I think is a really interesting tactic that I appreciate the author using. It’s not one I see a lot in books.
✗ I LOVE THE POWERS
This is kind of irrelevant but I love the fantasy element of powers being added, making it urban fantasy. It reminds me of The Darkest Minds which I love. Though in a similar way it kind of feels as if everyone in this book has powers as well. Would have been interesting if someone didn’t have powers.
✗ MENTAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENT
This particular point is super important to me as someone who has a mental health issues. I’m really talking about this as what happens over the course of all the books too. There are so many issues represented throughout the text and it really does shock me. I feel as if the main three are what I presume Juliette suffers with – PTSD, anxiety and depression (as I mentioned before). I feel like seeing these in the text and with Juliette’s growth I really feel empowered. I have all three of these particular mental health diagnoses and I feel they were represented beautifully throughout the entirety of Shatter Me. The ascension from a quiet girl into someone who cannot be silenced is a journey I have taken myself and it’s not an easy one, which I feel like is well represented in this series.
✗ CANT WAIT FOR RESTORE ME
I straight up can’t wait. Someone get this book in my hands now. I wish I had timed this more perfectly with the release, but I guess I just get more excited in the waiting period.
D I S L I K E S ✗ ADAM IS A TURD PART THREE
Honestly, no redemption arc for Adam, please. It is all I want in the world. Truly. I hate him so damn much and to see him suffer would be great. I love James, but Adam can be a turd elsewhere. I feel as if Ignite Me really solidified this as well. He just really switched and become one of those ‘nice guys’ who lose it when they’re rejected. It was just lowkey uncomfortable and had me thinking he was basically waving warning flags all over the place. Boo hoo, you didn’t get the girl. There’s a war going on you, dickhead, protect your brother and stop acting like someone ate the last tasteless blob in existence.
✗ IT IS ALL OVER SO FAST
Within a few pages and chapters, all the action is over. I was left feeling like ‘what?’ It felt like there was so much build up and there should have been more. I understand it was to show how powerful Juliette had become but I really just wanted more from the final scenes but nope. It’s all over so fast and it is so damn easy. I really feel like there should have been more suspense.
✗ NOT ENOUGH GIRLS ARE THEY ALL DEAD
I think the weird heading things I use says it all. There was a total of five females who had dialogue in this book – including Juliette. How ridiculous is that? There was like five men in the first chapter alone. I would love to see Juliette get a female best friend in Restore Me.
Overall, this series sincerely deserves the hype it has received. I’m so glad I finally forced myself to push through because I am so thankfully shocked and happy to have been apart of this ride. The Shatter Me series is a heartbreaking series in which no one actually really dies. It is a complicated world in which grows over each book and has such a powerful message in the end. I never thought I’d say this but I recommend it....more
Unravel Me was 100 times better than Shatter Me. You know how sometimes a middle book can be a drag and you want to cMY UNRAVEL ME REVIEW IS ALSO HERE
Unravel Me was 100 times better than Shatter Me. You know how sometimes a middle book can be a drag and you want to completely give up while reading it? Unravel Me is not that. It was exciting, it had developed, and it had Adam taking a backseat. This series contains action, love, and heartbreak. I have some issues; mainly with obsessive and borderline abusive behaviours from the male characters, but this series really improved within one book. I wish I had gotten to it a lot sooner.
This particular book takes a look at Juliette learning her powers and growing stronger by herself. Obviously, in the last book, she relied on Adam a lot and I even wrote about it in my review because I hated it. This book, however, she really comes into herself. At Omega Point she learns how to socialize with others and really become a member of society, rather than secluding herself away from everyone in favour of Adam. Which, I think is important. The story has Warner come in, and basically fuck shit up, but I love Warner so I am okay with it. Throughout Unravel Me the overall message is power. Power within yourself and using your power and voice. Everything goes to shit numerous times in this book but man, did I love seeing Adam not get the girl. It filled me with a sick sense of joy and I am not ashamed of it.
So, before I bitch about Adam too much I should probably just jump straight into what I did and didn’t like about this book. Considering I gave this book four stars and the first two, there are a lot of things I did enjoy.
L I K E S ✗ JULIETTE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
I love a girl who can rely on herself and no man. Thank God this is what happens in Unravel Me. Juliette becomes a woman who can rely on herself, can trust herself and can develop as an individual in a free environment – something she has never had the opportunity to. I really feel like Juliette comes into her own throughout Unravel Me and if that doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will. Her representation of anxiety and depression is so realistic and the stand out part of her character. I really can’t wait to see where her character goes in the final book of the trilogy (before Restore Me comes out).
✗ FEMALE CHARACTERS GET A LARGER ROLE
It’s literally only two female characters, Sonya and Sara, but I will take what I can get. I mean seriously, I will take whatever small scraps I can get. This is a big thing in fiction anyway, I swear authors just refuse to put in supporting female characters and it is very hard to imagine a girl just surrounded by men being all good. Obviously Juliette remembers the world from before, especially since most of the shit happened while she was in isolation, and she didn’t have any friends so it makes sense why she attached herself to Adam (aka the first boy who called her pretty, or in this case could touch her). I just wish Sonya and Sara got more page time.
✗ LOVING THE VILLAIN LINE
I feel like in books I typically always hate the villain storyline. I’m never curious about it, I just want the characters to kill the antagonist and be over with it. However, I find myself really curious about the world and villain in the Shatter Me series. It’s not so much that it’s complex; I just always find it interesting how corrupt governments get in dystopian (lmao basically the government we have currently). I just want to find out more about Anderson and what he is doing, what his ultimate goal was, and how he came to his position. I can’t help it. Hopefully all is revealed in Ignite Me.
✗ WORLD DEVELOPMENT
This is a point I don’t have much to say on. I feel like Unravel Me had incredible world building that brought everything from the first book together. I found myself a little lost about the world in the first one, since Juliette is confused and doesn’t really understand, but in this book it really felt like the writing was more together and as if it put the world in concrete.
✗ WRITING REMAINS AMAZING
You can fault the author on a lot of things but her writing oh my God, what a gift. At some parts I’m like what? But, it is all just so beautifully descriptive and highlights the mental health issues that she wants to include so well in my opinion.
✗ WARNER X JULIETTE HAS SO MUCH MORE CHEMISTRY
The love triangle is falling and I’m the one governing the tank that is firing at it. I am so on board this ship. Fuck yes, give me this shit. I knew this couple was going to happen because I have been on the Internet and book community for a while and I am not mad. I also follow Whitney from WhittyNovels and that girl is always screaming about these two. I can understand why now. The chemistry between the two characters is so much more than the chemistry between Adam and Juliette. It feels like Warner actually understands Juliette whereas Adam has wanted Juliette for so long that he does not care who she is as a person. Which is pretty shitty, lets be real. I mean, Warner still gives me some weird vibes but I can vibe with it much more than Adam. Plus a love triangle ending is the reason for my happiness.
D I S L I K E S ✗ ADAM CAN GTFO
That’s it. Adam can exit stage left and I will be fine. No redemption arc. Let him burn. Someone shoot him. I have no idea, I just hate Adam. I can’t put it in many other words than that, weird ass possessive, jealous tool. I ain’t here for this toxic masculinity.
✗ STILL NEEDS MORE FEMALE CHARACTERS
I beg. Give me more female women so it is not just one in the role. It kills me.
Overall, I really didn’t hate that much. Trust me, I’m as shocked as you are. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. However, I will admit it is trash. Honestly, it is cheesy and definitely, a guilty pleasure read. I ranted about the book for like half an hour to a friend on the phone but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. Especially since so many things I hated in the first book have left. Hopefully Ignite me is perfect and has no Adam....more
I think I’ve made it pretty clear over time that I am a big fan of Rick Riordan. I love mythology and I love learning through his books. When Riordan announced that he was going to publish own voices authors take on mythology I was beyond excited. Aru Shah and the End of Time was no exception of this. I fell in love, fast. One reason was that it was a female lead, something we don’t typically see in Riordan’s work. An Indian female lead is something that holds incredible importance, and just to see Hindu mythology accurately represented.
12-year-old Aru Shah has a habit of telling lies. She lies about basically everything to the people at her school so they don’t look at her as weird, the joys of being middle class in a rich school. One day she’s caught out in the lie when three people from her school come to where she lives – she lives in a museum, like how cool is that?! Things turn pretty nasty quickly with one of these three kids recording Aru as an attempt to get her to tell the truth. Instead, she decides to light a lamp that, as her mother says, is cursed. Unfortunately for Aru, the lamp is cursed. A powerful individual is let free and everyone around her is now frozen in time. With the help of a pigeon guide, Aru discovers she has the soul of the great Pandava brothers. Along the way, Aru meets one of her sisters (because there are no brothers in this generation) and must go on a quest in order to stop the powerful individual she let go free. Simultaneously she must come to terms with being a demigod and how much her mother has hidden from her. Oh, and the best part? Aru must do all this in her spider-man pyjamas as if that isn’t a look.
I really loved Aru Shah and the End of Time. It was such a thrilling tale of mystery, surprise and, my favourite, humour. The writing of this particular story came across as pretty flawless. I also know, that if anyone reading this is like me you’re expecting this story to be basically identical to Percy Jackson. I’m here to say you’re wrong. This book completely holds its own and, dare I say it, is even better than Percy Jackson in some ways. It was truly such an important book and I am desperately waiting for book two!
Anyway, let me jump into a more detailed version of what I did and didn’t like about Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi.
L I K E S ✗ HINDU GODS > GREEK GODS
Hear me out, I grew up learning about the Greek gods in school. When I picked up Percy Jackson for the first time I had a big understanding of all the variations. It made it a little boring for me, honestly. I know nothing about Hindu gods. This particular topic wasn’t taught in my schools (I went to 9 over 13 years, as a little fun fact). I know own voices books don’t exist to teach the public anything but I really did love learning about the Hindu gods. I have been deeply curious about the mythology for some time and I don’t trust Google, so it was just great to read something that I was unfamiliar with.
Also, the Hindu gods weren’t as big of jerks as the Greek gods in Rick Riordan’s books, also a positive for me.
✗ THE CHARACTERS ARE HILARIOUS
The humour in this book is amazing. I was giggling and smiling almost the entire book and I’m not even the target audience. It was just such a fun journey that I can’t screech and rave about this book enough. The humour was similar to that of Percy Jackson, dry and most of the time from the main character being unable to shut up, but I just feel as if this particular style was better suited for the target audience. It felt like I could give this book to one of my cousins and she would be laughing along with me.
✗ I LOVE BOO
Boo is the pigeon guide that Aru and her Pandava sister Mimi are given. He’s not exactly the best guide nor does he really have the patience for two young preteens, but man was he hilarious. His character really brought Mimi and Aru together, and just the whole idea of a pigeon leading two girls on a quest makes me chuckle. To be fair though, I despise birds so the fact I even found this amusing shocks me a little.
✗ FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS
If you’ve known me for a little while you know I am a big pusher of female friendships in books. I live for them. I love when two girls support one another rather than tearing each other down. Mimi and Aru gave me this. The two are young and it would have been easy to write two girls that hated each other but Roshani Chokshi didn’t, and I loved it. The girls obviously bickered and struggled at some points, but they’d also only just met and been informed they were sisters which can put a strain on any time making friends.
2018 is the year of supportive friendships and I’m here for it.
✗ CANT WAIT FOR BOOK TWO
Do I have to elaborate on this? After the ending of Aru Shah and the End of Time, I desperately have grabby hands for book two. This series will also finish when I’m 24 and if you don’t think I’m going to read every single one, you’re wrong. I am here for this series.
D I S L I K E S ✗ I FELT ARU SOMETIMES STEPPED BACK IN THE STORY AND HER VOICE GOT LOST
I’m really just nitpicking here, but it did feel as if Aru got lost at points. Obviously this a big quest and a whole bit about discovering who you are but I just wanted more. It did seem at points that Aru was morally grey but in truth, she is simply a preteen trying to find her place in the world and her identity. I’m interested to see if she does become morally grey throughout the course of this four book series. I stand by the fact though there should have been a little more focus on Aru’s feelings and emotions at some points.
Overall, Aru Shah and the End of Time blew my socks off. I was not expecting anything that this book delivered and I’m slightly annoyed that it took me so long to even pick this up. The hype really stands true for this book, it is well deserving of your money and your time....more
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