tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80315754856049900082024-03-17T23:03:38.314-04:00Books and StarsErikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.comBlogger476125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-68712249771364709492020-02-24T00:24:00.000-05:002020-02-24T00:24:05.177-05:00Review: The Prince by Jennifer L. Armentrout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: The Prince</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Wicked 3.5</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Release: August 14, 2018</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes a new story in her Wicked series… </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">She’s everything he wants…. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Cold. Heartless. Deadly. Whispers of his name alone bring fear to fae and mortals alike. The Prince. There is nothing in the mortal world more dangerous than him. Haunted by a past he couldn’t control, all Caden desires is revenge against those who’d wronged him, trapping him in never-ending nightmare. And there is one person he knows can help him. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">She’s everything he can’t have… </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Raised within the Order, Brighton Jussier knows just how dangerous the Prince is, reformed or not. She’d seen firsthand what atrocities he could be capable of. The last thing she wants to do is help him, but he leaves her little choice. Forced to work alongside him, she begins to see the man under the bitter ice. Yearning for him feels like the definition of insanity, but there’s no denying the heat in his touch and the wicked promise is his stare. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">She’s everything he’ll take…. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">But there’s someone out there who wants to return the Prince to his former self. A walking, breathing nightmare that is hell bent on destroying the world and everyone close to him. The last thing either of them needs is a distraction, but with the attraction growing between them each now, the one thing he wants more than anything may be the one thing that will be his undoing. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">She’s everything he’d die for…. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.** </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I finished this in a matter of hours. Which is to say that I loved it, and honestly wished it was a full novel length of a book instead of a mere novella.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This book focuses on Brighton, picking up one week after the events of the final book to the Wicked Trilogy. Right off the bat, something major happens to her, and then we find ourselves fast-forwarding to two years later to observe how Brighton is handling the aftermath. Within those two years, Brighton's personality has changed a lot, a fact that she's painfully aware of. We also get to see the consequences of how the Order views her ever since her mother, Merle, was overwhelmed by a fae attack and her mind scrambled. It's not pretty, and downright unfair how little everyone seems to think of Brighton, especially since none of it is her fault.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now, Caden was definitely the most fascinating character of the novella. I loved him so much, and just found him interesting. Unlike Armentrout's other trademark sassy male protagonists (all which I love), Caden didn't have a chip on his shoulder the size of a continent. He didn't do the typical smart comments one would expect from Armentrout, nor did he pull any jerk moves. He was quietly suffering, and the sheer contrast from all the other purposefully obnoxious males characters really made Caden stand out to me. He had nothing to prove, expect that he was trying really hard to be a good person, despite how the world itself was set up against him. It just made him so lovable!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For a novella, this was action-packed with a very compelling plot line. There was very little of the sitting-and-waiting-and-thinking, with Brighton literally being up and out at all times. Caden and her paths also keep crossing, and it is adorable how both are trying to be the good guys in the relationship. Also, because it's in the same world, we get mentions of Ivy and Ren, which I am totally 100% fine with. Though we didn't really get to see much of them in this book, I'm certain they'll have a more direct role in the next ones! Also, the ending, which was a cliffhanger--ahhh, now I seriously need to read the next one, stat!!!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-32604375310416624462020-02-19T19:08:00.000-05:002020-02-19T19:09:16.221-05:00Series Review: Wicked Trilogy by Jennifer L. Armentrout<h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Hey all! I'm back with another series review of Jennifer L. Armentrout's <i>Wicked Trilogy</i>!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Are you ready for it?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">Wicked</i>:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ah, <i>Wicked.</i> Such a gorgeous cover. Definitely in love with all the characters! Ivy Morgan was as kickbutt as always, Ren was swoon-worthy, and Tink was, well, Tink. I really loved how they all seemed to have an obsession with sugar, because in this healthy-food fuelled world, sugar has become literally the most unfortunate devil of a being. But I digress.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">True to any JLA book, this book was filled with her trademark romance and strong heroines. I loved the idea of fae roaming through New Orleans, and how there exists a secret order. Even more fun was the idea of a secret order <i>within</i> a secret order, which of course Ren was part of. I particularly liked how accurate the author portrayed Ivy's frustration of not being believed when she said she was attacked by a fae with unnatural abilities, and how only Ren was the one who believed her. There were a few twists in the book, and the ending itself was definitely a cliff-hanger!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This book picks up literally a second from the first book. Ivy has just made a huge, crazy discovery that has sent her entire world upside down, and not in a good way. We go through a lot of her headspace in this one as she tries to grapple with what she's discovered and whether, or even how, she should tell others. Including Ren. Which, of course, is a huge source of romantic tension that the author has no qualms about exploiting much to my delight :)</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The plot of the second half was something I definitely didn't see coming. At no point did the first half even hint at what was to come. I won't spoil it, but basically, it puts the hatred of the Fae Prince to a whole new level. No cliffhanger ending this time, either, which was a relief!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I knew from the start that Ivy was going to be dealing with some serious PTSD from everything that happened to her in <i>Torn</i>. What I didn't expect, and was pleasantly surprised by, was the mental health aspect to it. But that just makes me want to kick myself, because mental health is just as important and relevant to recovery! This book really helped stress and emphasis that being not okay is sometimes okay. Ivy really struggled with trying to get to that point, where she could confidently say she wasn't okay instead of pretending otherwise. Especially since the rest of the world saw she wasn't. It's definitely new territory that books commonly don't explore, especially in sci-fi or fantasy books.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As a result of this, there wasn't as much of Ivy and Ren getting along and working together as I would have liked. There was a lot of arguing and other forms of tension in their relationship all through the first half of the book, which kind of threw me off. But the plot continued on, despite it all.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The ending was...unexpected, if I"m going to be honest. I'm not too sure what to make of it. There were definitely a few twists and turns that happened in the book leading up to it, but I'm not too sure how I feel about the series' conclusion. If anything, I feel like it's a conclusion to the budding romance between Ivy and Ren, but not the overall plot. But I also know that there's a novella series set after the events of this, so hopefully loose ends will be properly wrapped up in that!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">So all in all, I'm giving this series 4 stars! The characters were likeable and there were tons of twists that happened. The plot could have had just a biiiiiiiit more to it, but I'm still satisfied with everything that happened!</span></h3>
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Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-13636858230159428262020-02-15T20:16:00.000-05:002020-02-15T20:16:14.647-05:00Review: The Burning Shadow by Jennifer L. Armentrout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: The Burning Shadow</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Origin #2</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: October 8, 2019</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">When Evelyn Dasher crossed paths with Luc, she was thrown headfirst into the world of the Lux—only to discover that she was already far more involved in their world than she ever suspected.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Because the Luxen aren’t the only ones with a hidden past. There’s a gap in Evie’s memory, lost months of her life and a lingering sense that something happened, something she can’t remember and nobody is willing to tell her. She needs to find out the truth about who she is—and who she was. But every answer she finds only brings up more questions.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Her search for the truth brings her ever closer to Luc, the Origin at the center of it all. He’s powerful, arrogant, inhumanly beautiful, extremely dangerous…and possibly in love with her. But even as Evie falls for him, she can’t help but wonder if his attraction is to her, or to the memory of a girl who no longer exists.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">And all the while, a new threat looms: reports of a flu-like, fatal virus that the government insists is being spread by Luxen. A horrifying illness that changes whoever it touches, spreading panic across a country already at its breaking point.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">#1 </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">New York Times, USA Today, </i><span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">and internationally bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout returns to the world of the Lux with this steamy, shocking second installment of the Origin series that will leave readers reeling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I expected nothing less from JLA and, more importantly, Luc!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This book picks up literally seconds after the ending of the first book. Literally everything in Evie's world has been turned upside-down in the past few weeks, and after the showdown with Micha, things are slowly dying down. Or at least that's the hope.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The first thing I will say is that it is oddly satisfying to see Luc actually struggle with things in this book. In the last book, Luc was typical Luc: he knew everything, was omnipotent and omnipresent in practically almost all ways. But in this book, there are very clear moments where he doesn't have the answers. And, of course, Daemon has no qualms pointing them out and being baffled. (Daemon! Is in! The book!!!)</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The parts that got me the most were whenever Evie called Luc and he literally dropped everything and zipped over for her. Swoon swoon. Buuuuuuuutttt at the same time, that bothered me a bit, since Evie was dependent on Luc for nearly everything. Which I guess is understandable, given that it's in a contemporary setting and you would definitely need help and a clean up crew trying to hide some very deadly, very supernatural activities you aren't supposed to be engaged in, but...</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What I really liked was that this book built upon the pre-existing notion of what fear, misspelled and miseducated, can do to humans. In the last one, there was an establishment of anti-Luxen groups, but this book ramped it up to give you a sense of what happens when an entire country finds itself being run by fear and ignorance. Moral questions of right and wrong aren't exactly clear, especially the you start mixing human and alien races together. Have some of the Luxen been harmful? Yes. Are these isolated incidents, potentially isolated groups that don't reflect the overall nature Luxen? Also yes. But are humans going to judge them on the worst of them and assume they all are like that? Yes. See the problem here? I sometimes want to smack the human race, especially since they (the humans) have a tendency to do this very same thing to each other.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We definitely get some new revelations, one that ties the original Lux series to this one. Specifically, we're left with more questions that answers in regards to Evie herself, where ever answer we get opens up a plethora of other questions. Evie's character also grows a bit more from the first book, in a much more satisfying way from the first book. With so many new questions, familiar faces, and the world once again ready to be shaken to its core, I'm really looking forward to the next one!</span></span></h3>
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Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-88634783849023054192020-02-10T20:15:00.000-05:002020-02-10T20:15:01.130-05:00Review: There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: There Will Come a Darkness</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Katy Rose Pool</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: The Age of Darkness #1</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: September 3, 2019</span></span></h3>
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<i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">The Age of Darkness approaches.<br />Five lives stand in its way.<br />Who will stop it... or unleash it? </i><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">For generations, the Seven Prophets guided humanity. Using their visions of the future, they ended wars and united nations―until the day, one hundred years ago, when the Prophets disappeared.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">All they left behind was one final, secret prophecy, foretelling an Age of Darkness and the birth of a new Prophet who could be the world’s salvation . . . or the cause of its destruction. As chaos takes hold, five souls are set on a collision course:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">A prince exiled from his kingdom.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">A ruthless killer known as the Pale Hand.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">A once-faithful leader torn between his duty and his heart. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">A reckless gambler with the power to find anything or anyone.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">And a dying girl on the verge of giving up.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">One of them―or all of them―could break the world. Will they be savior or destroyer? Perfect for fans of </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Throne of Glass, Children of Blood and Bone</i><span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">, and </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">An Ember in the Ashes. </i><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">An ancient prophecy of doom, a cast of characters who honestly shouldn't have anything to do with one another, cat-and-mouse chases, betrayals, mysteries with half-answers that only lead to more questions, plot twists... Everything a great book should have!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This book features 5 main characters: Hassan, a prince who escaped his kingdom during a massive coop, Ephyra, an assassin, Beru, Ephyra's younger sickly sister, Jude, a solider who is charged with a very important mission, and Anton, a gambler. What was so great about them all was that at no point, they should have crossed paths (except for Ephyra and Beru) because absolutely none of them trusted one another. That also made their dynamics very interesting; through everyone else, they are connected, but at no point were they ever in the same room or working towards the same goal. Rather, everything overlapped here and there, making it all seem very coincidental (or fateful) that events kept happening to bring them to cross paths separately!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The magic system is similar to the Grisha universe's, where there are four main "Graces" that are associated with specific abilities. Physical strength, healing, foresight, and imbuing objects with magic. We get to explore the first three of them, as characters had these abilities. I'm hoping another character will pop up in the next book with the ability to imbue magic into objects, since that's the one that's most unique to this magic system!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now, the plot. Or rather, the plot twists. There were so many! I only saw one of them, though the book nearly had me convinced I had been imagining things. The others? Well, they just kept coming. It was a big cat-and-mouse game at one point, where certain characters were being hunted, but who was hunting them and why kept changing faster than the characters could keep up with and understand. We're talking figures from the past reappearing, revelations, and tons of betrayals from the main characters and minor characters themselves. That made the pace very fast and gripping.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The beginning of the book was a smidge hard to get into with all the character POVs that were seemingly unconnected in any way, but it did pick up a bit afterwards. Some of the characters have a long way to grow, but I'm hoping that's where the second and third book come in!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-11337086523888740172020-02-06T22:36:00.000-05:002020-02-06T22:36:01.471-05:00Review: In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: In an Absent Dream</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Seanan McGuire</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Wayward Children #4</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: January 8, 2018</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">This fourth entry and prequel tells the story of Lundy, a very serious young girl who would rather study and dream than become a respectable housewife and live up to the expectations of the world around her. As well she should.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">When she finds a doorway to a world founded on logic and reason, riddles and lies, she thinks she's found her paradise. Alas, everything costs at the goblin market, and when her time there is drawing to a close, she makes the kind of bargain that never plays out well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Seanan McGuire's lyrical and poetic writing has done it again! Yet another absolutely lovey and gorgeous tale of children finding doors to other world, their adventures there, and then one way or another ending up back here not by choice...</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If anyone has read the first book of the series, <i>Every Heart a Doorway</i>, then you'll already know what becomes of Lundy at Miss Eleanor's. But this is a the story of Lundy, of how she found her door before she ever stepped foot at Eleanor's.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The world we get to travel to alongside Lundy is the Goblin Market, or just the Market (it's not actually a Goblin Market, unfortunately). Though I personally would not have survived very well in the Market, I absolutely loved the world itself. Everything is about fair value, debt, and trade, with the Market itself acting as a form of divine overseer. What made this world so interesting was that it was the first in the series to bring along a set of highly logical ethics. Though it isn't dwelled on too much, there are moments when the book itself poses some very thought-provoking questions: if someone has one ribbon and another has a hundred, how it is fair to ask them both to pay one ribbon to get the exact same pie in return? And thus the notion of fair value, where "fair" is measured through personal value. And if you try to swindle someone, the Market will get you back. See? It's just so interesting!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Of all the previous books so far, we really got to see what comes of children who straddle the line between this world and their other world. In particular, Lundy had attachments to both worlds, and there was a lot of moral dilemma that happened. This is the first where the main character was never fully convinced of whether to stay or not, whether their family ties were worth severing for freedom. Then again, this is also the first book where the main character is presented as having very normal parents, with nothing absolutely remarkable in their lives or cruelty shown. It was also the first time the book dabbled in the concept of visiting worlds as hereditary, which I found too very fascinating.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lundy herself was an interesting character. She made some choices I didn't quite understand fully, but at the same time, she was smart and clever. She was, essentially, placed into a time where the world simply didn't quite respect her for brilliance and instead expected her to become a lady in order to become a proper wife. The Market freed her of any social expectations, where all that mattered was her ability to determine and give fair value. I can definitely see the appeal!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Overall, another wonderful telling of world told in a beautiful and whimsical way. I'm really looking forward to the next one!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-57521404398447807912020-02-02T23:49:00.000-05:002020-02-02T23:49:01.227-05:00Review: Rage by Cora Carmack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: Rage</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Cora Carmack</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Stormheart #2</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: August 27, 2019</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Duty or freedom.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Her Kingdom or the Stormhunter she loves.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">If Aurora knows anything, it's that choices have consequences. To set things right, she joins a growing revolution on the streets of Pavan. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">In disguise as the rebel Roar, she puts her knowledge of the palace to use to aid the rebellion. But the Rage season is at its peak and not a day passes without the skies raining down destruction. Yet these storms are different—they churn with darkness, and attack with a will that’s desperate and violent. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">This feels like more than rage. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">It feels like war.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I wasn't too sure what to expect with this book: I was afraid it would be one of those rebellion-is-rising-and-we-need-a-leader books that are common in dystopians. But this book took the plot in a completely different direction, much to my pleasant surprise!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This book picks up shortly after the conclusion of the first one. Aurora has returned to Pavan, where the Lockes have taken over the palace. Her mother, the queen, is no where to be found, and Aurora knows that there's no way her mother would have allowed the Lockes to take over unless something drastic has happened to her. So it's time to get to the bottom of it, all while trying to figure out what it means to have the power she now wields.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As I stated in the beginning, one of the things I enjoyed about this book was its fresh take on rebellion. There are a lot of books where a growing rebellion is reluctantly led by the main character, or they become the face of the rebellion. This was neither. There was no name for the rebellion, no planned statement attacks, no propaganda to recruit more people into their ranks, and no Aurora being forced to lead it because of who she was. It was simple, practical, and didn't feel forced in any way. I also really liked how the plot itself didn't centre around trying to fuel the rebellion; there was a lot more going on, things that made the rebellion pale in comparison of importance.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Unlike the first book, Aurora's character development was a lot more steady. Her magic was something that took a front seat, and we really got to see her work it. There was little to no hesitation to her character. She didn't have any blindingly painful naive moments; instead, it was strategy and practicality.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kiran's name change in the book took a bit to get used to, but after a while, it started to feel right. I don't think I'll ever be able to think of him as Locke again, though I see the irony in that name of his past having been locked in the first book. Kiran's character himself was a bit bumpier than the first book after Aurora drops a specific bombshell on him, which irritated me slightly. Communicate! But once they did (though it took a while), he was back in my good books.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are a few mysteries the author dangles for us readers...like just who is the Stormlord? What because of the prequel story the author wove into the chapters, presumably of the Stormlord? What exactly is Cassius going to be doing in the next book? So many questions. But from the setup, the next and final book is going to be one epic showdown between Aurora and the Stormlord!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-73819782503116646822020-01-29T23:32:00.000-05:002020-01-29T23:32:20.868-05:00Review: Shadow Frost by Coco Ma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: Shadow Frost</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Coco Ma</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Shadow Frost #1</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: October 1, 2019</span></span></h3>
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<i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">IN THE KINGDOM OF AXARIA, a darkness rises.<br /><br />Some call it a monster, laying waste to the villagers and their homes.<br />Some say it is an invulnerable demon summoned from the deepest abysses of the Immortal Realm.<br />Many soldiers from the royal guard are sent out to hunt it down.<br /><br />Not one has ever returned. </i><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">When Asterin Faelenhart, Princess of Axaria and heir to the throne, discovers that she may hold the key to defeating the mysterious demon terrorizing her kingdom, she vows not to rest until the beast is slain. With the help of her friends and the powers she wields — though has yet to fully understand — Asterin sets out to complete a single task. The task that countless, trained soldiers have failed. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">To kill it. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">But as they hunt for the demon, they unearth a plot to assassinate the Princess herself instead. Asterin and her companions begin to wonder how much of their lives have been lies, especially when they realize that the center of the web of deceit might very well be themselves. With no one else to turn to, they are forced to decide just how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect the only world they have ever known. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">That is, of course… if the demon doesn’t get to them first.</span><br />
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<b style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">From young author Coco Ma comes a dazzling new tale of adventure, power, and betrayal, weaving together a stunning world of magic with a killer cast in an explosive, unforgettable debut.</b><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">GUYS I ACTUALLY MET THE AUTHOR!!! Which I know is a complete tangent because you were expecting a review. So I will give you my review super quickly first, then go on to fangirl about how I met the author back in the end of November.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From the synopsis alone, I was definitely intrigued. Add a gorgeous cover, and I was bound to read this. And, to my delight, I was not disappointed. The plot had so. Many. Twists.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The plot revolves around Princess Asterin Faelenhart, who is the heir to the Axaria throne. She has a tense relationship with her mother, Queen Pricilla, and the General of Axaria, Carlotta Garringsford, never quite ever able to meet their standards and expectations. That is, until there are reports of a beast that is killing people, and Asterin sets out with a band of five others to stop it. And then ALL the twists happen.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The cast itself is large: there's Asterin (the princess), Quinlan (one of two new members of Asterin's Elites and love interest), Orion (Asterin's Royal Guardian), Luna (Asterin's lady-in-waiting and best friend), Eadric (Captain of Asterin's Elites and Luna's boyfriend), Rose (the other newest of the Asterin's Elites), and Harry (reclusive hunter). Whew. All these characters were interesting in their own way, and despite the sheer number of them, we get to experience some depth of each of their characters. They all are so much more than they appear to be, and I loved the different relationships going on with all of them.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I had quite a lot of fun reading about the magic system. There are three main elements (fire, water, and earth), with six other, and more minor, elements. They form a triangle of nine elements in total. There's also one other element that rivals the powers of all the nine elements combined, which is shadow. What I found interesting was that characters can actually learn to wield more than one element, though there are often still some hard limits to how many one can learn. There are very select and rare people who can wield all nine elements, who are known as omnifinitied. Which Asterin and Quinlan are.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Of Asterin's party, the one that threw me off was Luna's presence. As Asterin's lady-in-waiting, I didn't quite see how how joining their beast-hunting party was practical in any way. Though it becomes apparent why the author had Luna join them as the book unfolds, it still doesn't quite make sense to me why Asterin let her go. But that's okay, because it's very clear that Luna is going to be a huge character in the second book, given the aftermath of the ending.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">THE ENDING. Guys, there are SO many twists. Identities, spells, revelations, misguided deception, you name it, this book has it. Holy smokes, my head was rolling trying to reorder the world in my head numerous times. The second book definitely promises to be just as good, if not better. I'm really really looking forward to it!!!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Okay. And now some fangirling because I MET THE AUTHOR. It was at her only book signing in Canada, in her hometown where she (and me!) lives. And guys. I cannot explain how amazing she is. She took the time to actually talk to me when I went up to get my book signed. And it's super crazy to see how young and talented she is (she wrote the book when she was 15 and it got published right after she finished high school!). She's just this awesome person with a heck lot of spunk and fun that you also see in her characters. I am so so so grateful I got to meet her and get my book signed!!!</span></h3>
Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-56840275798761300322020-01-25T17:51:00.000-05:002020-01-25T17:51:06.420-05:00Review: House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: House of Salt and Sorrows</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Erin A. Craigh</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Standalone</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: August 9, 2019</span></span></h3>
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<span id="freeText11313545714145672741" style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.</i><br /><br />Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.<br /><br />Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?<br /><br />When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A dark retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses? Yes please! Except I had no idea just how dark and creepy it would be...we're talking madness, long hallways, ghosts, and a lot of dead people.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The book began with such an incredible and spooky setting: a funeral on craggy shores. Right from the start, the book's world building and atmosphere was strong. And it just kept getting better from there. I could literally feel the constant salt and the bashing ocean waves in every chapter. I heavily applaud the author for just how grim the entire book felt, and the overall atmosphere she created. Even during the balls and the dancing, which were supposed to have a fairytale essence, the author cleverly lay hints of unnaturalness and eeriness through it.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The main character is Annaleigh, the sixth of twelve daughters. However, with four of her sisters dead, she's become the second eldest. What I liked about her was her determination to get to the bottom of her recent sister's death. She literally left nothing deter her, even when her sisters were out experiencing the splendour of the balls. Annaleigh was a girl of doing, not content with sitting around or letting herself be distracted from the problems she was beginning to see. And given the Victorian setting, where girls are expected to wear corsets and seek suitors, this was an extremely strong personality trait and made her very likeable. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The plot itself was just so interesting. It took all the familiar plot lines of the Twelve Dancing Princesses and embedded them into a dark story chock-full of grief and mourning as a means of escape to drive the story forward. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This book essentially took the fairy tale and fused it with rich gothic themes of madness and ghosts, then threw in some beloved fantasy aspects like magical doors, gods, and omnipotent abilities. It's definitely one a kind; not quite a retelling, not paranormal, not quite fantasy, not quite horror, but something mixed in between. All which I thoroughly enjoyed!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The suspense in this book literally kept me up all night. Everything was so gripping. There was also one point where I legitimately thought I was going crazy myself, because I was completely uncertain how the plot was going to unfold or whether the main character was actually crazy or not. I was honestly scared that I had been following around an unreliable narrator, that everything the Annaleigh had done or seen actually had never happened. I don't read a lot of spooky books, but that level of fear and uncertainty I felt definitely was enough to get my heart going.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The on</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ly thing that put me off was the resolution. I felt like there could have been just a tad more to wrap up the fantasy aspect to it, to comfort me that all the horrors were truly behind the characters. But it was left a bit open ended, which I suppose was the point to keep the readers guessing and hoping nothing else bad happens...</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. It just has so much to offer in it, and blended so many different genres together wonderfully. I'm definitely going to read whatever books the author writes next!</span></span></h3>
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Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-79422224026790063822020-01-21T23:54:00.000-05:002020-01-21T23:54:09.902-05:00Review: Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: Beneath the Sugar Sky</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Seanan McGuire</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Wayward Children #3</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: January 9, 2018</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">When Rini lands with a literal splash in the pond behind Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, the last thing she expects to find is that her mother, Sumi, died years before Rini was even conceived. But Rini can’t let Reality get in the way of her quest – not when she has an entire world to save! (Much more common than one would suppose.)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">If she can't find a way to restore her mother, Rini will have more than a world to save: she will never have been born in the first place. And in a world without magic, she doesn’t have long before Reality notices her existence and washes her away. Good thing the student body is well-acquainted with quests...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">A tale of friendship, baking, and derring-do.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><span id="freeText17928709337607599475" style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;">Warning: May contain nuts.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now this was quite the venture into Nonsense! Very entertaining, since so far in the series, we have only been exposed to worlds considered High Logic.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The premise of this book itself is nonsensical: Sumi's future daughter, who is from Confection (the world Sumi went to), time-travels back to the present day to figure a way somehow stop Sumi from doing something that makes Rini start to disappear in the future. Expect the "thing" that Sumi did to start all this was...get murdered. Yeah. So obviously, with Sumi having been murdered, of course Rini would start to disappear in the future. Which is why Rini leaps into the past before she disappears completely to figure out a way to stop it. Aka resurrect Sumi.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Compared to the other books, this book was absolutely absurd in a strange and fun way. Logical rules are broken (did you catch the whole future-child-disappearing-and-jumps-to-the-past-where-her-mom-has-been-murdered-and-tries-to-resurrect-her thing? Crazy!), world hopping happens, friends are visited, friends are left behind in other worlds, and absolutely nothing makes sense in Confection. But in its own, nonsensical way, it makes perfect logical sense that everything panned out that way.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Rini herself was very spontaneous in a lunatic, non-reality-conforming way. "Time doesn't work backwards? Make it work backwards. Things are disturbing? Why thank you, a complement" etc. Though, I'm going to admit this: the whole going back in time to save her mom thing? Yeah, it was <i>very</i> reminiscent of <i>Sailor Moon</i>. There's one arc in it where Sailor Moon's daughter (conveniently named "Rini" in the English dub) goes back in time to enlist the help of the Sailor Scouts to save her mom in the future. At another point in <i>Sailor Moon</i>, Rini also threatened with disappearing because her parents weren't going end up together. See any similarities? I have no idea if it's coincidental or not, but it's just something I noticed.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The concept of world-hopping is probably going to be a one-time occurrence; I suspect if it were to come up again, many of the kids at Eleanor's home would use it to try to go back to their home worlds. However, I was pleasantly surprised that Nancy reappeared, and that we got a slight epilogue to her story after the ending of the first book.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The characters that drew my attention the most (apart from Rini) was Christopher and Cora. I thought Christopher was a pretty neat character from the first book, as his world sounded quite fascinating (bones and skeletons!). We got more backstory into his situation and character, which I liked. Cora was a completely new character, the latest student at Eleanor's school. She was described as large, having struggled with weight and bullying all her life until she went to her world. I enjoyed the author's take on her struggles, and how she explained how people should not be judged based on their physical appearances, but by their actions, interests, and personalities. The two were quite interesting together, as Christoper viewed beauty as beneath the skin (the bones), which definitely resonated with Cora. As much as I might somewhat ship them, I more so want them to find their ways back to to their own worlds to be happy!</span></span></h3>
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Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-83577276996719349072020-01-16T22:57:00.000-05:002020-01-16T22:57:05.260-05:00Review: Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: Down Among the Sticks and Bones</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Seanan McGuire</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Wayward Children #2</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: June 13, 2017</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Twin sisters Jack and Jill were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">This is the story of what happened first…</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Jacqueline was her mother’s perfect daughter—polite and quiet, always dressed as a princess. If her mother was sometimes a little strict, it’s because crafting the perfect daughter takes discipline.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Jillian was her father’s perfect daughter—adventurous, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tom-boy. He really would have preferred a son, but you work with what you've got.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">They were five when they learned that grown-ups can’t be trusted.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">They were twelve when they walked down the impossible staircase and discovered that the pretense of love can never be enough to prepare you a life filled with magic in a land filled with mad scientists and death and </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">choices</i><span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Jack was my favourite character in the first book, so I was absolutely thrilled that there was a prequel story about her experience in the Moors, before she returned to the mundane realm and was shipped off to Eleanor West's school.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The first and foremost thing: Jack and Jill's parents are the absolute worst. The author had a really interesting commentary about the concept of children, childhood, and the expectations parents place on their children. It was sassy in a very matter-of-fact way, which made it entertaining to read. You can see it straight away from the synopsis, and boy does it get better. I will admit, it was a little difficult for me to wrap my head around Jill being the tomboyish one and Jack the princess one in the beginning; I knew them solely as the opposite from the first book, with Jill in her crazy dresses and Jack always impeccably dressed.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What I really liked about this book was the underlying psychology dropped here and there for each of the twins; the author laid out the foundation of each twin's mindsets, and thereby explaining why each made their own choices. Of course Jill wanted to go with the Master (Dracula); she had spent her entire life always second to Jack in terms of getting all the positive female attention. And of course Jack chose to go with Dr. Bleak (Frankenstein); she had spend her entire life as nothing but pretty decoration, and wanted to something more with her life. Everything just made so much sense.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I do think it would have been fun to experience Jill's descent into her, well, madness. Her obsession with the Master was just downright creepy, and her behaviour was off the charts insane at times. But I suppose we already knew that from the first book...but a bit more justification and exploration into her time learning how to become a vampire would have been interesting. Did she never question anything she was doing? Does she have absolutely no sense of morals?</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I also think it would have been quite entertaining to see how Jack and Jill's parents handled the return of their daughters. How they reached the conclusion to ship them off to Eleanor's. Because, at seventeen, their parents in no way could have been able to keep up with them, let alone control them. I think it would have been quite satisfying to have the parents realize their mistakes, or to at least realize they could no longer control their daughters. And also, what exactly happened to Jack and Jill's relationship to their new brother? But the biggest question I have is this</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">: how on earth could Jack have forgiven Jill once they arrived back in this world after what's she's done? Sisters or not, they just seemed far too different to act even remotely like sisters again, which makes me wonder about how they got along at Eleanor's or why they stood out for one another there.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Overall, it was a very fun book that shed some light on Jack and Jill's previous lives, and who they are meant to be. More Jack please!!!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-86651643112001599022020-01-12T22:39:00.000-05:002020-01-12T22:39:13.866-05:00Review: Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: Every Heart A Doorway</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Seanan McGuire</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Wayward Children #1</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: April 5, 2016</span></span></h3>
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<b style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">No Quests</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">No matter the cost.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I will be bluntly honest: from the synopsis, I thought this was a middle-grade book. The book's short length only enforced this perspective. But it's not! It's YA!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I love a good portal fantasy book. The whole idea of being plucked out of my ordinary mundane life, thrust into a different world, and then saving it and being proclaimed a hero is literally a constant dream. But the question I've always asked: what happens when (or if) the main character goes back home to our world? How the heck would they cope? How would they deal with being forced to do mundane things, when they've already gone and done extraordinary ones? Because honestly, the transition would be seriously rough.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This book (or this series) gathers these questions up in its arms and runs with it. And it is spectacular. Every kid in Eleanor's home has gone to a different world and come back. Whether having left by choice or not, all these kids are trying to find their way back home; none of them are willing to accept that they are fated to remain in this world. (There actually is a sister school for kids who come back from other worlds and are desperately trying to forget everything and assimilate back into their normal lives, but that definitely sounds...well, depressing). </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is <i>not</i> one of those "institution that holds unspeakable horrors" or is trying to "correct" the kids or even treats them like psychological freaks. No, not at all. Why? Because </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Eleanor, who runs the school, is also someone who went to a different world and is waiting to return. So this is a school of <i>acceptance </i>and<i> hope</i>, which I found very powerful.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The other thing I really enjoyed was that I literally </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">feel</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> each character's loss and desperation to get back to their world. It's kind of like when I finish a book, and then I'm forced to have to return to my life when I've just been on grand adventures with characters saving a different world and I feel important. It feels unbearable, and all the characters really resonated with that part of me.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I really loved the imagination of the author and all the unique worlds that each of the students from Miss Eleanor's home have been to. We get to see the culture and celebration and rules behind each world, and be awed at how different and wonderful and </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">interesting </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">all the other worlds these children have gone to are.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> You have Fairylands and Underworlds, Nonsense worlds and Logic worlds, and so forth. All with their unique rules.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is one character that stood out: Jack. I simply <i>adored</i> her. I just loved how unabashed she was about being a mad scientist. She's doesn't mind that people dislike her for being engrossed with the dead and other forms of morbid sciences, but she <i>does</i> mind it when people think less of her abilities. Some of my favourite lines are when she says she's insulted that people think she would wait so long to murder someone (she would/has the capacity to do instantly if she wanted), or that she would have use for certain human part when she clearly does not have the instruments to study them properly. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Despite its short length, there was still a well-developed story within it. The touch of mystery made the book very compelling and gripping. Combined with the short length, it was easy to breeze through the book in a day. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-88834414180060139232020-01-04T01:03:00.000-05:002020-01-04T01:03:00.364-05:00Review: Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: Storm and Fury</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: The Harbinger #1</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: June 11, 2019</span></span></h3>
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<span id="freeText6049167201464915375" style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Eighteen-year-old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her unique gift is part of a secret so dangerous that she’s been in hiding for years in an isolated compound fiercely guarded by Wardens—gargoyle shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her, flesh and bone, to enhance their own powers.<br /><br />When Wardens from another clan arrive with disturbing reports that something out there is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s safe world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own that will upend her world yet again—but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to put her trust in Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed…</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">MORE ROTH? :D Well, technically no, but also yes because I reread the entire <i>The Dark Elements</i> series just familiarize myself with the world and characters. Then I plunged right into this book!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This book features out kickbutt heroine, Trinity. I won't go into spoilers, but she lives in a Warden compound and is protected there by them. She also has a friend, Micha, who is assigned <i>directly</i> to protect her. Why? What makes her so very very special? Well, read the book and find out ;) </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Enter Zayne (Zayne!!! Whose heart got so seriously broken by Layla! YOUR CHANCE TO HEAL IS HERE!!!) and some other familiar faces, who drop by to the compound for a visit, asking for help to deal with a creature killing both demons and Wardens. And then the compound is attacked, and as you would expect...chaos ensues.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can't say much about the plot itself without spoilers, but I found the pace much more fast-paced and gripping than <i>The Dark Elements</i> series. There was very little sitting-around-doing-mundane-tasks, which made everything more gripping and urgent. However, I will admit that, being a true Jennifer L. Armentrout book, there is quite the romance that builds up throughout the book. Shirtless scenes mixed in with some silliness, and all other sorts of other hot-guy-boyfriend-material. You know, the good (and clean!) stuff I'm a sucker for :)</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The best part has to be the reappearance of Roth and Layla. Cayman even makes a reappearance, and Bambi too (I'm still hoping Bambi will find her way back to Layla and Roth). Specifically, the banter between Roth and Zayne was hilarious as always, minus the jealousy factor. It just feels more like a frenemy-bromance, which is just plan fun to read! Though the focus of the book obvious wasn't about them, it was an absolute delight to see that they're all still doing okay and that they too remain to have an important part to play in helping Trinity and Zayne along in their stories.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The ending...I didn't see that coming. Or, rather, there were two twists, but one of them I hadn't seen coming. Looking back, I probably should have at least suspected, but I was so convinced I had pinpointed another twist (which happened, huzzah!) that it completely slipped my mind that a second twist was in store. But it happened all the same, and now the second book is going to have to pick up the pieces of the consequences of Zayne's near-instanteous agreement to something veerrrryyy important. I can't wait for the next book to come out!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-80126636291794813072020-01-01T10:00:00.000-05:002020-01-01T10:00:08.353-05:00Happy New Year!<h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Happy New Year, everyone!!! Can you believe that it's 2020 already?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I'm going to be spending probably the next three months trying to remember to write "2020" instead of "2019" or anything of the other years in the 2010s. Jeez, that's kind of crazy to think about it...we can now say "2010s." So weird! Also, if any of you have any tips to help me remember not to write "2020," do let me know. I'm always really bad at it haha.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful start to your new year. May this year be filled with tons of happiness, friends, family, and of course, great books!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Happy 2020 to you all, and happy reading!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-61008790967407060052019-12-27T14:00:00.000-05:002019-12-27T14:00:04.500-05:00Series Review: The Dark Elements by Jennifer L. Armentrout<h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Huzzah! It's another series review! I recently (okay, not that recently) re-read Jennifer L. Armentrout's <i>The Dark Elements</i> series, in preparation for reading <i>Storm and Fury</i>, which is the first book to the spinoff series about Zayne. Yes, that Zayne. And yes, I know, the covers have changed like 3 times (I own a mismatched set, which is every reader's worst nightmare because they. Don't. MATCH. *painful shrieking*), but here's the second version, so hopefully most(?) people will be at least familiar with it.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, because I am a horrible person, I'm using the original covers of the books I physically own. Because it feels kind of weird not to, like I'm trying to review a book with a cover I don't recognize and don't recall reading. I apologize in advance.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ANYWAY.</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>White Hot Kiss</i>:</span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1377784515l/17455585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1377784515l/17455585.jpg" width="130" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, the first and most important thing I need to say about this book is: ROTH. Also, Bambi. Did I ever mention I'm terrified of snakes? I'm terrified of snakes. But in books? Less so. And Bambi is almost enough to cure me of my phobia (I said <i>almost.</i> I am still very much definitely and in no way will ever be NOT afraid of snakes. They terrify me. Period. End of story.)</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anyway. This book was just as good as I remembered it to be. Roth made my heart squeal, the love triangle grated a bit on my nerves, Sam and Stacey were hilarious, Zayne freaked out over Layla's secret interactions Roth, the plot was suspenseful in all the best ways, and the ending left me in shreds. I still love this book!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Stone Cold Touch:</i></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The love triangle develops! Given that this was a reread, I couldn't help but cringe a bit whenever Layla and Zayne had a intimate moment. Layla obviously belongs with Roth (yes, I am very biased, don't judge me!), so it felt kind of off-kilter to see her together with Zayne. But at the same time, it kind of made me feel really sad for Zayne, knowing he was putting his heart out there and trying to fight for Layla when I knew she wasn't going to choose him.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Back to the plot. I was definitely a fan of the ending, because it definitely pulled on my heartstrings. The whole clan finally turning against Layla, the unfairness of it all, then how Roth and Zayne rushing to try to find and rescue her, and then <i>that reveal</i>. Also, ROTH. The fact that he made some unknown sacrifice to save Layla (not even known to him) just slew my heart. Again.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Every Last Breath:</i></span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SQdUQ5pa6TwI5cuug7J1iFPJ7JgXmvNPbFNJx0cguliRi7Ig1ZIbTkgwz97g8-uA0ISGdn2mRMvHAeDhx78zt-a-GLHhdnSuNSQurZCVePk98IQXiZqRkMjthUVNVWu0jw4bf6hDTL0/s1600/9781460330524_stonecoldtouch_ebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1043" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SQdUQ5pa6TwI5cuug7J1iFPJ7JgXmvNPbFNJx0cguliRi7Ig1ZIbTkgwz97g8-uA0ISGdn2mRMvHAeDhx78zt-a-GLHhdnSuNSQurZCVePk98IQXiZqRkMjthUVNVWu0jw4bf6hDTL0/s200/9781460330524_stonecoldtouch_ebook.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The conclusion! The epic conclusion! I distinctly recall how the author actually LET the readers choose who Layla ended up with. There was an online voting poll, and at the end of the timeframe, whoever had the most votes was who the author wrote Layla to end up with. That was definitely a unique experience! I obviously voted for Roth. From multiple devices. Did I mention I love Roth?</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As the conclusion of the series, this was the book that answered a lot of questions. What was the sacrifice that Roth had Cayman barter in exchange for saving Layla's life? When Layla shifts, why does she look so different? What about Sam and Stacey? Questions and answers! And of course, tons more of Roth. Plus we get to meet Thumper and Robin!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As for the ending, the self-sacrifice trope was a bit on the heavy side for me, but at the same time, it was uber cute to see Roth wallow in his grief. My heart. It just died. Because the demon prince loved Layla so much and he wasn't doing well at all and ROTH <3</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Of course, the book ended a bit abruptly in regards to Zayne's own healing from Layla's rejection. Which, now looking back, was on purpose as a means to pave the way for <i>Storm and Fury</i> to come out. The other question I have: who, or <i>what,</i> on earth is Morris???</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In conclusion: the love triangle definitely is way outdated and I could have done without it, but Roth makes up for everything. Despite the whole love triangle, I definitely felt bad for Zayne, especially since he didn't really get much closure. But at the same time, failed love interests that suddenly are able to move on at the end of a series also feels a bit forced, so in a way, it was good that Zayne didn't really get much closure. It's <i>especially</i> good since his lack of closure has now stemmed a spin-off series, where we get to see him be happy (hopefully) in all the ways that he deserves with Trinity. Though the series actually has to come out first, but I'm going on a limb here to assume they're going to get their happily-ever after! And thus, I present you my final verdict of the series:</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-6593109516483926552019-12-23T14:06:00.000-05:002019-12-23T14:06:13.079-05:00Happiest of Holidays!<h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I just wanted to wish everyone the happiest of holidays! Whether you're celebrating Hanukah, </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Christmas, </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Kwanza, anything else or none of them at all, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and festive remainder of the year.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's to the end of 2019! Happy reading, and may it be filled family, friends, good food, and a few last-minute books :)</span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphensiMTnRI40MMEYYIF5zRJYJeNGUenMpgk7vYd6HGstAfD5e8rta1DMuwSNWq8odxF1qvQC6RlNDmdVafpNmwLiFoDJOYAeuCPil5n_ZvmMUMCcbnhGquoclT-GudCr-qet2D_RO64zM/s1600/Celebrations-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="411" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphensiMTnRI40MMEYYIF5zRJYJeNGUenMpgk7vYd6HGstAfD5e8rta1DMuwSNWq8odxF1qvQC6RlNDmdVafpNmwLiFoDJOYAeuCPil5n_ZvmMUMCcbnhGquoclT-GudCr-qet2D_RO64zM/s200/Celebrations-5.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-87917044875326121642019-12-19T13:35:00.000-05:002019-12-19T13:35:07.784-05:00Review: For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: For a Muse of Fire</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Heidi Heilig</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: For a Muse of Fire #1</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: September 25, 2018</span></span></h3>
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<i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">A young woman with a dangerous power she barely understands. A smuggler with secrets of his own. A country torn between a merciless colonial army, a terrifying tyrant, and a feared rebel leader.</i><span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> The first book in a new trilogy from Heidi Heilig.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Jetta’s family is famed as the most talented troupe of shadow players in the land. With Jetta behind the scrim, their puppets seem to move without string or stick a trade secret, they say. In truth, Jetta can see the souls of the recently departed and bind them to the puppets with her blood. But the old ways are forbidden ever since the colonial army conquered their country, so Jetta must never show never tell. Her skill and fame are her family’s way to earn a spot aboard the royal ship to Aquitan, where shadow plays are the latest rage, and where rumor has it the Mad King has a spring that cures his ills. Because seeing spirits is not the only thing that plagues Jetta. But as rebellion seethes and as Jetta meets a young smuggler, she will face truths and decisions that she never imagined—and safety will never seem so far away.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Heidi Heilig creates a world inspired by Asian cultures and French colonialism.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This book has been on my TBR for quite some time. And having read the book, t</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">here's a lot going on in this book that I want to talk about. The plot and characters, of course, but also the colonialism and the concept of racially mixed people. The acknowledgements in the book (if you're weird and read them like me) explain a lot of what was going through the author's head, which I really appreciated.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The plot itself is a bit cut-from-the-cloth: a tyrant-like figure (or kingdom) has taken over another kingdom, a rebellion is on the verge of rising, and the main character gets swept up in it. However, the elements within the plot make it unique; Jetta's journey inevitably makes her cross paths with the rebellion's activities, both directly and indirectly, time and time again. That being said, I found the </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">first third of the book I found a bit on the slow side. Jetta's burning desire to perform for the General a bit too reckless, leading her to a slew of predictable misfortunes events. On one hand, her actions were crucial to get the plot moving and gaining attention, but it kind of came off as much too desperate without enough substantial explanation. But once that was through, the pacing picked up, as there was a lot more danger to avoid.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I really enjoyed how there were chapters of prose, play scripts, transmissions, and letters in the book. It really gave a neat break between reading straight prose, especially since it hinted at other character perspectives without actually switching into their direct narrative.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There was a unique blend of Asian and French European culture in this book. Though the book was set in Chakrana, an Asian country, the French influence of the Aquitians was abundantly obvious, as most colonialized countries are. This is realistic representation of colonialism that we don't see very often in literature, which I appreciated. Also, having Leo as a mixed child really brought to light the unfair discrimination and alienation many people of mixed parentage experience, especially in a colonialization setting.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All in all, I enjoyed this book! I really liked how it explored so many themes of colonialism, mixed parentage, and bipolar disorder within the confines of a rebellion trope. </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-58653280978296152162019-12-15T23:25:00.000-05:002019-12-15T23:25:08.100-05:00Review: Allied by Amy Tintera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: Allied</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Amy Tintera</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Ruined #3 (final)</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: May 1, 2018</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">In the final book in the New York Times bestselling </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Ruined</i><span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">series, the romance of The Selection and the epic stakes of </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Red Queen</i><span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> come together in a story of revenge, adventure, and unexpected love.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Emelina Flores and her sister, Olivia, were determined to bring peace to the people of Ruina. But as the war for liberation raged on, what triumph and freedom meant to Em and Olivia slowly changed. As Olivia’s violence and thirst for vengeance became her only ambition, Em was left to pick up the pieces.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">But it’s not only Em who is upset by Olivia’s increased violence. Other members of the Ruined army are beginning to see the cracks, and soon a small group of them defects from Olivia’s army and joins Em instead. The two sisters are soon pitted against each other in an epic battle for the kingdom and the future, and only one will win.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The last book of the Ruined series! I have been eagerly awaiting the conclusion, because finally, we have the two Flores sisters emotionally, and eventually physically, pitted against each other!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After the whirlwind of the previous book, Em is back with the Olivia and their Ruined. But the difference between then and now is that Em knows Olivia needs to be taken down. Negotiating isn't going to work, and Olivia can't go on with her bloodthirsty rampage.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Em and Cas have been through so much together. They both were acting and making decisions like a proper king and queen. Yes, there was still self-doubt, but a lot of that was tossed away given the stakes that were steadily rising. They both remained strong willed throughout the book, and didn't waver from the cause nor from each other. There were also some absolutely adorable moments between the two, which I loved loved loved!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Aren and Iria! After Iria was dragged away, it was clear Aren would be rescuing her at some point in this book. Aren's abilities proved to be effortlessly the most scary of all the Ruined, not just in rescuing Iria, but in the plot itself. I also loved the friendship that bloomed between Aren and Galo, too.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The ending wasn't as epic as I had hoped, but there still was a good old-fashioned battle and war, which I always loved. I think the very last line of the book, "But they would", was the absolutely perfect sentence to conclude the series, since "But they would" was literally the tagline of the first book about how Em would make people fear her. Overall, I really enjoyed the overall conclusion of the growth of all the characters. I just wished the war was a bit fancier, but that's also just me and my fantasy bloodlust talking haha.</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-14453373391835188432019-12-11T23:11:00.000-05:002019-12-11T23:11:02.812-05:00Review: Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: Defy Me</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Tahereh Mafi</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Shatter Me #5</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: April 2, 2019</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">The gripping fifth installment in the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Shatter Me series. Will Juliette’s broken heart make her vulnerable to the strengthening darkness within her?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of the other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her—secrets that change everything.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After that BOMBSHELL of an ending in <i>Restore Me</i>, I was literally dying to get my hands on this book. And then I read <i>Shadow Me</i> (the novella that happens in-between <i>Restore Me </i>and this book) and I was revived. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have one word: KENJI. Kenji! Gets! A! POV!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He had a POV in <i>Shadow Me</i>, but this was the first time he had an actual POV in a full book. It's not just Juliette and Warner anymore; Kenji's in too, and honest to god, he was literally the best part of the book. I just loved being in his head and experiencing all his reactions, because they are so entertaining and just so endearing.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There isn't really too much I can say about the book without giving away spoilers (I mean...the synopsis literally speaks of nothing. Nothing about the plot, nothing about the major cliffhanger it picks up on, nothing! So how on earth am I supposed to talk about it without giving away major plot points?). What I will say is that there were both aspects I did and did not expect. Warner and Juliette were separated for the majority of the book, which I wasn't quite expecting. We got a few twists that I didn't see coming, though one of them I felt was a bit forced. But it's definitely a key driving plot force, so I'll roll with it.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kenji's romantic development with Nazeera was extremely cute in a funny way. They obviously still have some stuff to works out. Nazeera herself revealed quite a bit of information that I hadn't been expecting, but it defini</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">tely lated down the groundwork for the final conclusion in the next book. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Argh, there's so little I can say without spoiling the entire storyline! </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I mentioned a cliffhanger from the last book, right? Yeah. If you haven't read the previous book, there's very little I can say. Basically, some dead people aren't dead any more, some people go missing, some people become dead. Just read the book!</span></span></h3>
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<br />Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-49327182074940766172019-12-07T22:42:00.000-05:002019-12-07T22:42:06.578-05:00Review: The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: The Red Scrolls of Magic</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Authors: Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: The Eldest Curses #1</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: April 9, 2019</span></span></h3>
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<b style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">From #1 New York Times bestseller Cassandra Clare and award-winner Wesley Chu comes the first book in a new series that follows High Warlock Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood as they tour the world after the Mortal War. The Red Scrolls of Magic is a Shadowhunters novel.</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">All Magnus Bane wanted was a vacation—a lavish trip across Europe with Alec Lightwood, the Shadowhunter who against all odds is finally his boyfriend. But as soon as the pair settles in Paris, an old friend arrives with news about a demon-worshipping cult called the Crimson Hand that is bent on causing chaos around the world. A cult that was apparently founded by Magnus himself. Years ago. As a joke.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Now Magnus and Alec must race across Europe to track down the Crimson Hand and its elusive new leader before the cult can cause any more damage. As if it wasn’t bad enough that their romantic getaway has been sidetracked, demons are now dogging their every step, and it is becoming harder to tell friend from foe. As their quest for answers becomes increasingly dire, Magnus and Alec will have to trust each other more than ever—even if it means revealing the secrets they’ve both been keeping.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When I first head about this series, my first thought was "Malec???" And then I heard it was going to be an adult fantasy series, and my thoughts became "MALEC!!!" I'm horrible, I know. B</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ut cute romance, hot air balloon disasters, memory problems, Helen Blackthorne meeting Aline Penhallow for the first time, shocking betrayals? This literally has Magnus Bane written all over it (okay, maybe not the last two).</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This book (series) actually takes place in-between two pre-existing series. It was a bit of a shock to me, actually, to have to jump back to a time before Alec and Magnus were married and were raising two kids. But, if you ever wondered exactly what Alec and Magnus had been up to when they sent all those postcards back to New York to Clary and friends, this is it!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As is true to Magnus's personality, there was a lot of flamboyant scenes and actions. And, as was true to Alec's personality and essence as a Shadowhunter, there was a lot of action. I found that it actually provided a solid balance of the book; Magnus brought the fun and over-the-top bizarreness to the book, and Alec's seriousness kept the scenes, and overall plot, grounded to the problem.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What I was not expecting was for familiar faces to reappear! The one that I was most intrigued by was the meeting between Aline and Helen. Again, it took me a moment to wrap my head around the fact that they weren't together yet, since I definitely have always associated them as a couple.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There were a few twists that I didn't see coming, which I won't go into, which made it pleasantly enjoyable. However, the book itself kind of lacked the same high stakes that I normally expect from Cassandra Clare books. Then again, this kind of happens in-between all the pre-established the-world-is-ending dates, so there's not really that huge sense of urgency or anything. It feels a bit late to be developing Magnus' character in a prequel-but-also-sequel series, given that I've already read about Magnus in the books set chronologically after this series occurs, and I didn't notice much of a change. Regardless, it was still a fun book to read!</span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjRlUMRot5GGpg-JruePpwiKVG7hSjG-j9o2sOAzo6r92ripc1Z9lO9Bxl7rFJXoAkt49YqaWsklSu46r3A2t0spanKTw-5xBLlhsrOQcDThdjAE-9UredQcOy5bNxgc0fJoa3QYo2Qg/s1600/4+Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="1502" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjRlUMRot5GGpg-JruePpwiKVG7hSjG-j9o2sOAzo6r92ripc1Z9lO9Bxl7rFJXoAkt49YqaWsklSu46r3A2t0spanKTw-5xBLlhsrOQcDThdjAE-9UredQcOy5bNxgc0fJoa3QYo2Qg/s200/4+Stars.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-50955085731480171732019-12-03T14:49:00.000-05:002019-12-03T14:49:01.522-05:00Review: Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian<a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503181967l/32505753._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503181967l/32505753._SY475_.jpg" width="211" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: Ash Princess</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Laura Sebastian</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Ash Princess Trilogy #1</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: April 24, 2018</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia's family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess--a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">For ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This book's set up had key elements I love in fantasy: tyrants, protagonists forced to do unspeakable horrors, suppressed powers, and a revolution in the wings.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Kaiser's actions were definitely antagonist-worthy. He enslaved all of Theo's people, forced her to bow and scrape to him, continuously shamed her, alienated her, and so forth. He's definitely someone I would want to smack, a tyrant who's fall will bring me much delight.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'll be honest, from the cover's gritty crown (also, does anyone notice it looks a lot like the <i>Red Queen </i>cover?), I had been hoping for a tough and rugged princess. To my surprise and disappointment, Theo was far from that, a dainty thing who chose not to feel the any anger in her situation. I understand that she did it as a means to survive, but she really internalized her submission, which was what threw me off. Had she been harbouring honest resentment, I probably would have enjoyed it a bit more. She also kept flipping through self doubt on whether or not she would be able to kill people, which I found a bit annoying. It was a bit obvious from the start she would be a liability to the mission the entire time. However, </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I will admit that Theo's manipulation of the prince Søren to advance her goals was clever. However, I wasn't overly fond of her painting herself as the portrait of a damsel in distress... I mean, yes, it makes sense for her to that in her situation, but at the same time, it kind of made me sigh in disappointment. It was obvious from the very start that she would not be able to kill him, let alone harm him, even if he was the Kaiser's son.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is also the first book I've read in a while that has an obvious love triangle. Though there is an aspect of it that makes it clear immediately who Theo's going to choose, watching her with both the boys made me cringe a bit on the inside.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was also slightly disappointed by the lack of magic involved in the book. It was present, and the magic system itself was partially developed (I really enjoyed the concept of magical stones being misused as simple jewelry), but it was just missing from the main action. The ending does have a promise of more action and doing of things than this book, so there's that.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Though I enjoyed the book's concept and world, the actual story itself left me a bit unsatisfied. Maybe I'm just not a political fantasy person...</span></span></h3>
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Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-1530355674007316342019-11-29T00:33:00.000-05:002019-12-02T15:09:55.674-05:00Review: Nocturna by Maya Motayne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: Nocturna</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Maya Motayne</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: A Forgery of Magic</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: May 7, 2019</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Set in a Latinx-inspired world, a face-changing thief and a risk-taking prince must team up to defeat a powerful evil they accidentally unleashed.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">To Finn Voy, magic is two things: a knife to hold under the chin of anyone who crosses her…and a disguise she shrugs on as easily as others pull on cloaks.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">As a talented faceshifter, it’s been years since Finn has seen her own face, and that’s exactly how she likes it. But when Finn gets caught by a powerful mobster, she’s forced into an impossible mission: steal a legendary treasure from Castallan’s royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">After the murder of his older brother, Prince Alfehr is first in line for the Castallan throne. But Alfie can’t help but feel that he will never live up to his brother’s legacy. Riddled with grief, Alfie is obsessed with finding a way to bring his brother back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">But when Finn and Alfie’s fates collide, they accidentally unlock a terrible, ancient power—which, if not contained, will devour the world. And with Castallan’s fate in their hands, Alfie and Finn must race to vanquish what they have unleashed, even if it means facing the deepest darkness in their pasts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was intrigued by this book for its Latinx world and magic system. There was a lot of cultural buzz about this book, so of course I had to pick it up.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The first thing I need to discuss: the magic system. Guys, the <i>magic system. </i>In this world, every person is born with the ability to control one of the four elements. Which is already pretty awesome, in my books. But to add to that, everyone has what's called a <i>propio, </i>which is a unique magical ability. For our main characters, Finn's <i>propio</i> is the ability to alter her physical appearance, and Alfie's is the ability to "see" other people's <i>propio </i>and change his own to resemble theirs (yes, it seems weird...but it turns out to trigger a huge disaster in the book).</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I got a bit of <i>A Darker Shade of London</i> by V.E. Schawb vibes from it, with a great darkness accidentally released consuming innocent and unsuspecting people until proper hosts were found. But unlike <i>A Darker Shade of London</i>, the protagonists recognize it very early on and start off immediately to fix it. The main difference between the two (apart from <i>A Darker Shade of London</i> being an adult fantasy book) was the amount of psychological damage Finn and Alfie had, and how it affected their actions. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is quite a bit of recklessness and impulsiveness going on in the book, but it was paired with humour to keep it grounded. I questioned some of the actions of the characters, but it overall was justified in the end.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Though there were a few loose ends, the book overall concluded with a satisfactory ending, enough that it could have been considered a standalone. However, it apparently is a series, so I'm interested to see what strings the author decides to pull on.</span></span></h3>
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<br />Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-43535075474098090972019-11-25T00:15:00.000-05:002019-11-25T00:15:13.552-05:00Review: The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: The Tiger at Midnight</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Swati Teerdhala</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: The Tiger at Midnight Trilogy #1</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: April 23, 2019</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Esha is a legend, but no one knows. It’s only in the shadows that she moonlights as the Viper, the rebels’ highly skilled assassin. She’s devoted her life to avenging what she lost in the royal coup, and now she’s been tasked with her most important mission to date: taking down the ruthless General Hotha.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Kunal has been a soldier since childhood, training morning and night to uphold the power of King Vardaan. His uncle, the general, has ensured that Kunal never strays from the path—even as a part of Kunal longs to join the outside world, which has been growing only more volatile.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Then Esha’s and Kunal’s paths cross—and an unimaginable chain of events unfolds. Both the Viper and the soldier think they’re calling the shots, but they’re not the only players moving the pieces. As the bonds that hold their land in order break down and the sins of the past meet the promise of a new future, both rebel and soldier must make unforgivable choices.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Drawing inspiration from ancient Indian history and Hindu mythology, the first book in Swati Teerdhala's debut fantasy trilogy captivates with electric romance, stunning action, and the fierce bonds that hold people together—and drive them apart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now this was a fun book! I haven't read a cat-and-mouse chase quite like this one before, and it went beyond all my expectations.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's no secret I'm a sucker for secret identities. And I got just that in this book! We have Esha, the living (secret) legend as the Viper, an extremely talented assassin. The only thing distinguishable about the Viper is twin viper whips the Viper always uses. Everything else? All rumours and speculations. Some people believe the Viper is a group of people, others believe the Viper is a ghost. But what no one ever suspects? That the Viper is actually a girl. Ah, feminism!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kunal was Esha's dark to her light; he made an excellent foil character, with his structured tactics and careful planning. I really liked how even though his plans kept falling through in capturing Esha, the experiences kept him humbled. He didn't get angry or cocky; he just had to be smarter.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The whole cat-and-mouse thing was just so very fun to read! Kunal would lay clever traps for Esha, she would unintentionally fall for it, he would capture her, she would cleverly escape. It got to the point where they both anticipated the routine, knowing they would somehow meet again and escape again. But seriously, the traps Kunal lay and the methods Esha used to escape them--they were brilliant!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A lot of things are revealed throughout the book that I won't talk about, lest I spoil it. Some of it I'm at bit wary of, but have hopes it will work out. But know that there's framing, neutrals, clever captures and even more clever escapes, and kindling of an enemy-to-lovers relationship in the works. I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to the next one!</span></span></h3>
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Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-71061839132238728912019-11-21T21:37:00.000-05:002019-11-21T21:37:04.510-05:00Review: Roar by Cora Carmack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: Roar</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Cora Carmack</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Stormheart</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: June 13, 2017</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">In a land ruled and shaped by violent magical storms, power lies with those who control them.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Aurora Pavan comes from one of the oldest Stormling families in existence. Long ago, the ungifted pledged fealty and service to her family in exchange for safe haven, and a kingdom was carved out from the wildlands and sustained by magic capable of repelling the world’s deadliest foes. As the sole heir of Pavan, Aurora’s been groomed to be the perfect queen. She’s intelligent and brave and honorable. But she’s yet to show any trace of the magic she’ll need to protect her people.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">To keep her secret and save her crown, Aurora’s mother arranges for her to marry a dark and brooding Stormling prince from another kingdom. At first, the prince seems like the perfect solution to all her problems. He’ll guarantee her spot as the next queen and be the champion her people need to remain safe. But the more secrets Aurora uncovers about him, the more a future with him frightens her. When she dons a disguise and sneaks out of the palace one night to spy on him, she stumbles upon a black market dealing in the very thing she lacks—storm magic. And the people selling it? They’re not Stormlings. They’re storm hunters.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Legend says that her ancestors first gained their magic by facing a storm and stealing part of its essence. And when a handsome young storm hunter reveals he was born without magic, but possesses it now, Aurora realizes there’s a third option for her future besides ruin or marriage. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">She might not have magic now, but she can steal it if she’s brave enough. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Challenge a tempest. Survive it. And you become its master.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The book's premise definitely intrigued me. Fighting storms? An heir who doesn't have the power to protect her people? An arranged marriage a way to solve the problems? Then the protagonist deciding "screw that" and finding her own way to protect her people? Uh, yes please!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The beginning itself depicted Aurora as a relatively naive girl. Basically, she was quite a mentally weak heroine, as she easily fell to Prince Cas' </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(her betrothed) manipulation to his feigned </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">charms. A bit shaky of a character, yes. But, through a stroke of luck, Aurora realized the deception quickly, and from there her growth was obvious. I was particularly fond of her determination to find a way to protect her own people without her kingdom falling into ruin because of her lack of abilities or being forced to marry a neighbouring kingdom's prince as a means to secure their protection. So with a cleverly planned deception, she escapes with a band of storm hunters and changes her name to Roar.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Despite initial antagonist vibes, one of the most interesting characters by far is probably Cas himself. His motives are both clear, yet unclear: born in a vicious family, he was deemed the weaker of the two brothers and subject to some pretty bad emotional neglect, abuse, and humiliation as a means to compete with his brother. Cas is definitely scheming, but what is interesting is his very genuine concern for Aurora's wellbeing despite his manipulation. Which begs the question: is he just seeking love? Because it definitely feels that way, and if that's the case, then I can't help but be fascinated by him. Cas is easily the most complex character in the book, both in terms of morals and actions.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The concept of storm hunting and storm magic was quite interesting. There are different kinds of storms: the typical storms we're all familiar with, like blizzards, sandstorms, and twisters, but there's also skyfire storms (literal fire storms). What I found enjoyable was how we got to delve a bit into what exactly caused these storms, or rather the mystery behind them and how they are tied to magic. It wasn't fully explained, but that's to be given since that it's only the first book!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Locke, Jinx, Bait, Ransom and the crew I found to be a typical run-of-the-mill band. There is a clear relationship between them all, but it isn't really much explored or at the focus of the book. Locke and Aurora's budding relationship, however, is one that is bluntly obvious, though not to those two. I liked how after Cas pulled his stunt on Aurora, she was quick to guard her heart from being used by other men.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The action of actually hunting a storm didn't quite meet my expectations, both in a good and bad way. On one hand, I was expecting some kind of flashy battle with an ethereal force, which this book didn't have. On the other hand, battling a storm itself sounds more like a really hard and completely unglamorous task, which was exactly how the book portrayed it as. No noble battles in this; just pure guts, a lot of tactics in the midst of panic, in addition to uncontrolled fear and anxiety. Again, not exactly the glamorous or noble capture I was anticipating, but definitely more realistic than my imagination likes to make everything out to be. It wasn't as adventurous as I had hoped the story would be either, but that's okay.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm very interested to know how Roar turns the events around, and whether she'll be able to figure out a way to protect herself and her kingdom from not one but two malicious antagonists!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-68299144305195583572019-11-18T16:57:00.000-05:002019-11-18T16:57:01.267-05:00Review: Avenged by Amy Tintera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: Avenged</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Amy Tintera</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Ruined #2</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: May 2, 2017</span></span></h3>
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<i style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">A war that will fuel her. A bond that will destroy her.</i><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Emelina Flores has come home to Ruina. After rescuing her sister, Olivia, from imprisonment in rival kingdom Lera, Em and Olivia together vow to rebuild Ruina to its former glory. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">But just because Em and Olivia are out of Lera doesn’t mean they are safe. Their actions over the past year have had consequences, and they are now targets of retaliation. Olivia will destroy everyone who acts against Ruina. Em isn’t as sure. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Ever since Em posed as Prince Casimir’s betrothed in Lera, she’s started to see another side to this war. Lera may have destroyed the Ruined for decades, but Em knows that Cas is different. And now that he’s taken the throne, Em believes a truce is within reach. But Olivia suspects that Em’s romantic feelings for Cas are just coloring her judgement.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff8c6; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Em is determined to bring peace to her home. But when winning the war could mean betraying her family, she faces an impossible choice between loyalty and love. Em must stay one step ahead of her enemies—and her blood—before she’s the next victim in this battle for sovereignty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I really loved the first book. This book was just as good in its own way, though not as compelling as the first one.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The most noticeable and fascinating new character was Olivia. Rather, it was interesting to see her complete lack of regard for humanity; it created a serious foil to demonstrate just how twisted her logic was. But at the same time, her explanations behind her initial actions came from a relatable place; she wanted a world where she and her Ruined would never have to be hunted again. Though her reasoning following that kind of derailed, with the whole "enslave humans" and "they all deserve to die for what their king did." I mean, a good villain needs some kind of justifiable grounds to build their wacky reasoning off of, no?</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Em's struggle to ground Olivia's bloodthirstiness was really fascinating to read about. Despite Olivia's violence, Olivia and Em are still sisters, and Em really doesn't want to do anything to break those family bonds since they're the only ones they have left. But as time goes on and Olivia's actions get more and more brutal, it becomes clear there's going to be a major disagreement between the two. It was kind of a slow burn to get to that point, but it was still interesting to see Em's slow buildup towards realizing it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cas' character kind of fell a bit short for me, with his self-doubts made worse by the ploy against him. However, he ended the book stronger, which makes me hopeful for the last book!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031575485604990008.post-20283908028384586462019-11-15T16:21:00.000-05:002019-11-15T16:21:08.187-05:00Review: Echo North by Joana Ruth Meyer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Book: Echo North</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Author: Joana Ruth Meyer</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Series: Standalone</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Publication: January 15, 2019</span></span></h3>
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<span id="freeText7336450242910325434" style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Echo Alkaev’s safe and carefully structured world falls apart when her father leaves for the city and mysteriously disappears. Believing he is lost forever, Echo is shocked to find him half-frozen in the winter forest six months later, guarded by a strange talking wolf—the same creature who attacked her as a child. The wolf presents Echo with an ultimatum: If she lives with him for one year, he will ensure her father makes it home safely. But there is more to the wolf than Echo realizes.<br /><br />In his enchanted house beneath a mountain, each room must be sewn together to keep the home from unraveling, and something new and dark and strange lies behind every door. When centuries-old secrets unfold, Echo discovers a magical library full of books-turned-mirrors, and a young man named Hal who is trapped inside of them. As the year ticks by, the rooms begin to disappear, and Echo must solve the mystery of the wolf’s enchantment before her time is up, otherwise Echo, the wolf, and Hal will be lost forever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At first, I thought this was a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. But it wasn't just Beauty and the Beast; it held elements of other less well-known stories in it, such as the greek myth of Cupid and Psyche. This entire book was written with such a timeless element to it, and it felt like a fairytale itself with cruel stepmothers, missing parents, sacrifice, enhanced and vicious houses, and a love worth fighting for until the very end. And book mirrors. Book! Mirrors! Disclaimer: ranting (see: fangirling) to come.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This book was pure magic with a dash of love, sacrifice, and twisted malice. The story begins off like your typical fairytale, with the heroine, Echo, accepting a deal with a great big wolf in exchange for saving her father's life. Spirited away into an enhanced house, she is then tasked with keeping the magic that holds the house together from unbinding and destroying them all. And then more secrets are revealed, and there's this great quest at the end, and it's just wonderful.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The most important thing I wanted to talk about is the book mirrors. BOOK MIRRORS. What are they, you ask? Well, book mirrors are individual mirrors that physically hold an entire book in them. By stepping in, you are <i>transported</i> into the book's world, where you can physically <i>experience </i>the plot and characters and explore the world as the author imagined it. You can ask the mirror to skip to different parts of the book to experience specific things, leave at any point, or just wander around outside the plot itself.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">I repeat: Experience the book's world. Journey alongside a book's characters. YES PLEASE. SIGN ME UP. I WILL TAKE THEM ALL. Yes yes yes. I want to experience and live through ALL my books!!! No one would ever see me in real life; I would physically live in books. Which sounds absolutely wonderful, in my opinion. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Apart from the boor mirrors (which I still can't get over!!), one thing I noticed was that the pacing of the book changed quite often throughout the book. However, I didn't mind it at all, since I was much too intrigued by the plot and characters and just wanted more. I simply thought this was a beautifully written book with classic themes of love and wonder and magic all seamlessly woven together, and would reread it at any time!</span></span></h3>
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<br />Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06763730567652893251noreply@blogger.com0