Yep, yep...all of the praise for this series is on the level. I really wish I'd given the series a try sooner, but at least I got to it eventually, riYep, yep...all of the praise for this series is on the level. I really wish I'd given the series a try sooner, but at least I got to it eventually, right? :P
Alanna is such a headstrong, determined character, and I love that although she has romance after romance, she never lets those men's desires alter her course. And the man she ends up with is the one who respects EVERY facet of her character, not just the ones he likes or sees in himself.
The friendships and other relationships in this series are fascinating, too. Especially the one she shares with Faithful. Companions as pets are always my favorites, particularly when the animal has a mind to say exactly what he's thinking. ;)
I don't want to say goodbye to these characters, but I just found out there's another series (!?!) so maybe I'll meet them again soon?...more
Each book is better than the last, and that's saying a lot considering how much I've enjoyed each previous book. I like the decisions Alanna's made upEach book is better than the last, and that's saying a lot considering how much I've enjoyed each previous book. I like the decisions Alanna's made up to this point, but most especially as of the end of this book, though I think she should probably check in on that brother of hers…
Can't wait to start the final book, though I'm already wishing it didn't have to end. ;0)...more
Gah, can people please hurry up and finish with the next two books and return them to the library so I don't have to wait? Pretty please?
I think I lovGah, can people please hurry up and finish with the next two books and return them to the library so I don't have to wait? Pretty please?
I think I loved this second book even more. This book really upped the ante on everything: magic, fighting, romance. Super fun, quick reads, but even so, they are just full of awesome. And Alanna is just such a gratifying character. So resistant to change and yet that's all she does.
I don't want to switch gears and listen to something else, so someone better return their copy...FAST. :)...more
Loved this! I am seriously smacking myself for not picking it up sooner. And all because it was labeled as MG, even knowing that the later books are nLoved this! I am seriously smacking myself for not picking it up sooner. And all because it was labeled as MG, even knowing that the later books are not. I know for a fact there are some great middle grade novels out there, but for whatever reason, it's like pulling teeth to get me to read them.
I've been in kind of an audiobook funk. I've listened to the awesome books I've been waiting ages for, obviously, and love them, but in between those, I've had some serious trouble picking up audiobooks that I've actually loved recently. This happened around the time I binged the Seven Realms series, and that helped. So, I thought, hey, why not do that again with another fantasy series that everyone seems to love but that you've so far missed out on? And so my decision to finally read Alanna was made. Of course, then I had to wait for my library to have the audiobook available. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
And now that I've read it, I am regretting waiting so long. I would have LOVED reading this as a kid! I loved reading it as an ADULT. I fully intend on buying the series in book form to share with my daughter when she's a little bit older. It's that kind of book.
There's a gender-bending girl who wants to be raised as a knight, not be shipped off to the monastery to be raised a lady. So, she convinces her brother to go along with her plan, and she takes his place at the palace and he hers at the monastery, where he can practice sorcery. It's a win-win! But Alanna is 11 when she first leaves home, and she's about to go through a multitude of changes that will make concealing her true identity all the more difficult. That premise is made of so much win I can't contain myself!
Alanna is plucky and hard-working, but also hard on herself. I don't necessarily think that characters in books need to be good role models, but Alanna would be a great character to look up to. I love her story so much that as soon as I finished the first book, I immediately started the second. And now I have to go check the library to see if the next book is available because I'm afraid I'll finish book two very soon and I don't want it to end!...more
An ARC of this title was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The StAn ARC of this title was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
There is seriously so much I loved about this novel, but here's the requisite three: 1) It's snarky and funny and kept me laughing throughout; 2) You'll want to read it straight through to see if your guess about Somebody/Nobody is correct (mine was, btw :D); 3) It was huge cheesy grin on my face the whole time I was reading adorable and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. Need another list? Okay, fine. Three things you're going to want after reading this book: waffles, coffee, and a secret pen pal of your own. =)
I absolutely adored Jessie and her self-deprecating humor. She had such a great narrative voice, sarcastic but raw with grief at losing her mother and having her whole world turned upside-down. As much fun as this novel was to read, it was also an emotional journey for the characters.
Here's the thing: I really thought this was supposed to be about the step siblings falling for each other. I thought I read that somewhere (?), so I expected it, but I promise you, that weirdness doesn't happen, though I have enjoyed that premise in other books. Her stepbrother is actually gay and kind of a douche to her at first, but by the end, I really wanted there to have been more of Theo in the book. He ended up really stepping up to his role, and I like the bond that formed between him and Jessie.
Honestly, I enjoyed all of the relationships that developed in this novel…and those that were mended. Jessie has a lot going on in her life, and she sometimes forgets that others have their own issues, but they don't let her forget. But I also thought it was awesome that in the process of repairing some of her relationships, she allows herself to be angry and feel all the things she's kept bottled up for months.
Her "conversations" with Somebody/Nobody were the one bright spot in an otherwise difficult existence for Jessie, at least in the beginning. I have to admit, I had to stay my hand several times to keep from going straight to the end to find out if I was right about SN's identity. It was obvious that they had a lot in common, that there was an almost immediate connection there, and I was really rooting for a romance with whomever this super nice, super funny and completely intriguing guy was, especially since I was pretty sure I knew who he was from the get-go.
But then there were two other guys who posed a threat as potential love interests: one I was feeling the lurve for and one not so much. Things get a little confusing toward the end with all of the feelings going around, and I have to admit I wanted to shake some sense into Jessie as she tried to figure out just who SN was, especially since as the story progressed, it seemed increasingly obvious who he was. But knowing never kept me from enjoying the story for what it was. In fact, as frustrating as it was at times, it was still more fun to read as Jessie made her guesses.
This is Julie Buxbaum's YA debut novel, so it's the first I've read of her work, but it definitely won't be the last. It's made me want to check out her adult novels, too. When I finished this book, I felt much like I did after The Anatomical Shape of a Heart, like I'd read a legitimate young adult novel that encompassed everything I remember from those difficult teenage years -- otherwise known as high school -- without being cliché. It's quirky, it's funny, and it's real…and I absolutely recommend it.
An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found atAn advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
This was JUST what I was in the mood for when I read it. (And honestly, still is what I'm in the mood for.) Special abilities. Banter. Snark. A heroine who just. Will. Not. Give. Up. Two handsome fellas, both vying for her attention. Fancy balls. Chase scenes. Missing sisters. Reputations damaged beyond repair.
It's hard to believe there was ever a time when I thought I didn't really like historical fiction. Sure, I've read some that I've loved -- and some, not so much -- but it's never been my go-to genre. Until lately, that is. I've read three or four in the past month alone, and I am hooked. I think it's the propriety and decorum that I'm drawn to -- and the fact that most heroines attempt to flout those rules, just as Evelyn does in These Vicious Masks.
Whereas some historical fiction novels are more thickly rooted in all of those stuffy old rules of society, the characters in this story are more likely to throw all manner of propriety out the window. It doesn't help that they all have special abilities that it's already a hindrance for them to hide. So, really, this was bound to happen. And included in those powers is the ability to heal, the ability to sway one's thoughts, and the ability to discern the truth. Nifty, right?
I loved all of the characters in These Vicious Masks...except maybe the villains. They're all hiding something. They're all protecting someone. And because of the nefarious lengths some will go to -- all in the name of science -- their world is about to be turned completely upside down.
In other words, this book was FABULOUS. Fun. Exhilarating. And the type of book I just love to read cover to cover, with no interruptions. There's no cliffhanger, not really, but this is most definitely only the first book in what will be a very fun and exciting trilogy.
Re-read/listen for fun. And also because I'm a masochist. :P Original Review in a GIFfy here.Re-read/listen for fun. And also because I'm a masochist. :P Original Review in a GIFfy here....more
An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found atAn advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
Is that cover not adorable?!? If you answered that question with a resounding YES then you will probably like the story on the pages of this book, as well, because it is equally charming. I've really gotten into Regency period romances novels lately, this novel included. I've mentioned before that I think that has to do with the sense of decorum that comes with these stories…but especially when those rules of propriety are inevitably broken.
That being said, I like Juliana's character for the opposite reason. Yes, she is unconventional and a little quirky - and yes, a little single-minded when it comes to the ladybugs she studies - but she doesn't intentionally set out to break the rules or bring shame upon her family as some Regency era heroines are wont to do. Juliana has no desire to end her Season in London by making a match; romance is the furthest thing from her mind. So it goes without saying that any breaches in etiquette on her part are largely due to her need to publish her and her father's findings on the lady beetle so that she may return home and remain his caretaker. No stolen kisses or secret rendezvous in her future; nothing to necessitate a quick match to end a scandal.
And yet, Juliana can't seem to stay out of trouble. Whether it's driving her buggy off the side of a cliff or dealing with insufferable mean girls who are determined to ruin her, she is destined to be a damsel in distress. Which is perfect because Mr. Spencer Northam is perfectly suited to be her knight in shining armor. And he does it so well that the two form a friendship, grounded in their mutual desire to remain unmarried and in control of their futures. I loved their subtle banter and the immediate sense of camaraderie that develops into much more, something neither of them expected.
This story employs the fake relationship trope to an extent but it's very well done. As in, the interfering mothers and aunts are so busy with their machinations that they don't care one iota what their children desire, so it's almost as if Juliana and Spencer's efforts are wasted. Except that they aren't because - as with most stories that involve the fake romance - real feelings develop.
Love, Lies and Spies is an adorable little romp in Regency-era London, perfectly-paced and delightfully entertaining. It had me grinning from ear to ear, cover to cover. And the best part of all is that it seems to be a stand-alone with none of those ridiculous miscommunications. It really was just a pleasure to read!
This is another one that I've already read/listened to more than once before ever considering a review of it. But I can't help it that Kaz and his misThis is another one that I've already read/listened to more than once before ever considering a review of it. But I can't help it that Kaz and his misfit crew just call to me. I love a good romance, but I'll take an awesome heist story rife with characters over that any day. Besides, this ragtag gang totally stole my heart, anyway.
I liked Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone series. The second book was by far my favorite, though...not that you asked. And I think it's because it was more akin to the way this story is told. And characterized. Not to mention, the banter. I live for that stuff.
And this book was twisty as all get out. I thought I knew where we stood, who the alliances were and how things were going to fall into place. Only to be disillusioned at every turn. I hope the sequel is this good. Or better. :)
An ARC of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The StarAn ARC of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
This was a strange little book, but in the best possible way. The "is this real or all a dream?" aspect had me captivated. I just love a good psychological thriller, where you're never sure if the narrator is reliable or not...when you don't know if you're dealing with magical realism or something more sinister but wholly of this world.
I wasn't expecting the story to go in the direction that it did, until a comment was made by one of the characters and then I was sure that what I was dreading was coming to fruition...or had already. At that point, I liked the situation less but not the story. The narrative, as a whole, was pretty compelling, and I found it hard to find a good stopping point when reading. And if I'm being completely honest, I didn't stop reading until I reached the end.
The possibility of changelings and ghosts and ghost houses is what really kept me intrigued. I love that those things kind of kept me off-kilter the entire time I was reading, mostly because I was hoping this was that kind of book...that like The Darkest Part of the Forest, it would leave me uncertain for the entirety of the book, wondering if anything was what it seemed.
I'm not going to beat around the bush: this book was confusing as hell most of the time, but that's what I loved about it. Well, besides the characters because they were so vibrant and I couldn't not love them. These kids were just so engaging and they all but leapt off the page at me. Their friendships and relationships, their trials and tribulations, those are what I found so captivating, even without the potential for supernatural goodness.
There is some romance in this story -- actually, a couple of them -- but they are so far from the main focus of this book as to be almost inconsequential. Except that they are important because they are quirky and adorable and not without their problems. It's difficult to talk much about those, though, because SPOILERS but it is worth mentioning that these are not what some might call traditional romances, though that fact bothered me not one iota. I loved them because they were far from easy or typical.
I do wish there had been a little more attention on the Accident Season as a whole and not this one specific Accident Season because I still have questions about the whys and hows of it. It was explained but it was such a small bit at the end that I felt a tad unsatisfied. Still, the writing was stunning and very visual and it more than made up for those teeny, tiny questions I had at the end. And being the over-thinker that I am, I'll probably always have questions when it comes to a story like this, which is partly why I read them...I love it when an author makes me work for it, doesn't spell it all out and leaves me demanding more, even if I know I'll never get it. So, basically, you should read this book so you can be just as confused and full of wonder as I am, and then we can compare notes.
GIF it to me straight:
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It's a head-scratcher of the best sort....more
An ARC of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The StarAn ARC of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
This book was everything - EVERYTHING - that I could want in a YA contemporary novel. LOVED. IT. The art. The families. The relationship. How sex-positive it is. It. Was. Perfection. This book is absolutely going to make it to my list of favorites…for the year and for all time.
Jenn Bennett has been on my radar for awhile, after seeing so many friends fall for her Roaring Twenties series, which I've yet to succumb to. It won't be long now, though, since I've read and absolutely adored her first venture into YA contemporary. I secretly believe one of my past lives was spent in the 20s, so those books sound right up my alley.
But back to The Anatomical Shape of a Heart, which is actually titled Night Owls abroad. Do you ever find yourself in between books, wondering what to read next? And then a fantastic cover on your shelf catches your eye, but you say to yourself, "No, not that one...not yet. It doesn't release for months and you won't be able to share your feels for ages." And then you flip open to a page and you realize that it doesn't matter, this is the book you've been longing to read. Something about that interaction on page 90 had me captivated, and I had to read this book immediately.
And that feeling of immediacy never left, even if the book itself is languid and unhurried. The romance is a slow-burn, even if the connection between the characters was almost instantaneous. I love how Bex and Jack meet. How they come together. How it takes ages for anything physical to happen between them, but when something does? Man, it is SOMETHING. But I love that even before that happens, there's a very real discussion about sex. This couple is open and honest, at least about what's going on between them, even if it leaves them momentarily raw and vulnerable.
"If we can't talk about it, how can we do it?"
Yes, there are secrets between them at first, like Jack's somewhat secret identity as a graffiti artist. And they've both got beaucoup family issues to cope with. But despite reservations, they both try. They make that effort to find each other time and again. Their connection is crystal clear, as is their shared love of art, the thing that brought them together in the first place. And I love how that aspect was implemented, both as a stratagem for more rendezvous and as an instrument for bonding, not only between the characters but between them and their families.
It is so hard these days to find a good family unit in a young adult novel. A lot of times they're just not involved or overlooked so that the teenage characters can cavort at all hours of the night with no one the wiser. But in this book, parents take notice. They are strict and mete out punishments when deserved. These parents do not abide lying and deceit, and they are quick to reprimand and set ground rules. They are not always perfect, but as a parent and former teenager myself, I can tell you that none are. It was just nice to see them included in a way that really added to the story.
For all of the family drama and running from the authorities and sneaking around, this book really was pretty humorous. The snark and banter were on point. Just thinking about it makes me restless for a re-read. I pretty much adored every single thing about this story, and I'm willing to bet that a lot of other people will think so, too.
GIF it to me straight:
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Night Owl just LOVES this book! And so do I! :D...more
I don't have time for a re-read so I bought the audio since I'll need it for a refresher when the second book comes out, anyway. =) Original review heI don't have time for a re-read so I bought the audio since I'll need it for a refresher when the second book comes out, anyway. =) Original review here. And maybe I'll actually review if in full after this listen. Doubtful, though, since it's already been so difficult to put my love for this story into coherent sentences.
...And it was even better on audio, if that's possible....more
I know I just read this (and reviewed it here) but Fiona and Steve (of The Scorpio Races fame) are narrating and I just had to hear it for myself.
I thI know I just read this (and reviewed it here) but Fiona and Steve (of The Scorpio Races fame) are narrating and I just had to hear it for myself.
I thought I'd enjoy the audio more because that's usually the case, especially when I love the narrators as I do in this case, but I liked it about the same....more
This book felt like coming home. It was reminiscent of the folk and fairy tales I loved as a child and was just as expertly woven. I could find no flaw in this story, nothing I wish had been done differently. It was absolute perfection for my fairy-tale-loving heart...a balm to my soul.
Agnieszka is my version of the perfect heroine: absolutely normal. She is every girl who thinks herself not good enough and is the complete opposite of her beautiful, perfect best friend. Which is why she is absolutely positive the Dragon will never choose her...but that's because she's yet to discover just how special she truly is. Despite that, I appreciated how true to herself Agnieszka remained. In the face of adversity and an ever-changing world, she never lost sight of herself and proved to be the most ardent and loyalest of friends.
There were moments in story where a lesser person might have given in to temptation or chosen the easier path, but not Agnieszka. She would sacrifice everything she was for the sake of her dearest friend Kasia. And despite whatever darker thoughts and resentments they might be harboring toward one another because of their predicaments prior to and after the choosing ceremony, they still endeavored to be there for each other, to be as close as sisters. Their love for each other was undeniable.
The pacing and world-building in this story were exceptional. Every time I was gearing up for things to settle down, to be able to catch my breath for a moment before the next crisis had to be averted, I had to remind myself that this was not that kind of story. There were chapter breaks, sure, but there weren't really any good stopping points, not with everything that was happening in the story. I found it ridiculously difficult to put this book down...it was just utterly brilliant and completely unpredictable. And usually with fantasy worlds such as this, I tend to gloss over all of the finer details in favor of the action and dialogue, but Novik's descriptions of the Wood and all of its inhabitants are not to be missed. She managed to make it sound captivating and beautiful and completely creepy all at the same time. I will never look at the forest the same again.
The Dragon is not a dragon but a wizard, and thusly, magic is central to the story. The Wood itself is a little magical, frighteningly so, and as it turns out, so is Agnieszka. But the way in which she wields magic is so different from the Dragon's by-the-book methods that he is constantly infuriated and very often frustrated with Agnieszka's lack of progress with his teachings. I loved that Agnieszka found her own path to accessing magic and that it aggravated the Dragon to no end.
Their relationship started off with them despising each other but it evolved into one of burning passion, especially after they began working magic together. But the romance was also very much secondary to the rest of the story. I think that if Agnieszka had learned magic from the Dragon in the way that he had intended, she would have been yet another student he'd send off at the end of ten years, never to be heard from again. But once Agnieszka finally embraced the magic within and found a path that worked for her, she began pushing the Dragon's limits...and also his patience. She challenged him at every opportunity and proved that she was a far-worthier pupil than he'd originally given her credit for. For comparison's sake, I envisioned the Dragon as Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock but in wizard form: that super intelligent and everyone is beneath me type of character.
Though Agnieszka is but a young woman of seventeen when she is chosen as the Dragon's new apprentice, this book was more adult in nature. The responsibilities and sacrifices that Agnieszka faces are definitely not usual for a girl of seventeen, but this is a fantasy story. So, it's kind of somewhere between young adult and adult, but not new adult either. I know that's very vague and I'm sorry for that. Honestly, the best comparison I can make in terms of story, writing, creepy factor, forest imagery, etc., is the recently released Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge. They both have a very similar vibe, with young characters who have very difficult paths ahead of them. The same might even be said for Hodge's debut, so if you enjoyed either or both of those novels, I'd heartily recommend Uprooted to you, as well.
Seriously, though, if you have any interest in folk lore, fairy tales, or fantasy, on any level, you should put this book on your TBR. But don't just let it stay there. Also, I wouldn't read it near a copse of trees, either. I did and I felt like I was being watched the entire time. There is just something so pervasive and magical about Naomi Novik's writing...I felt it all around me. And as chilling as that could be at times, I can't wait to read it again.
An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found atAn advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
I didn't mean to read this book so early -- okay, okay, I totally did -- but I couldn't help myself! I can't be blamed for how amazing the first book was and how I longed not to have to wait for the sequel. And just a word of warning, but this is going to read like less of a review and more like me coming off my fangirl high. =)
When I started this book, I thought, "No way can she finish this story in two books. NO WAY." And then when I got to about 85%, I just knew there had to be another book in the works. I mean, to tie up all the loose threads with only that much of the book left? I just didn't think it was possible. But Jodi Meadows continues to defy the limits of what is possible and what is not with this series and especially with this book.
This sequel/finale was incredible. Sometimes, I find that my ability to perceive the outcome of a story is the bane of my existence because it makes some books SO predictable. I didn't have to worry about that at all with The Mirror King. Meadows just trampled my expectations and any preconceived notions I had. This was literally me for most of the book:
For starters, because of the title, for some reason I got it into my head that it would be more focused on Tobiah and his kingdom. And then when I realized it wasn't, the separation anxiety set in. You know...when two characters you adore together end up separated for a big chunk of the book and you have to suffer through it. This usually seems to happen in the second book of a trilogy and then when the couple reunites in the final book, things are...awkward between them. Well, this is a duology so we get to skip the whole middle book -- hallelujah! -- but Wil and Tobiah do have their own kingdoms to run now, so Wil's departure was always inevitable. But I hated the way they parted.
In fantasy novels, I've come to learn that authors love to kill your darlings. And they rarely feel any remorse about it. So, I should have expected all of the death and violence in The Mirror King, especially with that maniacal Patrick on the loose, but it still came as a shock to me. Every. Time. Obviously some deaths were harder to accept than others. I ran the full gamut of emotions with this novel, especially because I never knew what was coming or who might bite it next.
Here's the thing. I like trilogies. But I loathe when the story could be told in fewer books and the narrative is drawn out to make it stretch a full three books. Meadows made every page of this duology count. I never wanted for action or swoons or even villainy. It's the ending to the story I didn't even know I wanted when I got to that heart-breaking cliffhanger in The Orphan Queen. This sequel/finale was far better than I could have ever hoped for and I already can't wait to re-read it!