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| 035651059X
| 9780356510590
| 035651059X
| 4.64
| 29,916
| Nov 30, 2021
| Nov 30, 2021
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it was amazing
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The most perfect 5 stars of all the 5 stars I could ever muster. I will never get over this series. This review will never give justice to this book bu The most perfect 5 stars of all the 5 stars I could ever muster. I will never get over this series. This review will never give justice to this book but I'll try anyway. MY FAVORITE/BOOK SERIES OF ALL TIME. The perfect third book I could have ever asked for. “It was Kaul Hilo's great talent. He could have a single ordinary conversation with a man and make him loyal for life.” The Green Bone Saga is heavily political, brutal, intense, fight scenes that will give you a heart attack… but also heart-warming, emotional, detail-oriented and sincere down to it’s core. It’s as much about family as it is about everything else related to it. The most satisfyingly beautiful and painful conclusion I could have ever asked for. If you want something emotionally investing, I think it is an understatement to say that I highly recommend. My new favorite series of all-time. This series quite literally has the best character dynamics I could ever want and Fonda Lee serves it all on a silver platter complete complexity and heart that was so addicting to read on every level. Every tragic point had meaning and purpose, and was never done for the sake of tragedy. I never would have thought that FL could deepen this world more than she did in Jade War but she did. She really did. The expansion of the application of jade from traditional to modern opened up so many possibilities each book that by the time we got to Jade Legacy, I felt so tense whenever we started a new chapter. In fact, Fonda Lee makes the space of Janloon and Kekon feel just as vibrant and vivid as the likes of Stormlight Archives and Mistborn, if not more. From the details on the perspectives of Jade = Lucky and the importance of “losing face”… I feel like it is so rare to see Asian values applied into an Epic Fantasy on a scale as largely as The Green Bone Saga did. A genre filled with friendship tales and otherworldly settings, I have never read any kind of Epic Fantasy that so prominently displayed family as the center point through and through. “You'd think it would be easier to face death as you get older, but it doesn't work that way. You get more attached to life, to people you love and things that are worth living for.” Fonda Lee has carved has carved years off my soul but at the same time put me through 10 lifetimes. I will never have enough words to compress all of my thoughts and feelings without just narrating to you the whole 3-book story… but I will try my best anyway because Jade Legacy deserves all the words I can muster out of my body. Honestly, the most heart-wrenching part of this book is how you watch the characters you love go through time. You would think that it would make you feel less attached to just be told what happens over the various time skips. But Fonda Lee manages to do the complete opposite by so efficiently packing information/details into the crevices of your mind, milestone per human milestone. Only for you to look back at what you read and realize how creatively she has wrapped you around each character’s story to make it feel like you’ve already read a whole novel about them alone. It is such an unconventional tool to use for an Fantasy novel but Fonda Lee more than pulled it off. The Kauls and the people around them go through a lot in the span of a chapter of Jade Legacy, that every person who has survived this book really does deserve a long hug for the rollercoaster that I know you’ve gone through. “Even goals that seem out of reach can be accomplished with the help of the right friends.” One of the best (if not the best) written character developments of a big cast that I have come across. Incredibly nuanced with no one falling into stereotypical heroes and villains, they all just felt like people. People that you have known for what it feels like decades with the care that Fonda Lee took in crafting all of them to fit a purpose in the story. Every change of perspective has it’s own unique voice and subtle change in writing style that make them feel so well-realized. No matter how briefly you get to see Kekon through their eyes. I have never been so invested in so many characters at once and never been so affected by even the most minor of characters. They all felt so alive in my head that I don’t quite know what I was doing before I met them. Filled with an uncountable number of upfrontly flawed characters… it only made The Green Bone Saga that much more emotionally captivating. [ STOP READING IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE BOOK ] [ LAST CHANCE… STOP READING. CONTEXT SPOILERS AHEAD. ] “We don’t handle this world. We make it handle us.” Hilo has been a personal favorite since Jade City but his development was so gradual but also incredibly hard hitting to watch by the end of this novel that he’s turned into probably my new favorite character for the last decade. One of the most well-written and most nuanced characters that I have met on page. Petrik said it best and I couldn’t have done it any better. It is a feat to make readers understand questionable decisions that they have never have to make in a story and still love every inch of the characters that made them. That isn't to say that the other characters in this series do not go through the same amount of development, they all do. It's just that the longer I think about this series, the more in awe I am of the things that Hilo had to deal with all at once as the Pillar. “After all these years, is there anything you believe I won’t do if I have to?” The parallels between Hilo and Mada could not have been any more glaringly obvious. Their difference, however, is not that Hilo is able to illicit both respect and love in the same breath, they both do. What made Hilo different from Mada was that in his long reign as a Pillar, he never forgot that he was leading human beings. How it translated to the respective people they are charged with showed so noticeably shown in the crowds that gathered in front of their homes. In the end, the message to me was how leadership is not a solitary job nor is it a solitary position that can be properly done without compassion and humanity. That having all the most strategic alliances in the room does not compare to having one good friend. Lott’s character was the best representation of Hilo’s influence on a single person. A concrete example of how you win people over by simply caring. To write a relatively simple character that manages to reflect the developments of the other characters while still being his own person in a story with at least 10 different perspectives, is amazing. It was so refreshing every time he was on the page. I don’t know when I started thinking of Anden as Kaul Anden instead of Emery Anden, having only realized it myself when Ayt Mada referred to him as Kaul-jen in the end. That itself is another example of the leaps in character development Fonda Lee manages without forgetting the journey it took to get to each one of them. “Jade had meaning because of the type of person one had to become to wear it.” I say time and time again that what astounds me with the writing throughout the series is how FL shows the effects of the conflict from the Kauls to the Lantern men to the level of jade thieves. The highest tier to the lowest on this fantastical social ladder that is reminiscent of the most extreme values of various Asian Cultures with all the nuance and complexities that go with it. Despite being centered around the Kauls, it’s actually funny how none of the books ever ended or began with a perspective from a Kaul (even then, Anden isn’t technically a Kaul by blood). I think it’s the book’s little reminder about how even though we revolve around their story, it doesn’t start or end with them. With how the story is written post-Many Nations War and promises so many possibilities from Niko, it certainly felt that way too. “Being green has greater significance than the abilities a person gains.” The themes of this story covers many things from leadership, solitude, power, and fate. But in the end, I like to think it all boils down to family. The Green Bone Saga is very accurately pitched as a modern epic urban fantasy family saga. And even though it goes through the biggest rollercoaster of a politically epic but emotional plot I have ever encountered… it does so while keeping in mind the one solid beating core that connects every message that comes across and is the underlying reason so many of us feel so attached: Family. That family extends to the people who have trusted you to lead them. “He was his father’s son; He would not back down from any fight or be used by anyone.” I have truly never been so emotionally devastated and hungover over any book in my life. Each book in this series is so unique on their own and has such a distinctive atmosphere that I like to jokingly describe as the 3 stages of grief: Jade City, Jade War, and Jade Legacy, respectively. This last installment most especially tackles the brutal stereotype of clans and gangs while showing their vulnerable sides. Which one of the most clever and heart-wrenching decisions Fonda Lee has ever made. My emotional hangover will never be appeased. You see the world evolving and the characters grow. You experience with them the pain of loss and time but also the simple, little joys of life and family. You see how pain changes people but it doesn’t make them irredeemable, just like what Lan believes. “Only children and gods are arrogant enough to judge what they can’t understand.” I wasn’t sure about what to feel about Niko at first but I was amused that the way people viewed him in the story, was exactly the way I did too. In that way, they reflect how a lot of us would act in the face of the conflict that arise. Which was one of the best tools that Fonda Lee employed and it made me see myself in the story, even just a nameless floating entity within the world. Change is always scary at first but the book clearly sends the message of how the story wouldn’t have been possible if Hilo wasn’t different from Lan and how they wouldn’t be able to adapt in the future if Niko wasn’t different from Hilo. Niko is not the best fighter or the smartest, especially compared to Hilo and Lan. But he would know to maneuver the era of the clans into an evolving and more technologically advanced world with all the calculation that you make when you've had to face the extremes of cruelty and power head on. I felt the pain break something deep within me when Shae described how Niko looked when that scene happened and it made me realize that at the end, he's still just a kid in the face of the people who raised him. Cruelty and power is everywhere, as this series never fails to make us forget, but the difference of humanity is in when and how you use it. That it is compassion and love from the people surrounding us that shapes us. “It’s obvious you’re not a father, Or you wouldn’t feel so invincible.” It is so unapologetically rooted in its east asian and southeast asian influences without ever feeling the need to water itself down. This series will forever have a special place in my heart because how artfully it was written both technically and emotionally. My tension and awe while reading this had me flipping pages through tears~ This series has debunked so many things I thought I knew about storytelling while expertly applying everything I didn’t know I wanted but needed in a book. I’m going to end this review for now because the only thing I want to do is reread the whole series. I respect Fonda Lee on a whole other level for the emotions she has made me feel that felt every bit rewarding and beautifully painful. Fonda Lee is a master at propelling a story forward on different levels all at once. I will never get over how well-curated and realized all of these characters are in a vividly and artfully designed setting that feels so real in the mind of it's readers. "She got me in the end. But she didn’t get us." Some things to leave you with that I didn't get to say in this very long review: 1. A part of fate is what you choose for yourself 2. Sincerity and compassion go a long way 3. A difference in beliefs does not make you incompatible friends 4. Family is chosen, even those by blood 5. The worst punishment you can receive, worse than death, is being forgotten and deemed insignificant. 6. Even if you have to go to war the next day, you make time to have dinner with your family— A part of my mind, spirit, and soul will forever be having brunch with the Kauls in the Twice Lucky~ “Good men are remembered with love by their friends. — 5.0 — ⇢ content warnings// Graphic Violence, Death, Torture, Murder, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Miscarraige “The No Peak clan is powerful, ⤜ pre-read review ⤛ happy release day to pain ...more |
Notes are private!
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Feb 25, 2022
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Nov 07, 2022
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Oct 16, 2021
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Paperback
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| 3.87
| 27,836
| Feb 01, 2022
| Feb 22, 2022
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it was amazing
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*ARC sent by the publisher -Hodder & Stoughton- for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.* I FOUND IT. I think I found my favorite YA Fantasy *ARC sent by the publisher -Hodder & Stoughton- for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.* I FOUND IT. I think I found my favorite YA Fantasy of the whole year (slightly ironic since this is releasing Feb 2022 and I'm writing this Oct 2021). I very rarely find myself enjoying YA fantasy recently without being irked by the decisions of the characters but this was an exception. My favorite aspect might be how open to interpretation so many different parts of the story was. If you pull out of context the mechanism of their powers, they don't really seem that bad and worthy to be called "monsters". However, if you actually think about the nature of it and how its meant to work… they definitely are monsters and Vanessa Len does nothing to make it sound right. Which I loved. Because she was still able to humanize the characters without compensating for the fact that what they do is harmful to people who aren't them. To be honest, other books might have given it some redemption arc but VL said: "nope! but I'm gonna make you love them anyway." “Real monsters look like me and you.” This has all of my weaknesses bundled up in one book: Character dynamics that sweep you up? CHECK. Themes about humanity and monsters? CHECK. Magical underworld? CHECK. Time travel and forgotten memories? CHECK. (Enemy) Soulmate trope? CHECK. and This cover? *chef’s kiss* (whoever made this cover captured the essence of the story really well) Also, did I forget to say that this is set in London… [image] Despite the enemy soulmates trope being the main reason I read this, Vanessa Lee was able to perfectly balance both the romance and plot, so if you’re a reader who enjoys that (like me), I think you’ll love this. I'm going to be honest that I still don't know who exactly Vanessa Len is referring to with the "enemy-soulmates" bit. By that I mean I don't which one of the two male leads is actually her soulmate because the "enemy" part can be interpreted in two different ways depending on how you look at it. In my case, I think one of the main reasons the story affected me as much as it did was because I think I assumed the wrong person in the “enemy-soulmate” trope. I only realized it more than half-way through the story and it destroyed me because I think my ship might drown. If you fall in the same hole that I did, you'll probably be destroyed too. Before reading, I was actually really curious to know if they really are monsters or if it meant something else. There is just something so intriguing reading about monsters that might not really be monsters. The fact that it was not explicitly said in the synopsis why they are considered monsters was a very smart and effective move. It made things that more surprising to me, especially given how effectively executed it was for my preferences. (I am a very big fan of fantasy that is borderline dark, is dark, or has dark themes). There are some tropes that we have arguably seen a fair share of in YA but the way VL wrote it made it feel so fresh. There are some things left to be desired in the writing style and I'm not saying it was perfect but, oh, Vanessa Len’s skills in creative writing shows. I can’t pinpoint what exactly it is about her writing style but I was affected more than I thought I would be?? There’s something about this book, I swear, it gets you a certain way. When I know that the same scenes would not have hit as hard if VL’s writing was not what it was. There were just so many parts where I thought to myself that “this could have been a boring” but my intrigued never dwindled. [image] I don’t know what I thought the magic system would be like but it wasn’t what I thought it was gonna be with the title and premise. It was slightly more magical but still had that tinge of dark if you give it more than a second's thought. Given that I’ve read a great deal of fantasy with their fair share of magic systems, I get extra excited whenever one still manages to surprise me, especially in urban fantasy. I do admit that there were times Joan frustrated me and made me want to shake her with her decisions but we're not going to get into that because I was still in love with the character dynamics at play. I also just want Aaron, my cinnamon bun, to be happy. “We believe that if people belonged together...then our timeline tries to repair itself by bringing them together. Over and over and over....” If you’re losing faith in YA Fantasy, I hope this helps give that hope back to you. This was definitely more The Last Magician (another favorite) than Passenger to me though, but it was definitely This Savage Song. I am so destroyed right now. I actually teared up when I finished this T_T I was so affected by this story and it ended on a very destroying, heart-throbbing, and fulfilling note but also, I need the second book, like, yesterday. I have not hyped a YA Fantasy like this in so long but Vanessa Lee honestly deserves all the praise and excitement I can muster. ↣ Highly recommended if you want some fun fast-paced YA Time Travel Fantasy with ~maybe morally grey characters~ that is easy to get into but still holds the serotonin rushes that you are craving for. Especially one that holds aspects that are open to interpretation as of this first book. ↢ — 4.5 — ⇢ content warnings// On and offscreen deaths of parents and guardians, On and offscreen deaths of family members, Threats of violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Weapon use, Brainwashing, Interrogation, Involuntary drug use, Real-world racist microaggressions, Fantasy xenophobia ⇢ representation: diaspora Chinese-English main character, Chinese side characters ✧ you can find this review and more on my blog ✧ ⤜ pre-read review ⤛ "Because in this story . . . she is not the hero" ... hello?? there's something about stories about monsters not really being monsters that is so intriguing to read i also hear enemy-soulmates and angst and i am here for it ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 18, 2021
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Oct 20, 2021
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Oct 14, 2021
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Hardcover
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| 1250621798
| 9781250621795
| B08GZXND63
| 3.86
| 77,600
| Jul 20, 2021
| Jul 20, 2021
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it was amazing
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*ARC sent by the publisher -Tor/Macmillan- for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.* This is the queer epic fantasy we all needed. At its hea *ARC sent by the publisher -Tor/Macmillan- for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.* This is the queer epic fantasy we all needed. At its heart, this book was about grief and perseverance... and how both can mean something different and is showcased differently on individual people. “However tired I am, however hard it is: I know I can keep going, because I’m alive.” Before reading, I didn’t know what exactly to expect with “Mulan meets The Song of Achilles” but it is just that, while being so painfully aware of it’s own setting that reminds me more of The Poppy War with its brutal nature. Accompanied by a unique perspective, charming yet complex cast, lyrical prose, and immersive writing style that hits all the right emotions. — overall thoughts: 4.5 — if you are sensitive to triggering content please read the end of this review for content warnings This did still feel like it was opening to a broader world and I honestly cannot wait to see where Shelley Parker Chan goes with the rest of the books. If you are looking for an in-depth and intricate magic system, I should say that you won't really be getting that for this first installment at least. There's still a magical/fantastical element to it but it's more on the backdrop and used to propel character development. She Who Became the Sun is a character-driven story that explores the internal politics of a ruling body and economics of war that highlights the journey these characters experience and while it does deal with heavy and dark themes— this read like a historical c-drama (in the best way possible) packed with a truck load of thought provoking moments that was brilliantly tied together while being so unflinchingly queer At it’s core, it’s about people trying to believe in their own fate in a society that sees them different ⚔️ The way discussions on gender roles and gender identity were weaved into a plot about war was just *chefs kiss* with nuanced conversations that will keep you reading The dual POV was incredibly intriguing since you get to see the conflict progress from both sides progress. One of my favorite aspects was the fact that our two main characters weren't each other’s love interest. Shelley Parker Chan could have so easily made it a star-crossed lovers scenario and I’m so happy they didn’t. It benefitted the war narrative and made for way more interesting romances anyway. some other details you can find: -morally grey characters... villain origin story style -14th century china -yearning generals -forbidden romance -platonic relationships -complicated relationships -family drama -ghosts ↣ If you're looking for a fast-paced, emotional, and dark fantasy that revolves around war (just the way I like it) that is built on solid themes, high stakes, and will keep you turning the page while entrancing you the whole way through... here you go ☀️ I have too many words and I don't know if I got across how much I loved this book but I can’t wait to see how the rest of the story plays out ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 04, 2021
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Feb 26, 2021
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Dec 04, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| 0735269939
| 9780735269934
| 0735269939
| 4.06
| 90,344
| Sep 21, 2021
| Sep 21, 2021
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really liked it
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*ARC sent by the publisher -Penguin Teen/Penguin Random House Canada- for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.* You know what… the most accur *ARC sent by the publisher -Penguin Teen/Penguin Random House Canada- for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.* You know what… the most accurate analogy for this book really is Attack on Titan but it make it mecha Sci-Fi set in a dystopian era inspired by historical China. By that, I mean the vibe with how vulnerable it can be but also violent, and how the lore is made to be. I do think the writing style could have been a tad more whimisical and nuanced because this one really is in your face with the themes it tackles. Not saying that it's bad but those are just my preferences. There is more telling rather than showing and in the end, it did bother me a bit even though I enjoyed a lot of other aspects in the book. It does focus more on Zetian’s journey and her own development than the romance. “He will not kill me. He does not get to make me a statistic.” as a uni student that is endlessly tired, this flew by way too fast (in a good way). the amount of things that happened in the span of 50 pages is just crazy. we're also going to pretend that this didn't take me 3 million years to start reading because I got the ARC 5 months ago. The nuances played into the plot (specifically, not in the book as a whole) were well-done in my opinion. It never felt like it was dragging or lagging at any point in terms of the plot progression. It’s fast-paced and just my vibe. I thought it was going to be all fun and games… but Xiran Jay Zhao has guts….. and you know what, we respect the grind. If you know, you know. It does get gritty and violent so fair warning. Zetian and the Poly Power Trio are the Kings and Queen of being morally grey. She definitely is that kind of character that you need to get used to at first because she’s so undeniably herself in every page. But after that moment passes, you realize that this, THIS is that badass female character we all needed. I could see Zetian, Shimin, and Yizhi raising debates about morals again though. ”The only utterly good people in the world are either naive or delusional.” It’s not too heavy on the Sci-FI (don’t worry, friends) but still great on the world-building and details. Which I think was a strong point of the story. I am so IN LOVE with the way the society was set-up and the “magic system” or whatever you like to call the way the technology works, it was perfectly mixed in equal parts magical and scientific. Which was what made it perfect for my taste. I say with no exaggeration that it was a lot more thought out than I expected it to be. You can really see that the author knew what she wanted to do with the world-building and it was executed effectively in my opinion. It’s safe to say that the tech system might be my favorite aspect. ”The entitled assholes of this world are sustained by girls who forgive too easily.” I always say that dialogues can make or break a book for me and although there were lines that were smooth (like butter hehe) there were some that were just too cheesy. I feel like the character relationships could have been more flushed out or arranged to be more satisfying. Especially since the poly relationship was one of the biggest reasons I read the book, I can’t ignore it. I do wish we got more build up towards her relationship with Yishi and Shimin before things happened but I get that, in a way, it gave way to the world-building. I just wished that there was a balance between the two and the character dynamics is the biggest reason for my lowered rating even though I enjoyed the book. You should also be aware that most of the romance doesn’t really play into it until after the half-way point. It would have been nice to see more background with the Iron Widow-Iron Demon dynamic because I really would have loved more. I do have to say….. that when it happened, it was still worth it even just for a millisecond (we are so starved of healthy Poly relationships lmao). It just makes my feelings about the ending that more all over the place and makes me both anticipate the next book and have mixed feelings about the character relationships in this one. “Perks of refusing to play by the rules: you don’t have to choose between the boy who’d torture a man to death with you and the boy who welcomes you back with pastries.” I just…. wow. I really did not think XJZ would actually go with that ending. I acknowledge that it objectively has its imperfections but I also do not care about them. ↣ Recommended if you want some Mecha Attack on Titan style Sci-Fi that’s a little dark and with some morally grey but vulnerable and strong characters. And a Poly Power Trio on the side. ↢ I rest my case. — 3.75 — ⇢ content warnings// misogyny & femicide, mention of rape, violence, sexism, sexist microagressions, murder, torture, interrogation, physical and emotional abuse, alcoholism, suicidal ideation, blood and gore depiction ⤜ pre-read review ⤛ my heart is in pieces and my mind is somewhere else and my emotions are everywhere. thoughts incoming in a few hours. ---------------------- 4/27/21 update: i also found out that this is historical fantasy or historically inspired... if I wasn't already in before, I am 100% in now. ---------------------- pilots and pacific rim. those are my key words when it comes to sci fi books now i guess. ALL THESE ASIAN INSPIRED SCI FI BOOKS ARE MAKING ME FEEL ALIVE. ohmygosh she has 2 boyfriends and those boyfriends are also boyfriends. I'M SO INTERESTED. I NEED THIS. april 10 2021: DO YOU GUYS SEE THIS COVER? BEAUTIFUL. 12/03/20: I'm reading this. I'm claiming it. Do yourself a favor and anticipate this east asian mecha story with some healty poly rep with me ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 2021
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Oct 12, 2021
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Dec 03, 2020
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Hardcover
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| 4.29
| 473,345
| Sep 15, 2016
| Apr 25, 2017
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it was amazing
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I may seem calm in this review but this was nearly 24 hours after I repeated the ending too many times that I lost count, went ice skating, ran way in
I may seem calm in this review but this was nearly 24 hours after I repeated the ending too many times that I lost count, went ice skating, ran way into a forest, and fell in love with boys with sad eyes. “The only time I’m not moving forward, — overall thoughts: 4.5 — ⇢ content warnings// (view spoiler)[Body image, Child mortality (flashback), Guns, Homophobia, Rape, Rape culture, Suicide (mentions), Suicidal thoughts, Victim blaming, Violence (hide spoiler)] ⇢ representation: Gay main character, Immigrant main character (brown and from an unnamed, war-torn country) If you like literary fiction within contemporary adult and teen realities with a focus on people getting together and bonding over a certain sport...in the cold... My gosh are you going to love this. (I am that kind of person). I’m not going to lie to you, I really did lose count of how many times I repeated the ending because of how hopeful it made me feel in the middle of a pandemic. It was personally not a heavy read but it was definitely an emotional one, or maybe Backman is just an expert on making me feel things. The book puts a lot of light on the mental health of teenagers but also parents raising children at this time of their lives. “There is a town in a forest that loves a game. There’s a girl sitting on a bed playing a guitar for best friend. There’s a young man sitting in a police station trying not to look scared. In a hallway in a hospital, a nurse passes a lawyer talking loudly into her cell phone. In the stands in an ice rink, in a capital city, grown men and women are on their feet, shouting that they are the bears from Beartown.” The story is the camaraderie brought by a small town, passion for what you do, and what success truly means. Themes on family and community are very forefront, specifically how they live with both the small perfect imperfections and tragedies. This also means it tackles topics like grief and processing sexual assault, and victim blaming… among other things. I feel like I say that a lot with Backman books. ...AND I WAS THERE FOR ALL OF IT. He is just able to pack so many themes and discussions in a compressed story without it ever feeling like it's too much. It literally feels like you're living these people's lives. I say: “Where are we from?” You say: “BEARTOWNNNN!!” *insert rink side crowd noises* Essentially, the plot revolves around hockey and how it brings together these different people. As usual, that's all I think you should know about the plot. This isn't strictly labelled as a mystery but you are going to be left figuring out what led to that scene that happen on the very first page. And to be honest: it's just good storytelling. I want to reread this book in a cabin in the cold woods. “If you are honest, people may deceive you. Be honest anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfishness. Be kind anyway. All the good you do today will be forgotten by others tomorrow. Do good anyway.” Fredrik Backman’s writing style is consistent with the two workss I have read wherein he successfully weaves each character’s background into each other. Especially given the contained settings of the books, it does work really well in my opinion. Anxious People was my first Backman book and while I loved everything about it, I found it a little difficult to connect with on a personal level. And although, these two books tackle somewhat similar themes, I was able to relate to Beartown more because it highlighted the relationships between people who have (mostly) known each other their whole lives rather than strangers who just met. I am officially in love with how he builds up character relationships, dynamics, and developments. It gives me shivers. The book hooks you by telling you the peak of how everything ends but it feels too wild from where the story begins, so you're mind is left actively figuring out how all these seemingly simple plot points will build. I loved the depiction of the effect of sports on small towns, despite being a city girl, the rest of my family come from a province and this made me feel very nostalgic. Where there is Backman, you will find: charming characters, no matter what background he gives them. “Culture is as much what we encourage as what we permit.” A significant part of the book discusses the mental downhill that someone who has been raped or sexually abused experience. I won't go into detail to avoid spoilers but it was tackled extremely well in my opinion while still feeling realistic. "What an uncomfortable, terrible, source of shame it is for the world, that the victim is often left with the most empathy for others." Fredrik Backman’s technical skills in creative writing is on point. The repetitions of the “Beartown” chant make you feel like you’re actually part of this town yourself. It made me feel attached to everything that was going on. Not to mention how everything ties back so cleanly. Out of the 2 books by this author that I have read, this one is my favorite and it might be difficult to beat, just because this story felt too much like it was written for me. If you need to know anything else about this book: cold, hockey, small towns, coming-of-age, friendships, bravery, family (it's the whole package as far as themes go). I don't know what else to say. I was feeling all the emotions. ↣ Read this for a cold but cozy, heart wrenching but touching, and overall emotional story that will leave you feeling... optimistic? or rather: leave you looking forward to tomorrow while appreciating where you came from. ↢ “Never do you find friends like the ones you find when you were 15 years old.” I thought about that quote longer than I care to admit. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 28, 2020
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Dec 04, 2020
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Nov 28, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| 0525620788
| 3.67
| 378,664
| Jun 30, 2020
| Jun 30, 2020
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really liked it
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Recommended by Paula I didn’t know you could describe a horror book as beautiful... but here I am saying that this book was beautiful. READ FOR: gothic Recommended by Paula I didn’t know you could describe a horror book as beautiful... but here I am saying that this book was beautiful. READ FOR: gothic old mansion with a name vibes, emotional story, interesting family dynamics, thought provoking ideas, emotional subplot and writing — overall thoughts: 3.5 — ⇢ content warnings// (view spoiler)[Attempted rape, Cannibalism, Child birth, Drugging, Eugenics, Fire, Forced marriage, Gore, Hallucinations, Incest, Mind control, Miscarriage (mentioned), Murder (including babies), Racism, Suicide, Vivisepulture (hide spoiler)] ⇢ representation: Latinx MC “Books, moonlight, melodrama.” The writing kept me anticipating where the story would lead to and Naomi is one of the most sensible female main characters I have ever read. I love that she is written as a free-spirited, clever and educated woman that actually listens to me when I scream at her what to do. And relatable! Let’s not forget that. Her relationships with every character is just so well explored and it was easy to feel attached to them... even the ones with questionable... ideals. I read this in the middle of watching haunting of bly manor on netflix with friends so I was in the perfect mood for a haunted house story. But this book was so much more than that and the atmosphere was SPOT. ON. Truly a perfect October spooky (is it spooky?) and atmospheric read. I’m also going to mention that the plot began in a ballroom and I was enjoying myself so much. I didn’t know this was a horror before adding it to my tbr to be honest, i just realized that it was when I started seeing it on so many horror recommendations so I didn’t get the chance to be intimidated by the horror aspect. I’m glad that we have gotten over the era wherein horror books were always in that gothic handwriting font with a beaten down house in the background. “Any place is made for love... Wood, glass and a roof do not constitute a home.” It discusses themes on family, how far you would go for the people you love and what you would do to uphold you ideals. Especially what it means to have a home. It takes all of these concepts and makes them concrete to the point that it’s just weird and creepy. Which is where the horror aspect comes in. I make it sound so dreamy and while it’s all that, there were still a number of times I got chills. I had to pause, imagine it, and then move on. The romance was unnecessary to me and I'm going to be honest that it didn't really sell me. I think that the story might have been better without it. If you’re into gothic stories you’re definitely gonna fall in love with this one. And even if you aren’t, there are still so many things to love, the mystery being one of them. I have really not read too many horror books but I’ve really been loving the ones that I have read recently. Now excuse me because I just NEED to read Gods of Jade and Shadow because I am craving for more of this writing. That last paragraph? Perfect. Though the twist was a bit disturbing. “Once upon a time, there was a princess in a tower. Once upon a time a prince saved the girl from the tower. Naomi sat on the bed and contemplated the notion of enchantments that are never broken.”...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 10, 2020
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Oct 13, 2020
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Aug 24, 2020
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Hardcover
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| 0735224293
| 9780735224292
| 0735224293
| 4.08
| 1,217,955
| Sep 12, 2017
| Sep 12, 2017
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really liked it
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My emotions are tired from the rollercoasters :> “What made someone a mother? Was it biology alone, or was it love?” — overall thoughts: 4.25 — ⇢ con My emotions are tired from the rollercoasters :> “What made someone a mother? Was it biology alone, or was it love?” — overall thoughts: 4.25 — ⇢ content warnings// (view spoiler)[Abortion, Alcohol (mentioned), Alcoholism (mentioned), Animal abuse (mentioned), Arson, Bombs (mentioned), Bullying by authority figure, Car crash, Cigarettes (mentioned), Death, Domestic abuse (mentioned), Drugs, Earthquake (mentioned), Hospital scenes, Infertility, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, National socialism (mentioned), Pee, Periods (mentioned), Postpartale depression (mentioned), Poverty, Pregnancy, Psychiatry (mentioned), Racism, Rape (mentioned), Sexism, Sexual content, Spiders (mentioned), Stalking, Stripping (mentioned), Victim blaming (about the negative consequences of an abortion), War (mentioned) (hide spoiler)] What I loved the most about this book was how it explored the different kinds of mother-daughter relationships through the plot (there were like at least 4-5 different mother-daughter pairs that I could write an essay breaking it down). I wish I could word this better but it showed, the different ways that a mother expresses her love, what she would do for her children, what she wants for her children, etc. It was so emotional and raw... getting to understand what these people have been through and then seeing how their children perceive it, while also living their lives with them... I am speechless. I really thought the plot was just going to be about this baby that came into the town but it really dives into the histories of each of these characters and puts you into their headspaces. The ethical discussions (THAT I LOVE), mother-daughter relationships, complex characters, slow build-up, the realities we have to face, weird plot/writing format that actually worked with the story… amazing. It also ended on such a perfect place (for me!) because this felt like a story that exceeded the pages because the plot just went so far back and it felt to me that it's a story that could keep going on. ... but I also just had to pause my audiobook and say to myself (regarding how the plots closed): Celeste Ng really chose to do that. “She was supposed to be an adult. When childish indulges were to be set aside, not dived into head first,” The character developments make me want to cry because I want all character developments everywhere to evolve in this way huhu It is definitely a character driven book that if we consider the pacing of the main plot, I would describe it as slow. BUT this is because the way the story is written is sort of backwards as it introduces most of the characters at the present time before going back into a very detailed history of how they got to where they are in this very posh neighborhood. morally grey characters(?) + great writing. need i say more? especially in mrs. richardson and miya (at some point)… actually in all of them. It’s complicated.... but I was there. I was living for it. I need more of these in my books. + they all had such interesting backgrounds and mindspaces that I didn’t care that the timeline was jumpy as you do learn about the characters in detail. But in no way was it confusing and was just filled to the brim with substance that I could not put it down. If you were wondering about the age range I would say this is a perfect New Adult read as it follows both adult and teen aged characters which really puts the differences (and similarities) in perspective. Speaking of the teens in this story, I enjoyed all their dramas more than I normally would because I was just invested in all of their families already. They also added a bit of lightheartedness to everything that was going on. Just the fact that Celeste Ng executed that so well was amazing. "The problem with rules is that they implied a right way and a wrong way to do things. When in fact, most of the time, they were simply ways. In terms of that case with the baby: all the perspectives on the case were so well-written and substantial that I really had no idea whose side I was supposed to be on. But I understood where they were all coming from. And I think that was the point. There was no exact wrong or right way because someone will always end up getting hurt. That maybe we just had to love and understand one another. It's very broad I know... but the book does a lot better job explaining what that means. What didn't I like? Uhm... I loved it but it isn't a book that I would think so hard about and made me stare blankly at a wall pondering about my life. There really isn't anything that I found disagreeable with the book itself but it's more of in the way I received it, personally. It also just had a lot of hype to live up to hehe Nevertheless, still a perfectly well-balanced story and I would seriously recommend this to all those looking for a perfect new adult read that will make you.... emote. start your little fires everywhere people <3 I finally broke my contemporary curse but I think it's time for me to binge some fantasy again. SIMILAR VIBES: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo TRIGGER WARNINGS: child pregnancy instagram | blog | ko-fi | booksirens ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 19, 2020
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Sep 21, 2020
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Aug 21, 2020
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Hardcover
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| 1524739014
| 9781524739010
| 1524739014
| 3.71
| 22,411
| Mar 03, 2020
| Mar 03, 2020
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really liked it
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My fingers are literally itching to get my violin and search my folders for a Mozart piece to practice. Which probably won't be hard to find. “WhatMy fingers are literally itching to get my violin and search my folders for a Mozart piece to practice. Which probably won't be hard to find. “What you offer me… I have already achieved.” This is a perfectly balanced book with magical and realistic elements that made me both want to float away to the Kingdom of Back but also reminded me just how important giving equal opportunity to everyone, no matter their gender, race, etc. is. It puts a magical twist on real events in history that we probably never knew even happened. — overall thoughts: 4.5— *All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless stated otherwise* If you are going to read this for anything let it be for Nannerl and Wolfgang's brother-sister relationship. The way they care for each other and the way they're written I just... my heart. is. full. and. soft. As a musician myself who grew up on Mozart this was already a book dear to me even before I started reading. Marie Lu's take on historical fiction honestly did not feel like the intimidating kind that is usually found in this genre with all the heavy topics. It's accessible and as usual, easy to digest and comprehend but with every scene still packing so much substance and layers. It was obvious that this book was written by a musician and someone familiar with Mozart... and it translated so well to the writing and world building. There is so much passion in the pages and I appreciated it so much Every character felt like they had so many layers. I never knew what to think of hyacinth… which I think was the point but he was just such a well written character. Honestly, all of them are. Marie Lu's strong suit is creating characters that are evidently flawed but still easy to relate to. They are all flushed out and it's easy to get into the groove of their dynamics. Especially as a whole family. “Speak for the ones who will come after you.” It talks about how we choose to see what we want to see and the only way to change that is by facing the reasons why that's so. Nannerl is a very strong female character that has been dealt with.. unfair.. cards. And seeing her come to terms with her life was both heartbreaking and... hopeful. The plot was predictable to me to a certain degree but at time, I just don't care. I have to say that it was an aspect that did pull me out of what was going on at time. There was a sort of detachment when the plot concerned characters other than the Mozart family. Everything else about this book made me fall in love. All my feelings are here and present, and with the brilliant execution of themes... what else can I say? Literally the master of writing satisfying and tear jerker endings, and as someone who believes that endings make or break a book, it’s a solid reason to pick up her books and... I JUST LOVE HER ENDINGS OKAY. Marie Lu's signature is all over this book with the adventure, intrigue, and emotional moments but make it a little more light and whimsical. If you are into any of those things I think you'll enjoy this (bonus points if you are into Mozart). “I wrote this for the Nunnrel’s of today and tomorrow. In the hopes that when they are ready to share their brilliance with the world, the world is ready to give them the attention and honor they deserve.” PLOT: ★★★★☆ WRITING STYLE: ★★★★★ WORLD BUILDING: ★★★★★ CHARACTERS: ★★★★★ THEMES: ★★★★★ PACING: ★★★★☆ PAGE TURNER: ★★★★★ ---------------- PRE READ: 8/3/20 I just saw that this was about Mozart and his sister, and immediately knew that I had to read it. As a classical musician, I felt it would have been a betrayal if I didn't :3 ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 18, 2020
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Oct 21, 2020
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Aug 03, 2020
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Hardcover
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![ハイキュー!! 1 [Haikyū!! 1]](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388037922l/20318855._SY75_.jpg)
| 4088704533
| 9784088704531
| 4088704533
| 4.56
| 57,631
| Jun 04, 2012
| Jun 04, 2012
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it was amazing
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This counts as my review for the whole Haikyuu!! manga ”You don’t win alone. READ FOR: best character developments and themes This counts as my review for the whole Haikyuu!! manga ”You don’t win alone. READ FOR: best character developments and themes that I have ever encountered READING LEVEL: Level 1-3 out of 5 *All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless stated otherwise* I don’t think I’ll ever have enough words to express how much I love this manga and anime series but I’ll try anyway. But I just need to make it known that this has changed my view in anime and manga forever. I caught up with this manga in the last 30 or so chapters but I won’t say much to avoid spoilers... but it was crazy. It made me laugh, cry, fall in love, think, and honestly... what else do you need in a series? I can keep going on and on about this series but honestly I think you should just read it for yourself. I really don't think you'll regret it. When someone asks me what the plot is, honestly, all I can say is “they play volleyball” HAHAHA… but it’s so much more than that. [image] PLOT: ★★★★★ The plot was so well thought of from the very beginning and when I re-read the manga I can’t believe the amount of foreshadowing Furudate actually placed. My mind was so blown… I just. No words. I am seriously in love. ART STYLE: ★★★★★ The art style… *chef’s kiss* especially in the later arcs. There were so many matches but even then Furudate never failed to leave me breathless at each one. [image] CHARACTERS: ★★★★★ The character development here is THE BEST. HANDS DOWN. that I have ever come across. I fell in love with the so many characters in this series that I did not even think that was possible. The character relationships... the character dynamics... their mindsets... they are all so perfectly well done and realistic GAHHHH I've said this so many time throughout this review BUT THEY JUST MADE ME FALL IN LOVE SO EASILY. I can't pick my favourite one but hinata and kageyama just hold a special place in my heart. This connects to the themes but my favourite thing that was done with the characters here was that each one of them embodied a theme or a message that the author wanted to get across. Those are spoilers so I won’t really talk about it but just know that it was one of the main reasons that made me go so crazy about this series. *cough* hinata kageyama atsumu sakusa bokuto kita noya ushijima tendou tsukki suga kenma kuroo *cough* +++ Note: if you think this series is focused on only 1 team... you're in it for A RIDEEEEEE [image] I'm getting chills just looking at and remembering these panels ^^ THEMES: ★★★★★ Honestly I basically thought the themes were just gonna be “teamwork” and “friendship”… while it is all that, Furudate sensei was able to make it even deeper. I think the one that was focused on the most was “It’s not always about winning, it’s about growth”. But there were also so many smaller things that lead up to that bigger point: (1) we get our strength from others, (2) but you also need to make yourself dependable, (3) there is always room for improvement, (4) working hard is good but overworking yourself isn’t, (5) you are built on the small things you do everyday, (6) an ace's back should be an inspiration to your teammates (hi bokuto), (7)+++ The way I wrote it was very straight to the point but I was amazed at how Furudate tackled the so many messages that I received from this series. [image] PACING: ★★★★★ THE TIMING. OF EVERYTHING. JUST MAKES SENSE. It’s so realistic that I want to cry. (I actually already did… a lot of times.) [image] PAGE TURNER: ★★★★★ You should understand that I made this review weeks after I finally calmed down about this series cuz I was really going crazy about it HAHAHA if you have finished this series too or met me while I was reading this, you know what I’m talking about ;) I'll keep this series close to my heart until the grave. You cannot convince me otherwise. [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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Apr 11, 2022
not set
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Apr 11, 2022
Jul 24, 2020
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Jul 23, 2020
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Paperback
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| 0008180032
| 9780008180034
| 0008180032
| 4.45
| 64,028
| Sep 05, 2017
| Sep 07, 2017
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it was amazing
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[ april 7 2021 + nov 25 2021 update: this is a problematic author and this review reflects my feelings for the book and not the author. my review will
[ april 7 2021 + nov 25 2021 update: this is a problematic author and this review reflects my feelings for the book and not the author. my review will be kept as it is but reading this book is up to you. i hate how authors have the power to ruin our favorite series with... their attitudes. if you want more context on what happened, search "Jay Kristoff" on twitter and you will be presented with a wealth of information. we do not tolerate the albinism/BIPOC treatment in this household... nor his problematicness against BIPOC as a BIPOC myself. *sighs* disappointing ] --------------------------- “There is beauty in knowing all things end. FORMAT READ: eBook & Audiobook (Recommended) SIMILAR VIBES: Ace of Shades, Scythe, Mistborn, The Grisha Trilogy RECOMMENDED FOR: if you are looking for an adult fantasy book that is high-paced and dark,, with morally grey characters and an unpredictable plot *All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise* overall thoughts: 5.0 HOLY... I AM STILL SCREAMINGGG !!!! I am still on the train of pushing the agenda for everyone to read the Nevernight Chronicles. Literal masterpieces *chefs kiss* I CAN NEVER GUESS WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS STORY and it’s fast-paced enough to not even give me enough time to think about it. I was just sucked right back into Mia’s world and even though I know this is a dark series it just felt like home. I appreciated that while it is a fast paced and intense novel there was always enough down time for me to build up my broken heart before it explodes again. “If Vengeance has a mother, her name is Patience.” — plot — In the first book we were mostly in an academy type setting and it was one of the main reasons I loved the book so much so I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t like this one since the plot doesn’t revolve around that anymore. Spoiler Alert: I was wrong. I was SO sold on the fighting arena scene and I just enjoy me a good military training-ish style setting. Jay Kristoff was still able to incorporate my favourite parts of an academy setting (intimate character relationships) while diving into a new side of the Nevernight world that we haven’t seen before. AND AS USUAL, the plot twists that I love so much are all here and present and I’m just living a good life. — dark writing style — OKAY… first of all… I’m not sure if anyone else noticed the fencing references during the battle scenes but since I took up Fencing recently I noticed and it made the battle scenes easier for me to imagine. Just sharing because it’s a small detail that I enjoyed a lot, I’m not sure if the author also did that in the first book but I haven’t taken up fencing at that time yet so I wouldn’t have noticed. What is so unique about this book is the writing style that just gives you that overall dark and eerie mood throughout the series. I swear that I get chills whenever I’m reading. And I'm so glad to see it being so consistent. And that narration… PHENOMENAL. I do highly recommend the audiobook so go check it out if that’s a medium you enjoy and it made it easier for me to get through the footnotes since I didn’t have to keep looking for it every chapter. ”In every breath, hope abides” ��� the footnotes — Speaking of footnotes: I’m still not sure who’s speaking in these footnotes but in my head it’s Mr. Kindly. I just LOVE the addition of these footnotes it honestly gives a whole new dimension to the story without boring the readers. It was just such a creative way to deepen the world building. I just love the writing style of this series it’s super my type. — characters — Oh Mia… she’s cheeky, intelligent, she’s relatable. We do mostly have a new cast of characters for the most part and I do really miss the old cast but I’m not disappointed since I still got all the intimate character relationships I was looking for. I just have to say that it was so nice to be in Mia’s mindset like to have a passenger’s seat view on how she perceives everything she was going through. BUT AT THE SAME TIME I could never guess what she would do next. It was just so fascinating to see how both new and old characters affected her point of view and I had such a huge investment in all of them. AND MISTER KINDLY AND ECLIPSE <3 I just get so extra happy and entertained when they're around ughh what would nevernight be without them “For people like us, there are no promises of forever.” — themes — Again, this is a dark read just so you know, but this series actually made me realize how much I like grimdark writing… so thanks Nevernight. But other than that it tackles themes of loyalty a lot and what you are willing to do in order to reach your goals I really liked the commentary on these particular themes and I think it was delivered really well… and i just FELT IT! “Thus, the greatest monsters get their way, by just looking like the rest of us.” I had to re-read this halfway cuz i stopped reading for a whole year due to a book slump caused my college and forgot what happened so oops… BUT IM NOT COMPLAINING THAT I GOT TO EXPERIENCE HALF THIS BOOK ALL OVER AGAIN <3 It’s no secret that I’m woefully in love with the Nevernight and Godsgrave now as well. I can’t exactly say which one I love more because Godsgrave just gave us a whole different look on the Nevernight world. I am so excited for Darkdawn because I’ve heard that it’s the best one and I’m already head over heels for the first 2 books. GAHHH I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH WAHHHH NOTE: I said this in my review for the first book also but I’ll just reiterate that I recommend the audiobooks for this series so much. If you have a hard time getting into high-fantasy or this series, try the audiobooks. The performance is top tier and you won’t have such a hard time with the footnotes. Although, I still recommend having your own physical or ebook copy to follow the timelines because it tends to jump a lot. I also like keeping an ebook with the audiobook so that I can highlight the so-many quote worthy lines. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 08, 2019
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Aug 05, 2020
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Jun 28, 2019
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Hardcover
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| 1481481967
| 9781481481960
| 1481481967
| 4.02
| 48,581
| Oct 02, 2018
| Oct 02, 2018
|
it was amazing
| ”When we've lost the strength to save ourselves, we somehow find the strength to save each other.” FORMAT READ: Audiobook SIMILAR VIBES: The 5th Wav ”When we've lost the strength to save ourselves, we somehow find the strength to save each other.” FORMAT READ: Audiobook SIMILAR VIBES: The 5th Wave, The Darkest Minds READ FOR: post-apocalyptic road trip, thought provoking READING LEVEL: Level 2-3 out of 5 OVERALL THOUGHTS: 4.75 I know a lot of people don’t really like this book compared to Neal Shusterman’s other works but I actually really loved this. I did have a different expectation regarding the plot when I started reading it and I think that’s why a lot of people might be turned off. What I knew going in: - there is a drought What I did not know going in: - there are more characters than just Alyssa and her brother - there’s a bit of a squad/roadtrip/teen survival band thing going on at some point in the story (and I liked it) - there’s a roadtrip !! Disclaimer: I really like post-apocalyptic stories to begin with. The book deals a lot with the different kinds of people or how people would react/survive in times of crisis. And I think the Shusterman’s did a very good job writing that. I don’t want to compare it to his other works because there are different topics that are being tackled and they’re different books. The plot took a lot of crazy turns and it was just what I was looking for in a post-apocalyptic book about teenagers. I was on the edge the whole time and it was still able to wrap everything up well. I know not everyone is a fan of it but I really liked how these kids ganged up together to survive and they actually did a good job writing their struggles and showing through their experiences the possibilities of what could happen to humanity. As usual, Shusterman creates a story that could not be far off from our current reality. He present the “what ifs” and does it well. I have yet to read Unwind but I have read the Arc of a Scythe series and I loved it too. I would recommend not basing your expectations of authors on their other works and basing it on what the book presents itself to be. Some authors may change their writing style based on what a certain book’s goal is. Dry is a pretty intense book and it is unlike any other post-apocalyptic book I have read. There were honestly parts that I had to stop and count to 10 to get my head straight again. This is a standalone and a lot of people are saying that they did not connect with the characters. I actually think that even though we are not given in depth discussions or descriptions of each one of them, you progressively get more attached to them as the plot goes on. I actually was able to connect to the characters really well and they all have their reasons for acting the way that they do (which was also clearly written for me). I hate to be like every other reviewer of this book… but it’s the truth: I felt so thirsty reading this and probably drank a glass of water every few chapters. PLOT: ★★★★★ WRITING STYLE: ★★★★★ WORLD BUILDING: ★★★★★ CHARACTERS: ★★★★★ THEMES: ★★★★★ PACING: ★★★★★ PAGE TURNER: ★★★★★ PRE READ: well… I really loved this. I found a new all-time favourite book. Mild Spoiler: (view spoiler)[that scene at the end between Kolten and Alyssa HAD BE BAWLINGGGGG (hide spoiler)] RTC cuz I stayed awake to finish reading this and I need sleep. Just know that I slept with tears in my eyes :) // I love reading survival/apocalyptic kind of stories. And this one makes me feel dread and I'm actually in suspense even though this isn't a thriller or anything?? HAHA // I'm impulse reading this book so... :) I hope I like this because I really loved Shusterman's writing there. AND ALSO: This is read by a full cast :)) instagram | blog | ko-fi | booksirens ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 23, 2019
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Jun 24, 2019
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Jun 20, 2019
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 1524798622
| 9781524798628
| 1524798622
| 4.21
| 1,606,039
| Mar 05, 2019
| Mar 05, 2019
|
it was amazing
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I'M STILL SOBBINGGG AND I'VE READ THIS 4 TIMES me: "there are so many books on my TBR" me: 4th Read: Dec 14-16, 2020 ⇢ trigger warnings database// All I'M STILL SOBBINGGG AND I'VE READ THIS 4 TIMES me: "there are so many books on my TBR" me: 4th Read: Dec 14-16, 2020 ⇢ trigger warnings database// All the metaphors, the double meanings... there is just so many things to discuss and interpret. Plus as a musician there are too many aspects that resonated within me. It took me my 4th read to realize that January LaVoy is one of the narrators and it's official: she is really is my favorite narrator at this point. "We love broken, beautiful people. And it doesn't get anymore broken and classically beautiful than Daisy Jones." 3rd Read: Aug 28-29, 2020 this is just so beautiful, even the third time around. such a powerful story that i won't get tired of. the timelessness and the fact that i can't believe these aren't real people gahhh + the bonus track at the end of the audiobook is everythinggg!! “I had absolutely no interest in being somebody else’s muse. I am not a muse. I am the somebody. End of fucking story.” 2nd Read: Jun 30-Jul 1, 2019 ”Life is about who is holding your hand and, I think, whose hand you commit to holding.” FORMAT READ: Audiobook SIMILAR VIBES: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo READ FOR: themes that are written so well… the nostalgia… the satisfaction GENERAL PLOT: How a 70s rock band rose to fame and why they broke up at the peak of their career. READING LEVEL: Level 2-3 out of 5 --Buddy Re-Read with Marilou Paru-- OVERALL: 5/5 Ohmy the second time I read this did not dampen the emotional wreck that I was. Maybe it’s because I’m a musician as well but everything about this book just hits home for me. "Music is never about music. If it was, we'd be writing songs about guitars." In case you did not know and I never mentioned it before: this book is about commitment most of all but also about knowing what you want and what you are willing to do for the life you strive for. It’s about love and family and WOW…. *crowd surfs while screaming and crying* [image] I also noticed more the little differences of how each character tells the same story from their own perspectives. There was also a little tidbit of info that I completely failed to put together the first time I read this so that was a nice little surprise. It was all a very subtle way of portraying how different everyone can be. It comes to show what different people notice and pay attention to distinct things depending on what they have gone through in their own lives or their own circumstances. I appreciated the subtlety and the attention that TJR put to details in the writing. "I don't expect anything to be perfect. But things don't have to be perfect to be strong." Just a quick chat about Camila and Simone because I think that in the end… they were the real people that saved Billy and Daisy from turmoil. READ THIS SECTION ONLY IF YOU HAVE FINISHED THE BOOK: (view spoiler)[Don’t get me wrong, Billy and Daisy were it for me. If there is such a thing as soulmates, I really believe that was what Billy and Daisy were to each other. But what this book taught me was that sometimes we don’t end up with the people that we want the most, the ones that are most like us. We end up with the people we need in our lives and that was what Camila was for Billy. There was a part that Karen was talking about how people don’t end up with the person that they are most like. People end up with people that are the missing part of themselves. And that was Camila and Billy. CAMILA DUNNE PEOPLE. My goodness <3 oh gosh SIMONE! She wasn’t very prominent in this story as most of the other characters were but the scene where she was talking about the stoplight thing to Daisy over the phone was 1 out of 2 times I cried in this book. It made me so emotional because she is just a great friend to Daisy. She cared about Daisy when no one else did and sometimes that’s all we need. A good friend that will be there when we need them to be. (hide spoiler)] ”Don’t count yourself out this early, []. You’re all sorts of things you don’t even know yet.” There’s nothing else for me to say that I haven’t already XD but I cannot wait to hear these songs in the series adaptation :”) I mean, I already felt like I was listening to a movie with the audiobook. And l also didn’t realize that there was a bonus track of instrumentals for Honeycomb at the end of the audiobook AND HOLY I AM LIVING. Will I ever get over this book? NEVER. ⟹ MY BLOG ⟸ ⟹ SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ⟸ *All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise* PLOT: ★★★★★ WRITING STYLE: ★★★★★ WORLD BUILDING: ★★★★★ CHARACTERS: ★★★★★ THEMES: ★★★★★ PACING: ★★★★★ PAGE TURNER: ★★★★★ LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO NOT BE RE-READING THE BOOKS YOU LOVE ---------------------------- 1st Read: May 24-May 26 2019 "But the only reason people thought I had everything is because I had all the things you can see. FORMAT READ: Audiobook I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK PLOT: Everything about the pacing of this story was perfect to me. It appealed to my reading speed and I never thought that it was going too fast or too slow. Listening to it definitely helped me focus on the story more that I would have if I just read it. The fact that it was written in an interview style was great for the narrative rather than shifting perspectives. It allowed me to get sucked in to what each of the characters were experiencing at different moment and for some reason it felt like I was experiencing it in real-time. It's like I was right there with them. I liked reading about the musical aspect as I am a musician myself and I do not think there are not many books that talk about in-depth the life of musicians. It was like having an inside peek on how bands start, how they begin, their own musically-related struggles, the hours or recordings, etc. and it was nice to have some little parts where I could relate to them. It was nice to see how the smallest details resulted to the bigger pictures. WRITING STYLE: Very well-written. Everything just seemed to flow seamlessly together. CHARACTERS: Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master at creating characters you wish were real... or at some point you actually thought were real. I was so in love with every single character and even though it was confusing at first to get used to the narrative, it helped that the audiobook is by A FULL CAST. The different voices helped me distinguish the characters. By the end of the book, I felt like I actually knew each of them and that I lived their life with them as well. I love me a character-driven story and this is one of the good ones. Just like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, TJR created Daisy Jones as not the perfect protagonist/antagonist/whatever but you cannot help but love her and feel for her anyway. The same goes with every other member of The Six. I was in love. I was crying. My heart ached and it swelled. All of their relationships were written so well and realistically that I swear they exist somewhere. "things don’t have to be perfect to be strong." OVERALL: Ultimately, this book is about chasing your dreams (no matter what it is) and what is worth losing or keeping them. It is about loyalty and trust. "And I liked that. The idea that just by being me, I was doing all right." instagram | blog | ko-fi | booksirens ...more |
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Dec 16, 2020
Aug 29, 2020
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May 26, 2019
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May 23, 2019
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Hardcover
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| 1473217857
| 9781473217850
| 1473217857
| 4.48
| 147,235
| Nov 06, 2018
| Nov 06, 2018
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it was amazing
| ”It has always seemed to me that a coward is a person who cares more about what people say than about what is right. Bravery isn’t about what peopl ”It has always seemed to me that a coward is a person who cares more about what people say than about what is right. Bravery isn’t about what people call you, Spensa. It is about who you know yourself to be." FORMAT READ: Audiobook SIMILAR VIBES: Ender’s Game, City of Ember (slight steampunk side) READ FOR: intense and engaging space battles, squad goals, emotional gut punches, badass heroine OVERALL: 4.75/5 SO. GOOD. I WANT TO SCREAM. Brandon Sanderson’s world building does not let down! It takes some time to get fully invested but once you’re in, oh boy, YOU. ARE. IN. He always starts building from the most basic things up and I always feel like there’s more to the world that he initially introduces. He delivers ideas so well and makes it so prominent in the writing while still making it so seamlessly woven into the story. I love everything about the sky, the moon, the stars… so to find that the book took to featuring those as symbolisms made me giddy. He paces his plots so well that everything just hits you when you least expect it AND I JUST REALLY WANNY CRY BECAUSE I AM SO INVESTED !!! I’ve said this before but I’m going to say it again: I was still not able to guess Sanderson’s plot twists even with all of his foreshadowing. It’s the type that you won’t even dream of becoming a plot twist if that makes sense. There were scenes that left me so frustrated (in the good way) but everything wrapped up so well, that I was left satisfied!! <3 UGH. I JUST CANT. “Fly anyway.” The characters’ chemistry is so well written and it all just made sense, I was so invested in their whole flight team <3 I was crying and laughing in all the right parts, my heart racing and wrenching. They’re so entertaining while having the right depth and I loved seeing their character developments. They were also diverse which was a nice touch! Spensa can be intese, dark and I always find it amusing. But I love her character so much!! It has been a while since I have loved a female MC in a fantasy and Spensa is one who deserves all the support I can give her. The story got so much more interesting as the plot progressed. If you like exciting, intense, space battles… THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU. It’s hilarious and entertaining in all the right parts. All the battle space scenes was so exciting and so well written. The feeling is just like Mistborn but without the epic fantasy side. The space action is so detailed that I can imagine myself flying a Poco. The illustrations also largely helped me, as a reader, be able to imagine the ships much better, especially in relation to each other. As usual, Sanderson wrote a novel that I was not aware I wanted to read. I thought the whole plot was going to about how she GETS into flight school or something but it wasn’t and was about her ACTUALLY in flight school and everything else that comes with it. Which I really loved and found super addicting to read. Sanderson’s worlds are always so much more complex than the blurbs make it out to be and I am in for the ride. “You get to choose who you are. Legacy, memories of the past, can serve us well. But we cannot let them define us. When heritage becomes a box instead of an inspiration, it has gone too far.” PLOT: ★★★★★ WRITING STYLE: ★★★★★ WORLD BUILDING: ★★★★★ CHARACTERS: ★★★★★(4.5) THEMES: ★★★★★ PACING: ★★★★★ PAGE TURNER: ★★★★★ --------------------------------- PRE READ: you already know that any and all Brandon Sanderson books go straight to my TBR pile i can never keep myself from reading a brandon sanderson book... I'm coming soon Stormlight Archives ...more |
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Jun 09, 2019
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Jun 12, 2019
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May 18, 2019
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Hardcover
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| B000OVLINI
| 4.30
| 657,492
| Jan 01, 2001
| Feb 01, 2007
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it was amazing
| “It’s a story of love, of hatred, and of the dreams It should be a crime to write a book as beautifully as thi “It’s a story of love, of hatred, and of the dreams It should be a crime to write a book as beautifully as this. Characters are so beautifully written with a plot that drives forward every second of the way but still manages to let you enjoy the experience for what it is. “Keep your dreams, you never know when you might need them.” There's something whimsical that comes with well-executing a book about books and the writing style brought to life the 1945 Barcelona. As usual, I barely knew anything going into this book aside from the fact that it's so well loved and I can see why. I was not aware that this involved a mystery but it drove the plot forward without feeling like you were only holding on for the plot twist. At the same time, the looming mystery was so investing to watch unfold, especially with the characters... I fell in love with them ohmy ...more |
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1
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Jan 27, 2021
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Feb 04, 2021
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May 05, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| 0575097469
| 9780575097469
| 0575097469
| 4.30
| 219,784
| Jun 09, 2009
| Feb 14, 2012
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really liked it
| "It's not so uncommon for others to have more faith in someone than he has in himself." FORMAT READ: ePub (iBooks) & Audiobook READ IF: looking for "It's not so uncommon for others to have more faith in someone than he has in himself." FORMAT READ: ePub (iBooks) & Audiobook READ IF: looking for a starting Brandon Sanderson book and a high-but-not-so-high-fantasy with a unique magic system ⟹ MY BLOG ⟸ ⟹ SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ⟸ *All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise* OVERALL: 4.75 I can definitely see hints of the Cosmere series in the novel AND I LOVE IT! I am always so blown away by anything Brandon Sanderson creates and this is no exception. I just wanna hug it and become my little sister. If Mistborn is Major in Religion and Minor in Politics. Warbreaker is Major in Politics and Minor in Religion. It still amazes me how Sanderson is able to incorporate these ideas so vividly in fantasy. How everything comes to play is so mesmerizing and I just cannot stop reading his books. All I am going to say is (view spoiler)[Vasher and Susebron ARE MY BAES!!! LIKE HELLO!!! They’re both like all powerful cinnamon buns that looks like they can kill you, can actually kill you, but won’t really. I cannot wait to see what else Vasher and Vivenna, Susebron and Siri will be up to next!! I shipped them all so much *heart eyes* (hide spoiler)] This review does not begin to express my love for Brandon Sanderson and, more specifically for Warbreaker. I don't know how to properly write just how genius I think he is but this is a great novel to start your Sanderson journey and an overall great high fantasy in general. This is one of his earlier works and his writing style does change through his books. ~ NO SPOILERS but if you would rather go into the book with no idea what happens I suggest to only read up to here ~ PLOT: ★★★★★ It’s like just getting a taste of such a complex magic system. You think you have everything figured out until Sanderson comes out of his hole like NOPE! THERE’S MORE! The events were mostly contained in Hallandren which I was not entirely sold on as it made the world a bit more contained. Though, it was still VERY interesting. Everything that was going on was so interesting and I just needed to know more about this new and intricate magic system. What I like about how Sanderson’s novels is how the magic systems always seem to ”make sense” (or how close to “making sense” a fantasy book can go). Considering that this is just the first book, I am pumped up to see just how far Sanderson can go, especially since I have already seen what he is capable of in Mistborn. AND HELLO PLOT TWISTS! If you love plot twists (who doesn’t?) you might want to give this a try until the very last page. WRITING STYLE: ★★★★★ Flawless, descriptive in the right parts, without being too flowery. I have a new compartment in my head of the Warbreakerverse. Sanderson writes in the way that seems to be leading to one point but you're not really sure whether to fully trust that path or not. CHARACTERS: ★★★★★(4.5) I have to say that from the hundreds of fantasy characters that I have read, the characters were still unpredictable to me. Which is good!!! They are all well-written in terms of their actions and ideas but they were all pretty straight forward except for one character. I just wanted more complexity to match the rest of the book, which I have no doubt Sanderson will give in the rest of the series. There were times when the two sisters annoyed me and I was not vibing with their characters. Though, towards the end, they did redeem themselves and I fell in love with them anyway. Special Mention: Lightsong my baby boy!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 THEMES: ★★★★★ This particular book (obviously I do not know about the whole series because it isn’t out yet) had a lot to say about how political systems work as well as how religion played into it. A bit hard to explain if you have not yet read the book without spoiling what goes on but that’s the essence of it. It did not discuss a lot of sisterly bonds as much as I expected and focused more on the journey of the sisters individually. PACING: ★★★★★ Not too fast paced, some slow parts but a lot of things always seem to be happening. Especially details during battle scenes. There were times when my attention falters but I just plugged in the audiobook and problem solved! This is more my problem than the book however :) ...more |
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1
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May 04, 2019
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May 29, 2019
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Oct 03, 2018
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Paperback
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| 1534405313
| 9781534405318
| 1534405313
| 4.03
| 21,589
| Jul 18, 2017
| Jan 01, 2017
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really liked it
| ”Liars do make the best magicians, and he happened to be exceptional.” FORMAT READ: Paperback & Audiobook SIMILAR VIBES: Six of Crows, Passenger READ ”Liars do make the best magicians, and he happened to be exceptional.” FORMAT READ: Paperback & Audiobook SIMILAR VIBES: Six of Crows, Passenger READ FOR: great time travel plot, slow burn ⟹ MY BLOG ⟸ ⟹ SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ⟸ *All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise* OVERALL: 4.0 UPDATE: Sorry for the trash of a review but what you guys should know is that: 1. great time travel plot 2. I loved the characters 3. this is an underrated gem so you should read it THE HEIST THE HEIST THE HEIST !!! LET US TALK ABOUT THAT… BECAUSE IT WAS SO MUCH MORE THAN A HEIST AND I LOVED IT !!! Although book had a slow start and took some time to pick up, I was able to really appreciate it in the end because it was part of the world building. And everything just played out beautifully in the end. (view spoiler)[I also suddenly understood how the cover is like a time thing. (hide spoiler)] This might be my favourite time travel book yet. It had what I was looking for in a time travel plot… mix that with the Six of Crows vibes… I was in love by the end. And I was SO INVESTED in Harte’s character and I just had no idea what was going to happen. The plot does a good job building up the suspense because we already know how everything is suppose to end but then we’re not sure if Esta is going to be successful or not. I am just so happy there was more to the heist plot than the book led be to believe and…. *sigh*… I am satisfied. The plot intrigued me and Esta was an interesting MC. She’s not so much of a typical female MC with her being a thief and all. That made her really interesting to me because it puts her in kind of a morally gray position and I feel like I never entirely know what she’s going to do next. I was cheering Harte on from the very first page and I really like his dynamic with Esta <3 It’s one of my favorite kinds and I STAN !! They are both far from perfect people in the beginning of the story but I really liked their character development. They seemed to both grow into their roles in the story and I think their masterfully written to intrigue you. Other than that, I thought that all of the characters were actually flushed out well and played into the story in a beautiful way. ”Who said I was you to be anything but what you are? I like your angles and edges, …I have plenty of my own, you know.” I really liked how most of everyone’s affinities weren’t outright and plainly said. You kind of had to figure it out along the way and that just added a little something to the story for me. It honestly kind of gives me Six of Crows vibes but then everyone has powers. And here I was thinking that itme-travelling wasn’t as explored throughout the majority of the book though which made me kind of disappointed but OH BOY WAS I WRONG!! I really enjoyed this book and I seriously cannot wait to get my hands on the next one once they restock in my bookstore :”) PLOT: ★★★★★ WRITING STYLE: ★★★★☆ WORLD BUILDING: ★★★★☆ CHARACTERS: ★★★★★ THEMES: ★★★★☆ PACING: ★★★☆☆ PAGE TURNER: ★★★★★ ------------------------------------- PRE READ: time travel books always hype me up ...more |
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1
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Jun 11, 2019
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Jun 23, 2019
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Oct 01, 2018
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Paperback
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| 1481497065
| 9781481497060
| 1481497065
| 4.18
| 140,090
| Nov 05, 2019
| Nov 05, 2019
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really liked it
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--- Buddy Read with Bopeep (we also read Thunderhead together much luv hihi) and Emily <3 --- “We are imperfect beings," Munira said.--- Buddy Read with Bopeep (we also read Thunderhead together much luv hihi) and Emily <3 --- “We are imperfect beings," Munira said. If you want to read this series for something, read it for THE PLOT. + ethical/moral commentary in a dystopia world — overall thoughts: 4.5 — THIS WAS SUCH A WILD RIDE. Finishing this series was such a journey and I still have a hangover. So I finished crying over the ending and now here we are. Quick summary: I'm amazed. I loved the angsty ending. I live on angst, it's my way of life. (view spoiler)[It was an open ending of sorts and a lot of things were honestly left to the reader to figure out and ponder on which is part of why my head went a little wild because that just opens up the door to endless possibilities (hide spoiler)] “Not even the Thunderhead can be sure about tomorrow... Let’s be satisfied with today.” --mild spoilers ahead-- themes: ★★★★★ I can’t talk about this series without mentioning the themes… again. As usual, Shusterman does not disappoint with all the morality commentaries. In this last book we get more of a look on how the Thunderhead itself views said morality... in it's own way. But in this book specifically, it was the concept and discussions on time that got my attention a little bit more. In this world wherein people stopped marking numbers on years because it was simply no longer crucial to track. When that was taken away from them I like to believe that that was when they started to truly value what they had left. “Time is never of the essence until someone decides that it is.” It technically wasn’t a main focus of the book but it's basically the underlying point of everything: the fact that it presented how topics of racism and religious biases are still present in a dystopia that is deemed “perfect” and “problem-free”. But at the same time pointing out how stupid these biases are, proven by that one scene that said "maybe we should just glean short people too, I hate seeing them". There were honestly so many underlying themes that went into the actual story and I'll probably reiterate this in a more sensical way after I get some sleep. plot: ★★★★★ I’ll never get over how interesting the dystopia system of this world is to me. The Thunderhead as this entity/overseer of everything is just so fascinating and well-written for a character that isn't a human being. The way that the Thunderhead's role played out in this book and the second book was really not something that I imagined, but still realistic. Which means ANGST. I could probably make an essay of how perfectly written I think the Thunderhead is. When I thought this book made me reach peak brain blast, it just keeps on going. All the commentaries and discussions were so well put out even the subtle ones and even though we never really got a solid solution to most of them... I think that was the point. As the Thunderhead would say: there is no perfect answer. this book in particular doesn’t have a lot of fast-paced action scenes but my brain just never stops trying to process everything that is going on. And when action packed scenes happen... it gets chaotic, in the best way possible. characters: ★★★★★ (4.5) I just need to revel in the beauty of this quote for a moment: “One of the benefits of being Madagascan is that we see people as people. When it comes to attraction, gender is never part of the equation.” Then Jeri looked up as the light dimmed slightly. something I only realized in this book with neal shusterman’s writing: characters are always described by who they are as a person more than their outward physical qualities (i.e. Jeri, Cirrus). He gives emphasis more on their thoughts and motivations which says a lot about what the book is really about. Which I love. my buddies and I agreed that there were characters introduced in this book that if we met them in the first book, we probably would have even more head over heels in love with. I just have a little pet-peeve with romance being forced into sci-fi books but I'm willing to overlook all of that because I love the themes of this book that much more. And I'm not really mad about the romance interactions (it's not even given that much focus) because I just want them to be happy, living peacefully (view spoiler)[in their little islands or you know... planets (hide spoiler)]. Not saying the characterization was bad because they weren't. and I was fully invested in all of them. I still hate Goddard with a burning passion but it's fine, we need an antagonist. world building: ★★★★★ It never stops building. that's all I can say. writing style: ★★★★★ SO BEAUTIFUL. from the in-between chapters to subtle hints underlying major plot points, every corner of each page was utilized to it's full extent in my opinion. I feel like my head is still running wild to even grasp everything that went down at this moment. page turner: ★★★★★ Honestly, if you reached this part of my review that means this series interests you even a little bit and I see no reason for you not to. Personally, I was too curious to know what would happen to all my children (not children and they could probably glean me, no problem) that I want to protect from Goddard. “Then, when the heavens were spent, the sun came out as it always did, and the Thunderhead got back to the solemn business of taking care of things." // so I FINISHED IT... and i'm sobbing right now so... i'll write a review when i stop crying <3 for now you get this gif as a summary of my thoughts: [image] // 6/21/19 Dear Publisher, please send me the ARC ;((((((( Respectfully yours, the person who cannot stop thinking about this series :) and will read this the second it's sent to me soooooooo...... #responsibleARCreviewer :) --- planning to Buddy Read with Bopeep <3 --- ARC OF A SCYTHE SERIES REVIEWS Book #1 : Scythe ★★★★★ Book #2 : Thunderhead ★★★★★ Book #3 : The Toll ----- instagram | blog | ko-fi | booksirens ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 07, 2020
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Aug 21, 2020
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Sep 21, 2018
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Hardcover
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| 1250183502
| 9781250183507
| 1250183502
| 4.20
| 262,483
| Sep 24, 2013
| May 29, 2018
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it was amazing
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Buddy Reading with Audrey and Caitlin!! "Someone could call themselves a hero and still walk around killing dozens. Someone else could be labeled aBuddy Reading with Audrey and Caitlin!! "Someone could call themselves a hero and still walk around killing dozens. Someone else could be labeled a villain for trying to stop them." FORMAT READ: Paperback, Audiobook, eBook (iBooks) SIMILAR VIBES: This Savage Song, They Both Die At the End (ominous vibe) ⟹ MY BLOG ⟸ ⟹ SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ⟸ *All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise* We love a good emo anti-hero :D Victoria Schwab's books always seem to have the same effect on me. They are never the stories and plot that I expect them to be but I end up loving them anyway. She did not let down in this book. The writing was so flawless for my reading style that I could just not put it down. I was reading it every chance I get and let me tell you: this is the first time I got a single book in all 3 formats (ebook, physical and audiobook) just so that I could continue reading. I was reading it on the bus, I was reading it while waiting in line for anything, I was reading it on the plane, I was reading it before I slept, etc. Even though it took me longer that it would usually take, I was really busy these past few weeks and I only get like this with a book when I'm busy if I really like it (idk if that made sense but the point is, I was addicted!). I actually thought the main characters would only be Victor and Eli, but I was pleasantly surprised to be invested in the other characters in here as well. The plot, although not that complicated (I love complicated plots) was still very intriguing due to the way V.E. Schwab wrote it and formatted everything. Everything always had me wondering and anxious to know what would happen next. The moral ideas were also evident for me here. The fact that we have anti-hero characters here also made this story much more unique given the plot dynamic. This book was one step away from being cliche but Schwab was able to balance on the line between predictable and what was not. Lastly, I pray for the souls of those who had to wait years for the sequel of this book and I'm happy I get to read the sequel as soon as I can since it's now out XD stay alive x ~ Althea VILLAINS SERIES REVIEWS Book #1 : Vicious ★★★★★ Book #2 : Vengeful ★★★★★ ...more |
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1
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Oct 25, 2018
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Nov 06, 2018
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May 28, 2018
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Paperback
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| 0062318500
| 9780062318503
| 0062318500
| 3.95
| 20,935
| Oct 24, 2017
| Oct 24, 2017
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really liked it
| ”What’s the point of living forever if you can’t take a few risks?” FORMAT READ: Audiobook & eBook (iBooks) SIMILAR VIBES: Every Day READ FOR: easy r ”What’s the point of living forever if you can’t take a few risks?” FORMAT READ: Audiobook & eBook (iBooks) SIMILAR VIBES: Every Day READ FOR: easy read but emotional, well built characters, “that Christmas vibe” ⟹ MY BLOG ⟸ ⟹ SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ⟸ *All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise* OVERALL: 4.5 kinda cheesy, not "the cheesiest of cheese", BUT IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE and I loved it!! But I wasn't super super blown away. Don't get me wrong... it was still a GREAT book. [image] The writing is super compelling, I was sucked in from the start. For a standalone it took it’s time in terms of world building and, boy, did it pay off. Everything was paced perfectly to me and all the gut punches were delivered at all the right moments. There were certain things that was a bit predictable to me but it was so well done that I didn't care and I was just living in every single moment. The "magic system" is my absolute favourite in the Contemporary genre <3 The characters had so much foundation and were so well built (especially considering that this is a standalone). I was so invested in Holly's character. Not all of the characters had very detailed backgrounds but all of them had the right depth. Mild Spoiler: (view spoiler)[I CAN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT HOLLY AND ETHAN RIGHT NOW OR ELSE I MIGHT CRY ALL OVER AGAIN (hide spoiler)] I don't have anything else to say, to be honest, other than this is a great book and I felt every single page. It was emotional, it made sense, I LOVE IT OKAY!!!!! Cynthia Hand did a great job creating a story that is both believable and whimsical to keep your heart hopeful and in a Christmas mood. ”A loving heart is the truest wisdom.” PLOT: ★★★★☆ WRITING STYLE: ★★★★★ WORLD BUILDING: ★★★★★ CHARACTERS: ★★★★☆ THEMES: ★★★★★ PACING: ★★★★★ PAGE TURNER: ★★★★★ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 16, 2019
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Jun 17, 2019
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May 26, 2018
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Hardcover
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| 1442472456
| 9781442472457
| 1442472456
| 4.39
| 194,669
| Jan 09, 2018
| Jan 09, 2018
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it was amazing
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-- Buddy Reading with Bopeep <3 without whom I would be reading this book in the next 50 years -- ”That’s exactly what the scythedom is: high school-- Buddy Reading with Bopeep <3 without whom I would be reading this book in the next 50 years -- ”That’s exactly what the scythedom is: high school with murder.” FORMAT READ: Audiobook (Recommended) & eBook (iBooks) SIMILAR VIBES: A Monster Calls READ FOR: thought-provoking story and plot, well written A.I. ⟹ MY BLOG ⟸ ⟹ SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ⟸ *All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise* OVERALL: 5.0 MY BRAIN HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY EXPLODINGGGG !!! One of my favorite things about this series is how the in-between entrys are always so thought-provoking and give the book that extra spice of uniqueness. This book was more mindboggling than Scythe if that is even possible. Neal Shusterman was such a master at creating such a logical persona for artificial intelligence (Thunderhead). It’s not really a spoiler but in replace of H.S. Curie, etc.’s in-between entries, it is the Thunderhead’s consciousness. I always love all the questions that this series raises. I was very hesitant picking up this book because the first book felt contained to me in terms of plot and world-building BUT THIS BOOK... fixed all those problems. I am so glad I picked up this book even though I screamed at my iPad twice while reading (in a good way). This book took me by surprise to say the least. ”If we were judged by the things that we most regret, no human being would be worthy to sweep the floor.” PLOT: ★★★★★ I NEVER would have thought that this book would go down the road that it did. NEVER. In a million years. There is nothing else to say because I'd be spoiling you :) Just know that I loved it. WRITING STYLE: ★★★★★ Neal Shusterman has a very unique writing style that will just suck you in. He did a really great job in making the Scytheverse deeper in this book and I feel more in touch with the world than in the previous book. The political system was better written here for me as well. The change in POVs was very creative and were done in right times which I thought gave the story more depth. WORLD BUILDING: ★★★★★ The world is so well thought-of it in the sense of a world where everything is automated and there are no life threatening consequences anymore. It was also better than the first book (I'm sorry I keep repeating this but it's true). We also get to read more of the different methods that Scythe's choose to glean which I really appreciated because it made them feel more real to me in a way. CHARACTERS: ★★★★★ The character developments were so well done in this installment. Rowan and Citra’s relationship in this book seemed to make more sense to me than their out-o-nowhere romance in Scythe where, in my opinion, it would have been better if they were left platonic. The romantic build up was not there for me in Scythe, but I found it okay now since they have more history. I finally started caring about their relationship now. I also really liked Citra’s relationship with Scythe Curie. The development was so well done and the timing just right. I didn’t expect for them to have the relationship they had but I was there for it <3 It warmed my heart. There were also some new and interesting characters that were introduced. There were old characters that were put to good use in the plot. It honestly gave more depth to this world and added to the creativity. THEMES: ★★★★★ There were so many questions about morality and they were explored so creatively that I was shocked in the best way possible. PACING: ★★★★★ PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT This was a face paced novel which was perfect for my reading style. PAGE TURNER: ★★★★★ Once I start reading, I can’t stop. It’s just that intriguing!! AND I NEED MORE!! I'm not sure if I'm giving this book justice with this review but if you were anything close to liking the first book... I DEFINITELY recommend this one. instagram | blog | ko-fi | booksirens instagram | blog | ko-fi | booksirens --------------------------------- PRE READ: I missed this world so much ARC OF A SCYTHE SERIES REVIEWS Book #1 : Scythe ★★★★★ Book #2 : Thunderhead ★★★★★ Book #3 : The Toll ----- ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 12, 2019
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Jun 18, 2019
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May 23, 2018
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Hardcover
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my rating |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 4.64
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it was amazing
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Nov 07, 2022
Feb 07, 2022
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Oct 16, 2021
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| 3.87
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it was amazing
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Oct 20, 2021
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Oct 14, 2021
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| 3.86
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it was amazing
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Feb 26, 2021
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Dec 04, 2020
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| 4.06
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really liked it
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Oct 12, 2021
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Dec 03, 2020
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| 4.29
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it was amazing
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Dec 04, 2020
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Nov 28, 2020
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|||||
|
| 3.67
|
really liked it
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Oct 13, 2020
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Aug 24, 2020
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|||||
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| 4.08
|
really liked it
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Sep 21, 2020
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Aug 21, 2020
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|||||
|
| 3.71
|
really liked it
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Oct 21, 2020
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Aug 03, 2020
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| 4.56
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it was amazing
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Apr 11, 2022
Jul 24, 2020
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Jul 23, 2020
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|||||
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| 4.45
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it was amazing
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Aug 05, 2020
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Jun 28, 2019
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| 4.02
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it was amazing
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Jun 24, 2019
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Jun 20, 2019
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| 4.21
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it was amazing
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Dec 16, 2020
Aug 29, 2020
Jul 2019
May 26, 2019
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May 23, 2019
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|||||
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| 4.48
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it was amazing
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Jun 12, 2019
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May 18, 2019
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|||||
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| 4.30
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it was amazing
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Feb 04, 2021
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May 05, 2019
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|||||
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| 4.30
|
really liked it
|
May 29, 2019
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Oct 03, 2018
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|||||
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| 4.03
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really liked it
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Jun 23, 2019
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Oct 01, 2018
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|||||
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| 4.18
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really liked it
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Aug 21, 2020
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Sep 21, 2018
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|||||
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| 4.20
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it was amazing
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Nov 06, 2018
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May 28, 2018
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| 3.95
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really liked it
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Jun 17, 2019
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May 26, 2018
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|||||
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| 4.39
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it was amazing
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Jun 18, 2019
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May 23, 2018
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