November 21, 2018

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas Review

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is how you set up a series! I love the characters so far, and the love interest plot line is not overdone. There are several plots going on within the book, but they don't overshadow each other, rather they work together to further the main plot line.

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Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas Review

Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, #7)Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It truly is the end of an era. Maas has outdone herself in this final book of the TOG series and I cannot day enough good things about it. The character development is insanely amazing, there are so many twists and turns (I didn’t see a single one coming, honestly), and her writing style is unparalleled! It’s cliche but accurate to say I laughed, I cried, I felt every emotion. I’m always amazed by the fact that SJM can make us feel for fictional characters- probably because we’ve had 6 books and a handful of novellas leading up to this. I recommend this to everyone, period.

In a word, this book is ICONIC.

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November 10, 2018

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer Review

Twilight (Twilight, #1)Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I’m giving this one star instead mostly because you can’t give something zero stars, and partially because it was a little less horrific than I remember. That being said, it’s still pretty horrific. I picked up the first three books of this series when our library was having a sale; I bought all three for $2.00. Probably paid too much, to be perfectly honest.

I’m not sure why I decided to re-read this series, but I needed something different from my typical go-to novels. Let me tell you- this was the wrong book to pick up. The first time I read this, I was 15 (a freshmen in high school), and I distinctly remember being creeped out by Edward. He’s not the charming, passionate boyfriend everyone wants him to be... he’s a psychopath with some serious mental problems. I guess that makes him perfect for Bella, since she’s just as insane! Needless to say, the characters irritate me and their thoughts/ actions really don’t make much sense (the book doesn’t make much sense though, so... there’s that...).

Moving on to the writing itself. This is definitely one of the most poorly written and edited books I’ve read. I wish I was kidding. I can only handle so many misspelled words in one book; I feel like the editors couldn’t be bothered to mention any of the typos or plot holes, for that matter, before publishing. I guess Meyer wrote the second half of this book first, and then backtracked. I’m not sure how it’s possible, but the first half is actually better than the second. It really just falls flat for me, and I’m not sure why I’m torturing myself by re-reading these books.

Overall, this series is a train wreck from the beginning. It’s horribly written, the characters are incredibly annoying, and it’s just not entertaining. I was able to read it quickly mostly due to the fact that it’s written on such a low level. If you need something to pass the time, and you’re into shitty romance novels without any action or steamy moments, this would be perfect for you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend it to a friend. I’m thinking about re-reading New Moon only because I want to see if it goes up from here. But I definitely need a break before I start it... if I start it.

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Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas Review

Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6)Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to be honest- I wasn’t overly enthusiastic when I first saw this book in the library only because Chaol was one of my least favorite characters in this series. I was really indifferent about him (but I don’t hate the guy) until I read this book. The beginning was a little slow for me, but I think that has a lot to do with the fact that I read Empire of Storms so long ago. It usually takes me a few chapters to get back into someone’s style. That being said, I’m obsessed with this series and Sarah J. Maas is definitely my favorite author!! I don’t know what else to say other than she’s a genius and I adore her writing so, so much. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book, regardless of which series it belongs to.

One important note- I didn’t realize this was a parallel novel to Empire of Storms, which is probably why I was so confused when I first picked it up. The events in this book happen at the same time as the events in EoS, so keep that in mind. Don’t be silly like me and expect to find anything new until the end. No spoilers, I promise!

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Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard Review

Red Queen (Red Queen, #1)Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

One of my friends asked me if this book was worth finishing (she’s about halfway through). To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure if I’ll be picking up the next book in this series or not. I remember trying to read it two or three times over summer break, and I just wasn’t 100% sold on the plot or the characters. I read a lot of young adult fiction and I have to say- this isn’t the worst, but it’s pretty run-of-the-mill, as far as dystopian novels go. It’s not the worst, but it’s definitely not the best. The ideas are there (shout out to Emily for that line!) and it seems like an interesting story. The ending feels a bit rushed and the plot twists at the end are interesting but not satisfying for me, personally.

SJM has spoiled me... I hold authors to such high standards now that I’ve read her beautiful novels. I would recommend Sarah J. Maas, Marie Lu, and Leigh Bardugo if you’re looking for some awesome YA picks!

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A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas Review

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2)A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure if I was going to give this 4 or 5 stars, but the twists at the end bumped it up. Honestly, it got a little slow in the middle and didn't pick up again until the last 100 or so pages. Some of the plot twists are extremely predictable; however, the final turn did surprise me. I'm excited for the next book in the series!! I love Maas' writing style (which I'm sure I've mentioned before) simply because she can write so many different scenes and convey so many different emotions. The character development is spot on. Feyre's inner turmoil incredible, and I like that I had a connection to the majority of the characters. I'm invested for sure :)

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A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas Review

A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3.1)A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't care what anyone says- this book is necessary and I love the fact that Sarah took the time to include it in the series! Yes, it's a novella. No, that doesn't change the fact that I absolutely adored it and will continue to reread it for years to come. I can't say enough good things about Maas' world-building, writing style, character development... it's all fantastic. I'm sure my fiance is tired of hearing me go on and on about this series, but I cannot recommend it enough. I know this series isn't for everyone, and it seems like the Throne of Glass series is a little more popular with people here on Goodreads, but I know both series have a massive following at this point. Either way, give this series a try if you're looking for your new favorite book.

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Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 by Naoko Takeuchi Review

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 (Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Renewal Edition, #1)Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 by Naoko Takeuchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This brought me back to my childhood and allowed me to relive some of my most favorite memories. I absolutely adore this series and I can’t wait to pick up the next few volumes from the library. I don’t know if I can give this an unbiased review, but as far as mangas go, this is definitely one of my top five! I love Chrno Crusade and Chobits too, and I’m not sure that I would ever be able to choose my favorite even out of those three.

I know I’ll be giving this entire series 5 stars. Just a heads up.

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A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas Review

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh. My. Gosh! I'm so glad this one was recommended to me (thanks Rose!); I wasn't really sure I would like this book just based on the premise, but it turned out to be one of my favorites! Maas is one of the best young adult writers I've ever read, and she definitely knows how to write a steamy (but not overly ridiculous or cheesy) sex scene. I definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone who enjoys a good fantasy book!

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From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty Review

From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good DeathFrom Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I cannot, for the life of me, remember where I discovered this book (possibly Goodreads or Facebook; maybe Instagram?), but I’m so glad I picked it up!! I haven’t had to face death on a personal level (luckily and unluckily, I guess) until recently. Death isn’t something we should fear- we need to discuss it, confront it, and most importantly, accept it. I love the format of this book because we get to see a number of different burial and grieving processes from around the world. This truly made me question some of our modern/ westernized thoughts on the funeral industry, and I recommend everyone checking this out. Read it with an open mind and remember to be accepting of other cultures.

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Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers Review

Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin, #2)Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I honestly can't remember exactly why I gave this book three stars (that's what I get for writing reviews months after finishing a book... sorry, guys...), but I'm sure it has something to do with it not being the most memorable book. I like that LaFevers switches up the point of view and focuses on a different character's story for each book; she still includes the characters from the previous book, which is a plus. This series has a few twists but the plot is pretty predictable throughout. Because there are so many YA writers out there and it seems like everything has been done at this point, I have to say- this author makes her writing and characters stand out from the pack. I do like this series and I plan to finish it. I think I just need to take a step back and try something different before I return to this one. Overall, I would recommend this to someone looking for a quick, easy read that focuses on strong female characters in a Medieval setting.

I think I'm just spoiled from Sarah J. Maas and George R. R. Martin and I'm holding everyone to such a high standard. Not necessarily a bad thing, just something to keep in mind.

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Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers Review

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1)Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first book from this author, and I have to say- I’m loving now different this series is! Historic fiction isn’t normally my cup of tea, but I’m trying to expand my horizons. Even though the plot is slightly predictable, the characters are more interesting than most and the twists keep the reader hooked. Thankfully, there isn’t too much mushy, romantic stuff (again, not my thing); there is a love interest, but it’s not the focal point of the story. Just a small subplot, really. I’m interested in the new two books in the trilogy because the story is told from the perspective of two different characters we met in this book (no spoilers!). Overall, I enjoyed it and will definitely be checking out the next two books!

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Circe by Madeline Miller Review

CirceCirce by Madeline Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would! I saw it on the “new fiction” display in our local library and I had been wanting to read it since Jean (aka Bookishthoughts) recommended it on her YouTube channel. I’m into Greek mythology and I’ve read “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey,” but it’s been awhile since I’ve actually studied anything. Honestly, that didn’t stop me from loving this story. I’m sure it would be beneficial to read up on some of the characters (Circe, Odysseus, Helios, and the other major characters, maybe) just to get even more out of the book. Anyone can enjoy it, regardless of your background knowledge, because Miller does such an excellent job building the world and developing the characters. The plot was a little slow in the beginning and through parts of the middle, which is why I couldn’t give it 5 stars. Either way, this book was incredible and I’ll definitely be checking out Song of Achilles asap!

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