Review - "The Gilded Wolves"

The Gilded Wolves, The Gilded Wolves #1
by Roshani Chokshi
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 15th January 2019
spoilers? none

Goodreads

Wolves were everywhere. In politics, on thrones, in beds. They cut their teeth on history and grew fat on war.

Galley provided by publisher

If you enjoyed Six of Crows, in particular the unlikely found family trope, its heist shenanigans, and general chaos, then you had better be prepared to read (and fall in love with) this book. The Gilded Wolves is a gorgeously written, historical/dystopia/futuristic heist novel (no, that's not an oxymoron), with six wonderful main characters who you can't help but love.

The novel is set in Paris, 1889, and introduces the shadowy Order of Babel, who control Forgery, a form of magic. The Order "collects" Forged items from countries across the globe. Séverin, our main character (insofar as you can identify the main), is the last surviving member of the disgraced House Vanth, consumed with the desire to exact revenge on the Order for cheating him out of his inheritance. When a routine heist reveals something unexpected, Séverin and his team (Laila, Tristan, Enrique and Zofia) are enlisted by the Patriarch of House Nyx, Hypnos, to find a hidden artefact.

What I especially loved about this book was the characters. Firstly, the main cast is really diverse - four of the main six are characters of colour and two are mlm (one is explicitly bi, and allowed to crush on both male and female characters in the book). Though, yes, I do live in hope that one of the girls is going to be wlw as well, but who knows. Secondly, for most of the book, I genuinely couldn't decide which of them was my favourite. Of course, if you know anything about my type of character, you can probably pick out which of them ended up being my favourite, but that didn't stop me loving each of them individually.

Throughout the book, I think I was in awe of how well Roshani Chokshi can develop a plot and her characters simultaneously. Every one of them is fully rounded, and even when you're not in their POV, you can just feel them coming off the page with life. I think that was most obvious for Hypnos because for most of the book he was only viewed through other characters' eyes, but you still get such a clear idea of his character it's almost as if you did get that time in his POV.

I also want to gush over the plot itself for a bit. It's so intricately woven and thought out, and so engaging you don't even think to put the book down for a moment. And then just as you think everything's sorted out now, everything's happy, suddenly Roshani Chokshi pulls the rug from under your feet, breaks your heart, and turns everything upside down, so all you're left with is a cliffhanger, a lot of soggy tissues and at least a year-long wait to find out how it all gets resolved.

If there was anything at all that I didn't like as much about this book, it was the love triangle. I wouldn't have minded so much, but I disliked one of the sides of it. In my opinion, they'd have worked better as becoming really good friends instead of having relationship potential (and then I could escape that particular romantic angst), but I guess I'll have to wait to see where it gets taken in book 2. Also, I know I was expecting more of a historical atmosphere to this book, but it's not really historical so much as a kind of futuristic past (because of Forging), if that makes sense. That it's set in Paris in 1889 is relegated to the background almost, so if you're going in expecting it to be very historical or historically accurate, then you might be disappointed.

So, if I hadn't made it clear before now, this is definitely a book you're going to want to read. Maybe multiple times over just to fully absorb every little detail about it. Just make sure you're prepared for a broken heart.

Review - "Don't You Forget About Me"

Don't You Forget About Me
by Mhairi McFarlane
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 1st January 2019
spoilers? vague ones

Goodreads

I don't know what he's thinking. I look forward to finding out.

Galley provided by publisher

TWs harassment (sexual and otherwise), past sexual assault (described)

As ever, here I am, having rated a book 5 stars, asking myself the biggest question: just how do you review a book that has just ripped your heart right out and then stitched it back into place? This, of course, may seem like an overexaggeration, but it's not. I'm sat in the kitchen of my flat having just gone through a rollercoaster of emotions and I don't even know where to start with it.

Don't You Forget About Me is a second-chance romance, with all the angst that comes with that. The romance in question happened 12 years previously, when Georgina was 18 and leaving sixth-form. Since then, she's not seen hide nor hair of Lucas, and has ultimately, compared to whatever expectations people had of her, failed in life. She perhaps hits rock bottom when she's sacked from her waitressing job and, in the same night, finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her. Then, her brother-in-law suggests her for a job in a new pub that's just opening.

Georgina is an engaging and funny, if unreliable, narrator - the book is in first person but I never felt like I had trouble getting into it because of that. Mhairi McFarlane has an easy to read and lovely style, and I got into this book from page one, around the time that I fell completely in love with Georgina. Because this book is less about romance per se, so much as about Georgina realising her own value and being kind to herself and coming to terms with what happened in her past. There is a romance going on (second-chance!), but it's more of a background thing, and one thing I loved was how, when everything comes out into the open and Georgina and Lucas finally talk about it all, they don't immediately get together afterwards. Yes, it gave me a little moment of please don't leave it like this, but it felt more right than him finding out about things and then falling into bed with her (I'm trying to be vague with this, sorry!).

I really loved how much of a slowburn this book was, both in the romance, and in Georgina's realisations. Everything felt so natural and it was done so well that it never even risked being boring for a moment. I genuinely couldn't put this book down (I spent 4 hours reading it while simultaneously telling myself this is going to be the final chapter I read, I'll go back to doing my last coursework of the term afterwards. Did I ever go back? Nope). It was absolutely wonderful and I wish I could go back and read it over again for the first time (maybe I'll just satisfy myself with a reread). I really think this might end up being one of my favourite books of 2018.

So, there's not much more to say besides: please please read this book.

Review - "Skyward"

Skyward
by Brandon Sanderson
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 6th November 2018
spoilers? no

Goodreads

But remember, Spensa. You get to choose who you are.

Galley provided by publisher

I have always found it incredibly hard to review books I loved, and Skyward by Brandon Sanderson is hardly going to break that streak. Because it's been about six hours since I finished it and I'm no closer to working out what I want to say about the book.

Let me start with the plot. The human race has been driven almost to extinction, and the survivors are trapped on a planet, surrounded by space debris and periodically attacked by an alien race called the Krell. Spensa, the main character, is desperate to become a pilot and a hero, after her father is branded a coward and her family shunned. While investigating the caves and tunnels around the city, Spensa stumbles across a ancient ship, which seems to be the key to her dream.

One of the things I loved about this book was how, despite being a book centered around the idea of a flight school essentially, there is a lot of action still going on. Because the human forces are continually being depleted by the alien incursions, the cadets are also employed in the defense of their base and the city underneath it. Sometimes I'll get bored reading about books set in schools because they spend a lot of time on lessons and rivalries, and the action won't come until the last third of the book, but that's definitely not the case here. The plot is action-packed, but still takes the time to make you fall in love with every single character, even when you only have a few chapters with them.

As well as making you fall in love with the characters, Brandon Sanderson has this way of developing relationships so realistically, and heartbreakingly at times, and I love it so much. I mentioned briefly that, unlike a lot of books based in schools, there aren't any rivalries in this. Spensa doesn't come into class to find a rich kid who detests her on site and wants to make her life hell. There's none of that, and I really really loved it. Not only is there none of it, this book gives you such a nice found family trope, and I'm really weak for those. I loved each and every one of Skyward Flight, really really loved them, and I know I've used the words "really" and "love" way too much but I genuinely don't know how to put into words my feelings about these characters. (Also, there is an excellent slowburning enemies to friends to maybe (hopefully) lovers going on between Jorgen and Spensa, so I'm desperate to hear whether there'll be a sequel.)

In true Brandon Sanderson fashion, though, this book also broke my heart. It's a war, we're told it's a war, and that there are high casualty rates among pilots, but still I wasn't prepared for any of what happened. That's an unfortunate byproduct of loving every single character Brandon Sanderson writes when I just know that's he's five minutes away from tragedy at any given time.

If this rambling review hasn't convinced you to read this (and I wouldn't blame you), then just know this: Brandon Sanderson's sci-fi is just as good as his fantasy. A.K.A. you should read both.

(Also, found family.)

Review - "Girls of Paper and Fire"

Girls of Paper and Fire
by Natasha Ngan
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 6th November 2018
spoilers? no

Goodreads

I know it now with a certainty that has fitted into the lost core at the heart of me, as hard and angular as my hope was soft and shimmering. The King will not have me.

Galley provided by publisher

TW for sexual assault/sex slavery, rape, violence

A good f/f fantasy novel, with a well-paced plot and good writing was starting to seem like some kind of mythical creature before I read this book. Too often, it felt like the focus was more on almost forcing a relationship rather than developing a good plot and letting the relationship build up of its own accord. That is definitely not the case here.

Girls of Paper and Fire tells the story of Lei, who is taken from her village to become a Paper Girl, a pleasure slave to the Demon King. Paper Girls are not allowed to take lovers, let alone fall in love, but it's in the Women's Court that Lei starts to fall for one of the girls alongside her.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the writing. I read Natasha Ngan's debut novel a while back, around the time it first got released I think, and I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing, I'll admit, (as well as the fact that the main character wouldn't stop crying) but the improvement between then and now feels astronomical (although bearing in mind I don't have that good a memory of the writing and it's probably coloured by my frustration with the main character). It's the perfect mix of description and action, setting the scene well, but also keeping everything moving when need be.

Tied into this is the plot. Sometimes, with fantasy books, particularly first books in series, it feels like the plot can drag a little in the middle. Either because there's overly elaborate worldbuilding or because a lot of time is spent getting to know the characters before the Big Moment happens at the end. Especially when there's some kind of lessons going on, it seems like those can make a book drag a lot. Not so in this one. I was never bored by the book, through a combination of great writing, likeable characters, and enough action happening that all I felt was increasing tension as Natasha Ngan ratcheted up the stakes.

Finally, the characters. They're all such good characters, even though not all of them are the good guys - they're still all complex. I particularly loved Lei and Wren, but also the more side characters of the other Paper Girls like Aoki and even Blue for a little bit. Heck, Natasha Ngan also had me feeling sorry for the goddamn Demon King for a hot minute (before I returned to my senses). I loved them, and I loved their relationships. Especially the one between Lei and Wren. It just felt so natural and normalised, even though in this fantasy world, there's a lot of misogyny and women aren't thought of as sexual beings outside of their relationship with men (although m/m relationships are mentioned as being not rare). That was probably my favourite thing about the book, that it makes the whole act of women loving women so natural. (Not to say that other f/f books make it feel unnatural, but there are just some that get it more than others.)

A brief point to end: this is a very heavy book at points. The whole concept is based on sex slavery, but there are scenes of gendered violence (including a non-graphic rape scene and a scene where someone is branded), and also general implications of sexual assault throughout. So that is something to be aware of.

But, overall, I think this is one of the best books I've read this year (and I've read over 300 at this point, so). And it's definitely one everyone should be preordering or preparing to read on 6th November.

Review - "The Queen's Thief" series

The Queen's Thief
by Megan Whalen Turner
overall rating (so far): ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 1996 - 2019
spoilers? hopefully no, I tried my best to avoid them

Goodreads

The king lifted a hand to her cheek and kissed her. It was not a kiss between strangers, not even a kiss between a bride and groom. It was a kiss between a man and his wife, and when it was over, the king closed his eyes and rested his forehead in the hollow of the queen's shoulder, like a man seeking respite, like a man reaching home at the end of the day.

If you've followed my reviews at all on Goodreads, you will know that books that don't contain a lot of action and me do not really get along. So, on the face of it, maybe you'd have thought that me and this series wouldn't get along either. Well, in this case, you would be wrong. Because although there is not huge amounts of action in the series, Megan Whalen Turner just does character-driven fantasy novels so well that I was consistently overwhelmed by how much I loved these books and characters. I wrote a brief review of The Thief when I first read it about two years ago, but now I've finally got myself together and read the rest of the series, I'm going to write a review for all of them at once. (As well as I can, without any spoilers, because you want to go into this series without any idea of what's going to happen. Trust me.)

I'm going to break this up into chunks in an attempt to actually produce something coherent, so, let's begin.

THE CHARACTERS

Having said that the series is character-driven, I figure I might as well start with the characters themselves. And specifically the fact that I love each and every one of them. In The Thief, we are introduced to Gen, a thief, who is languishing in the cells in Sounis, when the magus of Sounis picks him up out of them in order to steal something for him and the king. Gen is a compelling and funny narrator, and also [spoilers redacted]. And I don't think I've loved a character so quickly in a long while. And it's not just Gen I loved immediately. There was Sophos and Pol and Eddis too, and in later books, Costis and Kamet. Even the characters that you don't like straightaway have a tendency to grow on you: see the magus and Attolia. (No, but seriously, if you want an example of how to make an initially unlikeable character likeable, look no further than The Queen of Attolia. Melina Marchetta says she took inspiration for something Evanjalin does in Finnikin of the Rock from Megan Whalen Turner. Just so you know the level of pain we're operating on here.)

One of the reasons the characters are so wonderfully compelling, is that they all are realistic and flawed characters. Gen is stubborn and incalcitrant, even if his heart's in the right place, and he never tells anyone anything about his plans. Attolia is cold and also pretty stubborn, but when it comes down to it, just afraid of being vulnerable. I could go on and on about all these characters, but I won't subject you to that. Instead, just take my word for it that these are some of the most complex and appealing characters I've ever read.

(And they absolutely break my heart but that's a whole other thing.)

THE RELATIONSHIPS

You know what the best thing about having such great characters is? The relationships between them. I would tell you my favourites but, uh, that means spoiler so I'll hold off on that for now. So, given that I can't tell you specific relationships I liked and therefore why I liked them, I'm just going to ramble on a bit about them in a hopefully non-specific manner.

Firstly, because the characters are so complex, so are their relationships (case in point, this one I cannot mention because spoilers, but which everyone who's read the books will know I'm talking about). But I don't just love the complexity of their relationships, I also love just how detailed Megan Whalen Turner is in developing them, and how carefully she does it, until you're at the point where you think, okay, I can see why X just forgave Y that. (Yes, it's that specific example again.)

And beyond that, the development just feels so natural - slow and incremental and, above all, subtle. You're never explicitly told how characters feel about each other, but it's just there in the writing and GOD! I love it so much.

THE PLOT

Finally, let's talk plot. Like I said earlier, I generally have an aversion to books that don't have a lot of plot and rely on character-driven arcs. This was a definite exception to the rule. There's something about Megan Whalen Turner's way of writing character-driven arcs that has me captivated despite the lack of significant action for most of the book. It reminds me a lot of Melina Marchetta's ability to do so (not surprising given Marchetta said she took inspiration from this series. Perhaps that should have been a sign that I was undoubtedly going to love it).

Unsurprisingly, given how the rest of this review has gone, there's actually very little I can say about plot that doesn't spoil anything. (Like, seriously, it's one of those series where you absolutely cannot read the blurb of the next book until you've read the current one. Just don't do it. Do not.) But, as with the characters and relationships, everything about the plot is so detailed and well thought out and subtle, so that something will become significant long after Megan Whalen Turner first mentions it and you're just like OH, because it's so goddamn clever.

In conclusion, this review is a mess and I've really only managed to ramble all over the place, but I hope you can still see why I loved this series and maybe you'll be tempted to pick them up for yourselves.

Review - "Jade City"

Jade City, Green Bone Saga #1
by Fonda Lee
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 28th June 2018
spoilers? none

Goodreads

"I could still kill him for you." "Screw you, Hilo," she snapped. "I can kill my ex-boyfriends myself."

tw for extreme violence

Galley provided by publisher

How do you review books that ripped your heart out about halfway through and then continued to batter your emotions mercilessly, all the while laughing with glee? Who knows, but I'm about to try. (Don't be surprised if this review dissolves into incoherency. It's been a week and I'm nowhere near over this book.)

The island of Kekon is controlled by two crime syndicates - clans of Green Bones, who are granted superhuman abilities by the island's magical jade. In the past, the Green Bones protected the island from foreign invasions, but now the clans are involved in commerce, construction and the protection of the districts who pay them. However, the Mountain clan aren't content with the way things are, and want to gain control of the whole island for themselves. Thus begins a clan war.

Jade City is primarily a character-driven novel. There is definitely plot, but it's a fairly slowburning one. The first half of the book is more focused on the Kaul family, of the No Peak clan - Lan, the Pillar (leader), Hilo, the Horn (kind of like the general), Shae, their jadeless sister, and Anden, their cousin/adopted brother. One of the best parts of this book, in my opinion, is the amount of time spent on the family relationships. Yes, they're pretty damn painful, and quite angst-filled (if you've read the Timothy Wilde series by Lyndsay Faye, they're definitely up there competing with that for Most Painful Familial Relationships), but they are also so compelling and there's no one character you'll love to the detriment of all the rest.

As well as there being such good relationships, the characters in themselves are also brilliant. I don't remember the last book in which I loved every single one of the main cast so much. (Which was a Big Problem around a particular part because it absolutely wrecked me. Beware of getting too attached to anyone in this series, I think, is the message to be taken away from that.)

Another wonderful thing about this book was the worldbuilding - ultimately it's a fairly simple fantasy world, but it felt so realistic and, to be honest, it's probably some of the best worldbuilding I've read in a fantasy novel of any sort. Everything just fits so seamlessly together.

If there's any complaint I have about Jade City, it's just that it was fairly slow up until That Particular Scene Which I Like To Pretend Didn't Happen. Yeah, the characters and the worldbuilding made up for it, and this is only a really minor complaint, but I did feel there needed to be a bit more action before the halfway point. Like I said though: this is a really minor issue. In the end, it didn't make a difference to how I rated the book.

So now all I have to do is wait (suffer/attempt to recover) until Jade War comes out.

Cover Reveal, Giveaway + Review: A Light Amongst Shadows

I've never taken part in a cover reveal before, so this is going to be exciting! The cover I am revealing today is for A Light Amongst Shadows, the first book in the Dark is the Night series, by Kelley York and Rowan Altwood. It's the story of James Spencer, who is sent to Whisperwood School for Boys, a place for troubled youth, by his parents. There he gets embroiled in a mystery surrounding the school, and the ghosts within it.

This book is probably one of my favourites so far this year, so you'll definitely want to read it! It has the perfect mix of romance and plot, and the paranormal aspect, quite honestly, scared the shit out of me.

As well as the cover reveal, there's also a giveaway of a copy of the book going on, link at the bottom of this post. So, without further ado, here's the cover!

RELEASE DATE: 1st June 2018

SYNOPSIS: James Spencer is hardly the typical troubled youth who ends up at Whisperwood School for Boys. Instead of hating the strict schedules and tight oversight by staff, James blossoms, quickly making friends, indulging in his love of writing, and contemplating the merits of sneaking love poems to the elusive and aloof William Esher.

The rumours about William’s sexuality and opium reliance are prime gossip material amongst the third years… rumours that only further pique James' curiosity to uncover what William is really like beneath all that emotional armor. And, when the normally collected William stumbles in one night, shaken and ranting of ghosts, James is the only one who believes him.

James himself has heard the nails dragging down his bedroom door and the sobs echoing in the halls at night. He knows others have, too, even if no one will admit it. The staff refuses to entertain such ridiculous tales, and punishment awaits anyone who brings it up.

Their fervent denial and the disappearance of students only furthers James’ determination to find out what secrets Whisperwood is hiding...especially if it prevents William and himself from becoming the next victims.

PREORDER LINKS (US)

AMAZON | iTUNES | BARNES AND NOBLE | KOBO

AUTHOR LINKS

Kelley York

FB page | FB group | website | twitter | tumblr

Rowan Altwood

FB page | twitter

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY


REVIEW

Spoilers? teeny tiny ones

Goodreads

The school bells chime as they have every day before, but the sun seems a little brighter when I wake to it shining upon William’s face.

Content Warnings: discussion of past CSA, drug abuse, torture, murder

I know it's only April and this is likely going to be a bold statement, but I'm going to open up this review by declaring that this is probably one of the best books I'll read all year, if not the best book. That being said, I still don't know how I'm supposed to review it. I swear, the more I like a book the harder I find it to review, and I really really liked this one, so I'm finding it near impossible to review.

Firstly, I'm going to start with the plot. The plot in this book is the perfect mix of romance and mystery. Sometimes, I feel like plot kind of gets shunted to the side in favour of romance, or it's forced into such a slowburn nothing happens for 75% of the book, and everything in the last 25%, and I get bored. This book has the perfect balance of all that, keeping the mystery and paranormal side of things moving, while still developing the romance. (As a side note, the paranormal aspect scared the absolute shit out of me, so that's a good sign. But equally, that could be because I'm so easily scared. Did I ever tell you about the time I couldn't look in a mirror in the dark for at least a week after watching episode 1x06 of Supernatural (the Bloody Mary episode)? So, yeah.)

Secondly, the characters. I loved each and every one of the main characters (that I was supposed to, obviously. I wanted the rest of them to burn in hell, but. Y'know), especially James and William, but an honourable mention goes to Oscar (*sobs*). James was by far my favourite though. I particularly liked how his attempts at being discrete involved reciting love sonnets to William in the middle of a crowded hallway. Congrats James, no one's ever going to realise you're into William like That. Also, special mention to how he completely just gives up trying to be discrete right at the end and goes around calling William 'darling' and 'sweetheart' in front of all his friends. James is the prototypical Disaster Gay.

Finally... well, yeah. I don't have anything more to say than this really. I loved the plot and the characters and the romance, and just the whole entire book. If there's one 2018 release you definitely need to read this year (and, let's be real, that's an understatement, I know), it's this.

Review - "The Poppy War"

The Poppy War, The Poppy War #1
by R. F. Kuang
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 3rd May 2018
spoilers? no

Goodreads

She was no victim of destiny. She was the last Speerly, commander of the Cike, and a shaman who called the gods to do her bidding.

And she would call the gods to do such terrible things.

Galley provided by publisher

TW: graphic descriptions of rape, violence, gore, torture; self harm; substance abuse; war related violence and gore (descriptions of desecrated corpses in particular)

You know those books where you finish them and you're absolutely speechless, like gobsmacked speechless (in a good way)? This is one of those. So, apologies if parts of this review are an incoherent mess. That's just what this book has made me.

The Poppy War tells the story of Rin, an orphan living in the Rooster Province, who shocks everyone when she comes first in her district in the Keju, a test to find the best and brightest to send to the Academies of the Empire. Rin ends up at Sinegard, an elite military school, where she discovers she possesses a talent for shamanism.

First off, this book is intense. And it only gets more so as you read along. Part one follows Rin from taking the test to the start of the war between the Federation and Nikara. One thing I really liked about this was that, while she was at school, and initially there were some detailed descriptions of lessons to set the scene, it wasn't like a lot of first books in series where not a lot happens until right at the end. The first part was gripping and moved quickly too. Based on the first part alone, I'd have probably rated this 4 stars. But then part two happened. Part two ups the ante considerably. Suddenly, they're at war, and it's brutal, and you think this book cannot possibly get more intense than this. But it does. It got so intense I needed to take a break just to calm down. It got so intense I am absolutely terrified at the thought of how the second book is going to go. Especially given that ending.

If the best thing about this book was the plot, then the characters and relationships came in close second. There's an excellent enemies to friends (to lovers? I can live in hope) relationship as well as a wonderful found family, some of whose scenes had me laughing out loud. I really don't know how to describe how I felt about all the characters, because I loved each and every one of them (or at least, each and every one of the ones I was supposed to, and the ones who grew on me). The characters in this book, particularly Rin, Kitay, Chaghan and Nezha, are probably some of my favourites I've read this year.

The one teeny tiny problem I had with this book (and it's a problem that's personal more than anything) was that occasionally the writing seemed a little clunky, particularly in the lulls between action scenes, and some things felt a little underdeveloped, like Nezha's character development (but that's probably because it mostly happened off page). But like I said, it's more personal feelings than anything major, and likely it's just because this is a debut. Anyway, the intensity of the plot more than made up for it.

Review - "The Cruel Prince"

The Cruel Prince, The Folk of the Air #1
by Holly Black
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 2nd January 2018
spoilers? yes

Goodreads

What could I become if I stopped worrying about death, about pain, about anything? If I stopped trying to belong? Instead of being afraid, I could become something to fear.

Galley provided by publisher

You know when you finish a book and you just don't have any words for how good it was? That's me with this book. Even over two hours since I finished it, I don't know how to put into words what I feel about this book.

Holly Black is one of those authors I know I'll always be able to trust to write a good and compelling book, and The Cruel Prince is no different. After the prologue and first chapter hook you, it's perhaps a bit of a slow burn, but the pace picks up soon enough, and by about a quarter of the way through I couldn't put it down.

As per usual, the characters in this are wonderful, and Holly Black even had me changing how I felt about Cardan by the time the book was over. I'd still like him to have some more character development before (if) he embarks on a relationship with Jude (though after that ending my hopes of that aren't high), but he does start to develop as the book goes on (and there's another two books worth of time in which he can further).

My one (eensy-weensy) problem with the book is how the conflict between Jude and her twin sister, Taryn, comes about. Locke, one of Cardan's friends, starts hooking up with Jude. Meanwhile, Taryn is going to be proposed to by an unknown faerie at the High King's coronation. Firstly, it's blatantly obvious - or it was to me - that Locke is this unknown faerie. Secondly, Taryn knows Locke is playing Jude. She's aware of that. So forgive me if I don't feel any sympathy when she gets angry at Jude because Jude feels betrayed. Taryn knew everything that was happening with regard to that. And yet, instead of punching Locke in the gut like he deserves, she gets angry at Jude. I'm mostly annoyed about the fact that this is the way Holly Black feels the need to get conflict in between the twins. This. When she could have brought it about through a number of different ways - I mean, the whole book, Taryn is against Jude antagonising Cardan and his friends. Surely it's not hard to get the angst in through that.

But despite that part, I really really loved this book, and I don't have a clue how I'm going to manage to wait til 2019 for book two.

Review - "Pride and Prejudice"

Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 28th January 1813
spoilers? some

Goodreads

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

I first read Pride and Prejudice in Year 9, aged 13, as one of that year's set texts for English Lit. I, quite frankly, despised English Lit, so it's honestly a surprise that I actually enjoyed reading and analysing this book. Especially since I never got an iota of the same enjoyment out of analysing any other book in my five years of classes. Jane Austen's novel also has the (lofty or dubious, you decide) honour of being the first classic I can ever remember liking (and still one of the few I do).

It took me another 7 years to actually get round to rereading Pride and Prejudice, at which point, I came to my senses and realised that my original four star rating was way too low. If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. I love every single aspect of this book (besides some of the adaptations it has, and will (fuck you, ITV), spawned).

If I'm really honest, Lizzie Bennet is second only to Anne Elliott in my list of favourite Austen heroines, but that's a really really marginal second. Lizzie Bennet is definitely one of my favourite characters in lit, and I'd forgotten how much I loved her until I reread this book. I had also forgotten just how much I love Mr. Darcy too. He may not be my favourite Austen love interest (Henry Tilney took that title just recently), but he has one of the best character developments I've read in Austen's work, if not the best.

Probably the best thing (or worst, depending how you look at it) about rereading this, was picking out all the parts that didn't foreshadow as such, but were precursors to the big events of the story. Wickham telling Lizzie his whole life story on their first meeting (Lizzie. Lizzie my girl. What trustworthy man tells you his whole life story the moment you meet him? No one, that's who), "Will the shades of Pemberley be thus polluted?", "You are the last man I could be prevailed upon to marry." Knowing what's going to happen later only enhanced my enjoyment of the novel.

Really, one of the reasons this, and other Austen novels, are among my favourite classics (when I will admit I rarely enjoy classics) is because of the writing. It's always lighthearted and vaguely mocking (Northanger Abbey more than most, I've found), and as far as classics go, it's very easy to read. And one of the major reasons I don't read a huge number of classics is because I have trouble with the writing (The Brothers Karamazov is case in point. It's taken me about 10 months to get 170 pages in). So it's really refreshing to read Austen's writing.

So, in case it wasn't already clear, I love Pride and Prejudice with all my heart. So much so that I'm currently trying to stave off the desire to reread right now, only two weeks after I read it last.

Review - "Flame in the Mist"

Flame in the Mist, Flame in the Mist #1
by Renee Ahdieh
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 18th May 2017
spoilers? no

Goodreads

There is such strength in being a woman. But it is a strength you must choose for yourself. No one can choose it for you. We can bend the wind to our ear if we would only try.

Galley provided by publisher

You would think, after the ending of The Wrath and the Dawn, I would have learned that the only way to read Renee Ahdieh's duologies is to read the first the day before the second comes out, so that I'm not left suffering over a cliffhanger for an entire year.

I didn't learn.

Flame in the Mist is a retelling of Mulan set in Feudal Japan. On her way to marry the emperor's second son, Mariko's convoy is ambushed and Mariko is left to die. Believing the ambush to have been the work of the Black Clan, she decides to infiltrate their ranks and find out why they tried to kill her.

Once again, Renee Ahdieh manages to weave a captivating story, full of twists and turns (and cliffhangers) that you would never expect. (Though you should probably expect the cliffhanger.) I saw none of the twists coming, and each had me a little more excited than the last. The characters are, as per usual, wonderful, and I loved each and every one of them.

So, really, the only complaint I have is that I now have to suffer an unknown amount of time until I can see this conflict resolved.

Review - "Goodbye Days"

Goodbye Days
by Jeff Zentner
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 6th April 2017
spoilers? not really

Goodreads

For the most part, you don't hold the people you love in your heart because they rescued you from drowning or pulled you from a burning house. Mostly you hold them in your heart because they save you, in a million quiet and perfect ways, from being alone.

Galley provided by publisher

Honestly, I should really have expected how much this book would wreck me. I mean, it's Jeff Zentner. The Serpent King actually had me in floods of tears so I should have known this one would too. And I did expect to an extent that it would, I just didn't realise I'd be reading through my tears at points (chapter 24 was especially rough).

I loved pretty much everything about this book, but if there was one thing I didn't it was the romantic subplot (although it never fully came into fruition it was definitely hinted at). I didn't necessarily think that Carver falling in love with his dead best friend's girlfriend was really needed. I mean, the plot would have been just as good if they'd been friends and that was it. I guess it added a bit of angst but it wasn't like that couldn't have been achieved another way.

But in general, the book was amazing, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to have their heart ripped out and torn up.

Review - "Letters to the Lost"

Letters to the Lost
by Brigid Kemmerer
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 6th April 2017
spoilers? no

Goodreads

"You can't make your own path with your eyes closed."

Galley provided by publisher

How do I put into words how much I loved this book? It wrecked me. I genuinely cannot remember the last time I cried over a book, but this one made me cry at least twice and tear up many times more.

Letters to the Lost is the story of Juliet and Declan, both of whom have lost someone in their family, as they start exchanging letters after Declan responds to one Juliet has written and left on her mother's grave. It's an emotional bruiser of a book, with suckerpunches coming basically every page, no holds barred. It does this all the while being a far from complex story - it's about two people finding refuge in each other, while not knowing who the other is.

It's written in dual POV, so you get to put yourself in the shoes of each person. Which is good, because a lot of times when you have a dickhead character, like Declan is painted as in Juliet's POV to begin with, you don't get a sense of how they actually are because it's single POV. And that makes any sort of character development, unless very explicitly done, hard to believe. There was one time where I was a bit confused about who's POV it was, but that was just because it didn't change when I expected it to have (there was a reason behind it though).

A lot of things about this book really messed me up. Specifically, the ones based around the family relationships. There were some scenes, mostly revolving around Declan and his family relationships, that really got to me, and those were the times I ended up crying.

I don't know if I'll read another book this year that messes me up as much as this one (although Jeff Zentner's new one is out soon and just the blurb tells me I'm going to end up in tears). I read it in only a few hours too, and then had to wait for about an hour before I could leave my room because of all the crying. It's definitely one I'll be coming back to over and over.

Review - "A Crown of Wishes"

A Crown of Wishes, The Star-Touched Queen #2
by Roshani Chokshi
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 28th March 2017
spoilers? no

Goodreads

And the truth was that he was not afraid of being seen for what he was. He was afraid of being seen as someone who could never be more.

Galley provided by publisher

You know when it's an author's second book and the first one was so amazing that you're kind of worried that nothing can live up to that? Not so with this one. A Crown of Wishes is as amazing, if not more so, as The Star-Touched Queen.

The writing is just as gorgeous as usual, with some wonderful descriptions (especially of food and gardens) that bring the story to life. The setting this time is the Tournament of Wishes, in which Gauri and Vikram are competing. Gauri is Maya's sister, introduced in the first book, a princess who has been in captivity by her kingdom's enemies for 6 months. Vikram is the adopted prince of Bharata's enemies, who wants to be king and to be respected by the council.

The characters are also wonderful, and so realistic and their relationship is a hate to love one, which is one of my favourite tropes ever. They start off as enemies, on account of their kingdoms, and they develop so beautifully to fall in love. And Roshani Chokshi writes it so well. And writes it without any relationship-based conflict, which I always appreciate.

I think Roshani Chokshi is one of my favourite authors, on the basis of this book and the last, and from now on she'll definitely be an auto-read.

Review - "The Upside Of Unrequited"

The Upside of Unrequited
by Becky Albertalli
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 11th April 2017
spoilers? no

Goodreads

Here's the thing they don't tell you about time: there are spaces in between seconds. And sixty seconds is actually a pretty huge number. Three hundred seconds might as well be infinity seconds.

Galley provided by publisher

Becky Albertalli has to be hands down one of my favourite authors. Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda was one of the best books I read a few years back, and The Upside of Unrequited, one of my most anticipated books this year, is more than on a par with it.

I don't really have words for how much I loved this book. I adored almost everything about it. Becky Albertalli's writing style, as usual, was great, and sounded so realistically like the voice of a teenager. I don't think I've read another author that writes such a realistic teenage voice.

Then there were the characters themselves. Even if I didn't like every single one of them, they were so well-written, and they formed a diverse cast too. The only characters I wasn't a huge fan of, were Cassie, on occasion - if only because she insisted in interfering, and also then got annoyed at Molly being reasonably angry at something she'd done - and Mina - I may never forgive her that comment about Reid. I would have liked to see to some extent, Mina get called out for the comment she made - Molly did mention it in her POV but I feel like it might have been better to have her confront Mina with that opinion. Because Mina never appears to change that view (though she only expresses it once), and I'd have liked to have seen that.

Besides that, for me, this book was near on perfect. And it's definitely one I'll be recommending to everyone.

Review - "See You In The Cosmos"

See You in the Cosmos
by Jack Cheng
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 2nd March 2017
spoilers? no

Goodreads

Galley provided by publisher

See You in the Cosmos is written as a series of recordings, made by Alex Petroski, emulating his hero, Carl Sagan, who sent the Golden Record into space. The story follows Alex as he first treks to a rocket convention, and then home (via a circuitous route), finding new friends and family along the way.

I genuinely don't know how to describe this book. It's a wonderful read, though very emotional, and made even more so by dint of being from Alex's point of view. There were several parts which had me near tears. It may be marketed as a middle grade book, but I think that it's one everyone can read and enjoy.

The characters are also amazing, and I loved every single one of them. They're wonderfully flawed human, and best of all, they're realistic. On occasion, I feel like books aimed at younger children try to simplify things overly, but this book didn't have that problem. It has discussions about love, and family, and even touches on mental illnesses.

I really just don't know how to put into words just how much I loved this book. Everything about it was brilliant, and undoubtedly I'll be going back to it over and over to reread. It's gone straight onto my favourites list, and you can bet I'll be telling everyone to read it once it's out.

Review - "Done Dirt Cheap"

Done Dirt Cheap
by Sarah Nicole Lemon
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 7th March 2017
spoilers? no

Goodreads

Galley provided by publisher

Where do I start with this book? I genuinely have no words for how much I loved this book. It's only January, but I'm calling it now - this is possibly one of the best books I'm going to read this year.

The writing in this is just amazing. It's so so gorgeous and lyrical and it flows so well. There was never a point where I stopped and thought hold up, that sounds forced, because it never does sound that way. It all works so perfectly and I just have no words. It is so! good!!

What's also amazing is that the whole plot centres around a friendship between two girls. And it's such a beautiful friendship. The author does such a good job of writing its development and the growing trust between them. And they never tear each other down or try to (which, I know, is a low standard to hold books to, but I'm just so happy that never happens here), although there is annoyingly some slut-shaming going on with regard to another character. That aside, this is one of the best girl friendships I've ever read.

Then there were the scenes which had me close to tears, mostly involving Jason and Virginia, though Jason and Tourmaline also had a scene which wrecked me. I loved pretty much every single dynamic in this book (besides, obviously, the ones I wasn't intended to like). It's all just so amazing and I don't! have!! the!! words!!! I loved every aspect of this book and I already know it's going to have left me with the worst book hangover, and I can't even be pissed off at that.

Review - "Black Wolves"

Black Wolves, Black Wolves #1
by Kate Elliott
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 3rd November 2015
spoilers? no

Goodreads

But whatever Jehosh might be, he did not have his grandfather's brutal possessive streak, the will to prevent anyone else from tasting a nectar he wanted to keep for himself.

Jehosh loved the pursuit.

His grandfather desired control.

Atani had carved a different path for himself, cut short far too soon.

Kate Elliott is the supreme ruler of fantasy (yes, even better than Melina Marchetta, blasphemous though that may be). George R. R. Martin has nothing on this. Nothing.

Elliott has this way of creating a complex story, but with few enough characters that you can keep track of them all, and half way through you'll think you'll know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are and then something will happen that flips everything on its head, which makes you question everything you thought up until that point.

The characters always feel so real and so human, and you want to punch the arsehole bad guys (*cough cough* Tavahosh) and cry when something bad happens to the good guys (my poor Tyras) and still you don't know whether you should in fact be supporting those people or not. Because Kate Elliott is so good at manipulating you into liking someone then they'll do something and you're left like, should I really have been supporting them?

And then you're left finishing the book at 1am and questioning your life choices.

The only problem I did have, was that this book is long. It's a commitment, frankly, even if you can read it pretty quickly once you've got into it. It's not like it's lacking plot for half of it, like some books do, but I found that, once I'd put it down, for whatever reason I was generally a bit reluctant to pick it back up (probably because the length of it was daunting).

And also, there's no news yet on book 2, which is just cruel.

Review - "The Thief"

The Thief, The Queen's Thief #1
by Megan Whalen Turner
rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
published: 31st October 1996
spoilers? maybe

Goodreads

And the Earth had no name. The gods know themselves and have no need of names. It is man who names all things, even gods.

I can't believe I didn't get to this book before now. I knew the series was partly inspiration for Melina Marchetta's Lumatere Chronicles, but I just never really got the urge to read it. But I saw it in the library the other day, and I figured it was time to make a dent on my to-read shelf, so borrowed it. And, boy, am I glad that I did.

This book is amazing. I know that general consensus is that the later books are better, but if they're better than this HOLY SHIT I AM STOKED. The plot was maybe slow to begin with, and normally, I'm awful with that, but in this one, I loved the characters (actually, one character) from basically the first page so it didn't matter.

Quite honestly, this book is probably going straight onto my best books read this year list, it is that good. The whole plot is thought out so carefully and there is absolutely no way that you can see the plot twist coming (because Gen's telling the story, because he's purposefully an unreliable narrator!!! I love everything about this!!!). And even if you didn't like certain characters at the beginning (I know I didn't), they grow on you (will I ever stop crying over Pol?) and then Megan Whalen Turner rips your heart out and stomps on it in glee. I'm tearing up just thinking about it!!

Basically, everyone needs to read this book. EVERYONE.

Review - "Nowhere Near You"

Nowhere Near You
by Leah Thomas
rating:☆☆☆☆☆
published: 7th February 2017
spoilers? some slight ones

Goodreads

I breathed in through my nose. Thought of your video to the masses. Thought of the womble you sent me. Thought of you calling me good. Thought of you, just you-

Galley provided by publisher

Because You'll Never Meet Me is one of my favourite books, and I was all set for it to be a standalone, for Moritz and Ollie never to have contact beyond letters, for there to be a maybe less-than-satisfactory conclusion to their story. And then there came this.

If the first book was good, then this one was great. Everything steps up a notch, with Ollie out in the world for the first time, and Moritz also, in his own way. At the same time, almost every page I read made me want to cry. There's Ollie keeping secrets and how he feels from Moritz, trying to make his letters upbeat. There's Moritz having trouble with his boyfriend, and moving to a new school. Basically, I was a mess.

As per the first book, both Ollie and Moritz are amazing characters, but I loved seeing more of the "Blunderkids", as Ollie takes to calling them. As a supporting cast, they were amazing. Molly had to be my favourite (her and Klaus was so great, I loved them), but Bridget and Arthur followed close behind.

I read this while I should have instead been doing reading for an essay, and every time I finished a chapter I thought to myself, maybe I should start that instead. But the lure of the next chapter was too much and I inevitably continued reading. It's one of those books, one that you don't want to put down because each chapter solves one mystery but reveals another and you just want to know exactly what's going on. And also whether Moritz and Ollie will actually get to meet. (And whether Auburn-Stache will actually tell Ollie the truth and stop hurting him by not.)

Long(ish) story short, this is probably one of the best books I've read this year.