I've surpassed my reading goal of 80 books this year by reading 112. I'm not sure how to feel about my average rating of 3.1, but I definitely thoughtI've surpassed my reading goal of 80 books this year by reading 112. I'm not sure how to feel about my average rating of 3.1, but I definitely thought it would be higher. However, there were some great unforgettable books this year that have made even the worst of my days instantly better. Here are my top 10!
I cannot wait to see what great books I'll come across in 2019. I know The Wicked King will be one of them. January 8th cannot come fast enough....more
Reading this book is like deciding to take a nice stroll at a cute little park only to find out there’s a dead body on the swings and flesh-eating draReading this book is like deciding to take a nice stroll at a cute little park only to find out there’s a dead body on the swings and flesh-eating dragon waiting to eat you at the top of the monkey bars. I knew next to nothing on what Verity was going to be about. Coleen Hoover is a romance author. So when I bought this ebook last minute before getting on a three-hour plane ride with no wifi, it felt like I was being hit by the plane itself when I got a twisted mystery thriller instead of an angsty romance.
No joke…this is an actual representation of how blind-sighted I was by this book.
[image]
I almost gave up on Coleen Hoover. Almost. But I’m glad I gave in to this extremely fucked up and twisted story. It has been over a week since I finished this…and I am still thinking about it. The ending has got me feeling icky all over because I still don’t know how the story ended. All I know is, I stayed up until 3 AM finishing this wicked novel, and I couldn’t sleep afterward. Basically I was a zombie at work the next day.
I will not write a proper review like I typically do because I think it’s best to go into this book blind. All I will say is…read this. If you enjoy effed up stories and books that make you feel like you’ve been thoroughly fucked and left to do the walk of shame…read this glorious addictive novel.
Major spoilers below...do not read ahead!
(view spoiler)[It was really hard for me to believe the “alternate” truth provided at the end. I just don’t think it’s possible for a husband to know his wife had a hand in killing his children, yet choose to keep his last surviving child around her so his son’s feelings don’t get hurt by taking him away from his mother. If you found out your spouse killed one of your kids, a normal person would keep their last living one as far away from them as possible, right?
I still enjoyed the did she/didn’t she ending. A book that leaves me to question things is always a good one. (hide spoiler)]...more
“No one will be more brutal than me. No one will be more ruthless. And I will never stop fighting.”
Lada could slowly torture me and then proceed t“No one will be more brutal than me. No one will be more ruthless. And I will never stop fighting.”
Lada could slowly torture me and then proceed to kill me and I would probably find it to be an honor. Because that chick, despite having very questionable morals, is one strong kick-ass woman.
Now I Rise continues right after the events of And I Darken. Lada is slowly making her way back to Wallachia to claim it as hers. Radu is working as a spy for Mehmed to begin the fall of Constantinople. While the first book focused on the the creations of Lada and Radu’s characterizations, this novel took all their qualities and learned abilities, and put them into action.
Radu became so much more in this book. He wasn’t just the boy that everyone picked on. He wasn’t just the boy who was in love with someone who didn’t return those feelings. Radu became a fighter. He was definitely slower at getting there compared to Lada, but he got there nonetheless. Sometimes he got so angsty it made my heart bleed. While Lada is unapologetically ruthless and doesn’t think twice when murdering someone for her own gain, Radu is more intent on gaining success with better morals. His was constantly at war with himself. A part of his brain knew he had to help Mehmed succeed, even if it meant allowing innocent people to die. But another part of his brain wanted to help the enemy, the enemies he slowly grew fond of. My heart constantly broke for him.
Lada has grown to be my favorite protagonist in all of YA. It’s probably because an author finally decided to write a female anti-hero instead the typical male one. You know when you pick up those repetitive YA fantasy/dystopian books where the author likes to praise and glorify the main character like they’re the best thing to exist on this planet. (I’m mainly talking about you Throne of Glass. I’m sorry but Aelin would’ve been better as an anti-hero than the white savior she was written out to me (sorry not sorry)). Well Lada is not written as such. She make very questionable decisions. She’s brutal and ruthless. Everyone knows it. Even the author knows it. But Kiersten White doesn’t try to make her the hero. She isn’t desperately trying to convince us that Lada is a selfless savior. She allows her readers to discover their own feelings about her characters instead of forcing them on us.
“The world will destroy her in the end. Too much spark leads to explosions. But your sister will destroy as much as she can before she goes out. She will go down in flames and blood.”
If you thought Lada’s character was insane in And I Darken, just wait till you get a taste of her in this one. Whether you like her or not as a person, it’s no question that she’s a great character. It’s not easy for a woman to be a leader in a time when they weren’t taken seriously for a position such as hers. Just reading about they way she navigates through her obstacles was absolutely enthralling.
Mehmed is such an enigma to me. I don’t even know how to feel about him. The way he treated Lada instantly made me dislike him in book 1. I also feel like it’s easier for me to hate him because we see him through Lada’s and Radu’s perspective only. I wish we had gotten a few chapters strictly for Mehmed. I want to know what exactly is going through his mind. I want to know how far he is willing to go to do the things he needs to do. And if it comes to it, is he willing to let Radu and Lada suffer for his own gain? I’m hoping he gets more character development in Bright We Burn. I need more from him.
Now I Rise ends in such a way that makes you wonder how the next book could possibly end you. So excuse me while I go figure out how I’m going to pick up the final installment without shaking....more
**spoiler alert** FOUR YEARS! That's how long I've been a part of the Throne of Glass journey. I know people have been here longer...but I've never de**spoiler alert** FOUR YEARS! That's how long I've been a part of the Throne of Glass journey. I know people have been here longer...but I've never dedicated myself to a series this long since Harry Potter. But you want to know what the most surprising thing is? The entire series was published in 7 years, but the entire story only takes place over the span of one year. It's just very bizarre for me to think that Dorian, Chaol, and Aelin have only know each other for 1 year.
Moving on...I’ll separate my review with the good and the bad. There will be spoilers so please do not read ahead if you don’t wish to be spoiled.
The Good
➛ The writing. Anyone who has stuck through the entire series can assure you that Sarah J Maas’s writing has significantly improved. I mean…do you remember the mess that was the first book? Good God. Maas’s vocabulary has widened as her fictional world only got bigger and bigger. (Though I could have done without the over repetitiveness. Seriously, how does her editor miss this stuff?)
➛ Nox. I mean the fans asked, and she delivered. It was nice to see his appearance again after such a long time. However, (view spoiler)[where was that Aelin and Nox moment though? (hide spoiler)]
➛ That one big battle scene. I enjoy the way actions scenes are depicted through Maas’s eyes. My heart was thudding wondering who was going to make it alive and who wasn’t.
➛ Dorian.Out of all the POVs, Dorian and Manon’s was the only one of significant importance for a large part of the first half.
The Bad
➛ Aelin and Rowan. Call me a bitch if you want, but I didn’t give two shits about Aelin even when she was being severely tortured at the hands of Maeve. And while everyone was awing over how romantic Rowan was in trying to find Aelin, I just found his chapters to be extremely long and boring. I only enjoyed the moments Elide and Lorcan were mentioned.
➛ All the battle scenes. I only enjoyed that one big battle scene. And normally, I am a fan of more action and less romance in fantasy novels, but only when those battle scenes actually serve a significance. I feel that Maas only included those scenes because she felt she wanted to make make her book more action-y.
➛ Tower of Dawn cast, Chaol’s novel was so great mainly due to the introduction of the new cast of characters. Why didn’t Sartaq get more epic scenes? What about Hasar? Instead we had to deal with Aedion’s bitchy ass. What I would’ve given to trade him for the barely there characters. Smh. The rest of the TOD cast isn’t even included as much as the others. At many times, it felt like Maas could care less about them.
➛ Chaol. My poor baby has gone through so much at the hands of the author. And while I thought that Tower of Dawn meant a comeback for his character, he didn’t even get that many POVs in Kingdom of Ash.
➛ Aedion I feel that starting the novel off with Aedion’s POV just put me off with his tiresome attitude. I dislike how Maas took a very sarcastic and lovable character and turned him into a bitter obnoxious dude. I couldn’t care less even if Aelin was slaughtered right before his eyes. Having to watch Lysandra tolerate his behavior was painful. She deserved better.
➛ Character deaths Yeah…where were they? Yes I know, people did die. And while those characters might have been important, they weren’t the big characters. I enjoy suffering. When I’m reading a book the author calls ‘high fantasy’, I expect death. I expect my heart to be ripped out. I don’t like when there’s a perfect little bow at the end where literally everyone lives happily ever after. This was just a repetition of ACOWAR.
While this book did have its moments at times, other times it felt like a drag. It didn't tug at me heart strings like Heir of Fire and Tower of Dawn did. Unfortunately Maas’s favorite characters are my least favorite. And her least favorite characters are my favorite. Which doesn’t bode well in enjoying a novel. This author has an incredible mind with creative world building abilities, I just wish it was represented on paper in a better and smother manner....more
Unfortunately this is one of those scenarios where the movie was better than the book. It didn't get interesting for me until the second part of the nUnfortunately this is one of those scenarios where the movie was better than the book. It didn't get interesting for me until the second part of the novel. That isn't to say I didn't enjoy it....more
The plot in this sequel wasn't as gripping and enjoyable like Outlander was. The doesn't discount that fact that Diana Gabaldon's writing is still verThe plot in this sequel wasn't as gripping and enjoyable like Outlander was. The doesn't discount that fact that Diana Gabaldon's writing is still very clever and sophisticated. ...more
You don't deserve Jude's forgiveness. You don't get to be forgiven by providing half assed apologies and unreasonable explanations. You caDear Taryn,
You don't deserve Jude's forgiveness. You don't get to be forgiven by providing half assed apologies and unreasonable explanations. You can't gain forgiveness by providing excuses on top of excuses. You gain it by changing your actions in ways that benefit the person you did wrong.
The prejudice and unjust treatment you have received for being human is very unfair. Unfortunately, your venture to "just make your way through life" is not, and will never be, a good reason for you to behave the way you did towards your own kin. The discrimination you faced on the daily was no reason for you to betray your own sister. Because you see, your sister is in the same predicament you find yourself in every day. Your sister also receives the same unjust treatment you find yourself in. Now, not only did you make things better for yourself, but you managed to do it by making it worse for someone who didn't need more shit piled on top of them.
Sincerely, Not your fan.
[image] fan art by phantomrin
This short novella is basically a letter from Taryn addressed to Jude. And while I was annoyed throughout this whole book, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it nonetheless.
The blurb states this as a "half-apology and half-explanation" of Taryn's actions in book 1. Unfortunately, I only saw this as a half-assed apology. Taryn, much like Jude, is a victim of the cruelty they endured in the face of the Fae. And while I understand that she was only trying to make the best of what she was given, she didn't have to do it at the expense of her own sister.
Her sadness and anger at the life she was given is 100% warranted. But she focused it all on the wrong person. I was begging for her to see through Locke's charade. But all her attention was on finally being "seen" by a Fae and that seemed to be enough.
This very short novella was really helpful in understanding Taryn's actions. I liked being in her head because during The Cruel Prince, we only saw everything through Jude's eyes. I was still confused as to why Taryn did what she did. But in The Lost Sisters, we read through Taryn's thoughts. She's angry, she's guilty, and she's sad. To be honest, she goes through every emotion. And while she does feel very guilty about what she did to Jude, at the end of day, it wasn't enough guilt for her to realize who she should put first.
If you enjoyed the first book, then I recommend reading this. Even if you're not interested in Taryn and her bullshit excuses, I'd still say it's very helpful and provides great insight into her head. Plus, it is extremely short. I finished this in about a little over 30 minutes.
P.S. I hope Locke dies a very painful and horrible death. And if Taryn somehow redeems herself by the end of the series, I hope she's the one that does it. If not, then I hope it's Jude....more
This book is better than most paranormal out there. And I enjoyed how there wasn't any romance in this one, though there was definitely tension betweeThis book is better than most paranormal out there. And I enjoyed how there wasn't any romance in this one, though there was definitely tension between the two main characters, which promises a very slow burning romance in the future books.
The werewolves and vampires aren't overtly cheesy like they typically are. And the world-building is throughly done. I'm not too keen on reading the sequels. But maybe I'll get to them sometime in the future....more
What the fuck did I just read? Never have I ever been this allured by a book in a severely very long time. This book has everything I could want in a What the fuck did I just read? Never have I ever been this allured by a book in a severely very long time. This book has everything I could want in a novel: romance, a historical storyline, gladiators, atrocious villains, battle scenes, a Roman setting, and did I mention GLADIATORS?!?!?!
[image]
This novel follows multiple characters. You'll even get chapters from the villains. I have this thing where dark themes completely enamor me. Yeah...I'm a sadist. But this novel had my heart pumping from beginning to end with its dark themes. After each scene ended, there would be something else that would put me back on the edge of my seat. Some of the best stories have the most sadistic villains. And Mistress of Rome is one of them. All your top female villains ranging from Dolores Umbridge to a Sarah J Maas villain has NOTHING on this bitch. I've had to pause this book many times because I couldn't handle the intensity.
Thea is a Jewish slave girl who is purchased to serve Lapida, a manipulative heiress who grows to become a sickeningly horrid woman. After Thea falls in love with Arius the Barbarian, the best gladiator Rome has ever seen, they get torn apart due to Lapida's jealousness. Thea, despite being a salve, goes on to become an established singer. Arius is forced to live as a gladiator, constantly participating in brutal and vicious fights he doesn't even want to partake in. And then there's Lapida, who goes on to wreck havoc in literally every way that she can.
Despite the little success Thea has, she unfortunately gets captivated by Emperor Domitian's eyes. His character is severely twisted. He's the type of leader who everyone thinks highly of, but behind closed doors, he's an abusive man who once drove his previous mistress to be so mentally and physically abused she committed suicide. Being the Emperor's mistress, she is now titled the Mistress of Rome. Domitian is utterly captivated by Thea. What's worse, is he loves playing games. Which there's nothing wrong with...as long as you aren't a crazy twisted psycho.
My heart went out for Thea. She's a woman who was constantly passed on from man to man, only end up with the crazy psychotic dude who rules the entire country. And Lapida is ruining the lives of everyone around her, include her sweet as fuck husband who wants nothing but the best for his family. I kid you not...I have never, and I mean NEVER, hated a fictional character more in my ENTIRE life.
If you enjoy ancient historical fiction with a romantic subplot, do keep this novel on your radar. It made me shiver and sweat because I was that nervous.
Probably one of the better historical romance books I've read. Granted, I have not read that many...Probably one of the better historical romance books I've read. Granted, I have not read that many......more
Well well well! It turns out, there can be good erotica novels out there. I've meddled with new adult, and they're typically a hit or miss. Okay, mostWell well well! It turns out, there can be good erotica novels out there. I've meddled with new adult, and they're typically a hit or miss. Okay, mostly a miss. And I've meddled with erotica...and they're literally always a miss. But damn this book was so good and juicy.
This is one of the best friends to lovers to enemies to lovers again story I've ever read. Its also has the forbidden love/Romeo and Juliet thang going on. These are very common tropes in romance novels, but I really can't hate on it. Nicholas shouldn't want the daughter of the man who killed his mother. And Livvy shouldn't want the son of the man who ruined her family. Two people who were once madly in love are torn apart by family drama. So once a year, on her birthday, they meet at a random place and spend a lust-filled night together. Until one day, Livvy doesn't contact him.
This book does deal with mental health issues. I am ALWAYS iffy when I read about mental health in romance novels...especially erotica novels. Because...how do you make sure to keep the romance and the mental health separate? How do you make sure you don't create a "love cures all" trope? I was afraid this was going to be another book that uses mental health for the sole purpose of making the romance more "dramatic". In fact, the two characters do use each other. But they acknowledge they're in an unhealthy relationship, resulting in them wanting to do better. I am satisfied with the way the authors deals with these sensitive issues.
Don't forget the awesome POC rep!
Definitely one of the few NA/erotica books I've read in a while....more
Maybe The Cruel Prince being my first Holly Black novel set my expectations too high for this one. But this book was more of a chore for me instead ofMaybe The Cruel Prince being my first Holly Black novel set my expectations too high for this one. But this book was more of a chore for me instead of reading for pleasure.
It is a very interesting take on paranormal YA, but the male protagonist just fell too flat for me....more
This was a very cute, fluffy, light hearted romance novel. You'll get the quirkiest female character I've ever read, as well as the sweetest Korean maThis was a very cute, fluffy, light hearted romance novel. You'll get the quirkiest female character I've ever read, as well as the sweetest Korean man I just want to hold in my arms because he's just that adorable. I feel like I've enjoyed Christina Lauren's earlier works better than the latter ones, but I'll keep reading her novels because they're the light goodness I need in my life....more
Yes...my new book boyfriend is, in fact, a troll...
“They aren't ugly...more like beautiful things that have had the misfortune of being broken
Yes...my new book boyfriend is, in fact, a troll...
“They aren't ugly...more like beautiful things that have had the misfortune of being broken.”
[image]
I'm that person that reads the blurb for almost every unknown book I see along my feed. Therefore, I do have the talent of recognizing most books and what they are about. Let me tell you...it is very rare I ever come across a book with trolls. No...not trolls as the side characters, or the big scary monster our main characters have to defeat to accomplish some quest. These trolls are the leading characters in the book.
I'm not sure what it is about this book that made it so addicting. I swear I haven't devoured a book this fast in once sitting since reading Vicious by VE Schwab. And that was almost a year ago. Maybe it was the originality of the story, maybe it was the juicy enemies to lovers trope, or maybe I just haven't read a really good guilty pleasure young adult novel in a long time.
While this book does have its originality, it also has the whole 'girl gets kidnapped and is thrust into a completely new world' trope going on. But it's not cheesy much like other novels make it out to be. Cécile is minding her own business, on her way to becoming a rising vocal star across her country. Instead, she finds herself kidnapped and trapped under a mountain surrounded by trolls. This is where she learns an old witch's curse has kept all the trolls captive beneath a mountain for over five hundred years. This is also where she learns that she is the key to breaking the curse. And in doing so, she must bond herself to the handsome arrogant Prince (cheesy I know...but you gotta love the occasional bad boy with the big heart).
Danielle L. Jensen has built a wondrous underground world in a dark and eerie setting. Cécile is used to living under the sun and around green landscape, so this change in scenery is vastly different than what she is used to. But even through the dark and gritty atmosphere, the tension between Cécile and Tristan keep things light and exciting. The romance is a very large part of the story, and it kept me gushing the entire time. With the two being bonded together, one feels every single emotion the other is feeling. The author took advantage of this and turned me into an emotional mess.
“Being around you was the sweetest torture. I wanted to touch you, hold you, kiss you. I wanted all of you.”
While the plot drives the story, it is also very character oriented. The secondary characters are all uniquely different. And while I would't say there is a love triangle, there is unrequited love between Tristan and another woman. And it was really refreshing that the author didn't pull the whole "the other woman is an obsessed slutty bitch who is trying to steal the main character's man" sexist trope. This "other woman" is beautiful and is definitely a bitch, but she's honestly the strongest bitch in this novel. I loved her character arc.
I wouldn't say this novel is sophisticatedly and exquisitely written. Nor does it have intricate world building. In fact, this book is very YA. But it's addicting, original, and juicy. And that’s way more than enough to keep me interested in continuing the series. ...more
Loading...
