“The world of magick is dark, and no one goes into it willingly.”
Yet another heart-breaking contribution to the Fortuna Sworn series. It seems tha
“The world of magick is dark, and no one goes into it willingly.”
Yet another heart-breaking contribution to the Fortuna Sworn series. It seems that the words "happy ending" are not in Sutton's vocabulary. Despite this, I still continue to cling to the small hope that somehow these characters will get their happily ever after, however far into the future that may be.
As exhilarating as Deadly Dreams was, particularly the last few chapters which were a terrifying masterpiece, I found that it took longer than expected to be drawn into the story. I skimmed the first part of the book, which not only is a bad sign but also had not been something I did with the earlier two books, leaving me to feel disappointed. Deadly Dreams' weakness is a slow build-up to a lacking main plot. However, Sutton's knack for conjuring up mind-blowing plot twists saved the day.
“For me, you were never a Nightmare, Fortuna Sworn—you were a dream come to life.”
On the bright side, there were a few aspects of the book that I found to be particularly memorable. Firstly, Sutton does a great job depicting how Collith and Fortuna deal with their trauma, reinforcing that everyone copes with trauma differently. Considering the climactic end to Restless Slumber, this was crucial in both creating continuity between books and shaping character. Second is Laurie who needs no further explanation. Unfortunately, (view spoiler)[the moment he confessed his love for Fortuna, a part of the love I had for him died. Fortuna and Laurie's love/hate relationship was something I admired because it was strong, yet mutually platonic. I feel strong, platonic relationships between the opposite sex are not prevalent in the fantasy genre, and thought it was nice for Sutton to establish a friendship between them. (hide spoiler)] Third is, of course, Fortuna. With her snarky comebacks and grey-area morality, she continues to be an interesting main character. Yes, she can be annoying, but everyone has their bad moments and I feel this somehow makes her into a more relatable person.
I've been putting off writing about the final chapters because I'm still a bit shocked. I just desperately hope everything turns out okay for Collith and Fortuna. I love them a lot, particularly Collith, and though they've both done questionable things, I strongly believe they deserve a happy ending (view spoiler)[in that cute house of theirs (hide spoiler)].
This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review....more
"You know, Jamieson, this life we think we're living isn't real. It's just a shadow play, and I for one will be glad when the lights go out on it."
"You know, Jamieson, this life we think we're living isn't real. It's just a shadow play, and I for one will be glad when the lights go out on it."
It took a while to get into The Institute, but once Luke's perspective was introduced, I was hooked. Though the slow-buildup is a trademark of King's, I spent several chapters worrying this novel was going to be a letdown. I cannot express how very wrong I was. By far, this is my favorite out of all King's books, possibly due to the enormous role "magical" abilities such as telekinesis and telepathy have. The children of The Institute are all loveable, and play their individual role within the group, combining their strengths to create one of my all-time favorite casts. Their personalities are strong and as the book progressed and stakes rose, the adrenaline that I succumbed to was only due to my attachment to Luke and his friends.
One of my favorite parts of King's books is how two seemingly different character stories merge at the end; this proved to be correct once again in The Institute. However, I found the ending to be not as powerful as it could have been. The air of mystery and suspense surrounding the novel dissipated once the ending was revealed, and though certain incidents struck my heart, most of it slowed down the story....more
I used to love the idea of something being so tremendous that it was worth dying for. But I was wrong. I think the most magnificent t
Reread: 8/3/20
I used to love the idea of something being so tremendous that it was worth dying for. But I was wrong. I think the most magnificent things are worth living for.
Despite its weaker plot, Finale delivers a satisfying conclusion to the magical Caraval trilogy. Garber delves into the history of the Fates which proved to be far more interesting than previous storylines- if only the main focus hadn't begun to shift toward Tella's chaotic love triangle instead. It is a very good love triangle, if there is such a thing, however, it reduces her individuality which had previously been the spotlight. Furthermore, with Legend's identity revealed, and the true intentions of the more "gray-area" categorized characters, the exhilaration experienced before begins to fade, resulting in a less exciting read. The ending was clever, yet rushed, but I can't help forgive it because I love the characters so damn much.
It seems the high of Caraval has finally come to an end- and I'll definitely miss it....more
We were meant to be seductive. We were designed to lure humans in.
A thrilling, fast-paced fantasy novel revolving around the suReread: 8/21/20
3.5
We were meant to be seductive. We were designed to lure humans in.
A thrilling, fast-paced fantasy novel revolving around the supernatural world of the Fair Folk and their twisted ways. Sutton does an excellent job with the character development of the main character, Fortuna, and her clever thinking and reluctance to trust gives her a solid personality. Collith, though slightly underdeveloped, has a mysterious aura that seemed cliche at first, but quickly evolved into something greater and more captivating. The slow-burn relationship between the two is surprisingly good, which I find to be rare in YA. Sutton's colorful writing artfully aided in some extraordinary world-building.
The one flaw I grappled with- the one thing that did not fully allow me to give this book four stars was that the writing seemed to gloss over what could be considered crucial plot points such as elaborating on the faerie race and the Unseelie and Seelie Courts. Hopefully, this will be addressed in the sequel. Despite this, the plot twists were gripping and propelled the plot forward until the very end. Overall, a wonderful fantasy novel with a touch of A Court of Thorns and Roses vibes.
“Now you have a separate legacy? Is anyone else getting really sick of that word? Because I swear, every time I hear it, I wanna stab something.”
R
“Now you have a separate legacy? Is anyone else getting really sick of that word? Because I swear, every time I hear it, I wanna stab something.”
Rating Keeper books are so complicated. On one hand, I love and appreciate Shannon Messenger for all the hard work she's put into her characters and the elven world. She blessed us with Sophie who has matured and gone through an immense amount of character development- and though I used to hate her for the oblivious brat she was, I'd be lying if I didn't say I was proud of her. On the other hand, the repetitive nature of this series is driving me INSANE. I can't deal with it anymore- this journey has lost its excitement and makes me want to scream with frustration. Just quit reading, you say- but can I? I've invested so many years into reading this series (since 2013?) and I would be a fool to stop now. So excuse me if my words are a little harsh.
It's true Messenger has answered a ton of our questions in Legacy. But how many pages were truly needed to do so? How many books? There is so much unnecessary build-up that it takes away the thrill the older books used to have. Despite this, I enjoyed learning more about Keefe and Lord Cassius' missing past, but the one thing that bothered me was Fitz.
But Fitz’s face still crept into her dreams.
Fitz Vacker, the Golden Boy. Just like Sophie, he underwent an enormous character arc. He went from being the precious, little Wonderboy to someone who I adored. Throughout the course of this book, though? He was awful. His personality went downhill, he is an immature, selfish jerk, and I don't know if this was intentional on Messenger's behalf, but it hurt. At this point, I just feel betrayed....more
The bonds fell off my body the second that I embraced my birthright.
If you thought Twilight was bad...you're in for a treat.
The rest of this revie
The bonds fell off my body the second that I embraced my birthright.
If you thought Twilight was bad...you're in for a treat.
The rest of this review contains spoilers.
(view spoiler)[A List of a Few Reasons Why I Hated Breaking Dawn: (no, I'm not going to even bother discussing the horrific birth of Renesmee)
1. Edward and Bella constantly contradict themselves.
One minute Bella is begging Edward to become a vampire, another minute she's hesitant. I understand that becoming a vampire is a huge decision- so why not take a few years to think about it? So what if you're a few years older than Edward? Honestly, Bella's indecisiveness drove me insane. And then there's Edward and his mood swings. The guy goes from having the time of his life on a honeymoon-
“Why am I covered in feathers?” I asked, confused. He exhaled impatiently. “I bit a pillow. Or two.
-and then this happens. WHAT.
2. The Plot
Let me sum up 756 pages for you: -Edward and Bella get married, go on a honeymoon, and have sex even though they both know now's not the time. -Bella gets pregnant. She has blood cravings. As a human. -The legendary birth scene -ALL HAIL SUPER BEAUTIFUL, SMART RENESMEE -ALL HAIL SUPER BEAUTIFUL, SMART BELLA -Some random werewolf stuff -The Volturi are coming! -The ending "battle" scene
I might've given the book an extra star if it had shed five hundred pages.
3. The Battle
You came here today to destroy an immortal child. No immortal child exists. This was my mistake, and I take full responsibility for it. There was no crime. There’s no valid reason for you to continue here.”
Well, that was a waste. Instead of having a final battle, the vampires decide to have a tea party. Cheers!
I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul.
Once you get past the dense paragraphs and neverending sentences, the story is sur
I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul.
Once you get past the dense paragraphs and neverending sentences, the story is surprisingly good. A Tale of Two Cities beats Shakespeare's plays any day. The ironic plot twists make your heart pound and I found myself attached to certain characters. Totally not talking about Darnay....more
Every time Sophie thought his name, she could hear her human parents’ voices in her mind, explaining all the reasons she should never pl
3 1/2 stars
Every time Sophie thought his name, she could hear her human parents’ voices in her mind, explaining all the reasons she should never play with fire. And yet, here she was, stepping right back into Fintan’s game.
I couldn't sleep last night because I was thinking about the last 10% of the book so much. UGH. This book is really hard to rate; the first 50% was slow and tedious, and even though Sophie and Fitz's bonding time during this period was important (and appreciated!), it made me doubt the rest of the book.
I was wrong to ever doubt Messenger's storytelling skills.
Yes, the first half is boring, but the second half is wild and introduces the heart-stopping action readers have been hoping for. The "sitting and talking" stage that took place throughout the duration of the two previous books is over, and I expect the next book to continue the fast-paced, exhilarating plot lines.
“If I fall in, you're not allowed to laugh.” “I would never. I'll even give you my cape to dry off.”
What made the second half of the book far more appealing than the two previous books was the fact that (view spoiler)[ the love triangle is finally solved! Sophitz, being canon, (unless something really bad happens) makes room for more severe problems and eases tensions between the characters. Now, Sophie and Fitz are able to focus on forwarding their relationship and dealing with their demons together. Meanwhile, Keefe and Sophie's relationship becomes more defined; their friendship reminisces of old times, and I find it suits the both of them, specifically Sophie, because she is lacking that strong, platonic bond. (hide spoiler)]
Speaking of platonic bonds- where in the world were Dex and Biana? Dex has been missing through big chunks of previous books, but Biana seems to have followed suit. I hope Messenger gives her an important role to play in the next book because I believe female friendships are crucial- and without Biana, Sophie doesn't seem to have any.
"What if I told you I stopped pressing buttons?" "I . . . don’t know what that means." "There was a moment, as the cubby was filling. Alvar was pounding on the glass, shouting things. And . . . I looked at the panel and realized one of the buttons probably opened up a drain. And I stopped pressing things."
The hive scene. The greatest scene Messenger has ever written. I'm not lying when I say I was light-headed- nauseous, even- when I read this. It's this specific scene that kept me up at night because this is Fitz we're talking about. Fitz, the Golden Boy; Fitz, the boy with the teal eyes and perfect smile. His anger issues have been explored in the past few books, but it really makes an appearance in Flashback. Although I wholeheartedly agree that these darker emotions are needed in order to make Fitz a well-defined character, I find it hard to believe how much his hatred toward Alvar has increased. As a matter of fact, I noted it to be a little too intense, although it would make sense if Alvar and Fitz's relationship previous to the betrayal were explained more.
A few lines after this scene, Sophie is so shocked by Fitz's actions, that, despite attempting to hold his hand, she is unable to, and runs outside to Keefe. At this point, I was worried the newly created Sophie/Fitz romantic relationship was destroyed and Messenger had intended to show how Sophie was picking Keefe. However, this was not the case, and the two eventually apologized and continued supporting each other. This is a proper relationship, and Messenger writes it well; I am eager for what she has in store for the couple.
"No, I’M sorry. I shouldn’t make this about me. And . . . I know there were a bunch of times yesterday when I was a total jerk and—" "Don’t. It was a horrible day. No one handles situations like that perfectly. But we got through it, and now . . . we just keep going."
The ending was a little predictable, but still saddening. It works as a segue to the second "chapter" of the Sophitz relationship- Fitz choosing between Sophie or the Vacker legacy. Knowing Fitz, I have a feeling he will choose the former because he has proven himself countless times that he is loyal to those he loves.
Sophie, on the other hand, has changed the elvin world countless times. I won't be surprised if she changes the world once more. (hide spoiler)]...more
Her heart was still a little heavy, but she’d decided carrying it around would only make her stronger.
With allReread: 7/29/20 - Dante and Tella <3
Her heart was still a little heavy, but she’d decided carrying it around would only make her stronger.
With all the magical charm of its predecessor, Legendary continues the enchanting story of Legend's renowned Caraval and the two sisters who it has enamored. This time around, the story strays away from the game of Caraval and toward a dangerous future that is not at all fiction, providing for a more interesting plot and a storyline that is fast-paced and thrilling. The introduction of the Fates and the questionable motives of the mysterious Legend adds depth to the shaky foundations in which the previous book was built on. The most profound change in Legendary was a game-changer, and allowed for this novel to be phenomenally better than Caraval: the narrator. Donatella Dragna is a far more interesting and entertaining character than Scarlett could ever be. Her confident, yet flawed demeanor is refreshing and her witty quips and quick thinking helped the book even at its lowest moments....more
Alex groaned from the railing, letting his arms dangle over it. “Somebody kill me now.” “No!” shouted Florence, Octavia, Simber, Rufus, and all the
Alex groaned from the railing, letting his arms dangle over it. “Somebody kill me now.” “No!” shouted Florence, Octavia, Simber, Rufus, and all the humans who had lived through the disaster on Artimé.
You know the sort of books that are just plain boring? This book is one of them.
Can we stop pretending this is a dinner party and get back to why you have a drawing of the Nightfall symbol?
Please do.
WARNING: RANT AHEAD
So many
Can we stop pretending this is a dinner party and get back to why you have a drawing of the Nightfall symbol?
Please do.
WARNING: RANT AHEAD
So many characters and alter-egos and talking and the love triangle/square that ultimately makes me hate Keefe (I'm sorry! I don't want to!) and all of this chaos. There's only so much you can put in a series, Shannon Messenger. I'm sorry, but this is too much.
A List of My Issues:
1. Too Many Characters
I miss the old crew. They were well-defined characters that I treasured. But now? They hardly show up in the book! Dex is shoved into the background where he makes random gadgets appear to advance the plot, Fitz has officially earned the title of "Sophie's Energy Booster" and nothing more (MY POOR BABY WHY.) The two newer characters, Linh and Tam, aren't too bad, but the bodyguards and Black Swan members keep throwing me off because there are so many of them! That may be my fault, though, because I didn't get the chance to reread the previous book before reading this book.
2. No One Knows What the Hell is Going On
“I know you’re still refusing to see me as anything more than a villain in this conflict, but like it or not, I’m the only one trying to build a solution.” “To what?” Sophie asked. “Problems you’re still not ready to face.
That's code for "IDK." Please remind me what the bad guys are being bad for because I honestly don't remember. And it doesn't seem anyone in the book remembers either.
3. The WORST Love Triangle/Square I Have Ever Faced
Twilight's love triangle was bad. Red Queen's love triangle was bad. Heck, The Hunger Games' love triangle was bad because ALL love triangles are bad. But what makes Nightfall's love triangle/square/thing the worst?
I love Keefe, Fitz, and Dex. Since book one, I have learned to love them, and when it comes to choosing one of them for Sophie, it's only natural I have to cringe when the other two have a "moment" with her. Dex didn't suffer too badly, but poor, poor Keefe did. Every time he even gets close to Sophie I find myself hating him which makes me want to cry.
4. The Plot
The series is going in circles. Repetition, repetition, repetition. Enough said. Specifically, though, Nightfall's plot was atrociously weak. There was a whole lot of sitting around a table and planning, and very little doing. And the lack of explanation really turned me off.
5. Fitz
Fitz has been my favorite character since book one so he deserves a category of his own. Not once in the entire book did he get to show off his skills and much of his personality was smothered by Sophie and Keefe. He is a delicate character, a character that I tucked under my wing and watched blossom from "Wonderboy" to a man that will stop at nothing to protect his friends. He deserves so much better and I adored every moment he made an appearance in Nightfall. Seriously, though, he's gotten so touchy-feely with Sophie. He's wearing cologne now. My little cinnamon roll is all grown up.
“Tell me about it,” Fitz said, fanning the front of his red bramble jersey. “I was halfway through my morning run when Blur showed up—so now I’m all sweaty.” “And smelling awesome,” Keefe added with a choked cough.
God, I miss the Fitz/Keefe friendship. And the Sophie/Biana friendship.
But most of all, I miss the old, simplistic plot. I love Shannon Messenger's writing, I really do, but not this book. Try again next time?...more
Growing up on the ship, none of them had ever known true darkness, and this way, their dead would always have some light shining down on them.
I wa
Growing up on the ship, none of them had ever known true darkness, and this way, their dead would always have some light shining down on them.
I was hoping Day 21 would finally put all of the pieces together, that the characters would finally realize they're on Earth and not in a soap opera.
But no.
Instead, the book is filled with more plot twists and "romantic" moments. I couldn't care less about Bellamy and Clarke. (Which, by the way, is still better than Bella and Edward)
I think I'm going to watch the TV series instead....more
Maybe here in the ruins of the old world, they could start something new.
My friend started watching the first season of The 100 while I decided to
Maybe here in the ruins of the old world, they could start something new.
My friend started watching the first season of The 100 while I decided to read the book (Although according to some reviews, the show and the book are very different) When she finished watching, she told me "I love how there are so many strong female characters."
Well then.
The book and the TV series must be very different. I don't remember Clarke and Glass being strong. Or even interesting.
There are too many bland POV's that all sound the same, so this is how I remember who's who:
Clarke: The girl who wants to be a doctor but is instead in the middle of a love triangle.
Wells: The boy who wants to sacrifice all of humanity for a girl who hates him- and didn't even bother to think about the other options.
Bellamy: The emo kid that's actually really annoying and I wish would disappear.
Glass: The girl who managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth. and gets back together with her ex and goes shopping with her friends the entire book.
As soon as things started to get better, Tahereh Mafi decided to include the cringiest, most horrible love triangle"Time goes on even when we do not."
As soon as things started to get better, Tahereh Mafi decided to include the cringiest, most horrible love triangle (other then the one in the Twilight series of course) ever. I feel sick.
I can't even think about anything else when I see this book....more
This is Clare’s most mature series yet. Long gone are the silly love triangles and constant puns, makiReread: 8/12/19
“Julian! Julian! Carry me...”
This is Clare’s most mature series yet. Long gone are the silly love triangles and constant puns, making way for the ruthlessness of desperate hearts and the darkness of despair. The faeries finally get their time to shine, and they shine in a way only wicked souls can shine. It breaks my heart watching the Blackthorne family suffer as they are affected by the consequences of an event caused by their predecessors hundreds of years ago. There is a bond between me, as the reader, and the Blackthornes that Clare has woven that had been nonexistent between me and the Lightwoods and Clary back in The Mortal Instruments series. Her writing has become more complex and she cleverly crafts a fantasy tale filled with the bitterness of broken hearts. To top that off, the blood spilled at the end was shocking and only adds to the hopelessness this trilogy hints at. I appreciated the amount of time Kit, Ty, and Livvy had to bond and grow because judging by the events of the last pages, the Blackthornes are in for a life of heartbreak.
The novel was a bit over saturated with make-out scenes and the love triangles are beginning to get a little out of control, but other than that, Clare is doing an amazing job with this trilogy....more
But you, Helene Aquilla, are no swift-burning spark. You are a torch against the night - if you dare to let yourself burn.
I am pleReread: 10/11/18
But you, Helene Aquilla, are no swift-burning spark. You are a torch against the night - if you dare to let yourself burn.
I am pleased to announce that A Torch Against the Night does not suffer from second book syndrome! Although the overall pace of the book is slower than that of the first, it delves deeper into the spiritual aspect of the plot and leaves little room for filler. Helene is given a larger role in the novel and it is nearly impossible to love this fierce, passionate heroine. The non-stop action and plot twists (!!!!) serve only to advance the story and hopefully not set us up for what seems like a heart-breaking conclusion....more
"What about our destinies? Our souls?" "They took our souls a long time ago, Elias."
A fantasy/dystopian version of tReread: 10/6/18 Reread: 11/19/17
"What about our destinies? Our souls?" "They took our souls a long time ago, Elias."
A fantasy/dystopian version of the brutal Roman Empire makes for a unique, thrilling novel- a lovely change from the typical YA books that seem to plague the shelves. Although An Ember in the Ashes is not A Game of Thrones vicious, it is certainly lacking the light-hearted, comic relief scenes that are incorporated in most books.
This does not take away from the delicately crafted world-building and plot; action scenes take place only when needed and do not overwhelm the stories like some YA books *cough.*
Emboldened, I reach out and pull at the edge of his mask. I want to see the face of the boy I've speaking to all night, not the Mask I always thought he was. So I pull harder, and the mask falls into my hands with a hiss. The back is bent into sharp spikes wet with blood.
Elias and Laia's slow burn romance resembles the dynamics of Day and June's relationship from Legend. Although the book progresses a little too hastily, each scene was invigorating and I found myself unable to put the book down. On the downside, there is a love square. Yes, you heard me right. UGH....more
There is no ordinary life for people like you and me. There are no others like us, Alina. And there never will be.
By fReread: 4/9/21 Reread: 2/3/19
There is no ordinary life for people like you and me. There are no others like us, Alina. And there never will be.
By further solidifying the wonderful world of the Grisha, as well as introducing important characters and storylines, Leigh Bardugo takes Shadow and Bone and makes it into what can only be described as dangerously addicting. While it takes several chapters to ease into the plot, the newly introduced Prince Nikolai proves to be an excellent addition to the cast, and carries the book through its weaker points. ...more
To the stars who listen—and the dreams that are answered.
I put off reading A Court of Mist and Fury because I thought there'd be a horrible love t
To the stars who listen—and the dreams that are answered.
I put off reading A Court of Mist and Fury because I thought there'd be a horrible love triangle. Don't make the same mistake as me. There was hardly a love triangle.
There were so many new characters and new subplots, it was impossible to be bored. The members of the Night Court are exhilarating, lovable, and one hundred percent insane. The Spring Court amounted to nothing compared to them- and that made all the difference. I'm also really disappointed about Tamlin's sudden change in personality.
What a prick.
Here's Tamlin in the first book: "You never made me feel like a prisoner- never made me feel like little more than chattel." Tamlin in this book: "The need for control, the need to protect that ran so deep he'd locked me up. Like a prisoner."
UPDATE: 5/29/17 - I've just realized that Maas always makes the MC's former lover evil. Take the Throne of Glass series for instance. After Aelin moves from Chaol to Rowan, Chaol turns into this messed up, clueless, naive character that everyone dislikes. As for Tamlin? Well, you'll find out for yourself. Is Maas afraid fans will still be attached to the original character and not accept the new character?
Also, am I the only one who realized some of the scenes were extremely similar to those in Maas' other series, Throne of Glass? The Rhys/Feyre scenes were particularly similar to the Aelin/Rowan scenes in Heir of Fire.
One last thing: Never in my life did I think I would read a fantasy YA book with my name in it. I officially love Sarah J Maas for including a (so far minor) character named Miryam. (Not the exact spelling as mine, but who cares) And what's even cooler is that Maas and I share the same birthday.....more
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