As always, with Kasie West, this book is just super cute and fun. I liked that in this one, you're actually getting two stories for the price o4 stars
As always, with Kasie West, this book is just super cute and fun. I liked that in this one, you're actually getting two stories for the price of one: the YA zombie movie that they're filming, and the behind the scenes drama.
The movie itself is a pretty standard campy cliche teen movie, but it doesn't pretend that it's anything other than that. The view behind the scenes was fun and human. But mostly for me, it's Donavan that steals the show. Also forehead kisses are the best. And yeah. It's just a very happy-making story....more
An easy, breezy read with a cute couple and a funny premise. Predictable in the way that most romcoms are, but with heartwarming scenes that make you An easy, breezy read with a cute couple and a funny premise. Predictable in the way that most romcoms are, but with heartwarming scenes that make you go, "Aww," all the same....more
As always, Kasie West completely swept me up in her cute and voicey story. This read like a breeze, and i4 stars
That was super adorable banterfluff :)
As always, Kasie West completely swept me up in her cute and voicey story. This read like a breeze, and it was so easy to get attached to these characters.
Abby is sarcastic, artistic, and real. I could relate to her so much in her fear of changes and desire to push herself out of her comfort zone, no matter how terrifying it may feel. I loved her heart list and the ideas she had to just give herself more perspective and inspiration for her art. I mean, honestly, I may replicate that a little bit out of a desire to push myself into new adventures instead of always sticking to the same routine (she says, butt firmly placed on the couch reading, and probably bingeing a show on Netflix later).
And actually, that's what I loved most about this book. The personal development and the familial aspect. As always, Abby has a wonderful, sarcastic, caring, hilarious, but complicated family. It doesn't get too dramatic or deep at any point, but it's just felt so real that it immediately resonated with me.
The romance is cute, but more of a side benefit. Then again, it is one of my favorite tropes (best friend romance), so I could definitely get on board. It just wasn't as feelsy as some of Kasie's other couples. Actually, because of the complications in the relationship the narrative actually shifted more to Abby having to put herself first, be independent, and let go of people who were knowingly or unknowingly hurting her. And maybe I quite liked that too.
Anyway, I loved this. This was my first read in pretty much 6 months that I chose for myself and wasn't dictated by book club. And that feels pretty good....more
I really enjoyed that! It's a nice way to continue one of my all-time favorite series - by taking it to aFirst read: March 2017 Reread: May 2018
4 stars
I really enjoyed that! It's a nice way to continue one of my all-time favorite series - by taking it to a new medium and shifting the focus to one of the side characters. It makes sense that after such an epic story, there are still many loose ends, and I like that we're getting a view of how the world pieces itself back together again.
I will say that though the art is visually appealing, the characters didn't quite match my image of them. And that's kind of weird, when you've been attached to them for so long. And with the different format, their personalities seem a little off at times too. But maybe that's just because everyone's all happy in relationships and being lovey dovey and stuff.
But honestly, that's nitpicking, because I will never let go of this series....more
Short and a quick read, definitely 100% made for middle grade readers. But that's not a bad thing. That just means that Victoria Schwab can w3.5 stars
Short and a quick read, definitely 100% made for middle grade readers. But that's not a bad thing. That just means that Victoria Schwab can write for any audience.
Considering how young the book slants, it actually manages to tackle rather tough subjects with tact, realism, and thoughtfulness. Not that I would have expected anything less from Schwab. But whoa. Girl with cancer-ridden brother feels invisible and needs a guardian angel to help her find her own place in the world. I definitely felt this story in my heart.
At the end of the day, I have questions about this whole angel type thing and the boundaries of magic and whatnot (also, dude with purple smoke, can I see you again?), but seeing as this is a middle grade book, I understand why it's not delving into the specifics too much. It's definitely an enjoyable and heartfelt story....more
My first historical fiction read ever!!! It has finally happened. I have dipped my toe into the delicious waters of these spicy romances that3.5 stars
My first historical fiction read ever!!! It has finally happened. I have dipped my toe into the delicious waters of these spicy romances that are completely horrifyingly cliché but so entertaining. Seriously. Like if I had to define guilty pleasure, this would be it.
I really enjoyed Romancing the Duke. It wasn't quite up to ultimate favorite status... maybe because I need to get used to the genre more, but also because this tried to be hate-to-love romance but the hate layer was wafer-thin. It's hard to accept that one character hates another when meanwhile they keep thinking about how attractive they are and how they want to do naughty things to them.
However, there was actual depth to the relationship, and I was kind of surprised by it. The duke's blindness led to some great emotional breakthroughs, and Izzy's history with her father's books led to some hilarious events. Seriously. Like picture fanboys and fangirls LARPing in whatever-era-this-is in England. It was almost cringe awkward sometimes, but it was damn entertaining.
I liked it. A lot. I do think that this genre will rarely yield an all-time favorite, perfect gem of a book for me - though I'd love to be proven wrong - but it's a great palate cleanser. Quick and addictive to read....more
First read: August 2015 Second read: June 2016 & my love for this book will never die.
5 stars
The hype for The Wrath and the Dawn took the YA book worldFirst read: August 2015 Second read: June 2016 & my love for this book will never die.
5 stars
The hype for The Wrath and the Dawn took the YA book world by storm this year - and normally that kind of thing would scare me off. I mean, I almost held off on reading this for a while because of it, but then it became our book club pick. Boy am I glad I did not flake out this time. The Wrath and the Dawn is every bit as sumptuous and engrossing as everyone promised.
The Wrath and the Dawn is a retelling of A Thousand and One Nights - a folk tale I was not actually familiar with but grew to love. Khalid, the caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night but has her executed by dawn. Shahrzad volunteers to be his next victim... hoping to break the trend and stop his treachery. She tells him folk tales at night but leaves him with a gaping cliffhanger each time so that she'll live to see the morning. Now, it's kind of like Beauty and the Beast with even more of a hate-to-love romantic transition. Shahrzad has very few kind thoughts about Khalid before she takes her place as his bride, but while figuring him out and plotting ways to bring him down, he worms his way into her heart.
It should be noted, though, that this is far from a sappy or iffy Stockholm Syndrome romance. Shahrzad is way too freaking fierce for that. Oh man, it's been such a long time since I met a main character that filled me with such glee. Shahrzad is smart, brave, calculating, and oh so graceful. I was in awe of her strength and grace, and I completely understood how Khalid would be so fascinated and impressed by her (after his initial suspicion). And he's so mysterious and powerful that the two make an absolute dream couple - a perfect match. Their chemistry was OFF THE CHARTS. Oh man. This is one of my top ships of the year for sure.
Obviously, there's a explanation as to why Khalid has been killing off his brides. This brings magic and politics into the story. Khalid struggles to keep his country under control, as the citizens are growing ever more disgruntled about losing their daughters - rightfully so. The stakes are high. Shahrzad's own former betrothed takes up arms to rebel against Khalid, and so she is torn even more between her head and her heart. Yeah, it's a love triangle - but it's a good one. I totally understood Shahrzad's dilemma and believed her to feel love for both guys (in different ways), and much as I didn't care for Tariq, I understood his intense need to "rescue" her. (But seriously, he can exit stage right in book 2, plzkthnxbai.)
This book is beautifully written and excellently paced. All throughout the story the intensity grows - the romance between Shazi and Khalid, the rebellion against his rule, the mysteries of his past. I got completely swept up in it and just couldn't stop reading. It's honestly hard to believe that this is a debut. It just hit all the right notes: writing, characters, romance, world building, pacing, and plot. I adored this book from start to finish. Except that ending. That kind of cliffhanger should just NOT BE ALLOWED. *pouts*
Summing Up:
Now, I'm keeping it short, for me, because if I continued writing any more, I would just devolve into shouting and flailing about how fabulous this book is. The Wrath and the Dawn is a brilliantly written, extremely engrossing, and seriously impressive debut by Renée Ahdieh. It's a story about achingly beautiful romance and a woman who takes charge of a man to save her country. Shazi is an icon, and I am bowing down. Now gimme the next book.
Ever since its release last year in the US, Every Breath has been spreading around the YA book blogging circuit as one of the most hyped titl4.5 stars
Ever since its release last year in the US, Every Breath has been spreading around the YA book blogging circuit as one of the most hyped titles ever. But, I mean, with a premise of a modern YA Sherlock with a female Watson and the promise of great shippy times, who can blame them? I certainly couldn't resist. And I'm so glad I didn't. This boooooook. You guys. Like, seriously. Read it.
So, elephant in the room: basically everyone who has read this book has been going crazy about the romance. I kinda hate hype like that, but I would be lying (SO HARD) if I claimed not to agree with them or that it wasn't my favorite part of the book as well. I mean, I'm not a big mystery reader anyway, so it makes sense that I would be more attracted to the characters. And boy. They stole my heart. As a YA Sherlock-ish story, what's great about the dynamic between Mycroft and Watts is that they are pretty much equal partners in their crime solving adventures. Yes, Mycroft is slightly smarter (*cough*misunderstood genius*cough*), but Rachel has the human side that he lacks sometimes, and she can keep up with his logical leaps without a problem. So here are two highly intelligent teens out on a mission, and heck yeah I'm cheering them on.
But it's not sappy romance from the start - and that's good because I'm typically not such a fan of that. Their romance is a slow burn friends-to-lovers transition that just set my heart on FIRE. I mean, first they're just awesome friends - the best, really, because Rachel is one of the only people who gets how Mycroft's mind works. And he really relies on her company as well. Plus, there's banter. Oh yes, the banter. But then things happen, and these feelings subtly creep up on you here and there, and then there's like BOOM! KISSING! and like REALLY GOOD KISSING, and like OMG PLEASE KEEP KISSING. To say I ship it a lot is like a massive understatement. Like, don't even mind me flailing around in my bed over here. You guys keep kissing.
*cough* Elephant out of the room. I mean, I am a character and ship reader, so with those things being as awesome and wonderful and excellent as they were, this book was guaranteed a spot on my favorites shelf. But the plot didn't disappoint either. Mycroft and Watts get caught up in the murder mystery of one of Mycroft's homeless friends. The police don't really care about it, because hello, homeless guy - who cares, but Mycroft gets sucked into the mystery and Watts comes to the realization that, well, someone should care.
I'm not a big mystery reader, but I'm really happy with how this one panned out. Our mystery solving team is composed of two teenagers, but they're not so smart that no one else can do what they do - just no one else cares enough. They track down clues and make slow progress composed of easy to follow logical leaps, which all felt realistic. And yet, because the characters are highly intelligent and quirky, you get a clear Sherlock vibe that's sure to please mystery fans. There were some twists and turns I did expect and some I didn't, but it sure was an entertaining ride.
Now in spite of how AWESOME this ship was and how it made me cheer and giggle and fall back into a resting smiley face, objectively there are some points that could have been improved on. I kind of lacked the background for Rachel's character, and her frustrations with her parents and living in the city instead of the rural countryside seemed kind of shallow or forced at times. I wanted to know more about her history with Mycroft too - how the two came to be friends when she moved there and such. And though I respected her wits, her voice wasn't exactly the strongest.
But I don't care. Because there was kissing and the kissing was good. Oh god, this ship.
Summing Up:
It really is the biggest relief when a massively hyped book works out for you. Every Breath was absolutely not a disappointment in that sense. This ship is ruling MY LIFE. That was one of the best first kisses ever. But aside from that, I love the balance and dynamic between the main characters, and how together they become a mystery solving team worthy of the Sherlock comparison. I can't wait to continue on with the series!
GIF it to me straight!
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Recommended To:
Fans of Sherlock and friends-to-lovers romances with lots of banter....more
Since meeting Dahlia at BEA last year, I've been in awe of her utter awesomeness. (*cough* I'm not a kiss ass. Whatever.) And I've been more cu4 stars
Since meeting Dahlia at BEA last year, I've been in awe of her utter awesomeness. (*cough* I'm not a kiss ass. Whatever.) And I've been more curious about new adult books in the last year, so when I heard about Last Will and Testament, my interest was piqued. But I was also worried, because WE TALK and stuff and WHAT IF I DON'T LIKE IT OMG THE WORLD WOULD END. I shouldn't have worried, really. Last Will and Testament is excellent and one of my favorite new adult titles to date.
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I've read quite a few of these NA student-teacher relationship books, but I have to say that in terms of relationship progression, this is probably my favorite one of all. This is truly a slow-burn romance based on admiration of each others' personalities instead of just, "You're hot, I'm hot, let's have sex." It's not obvious from the get go that sexing is going to happen, because Lizzie has so much else to deal with in her life. Her parents died, and suddenly she's been appointed the guardian to her two little brothers. This requires her to get her ass in line and start working harder to stay in school with her scholarship and to keep her family together. Connor agrees to help her by tutoring her, and through those private moments together he gets glimpses of what she's struggling with, which makes him fall for her in spite of himself.
I think that's what's best about Last Will and Testament. There's just so much depth compared to similar NA novels. Lizzie's going through a lot, but she shows her strength in how she pushes on. She makes plenty of mistakes, but who can even blame her when this is the situation she's thrown into? Connor absolutely does not want to fall for a student. He prides himself on his honor and integrity, so the guilt he feels is real. But that same honor means he's just a good guy trying to help in any way he can. Seriously. Seriously. This is a romance to root for.
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And despite all of the dark stuff they're both struggling with, the book doesn't feel very dark at all. This is a good thing, because ordinarily if I would read this synopsis, I'd immediately call a pass because I don't like anything that hints toward trauma and grief. Lizzie doesn't even really have time to grieve properly because there is so much that she has to handle on her own now. She has moments where she breaks, but otherwise tries to be strong for herself and for her brothers. And she has a fierce and snarky personality that just made me admire her so much. There's some great sassy humor and clever banter that filled my heart with glee.
Of course, as with NA romances with this trope, there are more than a few clichés and a few scenes may come across as a bit overdramatic. I loved the relationship build up between Lizzie and Connor until it hit this kind of stagnation where they knew they were attracted to each other but couldn't be together because it would be inappropriate. Lizzie lashes out at Connor asking him why he keeps going hot and cold on multiple occasions, but I was just sitting there going, "Err, he's your TA. Reason enough." Luckily we got past that before too long, and then... Boy. The chemistry and the feels are real.
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I also love Last Will and Testament because it actually shows more sides of college life. Lizzie used to be the overachieving valedictorian in high school, but college is so different that she's absolutely struggling. Her grades are slipping, her scholarship is in jeopardy, and there's a huge feeling of personal failure. As a college graduate, I can totally relate. The way people are taught in college vs. high school is so different, and for many of my classmates and I it took quite some time to adjust and find our personal best learning methods. Then of course, there are the dorm rooms, awesome friend roommates, frat parties, and general campus life that really made this setting feel authentic.
The only thing that I really didn't like in this book is the mean girl part. The book starts out with Lizzie hooking up with a frat boy behind his girlfriend's back. This had been going on for months, and when it comes out, the girl just goes way over-the-top. There's light bullying, blackmail, and heated arguments that just pissed me off because WHY IS THIS A THING? IT'S THE GUY WHO WAS CHEATING ON YOU. Lizzie's not completely innocent, but HOT DAMN. I don't understand this part of our culture, which I know is real and does happen, where "homewreckers" are shamed and apparently entitled to life ruining, despite the fact that they're not the ones who betrayed you. Society: please fix this.
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Summing Up:
Last Will and Testament has a fierce main character that will steal your heart and a romance to root for. There's so much depth to this relationship that could fall prey to all the forbidden romance clichés but doesn't. This book gave me SO MANY FEELS and just YES. I need more NA books to be like this. FOUR FOR YOU DAHLIA, YOU GO DAHLIA. (As in go write more so I can has more plzkthnxbai.)
GIF it to me straight!
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Recommended To:
People looking for NA books with depth, and/or fans of student-teacher relationships....more
This was SUCH a great fluffy new adult read. Kat and Alec have the best connection. There's chemistry, there's a spark, but there's also just so much This was SUCH a great fluffy new adult read. Kat and Alec have the best connection. There's chemistry, there's a spark, but there's also just so much respect from both sides. I also love having a (view spoiler)[dyslexic (hide spoiler)] main character - especially in a new adult book. I thought that aspect was handled so well.
Nerdy boy = win Character growth / self-discovery = win Actual new adult college struggles = win Slow burn romance = win Banter = win HOTNESS = win
It almost toed the line to cheating territory but it really didn't. Alec and Kat are just perfect for each other and they belong together. At the end of the day, everyone could see that.
This book made me happy. What more could I ask for?...more
First read: February 2015 Second read: February 2016 - and still SO so good ♥
4.5 stars
Here's a thing I almost forgot: how much I love Sleeping Beauty. First read: February 2015 Second read: February 2016 - and still SO so good ♥
4.5 stars
Here's a thing I almost forgot: how much I love Sleeping Beauty. In fact, as I read A Wicked Thing, which fits with the tone and story of the Disney movie, I realized it was probably my favorite Disney movie when I was little. My favorite Disney princess for sure. A Wicked Thing is an absolutely stunning debut that just about left me breathless.
A Wicked Thing is like an alternate ending to Sleeping Beauty. In this case, Aurora wakes up 100 years later, to a kiss from a guy she's never seen before, and she has to come to terms with how much of the world has changed while she was asleep. Her family is dead, her country has had so many different kings on the throne since, and there is a near-constant state of civil unrest. Her myth grew as she slept, and now she's regarded as the savior who will bring magic back to the land and end all the people's suffering. No pressure... right?
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This story is so realistic, it had me in its grasp from the first page. Though written in third person, you really get such a clear view of Aurora's personality. I honestly adored the writing. Those looking for action, magic, and thrilling plot may need to temper their expectations - this is very much a character-driven novel. Fine with me, because compelling, realistic characters are my jam. I was captivated by Aurora's voice. She's not exactly fragile princess, but she wakes up to a world she knows nothing about. She carefully and quietly observes how everything has changed and how all manner of parties are trying to manipulate her for their own benefit. She's not quick to take action, but as the story goes on, she grows and begins to stand up for what she thinks is right. I'm betting in the sequel we'll see her grow even stronger, which just makes me have so much respect for her.
With a good fairy tale comes a dose of romance - but A Wicked Thing does it quite a bit differently. I would say there's 3 different love interests, but don't let that scare you off, because they're not exactly in direct competition with each other and the story actually isn't at all that romance-heavy. It kind of just comes with the territory of Aurora's own fairy tale. Rodric, the current prince, woke her up with his kiss, so naturally they are expected to marry and live happily ever after. But... just because that's what the story says doesn't mean there are feelings there to back it up. Sure, Rodrick is cute in his awkward and clumsy ways, but there's hardly any passion there. Then there's a city boy, Tristan, who she meets when she sneaks out of the castle. He coaxes out her sense of adventure and subtly reveals the ways in which the people are suffering. A plot twist makes that kind of complicated, but then there's also FINNEGANNNNNNNNNNN. Finnegan is a prince from another country and for the moment he definitely gets my vote because he is all banter and Aurora just doesn't like him very much. (The key to my heart xD)
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BUT. Romance is not the point of this story, and despite a subtle tug here or there, Aurora stands her ground. She's figuring out her place in this world and what exactly her duty is to this country, continent, and to her heart. It's an unconventional romance and it can go anywhere it wants - but I'm fine with that because it's more about Aurora's growth. I'm on her team.
The story is a tiny bit slow, but it definitely picked up at the end and WOW. There were some jaw dropping moments. Some character deaths that I did not expect. The courtly politics turned darker and more corrupt. Magic got involved. Aurora finally took some action. And then it was over. In any other case I might be disappointed because plot-wise this book didn't get very far, but I am SO in love with this world and these characters that I honestly don't care. I'm betting the action will pick up in book 2, which I am now desperate to have in my hands.
Summing Up:
A Wicked Thing is a stunning debut that will linger on in my mind for months. Indeed, when I finished reading, I felt compelled to gush about it on Twitter immediately. Then I pre-ordered a copy of the book. I felt like dancing. I don't know why, this book just made me so happy! Aurora is a wonderful character that I just can't get enough of. I can't wait to have more magic (and dragons!!) and hopefully some of those shippy feels that were definitely starting to blossom here. What a delightful start to a beautiful series!
GIF it to me straight!
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Recommended To:
Fans of Sleeping Beauty, character-driven novels, and/or the character growth in the Shatter Me series.
*An electronic review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review....more
I actually really liked this! Which surprises me because I didn't have the highest expectations. But Sophie Jordan knows how to get me swooning. Sure,I actually really liked this! Which surprises me because I didn't have the highest expectations. But Sophie Jordan knows how to get me swooning. Sure, it's predictable as fuck, sure the main character is super naive and innocent, but some days I just need romantic feels like this. Reece is pretty hot and pretty dreamy, ngl. The ending was cliché beyond belief though....more
What's that? A perfect score for a self-publishednew adult book? YEAH. I'm almost as surprised as you are. But honestly, Catching Liam is basi5 stars
What's that? A perfect score for a self-publishednew adult book? YEAH. I'm almost as surprised as you are. But honestly, Catching Liam is basically everything I ever wanted from a new adult novel and it just makes me SO SO SO HAPPY.
I should note that prior to reading Catching Liam, I read about 4 other new adult books. I'm binging at the moment. I need the swoons. But whereas all of those previous reads fell to the new adult pitfalls of too sappy, too much sex, too much "sex solves everything", too much "your love has healed me, let's be together foreverrrr", Catching Liam absolutely did not. It was a breath of fresh air right from the start. First and foremost that would be because of the banter. Liam is hilarious and charming and Scottish and awesome. He makes waffles and calls Jillian "chicken", and just thinking about it is putting a massive grin on my face. The dynamic between the two was just wonderful - especially because Jillian doesn't actually want a relationship at first. She has one night stands, but never more than that. Obviously that won't deter Liam, and he cutely tries to court her anyway. The chemistry is palpable, and the hot scenes are really hot. Maybe not the most explicit I've encountered, but I'll gladly hand in one or two degrees of hotness for the excellence of the rest of this book.
Another reason why I love this book so much is because we actually get to see more of the college setting. Jillian actually goes to classes - most notably her Interpersonal Communications course, where she obviously gets partnered with Liam and they have to spend time getting to know each other and learning how to communicate. There's actually quite some character growth in there, because Jillian has closed herself off for so long. She runs away when conversations get tough and people get too close, so this course is actually one of the best things for her. Though, okay, we didn't get to see much more about communication theories and such, but the foundation is there and it's already so much more than I'm used to getting from new adult.
But Catching Liam took a turn that I didn't quite expect but that added so much depth to this story. There's a reason why Jillian pushes people away and doesn't want to get into a relationship - she's coping with a certain illness. The hints are there right at the start of the book, but it doesn't really get identified until later on because she's running from her own illness - as she puts it later, "talking about it would make it real". But I feel like this is the best kind of sick lit I've encountered. Her condition does not define her. She puts in so much effort to try and live her own life - and indeed, with her active party and sex life, she's not moping and whining about it. This could be a dark, depressing story, but it totally isn't. And yeah, she does have some things she needs to face instead of running away (particularly her overbearing and controlling mother, who means well but is a total nightmare), but I can't help but be impressed by her tenacity. I think she's a really realistic character with so much depth.
And obviously, Liam, being the amazing guy he is, wants to help her. At first she's hesitant because you don't want to force someone into a position where they'll have to take care of you for so long. But again, this book doesn't go for the sappy route, where love is proclaimed, and they'll be together forever and tears and whatever. I respect Liam so much because he respects Jillian's boundaries and says himself that he doesn't know about forever - he just wants a fair shot. I'M SWOONING SO HARD I CAN'T EVEN.
Catching Liam also has excellent friendships, painful but important family dynamics, sex positivity, trouble with grades, stress of selecting majors, general anxiety, and it's just so so so good. I loved every second of this book and wow. I was not expecting that.
Summing Up:
I need more new adult books like Catching Liam. This amazing little story had a banterful ship, characters with depth, the ultra-charming Liam, an angry love confession (that's my jam), an authentic college setting, a story with depth and realism, and plentiful swoons. I can't wait to read more of Gennifer Albin, and I dearly hope she continues exploring new adult, because this is how I want it.
GIF it to me straight!
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Recommended To:
People who want the hotness of new adult PLUS real actual depth....more
By now, if you follow my blog, you may have realized that I'm really discovering - and loving - the New Adult genre this year. That's because F5 stars
By now, if you follow my blog, you may have realized that I'm really discovering - and loving - the New Adult genre this year. That's because FINALLY (*stands up and cheers*) NA books like Boomerang are coming out: books that are sexy, fun, flirty, personally relevant with new adult situations/feelings, and not bogged down in drama or trauma.
First up is the personal relevance - Boomerang has it a shit ton for me. That's not to say that I engage in one-night stands, but for the past year, I was a marketing intern! I loved seeing that - in fact, I haven't really read other books about college/post-college internships before, so that was refreshing for one. But the fact that Mia and Ethan are doing marketing internships just made it so much better for me - though they don't get into the nitty gritty of marketing and all that entails, I could relate to tasks they had to do, manners of thinking, etc. It was spot on and just made me want to giggle and hug the book to my chest. I mean, it was also a digital media company, which I'm super interested in. Can we say match made in heaven? For the Boomerang dating site, they have to even create profiles for each other and go on dates to test the service, so obviously hilarity (and some well-placed jealousy) ensues.
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That's another thing: this was so light and enjoyable that I read it all in one relaxing day. I was in desperate need of some fluff, so this came at just the right time. I absolutely love how this relationship developed: they (almost) hooked up, found out they were working together, were told office romance was forbidden, and had to find a way to work together. Forbidden romances always work for me, haha, because often, and certainly in Boomerang's case, they come with this palpable chemistry that just makes you root for the couple so hard. Their dynamic was just so great, and it was wonderful to see them growing closer together and learning to support on each other in spite of being competitors. The added bonus that this was an office romance made me a little giddy because of, well, personal relevance.
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But I liked that it also wasn't only about the romance - because both Mia and Ethan were fiercely ambitious and determined to get that job at the end of the internship. They both have goals for the future and are at that stage of really deciding where they want to go with their lives now that their education is finally (almost) completed. It's the same kind of position I'm in now, and it's a real new adult issue, so I really loved seeing how both of them developed in that. And I felt like their POVs were great and very distinctive in portraying those struggles.
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And Mia and Ethan (who as a bonus also is a soccer player, and we all know I have something for soccer players *cough*) aren't the only characters involved in the story. I felt like the rest of the cast was brilliant and made it a fun and well-rounded story: from the office dragon lady Cookie, the wanna-relive-the-glory-days co-worker Rhett, and the mysterious and wealthy boss Adam, to especially Mia's parents and grandmother who is fighting with dementia, and both Ethan and Mia's close friends... it was definitely beautiful as a whole. All the relationship dynamics were so different but so realistic and enjoyable to read about. Indeed, I could see myself rereading this quite often.
Summing Up:
I'm keeping it at least a bit shorter with this one, because how many times can I say that I feel like this book was wonderful? Of course, it especially hit the mark for me because it came to me at the perfect time and carried so much personal relevance, but I believe it's a fun, sexy, light read that's great for the summer. A comfort read, maybe, but one I will gladly experience again. The team of Veronica Rossi and Lorin Oberweger has definitely delivered, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next!
GIF it to me straight!
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Recommended To:
Fans of forbidden/office romance and fun, light NA (i.e. à la Cora Carmack)....more
I don't even think I can recall the last time that I've been so utterly freaking delighted about a book - that I loved every m5 freaking amazing stars
I don't even think I can recall the last time that I've been so utterly freaking delighted about a book - that I loved every minute of it and happily put it on my "everything-i-wanted" shelf on Goodreads. Hook's Revenge, Heidi Schulz's amazing middle grade debut, completely swept me off my feet. I'm head over heels for a book... and a middle grade book at that. You know what, don't even read my review, I can't do this book justice - just go buy this book right now.
...What? You're still here? *sigh* Guess I'll write a review after all then.
And that, my friends, is an example of the delightful narration you'll encounter in Hook's Revenge. In a tone very similar to Lemony Snicket's in his Series of Unfortunate Events, the narrator of Hook's Revenge is an older guy who is wonderfully snarky and sadistic, and he bemoans the effort of having to tell this story. From page one, I was bursting with laughter. His sarcastic and witty tone is just absolutely perfect, and it absorbed me into the story right away. Seriously. Sheer hilarity. I don't know if I have ever laughed out loud so much with one book. It was exactly what I needed.
I expect that you'd like to know about the most famous of all pirates, Captain James Hook. As I am the world's foremost expert on him, naturally you turned to me. Children come to me all the time, begging to hear what I know. I graciously seat them in a circle around me, lean in, and whisper, "Not a chance."
I don't like children all that much. Hook's Revenge by Heidi Schulz (ARC)
There is no use putting it off any longer; it is time to tell what I know, lest the girl's story die with me. Settle in, I suppose. Do be sure not to touch anything, and for heaven's sake, please don't breathe so loudly. If you're quite comfortable, I'll pour myself a little drink and begin. If you're not comfortable, I'll begin anyway. Your comfort is of little concern to me. Hook's Revenge by Heidi Schulz (ARC)
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I'm not going to spam you with quotes - though I would well be able to, because I went crazy with post-its for this book, marking at least 30 passages that were either completely hilarious, top-notch witty or extremely sweet. But the writing is absolutely brilliant - you can trust me on that.
Now, Hook's Revenge is an extension to the story of Peter Pan. Our main character is Jocelyn, the daughter of Captain Hook. She is absolutely fierce. I loved her immediately. She's 12 years old at the start of the story, and she idolizes her father. She wants nothing more than to become a pirate and go on pillaging adventures with him. Unfortunately, she's stuck on the mainland with her grandfather, who decides to send her to finishing school so that she might start acting a little more ladylike. This book is bursting with girl power and destroys gender stereotypes, which makes me love it SO MUCH MORE.
Acting ladylike is Jocelyn's worst nightmare, pretty much. Having to dress nicely in clean clothes? Having to walk calmly? Speak politely? Sing traditional songs instead of sea shanties? Sleep in a room that is ENTIRELY pink? EW. All she wants to do is run around and go on adventures, and I loved that about her so much. She's brave, resourceful, and all-around inspiring. She's also supremely snarky - she's not taking shit from ANYBODY. ("I blame myself, really." "I blame you too. So we are agreed," Jocelyn replied.) She has a bit of a reckless streak in her, but that makes her so much more adorable. She gets bullied by some of the prim prissy little girls at the finishing school, so she gets revenge on them in the most badass ways. Oh, what? You don't want a snake in your pocket? Too bad.
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Oh, by the way, are you one of those people who is like, "Ehh, I don't think I could ever ship two characters in a middle grade book,"? Read this. And try not to ship Jocelyn and Roger because OH MY GOD THEY ARE SHEER PERFECTION. Roger is the cook's helper and undergardener at the finishing school, and the two quickly become friends due to a shared love of adventure and snarky sense of humor. Banter banter banter ensues. I was flailing. It was just too awesome. Are they too young and will this probably never happen? I don't care.
He put his sword down and sat on the floor near Jocelyn, leaning against the couch. "Don't die," he said. "What fun would that be? For me, I mean."
She reached over and gave him a little shove. "This is serious."
"Oh yes. Serious. I can tell." He arranged his face into mock gravity. "Do you dance?" Hook's Revenge by Heidi Schulz (ARC)
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Right, but um, the story. So after a while at finishing school, Jocelyn finally gets a letter from her father, Captain Hook. Unfortunately, this means he's died, and he's left her with the task to avenge him. Soon, she's off to Neverland to hunt down the crocodile. It's super fun and engaging - and again, I was giggling like mad the whole way through. She puts together a crew of wannabe pirates and tries to live up to her father's name while battling the stigma that "she's just a little girl so she can't do anything". Again: girl power. She even meets Peter Pan who's like the greatest freaking douchebag, immediately assuming he needs to rescue her and refusing to believe she can do anything. Wow, was he always such a sexist asshole? PROVE HIM WRONG, JOCELYN.
[image] Fuck you dude. But don't worry, Jocelyn doesn't tolerate this bullshit because she's too damn awesome.
Anyway, she has more adventures, encountering the mermaids, the crocodile, the lost boys, the fairies, etc etc which all just makes this such a richly detailed world - fitting with what we know of Peter Pan perfectly. The end of the book also adds in a heartfelt message about family and some of the insecurities that Jocelyn struggles with, which really brought the feels for me. There are so many good messages that readers can pull out of this book, so I'm going to be recommending it like crazy. I enjoyed every single second of it and never wanted to put the book down. Hook's Revenge is everything. I just want moooooore.
Summing Up:
When I picked this book up at BEA, I had no idea that I would be falling head over heels for it. Hook's Revenge is a brilliantly written debut full of fun adventures, a great cast of characters, utter hilarity, and tons and tons of girl power. It was everything I wanted. Everything. This would easily appeal to middle grade readers, reluctant readers, and young adult readers looking to branch out. With its beautiful cover and wonderful illustrations, I'll be adding a finished copy to my shelves super soon and desperately awaiting the sequel.
GIF it to me straight!
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Recommended To:
EVERYONEEEEE - fans of Lemony Snicket and Rick Riordan in particular.
*ARC obtained at Book Expo America in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review....more
First read: February 2015 Second read: March 2016 - still SO GOOD. Maybe even better. It's almost ridiculous how great the flow of the writing style isFirst read: February 2015 Second read: March 2016 - still SO GOOD. Maybe even better. It's almost ridiculous how great the flow of the writing style is and THESE CHARACTERS OMG PLEASE KEEP KISSING FOREVER.
4 stars
The Storyspinner came to me recommended by Christina - which is to say that she really liked it, so I figured I would as well. I was correct, of course, because Christina has such spectacular taste. The Storyspinner is a fun fantasy debut with super awesome shiiiiiiips.
The Storyspinner and I did get off to a bit of a rough start. There are quite a lot of POV characters, and while they are necessary to show the different storylines and events in different locations, it was just a lot to take in at once. The character's unique voices weren't a problem, because everything is written in third person, but the balance felt a bit off when my mind tried to interject some kind of logic in the pattern of POV chapters. It switched to whoever whenever it was necessary, and though there are only two main storylines which eventually intertwine, there are 3-4 POV characters for each one. At the beginning, the events surrounding Johanna were also just so much more interesting than those surrounding the Keepers, because the Keepers were obviously holding back a lot of knowledge... so my interest in the story fluctuated. With so many different characters, it's also hard to really form a connection to all of them. Some of them remain a bit undeveloped.
But after a while, the story picked up and I was totally engrossed in it. Particularly that would be because of the ships. This book has two really freaking spectacular ships, including a bantery hate-to-love one. Johanna and Rafi just are the highlight of the book for me. When they started interacting, I was completely sold. It was magic. And I just loved getting to know both of them as characters as well - Johanna who is forced into adulthood after the death of her father, caring for her little brothers and trying to cope with her mother's grief, and Rafi who is coming to terms with his position and all the political scheming it requires. But at the same time, I like that romance doesn't take over from the plot or world building. There's clearly more going on there. But I'd be lying if I didn't flail about when *certain* kissing scenes occurred.
Now, after a few revelations, the plot really got going. This really felt like a classic adventure fantasy. As such, some of the plot twists are pretty predictable, or even just inherent to the plot, (a missing princess! an evil villain!) but it's all about the execution here. The characters stole the show and made it real, and Wallace doesn't pull punches either. Characters die. In gruesome, horrible deaths. It's fast paced fantasy goodness with a hint of courtly politics as well. That's all just Debby bait, so my enjoyment was a given.
What could maybe have been improved a little was the world building. For example, Storyspinning - a magical kind of storytelling - was a really cool idea, even if it was a bit vague in its descriptions. The book was also quite slow to reveal the history of the Keepers in spite of the fact that half the chapters followed those characters. When their history and the explanations of the magic did come into play, though, it was really cool. Leão, one of the Keepers, was a fun character, but what precisely his position in the Keepers' society entails confuses me. It felt like certain things were just glossed over a bit. I just kind of missed a map to picture how this world came together (though I don't know if there will be one in the final copy - I do hope so!), especially with the Keepers living in their own domain. I hope that the world gets a bit more development in the sequel in any case.
Summing Up:
Well-written and brilliantly executed, The Storyspinner is an exciting debut that I thoroughly enjoyed. These characters are brilliant, the ships are bantery, and the mix of fantasy and politics has me completely sold. I can't wait for the sequel, where I dearly hope there will be more of those lovely kisses ♥
GIF it to me straight!
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Recommended To:
Fans of adventure fantasies, with a hint of political scheming and plenty of bantery ships.
*An electronic review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review....more
First off, I need to be upfront with you guys and say that I've met Dahlia, and we've talked quite a bit, and she personally gave me a review c3 stars
First off, I need to be upfront with you guys and say that I've met Dahlia, and we've talked quite a bit, and she personally gave me a review copy of her book at BEA. Sooo, that might affect my opinion in some small way, but as always, I'm striving to be as honest as possible in my review. But let it also be known that Dahlia is wicked awesome, and even if you don't pick up her book, you should definitely follow her on Twitter. Now. With that out of the way.
In case you're new here, one of the things you'll quickly learn about me is that I love my fluff. I also particularly enjoy stories based around celebrities or the film industry. It is my comfort zone - it is the one place I can always go to just sit back, relax, and enjoy - and that is exactly what Behind the Scenes delivered for me. Sometimes the heart just needs lightness and swoons, and this book is perfect for that. Indeed from the first mention of Liam (and his abs - as he was SHIRTLESS), I was smitten. The boy is seriously hot, and Dahlia sure knows how to get a reader's attention. He and Ally have such a great chemistry right from the start - practically two pages into his appearance I was screaming, "I SHIP IT!" I mean, we all had that dream as a teenager to fall in love with a hot celebrity right?
But I really liked how that relationship developed. It really wasn't too obvious at the start. Ally has some trust issues and she tries to keep her distance. In fact, they start off being friends more than anything - although there is that mutual attraction drawing them together. It was like I was watching a movie, guys. I was so absorbed and enjoying it.
In fact, I felt like I could relate quite a bit to Ally, the main character. She faces quite a tough time at home, with her dad having cancer, but more than anything it's her attitude towards the future that I really connected with. She's one of those people who is so forward thinking and busy planning the future, that she may sometimes forget to live in the present. I really sympathized with her family situation as well, and I thought it was portrayed very well and realistically, without being overwhelmingly depressing. Cancer is a tough subject, and my mom had cancer when I was little, so... yeah. The way that Ally handles the drama along with everything else that was going on in her life makes her an impressive character to me. The relationship between her and her father makes my heart go a bit mushy.
I also particularly loved the friendship between Ally and Vanessa. Vanessa was a great character all around - especially due to her diversity and the dialogue this creates about whitewashing in Hollywood. I was impressed that that element was in here, and I seriously loved it. (Incidentally, there is also a great sex positive attitude in here. Go Dahlia!) But the two girls are great supporters of each other. It was a very healthy relationship, although there was also a fair share of drama thrown in the mix. I mean, your best friend has to pretend to be dating your boyfriend? You know there's going to be some jealousy going on. And I so wished that Ally would have been upfront about it - told Vanessa the truth (and Liam as well for that matter). But, I suppose what actually happened was more or less to be expected from this young adult novel.
And that's what keeps me from rating this higher. Though entertaining, Behind the Scenes does fall to painful clichés, much like a Disney Channel movie would. The drama, though depicted in a more or less realistic and certainly understandable way, could have been avoided. I liked the first half of the book a great deal more than the second. The build up between Ally and Liam was just adorable - oh and hell yes did I swoon for it. And I definitely liked seeing the Hollywood setting. But sadly, the second half was bogged down with the drama and the plot kind of trailed off. I almost wanted to yell at the book - at Ally - to just be honest and cut the crap - but luckily, a side character, Josh, helps her see the light. He was a wonderful, snarky addition to what could otherwise have been a way too sappy sweet novel.
Summing Up:
Overall, I definitely enjoyed Behind the Scenes. Its light tone and swoony romance is pretty ideal for a summer read. However, sadly the second half got a bit too dramatic for my taste - especially when much of it could have been avoided. A bit more humor and banter would have been appreciated too. It's not my all time favorite fluffy read, but when you need some happiness in your life, this can definitely do the job.
GIF it to me straight!
[image] This GIF has been dedicated to Liam's abs.
Recommended To:
Fans of contemporary romances that are a mix of lightness and (cliché) drama.
*ARC was given to me by the author at BEA. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review....more
So if you know me, you'll probably have heard at one point or another that I'm seriously obsessed with the webseries The Lizzie Bennet Diaries5 stars
So if you know me, you'll probably have heard at one point or another that I'm seriously obsessed with the webseries The Lizzie Bennet Diaries on YouTube. For those who are unfamiliar (where have you been??!?!) the webseries is a modern day retelling of Pride and Prejudice, which takes place in the form of vlogs in which Lizzie Bennet tells the audience about her daily life and her familial and romantic drama. The adaptation was actually an immersive transmedia experience, using multiple platforms including Twitter accounts for the characters, Instagram accounts, Tumblr posts, etc, in which the audience's reactions also played a role sometimes. For about a year, the story played out gradually over time, and it was a viral hit. I was not alone in my unabashed love for the series.
So when I heard that they were bringing out a book to go with the series, my first thought was, "Wait? What? Are we now doing a retelling of a retelling? Umm, fan exploitation much?" But I discarded that thought soon after - because by reading the synopsis I realized that this book would just be another addition to this truly immersive experience, showing exclusive bonus content you would otherwise miss out on. And I was not wrong, my love for the whole universe of Lizzie Bennet grew exponentially with this book.
So what the book actually is is Lizzie's diary (couldn't have figured that out yourselves, huh?). It takes us in depth into her life and shows us other aspects that she doesn't share on camera. The first thing that stood out to me is that the book perfectly captures Lizzie's voice. Now, you shouldn't be that surprised, because one of the authors, Bernie Su, was the creator of the webseries. But How much of the voice is the script and how much is the actor? Basically, while reading The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet, it was as if the actress Ashley Clements was narrating it to me in my head. It had that perfect blend of sarcasm, intellectualism, and snark.
What I possibly loved most about all the behind-the-scenes stuff we got to see in the book is the relationship between Lizzie and her dad. Yes, there are actual scenes described where Lizzie and her sisters are interacting with their parents - who were always a bit of a mystery in the webseries itself. Just like the webseries adaptation did for the story, the way that these characters are transformed into modern day characters was smart, fitting, and totally engaging. I mean, I love Pride and Prejudice - the book, the movie, and the miniseries - and that relationship between Lizzie and her father has always been really special to me. (I am a daddy's girl, after all.) But seriously, their scenes together with their humorous banter and true familial love just put a bit of a tear in my eye. So wonderful.
The book also reveals some other things that Lizzie was not willing to fully divulge on camera: the full letter that Darcy wrote (asdfjkl; swooooooooooon) and text messages with Wickham (ewwwwwwwww). You really get a sense of seeing the whole story in so much more detail, which adds to the webseries experience when you start considering characters in different ways and when you realize precisely how on point all of the acting was. A rather simple love story suddenly has this immensely beautiful universe of a story... I loved every second of it.
But let's be real, for fans of the series, what you'll be most excited for is DAT ENDING. The ending, in fact, is what I read FIRST - together with Gillian in New York, the day that we got our hands on the precious. We sat, two little fangirls in a row, alternately squealing, flailing, and giggling. It's just so. freaking. perfect. So many feels. Any LBD fan will just NEED to get their hands on this.
Summing Up:
For any LBD seahorse, this book is a must read. And for those who have not yet established themselves as seahorses - please, go watch the webseries - you won't be sorry. The book really perfectly allowed me to experience the story all over again and showed me more than enough other angles to truly add to the experience. My shipper heart was happy with all of the additional feels from the ending. How bloody brilliant. And, as an additional note, the Pemberly Digital team has announced that next year there will be a follow-up book from Lydia's point of view! It goes without saying that I am already impatient to have that baby in my hands.
GIF it to me straight!
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Recommended To:
Everyone who has watched the series - and those who haven't, CATCH UP, DO IT, DO IT NOWWWWWW.
*Copy obtained for free at BEA 2014. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of the review....more
The Boyfriend App came to me highly recommended by Christina, and judging by how often we agree on contemporary romances, it did not take muc3.5 stars
The Boyfriend App came to me highly recommended by Christina, and judging by how often we agree on contemporary romances, it did not take much for me to bite and put this on my TBR list. Then Gaby graciously gave me her extra copy, because she is the bestest, and I couldn't resist sneaking it into my TBR pile soon after. This book was entertaining FOR SURE, but also just a bit... odd.
What makes The Boyfriend App so hard to place is that it's clearly a story in two parts. The first part shows Audrey's first efforts to create an app for the Public Corporation competition: a dating app that would essentially pair up users in close proximity according to their compatibility. I really appreciated having such a computer whiz main character, because that was new and fun. Though Audrey gets bullied and lives as an outsider, she's not really ashamed of who she is - and she has a great group of friends supporting her, particularly Aidan. Aidannnnn man. I shipped it from page 1. It's a kind of friends-to-lovers transition, but it's so slow and absolutely beautiful. Particularly in the first part, the two are just absolutely adorable because they're both shy geeks and don't want to risk the friendship. But Aidan does watch out for Audrey and it's just so freaking cute.
What also made this part so much fun is that it's extremely relevant to today. I mean, we have dating apps out there exactly like the one that Audrey was creating. And her personal struggles with the pure and simple fact that she's been single and alone for so long also struck a chord with me. It's fodder for hopeless romantics, but it also spread a positive message about online dating. I've been extremely skeptical about it in the past, but Audrey kind of changed my mind about it. Love, today, is just not "traditional" anymore - and we need to get over that. With the right app and some level of caution, I might even try it out sometime.
Part two of the book is where things get strange. Instead of an adorable, cute contemporary fully grounded in our society, Audrey starts finding out some mysterious things about Public Corporation and their technology. They might not be operating completely ethically, let's just put it that way. I didn't expect there to be this kind of mysterious element, but I did really appreciate it - it definitely kept me on my toes. The science behind the technology I could also kind of see as being realistic, so my intellectual side was also pretty pleased. But more than anything, part 2 cranked up the level of RIDICULOUSNESS. While there is this mystery kind of going on, the tone of the book shifts more to utter hilarity. I mean, the plot was kind of plausible, and an obvious warning about companies like Apple gaining too much power (which I can appreciate as a proud Apple hater), but there's these scenes that just... I don't even know how to describe it. I was laughing out loud. It felt like some Community-style antics, paired with a little bit of Mean Girls (as in the jungle animal behavior). Laughing till there were almost tears. What was I even reading???
The disparity between the two halves makes the book really hard to evaluate as a whole, however. I mean, I was definitely entertained the WHOLE way through - and the romance between Audrey and Aidan was too cute for words (even if the end was cliché - whatevs, it was the perfect cliché). There's also great diversity all around with plenty of casual gay and lesbian characters/actions that just made me very happy. There's also great messages about friendship - from Audrey's quirky group of awesome nerds to her lovable cousin and confidant Lindsay to her struggles with mean girl Blake. But it's still hard to reconcile the two parts of the story and to decide whether this is realistic fiction or if it's just ridiculousness. The vibes are so different that I can easily see it making a lot of readers confused and/or angry. I mean, I enjoyed it, because I like my fluffy sillies and I was in the right kind of mood for it - but it likely won't work that way for all readers.
Summing Up:
Oh you silly little book, you. What even are you? The Boyfriend App sure did keep me on my toes and entertained the whole way through, but I still have difficulty reconciling the two halves of the story. But I'm willing to shrug it off in memory of the awesome, adorable romance (TOO CUTE FOR WORDS) and the many lols that were had along the way. Oh, and more books about geeky tech wiz main characters would always be appreciated ♥
GIF it to me straight!
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Recommended To:
Fans of fluffy sillies. I don't have a single clue what to compare this to....more
Grave Mercy and indeed the His Fair Assassin trilogy is one of those super hyped up YA series that I sort of never really considered until an4.5 stars
Grave Mercy and indeed the His Fair Assassin trilogy is one of those super hyped up YA series that I sort of never really considered until an explosion of hype seemed to appear last year. That one's on me. Whyyyy did I not pick this up earlier?? I absolutely adored this historical fiction with light touches of fantasy and amazing, amazing characters.
Grave Mercy, you've probably heard, is about assassin nuns. Our main character, Ismae, ends up at a convent for St. Mortain, the god of death. Mortain is supposedly her father, so she trains in all manner of weapons and poisons to do his bidding. She sees people marqued by Death and carries out those orders unquestionably. Now, that premise might make this book sound really dark and death-heavy, and that certainly was kind of what I had thought beforehand. But, then Duval shows up. Duval, Duval, my love, Duval. Duval is a guard for the Duchess, and he brings news of the court being in peril. Likely, Anne has a traitor in her midst, while the French are threatening war and the councilors are rushing to get her married off. Ismae ends up pretending to be Duval's mistress to uncover the traitors at court and protect the Duchess - and keep Brittany safe.
Yeah. Hold the phone. How come nobody told me this was essentially a fake dating book? Albeit in a very different form. But the trope stands and is supported by how Duval and Ismae definitely don't get along at first. The banter is absolutely fantastic. I was shipping it so freaking soon, and all throughout the book, there were just those tiny moments of swoon. Historical fiction is all about finding the romantic subtext, and although Ismae was pretty quick to realize her feelings (though she maybe didn't want to admit them), the chemistry was palpable. This was just... omg. It's my everything. Please give me more historical romance like this.
But let's not get carried away - romance is but a subplot of this story. Ismae is such a badass assassin, and her voice just instantly absorbed me into this story. The plots at court were fun to unravel, and though I may have been a bit quicker in the discoveries than Ismae, it was an intriguing story that I think accurately captured how courtly politics worked back in the 1400s. Everyone has their own motives and with a young royal who is guided by a governess, a brother, a privy council, it's interesting to see how all of that clashes.
Add in Ismae's growing doubts about her convent and her purpose in life, and it's also very much a character growth story. And I love how Duval is such a supporting character for that. He really challenges her beliefs and gets her to question some things that she'd accepted as resolute facts. They make each other so much better, omg please hold me.
The rest of the supporting characters were also so delightful and fleshed out. Annith stole my heart, so I can't wait to see more of her later in the series. Beast and De Lornay, Duval's trusty companions, also made me smile with their banter. (Although, that ending... AH.) Anne and her little sister were so adorable, although it was hard for me to constantly remember that Anne is only 10 or 11 years old. She comes across much older and wiser.
Where Grave Mercy loses a few points are a couple of things that happen at the end of the book. There's a certain romantic scene that was just too vague. I'm pretty cool with sex in books, in fact I love it, and I get that in YA it can be hard to remain in the realm of acceptability while still providing enough clarity that you do in fact know what's going on. Yeah, LaFevers didn't really manage it here - at least not for me. The scene was just too vague and faded to black way too quickly, so I wasn't really swooning at all. And other than that, the ending just felt extremely rushed. I didn't really understand the time leaps and how certain things seemed to indicate everything was suddenly okay, even though the war was very much still in full swing. But I suppose that just means that I need to pick up the sequel ASAP.
Summing Up:
I wish I had listened to everyone a heck of a lot sooner, because Grave Mercy is indeed amazing. I fell so hard for these characters, this romance, and this plot... I enjoyed every minute. Towards the end, I was so absorbed, I just could not stop reading. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. It's brilliant, and I can't wait to pick up the sequel.
GIF it to me straight!
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Recommended To:
Fans of historical fiction, bantery romances, courtly politics, assassins....more
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