this book came out in 2012 and it's now 2020 and the hype has massively died down so I'm not spending much time on it.
all I'll say is.... this is a bthis book came out in 2012 and it's now 2020 and the hype has massively died down so I'm not spending much time on it.
all I'll say is.... this is a book that's very entertaining and very poorly written akndksk. also sometimes it was Way too corny for me. But I did have fun with it. Although, honestly, I kinda think the movie is better
reading rush 2020 prompt / read a book you've seen the movie of...more
“If you go behind my back, I swear to God, I’ll skin you alive—” “I won’t—” “—murder you, then alchemically raise you from the dead so I can murder y
“If you go behind my back, I swear to God, I’ll skin you alive—” “I won’t—” “—murder you, then alchemically raise you from the dead so I can murder you again—”
BUT SPEAKING OF 2017 LIFESAVERS This book is a strong contender because it was really, really good and bought up so many important themes and issues and was also just really fun, adventurous, different from the usual and had ... my favourite .. PIRATES.
Seriously, can you ever go wrong with pirates in books?
And then everyone turns to stare at me, the Viscount of Disley, standing in the courtyard, with his hair askew and a woman’s powder smeared across his face like flour. And, also, without a stitch of clothing on. And then, because Fortune is a heartless bitch, I hear someone behind me say, “Monty?”
So for those of you who don't know this is a book set in the 18th Century (NOT: During the Victorian era for anyone confused like ME) and follows three main character - Henry Montague (Monty), his best friend Percy, and Felicity Montague (Henry's little sister) Percy and Henry are taking "The Tour" (18th Century Gap Year) across "The Continent" - Henry's father hopes the year will settle him done, and that after the tour he will return ready to take control of his fathers estate. But what was supposed to be a tour of Venice, Florence, Rome, Berlin and Geneva goes pretty wrong when the trio are attacked by Highwayman. An intricate plot involving theft, alchemy, and life after death is soon revealed and our trio find themselves right in the heart of it.
While the plot is really fun, and adventurous, it is the characters that make up this book. They are complex people, both in themselves and their relationships with eachother, but also in the ways they interact and exist within their society and how their different marginilisations effects their perspective.
Henry is a bisexual man who's drowned his own self-loathing and feelings of inadequacy in vice - alcohol, poor behaviour and sex. Throughout the novel he must attempt to overcome those vices, whilst also growing into his own self and accepting the negative effects his actions have had upon those around him. There are other facets to his characterisation but at these are spoilers I will not say much here. I personally really liked his arc, and I thought there was noticeable and good development when you compare him at the beginning and end of the novel.
Felicity is such a badass ! She's a massive bookworm with a passion for knowledge. She's both quick-witted and capable and takes no nonsense. I absolutely adores her character and the way she plays against Henry as a kind of opposite. She is also asexual. I literally adore her character, she reminds me of Hermione in many ways, she was a brilliant, well rounded and well written female character. Felicity deals with and suffers through sexism ingrained in the time period, and throughout her storyline she undermines and subverts the expectations and assumptions made about her due to her gender - even from those closest to her. You know how I said I won't accept any underdeveloped female character or damsel in distress anymore because Wonder Woman changed the game - yeah well Felicity compares to Wonder Woman thats how much I literally adore her.
Percy is gay, biracial and epileptic and experiences systematic oppression, overt racism, ableism and marginalisation. Due to the time period, this is exaggerated - but what I liked is that although these marginilisations existed, and Percy is dealing with them, they are never normalised or validated. Characters within the story challenge the assumptions made about Percy - but what I also like is it was shown these characters were privileged and often made harmful comments and this was called out too. Percy is also just a really kind person, but someone who stands up for themselves and doesn't let the strong-will people around him push him around. I loved his character and the nuances embedded within his characterisation.
I adored the representation in this book - In her notes, Mackenzi Lee made the comment she wanted to point out that disabled, queer and poc, and strong women have always existed with agency in history - and that their stories have often been untold or erased but they deserve to be. I loved that these characters existence within the setting was normalised, but simultaneously their struggles as marginalised people was highlighted and challenged. This book shows how history is so steeped in oppression and how so much of that still leaks into society today. (view spoiler)[ for 99.9% of this book I was worried that Percy's epilepsy would fall into that ableist trope where the character gets a magical cure for their illness. I was so glad this book didn't do that, leading to one of my favourite quotes of the book. (hide spoiler)]I want to recommend this review about the representation of Percy's epilepsy!
"And I don’t think I have to be well to be happy. God.”
On a small, little note: If you're looking for a super realistic historical fiction elements of this are not entirely accurate. I personally didn't mind this, but it's a note for those of you who might. Reading it kind of felt like Clockwork Angel. You're pretty sure thats NOT how it would have gone down at the time but you enjoy it anyway.
But there are plenty of historical elements to love. Much of the politics, culture, lgbt+ elements, race relations and pirates and people are steeped in the real history of the time and since I love history especially at this time that was a massive plus for me. It added another element of nuance to what is already a great historical fiction.
I also wish the ending had been less abrupt and had gone into more details of what happened after the events of the book. I felt a little short-changed, and I really think a longer style epilogue might have been nice. Some of the characters stories were left a little in the wind and I would have liked to know what happened to them.
[image]
All this aside, I think this book is really just fun. The idea of an 18th Century Tour is completely new to me, and it's definitely not something we're getting an abundance of in YA. So this book genuinely has completely new elements I've never read in other stories.
On top of that, Mackenzi Lee is able to perfectly demonstrate how diversity can be included within any setting - and that historical narratives have no excuse for their allocishet ablebodied whiteness.
This book is so fun, we get to see so many places around Europe from an 18th Century perspective, and pirates, highway men attacks, alchemy and magic added so much adventure to it. The dialogue was full of banter and play and it carried along the story really quickly. The plotting didn't feel off to me and I felt like it was continuously well paced. I was reaching for this book all the time because I was invested both character and plot wise - I read it much faster and enjoyed it much more then I thought I would.
Ohhh and the ANGST. There are so many tropes I love - friends to lovers, "we both like eachother but won't admit it", "it's obvious to everyone but us", and then just the "cradles you while you're injured trope" which really gets me everytime. You angst emo's are gonna be happy, especially if your angst emo also likes a soft happy ending and relationship.
“My hand is absolutely broken.” “It’s not broken,” Felicity says, and the exasperation behind her voice makes me feel better. “I think it might be.” “It’s not.” “We should sleep,” Percy says.
I seriously really hope you guys don't sleep on this one !!!! It's such a good exploration of hos history and oppression intersect, but also it's just such a fun and unique YA book set in such an interesting time period I wish I knew more about.
I could not recommend it more, I genuinely am so happy I've read it and will definitely buy myself the final copy when it comes out. I am so excited to see where Mackenzi Lee takes her inventive stories next.
4.5 stars in total !
Thankyou to HarperCollins who provided me with this free arc in exchange for my review. All opinions here are my own
“Be careful of love. It'll twist your brain around and leave you thinking up is down and right is wrong.”
These books are really cute and fun and
“Be careful of love. It'll twist your brain around and leave you thinking up is down and right is wrong.”
These books are really cute and fun and I love the characters. I think the plots are a bit predictable, but they ARE middle grade so I can't really fault them too hard for that. There was actually some twists and turns that surprised me which was really nice! I love Percy, Annabeth, Grover, Tyson and Nico so much and it's always fun to follow them. I really liked how much of a role Nico had in this one and he's a really interesting character.
This book definitely felt more mature then the last one, and things are definitely getting serious. I was living for the Percabeth romance angst jghdkjg they're so cute and I THRIVE off of this angst thing but also that they're such good friends anyway. Percy is so clueless though rip.
I have to say, I listened to this on audiobook and I hate that the narrator used a strong accent to narrate the Japanese character. That felt really uncomfortable and kind of messy? The audiobooks aren't my favourite anyway (but I don't have the physicals so it has to do) and that just kind of felt .. very uncomfortable.
Overall I enjoyed this installment a lot and it definitely set the finale up in a big way. I can't believe how much I've powered through this series and that it's nearly over. ...more
reread november 2022: alucard emery is so girl queen pussy boss slay
“Politics is a dance until the moment it becomes a war. And we control the musi
reread november 2022: alucard emery is so girl queen pussy boss slay
“Politics is a dance until the moment it becomes a war. And we control the music.”
I wish I liked these books on the same level other people do. When it comes to V.E Scwab I think it's one of those cases of: it's me, not you. I recognise her writing and her characters are lovely, and her worldbuilding even better and yet sometimes it just doesn't work for me
One of my problems is her writing. For some reason reading it I get confused and can't focus on reading, I always try to skip around. It's hard to explain, but her writing style just doesn't read naturally for me. Despite that, I love her knack for description and I think she writes characters emotions and feelings really well.
I liked this book, but at the same time it kind of wasn't working for me for the first 300 pages. The first 60% or so, in my opinion, was really slow and boring. I know it was designed to focus on the characters, but for 300 pages of no plot there really wasn't enough character development to fill it in. I basically had the same problem with A Gathering of Shadows I had with A Darker Shade of Magic. The pacing felt so off. The first half was so slow, only to have the last 100 pages seem rushed and confused.
That aside, I did still like this book. I LOVE the characters (not maxim and elira tho they can choke) but I love Kell, Rhy. To me, each is well written and interesting. I especially like Rhy and Kell, because I feel they have the most complex relationships with eachother and with the wider society. V.E Schwab definitely has an ability to make you invested in a character - and to sympathise with them and whats happening to them.
“Kell has only two faces. The one he wears for the world at large, and the one he wears for those he loves.” He sipped his wine. “For us.” Lila’s expression hardened. “Whatever he feels for me, it isn’t love.” “Because it isn’t soft and sweet and doting?” Rhy rocked back, stretching against the pillar. “Do you know how many times he’s nearly beat me senseless out of love? How many times I’ve done the same? I’ve seen the way he looks at those he hates …” He shook his head. “There are very few things my brother cares about, and even fewer people.”
I loved that Rhy and Alucard's relationship was brought up in this book. I just wish we had seen them together more. (view spoiler)[ the bit at the end where Alucard is cradling Rhy when he's screaming bc Kell is in pain. my heart. give me more of them (hide spoiler)] They are characters who could have an interesting dynamic together. I am a little disappointed in the diversity though, while it was definitely better then the first book, it was still unfortunate diverse characters (beside Rhy & Alucard) were kind of token characters and not prominent.
But urggh can I just say Delilah is the most fucking annoying character ever, I literally can't with her. She's always on her about how she's sooo unique, sooo one of a kind, sooo notlike other girls SHUT THE FUCK UP. She literally drives me insane !!!!! and she picks up every damn thing so quickly like im sorry u train with magic for 4 seconds and then somehow you're on an equal playing field with Kell the supposed best magician in the world FUCK OFF. Like she irritates me beyond belief.
Bu t okay the ending oh my GOD. I know now why everyone is so damn shook up about wanting ACOJ RIGHT NOW. The ending totally blew me away, and the last hundred pages were an exciting rush. I loved how it finished off and it's left me much more excited for ACOJ then I thought I would be.
Overrall I give this a 3.5 star. I like this book, I really do, and I love the characters but really it wasn't working for me until like, page 350 and thats annoying.
UPDATE I still love the raven boys as much as I did last year
I absolutely adore this series, for the characters and also it's dark creepy aesthetic. BUPDATE I still love the raven boys as much as I did last year
I absolutely adore this series, for the characters and also it's dark creepy aesthetic. But mostly for the characters. I cannot tell you how much Adam Parrish means to me. I love him so much, he is such a strong character who's arc is just ...... beautiful
But I love them ALL so much. Ronan and Gansey and Blue and Noah. I appreciated Noah in this so much more the second time
OKAY BUT I LOVE HOW MUCH FORESHADOWING THERE IS. And this was definitely fun to reread to see all the stuff that I now understood but was in book 1. Like the rock with the Latin on it, or the things they saw in the tree, or knowing about Noah. It was so fun to reread having finished the series and I'm glad I did.
I rated this 5 stars when I read it the first time, because I fell in love with the characters, and how complex they were. I adored the aesthetic and the writing style and I STILL DO.
[image] Like honestly my mate Simon's face is me right now @ this book
A long, long time ago, he’d been given another chance, and lately, the weight of needing to make it matter felt heavier.
The Raven Boys gave me so much more than I was expecting. It follows Blue Sargent, a girl born into a family of psychic's, seers and clairvoyant's. Unlike her family, Blue isn't any of those things - she doesn't see like her family does. Her mother, a clairvoyant, has informed Blue since she was young that the first person she kisses, will cause their death. Cue the Raven Boys entering - "Raven Boys" is basically the squad name for four boys, Adam, Gansey, Noah and Ronan who attend Aglionby, the local private boys school for wealthy children. The leader of the Raven Boys, Gansey, is on a mission -- he wants to uncover the final resting place of Gwendower, a Welsh King who supposedly died in Henrietta, the town of setting. Legend has it that the one who awakens Gwendower will be granted a "favour", and Gansey isn't the only one who thinks that might be worth looking into.
But mixed up in with this glorious quest of the Raven Boys, is Blue's own fear -- her future has been predicted, and worse than that, she's seen Gansey on the Corpse Road, which means either he's her true love, or she's killed him. BASICALLY CUE DRAMA RIGHT HERE
Okay - I knew about Blue and her family from the description of the book but I didn't know about the quest, for some reason.. But it doesn't matter. Although unexpected, the paranormal aspect of The Raven Boys was so engrossing to me. I was swept up in the quest as well - I felt like I was just as invested in this as the characters were.
Speaking of characters, they were so well done. Beautifully written and presented. Each had their own peculiarities and complexities that made them interesting and unique. None of them were cliche'd or simple -- I really, really thought the characters were an absolutle highlight of this. I feel as if I know Blue, Gansey, Ronan, Adam and Noah, I feel as if they're real, living, breathing people. I really enjoy character driven books, and so this book sat really nicely with me.
"They filled the hallway to overflowing, somehow, the three of them, loud and male and so comfortable with one another that they allowed no one else to be comfortable with them. They were a pack of sleek animals armored with their watches and their Top-Siders and the expensive cut of their uniforms. Even the sharp boy's tattoo, cutting up the knobs of his spine above his collar, was a weapon, somehow slicing at Blue."
Blue was a great protagonist, and I thoroughly enjoyed her. While I so often have issues with the writing of female protagonists, Blue had no issues - she was absolutely well rounded, interesting and complex.
Other character highlights personally were Gansey, and Ronan. I found these two the most interesting of all the Raven Boys, though I am still highly invested in Adam and Noah.
This book swept me along for the ride, it was gripping and I was unable to put it down. I was so emotionally caught up in the Blue and the Boys, so driven by the quest and the need to discover the truth. I felt, perhaps, the 'villian' of this was a little weak, but then I also felt that was the point, and that the book could not have been without him - and his actions drove the characters quite significantly, so I do not complain.
I felt the writing of this was also beautiful, I've seen some people complain about "choppy sentences", but personally I didn't even notice them. For me, this book flowed perfectly from word to word - it was so easy to get swept along with it and feel you were there rather than here
Gansey didn’t know how to describe how it felt, to see death crawling inches from him, to know that in a few seconds, he could have gone from “a promising student” to “beyond saving.”
I honestly just loved everything about this book I honestly TORE through it - I told my family about how amazing it was when I left my room for food. I've just dumped it on my sisters bed and told her "read this bad boy STAT" I really, really loved this. I want to start The Dream Thieves RIGHT NOW but I can't because I don't have it and thats making me prettyy mad.
Honestly, loved it so much. Love my Raven Boys omfg let me join ur squad (also can we talk about how Come Reckless by Mikky Ekko is literally the soundtrack to this book)
[image] [image] (ok last thing aesthetic asf tho)...more
Percy Jackson is one of those insanely popular books I really want to love. I AM UNASHAMEDLY A BANDWAGON JUMPER !! Ok!! and I hate being out of the loPercy Jackson is one of those insanely popular books I really want to love. I AM UNASHAMEDLY A BANDWAGON JUMPER !! Ok!! and I hate being out of the loop.
The first time I read Percy Jackson I had to dnf it. Admittedly, at the time I was in a massive reading slump and reading anything was a challenge but I still could not push myself past that 100 page mark. I WAS UPSET. It was not how reading PJO was supposed to go. I wanted to love it like everyone else
Fast forward almost a year and I give it another go. (and btw, those first 100 pages were still incredibly painful) but AT LEAST I finished it this time. At least I didn't dnf it.
Percy Jackson is about a boy .. called .. Percy Jackson who discovers he's a demi-god. Son of Poseidon, Greek God of the Sea - he's sent to a place called Camp Half Blood which offers sanctuary to demi-gods who are hunted relentlessly by monsters sent from the Underworld.
However, Percy's world is shaken up even more when he discovers Zues, King of the Sky believes Percy has stolen his lightning bolt from which his power derives. Percy is sent on a quest to retrieve the bolt from Hades, God of the Underworld with his new friends Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood.
LOOK, I GET why people would love this book. It's action packed, I'll give it that. Every scene included monsters and angry gods and fights and so much more. It was really fast paced, and the worldbuilding and the way that the Greek Myth was interwoven with the story was really neat. I used to do an Ancient History major and I loved the way the mythology stayed accurate whilst also having a modern 'twist'
But I found I couldn't connect to the characters that well. I love character-driven stories. To me, the plot is irrelevant if the characters are well built. With PJO, the characters take aback seat to the plot. That's not bad, and I know alot of people like that. But I wish the characters had more depth.
Percy was interesting and I loved the incorporation of his ADHD and dyslexia. I loved that those two aspects were incorporated into the decisions he made - it made those aspects of his character have a much more real presence in the text.
Like, there was a bit when it said something like "Then I did something so impulsive I should be the poster child of ADHD". I liked that dyslexia/ADHD was given positive representation and was something which actually came in handy, rather than was a hindrance.
I enjoyed the voice and tone he gave to the book. He details the story with a tone of irony and sarcasm which makes it stand out. His sarcastic account of the things that happened and lamentation at his own misfortune gave PJO a unique voice which made reading the story much more enjoyable. Percy Jackson has a self-decrepitating humour and quick wit which makes each scene just that little bit more fun, and maybe puts a not-so-serious spin on the whole thing.
Percy's character wasn't bad, I just wish there was more. Something a bit deeper. However, I understand this is book 1 and such things may come later.
I quite enjoyed Percy and Annabeth's character, but I had the same issues. I just wish there was something /more/. I really enjoyed the way Annabeth was portrayed and I enjoyed her wit and cleverness. She is a universally loved female character and I understand why. She's intelligent (duh! Daughter of Athena) but also unrelentingly honest and strong, and she carries herself with dignity. I liked that she stood up for herself and against others, and also that her strength did not come at the sacrifice of her femininity. I hate when female characters must be made "manish" to be strong.
Grover was !! poc. Which was really nice to see. I also loved the humour he brought to the story, and his unflinching loyalty to himself and his friends. Grover's regret for what has happened in his past was an aspect of his character I hope will be explored more. I really thought Grover added that extra dimension to the trio. I loved his animal and environmental activism !
I am glad I finished PJO this time. I found it a really fun story, it was just that I found some of the writing a bit bland. It IS a middle grade novel and I think you can tell from how it's written. However, I still think the story was really fun
ALSO , unpopular opinion but why is the movie so HATED?!?! I don't think it was that bad .. for this book
Anyway, a solid 3*. I liked it, I just didn't think it was outstanding :)...more
How does a story about India begin? Does it begin with the three great rivers? The Ganges, The Yamuna, the unseen Sarasvati pouring her dreaming wa
How does a story about India begin? Does it begin with the three great rivers? The Ganges, The Yamuna, the unseen Sarasvati pouring her dreaming waters down from the snowy mountains to the hot, dry plain. .. With a leap right into the midst of chaos? Yes, that is how it should begin.
UM !! UNDERRATED BOOK ALERT
This story sucks you in right from the beginning. The descriptions of India are beautiful, and rich. You are truly transported into India and feel as if you're travelling alongside the heroes on their travels.
Tiger Moon is about a young girl, Raka, who is bought as a wife to a rich merchant. She meets a young eunuch, Lagan, who is a Hindu just like she is. She decides to tell him a Hindu story, the story of a thief called, Farhad Kamal who accidentally steals the amulet of the Hindu God, Krishna. Krishna sends Farhad on a quest, to save his daughter who's been kidnapped by the Demon King, Ravana. And so Farhad, accompanied by a sarcastic white sacred tiger called Nitish travels across India to find and rescue the princess.
The two stories, that of Farhad and Nitish and Raka and Lagan intertwine in the most glorious fashion. It is the intertwining of these stories that really made me fall in love with this book.
I loved that this book was so different to so much other YA on the market. I mean, first of all, its set in India, instead of New York. The incorporation of Indian culture, and Hindu religion is so beautiful and melds with the story so perfectly. I was drawn in by the culture and the vibe of the book.
Her lips were not like rose petals, not like silk and velvet, not like the tender colors of dawn over the desert, or like the breath of the evening wind.
Her lips were rough as her hands, rough from the desert sand.
Lips like the storm that blinds you among the dunes, like the desert’s unbearable heat, like the trunks of palm trees in the oases, like the blasting sun at noon, like the sky just before it darkens with the rain that so seldom comes.”
And scenes like this!! So unlike all the other YA kissing I've read. The romance in the book was not too overstated. It was sweet, and I really enjoyed it. The writing is absolutely beautiful
The characters were refreshing too. Farhad, was my favourite. Quickly followed by Nitish. I loved Farhad's growth throughout the book. I loved that he was both cheeky, and compassionate. He was clever and quick-witted, but a good person and a great adventurer. I didn't expect to fall so in love with a white tiger but I did. I loved that Nitish was so brave. He was sarcastic and dramatic and the dynamic between he and Farhad was so great.
Raka isn't in the story as much, but I adored her. She was an amazing female character I enjoyed reading her so much. I also loved Lagan.
Other female characters, such as Eleanor and Sita were also strong and clever. I especially loved Sita, who was so spunky and heroic.
The ending of this book is really controversial, for obvious reasons. And while I understand alot of resentment generated because of the ending, I liked that thing weren't wrapped up completely perfectly. I felt like the events were aligned with the context of the book (It is set in British India, right in the heart of imperialism in India) I felt like the book had a really bittersweet ending, and I loved it. I loved how the stories came together and intertwined.
This story is one of the most unique and absorbing I've read in a long time. You are completely sucked into Farhad's story and the landscape he journeys across. From the roaring banks of the Ganges, to the desert oasis you feel as if you're standing in India right beside him. This book was truly one of a kind, I think everyone should pick it up.
REASONS TO READ TIGER MOON → Unique and under explored setting (India) too often written about in YA → An talking, sarcastic tiger that's like my favourite character → Diverse ! Characters ! bye bye white people. Where are they ?? they're not here. → Characters are Hindu and Buddhist and Muslim which is unusual for ya lit ! → A story within a story. → A cute romance that's not overdone → The writing is beautiful and so absorbing → Fast paced, funny and just like actually a really fun story → GENUINELY sad and traumatic at times. Broke my heart but that's good okay → Honestly just doesn't have many reviews and needs more exposure ...more
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